Day: October 5, 2026

Prayer for Expectant Mothers #2 : Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, October 06, 2026 – #Prayer – O Good Saint Anne, who had the incomparable privilege of bringing into the world Her who was to become the Mother of God, I come to place myself under your special care. I confide myself to you, together with the child I am carrying. Thousands of children owe you, Glorious Mother of Mary, the life of the body and the grace of baptism. Hence I wish, in my turn, to place my whole confidence in you. Make me keep in mind the precautions I need to take so as not to …

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O Good Saint Anne,
who had the incomparable privilege of bringing into the world
Her who was to become the Mother of God,
I come to place myself
under your special care.

I confide myself to you,
together with the child I am carrying.
Thousands of children owe you,
Glorious Mother of Mary,
the life of the body and the grace of baptism.
Hence I wish, in my turn,
to place my whole confidence in you.
Make me keep in mind the precautions I need to take
so as not to …

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St. Louis Archdiocese sues over limits on sacraments for ICE detainees – #Catholic – The Archdiocese of St. Louis is challenging an immigration detention center’s visitation policies it says prevent Catholic detainees from receiving the sacraments, after a jail official suggested “clergy pass communion in a plastic bag to a prison guard who could then deliver it to the detainee.”The lawsuit, filed on Oct. 5 by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski and Father Christopher Schroeder of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, claims that Ste. Genevieve County Detention Center’s no-contact policy bars clergy from ministering to detainees while making exceptions to the rule for nonreligious visitors.The archdiocese said in an Oct. 5 press release and in the filing that it had asked the facility to accommodate clergy seeking to provide sacraments to detainees but that facility officials refused to do so. “That refusal is troubling, given that other individuals—including lawyers and consular officials—are permitted to visit detained individuals under much more permissive circumstances,” the archdiocese said in the release.Ste. Genevieve Detention Center houses about 150 immigration detainees and has held about 3,000 detainees, including one who died in the facility, since it began contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in mid-2025, according to the filing. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the federal Cabinet department that oversees ICE, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of St. Louis. | Credit: Jonah McKeown/EWTN News “The first and only time any jail official has proposed any accommodation for religious exercise was in response to a reporter,” the archdiocese said, which culminated in a suggestion from Maj. Jason Schott, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the jail, that clergy deliver Communion to detainees in a plastic bag by prison guards.“This is no accommodation at all,” the filing states. “Because the celebration of communion is a central piece of the Catholic faith, and because the transubstantiation that occurs in this sacrament involves the real presence of Christ, the Catholic faith imposes strict rules on how communion may be administered. Communion may only be administered by a minister specifically appointed for the purpose.”A person must be authorized to distribute Communion according to the norms of the diocese and the parish, ordinarily after suitable formation and commissioning by the pastor or bishop. While the Eucharist belongs to the whole Church, its distribution is carried out according to the Churchʼs sacramental and hierarchical order.The archdiocese said the facility’s “scant defense” for its policies cited concerns for “safety and security risks” and that “priests might smuggle ‘contraband’ to the detainee.’”“Schott does not explain how the host, which as consecrated is the body of Christ—the very thing priests want to ‘pass to detainees’—could be contraband,” the filing states.The archdiocese also claimed priests have been barred from accessing the facility during the traditional four-hour window for visitation on Sundays and that “the jail allows clergy to visit only for a 4-hour window on Mondays.”“The Catholic Church does not seek special treatment,” the archdiocese said in the release. “But only requests the same access as these other groups which, if provided, would allow clergy to offer the Catholic sacraments detainees desperately want.” 
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St. Louis Archdiocese sues over limits on sacraments for ICE detainees – #Catholic – The Archdiocese of St. Louis is challenging an immigration detention center’s visitation policies it says prevent Catholic detainees from receiving the sacraments, after a jail official suggested “clergy pass communion in a plastic bag to a prison guard who could then deliver it to the detainee.”The lawsuit, filed on Oct. 5 by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski and Father Christopher Schroeder of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, claims that Ste. Genevieve County Detention Center’s no-contact policy bars clergy from ministering to detainees while making exceptions to the rule for nonreligious visitors.The archdiocese said in an Oct. 5 press release and in the filing that it had asked the facility to accommodate clergy seeking to provide sacraments to detainees but that facility officials refused to do so. “That refusal is troubling, given that other individuals—including lawyers and consular officials—are permitted to visit detained individuals under much more permissive circumstances,” the archdiocese said in the release.Ste. Genevieve Detention Center houses about 150 immigration detainees and has held about 3,000 detainees, including one who died in the facility, since it began contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in mid-2025, according to the filing. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the federal Cabinet department that oversees ICE, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of St. Louis. | Credit: Jonah McKeown/EWTN News “The first and only time any jail official has proposed any accommodation for religious exercise was in response to a reporter,” the archdiocese said, which culminated in a suggestion from Maj. Jason Schott, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the jail, that clergy deliver Communion to detainees in a plastic bag by prison guards.“This is no accommodation at all,” the filing states. “Because the celebration of communion is a central piece of the Catholic faith, and because the transubstantiation that occurs in this sacrament involves the real presence of Christ, the Catholic faith imposes strict rules on how communion may be administered. Communion may only be administered by a minister specifically appointed for the purpose.”A person must be authorized to distribute Communion according to the norms of the diocese and the parish, ordinarily after suitable formation and commissioning by the pastor or bishop. While the Eucharist belongs to the whole Church, its distribution is carried out according to the Churchʼs sacramental and hierarchical order.The archdiocese said the facility’s “scant defense” for its policies cited concerns for “safety and security risks” and that “priests might smuggle ‘contraband’ to the detainee.’”“Schott does not explain how the host, which as consecrated is the body of Christ—the very thing priests want to ‘pass to detainees’—could be contraband,” the filing states.The archdiocese also claimed priests have been barred from accessing the facility during the traditional four-hour window for visitation on Sundays and that “the jail allows clergy to visit only for a 4-hour window on Mondays.”“The Catholic Church does not seek special treatment,” the archdiocese said in the release. “But only requests the same access as these other groups which, if provided, would allow clergy to offer the Catholic sacraments detainees desperately want.” 

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The Archdiocese of St. Louis says it has been discriminated against in its efforts to minister to Catholic ICE detainees.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 06 October 2026 – A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians 1:13-24 Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it,  and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. (As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God because of me.From the Gospel according to Luke 10:38-42 Jesus entered a village  where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.  Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?  Tell her to help me.”  The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”Humility is needed to offer hospitality, but also to receive it. It also takes courtesy, attentiveness and openness. In the Gospel, Martha risks missing out on some of the joy of this exchange. She is so caught up in preparing to welcome Jesus that she nearly spoils a unique moment of encounter. Martha is a generous person, but our Lord calls her to something more than generosity alone. He calls her to leave her preparations behind and to come and spend time with him. Dear brothers and sisters, our lives can only flourish if we learn to be open to something greater than ourselves, something that brings us happiness and fulfillment. Martha complains that her sister has left her alone to serve (cf. v. 40), but Mary is completely caught up in Jesus’ words. She is no less practical than her sister, nor less generous, but she recognized what was most important. That is why Jesus chides Martha. She was missing an opportunity to share in a moment that would have brought her great joy (cf. vv. 41-42). (…) Sometimes we too fail to choose the better part. We need to take time to rest and try to learn better the art of hospitality. (…) Every genuine encounter is free; it cannot be bought, whether it is an encounter with God, with others or with nature. We need only learn the art of hospitality, which includes both welcoming others and allowing ourselves to be welcomed. We have much to receive, not only to give. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 20 July 2025)

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A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
1:13-24

Brothers and sisters:
You heard of my former way of life in Judaism,
how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure
and tried to destroy it, 
and progressed in Judaism
beyond many of my contemporaries among my race,
since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.
But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart
and called me through his grace,
was pleased to reveal his Son to me,
so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles,
I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,
nor did I go up to Jerusalem
to those who were Apostles before me;
rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas
and remained with him for fifteen days.
But I did not see any other of the Apostles,
only James the brother of the Lord.
(As to what I am writing to you, behold,
before God, I am not lying.)
Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea
that are in Christ;
they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us
is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
So they glorified God because of me.

From the Gospel according to Luke
10:38-42

Jesus entered a village 
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? 
Tell her to help me.” 
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 
There is need of only one thing. 
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”

Humility is needed to offer hospitality, but also to receive it. It also takes courtesy, attentiveness and openness. In the Gospel, Martha risks missing out on some of the joy of this exchange. She is so caught up in preparing to welcome Jesus that she nearly spoils a unique moment of encounter. Martha is a generous person, but our Lord calls her to something more than generosity alone. He calls her to leave her preparations behind and to come and spend time with him.

Dear brothers and sisters, our lives can only flourish if we learn to be open to something greater than ourselves, something that brings us happiness and fulfillment. Martha complains that her sister has left her alone to serve (cf. v. 40), but Mary is completely caught up in Jesus’ words. She is no less practical than her sister, nor less generous, but she recognized what was most important. That is why Jesus chides Martha. She was missing an opportunity to share in a moment that would have brought her great joy (cf. vv. 41-42). (…)

Sometimes we too fail to choose the better part. We need to take time to rest and try to learn better the art of hospitality. (…) Every genuine encounter is free; it cannot be bought, whether it is an encounter with God, with others or with nature. We need only learn the art of hospitality, which includes both welcoming others and allowing ourselves to be welcomed. We have much to receive, not only to give. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 20 July 2025)

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French bishop condemns ‘destructive’ protest violence, urges peaceful dialogue – #Catholic – Bishop Matthieu Rougé of the Diocese of Nanterre, France, has condemned the “destructive” violence at student-led protests throughout the country and encouraged peaceful dialogue to address students’ struggles and concerns.Students began holding protests in late September, citing frustrations with education quality and a lack of funding and resources at schools. By early October, numerous protests became violent with arsons, lootings, and confrontations with police, leading to millions of dollars in damage and hundreds of injuries. More than 5,000 people have been arrested.Rougé, who leads the French bishops’ conference’s Council for Catholic Education, told Vatican News that the violence reflects “the distress experienced by this generation of young people” in an Oct. 3 interview published by the Vatican-run news outlet.“Violence expresses this distress: setting fire to some high schools, even newly built ones, manifests a destructive form of violence that cannot be condoned,” Rougé said, adding that it expresses “an inner violence among some young people who have not found meaning in their lives.”The bishop said suffering is linked to the crisis of families, the climate crisis, the economic crisis, the social crisis, and the geopolitical crisis, “and so, consciously or unconsciously, these young people are afraid of the future; they do not see how it can also hold opportunities for them.”Rougé said young people sometimes do not express this distress, which then “manifests itself through violence.” He said young people may not have “acquired sufficient maturity in language and self-expression to be able to express themselves in another way.”The demonstrations, he said, are still “a call to be even more attentive to our young people, including in Catholic schools,” in which responsible adults can “help restore a sense of calm, creating spaces for listening and discussion, to accompany these young people.”Rougé said the Church calls for “peace,” for “a different way for young people to express themselves,” and for “listening to these young people.” He said the public education system should prioritize “enabling young people to build a future for themselves and to receive a rich education that will allow them to move forward in life.”In the interview, the bishop also noted that Pope Leo XIV addressed young people in France, encouraging them to have “the courage to live out responsibly the mission of building peace.”“The Holy Father called young people to true freedom, the freedom that Christ gives,” Rougé said. “And to these young people, some of whom also come from social environments that have not been given sufficient recognition, he opened up a sense of purpose for their lives — the path of true freedom.”Father Christophe Danset, the bishops’ conference’s national delegate for youth ministry, told the Italian Catholic news outlet AgenSIR the violence expressed through these protests paints a very different image than the celebratory gatherings that marked the pope’s visit to the country late last month.“The beauty of that gathering and the violence of this week are two sides of the same reality of French youth: on the one hand, a genuine thirst, and on the other, a human and spiritual crisis,” he said in an Oct. 2 article.
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French bishop condemns ‘destructive’ protest violence, urges peaceful dialogue – #Catholic – Bishop Matthieu Rougé of the Diocese of Nanterre, France, has condemned the “destructive” violence at student-led protests throughout the country and encouraged peaceful dialogue to address students’ struggles and concerns.Students began holding protests in late September, citing frustrations with education quality and a lack of funding and resources at schools. By early October, numerous protests became violent with arsons, lootings, and confrontations with police, leading to millions of dollars in damage and hundreds of injuries. More than 5,000 people have been arrested.Rougé, who leads the French bishops’ conference’s Council for Catholic Education, told Vatican News that the violence reflects “the distress experienced by this generation of young people” in an Oct. 3 interview published by the Vatican-run news outlet.“Violence expresses this distress: setting fire to some high schools, even newly built ones, manifests a destructive form of violence that cannot be condoned,” Rougé said, adding that it expresses “an inner violence among some young people who have not found meaning in their lives.”The bishop said suffering is linked to the crisis of families, the climate crisis, the economic crisis, the social crisis, and the geopolitical crisis, “and so, consciously or unconsciously, these young people are afraid of the future; they do not see how it can also hold opportunities for them.”Rougé said young people sometimes do not express this distress, which then “manifests itself through violence.” He said young people may not have “acquired sufficient maturity in language and self-expression to be able to express themselves in another way.”The demonstrations, he said, are still “a call to be even more attentive to our young people, including in Catholic schools,” in which responsible adults can “help restore a sense of calm, creating spaces for listening and discussion, to accompany these young people.”Rougé said the Church calls for “peace,” for “a different way for young people to express themselves,” and for “listening to these young people.” He said the public education system should prioritize “enabling young people to build a future for themselves and to receive a rich education that will allow them to move forward in life.”In the interview, the bishop also noted that Pope Leo XIV addressed young people in France, encouraging them to have “the courage to live out responsibly the mission of building peace.”“The Holy Father called young people to true freedom, the freedom that Christ gives,” Rougé said. “And to these young people, some of whom also come from social environments that have not been given sufficient recognition, he opened up a sense of purpose for their lives — the path of true freedom.”Father Christophe Danset, the bishops’ conference’s national delegate for youth ministry, told the Italian Catholic news outlet AgenSIR the violence expressed through these protests paints a very different image than the celebratory gatherings that marked the pope’s visit to the country late last month.“The beauty of that gathering and the violence of this week are two sides of the same reality of French youth: on the one hand, a genuine thirst, and on the other, a human and spiritual crisis,” he said in an Oct. 2 article.

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Bishop Matthieu Rougé, who leads the French bishops’ conference’s Council for Catholic Education, said responsible adults must lead young people to express their concerns peacefully.

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NASA Astronaut Christina Koch at Eagles vs. Rams – NASA astronaut and mission specialist of the agency’s Artemis II mission, Christina Koch, led the fans in singing the Eagles Fight Song from the field at an NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Philadelphia.

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NASA astronaut and mission specialist of the agency’s Artemis II mission, Christina Koch, led the fans in singing the Eagles Fight Song from the field at an NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Philadelphia.

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Pope Leo’s Angelus Address(es), his invitation to pray the Rosary and his monthly intention for mental health Ministry #Catholic – Dear brothers and sisters, Last Sunday, in Lourdes, I invited everyone to pray the Rosary during this month of October, with the special intention that wars may cease and peace may be built. Among the first to do so were the children, and they are continuing to do so: from 1 to 7 October, “Aid to the Church in Need” is promoting “A Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative for peace and unity in the world. I wholeheartedly thank all the boys and girls who are joining in this prayer in so many parts of the world. Let us all follow their example, invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary so that peoples may be freed from the scourge of war. In particular, let us pray for the Holy Land and for the innocent victims of violence. Angelus, St Peter’s Square, Sunday, 4 October 2026 BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY I had tried to follow, as closely as possible, Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to France, from Sept. 25-28, but I had not heard his clear and specific invitation from Lourdes, at his Angelus address on Sunday, Sept. 27, when he said: “… today I invite all the faithful and all Christian communities to pray the holy rosary throughout the coming month of October, with the particular intention that wars may cease and that peace may be established among peoples in conflict.”  I am glad that I did not “completely miss” the invitation and that Pope Leo offered a reminder in his Angelus address this past Sunday, Oct. 4, as he reflected on this past Sunday’s Gospel (Mt. 21:33-43) and reflected on the example of the life, ministry, and vocation of St. Francis of Assisi, stating: “… the charism of Saint Francis continues to bear fruit even today, after eight centuries…” As St. Francis continues to call each of us to pray and act so that the Lord may “make us instruments of His Peace” and, as the first Holy Father to take the name of the “poor man from Assisi,” Pope Francis continually and consistently called all Christians and people of good will to work together for peace and to care for the poor, the suffering, and those who are forgotten (or “thrown away”) by society, Pope Leo XIV continues that consistent call, inviting us to work and pray for peace and for an end to war. I was encouraged and inspired to learn from Pope Leo that among the first to “respond” to his invitation to pray the Rosary for Peace were children from all over the world. Another way to join with people from all over the world in praying the Rosary during this “month of the Holy Rosary” is the “World Mission Rosary:” On Sept. 24, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was beatified in St. Louis. You are invited to discover one of his greatest gifts to the Church: the World Mission Rosary. 75 years ago, Archbishop Sheen designed this special rosary so that every Catholic — no matter where they lived — could hold up the whole world in prayer. Every day of October, join us to do exactly that. Sponsored by The Pontifical Mission Societies, Catholics from around the world will gather online each day of October at 3 p.m. Eastern Time to pray it together. See World Mission Rosary.  As I was “catching up” on Pope Leo’s Angelus addresses and his invitation to pray the Rosary every day during the month of October, I was reminded that someone had sent me a video with Pope Leo’s monthly prayer intention for the month of October. Once again, I was a little late, but glad that I had not missed it completely. I have not followed every month, but I have seen a few of the brief videos produced by Vatican Media for the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network to introduce the Holy Father’s monthly prayer intention. The video for October, introducing the intention, “For Mental Health Ministry,” is very beautiful, and the words express Pope Leo’s compassion and pastoral sensitivity. The video and more information can be found here.  Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and Blessed Fulton J. Sheen give us good advice that can make the month of October a special time of grace for the world. The Holy Rosary is a profound gift in the simple directness of its constant theme of meditation on the life of the Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother. As Blessed Fulton Sheen wrote, “When we say the Rosary—we are saying to God, the Trinity, to the Incarnate Savior, to the Blessed Mother: ‘I love you.’ The Rosary, too, can be a source of strength for those struggling with mental illness and emotional unsettledness. The Rosary makes us conscious of the lives of the Holy Family particularly, who knew God’s consoling love in every hour. Not so long ago, Pope Leo recounted the habit of his parents praying the Rosary together daily. Reflecting on his parents’ custom, the Holy Father noted, “I found that I was always blessed by their love for one another and their faith in God … It’s a wonderful thing.” It could be a “wonderful” thing, too, if together, as individuals, families and communities, our praying the Rosary would lead to peace in every heart, in families and in our world, peace that only God can give. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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Pope Leo’s Angelus Address(es), his invitation to pray the Rosary and his monthly intention for mental health Ministry #Catholic – Dear brothers and sisters, Last Sunday, in Lourdes, I invited everyone to pray the Rosary during this month of October, with the special intention that wars may cease and peace may be built. Among the first to do so were the children, and they are continuing to do so: from 1 to 7 October, “Aid to the Church in Need” is promoting “A Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative for peace and unity in the world. I wholeheartedly thank all the boys and girls who are joining in this prayer in so many parts of the world. Let us all follow their example, invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary so that peoples may be freed from the scourge of war. In particular, let us pray for the Holy Land and for the innocent victims of violence. Angelus, St Peter’s Square, Sunday, 4 October 2026 BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY I had tried to follow, as closely as possible, Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to France, from Sept. 25-28, but I had not heard his clear and specific invitation from Lourdes, at his Angelus address on Sunday, Sept. 27, when he said: “… today I invite all the faithful and all Christian communities to pray the holy rosary throughout the coming month of October, with the particular intention that wars may cease and that peace may be established among peoples in conflict.”  I am glad that I did not “completely miss” the invitation and that Pope Leo offered a reminder in his Angelus address this past Sunday, Oct. 4, as he reflected on this past Sunday’s Gospel (Mt. 21:33-43) and reflected on the example of the life, ministry, and vocation of St. Francis of Assisi, stating: “… the charism of Saint Francis continues to bear fruit even today, after eight centuries…” As St. Francis continues to call each of us to pray and act so that the Lord may “make us instruments of His Peace” and, as the first Holy Father to take the name of the “poor man from Assisi,” Pope Francis continually and consistently called all Christians and people of good will to work together for peace and to care for the poor, the suffering, and those who are forgotten (or “thrown away”) by society, Pope Leo XIV continues that consistent call, inviting us to work and pray for peace and for an end to war. I was encouraged and inspired to learn from Pope Leo that among the first to “respond” to his invitation to pray the Rosary for Peace were children from all over the world. Another way to join with people from all over the world in praying the Rosary during this “month of the Holy Rosary” is the “World Mission Rosary:” On Sept. 24, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was beatified in St. Louis. You are invited to discover one of his greatest gifts to the Church: the World Mission Rosary. 75 years ago, Archbishop Sheen designed this special rosary so that every Catholic — no matter where they lived — could hold up the whole world in prayer. Every day of October, join us to do exactly that. Sponsored by The Pontifical Mission Societies, Catholics from around the world will gather online each day of October at 3 p.m. Eastern Time to pray it together. See World Mission Rosary.  As I was “catching up” on Pope Leo’s Angelus addresses and his invitation to pray the Rosary every day during the month of October, I was reminded that someone had sent me a video with Pope Leo’s monthly prayer intention for the month of October. Once again, I was a little late, but glad that I had not missed it completely. I have not followed every month, but I have seen a few of the brief videos produced by Vatican Media for the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network to introduce the Holy Father’s monthly prayer intention. The video for October, introducing the intention, “For Mental Health Ministry,” is very beautiful, and the words express Pope Leo’s compassion and pastoral sensitivity. The video and more information can be found here.  Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and Blessed Fulton J. Sheen give us good advice that can make the month of October a special time of grace for the world. The Holy Rosary is a profound gift in the simple directness of its constant theme of meditation on the life of the Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother. As Blessed Fulton Sheen wrote, “When we say the Rosary—we are saying to God, the Trinity, to the Incarnate Savior, to the Blessed Mother: ‘I love you.’ The Rosary, too, can be a source of strength for those struggling with mental illness and emotional unsettledness. The Rosary makes us conscious of the lives of the Holy Family particularly, who knew God’s consoling love in every hour. Not so long ago, Pope Leo recounted the habit of his parents praying the Rosary together daily. Reflecting on his parents’ custom, the Holy Father noted, “I found that I was always blessed by their love for one another and their faith in God … It’s a wonderful thing.” It could be a “wonderful” thing, too, if together, as individuals, families and communities, our praying the Rosary would lead to peace in every heart, in families and in our world, peace that only God can give. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

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Pope Leo’s Angelus Address(es), his invitation to pray the Rosary and his monthly intention for mental health Ministry #Catholic –

Dear brothers and sisters, Last Sunday, in Lourdes, I invited everyone to pray the Rosary during this month of October, with the special intention that wars may cease and peace may be built. Among the first to do so were the children, and they are continuing to do so: from 1 to 7 October, “Aid to the Church in Need” is promoting “A Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative for peace and unity in the world. I wholeheartedly thank all the boys and girls who are joining in this prayer in so many parts of the world. Let us all follow their example, invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary so that peoples may be freed from the scourge of war. In particular, let us pray for the Holy Land and for the innocent victims of violence.

Angelus, St Peter’s Square, Sunday, 4 October 2026

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

I had tried to follow, as closely as possible, Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to France, from Sept. 25-28, but I had not heard his clear and specific invitation from Lourdes, at his Angelus address on Sunday, Sept. 27, when he said: “… today I invite all the faithful and all Christian communities to pray the holy rosary throughout the coming month of October, with the particular intention that wars may cease and that peace may be established among peoples in conflict.” 

I am glad that I did not “completely miss” the invitation and that Pope Leo offered a reminder in his Angelus address this past Sunday, Oct. 4, as he reflected on this past Sunday’s Gospel (Mt. 21:33-43) and reflected on the example of the life, ministry, and vocation of St. Francis of Assisi, stating: “… the charism of Saint Francis continues to bear fruit even today, after eight centuries…”

As St. Francis continues to call each of us to pray and act so that the Lord may “make us instruments of His Peace” and, as the first Holy Father to take the name of the “poor man from Assisi,” Pope Francis continually and consistently called all Christians and people of good will to work together for peace and to care for the poor, the suffering, and those who are forgotten (or “thrown away”) by society, Pope Leo XIV continues that consistent call, inviting us to work and pray for peace and for an end to war.

I was encouraged and inspired to learn from Pope Leo that among the first to “respond” to his invitation to pray the Rosary for Peace were children from all over the world. Another way to join with people from all over the world in praying the Rosary during this “month of the Holy Rosary” is the “World Mission Rosary:”

On Sept. 24, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was beatified in St. Louis. You are invited to discover one of his greatest gifts to the Church: the World Mission Rosary. 75 years ago, Archbishop Sheen designed this special rosary so that every Catholic — no matter where they lived — could hold up the whole world in prayer. Every day of October, join us to do exactly that. Sponsored by The Pontifical Mission Societies, Catholics from around the world will gather online each day of October at 3 p.m. Eastern Time to pray it together.

See World Mission Rosary. 

As I was “catching up” on Pope Leo’s Angelus addresses and his invitation to pray the Rosary every day during the month of October, I was reminded that someone had sent me a video with Pope Leo’s monthly prayer intention for the month of October. Once again, I was a little late, but glad that I had not missed it completely. I have not followed every month, but I have seen a few of the brief videos produced by Vatican Media for the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network to introduce the Holy Father’s monthly prayer intention.

The video for October, introducing the intention, “For Mental Health Ministry,” is very beautiful, and the words express Pope Leo’s compassion and pastoral sensitivity. The video and more information can be found here. 

Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and Blessed Fulton J. Sheen give us good advice that can make the month of October a special time of grace for the world. The Holy Rosary is a profound gift in the simple directness of its constant theme of meditation on the life of the Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother. As Blessed Fulton Sheen wrote, “When we say the Rosary—we are saying to God, the Trinity, to the Incarnate Savior, to the Blessed Mother: ‘I love you.’ The Rosary, too, can be a source of strength for those struggling with mental illness and emotional unsettledness.

The Rosary makes us conscious of the lives of the Holy Family particularly, who knew God’s consoling love in every hour. Not so long ago, Pope Leo recounted the habit of his parents praying the Rosary together daily. Reflecting on his parents’ custom, the Holy Father noted, “I found that I was always blessed by their love for one another and their faith in God … It’s a wonderful thing.” It could be a “wonderful” thing, too, if together, as individuals, families and communities, our praying the Rosary would lead to peace in every heart, in families and in our world, peace that only God can give.

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– Dear brothers and sisters, Last Sunday, in Lourdes, I invited everyone to pray the Rosary during this month of October, with the special intention that wars may cease and peace may be built. Among the first to do so were the children, and they are continuing to do so: from 1 to 7 October, “Aid to the Church in Need” is promoting “A Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative for peace and unity in the world. I wholeheartedly thank all the boys and girls who are joining in this prayer in so many parts of the world. Let us all

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Argentine auxiliary bishop removed from office following allegations by 2 adults – #Catholic – Ricardo Seirutti has been removed from the office of auxiliary bishop and vicar general of the Archdiocese of Córdoba, Argentina, following a canonical process initiated due to “allegations made by two adults regarding conduct unbecoming of his episcopal ministry.”The archdiocese, headed by Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, made the announcement in an Oct. 2 statement. The judicial process was “ordered by the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and conducted by the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Buenos Aires,” the statement indicated.According to the biography published by the Vatican Press Office, Seirutti, 70, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Córdoba in 1988 and was appointed auxiliary bishop of Córdoba by Pope Francis in 2015.According to the Argentine archdiocese, the accusation filed by the two adults “led the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to order the process that concluded in recent weeks.” The nature of the complaint was not disclosed. The ruling that concluded the process prohibits Seirutti “from receiving formal appointments or new offices and from administering the sacrament of penance or reconciliation for a period of five years.”The prelate “retains the faculty to celebrate Mass and administer other sacraments, except for the one stipulated,” the statement adds.The Archdiocese of Córdoba concluded by offering its support to the affected persons” and renewed its commitment “to continue working so that all the actions of our particular Church are in accord with the Gospel.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Argentine auxiliary bishop removed from office following allegations by 2 adults – #Catholic – Ricardo Seirutti has been removed from the office of auxiliary bishop and vicar general of the Archdiocese of Córdoba, Argentina, following a canonical process initiated due to “allegations made by two adults regarding conduct unbecoming of his episcopal ministry.”The archdiocese, headed by Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, made the announcement in an Oct. 2 statement. The judicial process was “ordered by the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and conducted by the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Buenos Aires,” the statement indicated.According to the biography published by the Vatican Press Office, Seirutti, 70, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Córdoba in 1988 and was appointed auxiliary bishop of Córdoba by Pope Francis in 2015.According to the Argentine archdiocese, the accusation filed by the two adults “led the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to order the process that concluded in recent weeks.” The nature of the complaint was not disclosed. The ruling that concluded the process prohibits Seirutti “from receiving formal appointments or new offices and from administering the sacrament of penance or reconciliation for a period of five years.”The prelate “retains the faculty to celebrate Mass and administer other sacraments, except for the one stipulated,” the statement adds.The Archdiocese of Córdoba concluded by offering its support to the affected persons” and renewed its commitment “to continue working so that all the actions of our particular Church are in accord with the Gospel.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The prelate was barred from receiving formal appointments or new offices and from administering the sacrament of penance for five years. He may celebrate Mass and administer the other sacraments.

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Red Mass marks opening of Supreme Court term in Washington #Catholic WASHINGTON — Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, underscored the importance of using the Holy Spirit’s guidance in public affairs at the annual Red Mass marking the opening of the Supreme Court term.Seeking the Holy Spirit’s wisdom will help people reach their full potential in their work and responsibilities, Broglio said in the homily Oct. 4 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.“We also pray that our understanding of Godʼs presence and his commandments will inspire integrity, devotion to meaning, and the promotion of harmony,” he said.Hosted by The John Carroll Society, the Red Mass drew more than 1,000 people, including Supreme Court justices, public officials, and Vice President JD Vance, to mark the opening of the judiciary term and pray for judges, attorneys, diplomats, and government leaders.The name derives from the red color of the archbishops’, cardinals’, and priests’ vestments. All Church officials who participated wore red to represent the tongues of fire symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit.This year marked the 74th anniversary of the Red Mass in Washington, one of several such celebrations held worldwide, such as in Rome, Paris, and London, to invoke blessings on justice administrators.In response to last year’s Red Mass, when a New Jersey man threatened Catholics and Supreme Court justices, security measures were increased. Amid the increased security, attendees included law students and faculty from area schools such as Georgetown University and The Catholic University of America. Red Mass attendees sit in the pews at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Oct. 4, 2026, in Washington, D.C. | Credit: Emma R.C. Lyons/EWTN News Mark Cummings, a member of the John Carroll Society, an adjunct professor at George Mason University, and a partner at Sher, Cummings, and Ellis, said attendance at the Mass would help students.“Itʼs inspiring for them, and I think itʼs a very healthy thing to be able to mix with the Supreme Court justices, superior court judges and courts of appeals, as well as Vice President Vance,” Cummings said. “I donʼt know where else theyʼd have an opportunity to see so many people who have made it in the profession and are serving as Supreme Court justices.”Broglio “talked about the importance of the Constitution, the importance of our laws, and that everybody, even the meekest and lowest of citizens, should have access to justice and how we should. Itʼs set up that way with our Constitution and Bill of Rights,” Cummings said.Cummings said Broglio’s message was a call for those in the legal profession and public service to help ensure that everyone has equal access to justice.Broglio also advised officials on how charity should guide all legal professions.“Your service to order and the virtue of justice is deeply appreciated even by this canon lawyer,” said Broglio, who holds a doctorate in canon law.Broglio said immigrants, past and present, have helped build the United States, and he urged legal professionals to be “architects of hope” to ensure that charity and fraternity shape the pursuit of justice.“In his first encyclical, Pope Leo wrote that the way a society treats migrants, refugees, and those forced to move reveals whether its sense of justice is driven by fear or by the spirit of fraternity,” Broglio said.“Perhaps if more of us directed our thoughts in the ways of peace, we would discover and develop a more civil society and and learn to live in harmony with our neighbors,” Broglio said.
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Red Mass marks opening of Supreme Court term in Washington #Catholic WASHINGTON — Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, underscored the importance of using the Holy Spirit’s guidance in public affairs at the annual Red Mass marking the opening of the Supreme Court term.Seeking the Holy Spirit’s wisdom will help people reach their full potential in their work and responsibilities, Broglio said in the homily Oct. 4 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.“We also pray that our understanding of Godʼs presence and his commandments will inspire integrity, devotion to meaning, and the promotion of harmony,” he said.Hosted by The John Carroll Society, the Red Mass drew more than 1,000 people, including Supreme Court justices, public officials, and Vice President JD Vance, to mark the opening of the judiciary term and pray for judges, attorneys, diplomats, and government leaders.The name derives from the red color of the archbishops’, cardinals’, and priests’ vestments. All Church officials who participated wore red to represent the tongues of fire symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit.This year marked the 74th anniversary of the Red Mass in Washington, one of several such celebrations held worldwide, such as in Rome, Paris, and London, to invoke blessings on justice administrators.In response to last year’s Red Mass, when a New Jersey man threatened Catholics and Supreme Court justices, security measures were increased. Amid the increased security, attendees included law students and faculty from area schools such as Georgetown University and The Catholic University of America. Red Mass attendees sit in the pews at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Oct. 4, 2026, in Washington, D.C. | Credit: Emma R.C. Lyons/EWTN News Mark Cummings, a member of the John Carroll Society, an adjunct professor at George Mason University, and a partner at Sher, Cummings, and Ellis, said attendance at the Mass would help students.“Itʼs inspiring for them, and I think itʼs a very healthy thing to be able to mix with the Supreme Court justices, superior court judges and courts of appeals, as well as Vice President Vance,” Cummings said. “I donʼt know where else theyʼd have an opportunity to see so many people who have made it in the profession and are serving as Supreme Court justices.”Broglio “talked about the importance of the Constitution, the importance of our laws, and that everybody, even the meekest and lowest of citizens, should have access to justice and how we should. Itʼs set up that way with our Constitution and Bill of Rights,” Cummings said.Cummings said Broglio’s message was a call for those in the legal profession and public service to help ensure that everyone has equal access to justice.Broglio also advised officials on how charity should guide all legal professions.“Your service to order and the virtue of justice is deeply appreciated even by this canon lawyer,” said Broglio, who holds a doctorate in canon law.Broglio said immigrants, past and present, have helped build the United States, and he urged legal professionals to be “architects of hope” to ensure that charity and fraternity shape the pursuit of justice.“In his first encyclical, Pope Leo wrote that the way a society treats migrants, refugees, and those forced to move reveals whether its sense of justice is driven by fear or by the spirit of fraternity,” Broglio said.“Perhaps if more of us directed our thoughts in the ways of peace, we would discover and develop a more civil society and and learn to live in harmony with our neighbors,” Broglio said.

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Washington Cardinal Robert McElroy was the principal celebrant of the Mass, and Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, offered the homily.

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South Korea, SpaceX, and China ready for launch this week

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Rocket launches this week On Tuesday, Oct. 6, SpaceX will launch the Tranche 1 Transport Layer A mission for the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 4:17 a.m. EDT. The Falcon 9 will carry satellites for SDA’s Transport Layer, a network of military satellites in low Earth orbit.Continue reading “South Korea, SpaceX, and China ready for launch this week”

The post South Korea, SpaceX, and China ready for launch this week appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Pope Leo urges Vatican police to guard their hearts as they protect others #Catholic Pope Leo XIV urged members of the Vatican Gendarmerie on Oct. 3 to nurture their faith as they protect others, telling them that their service requires hearts guarded by the Lord.The pope celebrated Mass at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens in honor of the force’s patron, St. Michael the Archangel.He described the gendarmes’ work as “a way of being laborers in the Lord’s vineyard,” stressing that their responsibilities extend beyond safeguarding buildings, grounds, and entrances to caring for people.“One quality that stands out when we meet you is precisely this care: It is beautiful to see how you regard others not as problems to be solved but as people to be respected and protected,” he said.Reflecting on the parable of the wicked tenants in Matthew 21:33-43, the pope said the gendarmes should understand that “what we receive is a responsibility to be safeguarded with humility and dedication, to be carried out with discretion and a sense of duty.”“You know well that authority, in the light of the Gospel, is expressed above all in the ability to protect, listen, and accompany, with balance, firmness, and respect,” he added.Just as the vineyard owner’s son stands at the center of the parable, Leo urged the gendarmes to place Jesus at the center of their lives.“Before being gendarmes, you are men called to follow him. From him we learn strength that knows how to become gentleness, vigilance born of trust, authority that walks alongside humility, and the courage to intervene with a merciful heart,” he said.The pope also reflected on the second reading, from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, which urges believers to bring their needs to God in prayer rather than give in to anxiety.The gendarmes’ work, he said, would bring “quiet days and difficult days,” moments requiring quick decisions, and situations that cause fatigue and worry.But prayer offers a way to bear those burdens.“A gendarme does not carry everything alone: He prays, knows how to entrust himself to God, and knows how to find again in God the peace that allows him to act with clarity and a serene heart,” Leo said.Those who protect others need hearts and minds “formed in goodness,” he said, because they “must first safeguard within themselves truth, justice, goodness, and respect. Protecting others requires a heart guarded by the Lord.”“Your work certainly requires you to be vigilant, but today’s word invites you to something even deeper: to watch carefully over yourselves as well,” the pope added.He urged the gendarmes to guard their hearts against becoming hardened, keeping them “always docile to God and attentive to others.”He also called on them to safeguard their consciences and their bonds of fraternity. A group becomes a community, he said, when “its members care for one another and learn to walk together, supporting one another with simplicity and love.”Leo concluded by thanking the gendarmes’ families for the sacrifices that make their service possible.“This year, too, I conclude with a thought of affection and gratitude for your families. To parents, wives, children, and fiancées: Thank you! You know the sacrifices, the absences, the schedules, the worries, and also the burden of a service that is not always seen,” he said.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Pope Leo urges Vatican police to guard their hearts as they protect others #Catholic Pope Leo XIV urged members of the Vatican Gendarmerie on Oct. 3 to nurture their faith as they protect others, telling them that their service requires hearts guarded by the Lord.The pope celebrated Mass at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens in honor of the force’s patron, St. Michael the Archangel.He described the gendarmes’ work as “a way of being laborers in the Lord’s vineyard,” stressing that their responsibilities extend beyond safeguarding buildings, grounds, and entrances to caring for people.“One quality that stands out when we meet you is precisely this care: It is beautiful to see how you regard others not as problems to be solved but as people to be respected and protected,” he said.Reflecting on the parable of the wicked tenants in Matthew 21:33-43, the pope said the gendarmes should understand that “what we receive is a responsibility to be safeguarded with humility and dedication, to be carried out with discretion and a sense of duty.”“You know well that authority, in the light of the Gospel, is expressed above all in the ability to protect, listen, and accompany, with balance, firmness, and respect,” he added.Just as the vineyard owner’s son stands at the center of the parable, Leo urged the gendarmes to place Jesus at the center of their lives.“Before being gendarmes, you are men called to follow him. From him we learn strength that knows how to become gentleness, vigilance born of trust, authority that walks alongside humility, and the courage to intervene with a merciful heart,” he said.The pope also reflected on the second reading, from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, which urges believers to bring their needs to God in prayer rather than give in to anxiety.The gendarmes’ work, he said, would bring “quiet days and difficult days,” moments requiring quick decisions, and situations that cause fatigue and worry.But prayer offers a way to bear those burdens.“A gendarme does not carry everything alone: He prays, knows how to entrust himself to God, and knows how to find again in God the peace that allows him to act with clarity and a serene heart,” Leo said.Those who protect others need hearts and minds “formed in goodness,” he said, because they “must first safeguard within themselves truth, justice, goodness, and respect. Protecting others requires a heart guarded by the Lord.”“Your work certainly requires you to be vigilant, but today’s word invites you to something even deeper: to watch carefully over yourselves as well,” the pope added.He urged the gendarmes to guard their hearts against becoming hardened, keeping them “always docile to God and attentive to others.”He also called on them to safeguard their consciences and their bonds of fraternity. A group becomes a community, he said, when “its members care for one another and learn to walk together, supporting one another with simplicity and love.”Leo concluded by thanking the gendarmes’ families for the sacrifices that make their service possible.“This year, too, I conclude with a thought of affection and gratitude for your families. To parents, wives, children, and fiancées: Thank you! You know the sacrifices, the absences, the schedules, the worries, and also the burden of a service that is not always seen,” he said.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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At a Mass honoring their patron, St. Michael the Archangel, the pontiff called on gendarmes to exercise authority with humility and compassion.

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Hopatcong Knights earn second consecutive Star award #Catholic – Knights of Columbus Council 9914 was awarded the Star Award plaque at St. Jude Church in Hopatcong, N.J., on Oct. 1. The council’s chaplain, Father Peter Wierzbicki, and Grand Knight Frank Wimbush, along with many council brothers, were present to accept the honor. The Council is based at St. Jude Parish and has earned Star Council for two consecutive years. The Star Council Award is the international organization’s highest honor recognizing overall excellence in local council operations, membership growth, insurance promotion, and program activities. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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Hopatcong Knights earn second consecutive Star award #Catholic – Knights of Columbus Council 9914 was awarded the Star Award plaque at St. Jude Church in Hopatcong, N.J., on Oct. 1. The council’s chaplain, Father Peter Wierzbicki, and Grand Knight Frank Wimbush, along with many council brothers, were present to accept the honor. The Council is based at St. Jude Parish and has earned Star Council for two consecutive years. The Star Council Award is the international organization’s highest honor recognizing overall excellence in local council operations, membership growth, insurance promotion, and program activities. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

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Hopatcong Knights earn second consecutive Star award #Catholic –

Knights of Columbus Council 9914 was awarded the Star Award plaque at St. Jude Church in Hopatcong, N.J., on Oct. 1. The council’s chaplain, Father Peter Wierzbicki, and Grand Knight Frank Wimbush, along with many council brothers, were present to accept the honor. The Council is based at St. Jude Parish and has earned Star Council for two consecutive years. The Star Council Award is the international organization’s highest honor recognizing overall excellence in local council operations, membership growth, insurance promotion, and program activities.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

 

– Knights of Columbus Council 9914 was awarded the Star Award plaque at St. Jude Church in Hopatcong, N.J., on Oct. 1. The council’s chaplain, Father Peter Wierzbicki, and Grand Knight Frank Wimbush, along with many council brothers, were present to accept the honor. The Council is based at St. Jude Parish and has earned Star Council for two consecutive years. The Star Council Award is the international organization’s highest honor recognizing overall excellence in local council operations, membership growth, insurance promotion, and program activities. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

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