United Yam – You Never Know

Hubble Spots Lens-Shaped Galaxy – This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 7722, a lenticular galaxy located about 187 million light-years away, features concentric rings of dust and gas that appear to swirl around its bright nucleus.

unitedyam February 5, 2026

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 7722, a lenticular galaxy located about 187 million light-years away, features concentric rings of dust and gas that appear to swirl around its bright nucleus.

unitedyam February 5, 2026

Registration now open for NJCC conference on mental health crisis #Catholic –

The New Jersey Catholic Conference, in partnership with New Jersey’s Catholic Dioceses, Catholic Charities agencies, and Catholic Healthcare Partnership of New Jersey, will host an informative one-day mental health conference on Saturday, May 2, which is aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the escalating crisis in mental illness affecting the U.S. and across the world.

The conference, titled “From Isolation to Belonging, Mental Health and the Catholic Church,” will feature leading Catholic voices in the mental health arena, including keynote speaker Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix, founder of the diocesan Office of Mental Health Ministry which became the first of its kind in the U.S.

The event will take place at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway, N.J., and seeks to educate attendees on the scope of the mental health crisis, reduce stigma surrounding mental illness, and offer resources for sufferers and their families.

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With 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. and over 1 billion people worldwide affected by mental health issues according to the World Health Organization, everyone from clergy to ministerial volunteers to educators and lay faithful are encouraged to attend this event. One in four adults say they would seek help from the clergy first in the instance of mental health struggles, underscoring the significant role the Church can play in supporting victims and providing resources to direct them and their families.

The keynote address by Bishop Dolan will be followed by breakout sessions with speakers including: Beth Hlabse, program director, Notre Dame Fiat Program on Faith & Mental Health; Ben Wortham, vice president of Behavioral Health Integration, Catholic Charities USA; and Deacon Ed Shoener, founder, International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Newark, will serve as the principal celebrant and homilist for Mass.

The conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Registration is $40 and space is limited to the first 300 people. Go to njconf.com to register.

– The New Jersey Catholic Conference, in partnership with New Jersey’s Catholic Dioceses, Catholic Charities agencies, and Catholic Healthcare Partnership of New Jersey, will host an informative one-day mental health conference on Saturday, May 2, which is aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the escalating crisis in mental illness affecting the U.S. and across the world. The conference, titled “From Isolation to Belonging, Mental Health and the Catholic Church,” will feature leading Catholic voices in the mental health arena, including keynote speaker Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix, founder of the diocesan Office of Mental Health Ministry

unitedyam February 5, 2026

In Little Falls, thankful Bishop salutes knights ‘fidelity, support’ #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney thanked the Knights of Columbus Paterson Federation for their “generosity, fidelity, and support” to the Church of Paterson in New Jersey when he visited the federation’s meeting at Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., on Jan. 30.

Among those in attendance were representatives of 35 to 40 knights councils of the 55 in the Paterson Diocese and N.J. State Knights’ officers. Father Steven Shadwell, chaplain of the Paterson knights’ federation and pastor of Our Lady of the Magnificat Parish in Kinnelon, N.J., and Msgr. T. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the Curia and Holy Angels’ pastor, also attended the event.

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“The gathering was a unique opportunity for representatives of the various councils in the diocese to build relationships with Bishop Sweeney,” said James Sweeney, state deputy of the N.J. State Council of the Knights of Columbus. A member of the Father Joseph A. Cassidy Council 6100 associated with St. Jude Parish in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., he represents the Paterson Diocese.

In his address, Bishop Sweeney thanked the knights for “all you do for our Church here in Paterson.” He said the knights’ work assists in so many different areas, including families, Catholic schools, vocations, the priesthood, and Respect for Life.

“When you do little things with great love, you respond to God day by day, each according to your own vocation, my brother knights, in all you do. You each bring a gift to the altar, and Jesus unites that gift and multiples it,” Bishop Sweeney told the knights.

During the meeting, representatives of each knights’ council also presented Bishop Sweeney with a financial gift. The Fourth Degree Color Corps Honor Guard for the bishop also participated in the event.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney thanked the Knights of Columbus Paterson Federation for their “generosity, fidelity, and support” to the Church of Paterson in New Jersey when he visited the federation’s meeting at Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., on Jan. 30. Among those in attendance were representatives of 35 to 40 knights councils of the 55 in the Paterson Diocese and N.J. State Knights’ officers. Father Steven Shadwell, chaplain of the Paterson knights’ federation and pastor of Our Lady of the Magnificat Parish in Kinnelon, N.J., and Msgr. T. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general and

‘The Injuns Are A-Comin!’ Cries Billie Eilish Loading Musket To Defend Home From Tribe Of Redskins #BabylonBee – LOS ANGELES, CA — According to sources, American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish successfully defended her land from members of the Tongva Tribe, an indigenous people native to the LA basin, who claim her home is built on their land.

unitedyam February 5, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA — According to sources, American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish successfully defended her land from members of the Tongva Tribe, an indigenous people native to the LA basin, who claim her home is built on their land.

10 Ways To Come Out As A Conservative To Your Liberal Parents #BabylonBee – Our current society can have trouble showing acceptance — especially to conservatives. If you’re a young conservative who has kept your political views a secret from your family, knowing how to tell your parents can be difficult.

unitedyam February 5, 2026

Our current society can have trouble showing acceptance — especially to conservatives. If you’re a young conservative who has kept your political views a secret from your family, knowing how to tell your parents can be difficult.

Picture of the day

“Selection” of Hungarian Jews on the ramp at Auschwitz-II-Birkenau in German-occupied Poland, May/June 1944, during the final phase of the Holocaust. Jews were sent either to forced labor or the gas chambers. 81 years ago today, on January 27, 1945, Auschwitz was liberated by the Red Army. Today is also International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
#ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam February 5, 2026

Picture of the day

“Selection” of Hungarian Jews on the ramp at Auschwitz-II-Birkenau in German-occupied Poland, May/June 1944, during the final phase of the Holocaust. Jews were sent either to forced labor or the gas chambers. 81 years ago today, on January 27, 1945, Auschwitz was liberated by the Red Army. Today is also International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Nike Under Federal Investigation For Discriminating Against White Workers –
Nike is under federal investigation for discriminating against White workers.
The post Nike Under Federal Investigation For Discriminating Against White Workers appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

Nike logo in white on a black textured background, representing the brand's focus on athleticism and innovation.

Nike is under federal investigation for discriminating against White workers.

The post Nike Under Federal Investigation For Discriminating Against White Workers appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

War Room’s Steve Bannon Says ICE Must ‘Surround The Polls’ in November to Stop Election Fraud (VIDEO) –
War Room host Steve Bannon has urged the Trump administration to have ICE agents “surround the polls” in November to prevent Democratic voter fraud.
The post War Room’s Steve Bannon Says ICE Must ‘Surround The Polls’ in November to Stop Election Fraud (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

Hosts discussing current events on the Real America's Voice show, with a backdrop featuring the War Room logo and social media details.

War Room host Steve Bannon has urged the Trump administration to have ICE agents “surround the polls” in November to prevent Democratic voter fraud.

The post War Room’s Steve Bannon Says ICE Must ‘Surround The Polls’ in November to Stop Election Fraud (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Man Savagely Beaten By Texas High School Students at Anti-ICE Class Walkout Protest Is Arrested and Charged –
A surprising turn of events has unfolded following a vicious fight at a Texas high school that went viral earlier this week.
The post Man Savagely Beaten By Texas High School Students at Anti-ICE Class Walkout Protest Is Arrested and Charged appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

A surprising turn of events has unfolded following a vicious fight at a Texas high school that went viral earlier this week.

The post Man Savagely Beaten By Texas High School Students at Anti-ICE Class Walkout Protest Is Arrested and Charged appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

Almighty and loving Father, I thank you for giving St. Gerard to us as a most appealing model and powerful friend. By his example, he showed us how to love and trust you. You have showered many blessings on those who call upon him. For your greater glory and my welfare, please grant me the favors which I ask in his name.
(Here mention them privately)
And you, my powerful patron, intercede for me before the throne of God. Draw near to that throne and do not leave it until you have been heard. …

unitedyam February 4, 2026

A reading from the First Book of Kings
1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12

When the time of David’s death drew near,
he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:
"I am going the way of all flesh.
Take courage and be a man.
Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways
and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees
as they are written in the law of Moses,
that you may succeed in whatever you do,
wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfill
the promise he made on my behalf when he said,
‘If your sons so conduct themselves
that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart
and with their whole soul,
you shall always have someone of your line
on the throne of Israel.’"

David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.
The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years:
he reigned seven years in Hebron
and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David,
with his sovereignty firmly established.

From the Gospel according to Mark
6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

It is very significant that Jesus wants to involve the Twelve in his action from the outset: it is a sort of “apprenticeship” with a view to the great responsibility that awaited them. The fact that Jesus calls certain disciples to collaborate directly in his mission demonstrates one aspect of his love, namely, he does not spurn the help that other people can contribute to his work; he knows their limitations, their weaknesses, but bears no contempt for them. On the contrary Jesus confers on them the dignity of being his envoys. He sends them out two by two and gives them instructions which the Evangelist sums up in a few sentences. The first concerns the spirit of detachment: the Apostles must not be attached to money or to other comforts. Then Jesus warns the disciples that they will not always receive a favourable welcome. Sometimes they will be rejected; they might even be persecuted. However this must not frighten them: they must speak in Jesus’ name and preach the Kingdom of God without being worried about whether or not they will succeed. Succeed — its success must be left to God. (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, Pastoral visit to Frascati, Italy, 15 July 2012)

U.S. bishops mark 100th anniversary of Black History Month – #Catholic – February 2026 marks 100 years of commemorating Black History Month in the United States and Catholic bishops are marking the milestone.Bishop Daniel E. Garcia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation, and Bishop Roy E. Campbell, chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on African American Affairs, marked the anniversary by urging the faithful to “be faithful stewards of memory” and “courageous witnesses to truth.”In a statement released Feb. 3, the bishops highlighted the anniversary and called the milestone “an opportunity for us to prayerfully reflect on the ways history has been preserved, honored, and passed on across generations.”Reflecting on the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter against racism, “Open Wide Our Hearts,” the bishops recognized “that the lived experience of the vast majority of African Americans bears the marks of our country’s original sin of racism.”“During this year’s observance of Black History Month, we encourage the faithful to consider the lessons of history, honoring our heroes of the past and learning from the mistakes of the past,” the bishops said. “Although we may at times encounter people or situations in our country that seek to erase ‘memory’ from our minds and books, it can never be erased from our hearts. May our reflections strengthen our faith and communities.” The bishops concluded: “Let us be faithful stewards of memory. Let us be courageous witnesses to truth. Let us pray and work to honor the inherent dignity of every person and the sacred stories of every people.”Black History Month first began in February 1926. At the time it was called Negro History Week and was created by Carter G. Woodson, who founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH).After attending a national celebration of the 50th anniversary of emancipation in 1915, Woodson was left inspired and decided to form an organization to promote the scientific study of Black life and history. From there, he formed ASNLH, launched The Journal of Negro History in 1916, and then in 1924 started Negro History and Literature Week, which was renamed Negro Achievement Week. Finally, in 1926, Woodson sent out a press release announcing Negro History Week, which was later renamed Black History Month by President Gerald Ford in 1976. Black History Month aims to honor the contributions of Black individuals to history, culture, and society. Additionally, it serves to educate the public, challenge systemic racism, highlight Black leaders, and celebrate the ongoing journey toward equality.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

February marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month being commemorated in the U.S.

Church fresco angel that resembled Italian prime minister painted over to end controversy – #Catholic – The recent restoration of a fresco in an ancient baroque church in central Rome, just a short distance from the Spanish consulate and the Italian Parliament, has sparked an unexpected controversy after one of the angels depicted in the restoration bore a striking resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.The figure in question holds a scroll with a map of Italy and is one of a pair of angels flanking the marble bust of Umberto II, the last king of Italy, who reigned briefly in 1946. The funerary monument includes the inscription “Acting like a Christian, resigned to the divine will.”TweetThe fresco is located in a side chapel of St. Lawrence Basilica in the Lucina area of Rome, which was built in the fourth century. In recent days, the cherub with features similar to those of Meloni became the focus of unexpected attention from numerous visitors, many of whom came out of curiosity rather than for religious reasons.

Curious onlookers photograph the fresco of the angel that bore a striking resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s face. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News

The Italian prime minister herself reacted with irony on social media. In a message posted on Instagram, accompanied by a smiling emoji, she wrote: “No, I certainly don’t look like an angel.”Instagram postThe image unleashed a flood of memes on the internet, where Meloni was even depicted as a version of the Mona Lisa.However, the fresco is not an ancient work of art but a relatively recent one: It was painted in 2000 as part of the funerary complex dedicated to Umberto II, installed in 1985 at the initiative of the then-parish priest, Pietro Pintus. Over the years, the painting had deteriorated and required restoration.The person responsible for the restoration was the church’s sacristan, Bruno Valentinetti, 83, who described himself to the Italian media as an amateur painter. Valentinetti insisted that he never intended to portray the prime minister and downplayed the resemblance, attributing it to a coincidence.On Jan. 31, the parish priest, Father Daniele Micheletti, was one of the first to speak publicly about the matter.Although he acknowledged the resemblance between the angel and the Italian leader, he initially downplayed the controversy. However, a few hours later, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar of the Diocese of Rome, intervened, distancing himself from those remarks in an official statement.The cardinal expressed his “deep dismay” over what had happened and announced immediate measures. “It is firmly reiterated that images of sacred art and Christian tradition cannot be subject to improper use or instrumentalization, as they are intended exclusively to support liturgical life and personal and communal prayer,” he stated.Meanwhile, the church had been transformed into an impromptu tourist attraction, with dozens of people flocking there every day to see and photograph the angel, often for nonreligious reasons — without attending Mass or participating in prayer.The controversy finally came to an end on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 3, when according to Italian newspapers, the restorer himself covered over the angel’s face with a layer of white paint. Micheletti later explained that the decision was made because the image had become divisive and because “there was a continuous stream of people coming in just to see it, not to pray or attend Mass; it was impossible to go on like this.”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.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

The restored fresco in an ancient church in Rome sparked controversy after one of the angels depicted in the restoration bore a striking resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Archbishop Coakley urges U.S., Russia to renew nuclear arms control pact – #Catholic – Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), called upon policymakers to pursue diplomatic negotiations to maintain limitations of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) ahead of its expiration on Feb. 5.New START is the treaty between the United States and Russia that enhances U.S. national security by placing limits on Russian-deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons. The treaty was signed in 2010 by then-U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and is the last major nuclear arms control pact signed by the two nations.“The dangers posed by current conflicts around the world, including the devastating war in Ukraine, make the forthcoming expiration of New START simply unacceptable,” Coakley said in a Feb. 3 statement.He urged policymakers to “courageously pursue diplomatic negotiations” in order to maintain New START’s limits and open pathways toward disarmament.“I call on people of faith and all men and women of goodwill to ardently pray that we, as an international community, may develop the courage to pursue an authentic, transformative, and lasting peace,” Coakley said.“International policy disagreements, as serious as they are, cannot be used as excuses for diplomatic stalemates; on the contrary, they should spur us on to more vehemently pursue effective engagement and dialogue.” “May the Prince of Peace enlighten our hearts and minds to pursue peace around the world in a spirit of universal fraternity,” he said.Pope Leo XIV warns of ‘new global arms race’Pope Leo XIV has also called attention to the importance of renewing the treaty. In his address to the diplomatic corps this year, the Holy Father said there is a “need to follow up on the New START Treaty” and warned that “there is a danger of returning to the race of producing ever more sophisticated new weapons, also by means of artificial intelligence.”He also addressed the danger of a “new global arms race” at his general audience on Wednesday, Feb. 4. He urged world leaders not to allow the agreement to end without a credible and effective alternative.“Tomorrow the New START treaty reaches its expiration,” the pope said, noting that the agreement helped contain nuclear arsenals and strengthen international security. He called for “every constructive effort in favor of disarmament and mutual trust.”The pope stressed that the world must abandon “the logic of fear and distrust” and embrace “a shared ethic capable of guiding decisions toward the common good and making peace a heritage safeguarded by all.”During the same audience, Pope Leo also renewed his call for prayers for the people of Ukraine who are being “harshly tested” by continued Russian bombardments.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

U.S. bishops’ conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley called for keeping limitations of the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which is set to expire on Feb. 5.

18 of the Best Things to Do in Sedona, According to Locals #Travel Sedona experts weigh in on where to hike, bike, and relax in this Arizona desert town.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

Sedona experts weigh in on where to hike, bike, and relax in this Arizona desert town.

NASA Heat Shield Tech Contributes to America’s Space Industry – The Varda Space Industries W-5 capsule returned to Earth in Koonibba in South Australia on Jan. 29, 2026, with the protection of a heat shield made of C-PICA, a cutting-edge material licensed from NASA and manufactured by Varda. The capsule’s successful return marks the first time a capsule protected entirely by Varda-made C-PICA has come back to Earth.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

The Varda Space Industries W-5 capsule returned to Earth in Koonibba in South Australia on Jan. 29, 2026, with the protection of a heat shield made of C-PICA, a cutting-edge material licensed from NASA and manufactured by Varda. The capsule’s successful return marks the first time a capsule protected entirely by Varda-made C-PICA has come back to Earth.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

The archdiocese alleged that Chubb Insurance posed as the “Church Accountability Project.”

unitedyam February 4, 2026

The Chilean energy company AES Andes has announced plans to cancel its massive INNA project, a green energy plant that was poised to ruin some of the planet’s darkest skies and observations at the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Paranal Observatory. Dark skies have become something of a rarity these days, with recent studies suggesting theContinue reading “Energy company cancels controversial project near world’s darkest skies”

The post Energy company cancels controversial project near world’s darkest skies appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

Joyful Mass concludes delightful Catholic Schools Week in Chatham #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney helped St. Patrick School in Chatham, N.J., close its observance of Catholic Schools Week (CSW) with a Mass on Jan. 30 in the church of its parent parish.

Father Peter Glabik, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney. The school’s Builders Club, which endeavors to serve the community, participated in the liturgy. Bishop Sweeney shared a homily about vocations, encouraging St. Patrick’s students to listen for God’s call in their lives.

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After the Mass, the fourth- to seventh-grade students enjoyed bagels and conversation with Bishop Sweeney.

On social media, Bishop Sweeney posted, “It was great to visit St. Patrick’s School in Chatham for their closing Mass for Catholic Schools Week. Thank you, Father Peter Glabik, Dr. Christine Ross [St. Patrick’s principal] and the school community for such a warm welcome and prayerful celebration of the Eucharist.”

St. Patrick School posted on social media, “We closed Catholic Schools Week in a truly special way with Mass celebrated by Bishop Sweeney. [It was] a wonderful conclusion to a week filled with faith, learning, and community.”

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney helped St. Patrick School in Chatham, N.J., close its observance of Catholic Schools Week (CSW) with a Mass on Jan. 30 in the church of its parent parish. Father Peter Glabik, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney. The school’s Builders Club, which endeavors to serve the community, participated in the liturgy. Bishop Sweeney shared a homily about vocations, encouraging St. Patrick’s students to listen for God’s call in their lives. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. After the Mass, the fourth- to seventh-grade students enjoyed bagels and conversation with

unitedyam February 4, 2026

Grateful Hawthorne students help close Catholic Schools Week strong #Catholic –

St. Anthony School in Hawthorne, N.J., on Feb. 1 marked the conclusion of Catholic Schools Week (CSW) with a Mass that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated in St. Anthony Church.

“The ‘Opening Mass’ for Catholic Schools Week at St. Anthony Church in Hawthorne had to be rescheduled from last Sunday [Jan. 25] (because of the snowstorm) to today and became the Closing Mass for CSW,” Bishop Sweeney posted after the Mass on Feb. 1 on social media. “It was wonderful to see so many students, parents, and parishioners ‘up and out’ early on a cold morning to get to the 8:30 [a.m.] Mass!”

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Father Stephen Prisk, pastor of St. Anthony Parish, and Father Brendon Harfmann, the parish’s parochial vicar, concelebrated the Mass. Students of St. Anthony’s also participated in the liturgy. The Knights of Columbus presented Salesian Sister Mary Jackson, the principal, with a check for the school from proceeds they raised during their “Keep Christ in Christmas” magnet sale.

“Thanks to Father Stephen Prisk, Sister Mary Jackson, the school, and parish community for such a warm welcome!” Bishop Sweeney added on social media.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

– St. Anthony School in Hawthorne, N.J., on Feb. 1 marked the conclusion of Catholic Schools Week (CSW) with a Mass that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated in St. Anthony Church. “The ‘Opening Mass’ for Catholic Schools Week at St. Anthony Church in Hawthorne had to be rescheduled from last Sunday [Jan. 25] (because of the snowstorm) to today and became the Closing Mass for CSW,” Bishop Sweeney posted after the Mass on Feb. 1 on social media. “It was wonderful to see so many students, parents, and parishioners ‘up and out’ early on a cold morning to get to the

Bishop offers guidance amid ‘staggering’ mental health crisis, especially among the young #Catholic “In talking to my pastors, it became crystal clear that there really is a crisis right now regarding mental health and emotional well-being, and in a special way for young people,” Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, told EWTN News in an interview discussing a pastoral letter he issued recently. “The scale and scope of this crisis are staggering,” he said in the letter titled “The Divine Physician and a Christian Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing.” Burbidge explained that he hopes “to offer encouragement and guidance, in light of the teachings of Christ and the Gospel, to all who wish to confront and overcome the modern world’s challenges to mental health and well-being.”With depression now the leading cause of disability worldwide, and 1 in 5 American adults experiencing mental health challenges each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which the bishop cites in his letter, Burbidge told EWTN News that “there’s a real pastoral need for mental health counseling, and my pastors told me they don’t have the expertise” that many families need.The importance of counselors with a Christian perspectiveMany Catholic parents and couples seek out counseling, he said, but often the counseling “isn’t coming from a Christian or Catholic understanding of the world, where persons are oriented to God and to authentic human relationships and the development of virtue.”Understanding the world through the lens of faith is “the crucial factor — even in circumstances where such faithfulness seems in the eyes of the wider world to be desperate, foolish, or even absurd. Faith and trust in God are shown to be the keys to everlasting health and well-being for humanity,” Burbidge wrote in his letter.Faith, he told EWTN News, “helps us to get a glimpse of heaven even now … If that’s not a part of the counseling being provided, it won’t bring about the healing we’re seeking.”Regarding efforts in his diocese, the bishop told EWTN News he formed a mental health commission about a year ago, on which sit experts in psychology, theology, and mental health counseling.He said with the commission’s help, he hopes to soon issue an extensive list of counselors who have been vetted and recommended for the Catholic faithful in his diocese.Father Charles Sikorsky, LC, the president of Divine Mercy University, a Catholic school that offers graduate degrees in psychology and clinical mental health and whose graduates work in various capacities in the Diocese of Arlington, told EWTN News that psychology cannot be addressed properly without a “a Christian view, a Catholic view of the person.”“We’re incarnational beings,” Sikorsky said, “so we need to address the human but also the spiritual dimension of the person, who needs to be treated in a holistic way.”“The word psyche comes from Greek and means soul,” he continued,” so psychology is the science of the soul, and Christ is the divine physician. Any way of looking at or treating people that doesn’t include the entirety of the interior, spiritual life is not going to work. If you reduce a human person to just biology or experiences, it’s not going to work.”Lack of community the ‘culprit’ in the crisisIn his letter, Burbidge named a lack of community as a culprit in the mental health crisis.“We must be willing to connect with others. We are made for community and find purpose when given the chance to cultivate authentic relationships with others and practice virtues like compassion,” he wrote.“As people of faith, Christians have a particular responsibility to address the stigmas that prevent people from seeking help and to remove barriers that keep so many stuck in patterns of isolation and misery,” he wrote.

Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, recently issued the pastor letter “The Divine Physician and a Christian Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing.” | Credit: Courtesy of the Diocese of Arlington

Burbidge told EWTN News about community-building initiatives that leaders in his diocese have begun, especially since the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.“People learned quickly from COVID that being isolated, not being part of a caring fellowship, was a detriment to their growth and affected mental health,” he said.He described an increase in new programs throughout the Diocese of Arlington such as Bible studies, lectures, and programs such as That Man is You, a Catholic men’s leadership program.Sikorsky also cited a lack of connection and loneliness that are particularly prevalent in a society rife with “marriage and family breakdown” and in which technology separates people.“So many people are afraid to say they need help,” he said. “If the Church is what it needs to be and should be, it will be a place to experience a sense of belonging to something higher, where people can come to be loved and to be understood.”‘Suffering can be the cross’ that leads us to holinessThe bishop said that in addition to being in communion with others, those suffering from mental health problems must also realize they are beloved children of God, and their “severe distress, depression, or whatever it is, does not define who you are.”“You’re a child of God — that never changes,” Burbidge said. “Don’t identify yourself with that suffering.”“You don’t necessarily need to run away from the suffering, however,” he continued. “That could be the cross that can lead you to holiness. It doesn’t have to completely disappear for you to be well. Maybe you can get help, and still live a healthy, balanced life living with the anxiety or whatever it is you’re struggling with. If it causes a little suffering, it can be united to the Lord’s, and you can see it as a path to holiness.”Sikorsky echoed the bishop, telling EWTN News: “Our dignity is rooted in being children of God. Your dignity is much more than your struggle or the difficulties that you’ve had.”Burbidge is the latest American Catholic bishop to draw attention to the widening mental health crisis in the United States. In 2025, ahead of World Mental Health Day in October, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced an addition to its ongoing National Catholic Mental Health Campaign.“As pastors, we want to emphasize this point to anyone who is suffering from mental illness or facing mental health challenges: Nobody and nothing can alter or diminish your God-given dignity. You are a beloved child of God, a God of healing and hope,” the U.S. bishops said at the time.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

In a recent pastoral letter, Bishop Michael Burbidge addressed what he sees as a “crisis” in mental health among Catholics, especially the young, and seeks to remove stigma over seeking help.

$Catholic colleges among best and worst for pro-life support, report finds #Catholic Some Catholic colleges ranked among the best for pro-life support for women, while others were among the worst for their ties to abortion clinics, a recent report found.In an audit of more than 700 Christian colleges and universities, the Christian Schools Project found that 1 in 7 Christian colleges referred students to Planned Parenthood for health care or future jobs, among other pro-abortion “infractions.”The report by Demetree, a branch of Students for Life of America (SFLA), called the Catholic connection to the abortion industry “shocking.”“Most shockingly, a portion of Catholic schools have forsaken their Christian values,” the report read, citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teaching on abortion.One in 10 Catholic colleges had ties to abortion clinics, and about 25% of all the infractions were by Catholic universities.“Despite this, Catholic schools also had 24 ‘A+’ schools: the most of any denomination,” the report continued.The lowest grade an institution could receive was an “F” and the highest an “A+.”Among the Catholic schools receiving an “F” was Villanova University in Pennsylvania — Pope Leo’s alma mater, where he was known for his involvement in the pro-life club in his days at the university.Other Catholic schools that received a “F” included Boston College in Massachusetts; Carroll College in Montana; Loyola Marymount University in California; Sacred Heart University in Connecticut; Santa Clara University in California; Seattle University in Washington; St. Catherine University in Minnesota; University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan; and University of San Diego in California. Catholic colleges that received a “D” grade included Mount Saint Mary’s University in California; Saint Louis University in Missouri; and St. John Fisher University in New York.Paradoxically, Catholic colleges were also among the best schools for pro-life values and made up more than half of the top 10 best schools in the report.These schools don’t just avoid ties to Planned Parenthood but provide pregnancy support for student mothers in need. Benedictine College students hold pro-life signs at the 2026 March for Life in Washington, D.C. | Credit: Isabella Wilcox/Benedictine College The schools that leadAt the center of campus at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, sits a statue of an angel holding a child.Installed in 2017, the Memorial to the Unborn is one of the “unique” aspects of pro-life culture on Benedictine’s campus, according to spokesman Steve Johnson.Each year, busloads of students travel to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life. But before they leave, they place roses before the memorial. Before Benedictine College students head off to the March for Life in Washington, D.C., they place roses on the campus memorial for unborn children. | Credit: Isabella Wilcox/Benedictine College The student-led pro-life group, Ravens Respect Life, is a “major player” for the culture on campus, according to Johnson. The club helps fundraise for the local pro-life pregnancy resource center, while the campus ministry service team organizes volunteering. The pro-life culture is woven into classes as well, according to Johnson.“We have a pro-life School of Nursing and our graduates take that position out into the world and the hospitals and clinics at which they work,” he said.The school is also looking to further expand its pro-life medical education. Every year, busloads of students from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, head to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. | Credit: Isabella Wilcox/Benedictine College “We are in the process of opening a proposed School of Osteopathic medicine,” Johnson said. “This new school will be the most pro-life medical school in the country and will focus on treating the whole person as a human being and not just treating the ailment.”At the University of Mary in North Dakota, a young woman carrying a toddler crossed the stage at graduation, shaking hands with the president, Monsignor James Shea, who gave the beloved baby Lucia a kiss on the cheek.Katie O’Meara (Chihoski) is one of several students who have received the support they need to complete their education as part of the university’s recently-launched maternity home program, the St. Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers, at the University of Mary. Student mom Katie O’Meara (Chihoski) walks the stage with her toddler, Lucia, by her side at commencement in 2024. Father Dominic Bouck, chaplain at the university, is pictured at left. | Credit: Mike McCleary/University of Mary Per a Jan. 27 announcement, the university has plans for a new residence hall following record enrollment, including a dedicated wing of the future hall for the maternity home.At UMary, motherhood doesn’t have to compete with education.“This St. Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers is a concrete expression of the University of Mary’s commitment to building a culture of life,” Vice President for Student Development Reed Ruggles told EWTN News. “It ensures that motherhood and higher education are not competing paths but complementary vocations.”As for the March for Life, “we treat it like a pilgrimage,” said Ed Konieczka, assistant director of University Ministry at the college.The university sends hundreds of students each year and even provides scholarships to help with the cost.Father Dominic Bouck, the University of Mary chaplain and director of University Ministry, told EWTN News that it comes down to formation.“The University of Mary forms its students for the whole of their lives so that they can learn to live well, then take this formation into their communities after graduation,” Bouck said. “We form them to be servant leaders so that they can go out and serve generously to all who need aid. We teach them the sanctity of human life through the Benedictine value of respect for persons and teach them to form community wherever they are at.”“As a Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine institution, the sanctity of human life is core to our beliefs, and we are not afraid to show that in our mission,” he continued.Belmont Abbey College, which also ranked in the top 10, has its own maternity home, MiraVia, as previously reported by EWTN News. University of Mary students hold a banner at the March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23, 2026. | Credit: University of Mary student photographer Regina Turner Why Christian Schools Project?Though schools like Benedictine, University of Mary, and others stand out for their pro-life work, the report found that many colleges fall short of their Christian values. Project leaders call on readers to reach out to colleges and encourage them to live out these values.“It’s simple: Either stop promoting abortion or stop claiming to be Christian,” said SFLA spokeswoman Mary Mobley.Over the years of doing Christian Schools Project, researchers have seen growth. Since 2024, “56 infractions have been remedied” thanks to the project, according to organizers.“For some schools, they may be unaware of their ties to abortion,” Mobley told EWTN News. “This report offers a chance for them to cut those ties — and to reaffirm their support for life by promoting pro-life resources.”But the project is about more than just cutting ties with abortion providers. University of Mary student moms involved with the St. Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers, University of Mary’s program for moms. | Credit: Photo courtesy of University of Mary “Being pro-life doesn’t just mean being anti-abortion; it means coming alongside women and supporting them, providing them with the resources they need to choose life,” Mobley said.“Humans are made in the image of God, and because of that, they have inherent value and worth — and their lives cannot be disposed of for the convenience of others,” Mobley continued.“It’s vital that Christian schools come alongside pregnant and parenting women, showing them that they are valued, loved, and supported — offering them the resources they need to choose life,” Mobley said. University of Mary students attend the 2026 March for Life in Washington, D.C. | Credit: University of Mary student photographer Regina Turner$

unitedyam February 4, 2026

Some Catholic colleges ranked among the best for pro-life support for women, while others were among the worst for their ties to abortion clinics, according to a new report.

Experts Conclude No Human Being Is Illegal, Except Jeff? #BabylonBee – U.S. — In a startling turn of events, experts confirmed a statement made by Billie Eilish at the Grammys when she said that no one is illegal on stolen land. However, the experts did make a specific exception singling out Jeff.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

U.S. — In a startling turn of events, experts confirmed a statement made by Billie Eilish at the Grammys when she said that no one is illegal on stolen land. However, the experts did make a specific exception singling out Jeff.

Awesome New Streaming Service Records Movie Streams Onto Cool Shiny Discs And You Can Buy Them And Own Them Forever #BabylonBee – U.S. — Entertainment fanatics will soon have something revolutionary to look forward to, as an awesome new streaming service will record movie streams onto shiny discs and give consumers the opportunity to buy them and own them forever.

unitedyam February 4, 2026

U.S. — Entertainment fanatics will soon have something revolutionary to look forward to, as an awesome new streaming service will record movie streams onto shiny discs and give consumers the opportunity to buy them and own them forever.

Picture of the day

Apple orchards after snowfall in Sangla in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. India has the second largest area under apple cultivation in the world and is the fifth largest producer of the fruit globally. More than 90% of India’s apple production comes from just two of its northern Himalayan states: Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. Today is Republic Day in India.
#ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam February 4, 2026

Picture of the day

Apple orchards after snowfall in Sangla in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. India has the second largest area under apple cultivation in the world and is the fifth largest producer of the fruit globally. More than 90% of India’s apple production comes from just two of its northern Himalayan states: Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. Today is Republic Day in India.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

Almighty and eternal God,
You have promised that there will someday be but one fold and one Shepherd.
Hasten that day, we pray You,
in Your most merciful kindness and generosity.
Pour the light of Your grace
into the minds of our non-Catholic friends
so that they may see the truth,
and fully realize that the truth is one and undivided.
Give them also the strength of will
needed to follow in the direction of the light You give them.

Let us, their neighbors and …

International Religious Freedom Summit co-chairs assess current state of global religious liberty – #Catholic – 2026 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit co-chairs Sam Brownback and Katrina Lantos Swett offered a fresh assessment of the current state of global religious liberty and the movement’s growth.The IRF Summit, which concluded in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, is a broad coalition of religious and human rights groups that advocate for religious freedom for all people across the globe. Co-chair Brownback previously served as ambassador at large for international religious freedom during the first Trump administration and Lantos Swett is president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice and a former chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).Assessing the current religious freedom panorama, “we see more countries putting resources into this issue, appointing high-level envoys focused on freedom of religion or belief,” Lantos Swett told EWTN News. “So that’s on the good side of the ledger.”“On the bad side of the ledger, the evidence now is that over 80% of the world’s population live in countries where there is some degree of repression, persecution, and societal and legal imposition on this fundamental human right,” she said.Current concerns right now include what is known as “transnational repression.” She explained: “We increasingly are seeing some of these very bad actors in the world reaching the long hand of violence, threat, intimidation, harassment beyond their national borders.”Lantos Swett detailed China, Iran, and Russia are at the “top of the list” of worst countries when it comes to religious freedom matters.“We’re very concerned about the efforts by the Chinese government to engage in what I would view as a hostile takeover of the Catholic Church by appointing their own bishops and controlling what the Catholic Church is allowed to do in China,” she indicated.There is also present “false propaganda” and even potential issues with artificial intelligence (AI) and how it “will impact for good and for ill, the defense of conscience rights.”Infringement upon religious freedom around the world is “a massive problem,” Brownback said. “It’s probably one of the most abused human rights in the world.”“It happens to all different faiths everywhere. It’s time the world wakes up and pushed us back against this,” Brownback said.Agreeing with Lantos Swett, Brownback said China is “No. 1” when it comes to the worst countries for religious freedom. He also noted Nigeria and the Indian subcontinent.In China, “they oppress their people, but then they also produce the technology that goes out to, we think, nearly 80 countries for oppression,” he said.How religious freedom movement can take actionThose involved in the IRF movement have “been climbing up the backside of the mountain where nobody could see us for a long period of time, and now we’re up at a perch that a lot of people are shooting at us,” Brownback said during a Feb. 2 summit panel.“Now that we’re in the center of the debate and the discussion, we’ve got to act like it. We’ve got to have our factual settings together. We’ve got to be careful and cautious, but bold and courageous,” he said.

Jan Jekielek, senior editor with The Epoch Times, with International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit co-chairs Sam Brownback and Katrina Lantos Swett at the 2026 IRF Summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington, D.C. | Credit: Photo courtesy of IRF Summit

“At the same time, we’ve got to form alliances and pull people in, not just from religious freedom, but also from democracy movements, from security movements to make this … a global movement, a grassroots movement, because that’s where we win as a global grassroots movement.”Lantos Swett expanded further on what the movement needs to do next. She said the cause for religious liberty is bigger than the “politics of the day.” The cause “is more profound and ultimately more unifying than the many things that pull us apart.”“We have become deeply divided, deeply hostile towards those who don’t agree with us politically or on some other criteria. But Ambassador Brownback and I certainly have felt that as it relates to the fight to defend religious freedom for everyone everywhere, it is of paramount importance that this remain really not just a bipartisan cause but a nonpartisan cause,” she said.The “movement is growing” in part to “an unease about the pervasive nihilism we see in the world around us,” Lantos Swett said. “You know, nihilism, this philosophy, either moral nihilism, there’s no such thing as right and wrong. Or as existential nihilism, life itself has no meaning, no purpose. It’s a terrible way to live. It’s a terrible way for a community and a society to feel.”“I do think, especially maybe even among young people, that you sense that they’re moving away from that somewhat aimless and nihilistic view of life and searching for something more meaningful.”“I hope that that will also help us recruit a new generation of leaders to this movement because they are starting to understand how important it is to have a defining purpose and sense of meaning and consequence to your life,” she said.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

As the sixth annual International Religious Freedom Summit wrapped up in Washington, D.C., the organization’s co-chairs addressed the current state of global religious liberty.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

From the Second Book of Samuel
2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17

King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him,
“Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba
and register the people, that I may know their number.”
Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered:
in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service;
in Judah, five hundred thousand.

Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people,
and said to the LORD:
“I have sinned grievously in what I have done.
But now, LORD, forgive the guilt of your servant,
for I have been very foolish.”
When David rose in the morning,
the LORD had spoken to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying:
“Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says:
I offer you three alternatives;
choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.’”
Gad then went to David to inform him.
He asked: “Do you want a three years’ famine to come upon your land,
or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you,
or to have a three days’ pestilence in your land?
Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me.”
David answered Gad: “I am in very serious difficulty.
Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful;
but let me not fall by the hand of man.”
Thus David chose the pestilence.
Now it was the time of the wheat harvest
when the plague broke out among the people.
The LORD then sent a pestilence over Israel
from morning until the time appointed,
and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba died.
But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it,
the LORD regretted the calamity
and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people,
“Enough now! Stay your hand.”
The angel of the LORD was then standing
at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
When David saw the angel who was striking the people,
he said to the LORD: “It is I who have sinned;
it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong.
But these are sheep; what have they done?
Punish me and my kindred.”

From the Gospel according to Mark
6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,
accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

We may ask ourselves: why do Jesus’ fellow townsmen go from astonishment to disbelief? They make a comparison between Jesus’ humble origins and his current abilities: he is a carpenter; he did not study and yet he preaches better than the scribes and he performs miracles. And instead of opening up to the reality, they take offence. According to the people of Nazareth, God is too great to humble himself to speak through such a simple man! It is the scandal of the Incarnation: the unsettling event of a God made flesh who thinks with the mind of a man, works and acts with the hands of a man, loves with a human heart, a God who struggles, eats and sleeps like one of us. The Son of God overturns every human framework: it is not the disciples who washed the feet of the Lord, but it is the Lord who washed the feet of the disciples (cf. Jn 13:1-20). This is a reason for scandal and incredulity, not only in that period, but in all ages, even today.

The radical change Jesus brought about commits his disciples of both yesterday and today to a personal and community [self] examination. Indeed, even in our day it can happen that we harbour some prejudices that prevent us from seeing reality. But, today, the Lord asks us to adopt an attitude of humble listening and docile expectation because God’s grace often manifests itself in surprising ways that do not match our expectations. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 8 July 2018)

U.S. solicitor general backs Colorado Catholics in dispute over universal preschool program – #Catholic – The United States solicitor general urged the Supreme Court to stop Colorado from excluding Catholic schools from the state’s universal preschool (UPK) program in a brief on Friday.The 25-page amicus brief, submitted by Solicitor General John Sauer, Principal Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris, and Assistant to the Solicitor General Emily Hall, asked the Supreme Court to consider the religious discrimination case.The friend-of-the-court brief is the latest development in the yearslong legal troubles that religious preschools wanting to be involved in the UPK have faced. The UPK program pledges to provide tuition assistance to families for qualifying preschools, but several religious preschools have been excluded from the program due to its requirements related to its equal opportunity mandate.Most recently, the U.S Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld the UPK program in spite of alleged religious discrimination against faith-based preschools. In response, the parish-run preschools and the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver are appealing to the Supreme Court.The solicitor general’s brief highlighted the “severity of the court of appeals’ error.” The solicitor general noted that the UPK gives some exemptions from its equal access requirements to secular schools while withholding exemptions from religious schools.“Colorado’s exemptions allow differential treatment for some groups, e.g., low-income families or disabled children, but not others. Having departed from universal even-handedness, Colorado cannot claim that allowing Catholic preschools to apply a preference based on Catholic teachings on sexual orientation and gender identity would uniquely undermine its law,” the brief read.“Granting review in this case would allow this court to provide useful guidance on a subject that lower courts frequently confront,” the brief stated.Becket, the religious liberty legal group arguing the case, welcomed the brief.“The solicitor general’s filing in this case signals to the court just how egregious, illegal, and dangerous Colorado’s discrimination is,” Nick Reaves, senior counsel at Becket and lead attorney for the preschools and families, said in a statement.“The state is labeling a program ‘universal’ and then banning religious families and schools from it because of their faith,” Reaves continued. “If that kind of exclusion is allowed to stand, no religious group is safe from being pushed out of public life.”Twenty other parties have filed friend-of-the-court briefs on behalf of the preschools since December 2025, including Thomas More Society, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Notre Dame Education Law Project, and West Virginia and 21 other states.“Our preschools exist to help parents who want an education rooted in the Catholic faith for their children,” said Scott Elmer, chief mission officer for the Archdiocese of Denver, in a November 2025 statement. “All we ask is for the ability to offer families who choose a Catholic education the same access to free preschool services that’s available at thousands of other preschools across Colorado.”“We’re grateful the solicitor general recognized what’s at stake here and added his voice to a growing chorus urging the Supreme Court to hear this case,” Reaves concluded.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

The United States solicitor general urged the Supreme Court to stop Colorado from excluding Catholic schools from the state’s universal preschool (UPK) program.

Bishops warn that Cuba risks social chaos if urgent changes are not made – #Catholic – The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC, by its Spanish acronym) warned that the country risks descending into social chaos and violence if increasingly urgent structural changes are not implemented.The Catholic Church’s warning came in a message released on Jan. 31, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose extraordinary tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba.Venezuela had stopped exporting oil to Cuba in November 2025, and with the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January and the pressure on the socialist regime that is still in place, a resumption of these exports is unlikely.Russia and Algeria stopped sending fuel to the Cuban regime in October and February 2025, respectively, leaving Mexico as the only remaining supplier, with its last shipment arriving in early January.The fuel shortage is stifling the already struggling Cuban economy, and according to statements reported by the Financial Times, Victoria Grabenwöger, an analyst at the market research firm Kpler, stated late last week that Cuba’s remaining reserves “could last 15 to 20 days.”The bishops recalled that in their June 15, 2025, message they had already called for “the structural, social, economic, and political changes that Cuba needs” to save it from the dire situation it has been facing for several years.The prelates noted at the time that they did not imagine “that things could get any worse,” yet, “the situation has deteriorated, and anguish and despair have intensified.”Furthermore, “recent news, which announces, among other things, the elimination of any possibility of oil entering the country, is raising alarms, especially for the least fortunate. The risk of social chaos and violence among the sons and daughters of the same nation is real. No Cuban of goodwill would rejoice at this,” the bishops said.The COCC stated that “Cuba needs changes, and they are becoming increasingly urgent, but it certainly doesn’t need any more anguish or suffering” for its people. The conference therefore expressed gratitude for the aid that arrived from the U.S. government and was distributed through the Catholic Church to those affected by Hurricane Melissa.On Jan. 30, the president of the COCC, Bishop Arturo Gonzalez Amador, and Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García met with the head of mission at the U.S. Embassy, Mike Hammer, who wrote on X that “if everything goes well and the aid is reaching those most in need, the Trump administration is ready to send more assistance.”In their message, the bishops also addressed relations between states. “The unwavering position of the pope and the Holy See, consistent with international law, is that governments should be able to resolve their disagreements and conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, not coercion or war,” they stated.However, they also said that “respect for the dignity and exercise of freedom of every human being within their own nation cannot be subject to or conditioned by the variables of external conflicts.”The bishops urged that “the good of Cuba be placed above partisan interests” and assured that the Catholic Church will continue to accompany the people, especially the most vulnerable, also offering “its willingness, if requested, to help de-escalate hostilities between the parties and create spaces for fruitful collaboration for the common good.”Pope Leo XIV addressed the rising tensions between Cuba and the United States at the end of the Feb. 1 Angelus, expressing his concern and echoing the bishops’ message he invited “all responsible parties to promote a sincere and effective dialogue, in order to avoid violence and every action that could increase the suffering of the dear Cuban people.”A situation more serious than during the ‘Special Period’Osvaldo Gallardo, a Cuban writer and analyst residing in the United States, stated that during the 40 years he lived on the island, he never experienced a crisis “like the one being experienced now,” with prolonged power outages, food shortages, the collapse of basic services, and a greater lack of freedom.He said that this social and economic situation can be considered worse than the one that occurred during the so-called “Special Period” of 1991–1994, which followed the collapse of the Soviet Union — which economically supported the island — and the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.“During the Special Period, it was difficult, but there was more of a sense of transiency. It was very difficult, but there was still a structure that responded to a reality that had been more stable; not better, but more stable,” he explained to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.However, he noted that now the anthropological damage in Cuba “is real and evident,” and “all the human capital has been dissolved.” Furthermore, “this period is already lasting longer, from 2020 to 2026, since the pandemic,” and the country is not recovering.“That suffering did not begin with sanctions; it began with an exhausted model and a power structure that refuses to relinquish control,” Gallardo added in a post on Facebook.In this regard, he said that the bishops’ message “is a moral warning issued when the deterioration is reaching dangerous levels and the risk of social chaos ceases to be a hypothesis.”However, he noted that the communist regime “is not going to engage in dialogue,” just as it “hasn’t done so in more than six decades.” He pointed out that for the dictatorship, dialogue “has always been a strategy to buy time, not to change the country.”“It must be said unequivocally: The dictatorship has to go,” Gallardo stated. “Cuba needs urgent changes. It doesn’t need more useless sacrifices or a false peace bought at the price of resignation. True peace is not the absence of conflict: It is justice. And when injustice is prolonged in the name of order, what is being protected is not peace, but abuse,” 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.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba warned that the country risks descending into social chaos and violence if urgent structural changes are not made.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

The FAA has warned pilots to be prepared to “exercise extreme caution” when flying below the trajectory of commercial spacecraft — some of which have the potential for “catastrophic failures resulting in debris fields.” That is the language used in a recent Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO), dated Jan. 8, that is intended to provide guidance toContinue reading “FAA warns ‘catastrophic’ spaceflight mishaps pose threat to aircraft”

The post FAA warns ‘catastrophic’ spaceflight mishaps pose threat to aircraft appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

JUST IN: House Passes Trump-Backed Bill to End Partial Government Shutdown with 2 Week DHS Funding – 21 Republicans Voted No –
The House of Representatives has voted 217-214 to partially fund the government and end the partial shutdown. The bill now heads to Trump’s desk, and he is expected to sign it today.
The post JUST IN: House Passes Trump-Backed Bill to End Partial Government Shutdown with 2 Week DHS Funding – 21 Republicans Voted No appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

Image of a U.S. House session showing voting results on Senate amendments for HR 7148, with party breakdowns and time remaining displayed prominently.

The House of Representatives has voted 217-214 to partially fund the government and end the partial shutdown. The bill now heads to Trump’s desk, and he is expected to sign it today.

The post JUST IN: House Passes Trump-Backed Bill to End Partial Government Shutdown with 2 Week DHS Funding – 21 Republicans Voted No appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

BIG UPDATE: Todd Blanche Did Not Notify White House He Removed Ed Martin from Weaponization Group – Even Though Trump Personally Hired Martin for the Job –
On Monday The Gateway Pundit’s Cristina Laila reported that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche fired Ed Martin as Chief of the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group.
The post BIG UPDATE: Todd Blanche Did Not Notify White House He Removed Ed Martin from Weaponization Group – Even Though Trump Personally Hired Martin for the Job appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

On Monday The Gateway Pundit’s Cristina Laila reported that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche fired Ed Martin as Chief of the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group.

The post BIG UPDATE: Todd Blanche Did Not Notify White House He Removed Ed Martin from Weaponization Group – Even Though Trump Personally Hired Martin for the Job appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

ICE Arrests Illegal Alien New Orleans Police Department Recruit Who Was Illegally Given a Gun –
ICE agents arrested an illegal alien, a New Orleans Police Department recruit, who was illegally given a gun.
The post ICE Arrests Illegal Alien New Orleans Police Department Recruit Who Was Illegally Given a Gun appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

Law enforcement officers apprehend an individual during an operation, with police vehicles and a residential area in the background.

ICE agents arrested an illegal alien, a New Orleans Police Department recruit, who was illegally given a gun.

The post ICE Arrests Illegal Alien New Orleans Police Department Recruit Who Was Illegally Given a Gun appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Department of Justice investigates vandalism at California Catholic school #Catholic Federal officials are investigating after a Los Angeles-area Catholic school was targeted in a major act of vandalism that included the beheading of a statue of the Blessed Mother. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said on X on Feb. 2 that the Department of Justice’s civil rights division “will open an investigation into [the] awful crime” against Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach.TweetCyril Cruz, the principal of the school, told EWTN News that she came into the school early on the morning of Feb. 2 and discovered the vandalism in the hall where the school holds Mass. “Our statue of the Virgin Mary was smashed, and the tabernacle was removed and thrown to the floor in an apparent attempt to force it open,” she said. “The atrium lovingly prepared by the Carmelite Sisters for our scholars was completely destroyed.” “Audio equipment and lighting were ripped from the walls, speakers and instruments loaded onto carts, and the missals our students use daily were soaked and ruined.” Photos shared with EWTN News showed the vandalization in multiple rooms, including the destroyed statue, overturned shelves, scattered papers and Mass materials, and other scenes of destruction.

Destruction is seen at Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach, California, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Holy Innocents Catholic School

Cruz said Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Marc Trudeau was scheduled to hold a reparation Mass at the school on Feb. 3. The pastor of Holy Innocents Catholic Church and School, Father Peter Irving, was also scheduled to lead a Eucharistic procession around the school “as we entrust our community to Christ and respond with prayer, faith, and hope.”Irving told EWTN News that the community was “very sad,” though they were “very grateful” that the Blessed Sacrament was “not violated,” he said. “The tabernacle was not breached although it was left damaged,” he said. “Investigators said that this was the worst desecration that they have seen.”

Missals are tipped over and thrown around at Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach, California, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Holy Innocents Catholic School

The vandalism has received national media coverage. A GoFundMe campaign, meanwhile, had raised nearly $76,000 by the morning of Feb. 3. That campaign said Trudeau described the incident as “the worst case of vandalism that he’s ever seen in the region.”Still, Cruz said, amid the destruction, “our community came together — scholars, families, and Knights of Columbus — to clean, restore, and prepare the hall so that Mass could once again be celebrated.” “Yesterday, our school community gathered in prayer to pray the rosary for healing and also for the conversion and mercy for those who committed this act,” she added. “We are grateful no one was physically harmed, and we are responding as a faith community with prayer, reparation, and trust in Christ,” she said.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

The DOJ’s civil rights division will investigate the “awful crime” at Holy Innocents Catholic School.

Astronomers Are Watching This New ‘Great Comet’ That Could Light Up the Night Sky This April—Here’s How to See It #Travel Comet C/2025 R3 may reach rare brightness levels, offering a spectacular (and unpredictable) show before sunrise.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

Comet C/2025 R3 may reach rare brightness levels, offering a spectacular (and unpredictable) show before sunrise.

NASA’s Orion Spacecraft at Launch Pad – NASA’s Orion spacecraft sits atop the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the launch pad after rollout on Jan. 17, 2026.

unitedyam February 3, 2026

NASA’s Orion spacecraft sits atop the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the launch pad after rollout on Jan. 17, 2026.

Roomful Of Pedophiles Protest ICE Deporting Pedophiles #BabylonBee – LOS ANGELES, CA — A room full of pedophiles in attendance at Sunday night’s Grammys ceremony defiantly protested Trump’s deportation of pedophiles.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA — A room full of pedophiles in attendance at Sunday night’s Grammys ceremony defiantly protested Trump’s deportation of pedophiles.

Peter Dinklage Receives Little Praise After Taking Short Time To Recite Small Poem #BabylonBee – NEW YORK, NY — Actor Peter Dinklage was reportedly a wee bit annoyed and expressed slight disappointment that he received little praise from the general public after taking a short time to recite a small poem at an anti-ICE protest over the weekend.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

NEW YORK, NY — Actor Peter Dinklage was reportedly a wee bit annoyed and expressed slight disappointment that he received little praise from the general public after taking a short time to recite a small poem at an anti-ICE protest over the weekend.

Picture of the day

Window in a former joinery workshop in Beilstein, Germany. Hop has grown into the workshop and has draped its tendrils before this window.
#ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam February 2, 2026

Picture of the day

Window in a former joinery workshop in Beilstein, Germany. Hop has grown into the workshop and has draped its tendrils before this window.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to You. Allow your healing hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in my need, and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life …

unitedyam February 2, 2026

A readin from the Second Book of Samuel
2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30–19:3

Absalom unexpectedly came up against David’s servants.
He was mounted on a mule,
and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large terebinth,
his hair caught fast in the tree.
He hung between heaven and earth
while the mule he had been riding ran off.
Someone saw this and reported to Joab
that he had seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth.
And taking three pikes in hand,
he thrust for the heart of Absalom,
still hanging from the tree alive.

Now David was sitting between the two gates,
and a lookout went up to the roof of the gate above the city wall,
where he looked about and saw a man running all alone.
The lookout shouted to inform the king, who said,
"If he is alone, he has good news to report."
The king said, "Step aside and remain in attendance here."
So he stepped aside and remained there.
When the Cushite messenger came in, he said,
"Let my lord the king receive the good news
that this day the LORD has taken your part,
freeing you from the grasp of all who rebelled against you."
But the king asked the Cushite, "Is young Absalom safe?"
The Cushite replied, "May the enemies of my lord the king
and all who rebel against you with evil intent
be as that young man!"

The king was shaken,
and went up to the room over the city gate to weep.
He said as he wept,
"My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!
If only I had died instead of you,
Absalom, my son, my son!"

Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom;
and that day’s victory was turned into mourning for the whole army
when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.

From the Gospel according to Mark
5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat
to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
"My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live."
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured."
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"
But his disciples said to him,
"You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, Who touched me?"
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
"Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
"Do not be afraid; just have faith."
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
"Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep."
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"
which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.

Around Jesus there is a large crowd, and therefore many people were touching him, and yet nothing happens to them. Instead, when this woman touches Jesus, she is healed. Where does the difference lie? In his commentary on this point of the text, Saint Augustine says – in Jesus’ name – “The crowd jostles, faith touches” (Sermon 243, 2, 2). It is thus: every time we perform an act of faith addressed to Jesus, contact is established with Him, and immediately his grace comes out from Him. At times we are unaware of it, but in a secret and real way, grace reaches us and gradually transforms our life from within. (…)

In the meantime, the father receives the news that his daughter is dead. Jesus says to him: “Do not be afraid; just have faith” (v. 36). He then goes to the house and, seeing that everyone is weeping and wailing, says: “The child is not dead but asleep” (v. 39). He enters the chamber where the child is lying, takes her hand, and says to her: “Talità kum”, “Little girl, arise!”. The girl stands up and starts to walk (cf. vv. 41-42). Jesus’ act shows us that not only does He heal from every illness, but He also awakens from death. For God, who is eternal Life, death of the body is like sleep. True death is that of the soul: of this we must be afraid!

One last detail: Jesus, after reviving the child, tells the parents to give her something to eat (cf. v. 43). Here is another very concrete sign of Jesus’ closeness to our humanity. But we can also understand it in a deeper sense, and ask ourselves: when our children are in crisis and need spiritual nourishment, do we know how to give it to them? And how can we, if we ourselves are not nourished by the Gospel? (Pope Leo XIV, General Audience, 25 June 2025)

Proclaiming the Gospel of Life: Pope Leo XIV, Bishop James Conley, Cardinals Cupich, McElroy, and Tobin #Catholic – “… Life, in fact, is a priceless gift that develops within a committed relationship based on mutual self-giving and service. In light of this profound vision of life as a gift to be cherished, and of the family as its responsible guardian, we categorically reject any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its development …”
– Address of Pope Leo XIV to Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See, Jan. 9, 2026

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

As I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 53rd annual National March for Life, I was thinking, praying, and reflecting on the “Pro-Life Movement” in our country and in our Church at this time, in January of 2026. While I believe and am concerned that our efforts to build a “Culture of Life” may have lost some of the energy and enthusiasm that they seem to have had 10 or 20 years ago, I was also looking forward to attending the March for Life, which always has been able to lift my spirits, in different ways, especially by the ever-growing presence at the March of young people of high school and college age, who are often called the “Pro-Life Generation.”
Almost since the beginning, since the first March for Life (on Jan. 22, 1974), there has also been a “National Prayer Vigil for Life” on the night before the March, held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The “Vigil for Life” begins with a concelebrated Mass at the basilica at 5 p.m. For the last few years, I have been able to travel to Washington on the day before the March and concelebrate the Vigil Mass. This year, the main celebrant and homilist for the Vigil Mass was Bishop James Conley, bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska. Bishop Conley’s homily, along with the basilica being “standing room only” and filled with young people, was “just what I needed to hear (and see)” to lift my spirits.
I encourage you to take the time to either read or listen to (and watch) Bishop Conley’s homily.

Here is a link to the Text of the homily.
In the homily, Bishop Conley quoted a recent address by Pope Leo XIV, the same address, to the Diplomatic Corps, quoted above. Bishop Conley said:
“…our brothers and sisters in the womb are the most vulnerable and most voiceless of victims. In most other cases of injustice, those who are threatened can speak out for themselves and have at least some power to defend themselves, some form of advocacy. Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has recently spoken out along these same lines in his speech to the diplomats accredited to the Holy See on Jan. 9 in his State of the World address. In his speech, he confirms the importance of abortion as the preeminent priority when he says, “We firmly reiterate that the protection of the right to life constitutes the indispensable foundation of every human right.”
On the morning of the March for Life (Friday, Jan. 23), I was privileged to celebrate two Masses. One was at 8 a.m. for members of the Order of Malta, and the second, at noon, was for our diocesan “contingent,” two buses from St. Paul’s Inside the Walls and a bus from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary parish in Passaic. In between the two Masses, I was “catching up on some news” and was able to read a statement that had been issued the previous Monday (Jan. 19) by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington, and Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark.
I strongly encourage readers to click on the link below so that you can read the statement and also hear from each of the cardinals how listening to Pope Leo’s address to the Diplomatic Corps led them to issue the statement. Cardinal Cupich said: “… Pope Leo has given us clear direction and we must apply his teachings to the conduct of our nation and its leaders.”
Cardinal Tobin said: “Recent events, including participation in last week’s consistory in Rome with Pope Leo and brother cardinals from across the world, convince me of the need to underscore the vision of Pope Leo for just and peaceful relations among nations…”
Three Catholic Cardinals Issue Rare Joint Statement on the Morality of U.S. Foreign Policy
I hope that readers will take the time, not only to read the brief (six paragraph) statement from the three cardinals, speaking “as pastors and citizens,” but that each of us will consider the ways in which we are being called to proclaim the Gospel of Life and, as Bishop Conley recalled the words of St. Pope John Paul II, “build a Culture of Life and Civilization of Love.” These are challenging days and times for our country, our Church, and our world. I write these words on the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time. I hope and pray that the words of today’s Gospel, from the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount are “taking root” in the good soil of our hearts and lives, as we remember, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied … Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Mt. 5:1-12a)

unitedyam February 2, 2026

Proclaiming the Gospel of Life: Pope Leo XIV, Bishop James Conley, Cardinals Cupich, McElroy, and Tobin #Catholic –

“… Life, in fact, is a priceless gift that develops within a committed relationship based on mutual self-giving and service. In light of this profound vision of life as a gift to be cherished, and of the family as its responsible guardian, we categorically reject any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its development …”

– Address of Pope Leo XIV to Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See, Jan. 9, 2026

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

As I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 53rd annual National March for Life, I was thinking, praying, and reflecting on the “Pro-Life Movement” in our country and in our Church at this time, in January of 2026. While I believe and am concerned that our efforts to build a “Culture of Life” may have lost some of the energy and enthusiasm that they seem to have had 10 or 20 years ago, I was also looking forward to attending the March for Life, which always has been able to lift my spirits, in different ways, especially by the ever-growing presence at the March of young people of high school and college age, who are often called the “Pro-Life Generation.”

Almost since the beginning, since the first March for Life (on Jan. 22, 1974), there has also been a “National Prayer Vigil for Life” on the night before the March, held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The “Vigil for Life” begins with a concelebrated Mass at the basilica at 5 p.m. For the last few years, I have been able to travel to Washington on the day before the March and concelebrate the Vigil Mass. This year, the main celebrant and homilist for the Vigil Mass was Bishop James Conley, bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska. Bishop Conley’s homily, along with the basilica being “standing room only” and filled with young people, was “just what I needed to hear (and see)” to lift my spirits.

I encourage you to take the time to either read or listen to (and watch) Bishop Conley’s homily.

Here is a link to the Text of the homily.

In the homily, Bishop Conley quoted a recent address by Pope Leo XIV, the same address, to the Diplomatic Corps, quoted above. Bishop Conley said:

“…our brothers and sisters in the womb are the most vulnerable and most voiceless of victims. In most other cases of injustice, those who are threatened can speak out for themselves and have at least some power to defend themselves, some form of advocacy. Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has recently spoken out along these same lines in his speech to the diplomats accredited to the Holy See on Jan. 9 in his State of the World address. In his speech, he confirms the importance of abortion as the preeminent priority when he says, “We firmly reiterate that the protection of the right to life constitutes the indispensable foundation of every human right.”

On the morning of the March for Life (Friday, Jan. 23), I was privileged to celebrate two Masses. One was at 8 a.m. for members of the Order of Malta, and the second, at noon, was for our diocesan “contingent,” two buses from St. Paul’s Inside the Walls and a bus from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary parish in Passaic. In between the two Masses, I was “catching up on some news” and was able to read a statement that had been issued the previous Monday (Jan. 19) by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington, and Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark.

I strongly encourage readers to click on the link below so that you can read the statement and also hear from each of the cardinals how listening to Pope Leo’s address to the Diplomatic Corps led them to issue the statement. Cardinal Cupich said: “… Pope Leo has given us clear direction and we must apply his teachings to the conduct of our nation and its leaders.”

Cardinal Tobin said: “Recent events, including participation in last week’s consistory in Rome with Pope Leo and brother cardinals from across the world, convince me of the need to underscore the vision of Pope Leo for just and peaceful relations among nations…”

Three Catholic Cardinals Issue Rare Joint Statement on the Morality of U.S. Foreign Policy

I hope that readers will take the time, not only to read the brief (six paragraph) statement from the three cardinals, speaking “as pastors and citizens,” but that each of us will consider the ways in which we are being called to proclaim the Gospel of Life and, as Bishop Conley recalled the words of St. Pope John Paul II, “build a Culture of Life and Civilization of Love.” These are challenging days and times for our country, our Church, and our world. I write these words on the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time. I hope and pray that the words of today’s Gospel, from the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount are “taking root” in the good soil of our hearts and lives, as we remember, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied … Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Mt. 5:1-12a)

– “… Life, in fact, is a priceless gift that develops within a committed relationship based on mutual self-giving and service. In light of this profound vision of life as a gift to be cherished, and of the family as its responsible guardian, we categorically reject any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its development …” – Address of Pope Leo XIV to Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See, Jan. 9, 2026 BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY As I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 53rd annual National March for Life, I was thinking,

This East Coast Ski Resort Has 403 Acres of Terrain and Family-friendly Runs—and It’s Just 2 Hours From Boston #Travel Looking for big-mountain skiing close to Boston? Look no further than Loon Mountain in New Hampshire.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

Looking for big-mountain skiing close to Boston? Look no further than Loon Mountain in New Hampshire.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

Mission Highlight: Artemis 2 NASA is targeting no earlier than Sunday, Feb. 8, for the launch of the historic Artemis 2 mission. The ten-day journey will be the first time astronauts have visited the moon since 1972’s Apollo 17. The four-person crew — consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CanadianContinue reading “NASA preparing to launch Artemis 2 as early as Sunday”

The post NASA preparing to launch Artemis 2 as early as Sunday appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Search Underway for Mother of ‘Today’ Anchor Savannah Guthrie, Police Found ‘Very Concerning’ Crime Scene at Her Arizona Home, Homicide Detectives Investigating –
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been reported missing, and law enforcement described the scene they encountered at her Arizona home as “very concerning.” Homicide detectives were sent in, which is not standard practice in a missing person case, and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said that the house is a crime scene.
The post Search Underway for Mother of ‘Today’ Anchor Savannah Guthrie, Police Found ‘Very Concerning’ Crime Scene at Her Arizona Home, Homicide Detectives Investigating appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

Smiling woman in a blue vest poses with a black dog on a couch, while another woman appears thoughtfully on a news broadcast.

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been reported missing, and law enforcement described the scene they encountered at her Arizona home as “very concerning.” Homicide detectives were sent in, which is not standard practice in a missing person case, and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said that the house is a crime scene.

The post Search Underway for Mother of ‘Today’ Anchor Savannah Guthrie, Police Found ‘Very Concerning’ Crime Scene at Her Arizona Home, Homicide Detectives Investigating appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Anti-ICE Resistance Manuals and Training at Schools Receiving Federal Funding –
Minnesota ICE Watch, the organization that Renee Good and her wife were members of, distributed a document known as the “De-Arrest Primer,” which instructs activists on how to physically interfere with law enforcement officers during arrests.
The post Anti-ICE Resistance Manuals and Training at Schools Receiving Federal Funding appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

Ice Watch Training event poster highlighting skills for spotting ICE presence, rapid response networking, and non-violent action, scheduled for October 19th at a local high school.

Minnesota ICE Watch, the organization that Renee Good and her wife were members of, distributed a document known as the “De-Arrest Primer,” which instructs activists on how to physically interfere with law enforcement officers during arrests.

The post Anti-ICE Resistance Manuals and Training at Schools Receiving Federal Funding appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Is Methylene Blue the Secret Weapon for Fighting Alzheimers and Keeping Your Brain Young? –
(Note: Thank you for supporting businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message below and working with them through the links below which benefits Gateway Pundit.
The post Is Methylene Blue the Secret Weapon for Fighting Alzheimers and Keeping Your Brain Young? appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

(Note: Thank you for supporting businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message below and working with them through the links below which benefits Gateway Pundit.

The post Is Methylene Blue the Secret Weapon for Fighting Alzheimers and Keeping Your Brain Young? appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam February 2, 2026

Tony Meléndez inspires students at St. Vincent Martyr School during Catholic Schools Week #Catholic –

Students at St. Vincent Martyr School welcomed internationally known musician and speaker Tony Meléndez during a special assembly held Jan. 27 as part of Catholic Schools Week.

The assembly brought together students across grade levels, with younger students seated alongside their older-grade buddies. Meléndez performed several songs, playing the guitar with his feet. Born without arms, he is an accomplished guitarist, singer, and composer whose music and message focus on perseverance, faith, and believing in one’s God-given abilities.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Meléndez and his brother, José, also spoke about the unkindness Tony faced as a child and how both brothers learned to overcome adversity through resilience, faith, and love. José shared a childhood story in which he once wished for a brother who could play Frisbee with him. Their mother’s response — “Love him the way he is” — became a turning point.

Not long after, Tony invited his brother to play Frisbee. José threw the Frisbee, and Tony caught it under his chin, flipped it to his foot, and sent it back into the air. The brothers later re-created that moment during the assembly, drawing applause from students and staff.

Meléndez also shared a video clip of himself performing for St. Pope John Paul II, who was so moved by the performance that he descended from his viewing box to greet and bless him.

The assembly concluded with students offering prayer intentions for family members, friends, and those in need, reinforcing the message of compassion and community central to Catholic Schools Week.

Click here for more information about St. Vincent Martyr School.

– Students at St. Vincent Martyr School welcomed internationally known musician and speaker Tony Meléndez during a special assembly held Jan. 27 as part of Catholic Schools Week. The assembly brought together students across grade levels, with younger students seated alongside their older-grade buddies. Meléndez performed several songs, playing the guitar with his feet. Born without arms, he is an accomplished guitarist, singer, and composer whose music and message focus on perseverance, faith, and believing in one’s God-given abilities. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Meléndez and his brother, José, also spoke about the unkindness Tony faced as a

unitedyam February 2, 2026

New memoir explores growing up Catholic in a Jewish New Jersey neighborhood #Catholic –

How does someone survive childhood in a cramped Cape Cod with ten siblings, a father who could intimidate a grizzly, and a mother with a dangerously sharp sense of humor? Author Joe Brizek answers that question in his riotous new memoir, “A Catholic Kid from a Jewish Neighborhood, Snapshots of a Jersey Childhood” to be released on Amazon on March 26.

Set against the backdrop of the 1960s and ’70s, Brizek’s story is a “cultural exchange program” he never signed up for. Navigating life as a Catholic kid in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, he balances the chaos of a sibling swarm large enough to field a football team with the daily tightrope walk of faith, fear, and adolescence.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Told through a series of vivid, youth-tinted snapshots, the memoir captures the swings from hilarity to heartbreak. Brizek wanders the wilderness of juvenile insecurity, ultimately finding his footing before stumbling across the high school graduation finish line.

“If you’ve ever been part of a big family or survived adolescence with your sanity intact, this book is the best family reunion you never knew you needed,” says Brizek.

Joe Brizek’s debut memoir offers a nostalgic yet honest look at the neighborhoods and families that shape us.

– How does someone survive childhood in a cramped Cape Cod with ten siblings, a father who could intimidate a grizzly, and a mother with a dangerously sharp sense of humor? Author Joe Brizek answers that question in his riotous new memoir, “A Catholic Kid from a Jewish Neighborhood, Snapshots of a Jersey Childhood” to be released on Amazon on March 26. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s and ’70s, Brizek’s story is a “cultural exchange program” he never signed up for. Navigating life as a Catholic kid in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, he balances the chaos of a sibling

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