Maine high court says father can prevent daughter from attending mother’s church – #Catholic – A Maine father will be allowed to prevent his daughter from attending a local Christian church with her mother, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said in a ruling this week. The decision from the high court upheld a lower court ruling in favor of Matthew Bradeen that found it was “psychologically unsafe” for Emily Bickford to take their daughter to Calvary Chapel in the Portland region. The young girl reportedly suffered from panic attacks and psychological distress after attending the church; she reportedly became fixated on the rapture (an end-times belief held by some Christians) as well.The Maine high court said in its ruling that at one point the church’s pastor openly prayed about the dispute between Bickford and Bradeen, including referencing both the parents and the child “by name almost 30 times.” The court dismissed Bickford’s constitutional claims in the dispute. The father “is better suited to determine whether certain religious activities are in the child’s best interest,” it held. In a press release, the legal group Liberty Counsel, which represented Bickford in the dispute, said it would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case. Mat Staver, the group’s chair, said the ruling “rejects the First Amendment right” of Bickford and goes against U.S. court precedent. “Depriving one parent their right to instill their religious views into their child and granting sole authority to the other parent fails to give proper protection to parental rights and religious freedom under the First Amendment,” Staver argued. He claimed that the ruling “pose[s] a serious threat to religious freedom” in the U.S.
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Maine high court says father can prevent daughter from attending mother’s church – #Catholic – A Maine father will be allowed to prevent his daughter from attending a local Christian church with her mother, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said in a ruling this week. The decision from the high court upheld a lower court ruling in favor of Matthew Bradeen that found it was “psychologically unsafe” for Emily Bickford to take their daughter to Calvary Chapel in the Portland region. The young girl reportedly suffered from panic attacks and psychological distress after attending the church; she reportedly became fixated on the rapture (an end-times belief held by some Christians) as well.The Maine high court said in its ruling that at one point the church’s pastor openly prayed about the dispute between Bickford and Bradeen, including referencing both the parents and the child “by name almost 30 times.” The court dismissed Bickford’s constitutional claims in the dispute. The father “is better suited to determine whether certain religious activities are in the child’s best interest,” it held. In a press release, the legal group Liberty Counsel, which represented Bickford in the dispute, said it would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case. Mat Staver, the group’s chair, said the ruling “rejects the First Amendment right” of Bickford and goes against U.S. court precedent. “Depriving one parent their right to instill their religious views into their child and granting sole authority to the other parent fails to give proper protection to parental rights and religious freedom under the First Amendment,” Staver argued. He claimed that the ruling “pose[s] a serious threat to religious freedom” in the U.S.

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The mother will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court over the ruling from the state court, attorneys said.

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Cardinal Cupich, Catholic religious sisters sue Illinois to halt assisted suicide law – #Catholic – A coalition of religious sisters has joined Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich in suing the state of Illinois to prevent enforcement of its assisted suicide law.The law, which was signed by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in December 2025, allows doctors in the state to prescribe lethal doses of medication to patients in order to help them end their own lives. Among other rules, patients must have a terminal illness in order to qualify for receiving help to kill themselves. The rule has received strong criticism from Catholic bishops in the state. On Sept. 3, meanwhile, the religious liberty law firm Becket announced that Cupich and two orders of religious sisters had filed a lawsuit against the state seeking to halt enforcement of the law against the Catholic plaintiffs. The suit, filed in U.S. district court, argues that the sisters — who belong to the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and the Little Sisters of the Poor — will be forced to either “abandon their religious beliefs regarding the sanctity of life or face significant fines and penalties” if they refuse to participate in the suicide regime. The suit notes that by Sept. 12, healthcare providers in Illinois, including the sisters through their care homes, will have to proactively discuss the “option” to commit suicide with those in their care. Caregivers will also “have to allow patients to commit suicide in their facilities,” the suit says. The suit argues that the First Amendment prohibits the state from requiring the Catholic caregivers to violate their faith by participating in the suicide regime. In a statement announcing the filing, Cupich said the Catholic Church “oppose[s] efforts to undermine human dignity by pushing our brothers and sisters toward suicide.” “We pray that the courts will protect our freedom to continue advocating and caring for the sick and dying as our faith demands,” he said. Mother Mary Rose Heery, O. Carm., prioress general of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, said patients in their care “come to us at one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives” and that the sisters have a vocation “to give witness to them, through everything we do, that their lives remain precious and that they will never be abandoned.” “Illinois cannot ask us to replace that promise with help ending their lives,” she said. Becket President Mark Rienzi described the suicide law’s provisions as “awful.” “The state should stop trying to make Catholic nuns help patients kill themselves,” he said, arguing that sick patients “deserve the freedom to seek healing, hope, and accompaniment without the government forcing suicide into the conversation.” This is not the first lawsuit filed against a state assisted suicide measure, nor the first in Illinois. In August, Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki joined a Lutheran nursing home and a group of doctors to sue the state over the assisted suicide law, with the coalition arguing that the state’s suicide regime abandons “nearly two millennia of medical practice” while requiring objectors to participate in it. The state agreed to a temporary block of the law later in the month, though the block only applied to the plaintiffs in that suit. In July, meanwhile, Rockville Centre Bishop John Barres joined several communities of New York religious sisters in suing the state over its own assisted suicide law. Those plaintiffs also won a temporary block of the state’s suicide law.Separately, groups of disability advocates have filed lawsuits against the suicide laws in New York and Illinois, as well as in Colorado and Delaware, alleging that those laws discriminate against people with disabilities.
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Cardinal Cupich, Catholic religious sisters sue Illinois to halt assisted suicide law – #Catholic – A coalition of religious sisters has joined Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich in suing the state of Illinois to prevent enforcement of its assisted suicide law.The law, which was signed by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in December 2025, allows doctors in the state to prescribe lethal doses of medication to patients in order to help them end their own lives. Among other rules, patients must have a terminal illness in order to qualify for receiving help to kill themselves. The rule has received strong criticism from Catholic bishops in the state. On Sept. 3, meanwhile, the religious liberty law firm Becket announced that Cupich and two orders of religious sisters had filed a lawsuit against the state seeking to halt enforcement of the law against the Catholic plaintiffs. The suit, filed in U.S. district court, argues that the sisters — who belong to the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and the Little Sisters of the Poor — will be forced to either “abandon their religious beliefs regarding the sanctity of life or face significant fines and penalties” if they refuse to participate in the suicide regime. The suit notes that by Sept. 12, healthcare providers in Illinois, including the sisters through their care homes, will have to proactively discuss the “option” to commit suicide with those in their care. Caregivers will also “have to allow patients to commit suicide in their facilities,” the suit says. The suit argues that the First Amendment prohibits the state from requiring the Catholic caregivers to violate their faith by participating in the suicide regime. In a statement announcing the filing, Cupich said the Catholic Church “oppose[s] efforts to undermine human dignity by pushing our brothers and sisters toward suicide.” “We pray that the courts will protect our freedom to continue advocating and caring for the sick and dying as our faith demands,” he said. Mother Mary Rose Heery, O. Carm., prioress general of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, said patients in their care “come to us at one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives” and that the sisters have a vocation “to give witness to them, through everything we do, that their lives remain precious and that they will never be abandoned.” “Illinois cannot ask us to replace that promise with help ending their lives,” she said. Becket President Mark Rienzi described the suicide law’s provisions as “awful.” “The state should stop trying to make Catholic nuns help patients kill themselves,” he said, arguing that sick patients “deserve the freedom to seek healing, hope, and accompaniment without the government forcing suicide into the conversation.” This is not the first lawsuit filed against a state assisted suicide measure, nor the first in Illinois. In August, Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki joined a Lutheran nursing home and a group of doctors to sue the state over the assisted suicide law, with the coalition arguing that the state’s suicide regime abandons “nearly two millennia of medical practice” while requiring objectors to participate in it. The state agreed to a temporary block of the law later in the month, though the block only applied to the plaintiffs in that suit. In July, meanwhile, Rockville Centre Bishop John Barres joined several communities of New York religious sisters in suing the state over its own assisted suicide law. Those plaintiffs also won a temporary block of the state’s suicide law.Separately, groups of disability advocates have filed lawsuits against the suicide laws in New York and Illinois, as well as in Colorado and Delaware, alleging that those laws discriminate against people with disabilities.

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The state recently began allowing doctors to help patients kill themselves by prescribing lethal doses of medication.

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Hong Kong judges uphold Cardinal Zen’s conviction over fund to help protesters – #Catholic – A panel of three appellate judges in Hong Kong this week upheld convictions for retired Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other pro-democracy advocates who operated a legal defense and medical fund that supported people engaged in widespread protests in 2019 and 2020.In a Sept. 3 decision, the judges dismissed the appeals filed by Zen, Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, Hui Po-keung, Cyd Ho Sau-lan, and Denise Ho Wan-see. They were found guilty of failing to legally register the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund as a “society” under the Societies Ordinance, which carries monetary fines. It’s unclear whether they will face additional charges.Zen and his co-defendants created the fund to support Hong Kong protesters who opposed the 2019 extradition bill, which would have streamlined the process of extraditing people from Hong Kong to mainland China for prosecution. Protesters opposed subjecting people to prosecutions under the Chinese Communist Party.Lawmakers ultimately withdrew the bill, but more than 10,000 protesters were arrested and nearly 3,000 people faced charges.Zen and the co-defendants argued they did not believe the fund qualified as a “society” when they established it to help the protesters, and that they did not believe they had to register it under the Societies Ordinance. This ordinance provides civil authorities broad discretion to control, monitor, or dismantle private associations.In its decision, the court ruled that a “society” under the ordinance has “an expansive definition” and cited the text, which includes “any club, company, partnership or association of 10 or more persons, whatever its nature or object.” It notes some exemptions, such as charities, religious organizations, and social clubs, but that organizers must apply for an exemption.The judges rejected objections to the registration scheme on a constitutional basis, asserting the law maintains a “reasonable balance” between freedom of association and public safety, public order, and national security.“Self-evidently, the societal benefits arising from the aim are enormous,” they ruled. “Nothing in the evidence suggests that any individual including the appellants would be subject to an unacceptably harsh burden by the restrictions imposed by the registration scheme on their exercise of the right to freedom of association.”“We are satisfied that the prosecution has proved the charge against each of the appellants beyond reasonable doubt,” the judges decided unanimously.Penalty and legal fightsThe convictions under the Societies Ordinance carries fines for each person equivalent to about 0. However, Zen and the other defendants were initially arrested on suspicion of violating a 2020 national security law, which could have carried penalties of up to life in prison.Although all five defendants were arrested on that suspicion, none faced charges. Those initial arrests were based on the allegation they colluded with foreign forces when they set up a fund to help the protesters.Officials defended the 2020 law on the basis of national security, but critics allege it is primarily used to punish political dissidents, such as Jimmy Lai — a Catholic pro-democracy activist who was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the age of 78 on claims he colluded with foreign forces.Lai operated the newspaper Apple Daily, where he openly criticized the Chinese Communist Party. Hong Kong shut down the organization based on authority under the national security law. The government also used the national security law to justify its investigation of the fund operated by Zen and the other pro-democracy advocates.
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Hong Kong judges uphold Cardinal Zen’s conviction over fund to help protesters – #Catholic – A panel of three appellate judges in Hong Kong this week upheld convictions for retired Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other pro-democracy advocates who operated a legal defense and medical fund that supported people engaged in widespread protests in 2019 and 2020.In a Sept. 3 decision, the judges dismissed the appeals filed by Zen, Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, Hui Po-keung, Cyd Ho Sau-lan, and Denise Ho Wan-see. They were found guilty of failing to legally register the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund as a “society” under the Societies Ordinance, which carries monetary fines. It’s unclear whether they will face additional charges.Zen and his co-defendants created the fund to support Hong Kong protesters who opposed the 2019 extradition bill, which would have streamlined the process of extraditing people from Hong Kong to mainland China for prosecution. Protesters opposed subjecting people to prosecutions under the Chinese Communist Party.Lawmakers ultimately withdrew the bill, but more than 10,000 protesters were arrested and nearly 3,000 people faced charges.Zen and the co-defendants argued they did not believe the fund qualified as a “society” when they established it to help the protesters, and that they did not believe they had to register it under the Societies Ordinance. This ordinance provides civil authorities broad discretion to control, monitor, or dismantle private associations.In its decision, the court ruled that a “society” under the ordinance has “an expansive definition” and cited the text, which includes “any club, company, partnership or association of 10 or more persons, whatever its nature or object.” It notes some exemptions, such as charities, religious organizations, and social clubs, but that organizers must apply for an exemption.The judges rejected objections to the registration scheme on a constitutional basis, asserting the law maintains a “reasonable balance” between freedom of association and public safety, public order, and national security.“Self-evidently, the societal benefits arising from the aim are enormous,” they ruled. “Nothing in the evidence suggests that any individual including the appellants would be subject to an unacceptably harsh burden by the restrictions imposed by the registration scheme on their exercise of the right to freedom of association.”“We are satisfied that the prosecution has proved the charge against each of the appellants beyond reasonable doubt,” the judges decided unanimously.Penalty and legal fightsThe convictions under the Societies Ordinance carries fines for each person equivalent to about $500. However, Zen and the other defendants were initially arrested on suspicion of violating a 2020 national security law, which could have carried penalties of up to life in prison.Although all five defendants were arrested on that suspicion, none faced charges. Those initial arrests were based on the allegation they colluded with foreign forces when they set up a fund to help the protesters.Officials defended the 2020 law on the basis of national security, but critics allege it is primarily used to punish political dissidents, such as Jimmy Lai — a Catholic pro-democracy activist who was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the age of 78 on claims he colluded with foreign forces.Lai operated the newspaper Apple Daily, where he openly criticized the Chinese Communist Party. Hong Kong shut down the organization based on authority under the national security law. The government also used the national security law to justify its investigation of the fund operated by Zen and the other pro-democracy advocates.

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Zen and four others face monetary fines, but it’s unclear whether they will face further prosecution.

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Catholics cannot be ‘unengaged spectators’ amid current events, pope says #Catholic – VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The faithful are called to leave behind “all passivity and indifference” toward current events and the lives of others, especially amid the “rapid and profound changes we are experiencing today,” Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience. “We cannot remain as unengaged spectators; rather, we must listen with our hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged, and become involved,” the pope said Sept. 2 in St. Peter’s Square. “With Christ and sustained by the power of His Spirit, believers are called to take on the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those who are crushed by injustice, discrimination and violence,” he said. Pope Leo began a new series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution “Gaudium et Spes,” which examines the relationship between the Church and the modern world. Recalling St. John XXIII’s warning against the “prophets of doom,” who regarded their own times as worse than the past, Pope Leo said Christians are instead called to share in the life of humanity as Christ did. Such closeness to humanity, the pope said, also opens the way to a deeper understanding of events and of Revelation itself. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “This is not, in fact, merely a moral imperative,” he said. Addressing English-speaking pilgrims, Pope Leo said it is the Church’s pastoral responsibility to engage with the contemporary world, share in its joys and sorrows and advocate for the poor and marginalized. The Church, he said, also must remain “attentive to the signs of the times,” confronting “pressing issues such as the technological progress that benefits only some and the persistence of widespread poverty.” His remarks came months after the publication of his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” which detailed his account of the global implications of artificial intelligence and warned against allowing technological development to proceed without prioritizing human dignity. “In our own day, marked by profound change and much injustice, each of us, then, is called to play our part in welcoming and listening to the deepest questions and longings of the human heart, making present to all the merciful love of Christ our Savior,” the pope told English speakers. During a period of profound change that is producing “worrying imbalances,” Pope Leo said the Church is called to serve the human person by listening to “the deepest questions of their heart and the longings that dwell within them.” The Church must point people toward Christ, he said, as “the key, the focal point and the goal of all human history.”  
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Catholics cannot be ‘unengaged spectators’ amid current events, pope says #Catholic – VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The faithful are called to leave behind “all passivity and indifference” toward current events and the lives of others, especially amid the “rapid and profound changes we are experiencing today,” Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience. “We cannot remain as unengaged spectators; rather, we must listen with our hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged, and become involved,” the pope said Sept. 2 in St. Peter’s Square. “With Christ and sustained by the power of His Spirit, believers are called to take on the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those who are crushed by injustice, discrimination and violence,” he said. Pope Leo began a new series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution “Gaudium et Spes,” which examines the relationship between the Church and the modern world. Recalling St. John XXIII’s warning against the “prophets of doom,” who regarded their own times as worse than the past, Pope Leo said Christians are instead called to share in the life of humanity as Christ did. Such closeness to humanity, the pope said, also opens the way to a deeper understanding of events and of Revelation itself. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “This is not, in fact, merely a moral imperative,” he said. Addressing English-speaking pilgrims, Pope Leo said it is the Church’s pastoral responsibility to engage with the contemporary world, share in its joys and sorrows and advocate for the poor and marginalized. The Church, he said, also must remain “attentive to the signs of the times,” confronting “pressing issues such as the technological progress that benefits only some and the persistence of widespread poverty.” His remarks came months after the publication of his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” which detailed his account of the global implications of artificial intelligence and warned against allowing technological development to proceed without prioritizing human dignity. “In our own day, marked by profound change and much injustice, each of us, then, is called to play our part in welcoming and listening to the deepest questions and longings of the human heart, making present to all the merciful love of Christ our Savior,” the pope told English speakers. During a period of profound change that is producing “worrying imbalances,” Pope Leo said the Church is called to serve the human person by listening to “the deepest questions of their heart and the longings that dwell within them.” The Church must point people toward Christ, he said, as “the key, the focal point and the goal of all human history.”  

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Catholics cannot be ‘unengaged spectators’ amid current events, pope says #Catholic –

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The faithful are called to leave behind “all passivity and indifference” toward current events and the lives of others, especially amid the “rapid and profound changes we are experiencing today,” Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.

“We cannot remain as unengaged spectators; rather, we must listen with our hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged, and become involved,” the pope said Sept. 2 in St. Peter’s Square.

“With Christ and sustained by the power of His Spirit, believers are called to take on the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those who are crushed by injustice, discrimination and violence,” he said.

Pope Leo began a new series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution “Gaudium et Spes,” which examines the relationship between the Church and the modern world.

Recalling St. John XXIII’s warning against the “prophets of doom,” who regarded their own times as worse than the past, Pope Leo said Christians are instead called to share in the life of humanity as Christ did.

Such closeness to humanity, the pope said, also opens the way to a deeper understanding of events and of Revelation itself.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

“This is not, in fact, merely a moral imperative,” he said.

Addressing English-speaking pilgrims, Pope Leo said it is the Church’s pastoral responsibility to engage with the contemporary world, share in its joys and sorrows and advocate for the poor and marginalized.

The Church, he said, also must remain “attentive to the signs of the times,” confronting “pressing issues such as the technological progress that benefits only some and the persistence of widespread poverty.”

His remarks came months after the publication of his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” which detailed his account of the global implications of artificial intelligence and warned against allowing technological development to proceed without prioritizing human dignity.

“In our own day, marked by profound change and much injustice, each of us, then, is called to play our part in welcoming and listening to the deepest questions and longings of the human heart, making present to all the merciful love of Christ our Savior,” the pope told English speakers.

During a period of profound change that is producing “worrying imbalances,” Pope Leo said the Church is called to serve the human person by listening to “the deepest questions of their heart and the longings that dwell within them.”

The Church must point people toward Christ, he said, as “the key, the focal point and the goal of all human history.”

 

– VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The faithful are called to leave behind “all passivity and indifference” toward current events and the lives of others, especially amid the “rapid and profound changes we are experiencing today,” Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience. “We cannot remain as unengaged spectators; rather, we must listen with our hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged, and become involved,” the pope said Sept. 2 in St. Peter’s Square. “With Christ and sustained by the power of His Spirit, believers are called to take on the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those who are

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Pope Leo says, ‘It is not yet too late’ to care for creation #Catholic – VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV began the five-week Season of Creation by calling on the faithful to step away from the frenzy of daily life to “hear the melodious voice of creation,” stressing that “it is not yet too late” to repair humanity’s relationship with the environment. Celebrating Mass on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the gardens of the papal villa and the Borgo Laudato Si’ ecology project in Castel Gandolfo, Sept. 1, the pope said contemplating creation and its Creator should lead people to recognize their responsibility for protecting it. “Thus, as we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures, we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator,” he said. The theme chosen for the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation echoes the biblical call to “beat swords into plowshares” and connects armed conflict with environmental destruction. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. In a June 2 statement, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said that “the now widespread awareness of the impact of war on natural resources has not led to the creation of adequate institutions or to responsible decisions aimed at preventing conflicts and resolving disputes peacefully.” In his homily during the Mass, Pope Leo said the call to transform weapons into instruments that sustain life remains urgent. “What has been used for destruction can be redirected toward life, toward the care of the poor, the nourishment of the hungry, and the safeguarding of creation,” he said, quoting his message for the day. Militaries account for about 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to water pollution, soil contamination and waste generation, according to a joint study by the UK-based Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Conflict and Environment Observatory. The World Wide Fund for Nature estimated that the first three years of the Russia-Ukraine war alone generated the equivalent of about 230 million metric tons of carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas that traps heat from sunlight, warming the planet. Pope Leo also focused on access to clean water in his September prayer intention, released Sept. 1 by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. Thanking God for the gift of water, the pope prayed for the “right of every brother and sister to drink without fear and without inequality.” “Forgive us for turning it into a commodity, forgetting that it is a universal gift, a right without borders, meant for all your children,” he prayed. “We see with pain so many brothers and sisters who lack clean water, who walk for miles to find it, who become ill due to its scarcity.” During the Mass, Pope Leo said passages from the Book of Wisdom and Psalm 18 encourage Christians to recognize God through the “beauty and power of creation.” “All creation speaks to us of the greatness of its Creator, if only our eyes and hearts remain open to such a great mystery,” he said. By looking with wonder at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, the pope said, Christians can better understand the greatness of God’s love for humanity. “If the Lord does not fail to bestow such splendid beauty upon plants and animals and provide for all their needs, how much more attentive will he be to the needs of his beloved sons and daughters,” he said. The Season of Creation runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The Catholic Church’s observance of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation was established by Pope Francis in response to an initiative of Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. The Orthodox Church has observed Sept. 1 as a day of prayer for creation since 1989. The 2026 season will conclude as the Church marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, who is the patron saint of ecology. Pope Leo closed his homily by reciting portions of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures: “Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun… Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars… Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind… Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water… Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire… Praised be you, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us.”  
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Pope Leo says, ‘It is not yet too late’ to care for creation #Catholic – VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV began the five-week Season of Creation by calling on the faithful to step away from the frenzy of daily life to “hear the melodious voice of creation,” stressing that “it is not yet too late” to repair humanity’s relationship with the environment. Celebrating Mass on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the gardens of the papal villa and the Borgo Laudato Si’ ecology project in Castel Gandolfo, Sept. 1, the pope said contemplating creation and its Creator should lead people to recognize their responsibility for protecting it. “Thus, as we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures, we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator,” he said. The theme chosen for the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation echoes the biblical call to “beat swords into plowshares” and connects armed conflict with environmental destruction. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. In a June 2 statement, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said that “the now widespread awareness of the impact of war on natural resources has not led to the creation of adequate institutions or to responsible decisions aimed at preventing conflicts and resolving disputes peacefully.” In his homily during the Mass, Pope Leo said the call to transform weapons into instruments that sustain life remains urgent. “What has been used for destruction can be redirected toward life, toward the care of the poor, the nourishment of the hungry, and the safeguarding of creation,” he said, quoting his message for the day. Militaries account for about 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to water pollution, soil contamination and waste generation, according to a joint study by the UK-based Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Conflict and Environment Observatory. The World Wide Fund for Nature estimated that the first three years of the Russia-Ukraine war alone generated the equivalent of about 230 million metric tons of carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas that traps heat from sunlight, warming the planet. Pope Leo also focused on access to clean water in his September prayer intention, released Sept. 1 by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. Thanking God for the gift of water, the pope prayed for the “right of every brother and sister to drink without fear and without inequality.” “Forgive us for turning it into a commodity, forgetting that it is a universal gift, a right without borders, meant for all your children,” he prayed. “We see with pain so many brothers and sisters who lack clean water, who walk for miles to find it, who become ill due to its scarcity.” During the Mass, Pope Leo said passages from the Book of Wisdom and Psalm 18 encourage Christians to recognize God through the “beauty and power of creation.” “All creation speaks to us of the greatness of its Creator, if only our eyes and hearts remain open to such a great mystery,” he said. By looking with wonder at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, the pope said, Christians can better understand the greatness of God’s love for humanity. “If the Lord does not fail to bestow such splendid beauty upon plants and animals and provide for all their needs, how much more attentive will he be to the needs of his beloved sons and daughters,” he said. The Season of Creation runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The Catholic Church’s observance of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation was established by Pope Francis in response to an initiative of Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. The Orthodox Church has observed Sept. 1 as a day of prayer for creation since 1989. The 2026 season will conclude as the Church marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, who is the patron saint of ecology. Pope Leo closed his homily by reciting portions of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures: “Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun… Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars… Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind… Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water… Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire… Praised be you, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us.”  

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Pope Leo says, ‘It is not yet too late’ to care for creation #Catholic –

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV began the five-week Season of Creation by calling on the faithful to step away from the frenzy of daily life to “hear the melodious voice of creation,” stressing that “it is not yet too late” to repair humanity’s relationship with the environment.

Celebrating Mass on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the gardens of the papal villa and the Borgo Laudato Si’ ecology project in Castel Gandolfo, Sept. 1, the pope said contemplating creation and its Creator should lead people to recognize their responsibility for protecting it.

“Thus, as we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures, we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator,” he said.

The theme chosen for the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation echoes the biblical call to “beat swords into plowshares” and connects armed conflict with environmental destruction.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

In a June 2 statement, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said that “the now widespread awareness of the impact of war on natural resources has not led to the creation of adequate institutions or to responsible decisions aimed at preventing conflicts and resolving disputes peacefully.”

In his homily during the Mass, Pope Leo said the call to transform weapons into instruments that sustain life remains urgent.

“What has been used for destruction can be redirected toward life, toward the care of the poor, the nourishment of the hungry, and the safeguarding of creation,” he said, quoting his message for the day.

Militaries account for about 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to water pollution, soil contamination and waste generation, according to a joint study by the UK-based Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Conflict and Environment Observatory. The World Wide Fund for Nature estimated that the first three years of the Russia-Ukraine war alone generated the equivalent of about 230 million metric tons of carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas that traps heat from sunlight, warming the planet.

Pope Leo also focused on access to clean water in his September prayer intention, released Sept. 1 by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

Thanking God for the gift of water, the pope prayed for the “right of every brother and sister to drink without fear and without inequality.”

“Forgive us for turning it into a commodity, forgetting that it is a universal gift, a right without borders, meant for all your children,” he prayed. “We see with pain so many brothers and sisters who lack clean water, who walk for miles to find it, who become ill due to its scarcity.”

During the Mass, Pope Leo said passages from the Book of Wisdom and Psalm 18 encourage Christians to recognize God through the “beauty and power of creation.”

“All creation speaks to us of the greatness of its Creator, if only our eyes and hearts remain open to such a great mystery,” he said.

By looking with wonder at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, the pope said, Christians can better understand the greatness of God’s love for humanity.

“If the Lord does not fail to bestow such splendid beauty upon plants and animals and provide for all their needs, how much more attentive will he be to the needs of his beloved sons and daughters,” he said.

The Season of Creation runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The Catholic Church’s observance of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation was established by Pope Francis in response to an initiative of Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. The Orthodox Church has observed Sept. 1 as a day of prayer for creation since 1989.

The 2026 season will conclude as the Church marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, who is the patron saint of ecology.

Pope Leo closed his homily by reciting portions of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures:

“Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun… Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars… Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind… Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water… Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire… Praised be you, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us.”

 

– VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV began the five-week Season of Creation by calling on the faithful to step away from the frenzy of daily life to “hear the melodious voice of creation,” stressing that “it is not yet too late” to repair humanity’s relationship with the environment. Celebrating Mass on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the gardens of the papal villa and the Borgo Laudato Si’ ecology project in Castel Gandolfo, Sept. 1, the pope said contemplating creation and its Creator should lead people to recognize their responsibility for protecting it. “Thus,

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Sept. 3, 1976: Viking 2 reaches Mars

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Only a little over a month after Viking 1 landed on Mars, Viking 2 followed suit. Though the two Viking landers touched down in different locations, they used identical spacecraft and had the same mission: to create global maps of Mars, observe weather patterns, investigate the surface, measure temperatures, and search for life. Viking 2Continue reading “Sept. 3, 1976: Viking 2 reaches Mars”

The post Sept. 3, 1976: Viking 2 reaches Mars appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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August Lunar Eclipse Rises Over Louisiana – A lunar eclipse is visible over southern Louisiana. The lunar eclipse was visible throughout much of North and South America and part of Europe and Africa between Aug. 27-28. The Full Moon slipped through Earth’s shadow on Aug. 27, continuing into Aug. 28 for some parts of the world, resulting in the lunar eclipse. At maximum eclipse, the Moon takes on a dramatic dark, ruddy or coppery tint along the covered edge. New Orleans is home to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, where stages for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and structures for Orion spacecraft are produced for the Artemis missions.

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A lunar eclipse is visible over southern Louisiana. The lunar eclipse was visible throughout much of North and South America and part of Europe and Africa between Aug. 27-28. The Full Moon slipped through Earth’s shadow on Aug. 27, continuing into Aug. 28 for some parts of the world, resulting in the lunar eclipse. At maximum eclipse, the Moon takes on a dramatic dark, ruddy or coppery tint along the covered edge. New Orleans is home to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, where stages for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and structures for Orion spacecraft are produced for the Artemis missions.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 03 September 2026 – A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians 3:18-23 Brothers and sisters: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses, and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.From the Gospel according to Luke 5:1-11 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.  They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.The evangelist shows how the first disciples followed Jesus, trusting him, relying on his Word, all the while accompanied by miraculous signs. We note that, before this sign, Simon addresses Jesus, calling him ?Master? (v. 5), while afterwards he addresses him as ?Lord? (v. 7). This is the pedagogy of God?s call, which does not consider the quality of those who are chosen so much as their faith, like that of Simon that says: ?At your word, I will let down the nets? (?). The experience of Peter, certainly unique, is nonetheless representative of the call of every apostle of the Gospel, who must never be discouraged in proclaiming Christ to all men, even to the ends of the world. However, today?s text is a reflection on the vocation to the priesthood and the consecrated life. It is the work of God. The human person is not the author of his own vocation but responds to the divine call. Human weakness should not be afraid if God calls. It is necessary to have confidence in his strength, which acts in our poverty; we must rely more and more on the power of his mercy, which transforms and renews. Dear brothers and sisters, may this Word of God revive in us and in our Christian communities courage, confidence and enthusiasm in proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel. Do not let failures and difficulties lead to discouragement: it is our task to cast our nets in faith ? the Lord will do the rest. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 10 February 2013)  

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A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians
3:18-23

Brothers and sisters:
Let no one deceive himself.
If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:

God catches the wise in their own ruses,

and again:

The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

From the Gospel according to Luke
5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
Simon said in reply,
"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets."
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them. 
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men."
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.

The evangelist shows how the first disciples followed Jesus, trusting him, relying on his Word, all the while accompanied by miraculous signs. We note that, before this sign, Simon addresses Jesus, calling him ?Master? (v. 5), while afterwards he addresses him as ?Lord? (v. 7). This is the pedagogy of God?s call, which does not consider the quality of those who are chosen so much as their faith, like that of Simon that says: ?At your word, I will let down the nets? (?). The experience of Peter, certainly unique, is nonetheless representative of the call of every apostle of the Gospel, who must never be discouraged in proclaiming Christ to all men, even to the ends of the world. However, today?s text is a reflection on the vocation to the priesthood and the consecrated life. It is the work of God. The human person is not the author of his own vocation but responds to the divine call. Human weakness should not be afraid if God calls. It is necessary to have confidence in his strength, which acts in our poverty; we must rely more and more on the power of his mercy, which transforms and renews. Dear brothers and sisters, may this Word of God revive in us and in our Christian communities courage, confidence and enthusiasm in proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel. Do not let failures and difficulties lead to discouragement: it is our task to cast our nets in faith ? the Lord will do the rest. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 10 February 2013)

 

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Church in Nepal helping flood victims find hope, apostolic administrator says #Catholic Father Silas Bogati, apostolic administrator of the apostolic vicariate of Nepal, said the Catholic Church, a small minority of about 10,000 faithful in the Asian nation, is committed to aiding those affected by the recent major flooding.According to authorities, the number of dead from last week’s flood exceeds 1,000, while more than 4,000 people remain missing across both countries, CNN reported.“By being there, providing relief now and, later, contributing to reconstruction, we give hope. Our presence among those who are suffering will give them hope,” the priest said in an interview with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).Bogati explained that in Nepal, “the Catholic Church has 13 parishes and 10,000 Catholics, but it has always worked for the Nepali population irrespective of their religion, and we will continue to do so as they suffer in this hour of need.”Caritas Nepal has set up community kitchens and dispatched food supplies for 300 affected families to last for 15 days. Given the forecast of additional rainfall and the fact that many people are still sleeping outdoors, the organization said there is a need for tarpaulins, blankets, and sleeping mats.After noting that “no Catholic churches or chapels have been destroyed,” the Nepalese priest recalled that “the Holy Father, Pope Leo, was the first to pray and to show his sympathy and closeness to the victims of these flash floods. In the same way, we are receiving prayers and support from the Catholic Church around the world.”Leo XIV has encouraged prayers for those affected and for rescue teams, and has urged the international community to provide aid in a spirit of solidarity.Bogati described the affected area of Rasuwa, located on Nepalʼs border with Tibet. He said an important trade route with Tibet runs through the region, as well as the city of Syabrubesi, “one of the main departure points for tourists traveling toward the Langtang Valley.”One of this concerns is that “members of one of the Catholic communities [who] go down to Syabrubesi to work … may have been swept away by the waters. We do not have any figures yet.”“All these hotels and settlements were swept away. There has been a high death toll in this area, and the river continued downstream, wreaking havoc across five districts. The flood has caused enormous devastation, as a huge mass of water surged downstream, destroying everything in its path. Some communities are still cut off, and search and rescue operations are proving difficult,” he recounted.The apostolic administrator asked for prayers for all the victims and those affected by the tragedy, and expressed gratitude for ACN’s closeness and solidarity.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Church in Nepal helping flood victims find hope, apostolic administrator says #Catholic Father Silas Bogati, apostolic administrator of the apostolic vicariate of Nepal, said the Catholic Church, a small minority of about 10,000 faithful in the Asian nation, is committed to aiding those affected by the recent major flooding.According to authorities, the number of dead from last week’s flood exceeds 1,000, while more than 4,000 people remain missing across both countries, CNN reported.“By being there, providing relief now and, later, contributing to reconstruction, we give hope. Our presence among those who are suffering will give them hope,” the priest said in an interview with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).Bogati explained that in Nepal, “the Catholic Church has 13 parishes and 10,000 Catholics, but it has always worked for the Nepali population irrespective of their religion, and we will continue to do so as they suffer in this hour of need.”Caritas Nepal has set up community kitchens and dispatched food supplies for 300 affected families to last for 15 days. Given the forecast of additional rainfall and the fact that many people are still sleeping outdoors, the organization said there is a need for tarpaulins, blankets, and sleeping mats.After noting that “no Catholic churches or chapels have been destroyed,” the Nepalese priest recalled that “the Holy Father, Pope Leo, was the first to pray and to show his sympathy and closeness to the victims of these flash floods. In the same way, we are receiving prayers and support from the Catholic Church around the world.”Leo XIV has encouraged prayers for those affected and for rescue teams, and has urged the international community to provide aid in a spirit of solidarity.Bogati described the affected area of Rasuwa, located on Nepalʼs border with Tibet. He said an important trade route with Tibet runs through the region, as well as the city of Syabrubesi, “one of the main departure points for tourists traveling toward the Langtang Valley.”One of this concerns is that “members of one of the Catholic communities [who] go down to Syabrubesi to work … may have been swept away by the waters. We do not have any figures yet.”“All these hotels and settlements were swept away. There has been a high death toll in this area, and the river continued downstream, wreaking havoc across five districts. The flood has caused enormous devastation, as a huge mass of water surged downstream, destroying everything in its path. Some communities are still cut off, and search and rescue operations are proving difficult,” he recounted.The apostolic administrator asked for prayers for all the victims and those affected by the tragedy, and expressed gratitude for ACN’s closeness and solidarity.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Although a small minority in Nepal, the Catholic Church through Caritas is providing what aid it can to help to those affected by the major flooding.

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Paterson parish remembers ministry of beloved late pastor #Catholic – On the evening of Aug. 27, faithful from St. Stephen Parish in Paterson, N.J., and beyond remembered the life and ministry of Father Rafael A. Ciro, beloved former pastor of St. Stephen’s, on the first anniversary of his death, during a Memorial Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. On Aug. 27, 2025, Father Ciro died by suicide, leaving his family, friends, and faithful around the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and beyond shocked and heartbroken, especially in the Hispanic community he served. He was 45. Father Diego F. Monsalve, administrator of St. Stephen’s, joined many priests, including some of Father Ciro’s friends, in concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The Colombian-born Father Ciro was ordained to the diocesan priesthood on May 25, 2013, at St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Clifton, N.J., by Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli. Following his ordination, Father Ciro served the parish communities of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., St. Mary’s Assumption Parish in Passaic, N.J., St. Nicholas Parish, also in Passaic, and Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J., before being appointed pastor of St. Stephen in Paterson, where he served at the time of his passing. Father Ciro was born on Oct. 29, 1979, in Colombia to the late Rafael Angel Ciro-Rios and Aura Elena Guarín. He completed philosophy studies for the priesthood in Colombia. He continued his theological studies at Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico City (2007–2009), the former Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn. (2011–2012), and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. (2012–2013). Before joining the Paterson Diocese as a seminarian in January 2011, Father Ciro dedicated nearly three years to missionary work in Medellín and another three years in Mexico City, serving in some of the most impoverished communities. He also ministered to Hispanic migrants in Alabama and New Jersey. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  
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Paterson parish remembers ministry of beloved late pastor #Catholic – On the evening of Aug. 27, faithful from St. Stephen Parish in Paterson, N.J., and beyond remembered the life and ministry of Father Rafael A. Ciro, beloved former pastor of St. Stephen’s, on the first anniversary of his death, during a Memorial Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. On Aug. 27, 2025, Father Ciro died by suicide, leaving his family, friends, and faithful around the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and beyond shocked and heartbroken, especially in the Hispanic community he served. He was 45. Father Diego F. Monsalve, administrator of St. Stephen’s, joined many priests, including some of Father Ciro’s friends, in concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The Colombian-born Father Ciro was ordained to the diocesan priesthood on May 25, 2013, at St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Clifton, N.J., by Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli. Following his ordination, Father Ciro served the parish communities of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., St. Mary’s Assumption Parish in Passaic, N.J., St. Nicholas Parish, also in Passaic, and Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J., before being appointed pastor of St. Stephen in Paterson, where he served at the time of his passing. Father Ciro was born on Oct. 29, 1979, in Colombia to the late Rafael Angel Ciro-Rios and Aura Elena Guarín. He completed philosophy studies for the priesthood in Colombia. He continued his theological studies at Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico City (2007–2009), the former Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn. (2011–2012), and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. (2012–2013). Before joining the Paterson Diocese as a seminarian in January 2011, Father Ciro dedicated nearly three years to missionary work in Medellín and another three years in Mexico City, serving in some of the most impoverished communities. He also ministered to Hispanic migrants in Alabama and New Jersey. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  

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Paterson parish remembers ministry of beloved late pastor #Catholic –

On the evening of Aug. 27, faithful from St. Stephen Parish in Paterson, N.J., and beyond remembered the life and ministry of Father Rafael A. Ciro, beloved former pastor of St. Stephen’s, on the first anniversary of his death, during a Memorial Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.

On Aug. 27, 2025, Father Ciro died by suicide, leaving his family, friends, and faithful around the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and beyond shocked and heartbroken, especially in the Hispanic community he served. He was 45.

Father Diego F. Monsalve, administrator of St. Stephen’s, joined many priests, including some of Father Ciro’s friends, in concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

The Colombian-born Father Ciro was ordained to the diocesan priesthood on May 25, 2013, at St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Clifton, N.J., by Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli.

Following his ordination, Father Ciro served the parish communities of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., St. Mary’s Assumption Parish in Passaic, N.J., St. Nicholas Parish, also in Passaic, and Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J., before being appointed pastor of St. Stephen in Paterson, where he served at the time of his passing.

Father Ciro was born on Oct. 29, 1979, in Colombia to the late Rafael Angel Ciro-Rios and Aura Elena Guarín. He completed philosophy studies for the priesthood in Colombia. He continued his theological studies at Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico City (2007–2009), the former Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn. (2011–2012), and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. (2012–2013).

Before joining the Paterson Diocese as a seminarian in January 2011, Father Ciro dedicated nearly three years to missionary work in Medellín and another three years in Mexico City, serving in some of the most impoverished communities. He also ministered to Hispanic migrants in Alabama and New Jersey.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

 

– On the evening of Aug. 27, faithful from St. Stephen Parish in Paterson, N.J., and beyond remembered the life and ministry of Father Rafael A. Ciro, beloved former pastor of St. Stephen’s, on the first anniversary of his death, during a Memorial Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. On Aug. 27, 2025, Father Ciro died by suicide, leaving his family, friends, and faithful around the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and beyond shocked and heartbroken, especially in the Hispanic community he served. He was 45. Father Diego F. Monsalve, administrator of St. Stephen’s, joined many priests, including some of Father Ciro’s

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‘God is good’: One of the internet’s most popular nonbelievers announces his return to the Church #Catholic “Big news. God exists. Christ is Lord, and he established the Catholic Church.” That’s how Joe Schmid announced his conversion to Catholicism on his YouTube channel, “Majesty of Reason,” on Aug. 21. Conversion is always a cause for celebration, but in Schmid’s case it was likely unexpected among his channel’s 55,000 subscribers. For years, Schmid has used his YouTube channel to explore a broad variety of philosophical and naturalistic arguments and principles — and Schmid himself has openly identified as an agnostic for most of that time. Schmid, who was raised Catholic, told EWTN News that he adopted atheism and then eventually agnosticism in high school. He said he was originally led to atheism because of “the problem of evolutionary animal suffering,” a well-known topic of philosophical and theological debate.Philosophers such as Joshua Rasmussen and Alexander Pruss led him to consider “contingency arguments” in favor of God’s existence, he said, but his own “arduous conversion process” would ultimately last a decade.Schmid launched his YouTube channel in April 2020. Broadly, “my videos focused primarily on philosophy of religion, and secondarily on other areas of philosophy like metaphysics, metaethics, and epistemology,” Schmid told EWTN News, and “criticizing arguments for God’s existence was one of my central focuses.”To that end, he created a wide variety of videos, including interviews and debates with scholars, lengthy lectures, and episodes responding to other YouTube content, “primarily theist and Christian and Catholic creators.”  Those videos have undergone a marked shift in recent weeks. Videos over the last year have included debates about whether Jesus rose from the dead and an extended case for veganism, among numerous other topics. On Aug. 21, however, Schmid posted a nearly half-hour-long video revealing his conversion to Catholicism, and in the roughly two weeks since then his videos have focused on topics such as “the best-ever cumulative case for God” and “the best objections to Catholicism answered.” Schmid, who is a a fourth-year doctoral candidate in philosophy at Princeton University, told EWTN News his return to the faith “wasnʼt my own making.”“Conversion is a gift of Godʼs grace, and Iʼve seen its transformative impact in my life,” he said. “So God is ultimately what led me to Catholicism.”Yet, he said a “huge confluence of factors” convinced him of the truth of the Catholic faith “on an intellectual level.” Chief among them are the “vindicatory miracles,” or “miracles wrought by God in confirmation of distinctive Catholic doctrines.”He cited the charisms of Padre Pio, the healing miracles at Lourdes, the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima, Eucharistic miracles, “and much more besides.” “I converted after a long process of working through my many objections to Catholicism and appreciating the many powerful arguments in its favor,” he said. In his video he described the process as a “culmination” of “head factors and heart factors.”“God is good,” he told his viewers.The high-profile conversion was noted by the Aquinas Institute, the Catholic campus ministry at Princeton, which urged the Catholic community there to “pray for Joe as he continues to grow in his Catholic faith and begins this new chapter of his public work.” Schmid also appeared recently in a two-hour-long interview with Catholic apologist Trent Horn, who described Schmid as “one of my smartest critics.” Horn praised Schmid’s rigorous approach to philosophical and theological debate even when Schmid himself was an agnostic. “Iʼve learned a lot from you in your rebuttals, and it has helped in my own path and trying to grow as an apologist and a philosopher,” Horn told Schmid during the interview. Speaking to his own viewers when announcing his conversion, Schmid said he has significant plans to continue his YouTube channel in service to Catholicism, and “we will see where the Lord takes me.” “Debates and discussions will be continuing,” he said. He asked for patience from viewers during the transition.“And I also ask for your prayers,” he added. “Know that I will be praying for you.”
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‘God is good’: One of the internet’s most popular nonbelievers announces his return to the Church #Catholic “Big news. God exists. Christ is Lord, and he established the Catholic Church.” That’s how Joe Schmid announced his conversion to Catholicism on his YouTube channel, “Majesty of Reason,” on Aug. 21. Conversion is always a cause for celebration, but in Schmid’s case it was likely unexpected among his channel’s 55,000 subscribers. For years, Schmid has used his YouTube channel to explore a broad variety of philosophical and naturalistic arguments and principles — and Schmid himself has openly identified as an agnostic for most of that time. Schmid, who was raised Catholic, told EWTN News that he adopted atheism and then eventually agnosticism in high school. He said he was originally led to atheism because of “the problem of evolutionary animal suffering,” a well-known topic of philosophical and theological debate.Philosophers such as Joshua Rasmussen and Alexander Pruss led him to consider “contingency arguments” in favor of God’s existence, he said, but his own “arduous conversion process” would ultimately last a decade.Schmid launched his YouTube channel in April 2020. Broadly, “my videos focused primarily on philosophy of religion, and secondarily on other areas of philosophy like metaphysics, metaethics, and epistemology,” Schmid told EWTN News, and “criticizing arguments for God’s existence was one of my central focuses.”To that end, he created a wide variety of videos, including interviews and debates with scholars, lengthy lectures, and episodes responding to other YouTube content, “primarily theist and Christian and Catholic creators.”  Those videos have undergone a marked shift in recent weeks. Videos over the last year have included debates about whether Jesus rose from the dead and an extended case for veganism, among numerous other topics. On Aug. 21, however, Schmid posted a nearly half-hour-long video revealing his conversion to Catholicism, and in the roughly two weeks since then his videos have focused on topics such as “the best-ever cumulative case for God” and “the best objections to Catholicism answered.” Schmid, who is a a fourth-year doctoral candidate in philosophy at Princeton University, told EWTN News his return to the faith “wasnʼt my own making.”“Conversion is a gift of Godʼs grace, and Iʼve seen its transformative impact in my life,” he said. “So God is ultimately what led me to Catholicism.”Yet, he said a “huge confluence of factors” convinced him of the truth of the Catholic faith “on an intellectual level.” Chief among them are the “vindicatory miracles,” or “miracles wrought by God in confirmation of distinctive Catholic doctrines.”He cited the charisms of Padre Pio, the healing miracles at Lourdes, the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima, Eucharistic miracles, “and much more besides.” “I converted after a long process of working through my many objections to Catholicism and appreciating the many powerful arguments in its favor,” he said. In his video he described the process as a “culmination” of “head factors and heart factors.”“God is good,” he told his viewers.The high-profile conversion was noted by the Aquinas Institute, the Catholic campus ministry at Princeton, which urged the Catholic community there to “pray for Joe as he continues to grow in his Catholic faith and begins this new chapter of his public work.” Schmid also appeared recently in a two-hour-long interview with Catholic apologist Trent Horn, who described Schmid as “one of my smartest critics.” Horn praised Schmid’s rigorous approach to philosophical and theological debate even when Schmid himself was an agnostic. “Iʼve learned a lot from you in your rebuttals, and it has helped in my own path and trying to grow as an apologist and a philosopher,” Horn told Schmid during the interview. Speaking to his own viewers when announcing his conversion, Schmid said he has significant plans to continue his YouTube channel in service to Catholicism, and “we will see where the Lord takes me.” “Debates and discussions will be continuing,” he said. He asked for patience from viewers during the transition.“And I also ask for your prayers,” he added. “Know that I will be praying for you.”

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Joe Schmid ran a highly popular agnostic YouTube channel for years, but “a gift of God’s grace” has led him back to the faith.

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Hanover priests rejoice bringing Christ to others on mission #Catholic – This summer, the missionary heart of Notre Dame Mount Carmel Parish, located in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., came alive in two very different places. On July 26, a team of nearly 50 Notre Dame parishioners and friends traveled to Preston County, W.V., for Operation Appalachia, serving families in need by repairing and restoring their homes. Father Emerson Francisco, the parish’s parochial vicar, accompanied them, experiencing the mission trip for the first time. A few weeks later, on Aug. 7, Notre Dame’s Guatemala Outreach Ministry traveled to Guatemala, where 15 parishioners and friends divided into three teams to build three homes for three families in need. Father Vidal Gonzales, Jr., Notre Dame’s pastor, accompanied the group, sharing in the hard work, fellowship, and encounters that made the journey meaningful. Though the missions were thousands of miles apart and the work was different, both journeys shared the same heart: to go where the Lord was calling, to serve his people, and to discover that in giving ourselves, we often receive far more than we could ever give. For Father Francisco, the Operation Appalachia mission began each morning before the work even started. He would walk to the cemetery beside the camp, pray the rosary, reflect on the Gospel, and meditate in silence. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Then, at 7 a.m., team members gathered for Mass. Their altar was a simple tree stump with the morning sun rising through the trees behind it. As he celebrated the Eucharist, Father Francisco thought: “Before we repaired a single porch, painted a single wall, or drove a single nail, Christ was already repairing us.” The work that followed was demanding. Teams rebuilt porches, replaced floors, built ramps, reinforced roofs, and made repairs that homeowners had been unable to undertake themselves. But something else happened along the way. When some teams completed their projects early, they didn’t stop. They loaded their tools and went to help the teams that still had work to do. They asked, “Where can we help next?” For Father Francisco, that was the Gospel in action. “We weren’t just several work crews. We were one family,” Father Francisco said. That same spirit was evident in Guatemala. Over five days, three teams worked alongside From Houses to Homes workers to construct simple but sturdy homes of cinderblock, concrete flooring, metal roofing, a window, and a door. The work was physically demanding, but Father Gonzalez witnessed how the families themselves became a source of renewed energy and purpose. “Seeing the families whose houses we were building gave us renewed energy and a deeper sense of purpose,” Father Gonzalez said. While the physical work was important, both priests recognized that the deeper mission was about people. Father Francisco said the homeowners in Appalachia reminded the team that they were never repairing wood or concrete. “We were entering people’s lives,” Father Francisco said. Father Gonzalez expressed that same truth from Guatemala. “Outreach is not measured only by what we accomplish, but by the relationships we build along the way,” Father Francisco said. In both places, homes became a doorway to encounter — to listen to people’s stories, share meals, laugh together, and recognize the dignity and worth of every person. During Operation Appalachia, Father Francisco didn’t just talk about what the Church is, but experienced the Church. “As a priest, I often tell people that the Church is not simply a building. During Operation Appalachia, I didn’t just preach those words — I lived them,” Father Francisco said. In Guatemala, the Church crossed borders and cultures, bringing together people who might otherwise never have met. “When people from different communities, cultures, and backgrounds come together with open hearts and willing hands, borders become smaller, and humanity becomes bigger,” Father Gonzalez said. The most profound commonality between these two missions is that the blessings didn’t flow in only one direction. The families received homes. They received repairs. They received help and the reassurance that they were seen and valued. But those who served received something as well. Father Gonzalez and the team returned to Notre Dame with “tired bodies but grateful hearts,” carrying memories of the families they encountered. They also gained a deeper understanding that “service is not only about what we give but also about what we receive.” The priest also saw in the families lessons in “courage, resilience, generosity, hope, and faith.” Father Francisco experienced the same transformation. What he expected to be a week of service became, unexpectedly, a week that “renewed my own priesthood.” Perhaps that is one of the great revelations of missionary work: we go believing that we are bringing Christ to others, only to discover Christ waiting for us there. This summer reminded the Notre Dame participants that mission takes many forms. It may mean rebuilding a porch in West Virginia, laying a cinderblock in Guatemala, preparing a meal, offering a skill, giving financially, or simply saying yes when the Lord places an opportunity before us. “There is always a way to contribute.” Some give financially. Others offer their time, skills, supplies, prayers, encouragement, or presence,” Father Gonzalez said. “Each of these seemingly individual acts becomes part of something much greater. Together, these individual acts of generosity become a powerful witness to what can happen when people come together with a common purpose and willing hearts,” he said. [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
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Hanover priests rejoice bringing Christ to others on mission #Catholic – This summer, the missionary heart of Notre Dame Mount Carmel Parish, located in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., came alive in two very different places. On July 26, a team of nearly 50 Notre Dame parishioners and friends traveled to Preston County, W.V., for Operation Appalachia, serving families in need by repairing and restoring their homes. Father Emerson Francisco, the parish’s parochial vicar, accompanied them, experiencing the mission trip for the first time. A few weeks later, on Aug. 7, Notre Dame’s Guatemala Outreach Ministry traveled to Guatemala, where 15 parishioners and friends divided into three teams to build three homes for three families in need. Father Vidal Gonzales, Jr., Notre Dame’s pastor, accompanied the group, sharing in the hard work, fellowship, and encounters that made the journey meaningful. Though the missions were thousands of miles apart and the work was different, both journeys shared the same heart: to go where the Lord was calling, to serve his people, and to discover that in giving ourselves, we often receive far more than we could ever give. For Father Francisco, the Operation Appalachia mission began each morning before the work even started. He would walk to the cemetery beside the camp, pray the rosary, reflect on the Gospel, and meditate in silence. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Then, at 7 a.m., team members gathered for Mass. Their altar was a simple tree stump with the morning sun rising through the trees behind it. As he celebrated the Eucharist, Father Francisco thought: “Before we repaired a single porch, painted a single wall, or drove a single nail, Christ was already repairing us.” The work that followed was demanding. Teams rebuilt porches, replaced floors, built ramps, reinforced roofs, and made repairs that homeowners had been unable to undertake themselves. But something else happened along the way. When some teams completed their projects early, they didn’t stop. They loaded their tools and went to help the teams that still had work to do. They asked, “Where can we help next?” For Father Francisco, that was the Gospel in action. “We weren’t just several work crews. We were one family,” Father Francisco said. That same spirit was evident in Guatemala. Over five days, three teams worked alongside From Houses to Homes workers to construct simple but sturdy homes of cinderblock, concrete flooring, metal roofing, a window, and a door. The work was physically demanding, but Father Gonzalez witnessed how the families themselves became a source of renewed energy and purpose. “Seeing the families whose houses we were building gave us renewed energy and a deeper sense of purpose,” Father Gonzalez said. While the physical work was important, both priests recognized that the deeper mission was about people. Father Francisco said the homeowners in Appalachia reminded the team that they were never repairing wood or concrete. “We were entering people’s lives,” Father Francisco said. Father Gonzalez expressed that same truth from Guatemala. “Outreach is not measured only by what we accomplish, but by the relationships we build along the way,” Father Francisco said. In both places, homes became a doorway to encounter — to listen to people’s stories, share meals, laugh together, and recognize the dignity and worth of every person. During Operation Appalachia, Father Francisco didn’t just talk about what the Church is, but experienced the Church. “As a priest, I often tell people that the Church is not simply a building. During Operation Appalachia, I didn’t just preach those words — I lived them,” Father Francisco said. In Guatemala, the Church crossed borders and cultures, bringing together people who might otherwise never have met. “When people from different communities, cultures, and backgrounds come together with open hearts and willing hands, borders become smaller, and humanity becomes bigger,” Father Gonzalez said. The most profound commonality between these two missions is that the blessings didn’t flow in only one direction. The families received homes. They received repairs. They received help and the reassurance that they were seen and valued. But those who served received something as well. Father Gonzalez and the team returned to Notre Dame with “tired bodies but grateful hearts,” carrying memories of the families they encountered. They also gained a deeper understanding that “service is not only about what we give but also about what we receive.” The priest also saw in the families lessons in “courage, resilience, generosity, hope, and faith.” Father Francisco experienced the same transformation. What he expected to be a week of service became, unexpectedly, a week that “renewed my own priesthood.” Perhaps that is one of the great revelations of missionary work: we go believing that we are bringing Christ to others, only to discover Christ waiting for us there. This summer reminded the Notre Dame participants that mission takes many forms. It may mean rebuilding a porch in West Virginia, laying a cinderblock in Guatemala, preparing a meal, offering a skill, giving financially, or simply saying yes when the Lord places an opportunity before us. “There is always a way to contribute.” Some give financially. Others offer their time, skills, supplies, prayers, encouragement, or presence,” Father Gonzalez said. “Each of these seemingly individual acts becomes part of something much greater. Together, these individual acts of generosity become a powerful witness to what can happen when people come together with a common purpose and willing hearts,” he said. [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

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Hanover priests rejoice bringing Christ to others on mission #Catholic –

This summer, the missionary heart of Notre Dame Mount Carmel Parish, located in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., came alive in two very different places.

On July 26, a team of nearly 50 Notre Dame parishioners and friends traveled to Preston County, W.V., for Operation Appalachia, serving families in need by repairing and restoring their homes. Father Emerson Francisco, the parish’s parochial vicar, accompanied them, experiencing the mission trip for the first time.

A few weeks later, on Aug. 7, Notre Dame’s Guatemala Outreach Ministry traveled to Guatemala, where 15 parishioners and friends divided into three teams to build three homes for three families in need. Father Vidal Gonzales, Jr., Notre Dame’s pastor, accompanied the group, sharing in the hard work, fellowship, and encounters that made the journey meaningful.

Though the missions were thousands of miles apart and the work was different, both journeys shared the same heart: to go where the Lord was calling, to serve his people, and to discover that in giving ourselves, we often receive far more than we could ever give.

For Father Francisco, the Operation Appalachia mission began each morning before the work even started. He would walk to the cemetery beside the camp, pray the rosary, reflect on the Gospel, and meditate in silence.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Then, at 7 a.m., team members gathered for Mass. Their altar was a simple tree stump with the morning sun rising through the trees behind it. As he celebrated the Eucharist, Father Francisco thought: “Before we repaired a single porch, painted a single wall, or drove a single nail, Christ was already repairing us.”

The work that followed was demanding. Teams rebuilt porches, replaced floors, built ramps, reinforced roofs, and made repairs that homeowners had been unable to undertake themselves.

But something else happened along the way. When some teams completed their projects early, they didn’t stop. They loaded their tools and went to help the teams that still had work to do. They asked, “Where can we help next?” For Father Francisco, that was the Gospel in action.

“We weren’t just several work crews. We were one family,” Father Francisco said.

That same spirit was evident in Guatemala. Over five days, three teams worked alongside From Houses to Homes workers to construct simple but sturdy homes of cinderblock, concrete flooring, metal roofing, a window, and a door. The work was physically demanding, but Father Gonzalez witnessed how the families themselves became a source of renewed energy and purpose.

“Seeing the families whose houses we were building gave us renewed energy and a deeper sense of purpose,” Father Gonzalez said.

While the physical work was important, both priests recognized that the deeper mission was about people.

Father Francisco said the homeowners in Appalachia reminded the team that they were never repairing wood or concrete.

“We were entering people’s lives,” Father Francisco said.

Father Gonzalez expressed that same truth from Guatemala.

“Outreach is not measured only by what we accomplish, but by the relationships we build along the way,” Father Francisco said.

In both places, homes became a doorway to encounter — to listen to people’s stories, share meals, laugh together, and recognize the dignity and worth of every person.

During Operation Appalachia, Father Francisco didn’t just talk about what the Church is, but experienced the Church.

“As a priest, I often tell people that the Church is not simply a building. During Operation Appalachia, I didn’t just preach those words — I lived them,” Father Francisco said.

In Guatemala, the Church crossed borders and cultures, bringing together people who might otherwise never have met.

“When people from different communities, cultures, and backgrounds come together with open hearts and willing hands, borders become smaller, and humanity becomes bigger,” Father Gonzalez said.

The most profound commonality between these two missions is that the blessings didn’t flow in only one direction. The families received homes. They received repairs. They received help and the reassurance that they were seen and valued.

But those who served received something as well. Father Gonzalez and the team returned to Notre Dame with “tired bodies but grateful hearts,” carrying memories of the families they encountered. They also gained a deeper understanding that “service is not only about what we give but also about what we receive.” The priest also saw in the families lessons in “courage, resilience, generosity, hope, and faith.”

Father Francisco experienced the same transformation. What he expected to be a week of service became, unexpectedly, a week that “renewed my own priesthood.”

Perhaps that is one of the great revelations of missionary work: we go believing that we are bringing Christ to others, only to discover Christ waiting for us there.

This summer reminded the Notre Dame participants that mission takes many forms. It may mean rebuilding a porch in West Virginia, laying a cinderblock in Guatemala, preparing a meal, offering a skill, giving financially, or simply saying yes when the Lord places an opportunity before us.

“There is always a way to contribute.” Some give financially. Others offer their time, skills, supplies, prayers, encouragement, or presence,” Father Gonzalez said. “Each of these seemingly individual acts becomes part of something much greater. Together, these individual acts of generosity become a powerful witness to what can happen when people come together with a common purpose and willing hearts,” he said.

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org] – This summer, the missionary heart of Notre Dame Mount Carmel Parish, located in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., came alive in two very different places. On July 26, a team of nearly 50 Notre Dame parishioners and friends traveled to Preston County, W.V., for Operation Appalachia, serving families in need by repairing and restoring their homes. Father Emerson Francisco, the parish’s parochial vicar, accompanied them, experiencing the mission trip for the first time. A few weeks later, on Aug. 7, Notre Dame’s Guatemala Outreach Ministry traveled to Guatemala, where 15 parishioners and friends divided into three teams

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Abuse settlement in Diocese of Ogdensburg will total million with insurance contributions – #Catholic – The Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York, is moving to settle its long-running bankruptcy proceedings with an million fund for abuse victims, Bishop Terry LaValley has announced, with a significant portion of that amount coming from insurance providers.The bishop announced the proposed settlement in an Aug. 25 letter to the diocese. The diocese had earlier announced a million agreement in May. A diocesan spokeswoman confirmed that the additional roughly million would come from insurance contributions. In his August letter, LaValley said the diocese was hoping to have the plan approved by the bankruptcy court “in the next few months.” The Ogdensburg Diocese filed for bankruptcy in July 2023, the sixth diocese in New York state to do so.The bishop urged Catholics to pray for both abuse victims as well as the diocese itself. He described the reparation payments as a “moral obligation” on the part of the diocese. ‘Rapid pre-pack’ bankruptcyIn his letter, LaValley said the parishes in the diocese will undergo a notable bankruptcy proceeding called “rapid pre-pack Chapter 11,” one that will settle current abuse allegations while protecting parishes from future litigation. “Each of our parishes will file a Chapter 11 case at the very last moment, after we know whether we have sufficient votes to confirm the plan,” the bishop said. Parishes are anticipated to be in bankruptcy for about 48 hours before emerging “quickly,” he said.“The result is that the diocese and parishes will receive a bankruptcy discharge of all alleged abuse claims as of the date the parishʼs pre-packed bankruptcy is filed,” the bishop said. “Going forward, no abuse claims may be brought against parishes from prior to that date.”The bishop said the unique strategy emerged after a June 2024 Supreme Court decision on bankruptcy, likely a reference to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that month in Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P.That ruling on a complex provision of U.S. bankruptcy law meant that individual parishes and schools in diocesan abuse proceedings could be sued, greatly expanding the possibility of large numbers of expensive lawsuits against Catholic entities. LaValley said the diocese had been advised that the “rapid” bankruptcy proceeding “is the only viable and realistic way to obtain comprehensive relief” for all diocesan entities there. A similar strategy had been used in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans, he said.
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Abuse settlement in Diocese of Ogdensburg will total $83 million with insurance contributions – #Catholic – The Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York, is moving to settle its long-running bankruptcy proceedings with an $83 million fund for abuse victims, Bishop Terry LaValley has announced, with a significant portion of that amount coming from insurance providers.The bishop announced the proposed settlement in an Aug. 25 letter to the diocese. The diocese had earlier announced a $45 million agreement in May. A diocesan spokeswoman confirmed that the additional roughly $38 million would come from insurance contributions. In his August letter, LaValley said the diocese was hoping to have the plan approved by the bankruptcy court “in the next few months.” The Ogdensburg Diocese filed for bankruptcy in July 2023, the sixth diocese in New York state to do so.The bishop urged Catholics to pray for both abuse victims as well as the diocese itself. He described the reparation payments as a “moral obligation” on the part of the diocese. ‘Rapid pre-pack’ bankruptcyIn his letter, LaValley said the parishes in the diocese will undergo a notable bankruptcy proceeding called “rapid pre-pack Chapter 11,” one that will settle current abuse allegations while protecting parishes from future litigation. “Each of our parishes will file a Chapter 11 case at the very last moment, after we know whether we have sufficient votes to confirm the plan,” the bishop said. Parishes are anticipated to be in bankruptcy for about 48 hours before emerging “quickly,” he said.“The result is that the diocese and parishes will receive a bankruptcy discharge of all alleged abuse claims as of the date the parishʼs pre-packed bankruptcy is filed,” the bishop said. “Going forward, no abuse claims may be brought against parishes from prior to that date.”The bishop said the unique strategy emerged after a June 2024 Supreme Court decision on bankruptcy, likely a reference to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that month in Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P.That ruling on a complex provision of U.S. bankruptcy law meant that individual parishes and schools in diocesan abuse proceedings could be sued, greatly expanding the possibility of large numbers of expensive lawsuits against Catholic entities. LaValley said the diocese had been advised that the “rapid” bankruptcy proceeding “is the only viable and realistic way to obtain comprehensive relief” for all diocesan entities there. A similar strategy had been used in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans, he said.

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Parishes in the New York diocese will also undergo a notable bankruptcy proceeding called “rapid pre-pack Chapter 11.”

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International apostolate seeks to consecrate businesses to Sacred Heart in Bridgeport Diocese – #Catholic – The Diocese of Bridgeport and the apostolate His Way At Work will launch a  guild to consecrate Connecticut businesses to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.The diocesan partnership was conceived by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano with the goal of transforming the workplace with the help of His Way At Work, an international apostolate inspiring business owners to consecrate their companies to the Sacred Heart and place God at the center.His Way At Work, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 2008 by Peter Freissle, an entrepreneur and CEO. His Way At Work reports that it has reached nearly 500,000 employees and their families. It also has aided more than 300 companies, serving in more than 12 countries. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco serves as the episcopal adviser to His Way At Work.Caggiano said in a statement shared with EWTN News, “Most people spend the greater part of their waking hours at work, and God wants to be more present to them and through them there. The His Way at Work Guild is an invitation to business owners to consecrate their companies to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to lead in a way that honors the dignity of every employee.”“I would say to any business owner in Fairfield County who has ever wondered whether their faith belongs at work: it does, and you are not alone in asking the question. Come and see what this Guild is about,” Caggiano said.By joining the association of consecrated companies, the Bridgeport Diocese said it hopes the owners will adopt a Catholic framework and encourage care for employees.The guild will be entrusted to its patrons — Sts. Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin. The pair were two small business owners in 19th-century France. They were also the parents of five nuns, including the beloved St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and the first married couple to be canonized.“His Way At Work aligned perfectly with the guild system the bishop established, and naming it after a canonized man and woman, who were successful and faithful business owners, seemed a perfect fit,” Deacon Patrick Toole, chancellor of the diocese, said in a diocesan announcement of the guild. The Diocese of Bridgeport and His Way at Work are launching a guild in September 2026 under the patronage of Sts. Louis and Marie Azélie Martin, 19th century French small business owners and the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. They were the first married couple to be canonized. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport Caggiano established the Guilds of the Diocese of Bridgeport “to offer a unique way for the faithful to deepen their spiritual lives and grow in community through shared vocations and interests,” according to the diocese.Each of the guilds serves a mission in the community, from fostering Eucharistic adoration to supporting healthcare. The initiative is expanding its reach with a guild focused on supporting business leaders.“Our hope is that it creates a community of faith among business owners so they can support each other and grow closer spiritually and professionally,” Toole said.“By consecrating their businesses to the Sacred Heart, their customers will realize there is something different and special about these businesses — something that sets them apart,” he said. The announcement of the guild follows the dioceseʼs reconsecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which took place in June. The diocese joined the Catholic Church throughout the U.S. in “a great act of faith and love as our bishops consecrate our nation to the Sacred Heart,” Caggiano wrote in a message.Next steps for companies hoping to add faith to their workFor interested businesses in the diocese, Caggiano will hold an informational session in conjunction with the His Way At Work team. It will be held on Oct. 22 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield.Business owners will receive a guidebook and pray a nine-day novena to the Sacred Heart. Members will receive certificates of consecration and be encouraged to take part in monthly formation meetings offered by the guild with His Way At Work.The initiative will be funded by the diocese, which will provide members free access to formation materials.The Diocese of Bridgeport joins numerous other diocesan communities who work alongside His Way At Work to bring God’s presence to the workplace.The organization works in partnership with the Archdiocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, and the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. It also operates internationally, aiding the the Archdiocese of Mexico in Mexico City and the Archdiocese of Monterrey in northern Mexico.This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 2, 2026 with comments from Bishop Frank J. Caggiano and a photograph of Sts. Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin.
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International apostolate seeks to consecrate businesses to Sacred Heart in Bridgeport Diocese – #Catholic – The Diocese of Bridgeport and the apostolate His Way At Work will launch a  guild to consecrate Connecticut businesses to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.The diocesan partnership was conceived by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano with the goal of transforming the workplace with the help of His Way At Work, an international apostolate inspiring business owners to consecrate their companies to the Sacred Heart and place God at the center.His Way At Work, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 2008 by Peter Freissle, an entrepreneur and CEO. His Way At Work reports that it has reached nearly 500,000 employees and their families. It also has aided more than 300 companies, serving in more than 12 countries. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco serves as the episcopal adviser to His Way At Work.Caggiano said in a statement shared with EWTN News, “Most people spend the greater part of their waking hours at work, and God wants to be more present to them and through them there. The His Way at Work Guild is an invitation to business owners to consecrate their companies to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to lead in a way that honors the dignity of every employee.”“I would say to any business owner in Fairfield County who has ever wondered whether their faith belongs at work: it does, and you are not alone in asking the question. Come and see what this Guild is about,” Caggiano said.By joining the association of consecrated companies, the Bridgeport Diocese said it hopes the owners will adopt a Catholic framework and encourage care for employees.The guild will be entrusted to its patrons — Sts. Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin. The pair were two small business owners in 19th-century France. They were also the parents of five nuns, including the beloved St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and the first married couple to be canonized.“His Way At Work aligned perfectly with the guild system the bishop established, and naming it after a canonized man and woman, who were successful and faithful business owners, seemed a perfect fit,” Deacon Patrick Toole, chancellor of the diocese, said in a diocesan announcement of the guild. The Diocese of Bridgeport and His Way at Work are launching a guild in September 2026 under the patronage of Sts. Louis and Marie Azélie Martin, 19th century French small business owners and the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. They were the first married couple to be canonized. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport Caggiano established the Guilds of the Diocese of Bridgeport “to offer a unique way for the faithful to deepen their spiritual lives and grow in community through shared vocations and interests,” according to the diocese.Each of the guilds serves a mission in the community, from fostering Eucharistic adoration to supporting healthcare. The initiative is expanding its reach with a guild focused on supporting business leaders.“Our hope is that it creates a community of faith among business owners so they can support each other and grow closer spiritually and professionally,” Toole said.“By consecrating their businesses to the Sacred Heart, their customers will realize there is something different and special about these businesses — something that sets them apart,” he said. The announcement of the guild follows the dioceseʼs reconsecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which took place in June. The diocese joined the Catholic Church throughout the U.S. in “a great act of faith and love as our bishops consecrate our nation to the Sacred Heart,” Caggiano wrote in a message.Next steps for companies hoping to add faith to their workFor interested businesses in the diocese, Caggiano will hold an informational session in conjunction with the His Way At Work team. It will be held on Oct. 22 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield.Business owners will receive a guidebook and pray a nine-day novena to the Sacred Heart. Members will receive certificates of consecration and be encouraged to take part in monthly formation meetings offered by the guild with His Way At Work.The initiative will be funded by the diocese, which will provide members free access to formation materials.The Diocese of Bridgeport joins numerous other diocesan communities who work alongside His Way At Work to bring God’s presence to the workplace.The organization works in partnership with the Archdiocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, and the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. It also operates internationally, aiding the the Archdiocese of Mexico in Mexico City and the Archdiocese of Monterrey in northern Mexico.This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 2, 2026 with comments from Bishop Frank J. Caggiano and a photograph of Sts. Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin.

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Bishop Frank Caggiano spearheaded a guild to transform local businesses by placing God at the center.

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Religious freedom commission urges accountability for India violators after leader’s U.S. visit – #Catholic – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is calling for government officials to hold religious freedom violators in India accountable after the leader of the country’s Hindu nationalist party visited the U.S. “Religious‑freedom conditions in India continue to deteriorate as violence and incitement are increasingly used to target minority faith communities,” USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood said in an Aug. 26 statement, issued after Mohan Bhagwat — chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a prominent Hindu nationalist volunteer organization accused of targeting Christians — visited the United States Aug. 25–29.“We urge the U.S. government to consider targeted sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials complicit in religious freedom violations, including revoking the visa issued to Mohan Bhagwat and making him ineligible for future entry into the United States,” Mahmood said.Bhagwat’s tour also extended to Canada and the United Kingdom, part of the RSS’ effort to strengthen ties with overseas Hindu communities during its centenary year.“The U.S. government has an opportunity to hold India accountable and signal that the United States stands for religious freedom for the people of India,” Vice Chair CeCe Heil said in the release. “Without this accountability, religious freedom will only deteriorate further, as vigilante mobs continue to attack religious minorities and their houses of worship under the guise of enforcing anti-conversion laws and other harmful policies.”In a May USCIRF briefing on Capitol Hill, witnesses called for U.S. intervention to end ongoing persecution of religious minorities in India amid warnings of escalating attacks against Christians in India, including mob violence and property destruction. The Catholic population in India is about 23 million, about 1.6% of the country’s population, according to the Vatican.USCIRF recommended in its 2026 annual report that the U.S. State Department designate India as a country of particular concern.Congressional supportRep. Riley Moore, R‑West Virginia, told “EWTN News Nightly” on Sept. 2 he is concerned about “growing intolerance as it relates to Christianity in India” as India’s government considers changes to its Foreign Contributions Regulations Act that could restrict Catholic charities from receiving foreign aid.“The Indian government does and should prevent foreign money from interfering in the day‑to‑day activities or the governance of their country,” Moore said, but he added that Catholic hospitals aren’t doing that and instead provide essential care to the communities they serve.Moore said questions remain about how India treats its Christian population, noting the Catholic Church’s humanitarian work, including that of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity.“Her feast day is coming up here on the fifth,” he said. “Itʼs just a reminder of why itʼs so important for us to raise our voice in concern when we see what I view as certainly an issue as it relates to Christian intolerance in certain parts of either the government or the country of India.”This story was updated at 2:55 p.m. ET on Sept. 2, 2026, to include comments by Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia.
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Religious freedom commission urges accountability for India violators after leader’s U.S. visit – #Catholic – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is calling for government officials to hold religious freedom violators in India accountable after the leader of the country’s Hindu nationalist party visited the U.S. “Religious‑freedom conditions in India continue to deteriorate as violence and incitement are increasingly used to target minority faith communities,” USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood said in an Aug. 26 statement, issued after Mohan Bhagwat — chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a prominent Hindu nationalist volunteer organization accused of targeting Christians — visited the United States Aug. 25–29.“We urge the U.S. government to consider targeted sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials complicit in religious freedom violations, including revoking the visa issued to Mohan Bhagwat and making him ineligible for future entry into the United States,” Mahmood said.Bhagwat’s tour also extended to Canada and the United Kingdom, part of the RSS’ effort to strengthen ties with overseas Hindu communities during its centenary year.“The U.S. government has an opportunity to hold India accountable and signal that the United States stands for religious freedom for the people of India,” Vice Chair CeCe Heil said in the release. “Without this accountability, religious freedom will only deteriorate further, as vigilante mobs continue to attack religious minorities and their houses of worship under the guise of enforcing anti-conversion laws and other harmful policies.”In a May USCIRF briefing on Capitol Hill, witnesses called for U.S. intervention to end ongoing persecution of religious minorities in India amid warnings of escalating attacks against Christians in India, including mob violence and property destruction. The Catholic population in India is about 23 million, about 1.6% of the country’s population, according to the Vatican.USCIRF recommended in its 2026 annual report that the U.S. State Department designate India as a country of particular concern.Congressional supportRep. Riley Moore, R‑West Virginia, told “EWTN News Nightly” on Sept. 2 he is concerned about “growing intolerance as it relates to Christianity in India” as India’s government considers changes to its Foreign Contributions Regulations Act that could restrict Catholic charities from receiving foreign aid.“The Indian government does and should prevent foreign money from interfering in the day‑to‑day activities or the governance of their country,” Moore said, but he added that Catholic hospitals aren’t doing that and instead provide essential care to the communities they serve.Moore said questions remain about how India treats its Christian population, noting the Catholic Church’s humanitarian work, including that of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity.“Her feast day is coming up here on the fifth,” he said. “Itʼs just a reminder of why itʼs so important for us to raise our voice in concern when we see what I view as certainly an issue as it relates to Christian intolerance in certain parts of either the government or the country of India.”This story was updated at 2:55 p.m. ET on Sept. 2, 2026, to include comments by Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia.

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Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a prominent Hindu nationalist volunteer organization accused of targeting Christians, visited the U.S. in late August.

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Sept. 2, 1859: The Carrington Event peaks

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On Sept. 1, 1859, amateur astronomer Richard Carrington observed a massive eruption of bright light from the Sun’s surface. It was the first recorded observation of a solar flare. Within only 17.5 hours, a coronal mass ejection (CME) – an expulsion of plasma and magnetic waves that often accompanies flares and prominences – reached Earth,Continue reading “Sept. 2, 1859: The Carrington Event peaks”

The post Sept. 2, 1859: The Carrington Event peaks appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Artemis III RS-25 Engine Processing: #3 Lift – Technicians prepare to transfer the #2 RS-25 SLS (Space Launch System) rocket engine (front) to the work stand with the #3 engine (back) for integration with the Artemis III core stage rocket on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During Artemis III, the four RS‑25 engines will launch the Orion spacecraft and its crew of four into low Earth orbit, generating more than two million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

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Technicians prepare to transfer the #2 RS-25 SLS (Space Launch System) rocket engine (front) to the work stand with the #3 engine (back) for integration with the Artemis III core stage rocket on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During Artemis III, the four RS‑25 engines will launch the Orion spacecraft and its crew of four into low Earth orbit, generating more than two million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

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Prayer for Employment: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, September 02, 2026 – #Prayer – You govern your creation, O God, and bring it to perfection by the work of our hands. Hear the prayers of your people who ask for work that will enhance their human dignity and promote the upbuilding of your kingdom. Enable them to provide for those confided to their care either by family ties or by charity we owe to one another for the betterment of human life. We ask this blessing in the name of Jesus who laboured with his own hands while he lived on earth. Amen.

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You govern your creation, O God,
and bring it to perfection by the work of our hands.
Hear the prayers of your people who ask for work
that will enhance their human dignity
and promote the upbuilding of your kingdom.
Enable them to provide for those confided to their care
either by family ties or by charity we owe to one another
for the betterment of human life.
We ask this blessing in the name of Jesus
who laboured with his own hands while he lived on earth.

Amen.

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Federal judge delays mifepristone lawsuit until after midterms #Catholic A federal judge on Sunday agreed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s request to pause a lawsuit over the safety of the mifepristone pill and the drug’s mail-order distribution.Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ordered that the lawsuit would be delayed until either Dec. 1 or the completion of the FDA’s safety review of mifepristone, whichever comes first.In the lawsuit, Texas and Florida asked the court to revoke the FDA’s approval of the abortion-inducing pill, saying the agency didn’t adequately evaluate its safety when it approved the drug in 2000. The lawsuit also challenged mail-order distribution of the pill.The FDA first announced it would review mifepristone in September 2025.Pro-life group Live Action called on the FDA to protect women and unborn children from the abortion pill, citing studies that show dangerous side effects of the drug.“The Food and Drug Administration and Health and Human Services officials must do their job to protect women and children from the dangerous abortion pill, which now accounts for 65% of all abortions in the United States and has led to the deaths of 7.5 million preborn children since its release,” Noah Brandt, spokesman for Live Action, told EWTN News.“Both agencies have seen real-world data that show the harmful effects of the abortion pill,” Brandt said. “Within 45 days of a chemical abortion, 1 in 10 women experience serious adverse events from mifepristone, the first drug in the abortion pill regimen, such as sepsis, infection, or hemorrhaging.”“This shift in timing for the lawsuit and their ‘promised’ review indicates that they are prioritizing politics over the safety of American women and children,” Brandt said.“While they continue to brush off these critical issues, the abortion pill is recklessly being mailed across state lines via telehealth distribution, enabling coercion and abuse,” Brandt said. “It’s time deadly mail-order abortion ended once and for all and this lethal pill be removed from the market completely.”
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Federal judge delays mifepristone lawsuit until after midterms #Catholic A federal judge on Sunday agreed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s request to pause a lawsuit over the safety of the mifepristone pill and the drug’s mail-order distribution.Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ordered that the lawsuit would be delayed until either Dec. 1 or the completion of the FDA’s safety review of mifepristone, whichever comes first.In the lawsuit, Texas and Florida asked the court to revoke the FDA’s approval of the abortion-inducing pill, saying the agency didn’t adequately evaluate its safety when it approved the drug in 2000. The lawsuit also challenged mail-order distribution of the pill.The FDA first announced it would review mifepristone in September 2025.Pro-life group Live Action called on the FDA to protect women and unborn children from the abortion pill, citing studies that show dangerous side effects of the drug.“The Food and Drug Administration and Health and Human Services officials must do their job to protect women and children from the dangerous abortion pill, which now accounts for 65% of all abortions in the United States and has led to the deaths of 7.5 million preborn children since its release,” Noah Brandt, spokesman for Live Action, told EWTN News.“Both agencies have seen real-world data that show the harmful effects of the abortion pill,” Brandt said. “Within 45 days of a chemical abortion, 1 in 10 women experience serious adverse events from mifepristone, the first drug in the abortion pill regimen, such as sepsis, infection, or hemorrhaging.”“This shift in timing for the lawsuit and their ‘promised’ review indicates that they are prioritizing politics over the safety of American women and children,” Brandt said.“While they continue to brush off these critical issues, the abortion pill is recklessly being mailed across state lines via telehealth distribution, enabling coercion and abuse,” Brandt said. “It’s time deadly mail-order abortion ended once and for all and this lethal pill be removed from the market completely.”

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A federal judge has delayed a lawsuit over the abortion pill mifepristone, disappointing pro-lifers who are asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect women and unborn children.

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Pope Leo: Take time out of the daily bustle to ‘listen to the melodious voice’ of creation #Catholic Pope Leo XIV invited people to take time out from the daily bustle of their lives to listen to “the melodious voice of creation,” through which God speaks, as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is observed on Sept. 1.TweetThe Holy Father noted that this day also marks the beginning of the “Season of Creation,” a five-week period dedicated “to prayer and commitment to caring for our ‘common home’” that extends until Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, coinciding with the 800th anniversary of his death.“On this day, therefore, and in the weeks ahead, let us set aside a few moments to pause from the frenzy of our daily lives in order to savor the profound harmony of which we ourselves are a part,” the pope encouraged during the Mass celebrated in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo. Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1, 2026, in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo. | Credit: Vatican Media “Let us place in ‘silent mode’ the many noises generated by human activity, so that we may hear the melodious voice of creation, through which God, the author of all things, speaks to us,” the pontiff encouraged.Referring to his message issued for this 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the pope highlighted that “this contemplative exercise” is a first step toward an “authentic ecological conversion, where the effects of our encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in our relationship with the world around us.”In his homily, the pope also highlighted that the readings for this Mass — Psalm 18, the passage from the Book of Wisdom (Wis 13:1–9), and the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 6:24–34) — recall the grandeur of creation and the “Creator of so many wonders,” such as air and fire. Pope Leo XIV prayers during the Mass for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1, 2026, in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo. | Credit: Vatican Media He noted that they allow us to renew the idea that “if the Lord does not fail to bestow such splendid beauty upon plants and animals and provide for all their needs, how much more attentive will he be to the needs of his beloved sons and daughters!”The Holy Father also noted that “from contemplating creation and encountering its Creator, there arises an awareness of our particular place within God’s wondrous plan, and of the responsibility that we bear both personally and collectively for preserving the original harmony. Thus, as we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures, we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator.”“It is not yet too late, and the Season of Creation calls us to a profound conversion,” he emphasized. Pope Leo XIV prays at the Mass for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1, 2026, in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo. | Credit: Vatican Media After explaining that Pope Francis drew inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi in writing his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which addresses the care of our common home, Leo XIV quoted the “Poverello of Assisi’s” praises to God for the moon, stars, wind, earth, fire, and water, among other elements.“With St. Francis, let us renew our commitment to living and promoting that universal fraternity which is inseparably bound to the task of caring for creation,” the pope encouraged.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Pope Leo: Take time out of the daily bustle to ‘listen to the melodious voice’ of creation #Catholic Pope Leo XIV invited people to take time out from the daily bustle of their lives to listen to “the melodious voice of creation,” through which God speaks, as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is observed on Sept. 1.TweetThe Holy Father noted that this day also marks the beginning of the “Season of Creation,” a five-week period dedicated “to prayer and commitment to caring for our ‘common home’” that extends until Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, coinciding with the 800th anniversary of his death.“On this day, therefore, and in the weeks ahead, let us set aside a few moments to pause from the frenzy of our daily lives in order to savor the profound harmony of which we ourselves are a part,” the pope encouraged during the Mass celebrated in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo. Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1, 2026, in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo. | Credit: Vatican Media “Let us place in ‘silent mode’ the many noises generated by human activity, so that we may hear the melodious voice of creation, through which God, the author of all things, speaks to us,” the pontiff encouraged.Referring to his message issued for this 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the pope highlighted that “this contemplative exercise” is a first step toward an “authentic ecological conversion, where the effects of our encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in our relationship with the world around us.”In his homily, the pope also highlighted that the readings for this Mass — Psalm 18, the passage from the Book of Wisdom (Wis 13:1–9), and the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 6:24–34) — recall the grandeur of creation and the “Creator of so many wonders,” such as air and fire. Pope Leo XIV prayers during the Mass for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1, 2026, in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo. | Credit: Vatican Media He noted that they allow us to renew the idea that “if the Lord does not fail to bestow such splendid beauty upon plants and animals and provide for all their needs, how much more attentive will he be to the needs of his beloved sons and daughters!”The Holy Father also noted that “from contemplating creation and encountering its Creator, there arises an awareness of our particular place within God’s wondrous plan, and of the responsibility that we bear both personally and collectively for preserving the original harmony. Thus, as we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures, we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator.”“It is not yet too late, and the Season of Creation calls us to a profound conversion,” he emphasized. Pope Leo XIV prays at the Mass for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1, 2026, in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo. | Credit: Vatican Media After explaining that Pope Francis drew inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi in writing his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which addresses the care of our common home, Leo XIV quoted the “Poverello of Assisi’s” praises to God for the moon, stars, wind, earth, fire, and water, among other elements.“With St. Francis, let us renew our commitment to living and promoting that universal fraternity which is inseparably bound to the task of caring for creation,” the pope encouraged.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The Holy Father encouraged silent contemplation of the wonders and harmony of the created world, which can lead to authentic ecological conversion and awareness of our responsibility for creation.

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Vatican diplomat says Moscow mission focused on peace despite no concrete breakthrough – #Catholic – Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after high-level talks in Moscow produced no concrete breakthrough.Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials during an Aug. 24–28 visit to Russia.“We went to Moscow to speak of peace, to encourage souls troubled by war, and to say ‘Have courage, embrace the path of peace, have the hope of believing in a better day,” Gallagher said in an interview with Vatican News published Sunday. “And I believe that essentially this was our message.”Gallagher met with Lavrov during the first day of his visit, although he was not received by Russian President Vladimir Putin. After more than an hour of talks, the two appeared before reporters, with the Vatican diplomat reiterating Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine.“The Holy See does not enter into the details of the negotiations, nor does it propose technical solutions, because this is the direct responsibility of the belligerent parties,” Gallagher said in the subsequent Vatican News interview.“The Holy See, instead, recalls this responsibility and invites them to show goodwill in order to seriously begin a dialogue,” he continued. “And it does so by addressing both the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as other countries, asking that no effort be spared to create spaces for dialogue.”A ‘difficult’ dialogueGallagher acknowledged that discussing peace in Russia means engaging in “a difficult dialogue.”“The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be to restore relations: There are many victims, many open wounds,” he said. “But we know very well that, historically, all conflicts, all wars end with a negotiation, with an agreement, and then one begins to restore relations between the former belligerents.”“In this sense, diplomacy offers and promises a possible solution,” Gallagher said. “This is also what we, as a Church, have the responsibility and the duty to proclaim.”Gallagher and Lavrov also discussed possible humanitarian initiatives and the situation of children affected by the war. The Holy See expressed its willingness to continue offering spiritual, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance.“This dimension is fundamental and, in this area, the Holy See is already offering its contribution, a commitment that so far has been greatly appreciated,” Gallagher said.“The Holy Father himself, before I left, told me: We must insist on the humanitarian dimension. And that is what we did,” he added.“We hope that Cardinal [Matteo] Zuppi’s peace mission will continue and that he will be able to return promptly to Moscow, also in order to be a witness to what the local Church and the Catholic communities are doing.”Zuppi traveled to Moscow in 2023 and 2024 as Pope Francis’ special envoy for peace. His mission included humanitarian efforts concerning Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war.Outreach to the Russian Orthodox ChurchGallagher also visited Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, one of the city’s most prominent Orthodox landmarks.There he was received by Igor Yakimchuk, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. Gallagher also met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who heads the department.The talks covered issues of common concern and were intended to keep channels of communication open between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.Relations between the two churches have been severely strained since Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Meeting Russia’s Catholic minorityGallagher devoted the final day of his visit to Russia’s small Catholic community.Catholics make up a tiny minority in the country, with roughly 800,000 faithful among a population of more than 146 million — about 0.5%. The Church is organized into four dioceses centered on the Archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow.During his stay, Gallagher celebrated Mass at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and met with priests, religious men and women, and the country’s Catholic bishops.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Vatican diplomat says Moscow mission focused on peace despite no concrete breakthrough – #Catholic – Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after high-level talks in Moscow produced no concrete breakthrough.Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials during an Aug. 24–28 visit to Russia.“We went to Moscow to speak of peace, to encourage souls troubled by war, and to say ‘Have courage, embrace the path of peace, have the hope of believing in a better day,” Gallagher said in an interview with Vatican News published Sunday. “And I believe that essentially this was our message.”Gallagher met with Lavrov during the first day of his visit, although he was not received by Russian President Vladimir Putin. After more than an hour of talks, the two appeared before reporters, with the Vatican diplomat reiterating Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine.“The Holy See does not enter into the details of the negotiations, nor does it propose technical solutions, because this is the direct responsibility of the belligerent parties,” Gallagher said in the subsequent Vatican News interview.“The Holy See, instead, recalls this responsibility and invites them to show goodwill in order to seriously begin a dialogue,” he continued. “And it does so by addressing both the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as other countries, asking that no effort be spared to create spaces for dialogue.”A ‘difficult’ dialogueGallagher acknowledged that discussing peace in Russia means engaging in “a difficult dialogue.”“The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be to restore relations: There are many victims, many open wounds,” he said. “But we know very well that, historically, all conflicts, all wars end with a negotiation, with an agreement, and then one begins to restore relations between the former belligerents.”“In this sense, diplomacy offers and promises a possible solution,” Gallagher said. “This is also what we, as a Church, have the responsibility and the duty to proclaim.”Gallagher and Lavrov also discussed possible humanitarian initiatives and the situation of children affected by the war. The Holy See expressed its willingness to continue offering spiritual, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance.“This dimension is fundamental and, in this area, the Holy See is already offering its contribution, a commitment that so far has been greatly appreciated,” Gallagher said.“The Holy Father himself, before I left, told me: We must insist on the humanitarian dimension. And that is what we did,” he added.“We hope that Cardinal [Matteo] Zuppi’s peace mission will continue and that he will be able to return promptly to Moscow, also in order to be a witness to what the local Church and the Catholic communities are doing.”Zuppi traveled to Moscow in 2023 and 2024 as Pope Francis’ special envoy for peace. His mission included humanitarian efforts concerning Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war.Outreach to the Russian Orthodox ChurchGallagher also visited Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, one of the city’s most prominent Orthodox landmarks.There he was received by Igor Yakimchuk, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. Gallagher also met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who heads the department.The talks covered issues of common concern and were intended to keep channels of communication open between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.Relations between the two churches have been severely strained since Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Meeting Russia’s Catholic minorityGallagher devoted the final day of his visit to Russia’s small Catholic community.Catholics make up a tiny minority in the country, with roughly 800,000 faithful among a population of more than 146 million — about 0.5%. The Church is organized into four dioceses centered on the Archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow.During his stay, Gallagher celebrated Mass at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and met with priests, religious men and women, and the country’s Catholic bishops.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The Vatican’s equivalent of a foreign minister said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after talks with Russian officials and Church leaders in Moscow.

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10 Notable Historical Events Experts Now Believe Were Caused By Postpartum Depression #BabylonBee – Before the trial of Lindsay Clancy, everyone thought postpartum depression was a myth. But now society as a whole understands that the sudden drop in hormones after a woman has a baby really can cause intense sadness, anxiety, and disastrous historical events.
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10 Notable Historical Events Experts Now Believe Were Caused By Postpartum Depression #BabylonBee – Before the trial of Lindsay Clancy, everyone thought postpartum depression was a myth. But now society as a whole understands that the sudden drop in hormones after a woman has a baby really can cause intense sadness, anxiety, and disastrous historical events.

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Before the trial of Lindsay Clancy, everyone thought postpartum depression was a myth. But now society as a whole understands that the sudden drop in hormones after a woman has a baby really can cause intense sadness, anxiety, and disastrous historical events.

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Is this a ‘good time’ to offer a peaceful, prayerful and public witness on behalf of human life? #Catholic – “TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…” Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026. The signing of “S2260” and the coverage that it has received in the media have caused some concern for those who advocate on behalf of the recognition of the dignity and value of every human life from the moment of conception and who offer support for women contemplating abortion. I was very grateful for an article written by Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton and Mr. James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC), published in the Trenton Monitor on Aug. 25, 2026. The article states:   “… Since the Governor signed S2260, several reports and media accounts have circulated claiming that the new law makes it illegal to hold protests or prayer vigils outside abortion facilities. That characterization is too broad. The law does not prohibit peaceful pro-life advocacy simply because it occurs outside a reproductive health care facility. Rather, it prohibits particular forms of conduct — such as physical obstruction, intimidation, threats, coercion, or property damage — when the statutory requirements are met. This distinction is important. Peaceful prayer, peaceful protest, and respectful sidewalk counseling are not, by themselves, prohibited by S2260. At the same time, pro-life individuals and organizations must ensure that their activities do not cross the lines established by the new law or by other applicable federal, state, and local laws …” I encourage you to read the full article, “S2260 and pro-life activities in New Jersey.”  Most readers of this column are aware that, for the past three years, on the First Saturday of each month, I celebrate a “Respect Life” Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown and, after Mass, lead a peaceful, prayerful procession to a “Planned Parenthood” facility (office building), located a few blocks from the Church. Once we reach the facility, we pray the Rosary, making sure that we are on public property, standing on the sidewalk, and making sure that there is room on the sidewalk for pedestrians to pass. We do not engage in any way with anyone entering or exiting the facility. For the priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons and seminarians, and anywhere from 60 to 80 parishioners of St. Margaret’s and other women and men of good will and of all ages, who participate in the procession and prayer, we hope that our public witness will communicate to all who pass by that we believe that every human life is a precious gift from God, that life begins at conception and that, without judgement, we are prepared to assist and support any Mom (and Dad) who may be struggling to say “yes” to the gift of life that they have received. Since Gov. Sherrill signed S2260 into law and possibly impacted by some of the way the law has been interpreted by some of the media reports and coverage, we have received inquiries asking if the new law will impact the monthly prayerful procession and witness. I have been encouraged by the guidance I have received from Jim King and the NJCC, from legal counsel and, perhaps especially from Mr. King and Bishop O’Connell’s article, which concludes with these words: “The Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting human life at every stage from conception to natural death remains unchanged, and we continue to oppose policies, legislation and laws, including S2260, that expands access to abortion or otherwise conflicts with the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person. That said, our Catholic pro-life witness should always be carried out peacefully, respectfully and in a charitable manner, ensuring our advocacy remains both faithful and effective.” The NJCC, with legal counsel, has produced a “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) document to help our understanding of this new law, S2260, and to clarify the activities that it prohibits, as well as the activities that it allows or does not prohibit.  So, I believe that, yes, this is (still) a “good time” to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of human life. I believe it is a very good time to continue to offer our witness and also to consider the ways in which we engage in “public discourse” and with those who disagree with us. Unfortunately, although they often had good intentions, there have been times (in past decades) when those who have advocated on behalf of life, especially in front of abortion clinics, have not always acted in a “peaceful, respectful, and charitable manner.” For anyone who has concerns about the manner in which we witness on behalf of life at our monthly prayerful procession and witness in Morristown, I would encourage you to come by and “see for yourself” (See above flyer for details). I am confident that we are not only well within our “legal rights,” but that we are doing everything we can to offer our witness in a gentle, prayerful, and loving way. I also take this opportunity to remind readers (or let you know) that for the third consecutive year, we will have a New Jersey State Mass and March for Life on Thursday, Oct. 8. The state Mass and March for Life is another way for us to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of life to our governor and elected leaders and to all people, respectfully inviting them to consider what we believe, such as the beliefs expressed 250 years ago by our nation’s founders: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” – The Declaration of Independence.  The good that is accomplished by prayerful witness on behalf of life is a result of the power of God’s grace. St. Paul encourages us, “Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). United in the power of the Holy Spirit, we remain constant in prayer. We pray that the gift of the Lord’s grace will speak to every human heart so that all people may rejoice in the fullness of life he promises. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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Is this a ‘good time’ to offer a peaceful, prayerful and public witness on behalf of human life? #Catholic – “TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…” Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026. The signing of “S2260” and the coverage that it has received in the media have caused some concern for those who advocate on behalf of the recognition of the dignity and value of every human life from the moment of conception and who offer support for women contemplating abortion. I was very grateful for an article written by Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton and Mr. James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC), published in the Trenton Monitor on Aug. 25, 2026. The article states:   “… Since the Governor signed S2260, several reports and media accounts have circulated claiming that the new law makes it illegal to hold protests or prayer vigils outside abortion facilities. That characterization is too broad. The law does not prohibit peaceful pro-life advocacy simply because it occurs outside a reproductive health care facility. Rather, it prohibits particular forms of conduct — such as physical obstruction, intimidation, threats, coercion, or property damage — when the statutory requirements are met. This distinction is important. Peaceful prayer, peaceful protest, and respectful sidewalk counseling are not, by themselves, prohibited by S2260. At the same time, pro-life individuals and organizations must ensure that their activities do not cross the lines established by the new law or by other applicable federal, state, and local laws …” I encourage you to read the full article, “S2260 and pro-life activities in New Jersey.”  Most readers of this column are aware that, for the past three years, on the First Saturday of each month, I celebrate a “Respect Life” Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown and, after Mass, lead a peaceful, prayerful procession to a “Planned Parenthood” facility (office building), located a few blocks from the Church. Once we reach the facility, we pray the Rosary, making sure that we are on public property, standing on the sidewalk, and making sure that there is room on the sidewalk for pedestrians to pass. We do not engage in any way with anyone entering or exiting the facility. For the priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons and seminarians, and anywhere from 60 to 80 parishioners of St. Margaret’s and other women and men of good will and of all ages, who participate in the procession and prayer, we hope that our public witness will communicate to all who pass by that we believe that every human life is a precious gift from God, that life begins at conception and that, without judgement, we are prepared to assist and support any Mom (and Dad) who may be struggling to say “yes” to the gift of life that they have received. Since Gov. Sherrill signed S2260 into law and possibly impacted by some of the way the law has been interpreted by some of the media reports and coverage, we have received inquiries asking if the new law will impact the monthly prayerful procession and witness. I have been encouraged by the guidance I have received from Jim King and the NJCC, from legal counsel and, perhaps especially from Mr. King and Bishop O’Connell’s article, which concludes with these words: “The Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting human life at every stage from conception to natural death remains unchanged, and we continue to oppose policies, legislation and laws, including S2260, that expands access to abortion or otherwise conflicts with the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person. That said, our Catholic pro-life witness should always be carried out peacefully, respectfully and in a charitable manner, ensuring our advocacy remains both faithful and effective.” The NJCC, with legal counsel, has produced a “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) document to help our understanding of this new law, S2260, and to clarify the activities that it prohibits, as well as the activities that it allows or does not prohibit.  So, I believe that, yes, this is (still) a “good time” to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of human life. I believe it is a very good time to continue to offer our witness and also to consider the ways in which we engage in “public discourse” and with those who disagree with us. Unfortunately, although they often had good intentions, there have been times (in past decades) when those who have advocated on behalf of life, especially in front of abortion clinics, have not always acted in a “peaceful, respectful, and charitable manner.” For anyone who has concerns about the manner in which we witness on behalf of life at our monthly prayerful procession and witness in Morristown, I would encourage you to come by and “see for yourself” (See above flyer for details). I am confident that we are not only well within our “legal rights,” but that we are doing everything we can to offer our witness in a gentle, prayerful, and loving way. I also take this opportunity to remind readers (or let you know) that for the third consecutive year, we will have a New Jersey State Mass and March for Life on Thursday, Oct. 8. The state Mass and March for Life is another way for us to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of life to our governor and elected leaders and to all people, respectfully inviting them to consider what we believe, such as the beliefs expressed 250 years ago by our nation’s founders: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” – The Declaration of Independence.  The good that is accomplished by prayerful witness on behalf of life is a result of the power of God’s grace. St. Paul encourages us, “Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). United in the power of the Holy Spirit, we remain constant in prayer. We pray that the gift of the Lord’s grace will speak to every human heart so that all people may rejoice in the fullness of life he promises. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

unitedyam

Is this a ‘good time’ to offer a peaceful, prayerful and public witness on behalf of human life? #Catholic –

“TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…”

Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026.

The signing of “S2260” and the coverage that it has received in the media have caused some concern for those who advocate on behalf of the recognition of the dignity and value of every human life from the moment of conception and who offer support for women contemplating abortion.

I was very grateful for an article written by Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton and Mr. James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC), published in the Trenton Monitor on Aug. 25, 2026. The article states:  

“… Since the Governor signed S2260, several reports and media accounts have circulated claiming that the new law makes it illegal to hold protests or prayer vigils outside abortion facilities. That characterization is too broad. The law does not prohibit peaceful pro-life advocacy simply because it occurs outside a reproductive health care facility. Rather, it prohibits particular forms of conduct — such as physical obstruction, intimidation, threats, coercion, or property damage — when the statutory requirements are met.

This distinction is important. Peaceful prayer, peaceful protest, and respectful sidewalk counseling are not, by themselves, prohibited by S2260. At the same time, pro-life individuals and organizations must ensure that their activities do not cross the lines established by the new law or by other applicable federal, state, and local laws …”

I encourage you to read the full article, “S2260 and pro-life activities in New Jersey.” 

Most readers of this column are aware that, for the past three years, on the First Saturday of each month, I celebrate a “Respect Life” Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown and, after Mass, lead a peaceful, prayerful procession to a “Planned Parenthood” facility (office building), located a few blocks from the Church. Once we reach the facility, we pray the Rosary, making sure that we are on public property, standing on the sidewalk, and making sure that there is room on the sidewalk for pedestrians to pass. We do not engage in any way with anyone entering or exiting the facility.

For the priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons and seminarians, and anywhere from 60 to 80 parishioners of St. Margaret’s and other women and men of good will and of all ages, who participate in the procession and prayer, we hope that our public witness will communicate to all who pass by that we believe that every human life is a precious gift from God, that life begins at conception and that, without judgement, we are prepared to assist and support any Mom (and Dad) who may be struggling to say “yes” to the gift of life that they have received.

Since Gov. Sherrill signed S2260 into law and possibly impacted by some of the way the law has been interpreted by some of the media reports and coverage, we have received inquiries asking if the new law will impact the monthly prayerful procession and witness. I have been encouraged by the guidance I have received from Jim King and the NJCC, from legal counsel and, perhaps especially from Mr. King and Bishop O’Connell’s article, which concludes with these words:

“The Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting human life at every stage from conception to natural death remains unchanged, and we continue to oppose policies, legislation and laws, including S2260, that expands access to abortion or otherwise conflicts with the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person. That said, our Catholic pro-life witness should always be carried out peacefully, respectfully and in a charitable manner, ensuring our advocacy remains both faithful and effective.”

The NJCC, with legal counsel, has produced a “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) document to help our understanding of this new law, S2260, and to clarify the activities that it prohibits, as well as the activities that it allows or does not prohibit. 

So, I believe that, yes, this is (still) a “good time” to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of human life. I believe it is a very good time to continue to offer our witness and also to consider the ways in which we engage in “public discourse” and with those who disagree with us. Unfortunately, although they often had good intentions, there have been times (in past decades) when those who have advocated on behalf of life, especially in front of abortion clinics, have not always acted in a “peaceful, respectful, and charitable manner.”

For anyone who has concerns about the manner in which we witness on behalf of life at our monthly prayerful procession and witness in Morristown, I would encourage you to come by and “see for yourself” (See above flyer for details). I am confident that we are not only well within our “legal rights,” but that we are doing everything we can to offer our witness in a gentle, prayerful, and loving way.

I also take this opportunity to remind readers (or let you know) that for the third consecutive year, we will have a New Jersey State Mass and March for Life on Thursday, Oct. 8. The state Mass and March for Life is another way for us to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of life to our governor and elected leaders and to all people, respectfully inviting them to consider what we believe, such as the beliefs expressed 250 years ago by our nation’s founders: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” – The Declaration of Independence. 

The good that is accomplished by prayerful witness on behalf of life is a result of the power of God’s grace. St. Paul encourages us, “Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). United in the power of the Holy Spirit, we remain constant in prayer. We pray that the gift of the Lord’s grace will speak to every human heart so that all people may rejoice in the fullness of life he promises.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

 

– “TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…” Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026. The signing of “S2260”

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This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of September – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of September is for the care of water.“Imagine a hot summer day, after hard work or a long walk, you finally take a sip of cool water. Feel how relief and energy flow through your body,” the Holy Father said in a video released Sept. 1 on X.He added: “Moments like these remind us what a blessing clean water is yet, 1 in 4 people worldwide still lack safe drinking water. Entire communities and nations need our action and our prayer for the care of water for the blessed relief.”In the full video shared on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month’s prayer intention:Lord of Life,You have given us the gift of water,source of fruitfulness, freshness, and hope.It quenches thirst, nourishes the earth, and heals wounds.We thank you,because it is also a symbol of your grace and lovethat renews us through baptism.Today we ask you to teach us to safeguard itwith gratitude, justice, and responsibility.Forgive us for turning it into a commodity,forgetting that it is a universal gift,a right without borders, meant for all your children.We see with pain so many brothers and sisterswho lack clean water,who walk for miles to find it,who become ill due to its scarcity.May your Spirit make us pilgrims of the essential,able to live with simplicity,denouncing waste and pollution,defending the right of every brother and sisterto drink without fear and without inequality.May our care for waterbe a sign of love for the Creatorand a commitment to the lives of the poor,educating new generations to valueand protect the Earth’s resources.Amen.”“Pray with the Pope” is accessible on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website and its digital platforms.
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This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of September – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of September is for the care of water.“Imagine a hot summer day, after hard work or a long walk, you finally take a sip of cool water. Feel how relief and energy flow through your body,” the Holy Father said in a video released Sept. 1 on X.He added: “Moments like these remind us what a blessing clean water is yet, 1 in 4 people worldwide still lack safe drinking water. Entire communities and nations need our action and our prayer for the care of water for the blessed relief.”In the full video shared on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month’s prayer intention:Lord of Life,You have given us the gift of water,source of fruitfulness, freshness, and hope.It quenches thirst, nourishes the earth, and heals wounds.We thank you,because it is also a symbol of your grace and lovethat renews us through baptism.Today we ask you to teach us to safeguard itwith gratitude, justice, and responsibility.Forgive us for turning it into a commodity,forgetting that it is a universal gift,a right without borders, meant for all your children.We see with pain so many brothers and sisterswho lack clean water,who walk for miles to find it,who become ill due to its scarcity.May your Spirit make us pilgrims of the essential,able to live with simplicity,denouncing waste and pollution,defending the right of every brother and sisterto drink without fear and without inequality.May our care for waterbe a sign of love for the Creatorand a commitment to the lives of the poor,educating new generations to valueand protect the Earth’s resources.Amen.”“Pray with the Pope” is accessible on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website and its digital platforms.

unitedyam

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of September is for the care of water.

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Wendell Berry, agrarian writer who envisioned a world ‘redeemed only by love,’ dies at 92 – #Catholic – Wendell Berry, the prolific American author whose work spanned decades and who spent his career urging Americans to pursue a simpler, more virtuous life, died on Aug. 31, his family said. His daughter Mary confirmed his passing via the New York Times. His cause of death was not immediately known; the Kentucky-born writer was 92 years old. A writer of fiction, poetry, and essays, Berry was known for his advocacy of rural life, for urging readers to develop a close connection to farming and food, and for calling for the care of the environment. His work united a broad cross-section of the American public from liberal environmentalists to Christian homesteaders to local food advocates to conservative conservationists. Born in Louisville on Aug. 5, 1934, Berry studied English at the University of Kentucky and writing at Stanford University. He taught English at the University of Kentucky for several years and also taught at New York University. From 1965 until his death he lived and worked at his farm, Lane’s Landing, in Henry County, Kentucky. His politics were broad and diverse. He was famously critical of big business and corporations and was a fierce detractor of coal companies. He was opposed to the death penalty, at one point urging his home state to abolish it entirely. Amid the racial and cultural disputes of 2020, he sued the University of Kentucky in order to prevent the removal of a purportedly racially offensive mural there — though he said he was pained by the knowledge that his ancestors “established themselves here by killing or driving out the original possessors” and that “people were once bought and sold here by my people.” Berry was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2012. Throughout his career he remained devoted to both the natural world and to the small farm — a philosophy, he said in 2002, that meant he had “spent [his] life on two losing sides.” He urged advocates to reconcile both the need to preserve the natural world and the need to support the human beings that are an indelible part of the world. “The question we must deal with is not whether the domestic and the wild are separate or can be separated; it is how, in the human economy, their indissoluble and necessary connection can be properly maintained,” he wrote.Baptized a Baptist, Berry remained distant from organized religion, calling himself at one point a “forest Christian.” Yet his work and his advocacy attracted large numbers of Christians, including Catholics. Writing in America Magazine in 2017, the Catholic writer Anna Keating said that his unique philosophy “can prove helpful to Catholics, serving as an antidote to the many ills of our time.”He also briefly partnered with the Catholic St. Catharine College in Springfield, Kentucky, to launch the Berry Farming Program, though the college closed in 2016. He wrote that he “[took] literally the statement in the Gospel of John that God loves the world.” “I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love,” he said. Though well traveled and revered as a national American sage, Berry was a strong proponent of localism. He consistently called on Americans to turn to community and mutual help to address societal problems and conflicts. He lamented the destruction of much of the rural way of life that he had seen take place over his lifetime, though he expressed optimism for its revitalization. Reflecting in 1988 on the potential “renewal of the rural communities” around the country, he wrote that such a renewal “would have to be a revival accomplished mainly by the community itself.”“It would have to be done not from the outside by the instruction of visiting experts,” he wrote, “but from the inside by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious things, and by the wish to be at home.”
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Wendell Berry, agrarian writer who envisioned a world ‘redeemed only by love,’ dies at 92 – #Catholic – Wendell Berry, the prolific American author whose work spanned decades and who spent his career urging Americans to pursue a simpler, more virtuous life, died on Aug. 31, his family said. His daughter Mary confirmed his passing via the New York Times. His cause of death was not immediately known; the Kentucky-born writer was 92 years old. A writer of fiction, poetry, and essays, Berry was known for his advocacy of rural life, for urging readers to develop a close connection to farming and food, and for calling for the care of the environment. His work united a broad cross-section of the American public from liberal environmentalists to Christian homesteaders to local food advocates to conservative conservationists. Born in Louisville on Aug. 5, 1934, Berry studied English at the University of Kentucky and writing at Stanford University. He taught English at the University of Kentucky for several years and also taught at New York University. From 1965 until his death he lived and worked at his farm, Lane’s Landing, in Henry County, Kentucky. His politics were broad and diverse. He was famously critical of big business and corporations and was a fierce detractor of coal companies. He was opposed to the death penalty, at one point urging his home state to abolish it entirely. Amid the racial and cultural disputes of 2020, he sued the University of Kentucky in order to prevent the removal of a purportedly racially offensive mural there — though he said he was pained by the knowledge that his ancestors “established themselves here by killing or driving out the original possessors” and that “people were once bought and sold here by my people.” Berry was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2012. Throughout his career he remained devoted to both the natural world and to the small farm — a philosophy, he said in 2002, that meant he had “spent [his] life on two losing sides.” He urged advocates to reconcile both the need to preserve the natural world and the need to support the human beings that are an indelible part of the world. “The question we must deal with is not whether the domestic and the wild are separate or can be separated; it is how, in the human economy, their indissoluble and necessary connection can be properly maintained,” he wrote.Baptized a Baptist, Berry remained distant from organized religion, calling himself at one point a “forest Christian.” Yet his work and his advocacy attracted large numbers of Christians, including Catholics. Writing in America Magazine in 2017, the Catholic writer Anna Keating said that his unique philosophy “can prove helpful to Catholics, serving as an antidote to the many ills of our time.”He also briefly partnered with the Catholic St. Catharine College in Springfield, Kentucky, to launch the Berry Farming Program, though the college closed in 2016. He wrote that he “[took] literally the statement in the Gospel of John that God loves the world.” “I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love,” he said. Though well traveled and revered as a national American sage, Berry was a strong proponent of localism. He consistently called on Americans to turn to community and mutual help to address societal problems and conflicts. He lamented the destruction of much of the rural way of life that he had seen take place over his lifetime, though he expressed optimism for its revitalization. Reflecting in 1988 on the potential “renewal of the rural communities” around the country, he wrote that such a renewal “would have to be a revival accomplished mainly by the community itself.”“It would have to be done not from the outside by the instruction of visiting experts,” he wrote, “but from the inside by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious things, and by the wish to be at home.”

unitedyam

The Kentucky-born author extolled the virtues of simple living and urged Americans to reject modern consumerism and destructive agriculture.

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Why doesn’t the moonrise time change by the same amount of time each day?

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Why does the daily moonrise time change by as much as 60 minutes from the previous day, and as little as 30 minutes during the same month? Jim WakefieldBend, Oregon It depends on how far the Moon dips below the horizon from one day to the next. Our satellite moves, on average, 13.2° per dayContinue reading “Why doesn’t the moonrise time change by the same amount of time each day?”

The post Why doesn’t the moonrise time change by the same amount of time each day? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launches – A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope on board is seen transiting the sun during launch from Launch Complex 39A, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope on board is seen transiting the sun during launch from Launch Complex 39A, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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SO DUMB: California Now Planning to Force Companies to Disclose ‘Historic Links to Slavery’ – California has seen a mass exodus of companies from their state in recent years due to ridiculously high taxes, burdensome regulations, and the draconian lock down policies of Gavin Newsom during Covid-19. The post SO DUMB: California Now Planning to Force Companies to Disclose ‘Historic Links to Slavery’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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SO DUMB: California Now Planning to Force Companies to Disclose ‘Historic Links to Slavery’ – California has seen a mass exodus of companies from their state in recent years due to ridiculously high taxes, burdensome regulations, and the draconian lock down policies of Gavin Newsom during Covid-19. The post SO DUMB: California Now Planning to Force Companies to Disclose ‘Historic Links to Slavery’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam

California has seen a mass exodus of companies from their state in recent years due to ridiculously high taxes, burdensome regulations, and the draconian lock down policies of Gavin Newsom during Covid-19.

The post SO DUMB: California Now Planning to Force Companies to Disclose ‘Historic Links to Slavery’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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HOW CURIOUS: Democrats Sure Don’t Want to Campaign With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris – With the midterm elections approaching, you would think that Democrats would want to campaign with the last two members of their party to occupy the White House. The post HOW CURIOUS: Democrats Sure Don’t Want to Campaign With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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HOW CURIOUS: Democrats Sure Don’t Want to Campaign With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris – With the midterm elections approaching, you would think that Democrats would want to campaign with the last two members of their party to occupy the White House. The post HOW CURIOUS: Democrats Sure Don’t Want to Campaign With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam

With the midterm elections approaching, you would think that Democrats would want to campaign with the last two members of their party to occupy the White House.

The post HOW CURIOUS: Democrats Sure Don’t Want to Campaign With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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WATCH: Video Shows Moment FBI Agents Swarmed Swalwell and Seized His Electronic Devices at San Francisco Airport – New footage shows the moment that FBI agents swarmed former Democrat Rep. The post WATCH: Video Shows Moment FBI Agents Swarmed Swalwell and Seized His Electronic Devices at San Francisco Airport appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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WATCH: Video Shows Moment FBI Agents Swarmed Swalwell and Seized His Electronic Devices at San Francisco Airport – New footage shows the moment that FBI agents swarmed former Democrat Rep. The post WATCH: Video Shows Moment FBI Agents Swarmed Swalwell and Seized His Electronic Devices at San Francisco Airport appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam

New footage shows the moment that FBI agents swarmed former Democrat Rep.

The post WATCH: Video Shows Moment FBI Agents Swarmed Swalwell and Seized His Electronic Devices at San Francisco Airport appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 01 September 2026 – A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians  2:10b-16 Brothers and sisters: The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms. Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually. The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone. For ?who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?? But we have the mind of Christ.From the Gospel according to Luke 4:31-37 Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,  and he cried out in a loud voice, ?What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are?the Holy One of God!? Jesus rebuked him and said, ?Be quiet! Come out of him!? Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, ?What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.? And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.Jesus not only drives demons out of people, freeing them from the worst slavery, but prevents the demons themselves from revealing his identity. And he insists on this "secret" because what is at stake is the success of his very mission, on which our salvation depends. Indeed, he knows that to liberate humanity from the dominion of sin he will have to be sacrificed on the Cross as the true Paschal Lamb. The devil, for his part, seeks to dissuade him so as to divert him instead toward the human logic of a powerful and successful Messiah. The Cross of Christ will be the devil’s ruin, and this is why Jesus always taught his disciples that in order to enter into his glory he must suffer much, he must be rejected, condemned and crucified (cf. Lk 24: 26), for suffering is an integral part of his mission. Jesus suffered and died on the Cross for love. On close consideration, it was in this way that he gave meaning to our suffering, a meaning that many men and women of every age have understood and made their own, experiencing profound tranquillity even in the bitterness of harsh physical and moral trials. (Pope Benedict XVI – Angelus, 1st February 2009)

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A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians 
2:10b-16

Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
Among men, who knows what pertains to the man
except his spirit that is within?
Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,
so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.
And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom,
but with words taught by the Spirit,
describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God,
for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,
because it is judged spiritually.
The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything
but is not subject to judgment by anyone.

For ?who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him??
But we have the mind of Christ.

From the Gospel according to Luke
4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, 
and he cried out in a loud voice,
?What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are?the Holy One of God!?
Jesus rebuked him and said, ?Be quiet! Come out of him!?
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
?What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out.?
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

Jesus not only drives demons out of people, freeing them from the worst slavery, but prevents the demons themselves from revealing his identity. And he insists on this "secret" because what is at stake is the success of his very mission, on which our salvation depends. Indeed, he knows that to liberate humanity from the dominion of sin he will have to be sacrificed on the Cross as the true Paschal Lamb. The devil, for his part, seeks to dissuade him so as to divert him instead toward the human logic of a powerful and successful Messiah. The Cross of Christ will be the devil’s ruin, and this is why Jesus always taught his disciples that in order to enter into his glory he must suffer much, he must be rejected, condemned and crucified (cf. Lk 24: 26), for suffering is an integral part of his mission. Jesus suffered and died on the Cross for love. On close consideration, it was in this way that he gave meaning to our suffering, a meaning that many men and women of every age have understood and made their own, experiencing profound tranquillity even in the bitterness of harsh physical and moral trials. (Pope Benedict XVI – Angelus, 1st February 2009)

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The Church cannot declare war on Latin Mass devotees, Cardinal Robert Sarah says #Catholic “We, as a Church, cannot declare war on those who devoutly attend Mass simply because they prefer one form over another; this is a shortsighted and entirely ideological stance and, therefore, neither pastoral nor Christian,” Cardinal Robert Sarah said on Aug. 27. “It is harmful and destructive to the Church.”Sarah, the former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, spoke to the Italian newspaper Il Giornale last week about the importance of the traditional liturgy, which dates back to the time of Pope Gregory the Great and earlier, and which was celebrated worldwide until the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).After the council, the old liturgy was abandoned, although some priests continued to celebrate it. The archbishop of Dakar, Senegal, Marcel Lefebvre, remained faithful to it and founded the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) under the claim of preserving the Traditional Latin Mass and in opposition to some reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The SSPX has twice been declared to be in schism, including in 2026, and its bishops excommunicated.In the mid-1980s, the Holy See began to relax the de facto ban. In his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 authorized all priests to celebrate the old liturgy; in his view, strictly speaking, it had never been abrogated. He differentiated between the Traditional Latin Mass as the “extraordinary form” and the new Mass as the “ordinary form.” Pope Francis revoked his predecessorʼs decision in 2021 and severely restricted the classical Roman liturgy with his motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.“Among the effects of the liberalization of the extraordinary form was the positive influence — I would even say the correction — regarding possible abuses in the celebration of the ordinary form,” Sarah said. “These abuses are extremely serious acts, yet we must never equate the ordinary form itself with them. Many priests testify that discovering the extraordinary form helped them celebrate Mass better.”“I think Benedict XVI also demonstrated on that occasion a deeply humble and democratic attitude,” the cardinal continued, recalling the 2007 decision. “He wanted to ensure the widest possible dissemination, so that the people of God could decide for themselves, over the decades, which form of living out the faith best suited them. All of this, however, was nullified by Traditionis Custodes, while the pope emeritus was still alive.”“That did not seem to me a decision that was either sensible or respectful,” Sarah explained. “But Benedict XVI, a man as gentle as a lamb, allowed himself to be humiliated and thus offered his suffering to God in silence and prayer, so as to better identify with Christ’s pain for his Church and to purify it.”Sarah said that “access to ritual forms that have been recognized and in existence for centuries must never be artificially restricted by means of decrees. If a rite did not serve the faith, it would disappear on its own; if, conversely, it preserves and fosters the faith, we must by no means restrict it, for in doing so we would be restricting the very preservation and spread of the faith.”This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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The Church cannot declare war on Latin Mass devotees, Cardinal Robert Sarah says #Catholic “We, as a Church, cannot declare war on those who devoutly attend Mass simply because they prefer one form over another; this is a shortsighted and entirely ideological stance and, therefore, neither pastoral nor Christian,” Cardinal Robert Sarah said on Aug. 27. “It is harmful and destructive to the Church.”Sarah, the former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, spoke to the Italian newspaper Il Giornale last week about the importance of the traditional liturgy, which dates back to the time of Pope Gregory the Great and earlier, and which was celebrated worldwide until the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).After the council, the old liturgy was abandoned, although some priests continued to celebrate it. The archbishop of Dakar, Senegal, Marcel Lefebvre, remained faithful to it and founded the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) under the claim of preserving the Traditional Latin Mass and in opposition to some reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The SSPX has twice been declared to be in schism, including in 2026, and its bishops excommunicated.In the mid-1980s, the Holy See began to relax the de facto ban. In his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 authorized all priests to celebrate the old liturgy; in his view, strictly speaking, it had never been abrogated. He differentiated between the Traditional Latin Mass as the “extraordinary form” and the new Mass as the “ordinary form.” Pope Francis revoked his predecessorʼs decision in 2021 and severely restricted the classical Roman liturgy with his motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.“Among the effects of the liberalization of the extraordinary form was the positive influence — I would even say the correction — regarding possible abuses in the celebration of the ordinary form,” Sarah said. “These abuses are extremely serious acts, yet we must never equate the ordinary form itself with them. Many priests testify that discovering the extraordinary form helped them celebrate Mass better.”“I think Benedict XVI also demonstrated on that occasion a deeply humble and democratic attitude,” the cardinal continued, recalling the 2007 decision. “He wanted to ensure the widest possible dissemination, so that the people of God could decide for themselves, over the decades, which form of living out the faith best suited them. All of this, however, was nullified by Traditionis Custodes, while the pope emeritus was still alive.”“That did not seem to me a decision that was either sensible or respectful,” Sarah explained. “But Benedict XVI, a man as gentle as a lamb, allowed himself to be humiliated and thus offered his suffering to God in silence and prayer, so as to better identify with Christ’s pain for his Church and to purify it.”Sarah said that “access to ritual forms that have been recognized and in existence for centuries must never be artificially restricted by means of decrees. If a rite did not serve the faith, it would disappear on its own; if, conversely, it preserves and fosters the faith, we must by no means restrict it, for in doing so we would be restricting the very preservation and spread of the faith.”This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The cardinal praised Pope Benedict’s 2007 decision to allow the faithful greater access to the Latin Mass but called Pope Francis’ 2021 decision to restrict it neither “sensible” nor “respectful.”

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Bishops from Mexico, U.S., Canada see urgent need to speak ‘with one voice’ #Catholic “It is increasingly urgent that the Catholic Church in the Americas speak with one voice,” stated Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), following the Mass celebrated Aug. 30 at the cathedral in Cuernavaca, Mexico, which marked the beginning of a meeting among Mexican, U.S., and Canadian bishops.Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca, president of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM, by its Spanish acronym) was the main celebrant of the Mass. Concelebrating alongside various priests, along with Flores, were Bishop Oscar Cantú of San José, California, chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on Hispanic/Latino Affairs; and Bishop Pierre Goudreault of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, addresses the congregation at the conclusion of the Mass at Cuernavaca Cathedral on Aug. 30, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Cuernavaca In a brief message, Flores expressed gratitude for “Bishop Ramón’s inspiration in inviting us to this gathering to strengthen this ecclesial communion.”“In the times we are living through, it will become increasingly important — indeed, urgent — for the Catholic Church in the Americas to speak with one voice, defending the honor of Our Lord and the dignity of the human person — especially the poor and immigrants, who often have nowhere to lay their heads, just like the Lord Jesus himself,” he said.“We need to preach together and united as one Church, under the guidance of our Holy Father, Pope Leo, and in communion with all the bishops of the world,” he added.3 distinct countries ‘but one and the same faith’In his homily, Castro highlighted that this meeting of leaders from North American episcopal conferences is “the first of its kind in our history.”“We are three distinct countries. We are three Churches with different histories and realities, yet we share one and the same faith, one baptism, one Eucharist, and one mission,” the Mexican prelate affirmed.Regarding the role of bishops, Castro emphasized that “before being leaders, we are disciples,” and “before having responsibilities, we are men called by the Lord.”“Perhaps this can be the profound spirit of this gathering of the Church in North America: for all of us to place ourselves once again behind Jesus.” Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca, Mexico, right, and Bishop Pierre Goudreault of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, Canada, pray during the consecration at the Cuernavaca Cathedral on Aug. 30, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Cuernavaca ‘Enormous challenges’The president of the CEM emphasized that “our peoples face enormous challenges, particularly Mexico,” and pointed to issues such as “violence, demagoguery, corruption, loneliness, secularization, individualism, materialism, polarization, wounded families, and young people seeking reasons for hope.”He further noted that “perhaps one of the most common themes among the three of us as countries and conferences is migration.”“Over the coming days, we will have the opportunity to share our perspectives on these realities, not in a spirit of judgment or confrontation but rather out of the pastoral responsibility that falls to us as shepherds,” the bishop of Cuernavaca said. The faithful attend Mass at the Cuernavaca Cathedral on Aug. 30, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Cuernavaca “We want to better understand the lives of our people. To what end? To be able to serve them better,” he stated.Castro emphasized that “migration must not be reduced to statistics, public policies, or economic obligations,” because “behind every migrant there is a face, a story, a family, a hope, and, unfortunately, often many wounds.”“The Church must view these people as brothers and sisters whose dignity must be recognized and protected,” he said.The Mexican bishop also expressed his wish “that from Cuernavaca we might send a simple yet powerful sign to our churches, churches on pilgrimage in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Bishops from Mexico, U.S., Canada see urgent need to speak ‘with one voice’ #Catholic “It is increasingly urgent that the Catholic Church in the Americas speak with one voice,” stated Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), following the Mass celebrated Aug. 30 at the cathedral in Cuernavaca, Mexico, which marked the beginning of a meeting among Mexican, U.S., and Canadian bishops.Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca, president of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM, by its Spanish acronym) was the main celebrant of the Mass. Concelebrating alongside various priests, along with Flores, were Bishop Oscar Cantú of San José, California, chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on Hispanic/Latino Affairs; and Bishop Pierre Goudreault of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, addresses the congregation at the conclusion of the Mass at Cuernavaca Cathedral on Aug. 30, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Cuernavaca In a brief message, Flores expressed gratitude for “Bishop Ramón’s inspiration in inviting us to this gathering to strengthen this ecclesial communion.”“In the times we are living through, it will become increasingly important — indeed, urgent — for the Catholic Church in the Americas to speak with one voice, defending the honor of Our Lord and the dignity of the human person — especially the poor and immigrants, who often have nowhere to lay their heads, just like the Lord Jesus himself,” he said.“We need to preach together and united as one Church, under the guidance of our Holy Father, Pope Leo, and in communion with all the bishops of the world,” he added.3 distinct countries ‘but one and the same faith’In his homily, Castro highlighted that this meeting of leaders from North American episcopal conferences is “the first of its kind in our history.”“We are three distinct countries. We are three Churches with different histories and realities, yet we share one and the same faith, one baptism, one Eucharist, and one mission,” the Mexican prelate affirmed.Regarding the role of bishops, Castro emphasized that “before being leaders, we are disciples,” and “before having responsibilities, we are men called by the Lord.”“Perhaps this can be the profound spirit of this gathering of the Church in North America: for all of us to place ourselves once again behind Jesus.” Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca, Mexico, right, and Bishop Pierre Goudreault of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, Canada, pray during the consecration at the Cuernavaca Cathedral on Aug. 30, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Cuernavaca ‘Enormous challenges’The president of the CEM emphasized that “our peoples face enormous challenges, particularly Mexico,” and pointed to issues such as “violence, demagoguery, corruption, loneliness, secularization, individualism, materialism, polarization, wounded families, and young people seeking reasons for hope.”He further noted that “perhaps one of the most common themes among the three of us as countries and conferences is migration.”“Over the coming days, we will have the opportunity to share our perspectives on these realities, not in a spirit of judgment or confrontation but rather out of the pastoral responsibility that falls to us as shepherds,” the bishop of Cuernavaca said. The faithful attend Mass at the Cuernavaca Cathedral on Aug. 30, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Cuernavaca “We want to better understand the lives of our people. To what end? To be able to serve them better,” he stated.Castro emphasized that “migration must not be reduced to statistics, public policies, or economic obligations,” because “behind every migrant there is a face, a story, a family, a hope, and, unfortunately, often many wounds.”“The Church must view these people as brothers and sisters whose dignity must be recognized and protected,” he said.The Mexican bishop also expressed his wish “that from Cuernavaca we might send a simple yet powerful sign to our churches, churches on pilgrimage in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The bishops discussed the pastoral challenges facing the Church in North America as a whole and concelebrated a Mass on Aug. 30 in the Cuernavaca, Mexico, cathedral.

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In fight against antisemitism, Israel steps up U.S. Catholic outreach – #Catholic – JERUSALEM — The Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism (CCAA), a lay-led U.S. organization established in late 2023 that “affirms the right of the Jewish people to live safely and securely in their ancestral homeland” as well as recognizes that “modern Israel is essential to that security,” has emerged as a leading resource in the Government of Israel’s outreach to American Catholics, who constitute the country’s largest single religious constituency.Tammy Ben-Haim, head of religious and interfaith affairs at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told EWTN news that a May meeting in Washington, D.C., with CCAA Director Simone Rizkallah, a first-generation American of Egyptian-Armenian descent, convinced her of the importance of engaging the organization and its supporters.“I was so impressed by Simone and the vision she had for the organization to combat antisemitism,” including CCAA’s network of key influencers throughout the American Catholic world, Ben-Haim said.Signatories to the CCAA’s “Statement of Solidarity and Action,” a statement developed in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack against Israel that also affirms the above-referenced right of the Jewish people “should not jeopardize the right of Palestinians to also live in safety and security,” include dozens of the country’s top Catholic thought leaders and personalities.“When Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) decided to begin engaging Catholics more proactively and wanted to design a trip specifically for Catholic leaders, it made sense that they would reach out to us,” Rizkallah said.As a result, in August Rizkallah coordinated with the MFA a weeklong itinerary for 13 American Catholic influencers that addressed firsthand both concerns for the security of Israelis in the country’s Gaza and Lebanon border regions as well as honest discussions with Israeli Arab and Palestinian Catholics about the conditions and challenges they face.Signaling the importance of the initiative, the government of Israel highlighted the group’s visit on social media, noting that the journey of the American Catholic community leaders was one of “friendship and solidarity” that served to both “deepen their commitment to standing against antisemitism and strengthening the bonds between Christians and Jews.”Instagram postDuring the visit, the group, which included representatives from various U.S. Catholic educational institutions, media, think tanks, and lay apostolates, came face-to-face with the existential threats Israel has faced in recent years. The group visited sites of the Oct. 7, 2023, invasions into Israel by thousands of Hamas militants from Gaza, meeting with survivors of the attacks that killed over 1,000 Israelis. Members of the delegation survey the Gaza Strip, accompanied by Oct. 7, 2023, survivor Oshrit Sabag (pointing over her shoulder) of the neighboring Nahal Oz kibbutz. | Credit: Ken Oliver-Méndez/EWTN News From a mountaintop overlooking Israel’s border with southern Lebanon and as multiple explosions could be heard in the distance, the group received a sobering briefing on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations to neutralize the threat from Hezbollah in the neighboring country. Along the border with Lebanon and as multiple explosions could be heard in the distance, Avrahim Levine briefed the delegation on Israel Defense Forces operations to neutralize the threat from Hezbollah in the neighboring country. | Credit: Ken Oliver-Méndez/EWTN News In addition, the Government of Israel facilitated the group’s direct interaction with various Christians in the disputed lands internationally known as the West Bank (known in Israel by their biblical names of Judea and Samaria) as well as in Haifa, in northern Israel. To varying degrees, these Christians also see themselves as facing existential threats.The group’s guide in Bethlehem, the Palestinian-controlled West Bank town of Jesus’ birth, lamented that just in recent weeks the town has lost several leading Christian families, who have emigrated to Greece.Bethlehem continues to experience a devastating loss of its Christian population. From once having constituted a robust majority, the percentage of Christians there is now estimated in the single digits, with conditions for those remaining further exacerbated by the dearth of pilgrims and severe limitations, since the atrocities of Oct. 7, on permissions for Palestinians to enter Israel for work.In Haifa, the group met with Archbishop Youssef Matta of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Israel’s largest Christian community. Melkite Greek Catholics represent nearly 40% of Israel’s total Christian population of 185,000. Nazareth, Haifa, and Jerusalem, respectively, are the country’s largest Christian population centers.In a meeting also attended by Ben-Haim and Cesare Marijeh, senior director of the Christian Department of Israel’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, Matta addressed several challenges facing his community, including alleged extortion rackets by Muslim and Jewish organized crime families as well as discrimination in government subsidies for the Church’s schools, of which there are five under his jurisdiction.At a luncheon with the delegation, Monsignor Simon Khoury, a Melkite Greek Catholic priest who serves a parish in Cana, asserted that the government has deliberately turned a blind eye to the criminal extortion rackets faced by Christians, as he believes such crimes align with the agenda of certain sectors of Israeli society that favor the displacement of the country’s non-Jewish population. View of the Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. | Credit: Ken Oliver-Méndez/EWTN News From the beginning to the end of the trip, members of the delegation pressed Israeli authorities to provide necessary assistance to and security for the country’s Christian population, contending that such actions will go a long way toward bolstering goodwill toward Israel among hundreds of millions of Catholics worldwide.At a meeting of the group with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ director of the Department for Combating Antisemitism, Arezoo Hersel-Rohila, and the Anti-Defamation League’s Israel director, Carole Nuriel, EWTN News asked them to identify and address the principal antisemitic narrative that the country is currently facing at the international level.Both women agreed in answering that it is equating Israel’s policy in Gaza to that of the Nazis, i.e., the charge that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The officials vigorously contested this widespread allegation, citing that by definition genocide requires intent and that in contravention of such intent, Israel’s military has repeatedly sought to relocate Palestinian civilians within Gaza to get them out of harm’s way as it targets Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure. Other organizations that also address this question, such as the American Jewish Committee (AJC), assert that the IDF “still endeavors to warn Gazans prior to attacks and has allowed humanitarian aid for civilians to be delivered under arrangements intended to prevent Hamas from diverting aid or controlling its distribution to reinforce its authority.”Israel’s government also answers the charge by pointing to evidence that Hamas has repeatedly called on Palestinian civilians to ignore Israel’s warnings about impending strikes, in effect using them as human shields. Defenders of Israel’s actions in Gaza, like the AJC, also note that “international law does not prohibit Israel from undertaking legitimate actions that will likely result in civilian harm unless the expected civilian harm will clearly exceed the anticipated military advantage from the attack.”As the ADL and much of the Jewish community worldwide see it, the propagation of antisemitic narratives around Israel’s operations in Gaza have particularly proliferated among social media influencers, including some Catholics.This also explains in part the why a wide range of U.S. Catholic influencers who personally stand in support of the CCAA’s statement of solidarity, including participants affiliated with EWTN News, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Institute on Religion and Democracy, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, the Family Research Council, the GIVEN Institute, Tepeyac Leadership, Benedictine College, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville, among others, were invited to engage firsthand with these ongoing issues. With St. Peter’s statue towering above them, members of the delegation are seen here in Capernaum, the fishing village that was the primary base of operations of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and home of the Chief of the Apostles. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Yosi Shoshani Ben-Haim, who accompanied the delegation on the Stations of the Cross route in Jerusalem’s Old City, told EWTN News that going forward, she would like to see more such delegations, especially “young up-and-coming Catholic leaders and influencers” have similar experiences.“No amount of explaining or telling our story equals one visit to Israel,” Ben-Haim explained. Noting that terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah are right at the country’s borders, she insisted that “all that I believe Israel and Israelis want is for people around the world to understand this; we want to live in a county and in a region that is peaceful and quiet. We cannot afford to have the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre happen again; we cannot allow our borders to be crossed and our children and families to be murdered for being Jews and Israelis.”
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In fight against antisemitism, Israel steps up U.S. Catholic outreach – #Catholic – JERUSALEM — The Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism (CCAA), a lay-led U.S. organization established in late 2023 that “affirms the right of the Jewish people to live safely and securely in their ancestral homeland” as well as recognizes that “modern Israel is essential to that security,” has emerged as a leading resource in the Government of Israel’s outreach to American Catholics, who constitute the country’s largest single religious constituency.Tammy Ben-Haim, head of religious and interfaith affairs at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told EWTN news that a May meeting in Washington, D.C., with CCAA Director Simone Rizkallah, a first-generation American of Egyptian-Armenian descent, convinced her of the importance of engaging the organization and its supporters.“I was so impressed by Simone and the vision she had for the organization to combat antisemitism,” including CCAA’s network of key influencers throughout the American Catholic world, Ben-Haim said.Signatories to the CCAA’s “Statement of Solidarity and Action,” a statement developed in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack against Israel that also affirms the above-referenced right of the Jewish people “should not jeopardize the right of Palestinians to also live in safety and security,” include dozens of the country’s top Catholic thought leaders and personalities.“When Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) decided to begin engaging Catholics more proactively and wanted to design a trip specifically for Catholic leaders, it made sense that they would reach out to us,” Rizkallah said.As a result, in August Rizkallah coordinated with the MFA a weeklong itinerary for 13 American Catholic influencers that addressed firsthand both concerns for the security of Israelis in the country’s Gaza and Lebanon border regions as well as honest discussions with Israeli Arab and Palestinian Catholics about the conditions and challenges they face.Signaling the importance of the initiative, the government of Israel highlighted the group’s visit on social media, noting that the journey of the American Catholic community leaders was one of “friendship and solidarity” that served to both “deepen their commitment to standing against antisemitism and strengthening the bonds between Christians and Jews.”Instagram postDuring the visit, the group, which included representatives from various U.S. Catholic educational institutions, media, think tanks, and lay apostolates, came face-to-face with the existential threats Israel has faced in recent years. The group visited sites of the Oct. 7, 2023, invasions into Israel by thousands of Hamas militants from Gaza, meeting with survivors of the attacks that killed over 1,000 Israelis. Members of the delegation survey the Gaza Strip, accompanied by Oct. 7, 2023, survivor Oshrit Sabag (pointing over her shoulder) of the neighboring Nahal Oz kibbutz. | Credit: Ken Oliver-Méndez/EWTN News From a mountaintop overlooking Israel’s border with southern Lebanon and as multiple explosions could be heard in the distance, the group received a sobering briefing on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations to neutralize the threat from Hezbollah in the neighboring country. Along the border with Lebanon and as multiple explosions could be heard in the distance, Avrahim Levine briefed the delegation on Israel Defense Forces operations to neutralize the threat from Hezbollah in the neighboring country. | Credit: Ken Oliver-Méndez/EWTN News In addition, the Government of Israel facilitated the group’s direct interaction with various Christians in the disputed lands internationally known as the West Bank (known in Israel by their biblical names of Judea and Samaria) as well as in Haifa, in northern Israel. To varying degrees, these Christians also see themselves as facing existential threats.The group’s guide in Bethlehem, the Palestinian-controlled West Bank town of Jesus’ birth, lamented that just in recent weeks the town has lost several leading Christian families, who have emigrated to Greece.Bethlehem continues to experience a devastating loss of its Christian population. From once having constituted a robust majority, the percentage of Christians there is now estimated in the single digits, with conditions for those remaining further exacerbated by the dearth of pilgrims and severe limitations, since the atrocities of Oct. 7, on permissions for Palestinians to enter Israel for work.In Haifa, the group met with Archbishop Youssef Matta of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Israel’s largest Christian community. Melkite Greek Catholics represent nearly 40% of Israel’s total Christian population of 185,000. Nazareth, Haifa, and Jerusalem, respectively, are the country’s largest Christian population centers.In a meeting also attended by Ben-Haim and Cesare Marijeh, senior director of the Christian Department of Israel’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, Matta addressed several challenges facing his community, including alleged extortion rackets by Muslim and Jewish organized crime families as well as discrimination in government subsidies for the Church’s schools, of which there are five under his jurisdiction.At a luncheon with the delegation, Monsignor Simon Khoury, a Melkite Greek Catholic priest who serves a parish in Cana, asserted that the government has deliberately turned a blind eye to the criminal extortion rackets faced by Christians, as he believes such crimes align with the agenda of certain sectors of Israeli society that favor the displacement of the country’s non-Jewish population. View of the Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. | Credit: Ken Oliver-Méndez/EWTN News From the beginning to the end of the trip, members of the delegation pressed Israeli authorities to provide necessary assistance to and security for the country’s Christian population, contending that such actions will go a long way toward bolstering goodwill toward Israel among hundreds of millions of Catholics worldwide.At a meeting of the group with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ director of the Department for Combating Antisemitism, Arezoo Hersel-Rohila, and the Anti-Defamation League’s Israel director, Carole Nuriel, EWTN News asked them to identify and address the principal antisemitic narrative that the country is currently facing at the international level.Both women agreed in answering that it is equating Israel’s policy in Gaza to that of the Nazis, i.e., the charge that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The officials vigorously contested this widespread allegation, citing that by definition genocide requires intent and that in contravention of such intent, Israel’s military has repeatedly sought to relocate Palestinian civilians within Gaza to get them out of harm’s way as it targets Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure. Other organizations that also address this question, such as the American Jewish Committee (AJC), assert that the IDF “still endeavors to warn Gazans prior to attacks and has allowed humanitarian aid for civilians to be delivered under arrangements intended to prevent Hamas from diverting aid or controlling its distribution to reinforce its authority.”Israel’s government also answers the charge by pointing to evidence that Hamas has repeatedly called on Palestinian civilians to ignore Israel’s warnings about impending strikes, in effect using them as human shields. Defenders of Israel’s actions in Gaza, like the AJC, also note that “international law does not prohibit Israel from undertaking legitimate actions that will likely result in civilian harm unless the expected civilian harm will clearly exceed the anticipated military advantage from the attack.”As the ADL and much of the Jewish community worldwide see it, the propagation of antisemitic narratives around Israel’s operations in Gaza have particularly proliferated among social media influencers, including some Catholics.This also explains in part the why a wide range of U.S. Catholic influencers who personally stand in support of the CCAA’s statement of solidarity, including participants affiliated with EWTN News, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Institute on Religion and Democracy, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, the Family Research Council, the GIVEN Institute, Tepeyac Leadership, Benedictine College, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville, among others, were invited to engage firsthand with these ongoing issues. With St. Peter’s statue towering above them, members of the delegation are seen here in Capernaum, the fishing village that was the primary base of operations of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and home of the Chief of the Apostles. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Yosi Shoshani Ben-Haim, who accompanied the delegation on the Stations of the Cross route in Jerusalem’s Old City, told EWTN News that going forward, she would like to see more such delegations, especially “young up-and-coming Catholic leaders and influencers” have similar experiences.“No amount of explaining or telling our story equals one visit to Israel,” Ben-Haim explained. Noting that terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah are right at the country’s borders, she insisted that “all that I believe Israel and Israelis want is for people around the world to understand this; we want to live in a county and in a region that is peaceful and quiet. We cannot afford to have the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre happen again; we cannot allow our borders to be crossed and our children and families to be murdered for being Jews and Israelis.”

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The Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism has been tapped by the Government of Israel as part of its latest outreach to American Catholics.

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Brazil archbishop establishes rules for use of AI in archdiocesan communications – #Catholic – The archbishop of Aracaju in Sergipe state, Brazil, Josafá Menezes da Silva, has established rules for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in archdiocesan communications. The guidelines, addressed to priests, deacons, lay ministers, and the entire people of God of the Archdiocese of Aracaju, are based on documents of the Church’s magisterium regarding human dignity, communications, and the use of technology.The principal resources used by Menezes are the message for the 60th World Communications Day and the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, both by Pope Leo XIV, regarding the safeguarding of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence; the document Antiqua et Nova, a joint note from the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and Dicastery for Culture and Education, signed by Pope Francis concerning the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence; and a reflection by Father Doriano Vincenzo De Luca, head of the social communications service for the Archdiocese of Naples, Italy.“The starting point for all the Church’s reflection on artificial intelligence is the unconditional defense of the dignity of the human person,” the archbishop of Aracaju explained. The prelate highlighted that the note Antiqua et Nova “places human dignity at the center of discernment regarding artificial intelligence and reminds us that technology must be guided by the good of the person and of society” and that “human intelligence must guide the use of technology for the sake of the ‘authentic good of the person.’”Therefore, “in light of the guidelines of the Church’s magisterium and with the aim of guiding discernment regarding the proper use of artificial intelligence tools, ensuring respect for the principle of human dignity by ‘preserving faces and voices,’ and ensuring these tools serve as an aid rather than replacing the responsible work that only a human being can perform, we hereby establish” certain guidelines within the territory of our Archdiocese of Aracaju, the bishop said.Review and transparencyMenezes mandated that “all art produced with the aid of artificial intelligence” within the archdiocese must “undergo a mandatory human review before publication” and that “any and all content generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence” must also “be labeled and clearly distinguished from content created by humans, especially when the use of AI could affect the perception of the reality being presented.”Prohibited uses for clergyRegarding the clergy, Menezes directed that “generative artificial intelligence must not be used to reconstruct or simulate the appearance of a bishop, priest, or deacon when the result replaces their actual photograph or could be interpreted as an authentic representation of their appearance or of a situation they experienced.” He also established that “generative artificial intelligence must not be used to reconstruct or simulate the voice of a bishop, priest, or deacon in a message or speech not originally delivered by them” and that “one must not attribute to a real person an appearance, speech, action, or situation that does not correspond to reality.”In addition, the archbishop prohibited the use of artificial intelligence to “reconstruct a real person’s face, replacing their photograph”; to “significantly modify a real person’s features”; to “create an artificial appearance presented as their actual appearance”; to “produce images placing a member of the clergy in situations that did not occur”; to “produce a synthetic representation that could be mistaken for a real photograph”; and to “create audio files attempting to simulate a person’s voice in a message or speech not actually delivered by that person.”AI as an auxiliary toolAccording to the archbishop of Aracaju, “artificial intelligence can be used as an auxiliary tool” in nine situations: creating backgrounds, creating textures, generating abstract elements, creating illustrations, suggesting layouts, working with colors, assisting with composition, assisting with editing, and helping to create visual concepts.“These guidelines are based particularly on the message from Pope Leo XIV for the 60th World Communications Day, in which the Holy Father warns that the simulation capabilities of artificial intelligence can fabricate ‘parallel realities,’ usurp faces and voices, and make it increasingly difficult to distinguish between reality and fiction,” Menezes explained.According to the archbishop, “the same document” also “draws attention to the need to protect people’s images, photographs, audio recordings, faces, and voices, preventing harmful uses such as digital fraud, cyberbullying, and deepfakes that can violate privacy and personal intimacy without consent.”At the end of the decree, Menezes exhorted “all pastoral workers, communicators, and the faithful to act with prudence, always consulting their respective ordinaries and respecting current regulations, so that technology may serve the mission and never distort it.” He further emphasized that “everything the Church communicates must be truthful in content and responsible in its manner of representation.”The archbishop ended his directive with the prayer “May Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of our archdiocese, intercede for us and help us preserve, in every communication, the dignity and beauty of human faces and voices called to reflect Christ.”This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Brazil archbishop establishes rules for use of AI in archdiocesan communications – #Catholic – The archbishop of Aracaju in Sergipe state, Brazil, Josafá Menezes da Silva, has established rules for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in archdiocesan communications. The guidelines, addressed to priests, deacons, lay ministers, and the entire people of God of the Archdiocese of Aracaju, are based on documents of the Church’s magisterium regarding human dignity, communications, and the use of technology.The principal resources used by Menezes are the message for the 60th World Communications Day and the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, both by Pope Leo XIV, regarding the safeguarding of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence; the document Antiqua et Nova, a joint note from the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and Dicastery for Culture and Education, signed by Pope Francis concerning the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence; and a reflection by Father Doriano Vincenzo De Luca, head of the social communications service for the Archdiocese of Naples, Italy.“The starting point for all the Church’s reflection on artificial intelligence is the unconditional defense of the dignity of the human person,” the archbishop of Aracaju explained. The prelate highlighted that the note Antiqua et Nova “places human dignity at the center of discernment regarding artificial intelligence and reminds us that technology must be guided by the good of the person and of society” and that “human intelligence must guide the use of technology for the sake of the ‘authentic good of the person.’”Therefore, “in light of the guidelines of the Church’s magisterium and with the aim of guiding discernment regarding the proper use of artificial intelligence tools, ensuring respect for the principle of human dignity by ‘preserving faces and voices,’ and ensuring these tools serve as an aid rather than replacing the responsible work that only a human being can perform, we hereby establish” certain guidelines within the territory of our Archdiocese of Aracaju, the bishop said.Review and transparencyMenezes mandated that “all art produced with the aid of artificial intelligence” within the archdiocese must “undergo a mandatory human review before publication” and that “any and all content generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence” must also “be labeled and clearly distinguished from content created by humans, especially when the use of AI could affect the perception of the reality being presented.”Prohibited uses for clergyRegarding the clergy, Menezes directed that “generative artificial intelligence must not be used to reconstruct or simulate the appearance of a bishop, priest, or deacon when the result replaces their actual photograph or could be interpreted as an authentic representation of their appearance or of a situation they experienced.” He also established that “generative artificial intelligence must not be used to reconstruct or simulate the voice of a bishop, priest, or deacon in a message or speech not originally delivered by them” and that “one must not attribute to a real person an appearance, speech, action, or situation that does not correspond to reality.”In addition, the archbishop prohibited the use of artificial intelligence to “reconstruct a real person’s face, replacing their photograph”; to “significantly modify a real person’s features”; to “create an artificial appearance presented as their actual appearance”; to “produce images placing a member of the clergy in situations that did not occur”; to “produce a synthetic representation that could be mistaken for a real photograph”; and to “create audio files attempting to simulate a person’s voice in a message or speech not actually delivered by that person.”AI as an auxiliary toolAccording to the archbishop of Aracaju, “artificial intelligence can be used as an auxiliary tool” in nine situations: creating backgrounds, creating textures, generating abstract elements, creating illustrations, suggesting layouts, working with colors, assisting with composition, assisting with editing, and helping to create visual concepts.“These guidelines are based particularly on the message from Pope Leo XIV for the 60th World Communications Day, in which the Holy Father warns that the simulation capabilities of artificial intelligence can fabricate ‘parallel realities,’ usurp faces and voices, and make it increasingly difficult to distinguish between reality and fiction,” Menezes explained.According to the archbishop, “the same document” also “draws attention to the need to protect people’s images, photographs, audio recordings, faces, and voices, preventing harmful uses such as digital fraud, cyberbullying, and deepfakes that can violate privacy and personal intimacy without consent.”At the end of the decree, Menezes exhorted “all pastoral workers, communicators, and the faithful to act with prudence, always consulting their respective ordinaries and respecting current regulations, so that technology may serve the mission and never distort it.” He further emphasized that “everything the Church communicates must be truthful in content and responsible in its manner of representation.”The archbishop ended his directive with the prayer “May Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of our archdiocese, intercede for us and help us preserve, in every communication, the dignity and beauty of human faces and voices called to reflect Christ.”This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Archbishop Josafá Menezes da Silva directed that the use of AI must always conform to reality and the truth regarding a person’s appearance, voice, and statements.

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Nepal flood: Caritas runs community kitchens, sources body bags as toll reaches 919 – #Catholic – Five days after Nepal’s worst glacial flood, Caritas continued a full-scale relief operation for thousands of families in the affected area. The work has also taken on the grim task of corpse management, helping deal with the many dead bodies resulting from the catastrophe.The official death toll of the deluge, provided by authorities, has climbed to 919, and 4,793 people are still missing. More than 930 hydropower workers remain unaccounted for, LiCAS News reported. Many are feared to be trapped in hydro tunnels along the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system.In a situation report shared with EWTN News on Aug. 30, the president of Caritas Nepal, Father Silas Krishna Bogati, confirmed that the Catholic Church’s response is fully operational. Emergency shelters and hygiene kits have reached over 1,000 households. A cash assistance payment of 15,000 Nepali rupees (roughly 0) is being distributed to 750 of the worst-affected families.The priest, who also serves as apostolic administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, added that more than 50 community kitchens run daily to feed 300 families.Operations supported by China and IndiaThe full scale of destruction is yet to be accounted for. Reuters reported that the flood destroyed 19 bridges, roadways, and other crucial infrastructure, hampering emergency aid and the search for survivors.As rescue operations, supported by China and India, continue amid the risk of landslides and more flooding, aid workers are already flagging a second looming emergency: winter. Displaced families sheltering in high-altitude areas will require thermal gear and winter-proof shelter within weeks, Bogati shared with EWTN News.Nepal Red Cross has formally asked Caritas Nepal to source more than 1,000 body bags, with decomposition already becoming a public health concern, the president of Caritas Nepal wrote.To avoid future catastrophes, Nepal and China are expected to improve communication on real-time glacier data, avalanche risks, and water levels.International pledges for help and support exceed 0 million, with commitments from the United States, Europe, Canada, and the World Bank.Pope Leo XIV again prayed on Sunday for the flood victims. “Let us pray for those who have lost their lives, for the injured, those missing, for the families and rescue workers,” he said. “May the concern of everyone help to alleviate the suffering and provide the necessary aid to the people affected.”In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, U.S. bishops called for international mobilization and “long-term efforts to help affected communities rebuild their homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure.”
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Nepal flood: Caritas runs community kitchens, sources body bags as toll reaches 919 – #Catholic – Five days after Nepal’s worst glacial flood, Caritas continued a full-scale relief operation for thousands of families in the affected area. The work has also taken on the grim task of corpse management, helping deal with the many dead bodies resulting from the catastrophe.The official death toll of the deluge, provided by authorities, has climbed to 919, and 4,793 people are still missing. More than 930 hydropower workers remain unaccounted for, LiCAS News reported. Many are feared to be trapped in hydro tunnels along the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system.In a situation report shared with EWTN News on Aug. 30, the president of Caritas Nepal, Father Silas Krishna Bogati, confirmed that the Catholic Church’s response is fully operational. Emergency shelters and hygiene kits have reached over 1,000 households. A cash assistance payment of 15,000 Nepali rupees (roughly $110) is being distributed to 750 of the worst-affected families.The priest, who also serves as apostolic administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, added that more than 50 community kitchens run daily to feed 300 families.Operations supported by China and IndiaThe full scale of destruction is yet to be accounted for. Reuters reported that the flood destroyed 19 bridges, roadways, and other crucial infrastructure, hampering emergency aid and the search for survivors.As rescue operations, supported by China and India, continue amid the risk of landslides and more flooding, aid workers are already flagging a second looming emergency: winter. Displaced families sheltering in high-altitude areas will require thermal gear and winter-proof shelter within weeks, Bogati shared with EWTN News.Nepal Red Cross has formally asked Caritas Nepal to source more than 1,000 body bags, with decomposition already becoming a public health concern, the president of Caritas Nepal wrote.To avoid future catastrophes, Nepal and China are expected to improve communication on real-time glacier data, avalanche risks, and water levels.International pledges for help and support exceed $200 million, with commitments from the United States, Europe, Canada, and the World Bank.Pope Leo XIV again prayed on Sunday for the flood victims. “Let us pray for those who have lost their lives, for the injured, those missing, for the families and rescue workers,” he said. “May the concern of everyone help to alleviate the suffering and provide the necessary aid to the people affected.”In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, U.S. bishops called for international mobilization and “long-term efforts to help affected communities rebuild their homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure.”

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As Caritas Nepal is running community kitchens and sourcing body bags, a second emergency, winter, is approaching.

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Why do astronauts get constipated?

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Try and try and try as they may, scientists have yet to explain one of spaceflight’s most painfully enduring mysteries: Why do astronauts get constipated? After examining blood samples from 52 astronauts, they may have found an answer.  To learn more about how spaceflight affects digestion, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, working with NASA,Continue reading “Why do astronauts get constipated?”

The post Why do astronauts get constipated? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Picture of the day SBB Ce 6/8 II 14253 “crocodile” electric locomotive with the Gotthard mountain route experience train 31066 Lavorgo – Erstfeld crosses the lower Wattingen bridge near Wassen, Switzerland. #ImageOfTheDay
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Picture of the day SBB Ce 6/8 II 14253 “crocodile” electric locomotive with the Gotthard mountain route experience train 31066 Lavorgo – Erstfeld crosses the lower Wattingen bridge near Wassen, Switzerland. #ImageOfTheDay

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Picture of the day
SBB Ce 6/8 II 14253 “crocodile” electric locomotive with the Gotthard mountain route experience train 31066 Lavorgo – Erstfeld crosses the lower Wattingen bridge near Wassen, Switzerland.
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Obituary: Deacon Frank Puglia, 91 #Catholic – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in the Flanders neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., for Deacon Frank Puglia, a longtime permanent deacon serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Aug. 26. He was 91. Deacon Puglia was ordained in 1989 by the late Bishop Frank J. Rodimer and ministered for 13 years at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J. While there, he served on the Home and School Association and the 25th Anniversary Committee and chaired the building of the parish hall. In 2001, Deacon Puglia and his wife Patricia, who predeceased him, moved to Mount Arlington, N.J., and he was then assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Flanders, where he actively ministered until a few years ago. Deacon Puglia also served as the chaplain for the Catholic Chaplain’s Office at Morristown Medical Center, performing pre-op ministry, starting in 1988. At St. Elizabeth’s, he was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Parish Advisory Board. The wake for Deacon Puglia will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. at the William J. Leber Funeral Home in Chester, N.J. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Please keep Deacon Puglia, his late wife, Patricia, and their family in your prayers. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Obituary: Deacon Frank Puglia, 91 #Catholic – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in the Flanders neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., for Deacon Frank Puglia, a longtime permanent deacon serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Aug. 26. He was 91. Deacon Puglia was ordained in 1989 by the late Bishop Frank J. Rodimer and ministered for 13 years at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J. While there, he served on the Home and School Association and the 25th Anniversary Committee and chaired the building of the parish hall. In 2001, Deacon Puglia and his wife Patricia, who predeceased him, moved to Mount Arlington, N.J., and he was then assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Flanders, where he actively ministered until a few years ago. Deacon Puglia also served as the chaplain for the Catholic Chaplain’s Office at Morristown Medical Center, performing pre-op ministry, starting in 1988. At St. Elizabeth’s, he was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Parish Advisory Board. The wake for Deacon Puglia will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. at the William J. Leber Funeral Home in Chester, N.J. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Please keep Deacon Puglia, his late wife, Patricia, and their family in your prayers. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Obituary: Deacon Frank Puglia, 91 #Catholic –

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in the Flanders neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., for Deacon Frank Puglia, a longtime permanent deacon serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Aug. 26. He was 91.

Deacon Puglia was ordained in 1989 by the late Bishop Frank J. Rodimer and ministered for 13 years at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J. While there, he served on the Home and School Association and the 25th Anniversary Committee and chaired the building of the parish hall.

In 2001, Deacon Puglia and his wife Patricia, who predeceased him, moved to Mount Arlington, N.J., and he was then assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Flanders, where he actively ministered until a few years ago.

Deacon Puglia also served as the chaplain for the Catholic Chaplain’s Office at Morristown Medical Center, performing pre-op ministry, starting in 1988. At St. Elizabeth’s, he was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Parish Advisory Board.

The wake for Deacon Puglia will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. at the William J. Leber Funeral Home in Chester, N.J. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

Please keep Deacon Puglia, his late wife, Patricia, and their family in your prayers.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in the Flanders neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., for Deacon Frank Puglia, a longtime permanent deacon serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Aug. 26. He was 91. Deacon Puglia was ordained in 1989 by the late Bishop Frank J. Rodimer and ministered for 13 years at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J. While there, he served on the Home and School Association and the 25th Anniversary Committee and chaired the building of the

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Sept. 26 Mass to honor first two Filipino saints #Catholic – Filipino Catholics from the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will gather for the annual Filipino Saints Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., beginning with Mass at 11 a.m. The event honors San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu, the first Filipino saints. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will celebrate the Mass, which will be concelebrated by the diocese’s Filipino priests, including Father Vidal Gonzales, pastor of Notre Dame and diocesan consultant/adviser for the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries (DCCFM). The Mass will be followed by a Filipino fellowship. For more than 15 years, the DCCFM has celebrated the Filipino Saints Celebration, one of the major annual gatherings of the diocesan Filipino Catholic community, in September. For many years, the celebration was traditionally held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. When Deacon Elmer Maximo became president of the DCCFM, the commission began bringing the celebration to different parishes throughout the diocese, particularly those with a strong and active Filipino Catholic presence. This has allowed more parish communities to participate while highlighting the Filipino community’s important contribution to the life and mission of the local Church. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Adding to the beauty and cultural character of the celebration, participants are encouraged to come in traditional Filipino attire — the Barong Tagalog for men and the Baro’t Saya for women. These traditional garments are a visible expression of the Filipino heritage and remind Filipinos that their culture and Catholic faith are gifts they joyfully share with the wider Church. The fellowship reflects the joyful Filipino tradition of a fiesta, where faith, family, friendship, and hospitality come together. We will share a variety of traditional Filipino dishes. Traditionally, the celebration is also supported by a Hermana and/or Hermano, individuals or families who generously sponsor and assist with the celebration. Their generosity reflects the Filipino spirit of paglilingkod and bayanihan —serving God and the community together with joyful and grateful hearts. More than a cultural gathering, the Filipino Saints Celebration is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of the participants’ Filipino Catholic heritage and to be inspired by the courageous witness of San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod. Through their example, Filipino Catholics are reminded that holiness is possible in every generation and that, wherever Filipinos may be, we are called to remain faithful witnesses of Christ and His Church.  
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Sept. 26 Mass to honor first two Filipino saints #Catholic – Filipino Catholics from the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will gather for the annual Filipino Saints Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., beginning with Mass at 11 a.m. The event honors San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu, the first Filipino saints. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will celebrate the Mass, which will be concelebrated by the diocese’s Filipino priests, including Father Vidal Gonzales, pastor of Notre Dame and diocesan consultant/adviser for the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries (DCCFM). The Mass will be followed by a Filipino fellowship. For more than 15 years, the DCCFM has celebrated the Filipino Saints Celebration, one of the major annual gatherings of the diocesan Filipino Catholic community, in September. For many years, the celebration was traditionally held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. When Deacon Elmer Maximo became president of the DCCFM, the commission began bringing the celebration to different parishes throughout the diocese, particularly those with a strong and active Filipino Catholic presence. This has allowed more parish communities to participate while highlighting the Filipino community’s important contribution to the life and mission of the local Church. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Adding to the beauty and cultural character of the celebration, participants are encouraged to come in traditional Filipino attire — the Barong Tagalog for men and the Baro’t Saya for women. These traditional garments are a visible expression of the Filipino heritage and remind Filipinos that their culture and Catholic faith are gifts they joyfully share with the wider Church. The fellowship reflects the joyful Filipino tradition of a fiesta, where faith, family, friendship, and hospitality come together. We will share a variety of traditional Filipino dishes. Traditionally, the celebration is also supported by a Hermana and/or Hermano, individuals or families who generously sponsor and assist with the celebration. Their generosity reflects the Filipino spirit of paglilingkod and bayanihan —serving God and the community together with joyful and grateful hearts. More than a cultural gathering, the Filipino Saints Celebration is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of the participants’ Filipino Catholic heritage and to be inspired by the courageous witness of San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod. Through their example, Filipino Catholics are reminded that holiness is possible in every generation and that, wherever Filipinos may be, we are called to remain faithful witnesses of Christ and His Church.  

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Sept. 26 Mass to honor first two Filipino saints #Catholic –

Filipino Catholics from the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will gather for the annual Filipino Saints Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., beginning with Mass at 11 a.m. The event honors San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu, the first Filipino saints.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will celebrate the Mass, which will be concelebrated by the diocese’s Filipino priests, including Father Vidal Gonzales, pastor of Notre Dame and diocesan consultant/adviser for the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries (DCCFM). The Mass will be followed by a Filipino fellowship.

For more than 15 years, the DCCFM has celebrated the Filipino Saints Celebration, one of the major annual gatherings of the diocesan Filipino Catholic community, in September.

For many years, the celebration was traditionally held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. When Deacon Elmer Maximo became president of the DCCFM, the commission began bringing the celebration to different parishes throughout the diocese, particularly those with a strong and active Filipino Catholic presence. This has allowed more parish communities to participate while highlighting the Filipino community’s important contribution to the life and mission of the local Church.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Adding to the beauty and cultural character of the celebration, participants are encouraged to come in traditional Filipino attire — the Barong Tagalog for men and the Baro’t Saya for women. These traditional garments are a visible expression of the Filipino heritage and remind Filipinos that their culture and Catholic faith are gifts they joyfully share with the wider Church.

The fellowship reflects the joyful Filipino tradition of a fiesta, where faith, family, friendship, and hospitality come together. We will share a variety of traditional Filipino dishes.

Traditionally, the celebration is also supported by a Hermana and/or Hermano, individuals or families who generously sponsor and assist with the celebration. Their generosity reflects the Filipino spirit of paglilingkod and bayanihan —serving God and the community together with joyful and grateful hearts.

More than a cultural gathering, the Filipino Saints Celebration is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of the participants’ Filipino Catholic heritage and to be inspired by the courageous witness of San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod. Through their example, Filipino Catholics are reminded that holiness is possible in every generation and that, wherever Filipinos may be, we are called to remain faithful witnesses of Christ and His Church.

 

– Filipino Catholics from the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will gather for the annual Filipino Saints Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., beginning with Mass at 11 a.m. The event honors San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu, the first Filipino saints. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will celebrate the Mass, which will be concelebrated by the diocese’s Filipino priests, including Father Vidal Gonzales, pastor of Notre Dame and diocesan consultant/adviser for the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries (DCCFM). The Mass will be

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 31 August 2026 – A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians 2:1-5 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.  From the Gospel according to Luke 4:16-30 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, ?Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.? And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, ?Is this not the son of Joseph?? He said to them, ?Surely you will quote me this proverb, ?Physician, cure yourself,? and say, ?Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.?? And he said, ?Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.? When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.That day, in Nazareth, Jesus confronted His interlocutors with a choice about His identity and mission. No one in the synagogue could help but wonder: is He only the carpenter’s son who arrogates to Himself a role that does not belong to Him, or is He truly the Messiah, sent by God to save the people from sin and all evil? The Evangelist tells us that the Nazarenes failed to recognize the Lord’s anointed one in Jesus. They thought they knew Him too well, and this, instead of facilitating the opening of their minds and hearts, prevented them from doing so, like a veil obscuring the light. Sisters and brothers, this event, with the due analogies, also happens for us today. We too are challenged by the presence and words of Jesus; we too are called to recognize in Him the Son of God, our Saviour. But it may happen to us, as it did to His countrymen, to think that we already know Him, that we already know everything about Him, that we have grown up with Him, in school, in the parish, in catechism, in a country with a Catholic culture… And so, for us too, He is a Person who is close, indeed perhaps even ?too? close. But let us try to ask ourselves: do we sense the unique authority with which Jesus of Nazareth speaks? Do we recognize that He is the bearer of a proclamation of salvation (?)? And I, do I feel in need of this salvation? Do I feel that I too am in some way poor, imprisoned, blind, oppressed? Then, only then, ?the year of grace? will be for me! (Pope Francis, Angelus, 26 January 2025)

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A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians
2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.

 

From the Gospel according to Luke
4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll,
he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
?Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.?
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, ?Is this not the son of Joseph??
He said to them, ?Surely you will quote me this proverb,
?Physician, cure yourself,? and say, ?Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.??
And he said,
?Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.?
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

That day, in Nazareth, Jesus confronted His interlocutors with a choice about His identity and mission. No one in the synagogue could help but wonder: is He only the carpenter’s son who arrogates to Himself a role that does not belong to Him, or is He truly the Messiah, sent by God to save the people from sin and all evil?

The Evangelist tells us that the Nazarenes failed to recognize the Lord’s anointed one in Jesus. They thought they knew Him too well, and this, instead of facilitating the opening of their minds and hearts, prevented them from doing so, like a veil obscuring the light.

Sisters and brothers, this event, with the due analogies, also happens for us today. We too are challenged by the presence and words of Jesus; we too are called to recognize in Him the Son of God, our Saviour. But it may happen to us, as it did to His countrymen, to think that we already know Him, that we already know everything about Him, that we have grown up with Him, in school, in the parish, in catechism, in a country with a Catholic culture… And so, for us too, He is a Person who is close, indeed perhaps even ?too? close.

But let us try to ask ourselves: do we sense the unique authority with which Jesus of Nazareth speaks? Do we recognize that He is the bearer of a proclamation of salvation (?)? And I, do I feel in need of this salvation? Do I feel that I too am in some way poor, imprisoned, blind, oppressed? Then, only then, ?the year of grace? will be for me! (Pope Francis, Angelus, 26 January 2025)

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Aug. 30, 1984: Space Shuttle Discovery launches

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The third member of NASA’s space shuttle program, Discovery had a fraught journey to its launch. First, a test in June of 1984 found a flaw in the thermal shield; then a launch scheduled for later the same month was delayed due to a computer failure. Attempt No. 2 was halted only four seconds beforeContinue reading “Aug. 30, 1984: Space Shuttle Discovery launches”

The post Aug. 30, 1984: Space Shuttle Discovery launches appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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