Oblivious Hollywood dullard Stephen King had the audacity on Thursday to ask folks on social media why a blatantly conservative TV series didn’t get nominated for an Emmy Award this year.
The post Stephen King Asks Why Billy Bob Thornton Series ‘Landman’ Was Snubbed by Emmys, and X Schools Him appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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In the summer of 1969, a woman leaned out of a tenement window in Boston’s Italian North End and called, “Anthony!
The post On Columbus Day: Remembering Little Anthony Who Rushed Home for Prince Spaghetti Day appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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President Trump on Saturday told reporters that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “does not want to make a deal” with Russia, blasting him again for allowing the war to continue and calling for an election to be held. “He could have settled this thing many times,” Trump said, again calling for a new leader in Ukraine.
The post (VIDEO) Trump Blasts Zelensky Again, Says Russia Wants to Make a Deal but “Zelensky Does Not” – Calls for Elections in Ukraine appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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| Picture of the day |
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Gene Autry in 1942.
Autry died on this date in 1998. |
Father of love, hear my prayer.
Help me to know Your Will
and to do it with courage and faith.
Accept my offering of myself,
all my thoughts, words, deeds, and sufferings.
May my life be spent giving You glory.
Give me the strength to follow Your call,
so that Your Truth may live in my heart
and bring peace to me and to those I meet,
for I believe in Your Love.
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
25:6-10a
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from every face;
the reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians
4:12-14, 19-20
Brothers and sisters:
I know how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.
My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen."
Today’s Gospel passage tells us about a king who prepares a wedding banquet for his son (cf. Mt 22:1-14). He is a powerful man, but he is above all a generous father, who invites others to share in his joy. In particular, he reveals the goodness of his heart in the fact that he does not compel anyone, but invites everyone, even though this way exposes him to the possibility of rejection. We notice that he prepares a banquet, freely offering an opportunity for encounter, an opportunity for a feast. This is what God prepares for us: a banquet, to be in communion with him and among ourselves. And we, all of us, are therefore God’s invited guests. But a wedding banquet requires time and commitment on our part: it requires a “yes”: to go, to go to the Lord’s invitation. He invites, but he leaves us free.
This is the type of relationship that the Father offers us: he calls us to stay with him, leaving us the possibility to accept or not accept [the invitation]. He does not propose to us a relationship of subjection, but rather of fatherhood and sonship, which is necessarily conditioned by our free assent. God is very respectful regarding freedom; very respectful. Saint Augustine uses a very beautiful expression in this regard, saying: “He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent” (Sermonclxix, 13). And certainly not because he does not have the capacity to do so — God is omnipotent! — but because, being love, he respects our freedom fully. God proposes: he does not impose. Never. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 15 October 2023)
Read MoreGiovanni Passalacqua from Ragusa, Sicily, Italy A waning crescent Moon hangs less than 3° from Jupiter in western Leo before dawn on Oct. 6, 2026, hours before it occulted the planet for viewers in North America. All four Galilean moons flank Jupiter at lower left. The photographer shot a single 0.5-second exposure at f/6.3 andContinue reading “Jove and Luna”
The post Jove and Luna appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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“Nobody wants a return to the past,” MP Chris Bryant said in ruling against the planned march down Garvaghy Road.
![Catholics take Morristown streets, pray for end to abortion #Catholic – On Oct. 3, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined with a broad assembly of Catholics from around the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and beyond for his monthly Mass and Rosary Procession for Life at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J.
Bishop Sweeney celebrated the Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Duberney Villamizar, St. Margaret’s pastor and diocesan vicar for Hispanic affairs, and Father Isaac Spinharney of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal at St. Michael’s Friary in Paterson, N.J. Deacon Tim Holden of St. Margaret’s assisted with the liturgy.
After the Mass, Bishop Sweeney led the faithful, including clergy, religious, and laity, in a rosary procession to the Planned Parenthood on Speedwell Avenue. They prayed for an end to abortion. Several people held pro-life signs in English and Spanish. The group returned to St. Margaret’s for Eucharistic adoration.
To continue this mission, a Mass and procession for life is held on the first Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. at St. Margaret’s. Priests and faithful from around the diocese are invited to join.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/catholics-take-morristown-streets-pray-for-end-to-abortion-catholic-on-oct-3-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-joined-with-a-broad-assembly-of-catholics-from-around-the-paterson-diocese-n-j-and-beyond.jpg "Catholics take Morristown streets, pray for end to abortion #Catholic – On Oct. 3, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined with a broad assembly of Catholics from around the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and beyond for his monthly Mass and Rosary Procession for Life at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J.
Bishop Sweeney celebrated the Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Duberney Villamizar, St. Margaret’s pastor and diocesan vicar for Hispanic affairs, and Father Isaac Spinharney of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal at St. Michael’s Friary in Paterson, N.J. Deacon Tim Holden of St. Margaret’s assisted with the liturgy.
After the Mass, Bishop Sweeney led the faithful, including clergy, religious, and laity, in a rosary procession to the Planned Parenthood on Speedwell Avenue. They prayed for an end to abortion. Several people held pro-life signs in English and Spanish. The group returned to St. Margaret’s for Eucharistic adoration.
To continue this mission, a Mass and procession for life is held on the first Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. at St. Margaret’s. Priests and faithful from around the diocese are invited to join.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.")
Catholics take Morristown streets, pray for end to abortion #Catholic – 
On Oct. 3, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined with a broad assembly of Catholics from around the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and beyond for his monthly Mass and Rosary Procession for Life at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J.
Bishop Sweeney celebrated the Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Duberney Villamizar, St. Margaret’s pastor and diocesan vicar for Hispanic affairs, and Father Isaac Spinharney of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal at St. Michael’s Friary in Paterson, N.J. Deacon Tim Holden of St. Margaret’s assisted with the liturgy.
After the Mass, Bishop Sweeney led the faithful, including clergy, religious, and laity, in a rosary procession to the Planned Parenthood on Speedwell Avenue. They prayed for an end to abortion. Several people held pro-life signs in English and Spanish. The group returned to St. Margaret’s for Eucharistic adoration.
To continue this mission, a Mass and procession for life is held on the first Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. at St. Margaret’s. Priests and faithful from around the diocese are invited to join.
– On Oct. 3, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined with a broad assembly of Catholics from around the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and beyond for his monthly Mass and Rosary Procession for Life at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J. Bishop Sweeney celebrated the Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Duberney Villamizar, St. Margaret’s pastor and diocesan vicar for Hispanic affairs, and Father Isaac Spinharney of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal at St. Michael’s Friary in Paterson, N.J. Deacon Tim Holden of St. Margaret’s assisted with the liturgy. After the Mass, Bishop Sweeney led the faithful, including clergy, religious,
Tom Schwein is part of a 12-person team making a 3,000-mile trek with Samaritan Cycling USA to help raise money for the unhoused.
![EWTN News explains: What is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act? – #Catholic – The Archdiocese of St. Louis this month sued the federal government and several other defendants for what it said are policies that prevent Catholic immigrant detainees from obtaining the sacraments, including the Eucharist. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. district court, alleged among other claims that the government is violating the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) by barring clergy access to those detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One prison official reportedly suggested that priests could “pass communion in a plastic bag to a prison guard who could then deliver it to the detainee.” The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is invoked regularly in federal lawsuits by those who argue that the government is excessively burdening their religion. But how does this more-than-30-year-old law work, and how exactly does it protect religious liberty in the U.S.? Government may not ‘substantially burden’ religion A rare example of bipartisan unity, the federal law was proposed in 1993, passed unanimously in the U.S. House and near-unanimously in the U.S. Senate, and signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton.The impetus for the law arose in large part due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Employment Division v. Smith. That 1990 decision held that Oregon was permitted to deny unemployment benefits to two Native American residents who had been fired after using peyote in a religious ritual. Outrage from a large cross-section of civil liberties groups and religious rights organizations led Congress to draft and pass the law. Clinton upon signing the measure said the law “reestablishes a standard that better protects all Americans of all faiths in the exercise of their religion.”The law directs that the government generally “shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” even if the burden stems from a “rule of general applicability.” The rule does allow for such burdens if the government demonstrates that a restriction is “in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest” and is “the least restrictive means” of accomplishing that goal. Matt Sharp, who serves as senior counsel and vice president of public policy at Alliance Defending Freedom, told EWTN News the rule “puts the responsibility on the government” to demonstrate that its policies do not violate the law. “The government has to show that it has a compelling reason to do something” that burdens someone’s religious liberty, Sharp said. “It can’t just say, ‘We like this law.’ It has to be a government interest of the highest order, such as national security or public safety.”Alliance Defending Freedom has handled numerous RFRA lawsuits over the years. Among them was the case Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Burwell, brought by a Mennonite Christian family who argued that the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate violated the federal religious freedom law.The family ultimately prevailed, with the U.S. Supreme Court holding that the federal government had violated RFRA in requiring the family to cover contraceptives via its company’s insurance policies.Sharp, however, acknowledged that the rule has never been a “religion automatically wins” law. “It definitely makes [U.S. law] more favorable and protective of religion,” he said. But in some cases religious objectors aren’t successful in their challenges, such as the Native American coalition that sued under RFRA to protect one of its sacred sites but which lost at the Supreme Court in 2025. The Little Sisters of the Poor, meanwhile, have cited in part the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in their 15-year battle over contraceptive mandates. Yet although the law can sometimes yield a mixed bag, protections for religious freedom have grown steadily in the U.S. in recent years. A total of 30 states so far have adopted a version of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act or a similar form of legislation. Sharp said RFRA requires the government to ensure that in cases where it is imposing on religious practice it is doing so in a “narrowly tailored” way with “the bare minimum possible” imposition. “It’s a high burden,” he said. “In practice it has been hugely important and beneficial to people of faith.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ewtn-news-explains-what-is-the-religious-freedom-restoration-act-catholic-the-archdiocese-of-st-louis-this-month-sued-the-federal-government-and-several-other-defendants-for-what-it-said-are-p-scaled.jpg "EWTN News explains: What is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act? – #Catholic – The Archdiocese of St. Louis this month sued the federal government and several other defendants for what it said are policies that prevent Catholic immigrant detainees from obtaining the sacraments, including the Eucharist. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. district court, alleged among other claims that the government is violating the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) by barring clergy access to those detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One prison official reportedly suggested that priests could “pass communion in a plastic bag to a prison guard who could then deliver it to the detainee.” The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is invoked regularly in federal lawsuits by those who argue that the government is excessively burdening their religion. But how does this more-than-30-year-old law work, and how exactly does it protect religious liberty in the U.S.? Government may not ‘substantially burden’ religion A rare example of bipartisan unity, the federal law was proposed in 1993, passed unanimously in the U.S. House and near-unanimously in the U.S. Senate, and signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton.The impetus for the law arose in large part due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Employment Division v. Smith. That 1990 decision held that Oregon was permitted to deny unemployment benefits to two Native American residents who had been fired after using peyote in a religious ritual. Outrage from a large cross-section of civil liberties groups and religious rights organizations led Congress to draft and pass the law. Clinton upon signing the measure said the law “reestablishes a standard that better protects all Americans of all faiths in the exercise of their religion.”The law directs that the government generally “shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” even if the burden stems from a “rule of general applicability.” The rule does allow for such burdens if the government demonstrates that a restriction is “in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest” and is “the least restrictive means” of accomplishing that goal. Matt Sharp, who serves as senior counsel and vice president of public policy at Alliance Defending Freedom, told EWTN News the rule “puts the responsibility on the government” to demonstrate that its policies do not violate the law. “The government has to show that it has a compelling reason to do something” that burdens someone’s religious liberty, Sharp said. “It can’t just say, ‘We like this law.’ It has to be a government interest of the highest order, such as national security or public safety.”Alliance Defending Freedom has handled numerous RFRA lawsuits over the years. Among them was the case Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Burwell, brought by a Mennonite Christian family who argued that the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate violated the federal religious freedom law.The family ultimately prevailed, with the U.S. Supreme Court holding that the federal government had violated RFRA in requiring the family to cover contraceptives via its company’s insurance policies.Sharp, however, acknowledged that the rule has never been a “religion automatically wins” law. “It definitely makes [U.S. law] more favorable and protective of religion,” he said. But in some cases religious objectors aren’t successful in their challenges, such as the Native American coalition that sued under RFRA to protect one of its sacred sites but which lost at the Supreme Court in 2025. The Little Sisters of the Poor, meanwhile, have cited in part the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in their 15-year battle over contraceptive mandates. Yet although the law can sometimes yield a mixed bag, protections for religious freedom have grown steadily in the U.S. in recent years. A total of 30 states so far have adopted a version of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act or a similar form of legislation. Sharp said RFRA requires the government to ensure that in cases where it is imposing on religious practice it is doing so in a “narrowly tailored” way with “the bare minimum possible” imposition. “It’s a high burden,” he said. “In practice it has been hugely important and beneficial to people of faith.”")
The 1993 law allows religious objectors to sue the government for “substantially burdening” their religious liberty.
![Canadian youth retreat seeks to strengthen faith of young Catholics entering adulthood – #Catholic – A youth retreat taking place in Ontario, Canada, aims to help young Catholics graduating from high school and entering college, as well as students graduating from college and entering the workforce, stay committed to their faith during these critical transitions in their lives.Dead Man Walking is being hosted by Jesus Youth Ontario and will take place Oct. 16–18 at the Mother of God Retreat Center in Orangeville, Ontario. The retreat will include talks from Catholic author and speaker Jason Evert, international missionary George Devassy, and local young adults sharing their personal testimonies.Jim Isaac, a member of the retreat’s planning team, told EWTN News that the inspiration for the retreat came from conversations with parents where it was evident that there was “an overwhelming need.”“They felt that while children were in high school there were so many guardrails about who they can interact with, who can reach out to them, and all these things to ensure that they have a proper and safe childhood,” he explained. “But, right when they leave high school, all those guardrails are sort of lifted and almost at the same time they also leave home.”He added that young people also feel “thrown into adulthood” and that this transition “was something that they were struggling with.”With this in mind, the Dead Man Walking youth retreat was created to give them a space where they can encounter Christ, help them understand the big questions they’re grappling with, and instill in them a strong foundation to maintain their faith during this transition in their lives.The theme of the retreat comes from John 11, specifically the raising of Lazarus. Isaac explained that many times “we feel that we are going through the motions [and] we are almost like dead people.”Each day focuses on a specific part of the raising of Lazarus. The theme for Day 1 is “Dead for Four Days,” focusing on the idea that there is always hope even when we’re at our lowest point. Day 2 is called “come out,” encouraging the participants to take part in the Church and in their faith and ends with the opportunity for attendees to go to confession and attend Mass. The last day is called “untie and unbind,” which will call the young people gathered to go out on mission and spread the Gospel message.Isaac emphasized that their “primary objective is that they [the attendees] have an encounter with Christ at this crucial juncture of their lives.”“We want these youngsters, who probably are, within their own realities, bombarded with a lot of contemporary and secular media, to understand the richness of the Church,” he added.“We are hoping that something might resonate with them and that might help them build their interior life and thereby reach out to the people within the community. At the end of the day, it is about reaching out to people and giving them a call for mission. Thatʼs what we are hoping for by the end of it.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/canadian-youth-retreat-seeks-to-strengthen-faith-of-young-catholics-entering-adulthood-catholic-a-youth-retreat-taking-place-in-ontario-canada-aims-to-help-young-catholics-graduating-from-high.png "Canadian youth retreat seeks to strengthen faith of young Catholics entering adulthood – #Catholic – A youth retreat taking place in Ontario, Canada, aims to help young Catholics graduating from high school and entering college, as well as students graduating from college and entering the workforce, stay committed to their faith during these critical transitions in their lives.Dead Man Walking is being hosted by Jesus Youth Ontario and will take place Oct. 16–18 at the Mother of God Retreat Center in Orangeville, Ontario. The retreat will include talks from Catholic author and speaker Jason Evert, international missionary George Devassy, and local young adults sharing their personal testimonies.Jim Isaac, a member of the retreat’s planning team, told EWTN News that the inspiration for the retreat came from conversations with parents where it was evident that there was “an overwhelming need.”“They felt that while children were in high school there were so many guardrails about who they can interact with, who can reach out to them, and all these things to ensure that they have a proper and safe childhood,” he explained. “But, right when they leave high school, all those guardrails are sort of lifted and almost at the same time they also leave home.”He added that young people also feel “thrown into adulthood” and that this transition “was something that they were struggling with.”With this in mind, the Dead Man Walking youth retreat was created to give them a space where they can encounter Christ, help them understand the big questions they’re grappling with, and instill in them a strong foundation to maintain their faith during this transition in their lives.The theme of the retreat comes from John 11, specifically the raising of Lazarus. Isaac explained that many times “we feel that we are going through the motions [and] we are almost like dead people.”Each day focuses on a specific part of the raising of Lazarus. The theme for Day 1 is “Dead for Four Days,” focusing on the idea that there is always hope even when we’re at our lowest point. Day 2 is called “come out,” encouraging the participants to take part in the Church and in their faith and ends with the opportunity for attendees to go to confession and attend Mass. The last day is called “untie and unbind,” which will call the young people gathered to go out on mission and spread the Gospel message.Isaac emphasized that their “primary objective is that they [the attendees] have an encounter with Christ at this crucial juncture of their lives.”“We want these youngsters, who probably are, within their own realities, bombarded with a lot of contemporary and secular media, to understand the richness of the Church,” he added.“We are hoping that something might resonate with them and that might help them build their interior life and thereby reach out to the people within the community. At the end of the day, it is about reaching out to people and giving them a call for mission. Thatʼs what we are hoping for by the end of it.”")
Dead Man Walking is being hosted by Jesus Youth Ontario and will take place Oct. 16-18 in Ontario, Canada.
This NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope Picture of the Month features galaxies in incredible detail that have been warped and multiplied like they’ve stepped into a house of mirrors.
Read More
The Chicago Bears icon, who died on Friday, gave to charities, lectored at Mass, and belonged to the Knights of Columbus.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
3:22-29
Brothers and sisters:
Scripture confined all things under the power of sin,
that through faith in Jesus Christ
the promise might be given to those who believe.
Before faith came, we were held in custody under law,
confined for the faith that was to be revealed.
Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.
For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants,
heirs according to the promise.
From the Gospel according to Luke
11:27-28
While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied, “Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.”
To listen to the Word of God and practise it, are the only two “conditions” established by Jesus for those who want to follow him. Christian life is “simple, simple”. Perhaps we have made it a bit difficult, with so many explanations that nobody understands, but the Christian life is like this: listening to the Word of God and practising it. (…)
Every time we open the Gospel and read a passage and ask ourselves: ‘Is God speaking to me with this, is he saying something to me’?. This means “to listen to the Word of God, to listen with the ears and listen with the heart, to open the heart to God’s Word”. On the other hand, “Jesus’ enemies listened to Jesus’ words but they were close by in order to try and find a mistake, to make him slip up” and make him lose authority. But they never asked themselves: ‘What is God telling me with these words’?. Moreover, the Pontiff added, “God does not speak only to all but he speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each one of us. (…)
The Lord, “always plants his Word”, and in exchange “he asks only for an open heart to listen to it and good will to put it into practise. This is why today’s prayer is that of the Psalm: ‘Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands’, that is, on the path of your Word, so that, with your guidance, I may learn to practice it”. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 23 September 2014)
Read More| Picture of the day |
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The tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Split, Croatia) as seen from the Vestibule of Diocletian’s Palace.
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Fraudulent online romance, gambling, and cryptocurrency schemes have defrauded people in more than 125 countries, with Americans losing at least $18.2 billion in 2025, according to a new report.
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes chose Father Eduardo Chávez because of his expertise concerning the “Guadalupan event.”
![Emaús Retreat at cathedral fosters deeper life of evangelization #Catholic – Linked arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand in sung prayer, believers filled the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as alumni of a retreat experience that has connected thousands across the Paterson Diocese and throughout New Jersey.
Pilgrims who have experienced the powerful Emaús retreat celebrated Christ’s love at a Spanish-language Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Sept. 25 at the cathedral.
Each of them has participated in the three-day, mainly Spanish-language experience, in which Deacon German Vargas from the cathedral has played a major part in infusing the life of faith in the diocese. He calls the “siblinghood” of Emaús a community of brothers and sisters who, after the retreat, encounter the presence, grace, love, and mercy of Christ and make the Catholic faith the center of their lives.
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“The bishop affirmed that the movement of the Holy Spirit has gifted us the Emaús fellowship,” Deacon Vargas shared. “The bishop emphasized the need not to be afraid and to keep walking together, like the disciples of Emmaus, strengthened by the Word of God,” he said.
The retreat program has touched thousands of New Jerseyans. Its title comes from the story of the road to Emmaus as shared in Luke. In it, Christ draws near to two people taking that road without identifying himself until he breaks bread with them in a Eucharistic expression, following the pattern of the Last Supper.
“Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” the two men say about Jesus.
Emaús, a retreat program that began at a parish in 1978 at St. Louis Parish in Miami, came to St. Mary Help of Christians in Paterson, N.J., in 2017 and has spread to 10 parishes in the diocese.
“The idea was to make a retreat for people who didn’t have the chance to go to other retreats,” said Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., who also helps facilitate Emaús.
Father Villamizar added, “There are some retreats that require some background for the people — a discernment retreat for those thinking about vocations or retreats for couples, married couples. There were other requirements at the time this Emmaus retreat started in Florida. The parish priest wanted to have a retreat for anybody, those who are in the pews, those who are just arriving in the church.”
Through Emaús, men and women hold separate retreats that become deeply personal encounters with the Lord.
“It grew organically here at the cathedral,” said Msgr. Geno Sylva, the rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects. “After the retreat, I started seeing not only that the lives of people who went on the retreat converted and changed, but they became so faithful, not only with being here [on] Sunday, but getting involved in so many other areas of the cathedral’s life. It’s part of my vision for evangelization here at the cathedral,” he said.
Msgr. Sylva credits Deacon Vargas and Father Villamizar with helping expand the retreat, which has become a key outreach tool, inviting people into the faith who have not had that deeper encounter with Christ.
“I have a St. John Paul II, Pope Francis, and Benedict XIV [approach] to New Evangelization. It has to be about going beyond the walls to inviting people to a larger communion and to Sunday Mass,” Msgr. Sylva said.
That invitation often comes from Emaús alums who also help make the retreat happen.
“It started forming what we call now the brotherhoods and the sisterhoods in the different parishes,” Father Villamizar said. “Those who leave the retreat already are the ones who prepare a new retreat and invite new people,” he said.
Those alumni also create regular follow-up opportunities for others who have gone on the retreat to continue the spiritual growth in community with others who know the power of the experience.
“They meet biweekly after the retreat,” Msgr. Sylva said, “and you have to make the retreat to be at those meetings because there’s a real focus on trust and confidentiality at that level of faith sharing.”
Leaders are launching a school with Emaús alums to form disciples who can support the New Evangelization. They aim to bring the fire for Christ that was launched when the Lord approached a pair of people who didn’t initially recognize him — the kind that changes hearts so passionately that they come together on a Friday night for a Mass that fills a cathedral.
“Just like the disciples of Emmaus,” said Deacon Vargas, “we must ask the Lord to stay with us, in our hearts and in our families.”
Click here to find more on Emaús in New Jersey.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/emaus-retreat-at-cathedral-fosters-deeper-life-of-evangelization-catholic-linked-arm-in-arm-hand-in-hand-in-sung-prayer-believers-filled-the-cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist-as-alumni-of-a-retre.jpg "Emaús Retreat at cathedral fosters deeper life of evangelization #Catholic – Linked arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand in sung prayer, believers filled the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as alumni of a retreat experience that has connected thousands across the Paterson Diocese and throughout New Jersey.
Pilgrims who have experienced the powerful Emaús retreat celebrated Christ’s love at a Spanish-language Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Sept. 25 at the cathedral.
Each of them has participated in the three-day, mainly Spanish-language experience, in which Deacon German Vargas from the cathedral has played a major part in infusing the life of faith in the diocese. He calls the “siblinghood” of Emaús a community of brothers and sisters who, after the retreat, encounter the presence, grace, love, and mercy of Christ and make the Catholic faith the center of their lives.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“The bishop affirmed that the movement of the Holy Spirit has gifted us the Emaús fellowship,” Deacon Vargas shared. “The bishop emphasized the need not to be afraid and to keep walking together, like the disciples of Emmaus, strengthened by the Word of God,” he said.
The retreat program has touched thousands of New Jerseyans. Its title comes from the story of the road to Emmaus as shared in Luke. In it, Christ draws near to two people taking that road without identifying himself until he breaks bread with them in a Eucharistic expression, following the pattern of the Last Supper.
“Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” the two men say about Jesus.
Emaús, a retreat program that began at a parish in 1978 at St. Louis Parish in Miami, came to St. Mary Help of Christians in Paterson, N.J., in 2017 and has spread to 10 parishes in the diocese.
“The idea was to make a retreat for people who didn’t have the chance to go to other retreats,” said Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., who also helps facilitate Emaús.
Father Villamizar added, “There are some retreats that require some background for the people — a discernment retreat for those thinking about vocations or retreats for couples, married couples. There were other requirements at the time this Emmaus retreat started in Florida. The parish priest wanted to have a retreat for anybody, those who are in the pews, those who are just arriving in the church.”
Through Emaús, men and women hold separate retreats that become deeply personal encounters with the Lord.
“It grew organically here at the cathedral,” said Msgr. Geno Sylva, the rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects. “After the retreat, I started seeing not only that the lives of people who went on the retreat converted and changed, but they became so faithful, not only with being here [on] Sunday, but getting involved in so many other areas of the cathedral’s life. It’s part of my vision for evangelization here at the cathedral,” he said.
Msgr. Sylva credits Deacon Vargas and Father Villamizar with helping expand the retreat, which has become a key outreach tool, inviting people into the faith who have not had that deeper encounter with Christ.
“I have a St. John Paul II, Pope Francis, and Benedict XIV [approach] to New Evangelization. It has to be about going beyond the walls to inviting people to a larger communion and to Sunday Mass,” Msgr. Sylva said.
That invitation often comes from Emaús alums who also help make the retreat happen.
“It started forming what we call now the brotherhoods and the sisterhoods in the different parishes,” Father Villamizar said. “Those who leave the retreat already are the ones who prepare a new retreat and invite new people,” he said.
Those alumni also create regular follow-up opportunities for others who have gone on the retreat to continue the spiritual growth in community with others who know the power of the experience.
“They meet biweekly after the retreat,” Msgr. Sylva said, “and you have to make the retreat to be at those meetings because there’s a real focus on trust and confidentiality at that level of faith sharing.”
Leaders are launching a school with Emaús alums to form disciples who can support the New Evangelization. They aim to bring the fire for Christ that was launched when the Lord approached a pair of people who didn’t initially recognize him — the kind that changes hearts so passionately that they come together on a Friday night for a Mass that fills a cathedral.
“Just like the disciples of Emmaus,” said Deacon Vargas, “we must ask the Lord to stay with us, in our hearts and in our families.”
Click here to find more on Emaús in New Jersey.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]")
Emaús Retreat at cathedral fosters deeper life of evangelization #Catholic – 
Linked arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand in sung prayer, believers filled the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as alumni of a retreat experience that has connected thousands across the Paterson Diocese and throughout New Jersey.
Pilgrims who have experienced the powerful Emaús retreat celebrated Christ’s love at a Spanish-language Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Sept. 25 at the cathedral.
Each of them has participated in the three-day, mainly Spanish-language experience, in which Deacon German Vargas from the cathedral has played a major part in infusing the life of faith in the diocese. He calls the “siblinghood” of Emaús a community of brothers and sisters who, after the retreat, encounter the presence, grace, love, and mercy of Christ and make the Catholic faith the center of their lives.
“The bishop affirmed that the movement of the Holy Spirit has gifted us the Emaús fellowship,” Deacon Vargas shared. “The bishop emphasized the need not to be afraid and to keep walking together, like the disciples of Emmaus, strengthened by the Word of God,” he said.
The retreat program has touched thousands of New Jerseyans. Its title comes from the story of the road to Emmaus as shared in Luke. In it, Christ draws near to two people taking that road without identifying himself until he breaks bread with them in a Eucharistic expression, following the pattern of the Last Supper.
“Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” the two men say about Jesus.
Emaús, a retreat program that began at a parish in 1978 at St. Louis Parish in Miami, came to St. Mary Help of Christians in Paterson, N.J., in 2017 and has spread to 10 parishes in the diocese.
“The idea was to make a retreat for people who didn’t have the chance to go to other retreats,” said Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., who also helps facilitate Emaús.
Father Villamizar added, “There are some retreats that require some background for the people — a discernment retreat for those thinking about vocations or retreats for couples, married couples. There were other requirements at the time this Emmaus retreat started in Florida. The parish priest wanted to have a retreat for anybody, those who are in the pews, those who are just arriving in the church.”
Through Emaús, men and women hold separate retreats that become deeply personal encounters with the Lord.
“It grew organically here at the cathedral,” said Msgr. Geno Sylva, the rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects. “After the retreat, I started seeing not only that the lives of people who went on the retreat converted and changed, but they became so faithful, not only with being here [on] Sunday, but getting involved in so many other areas of the cathedral’s life. It’s part of my vision for evangelization here at the cathedral,” he said.
Msgr. Sylva credits Deacon Vargas and Father Villamizar with helping expand the retreat, which has become a key outreach tool, inviting people into the faith who have not had that deeper encounter with Christ.
“I have a St. John Paul II, Pope Francis, and Benedict XIV [approach] to New Evangelization. It has to be about going beyond the walls to inviting people to a larger communion and to Sunday Mass,” Msgr. Sylva said.
That invitation often comes from Emaús alums who also help make the retreat happen.
“It started forming what we call now the brotherhoods and the sisterhoods in the different parishes,” Father Villamizar said. “Those who leave the retreat already are the ones who prepare a new retreat and invite new people,” he said.
Those alumni also create regular follow-up opportunities for others who have gone on the retreat to continue the spiritual growth in community with others who know the power of the experience.
“They meet biweekly after the retreat,” Msgr. Sylva said, “and you have to make the retreat to be at those meetings because there’s a real focus on trust and confidentiality at that level of faith sharing.”
Leaders are launching a school with Emaús alums to form disciples who can support the New Evangelization. They aim to bring the fire for Christ that was launched when the Lord approached a pair of people who didn’t initially recognize him — the kind that changes hearts so passionately that they come together on a Friday night for a Mass that fills a cathedral.
“Just like the disciples of Emmaus,” said Deacon Vargas, “we must ask the Lord to stay with us, in our hearts and in our families.”
Click here to find more on Emaús in New Jersey.
– Linked arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand in sung prayer, believers filled the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as alumni of a retreat experience that has connected thousands across the Paterson Diocese and throughout New Jersey. Pilgrims who have experienced the powerful Emaús retreat celebrated Christ’s love at a Spanish-language Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Sept. 25 at the cathedral. Each of them has participated in the three-day, mainly Spanish-language experience, in which Deacon German Vargas from the cathedral has played a major part in infusing the life of faith in the diocese. He calls the “siblinghood” of Emaús a community
Obituary: Franciscan Father Bernard ‘Bernie’ Creighton, 86 #Catholic – 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, N.J., for Franciscan Father Bernard “Bernie” Creighton, who died Oct. 7. He was 86.
For more than 60 years, Father Creighton devoted his life to service, education, and pastoral ministry. He spent decades supporting the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., an international center for research, publishing, and academia dedicated to studying the Franciscan intellectual tradition, history, and theology.
Father Creighton was born on Dec. 7, 1939, to Stanley and Helen Creighton (née Palizay). He was an only child, and his family ran a milk processing and delivery business in Elmira, N.Y.
The future Franciscan Friar attended Catholic grade school and high school in Elmira, N.Y. In 1961, he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from St. Bonaventure University, where he met the friars who inspired his vocation.
As a senior, Father Creighton was chosen to receive the 1961 Mark Hellinger Award, an annual recognition from St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication that honors outstanding academic achievement in journalism. However, Fr. Bernie declined the award for “up-and-coming journalists” because God was calling him to religious life.
Then, in 1991, Father Creighton received the honor he had earned as a college student three decades earlier.
At age 23, Father Creighton entered the Franciscan Order, professing first vows in 1963 and solemn vows in 1966. He was ordained a priest in 1967.
Father Creighton became a trusted source of knowledge about the history and traditions of the Franciscan community after serving from 1968 to 1972 as editor of the Provincial Annals, an archival periodical published by the legacy Holy Name Province.
From 1994 to 2026, Father Creighton served as vicar of the St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., where he faithfully handled the daily needs of the friary community.
Father Creighton is remembered for being approachable, detailed, humble, knowledgeable, and deeply dedicated to others. He embraced the Franciscan ideals of simplicity, hospitality and service, believing that the best part of ministry was working with the people of God and helping them to live in the spirit of the Lord.
Father Creighton is survived by his friar brothers of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe; his cousins, Catherine Creighton Saal (Frank), Eugene Creighton (Patricia), James Creighton, Debbie Creighton, Tom Gilmore, Marilyn Lilly (Bill), James Ripley (Marilyn); and a cousin by marriage, Nancy Levanduski.
Visitation for Father Creighton will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15at 9:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, N.J., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in the church.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Bonaventure University Chapel in St. Bonaventure, N.Y. Burial will follow at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.
– A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, N.J., for Franciscan Father Bernard “Bernie” Creighton, who died Oct. 7. He was 86. For more than 60 years, Father Creighton devoted his life to service, education, and pastoral ministry. He spent decades supporting the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., an international center for research, publishing, and academia dedicated to studying the Franciscan intellectual tradition, history, and theology. Father Creighton was born on Dec. 7, 1939, to Stanley and Helen Creighton (née
![In Morristown, Bishop offers hope to fearful migrants, refugees #Catholic – On Sept. 27, many Hispanic Catholics joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Spanish Mass for the 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown, N.J. During the liturgy, the bishop offered Latino Catholics hope at a time when many of them are in fear of being targeted by law enforcement in the current immigration crisis or mistreated because of their ethnicity.
“The message is [to] know that whatever is going on, you are not alone, and the Church is here for you,” Father Duberney Villamizar, the pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland, said.
The Mass was filled with praiseful songs, assisted by dozens of altar servers, and concelebrated by many priests. Bishop Sweeney and the other clergy shared a bilingual message of solidarity and symbolism with the pilgrimage to heaven.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“We’re blessed to live in a community, an immigrant community here in Morristown,” said Bishop Sweeney in English during the mostly Spanish Mass.
“As members of the Church, we’re all migrants; we’re all peregrinos [pilgrims] in pilgrimage together, hopefully one day to God, to the life of Heaven. Pope Leo invited us all to be part of this 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. We pray for migrants and refugees in a special way during this Mass,” Bishop Sweeney said.
Bishop Sweeney said that while the Church respects the law, every person is a child of God and deserves treatment that reflects that human dignity.
Bishop Sweeney’s message of “you are not alone” reflects the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Justice for Immigrants Initiative. It offers Church resources for emergency support, solidarity in public witness and prayer, and pastoral support for immigrants and those suffering during the current crisis.
The Mass at St. Margaret’s was part of a week planned by the USCCB dedicated to immigrants and refugees in the U.S. St. Margaret of Scotland Parish held an additional rosary this week.
“It’s something that we have been trying to do in the last almost two years [with] everything that is going on in the country,” Father Villamizar said.
Father Villamizar estimates that about 800 people came to Sunday’s Mass, which happened just five days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted activity in the Morristown.
“People are afraid to even go to church,” Father Villamizar said. “People are really concerned, not because we are doing anything wrong.”
Father Villamizar even shared his own concern, as he is an immigrant from Colombia who took the proper steps to become an American citizen.
“What if I just work without my wallet, or I don’t have any proof that I am an American citizen? They can detain me until I prove that I am here doing good things,’ Father Villamizar said.
In this climate, the Mass celebrated on Sunday at his church helps people enduring such fear recognize the human sanctity they have, which cannot be taken away from them, and gives them the courage to endure while living their lives, Father Villamizar said.
“There is a dignity that comes only from God,” Father Villamizar said.
“The suffering is real. So many people try to keep going on with their lives, with their businesses, with whatever they are doing, making this place a better place with everything they are, with everything they are giving,” Father Villamizar said.
Father Villamizar said the message on Sept. 27 will remain true for everyone who feels the anxiety of the current age and culture surrounding Latinos: that the Catholic Church may not be able to fix every issue, but that Christ and his Church will be here to accompany them every step, no matter what happens.
“We are not promising to solve everyone’s problems, but at least you know that you are not by yourself,” Father Villamizar said. “Somebody cares about you, somebody wants to be with you, somebody wants to be in this experience with you,” he said.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/in-morristown-bishop-offers-hope-to-fearful-migrants-refugees-catholic-on-sept-27-many-hispanic-catholics-joined-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-who-celebrated-a-spanish-mass-for-the-112th-world-day-f.jpg "In Morristown, Bishop offers hope to fearful migrants, refugees #Catholic – On Sept. 27, many Hispanic Catholics joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Spanish Mass for the 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown, N.J. During the liturgy, the bishop offered Latino Catholics hope at a time when many of them are in fear of being targeted by law enforcement in the current immigration crisis or mistreated because of their ethnicity.
“The message is [to] know that whatever is going on, you are not alone, and the Church is here for you,” Father Duberney Villamizar, the pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland, said.
The Mass was filled with praiseful songs, assisted by dozens of altar servers, and concelebrated by many priests. Bishop Sweeney and the other clergy shared a bilingual message of solidarity and symbolism with the pilgrimage to heaven.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“We’re blessed to live in a community, an immigrant community here in Morristown,” said Bishop Sweeney in English during the mostly Spanish Mass.
“As members of the Church, we’re all migrants; we’re all peregrinos [pilgrims] in pilgrimage together, hopefully one day to God, to the life of Heaven. Pope Leo invited us all to be part of this 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. We pray for migrants and refugees in a special way during this Mass,” Bishop Sweeney said.
Bishop Sweeney said that while the Church respects the law, every person is a child of God and deserves treatment that reflects that human dignity.
Bishop Sweeney’s message of “you are not alone” reflects the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Justice for Immigrants Initiative. It offers Church resources for emergency support, solidarity in public witness and prayer, and pastoral support for immigrants and those suffering during the current crisis.
The Mass at St. Margaret’s was part of a week planned by the USCCB dedicated to immigrants and refugees in the U.S. St. Margaret of Scotland Parish held an additional rosary this week.
“It’s something that we have been trying to do in the last almost two years [with] everything that is going on in the country,” Father Villamizar said.
Father Villamizar estimates that about 800 people came to Sunday’s Mass, which happened just five days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted activity in the Morristown.
“People are afraid to even go to church,” Father Villamizar said. “People are really concerned, not because we are doing anything wrong.”
Father Villamizar even shared his own concern, as he is an immigrant from Colombia who took the proper steps to become an American citizen.
“What if I just work without my wallet, or I don’t have any proof that I am an American citizen? They can detain me until I prove that I am here doing good things,’ Father Villamizar said.
In this climate, the Mass celebrated on Sunday at his church helps people enduring such fear recognize the human sanctity they have, which cannot be taken away from them, and gives them the courage to endure while living their lives, Father Villamizar said.
“There is a dignity that comes only from God,” Father Villamizar said.
“The suffering is real. So many people try to keep going on with their lives, with their businesses, with whatever they are doing, making this place a better place with everything they are, with everything they are giving,” Father Villamizar said.
Father Villamizar said the message on Sept. 27 will remain true for everyone who feels the anxiety of the current age and culture surrounding Latinos: that the Catholic Church may not be able to fix every issue, but that Christ and his Church will be here to accompany them every step, no matter what happens.
“We are not promising to solve everyone’s problems, but at least you know that you are not by yourself,” Father Villamizar said. “Somebody cares about you, somebody wants to be with you, somebody wants to be in this experience with you,” he said.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]")
In Morristown, Bishop offers hope to fearful migrants, refugees #Catholic – 
On Sept. 27, many Hispanic Catholics joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Spanish Mass for the 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown, N.J. During the liturgy, the bishop offered Latino Catholics hope at a time when many of them are in fear of being targeted by law enforcement in the current immigration crisis or mistreated because of their ethnicity.
“The message is [to] know that whatever is going on, you are not alone, and the Church is here for you,” Father Duberney Villamizar, the pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland, said.
The Mass was filled with praiseful songs, assisted by dozens of altar servers, and concelebrated by many priests. Bishop Sweeney and the other clergy shared a bilingual message of solidarity and symbolism with the pilgrimage to heaven.
“We’re blessed to live in a community, an immigrant community here in Morristown,” said Bishop Sweeney in English during the mostly Spanish Mass.
“As members of the Church, we’re all migrants; we’re all peregrinos [pilgrims] in pilgrimage together, hopefully one day to God, to the life of Heaven. Pope Leo invited us all to be part of this 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. We pray for migrants and refugees in a special way during this Mass,” Bishop Sweeney said.
Bishop Sweeney said that while the Church respects the law, every person is a child of God and deserves treatment that reflects that human dignity.
Bishop Sweeney’s message of “you are not alone” reflects the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Justice for Immigrants Initiative. It offers Church resources for emergency support, solidarity in public witness and prayer, and pastoral support for immigrants and those suffering during the current crisis.
The Mass at St. Margaret’s was part of a week planned by the USCCB dedicated to immigrants and refugees in the U.S. St. Margaret of Scotland Parish held an additional rosary this week.
“It’s something that we have been trying to do in the last almost two years [with] everything that is going on in the country,” Father Villamizar said.
Father Villamizar estimates that about 800 people came to Sunday’s Mass, which happened just five days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted activity in the Morristown.
“People are afraid to even go to church,” Father Villamizar said. “People are really concerned, not because we are doing anything wrong.”
Father Villamizar even shared his own concern, as he is an immigrant from Colombia who took the proper steps to become an American citizen.
“What if I just work without my wallet, or I don’t have any proof that I am an American citizen? They can detain me until I prove that I am here doing good things,’ Father Villamizar said.
In this climate, the Mass celebrated on Sunday at his church helps people enduring such fear recognize the human sanctity they have, which cannot be taken away from them, and gives them the courage to endure while living their lives, Father Villamizar said.
“There is a dignity that comes only from God,” Father Villamizar said.
“The suffering is real. So many people try to keep going on with their lives, with their businesses, with whatever they are doing, making this place a better place with everything they are, with everything they are giving,” Father Villamizar said.
Father Villamizar said the message on Sept. 27 will remain true for everyone who feels the anxiety of the current age and culture surrounding Latinos: that the Catholic Church may not be able to fix every issue, but that Christ and his Church will be here to accompany them every step, no matter what happens.
“We are not promising to solve everyone’s problems, but at least you know that you are not by yourself,” Father Villamizar said. “Somebody cares about you, somebody wants to be with you, somebody wants to be in this experience with you,” he said.
– On Sept. 27, many Hispanic Catholics joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Spanish Mass for the 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown, N.J. During the liturgy, the bishop offered Latino Catholics hope at a time when many of them are in fear of being targeted by law enforcement in the current immigration crisis or mistreated because of their ethnicity. “The message is [to] know that whatever is going on, you are not alone, and the Church is here for you,” Father Duberney Villamizar, the pastor of St. Margaret of
NASA has selected a mission proposal that will peer below a volcanic pit on the Moon to find out whether it opens onto a hidden lava tube — a geologic formation long theorized, but never confirmed on the Moon. The proposal will send a mission to the Marius Hills Pit, a large hole — approximatelyContinue reading “Newly selected NASA mission will hunt for caves on the Moon”
The post Newly selected NASA mission will hunt for caves on the Moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More![U.S. Catholic bishops condemn ‘barbaric’ plan to livestream military execution – #Catholic – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) condemned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s announcement that the military execution of the Fort Hood mass shooter, Nidal Hasan, will be livestreamed for the public to view.“It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the USCCB, said in a statement on Oct. 9.“Our God is the God of life,” he said. “In no way can Hasan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.”Coakley quoted Romans 12:17, which commands: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”“The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people,” the archbishop said. “I pray for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel that we as a nation may always choose life even in the most trying times and circumstances.”Hasan, a man from Arlington, Virginia, was convicted of murdering 13 people and injuring 32 others in a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009, while working as a psychiatrist for the Army. Public witnesses said he screamed “Allahu Akbar” immediately before he began firing. He had email communications with Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born al-Qaeda recruiter.On Oct. 2, President Donald Trump approved a military execution via firing squad for Hasan, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Fort Hood. On Oct. 8, Hegseth said in an interview with the news outlet Real Americaʼs Voice that the execution will be livestreamed and later reaffirmed this plan on social media.The announcement of the execution and livestream also faced criticism from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Archbishop Timothy Broglio reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to the death penalty in a statement to EWTN News.“Catholic teaching about the death penalty is clear,” Broglio said. “Already the Catechism of the Catholic Church, even before its revision by the late Pope Francis, indicated that in a country such as the United States where the means exist to protect society from such criminals, the death penalty was inadmissible.”The archbishop said that now, “the teaching is even clearer and more universal” and cited CCC 2267: “Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”Broglio added: “Even in the case of the most heinous crimes, the Church begs for clemency.”‘A grotesque display of hatred’The Catholic Mobilizing Network, which works closely with the USCCB on efforts to oppose the death penalty, condemned both the decision to execute Hasan and the decision to livestream his death.“Beyond the fact that executions do not deter crime or increase safety, it’s appalling that a public official would try to introduce it as a livestream arcade,” Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, said in a statement.“It’s been almost a century since our country’s last public execution, and we must not fall into the abyss of such a vengeful practice,” she said. “We undermine our own humanity when we treat another person’s death as something to watch, celebrate, or use for entertainment. It is [reminiscent] of the horrors of lynching in our nation’s past, and would be a grotesque display of hatred witnessed in the public executions of some authoritarian countries today.”Murphy quoted a Sept. 28 address from Pope Leo XIV, in which he said “the greatness of a civilization is not measured by its material achievements, but by the way it cares for, protects, and upholds the human person.”She warned that “we violate human dignity” with every execution “because every person is created in the image of God.” She said “the Church instructs us to not seek cruel retribution, but a justice that holds people accountable without perpetuating the cycle of death.”“What Mr. Hasan did at Fort Hood in 2009 ought not be condoned in any way,” she said. “He inflicted horrible pain and caused terrifying trauma. … But we must not be blinded by bloodlust. The macabre spectacle proposed by Secretary Hegseth is not what our Lord asks of us—it will neither honor victims nor bring healing.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/u-s-catholic-bishops-condemn-barbaric-plan-to-livestream-military-execution-catholic-the-u-s-conference-of-catholic-bishops-usccb-condemned-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth.jpg "U.S. Catholic bishops condemn ‘barbaric’ plan to livestream military execution – #Catholic – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) condemned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s announcement that the military execution of the Fort Hood mass shooter, Nidal Hasan, will be livestreamed for the public to view.“It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the USCCB, said in a statement on Oct. 9.“Our God is the God of life,” he said. “In no way can Hasan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.”Coakley quoted Romans 12:17, which commands: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”“The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people,” the archbishop said. “I pray for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel that we as a nation may always choose life even in the most trying times and circumstances.”Hasan, a man from Arlington, Virginia, was convicted of murdering 13 people and injuring 32 others in a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009, while working as a psychiatrist for the Army. Public witnesses said he screamed “Allahu Akbar” immediately before he began firing. He had email communications with Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born al-Qaeda recruiter.On Oct. 2, President Donald Trump approved a military execution via firing squad for Hasan, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Fort Hood. On Oct. 8, Hegseth said in an interview with the news outlet Real Americaʼs Voice that the execution will be livestreamed and later reaffirmed this plan on social media.The announcement of the execution and livestream also faced criticism from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Archbishop Timothy Broglio reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to the death penalty in a statement to EWTN News.“Catholic teaching about the death penalty is clear,” Broglio said. “Already the Catechism of the Catholic Church, even before its revision by the late Pope Francis, indicated that in a country such as the United States where the means exist to protect society from such criminals, the death penalty was inadmissible.”The archbishop said that now, “the teaching is even clearer and more universal” and cited CCC 2267: “Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”Broglio added: “Even in the case of the most heinous crimes, the Church begs for clemency.”‘A grotesque display of hatred’The Catholic Mobilizing Network, which works closely with the USCCB on efforts to oppose the death penalty, condemned both the decision to execute Hasan and the decision to livestream his death.“Beyond the fact that executions do not deter crime or increase safety, it’s appalling that a public official would try to introduce it as a livestream arcade,” Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, said in a statement.“It’s been almost a century since our country’s last public execution, and we must not fall into the abyss of such a vengeful practice,” she said. “We undermine our own humanity when we treat another person’s death as something to watch, celebrate, or use for entertainment. It is [reminiscent] of the horrors of lynching in our nation’s past, and would be a grotesque display of hatred witnessed in the public executions of some authoritarian countries today.”Murphy quoted a Sept. 28 address from Pope Leo XIV, in which he said “the greatness of a civilization is not measured by its material achievements, but by the way it cares for, protects, and upholds the human person.”She warned that “we violate human dignity” with every execution “because every person is created in the image of God.” She said “the Church instructs us to not seek cruel retribution, but a justice that holds people accountable without perpetuating the cycle of death.”“What Mr. Hasan did at Fort Hood in 2009 ought not be condoned in any way,” she said. “He inflicted horrible pain and caused terrifying trauma. … But we must not be blinded by bloodlust. The macabre spectacle proposed by Secretary Hegseth is not what our Lord asks of us—it will neither honor victims nor bring healing.”")
The decision to livestream the execution of Fort Hood mass shooter Nidal Hasan faced strong criticism from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev aboard in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Read MoreA reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
3:7-14
Brothers and sisters:
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.
Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.
For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, Cursed be everyone
who does not persevere in doing all the things
written in the book of the law.
And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear,
for the one who is righteous by faith will live.
But the law does not depend on faith;
rather, the one who does these things will live by them.
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
From the Gospel according to Luke
11:15-26
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said:
“By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone,
it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says,
‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
The true problem (…) and it is one that we often overlook, is that conversion does not only make us aware of evil so that we can choose the good; it also forces evil to change its tactics, to become more insidious, to find new disguises that will be hard for us to see through. The battle is real. The tempter keeps coming back, disguised, but he comes back. (…)
One of the most helpful virtues to practice in this regard is the virtue of vigilance. Jesus uses a striking example to illustrate the need for vigilance, attentiveness to ourselves and to the Church. He tells us: “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’. When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first” (Lk 11:24-26). Our initial conversion follows a certain pattern: the evil that we acknowledge and try to uproot from our lives does indeed leave us, but we would be naïve to think that it will long be gone. In short order, it comes back under a new guise. Before, it appeared rough and violent, now it shows up as elegant and refined. We need to realize that and once again to unmask it. Let me put it this way: they are “elegant demons”: they enter smoothly, without our even being conscious of them. Only the daily practice of the examination of conscience can enable us to be aware of them. Hence the importance of the examination of conscience, to keep watch over our house. (Pope Francis, Address to the Roman Curia, 22 December 2022)
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The bishops will serve one year as chair-elect and assume the positions in the fall of 2027.
![Archbishop of Dijon, France, asks for prayers for priest who died by suicide – #Catholic – Archbishop Antoine Hérouard of Dijon, France, asked for prayers for Father Bernard Card, who died by suicide in his Sainte Chantal Parish house on Sunday, Oct. 4.In a letter sent to the faithful of his archdiocese, the prelate wrote of his “astonishment and deep sadness” and said that what happened was “totally unexpected and difficult to understand.”“Let us entrust him to the merciful love of the Lord. Let us pray for his parishioners, shocked by this unexpected news; for Father Jean-Philippe Nollé, his vicar; and for his family and friends, left desolate by this sudden departure,” the archbishop said.In his letter, the archbishop remembered Card — who had been “deeply affected” some time ago by his brother’s suicide — as “a pastor much appreciated by his parishioners and who moved with ease among his fellow priests, who trusted him.”He added that he was “very involved in the life of the cathedral chapter, regularly participated in the canons' prayer in the archbishopʼs chapel, and enjoyed staying afterward for coffee with the staff. He always took part with interest in the meetings of the Diocesan Council for Economic Affairs.”Looking ahead to Card’s approaching 75th birthday, Hérouard said the two had spoken about the possibility of continuing his mission a little past the usual retirement age. Some had noticed that he seemed “tired lately” and was bothered by insects in his house, but no one thought that was “anything dramatic,” the archbishop wrote.On the archdioceseʼs Facebook page, Michèle Bauchet commented: “This is deeply sad news. [Father] Bernard was a very kind person. He had agreed to officiate at our son-in-lawʼs funeral Mass.” She wrote that he was to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary Mass in 2027. “We are truly shocked. We pray for Jean-Philippe Nollé and all of Bernardʼs family,” she added.The French government declared mental health a national priority for 2025 and 2026. A 2020 study by Mutuelle Saint-Martin and Action Sociale found that 9% of French priests showed a depressive syndrome, 40% had a low sense of personal fulfillment, 7% a high degree of exhaustion, and 2% suffered from severe burnout.The archdiocese has organized several prayer vigils for the priest. The first is Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Chenôve (Chapel of Saint Teresa). Later that same day, another vigil will be held at 3 p.m. in the church of Corcelles-les-Monts.Prayers will be held on Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at Sainte-Chantal; and on Monday, Oct. 12, from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the same location. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m., also at Sainte-Chantal.Seek helpIf you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional crisis or suicidal thoughts, remember that the Catholic Church offers spiritual guidance, prayer, and someone to talk to and encourages seeking professional help.You can contact helplines, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 in the U.S.) for your country, or go to your parish, where you will find pastoral support and resources.The Catholic Church teaches that life is a gift from God. The Church accompanies those who suffer with compassion and without judgment, offering hope, prayer, and consolation to the affected families.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.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/archbishop-of-dijon-france-asks-for-prayers-for-priest-who-died-by-suicide-catholic-archbishop-antoine-herouard-of-dijon-france-asked-for-prayers-for-father-bernard-card-who-died-by-suicide.jpg "Archbishop of Dijon, France, asks for prayers for priest who died by suicide – #Catholic – Archbishop Antoine Hérouard of Dijon, France, asked for prayers for Father Bernard Card, who died by suicide in his Sainte Chantal Parish house on Sunday, Oct. 4.In a letter sent to the faithful of his archdiocese, the prelate wrote of his “astonishment and deep sadness” and said that what happened was “totally unexpected and difficult to understand.”“Let us entrust him to the merciful love of the Lord. Let us pray for his parishioners, shocked by this unexpected news; for Father Jean-Philippe Nollé, his vicar; and for his family and friends, left desolate by this sudden departure,” the archbishop said.In his letter, the archbishop remembered Card — who had been “deeply affected” some time ago by his brother’s suicide — as “a pastor much appreciated by his parishioners and who moved with ease among his fellow priests, who trusted him.”He added that he was “very involved in the life of the cathedral chapter, regularly participated in the canons' prayer in the archbishopʼs chapel, and enjoyed staying afterward for coffee with the staff. He always took part with interest in the meetings of the Diocesan Council for Economic Affairs.”Looking ahead to Card’s approaching 75th birthday, Hérouard said the two had spoken about the possibility of continuing his mission a little past the usual retirement age. Some had noticed that he seemed “tired lately” and was bothered by insects in his house, but no one thought that was “anything dramatic,” the archbishop wrote.On the archdioceseʼs Facebook page, Michèle Bauchet commented: “This is deeply sad news. [Father] Bernard was a very kind person. He had agreed to officiate at our son-in-lawʼs funeral Mass.” She wrote that he was to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary Mass in 2027. “We are truly shocked. We pray for Jean-Philippe Nollé and all of Bernardʼs family,” she added.The French government declared mental health a national priority for 2025 and 2026. A 2020 study by Mutuelle Saint-Martin and Action Sociale found that 9% of French priests showed a depressive syndrome, 40% had a low sense of personal fulfillment, 7% a high degree of exhaustion, and 2% suffered from severe burnout.The archdiocese has organized several prayer vigils for the priest. The first is Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Chenôve (Chapel of Saint Teresa). Later that same day, another vigil will be held at 3 p.m. in the church of Corcelles-les-Monts.Prayers will be held on Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at Sainte-Chantal; and on Monday, Oct. 12, from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the same location. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m., also at Sainte-Chantal.Seek helpIf you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional crisis or suicidal thoughts, remember that the Catholic Church offers spiritual guidance, prayer, and someone to talk to and encourages seeking professional help.You can contact helplines, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 in the U.S.) for your country, or go to your parish, where you will find pastoral support and resources.The Catholic Church teaches that life is a gift from God. The Church accompanies those who suffer with compassion and without judgment, offering hope, prayer, and consolation to the affected families.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.")
“Let us entrust him to the merciful love of the Lord,” the archbishop wrote in a letter to the faithful. “Let us pray for his parishioners, shocked by this unexpected news.”
From a North Carolina barrier island to a coastal village on Japan’s Izu Peninsula, travel experts share their top picks.
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The exorcists discussed the importance of sacred music and the “essential” place of the Virgin Mary’s intercession in exorcisms.
Multiple religious objectors are suing the state over its newly instituted assisted suicide regime.
NASA has selected the far-infrared space telescope mission PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) to move to the next stage in its development. PRIMA will be the first in a new mission class and help scientists learn more about the evolution of the universe. PRIMA will carry a 5.9-foot (1.8-meter) mirror, and NASA hopes toContinue reading “Far-infrared telescope PRIMA advances toward 2033 launch”
The post Far-infrared telescope PRIMA advances toward 2033 launch appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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“The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,” the Holy See’s permanent observer to the U.N. said during the 81st General Assembly.
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Ceiling Painted Dome Cupola Angels Fighting Demons in the Vatican Museums. Today is Michaelmas in much of Western Christianity.
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Church leaders call for dialogue over confrontation amid turbulent protests in France #Catholic – 
PARIS (OSV News) — Just days after Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 apostolic visit to France, scenes of unrest have replaced the atmosphere of unity and peace that marked the papal trip.
Riots that began in the Paris region on a small scale Sept. 17 spread nationwide after Sept. 28, forcing closures or disruptions at nearly 900 of France’s 3,700 public high schools by Oct. 6.
“After those … days of serenity, the joy of being together, and peace” during the papal visit, “reality quickly caught up with us,” Bishop Hervé Gosselin of Angoulême commented on Oct. 2 in a conversation with Les Coulisses de l’Info, podcast of the regional daily Charente Libre.
Since the outbreak of protests in Paris, students have been joined nationwide by union and political leaders, as well as hooded rioters, who fired fireworks, smashed windows with cobblestones or set trash cans on fire.
According to the public radio station France Info, the Ministry of Justice has reported more than 5,000 people taken into police custody, while several hundred police officers have been injured.
Bishop Olivier de Cagny of Évreux said many young people face fears about climate change, unemployment, war and social isolation, but at the same time he called violence “unnecessary.”
“What a contrast between these scenes and those witnessed during the pope’s visit,” he said, urging prayer and renewed dialogue to end the violence.
For Le Figaro Magazine, the pope’s trip in France was therefore “a blessed interlude, a providential truce in these times of anxious gloom,” Guillaume Roquette wrote in the paper Oct. 2.
In the face of erupting violence, Bishop Matthieu Rougé of Nanterre, near Paris, remembered the papal visit as an event freeing “from the triviality and violence that all too often plague contemporary public life.” He said it was a “moment of comfort” for a France that fell into chaos hours after the pope departed from Metz and headed to Rome.
The unrest is primarily economic in nature: The ongoing negotiations over the 2027 budget are expected to be difficult against a backdrop of inflation and soaring gas prices.
Joining the students were also farmers, whom agricultural unions had encouraged to protest following a summer of heat waves in France. The total lack of rain has dangerously strained their finances. But France’s public debt, which has hit a new record high, is making it increasingly difficult to provide the social assistance being demanded.
For Bishop Gosselin, some of the students’ demands are “futile,” such as those concerning their poorly balanced class schedules, but others are “much more profound,” as they are expressing their anxieties about the future, and these, in his opinion, must be heard.
“But violence is a failure,” the bishop insisted. “Under no circumstances can violence be justified.”
The bishop’s remarks were also in response to questions about Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko, a Muslim of Malian origin known for his widely publicized affiliation with radical far-left parties, who warmly welcomed the pope upon his arrival for the youth vigil Sept. 25 in Saint-Denis’ national stadium and participated in the vigil.
But since then, Bagayoko has spoken out alongside students, to the point of facing legal action for “alleged acts of incitement to commit a crime.” On Sept. 29, he publicly stated that “violence, at a certain point, can be legitimate,” although he conceded that “whenever it can be avoided, that is better.”
Church leaders in those circumstances have repeatedly called for dialogue over confrontation.
For Bishop de Cagny, “violence is unnecessary,” even to resolve “entirely legitimate problems,” such as the poor condition of certain school buildings or the shortage of teachers.
“A blockade can be a worthwhile form of protest if it helps open a dialogue,” he emphasized in his conversation with La Croix Oct. 4. “But in the current situation, no one seems to really understand what is happening.”
Bishop de Cagny said, “There is no denying that the world in which young people are growing up may seem frightening to them.” Their future “may seem bleak; climate change is a source of anxiety, as are the prospects of unemployment,” he noted. For the bishop of Evreux, young people are facing an “anxiety-inducing atmosphere,” fueled by wars and amplified by social media.
“Families are sometimes themselves weakened by crises, a lack of communication, and the omnipresence of screens,” Bishop de Clagny also noted, observing that young people are “often left alone to face their anxieties” and “sometimes find it hard to believe that dialogue is truly effective in resolving conflicts.”
“They are confronted with a world they perceive as violent and uncertain, and today, they rebel against this situation,” he added.
For Bishop de Cagny, “this inner violence can simmer beneath the surface, remaining unexpressed, and when an outlet presents itself, as is the case with this mobilization, some rush into it, driven by a sort of fascination with violence, without always fully grasping the consequences.”
“Paradoxically, they do not realize that they themselves resort to violence,” the bishop said.
“In the face of violence, young people especially need to rediscover a path of dialogue. We must pray that this violence will cease.”
Caroline de Sury writes for OSV News from Paris.
– PARIS (OSV News) — Just days after Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 apostolic visit to France, scenes of unrest have replaced the atmosphere of unity and peace that marked the papal trip. Riots that began in the Paris region on a small scale Sept. 17 spread nationwide after Sept. 28, forcing closures or disruptions at nearly 900 of France’s 3,700 public high schools by Oct. 6. “After those … days of serenity, the joy of being together, and peace” during the papal visit, “reality quickly caught up with us,” Bishop Hervé Gosselin of Angoulême commented on Oct. 2 in a
World Mission Sunday has ‘borne fruit in my own life,’ says Pope Leo #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — The aim of World Mission Sunday (Oct. 18), established 100 years ago by Pope Pius XI, has “borne fruit in my own life,” said Pope Leo XIV.
The pope reflected on the annual observance in a video message posted by Vatican News to its YouTube channel Oct. 7. A transcript of the message was also published on the Vatican’s website.
In January, Pope Leo XIV announced he had chosen the theme “One in Christ, united in mission” for this year’s celebration, with his message for the day encouraging “the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit.”
Established by Pope Pius XI in 1926 and universally observed by 1927, World Mission Sunday is a dedicated day of “prayer and missionary promotion throughout the Catholic world,” according to its founding decree.
Held on the next-to-last Sunday of October, the observance also includes a collection that serves as the primary financial support for the Pontifical Mission Societies, a worldwide network operating at the service of the pope and consisting of four organizations designated as pontifical by Pope Pius XI in 1922.
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith supports the evangelization efforts of the local church; the Missionary Childhood Association educates children about their part in the church’s missionary outreach; the Society of St. Peter the Apostle trains the next generation of missionary clergy and consecrated religious; and the Pontifical Missionary Union focuses on forming clergy, religious and pastoral leaders more deeply in their role as evangelizers.
In his video message, Pope Leo said, “Looking back on my youth, I can see how the prayers offered to the Lord of the harvest mysteriously helped prepare my heart to hear Jesus’ call to follow him as an Augustinian missionary.”
The future pope served for years in Peru, a country particularly blessed by missionary priests, said Father Anthony D. Andreassi, a priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Brooklyn, New York, and a researcher for the Pontifical Mission Societies USA.
In an Oct. 5 interview with OSV News, Father Andreassi explained how the 20th century saw an uptick in the number of North American priests, both diocesan and religious, assigned to Latin America, where the Church already had a 500-year presence, but “never enough of a native clergy.”
The Augustinian Order “started sending people into Peru in the 1960s,” said Father Andreassi. “And then, all of a sudden, you see Robert Prevost” — who would eventually become Pope Leo XIV — “there in the 1980s.”
In his video message, Pope Leo said “the prayers and contributions of the faithful encouraged and sustained my missionary work in Peru, as well as that of countless others throughout the world.”
“For this reason, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported World Mission Sunday over the years,” he added.
The pope said this year’s theme “invites us to reflect on the fundamental task of nurturing the Church’s unity in following Christ, particularly in our commitment and responsibility to spread the Gospel message of salvation to all people.”
Baptism makes each of the faithful “a member of the Body of Christ” with “a unique role in contributing to Jesus’ saving work.”
“Our Lord calls us to cooperate as one family, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to bring everyone everywhere into a communion of faith in Christ,” said Pope Leo.
He reaffirmed his appeal from his previously released message for the day, urging all to “commit to contributing to the great mission of evangelization — which is always a work of love — according to our own vocation and the gifts we have received.”
Prayers and “practical support” will be “a great help in bringing the Gospel of God’s love to everyone, especially the poorest and those most in need,” said the pope, quoting from his earlier message.
He thanked those who “carry on the legacy of World Mission Sunday” and “support generously the evangelizing mission of the Church throughout the world.”
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.
– (OSV News) — The aim of World Mission Sunday (Oct. 18), established 100 years ago by Pope Pius XI, has “borne fruit in my own life,” said Pope Leo XIV. The pope reflected on the annual observance in a video message posted by Vatican News to its YouTube channel Oct. 7. A transcript of the message was also published on the Vatican’s website. In January, Pope Leo XIV announced he had chosen the theme “One in Christ, united in mission” for this year’s celebration, with his message for the day encouraging “the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with
A visualization of a dark Moon eclipsing the Sun is marked with handwritten notes in this April 6, 2026, screenshot from an Artemis II crew member’s tablet.
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Students protested the university’s handling of alleged sexual assaults involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
3:1-5
O stupid Galatians!
Who has bewitched you,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
I want to learn only this from you:
did you receive the Spirit from works of the law,
or from faith in what you heard?
Are you so stupid?
After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now ending with the flesh?
Did you experience so many things in vain?–
if indeed it was in vain.
Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you
and works mighty deeds among you
do so from works of the law
or from faith in what you heard?
From the Gospel according to Luke
11:5-13
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,’
and he says in reply from within,
‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.’
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?”
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Lk 11:9). With these words, Jesus invites us to turn with trust to the Father for all our needs. (…)
“To ask,” in fact, is to recognize, through poverty, that everything is a gift from the Lord and to give thanks for it. “To seek” is to open oneself, through obedience, to discovering each day the path we must take on the journey towards holiness, following God’s plans. “To knock” is to ask for and to offer the gifts we have received to our brothers and sisters with a chaste heart, striving to love everyone with respect and generosity. (…)
“To ask,” “to seek,” and “to knock” also means reflecting on our own lives, bringing to mind and heart what the Lord has achieved over the years by multiplying talents, strengthening and purifying faith, and fostering generosity and freedom in charity. Sometimes this has been achieved in joyful circumstances, and at other times in ways that are more difficult to understand, perhaps even through the mysterious crucible of suffering. At all times, however, we find ourselves in the embrace of that paternal goodness that characterizes what he does in us and through us, for the good of the Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, 43). (…)
Without him, nothing exists, nothing makes sense, nothing is worthwhile. Your “asking,” “seeking,” and “knocking,” both in prayer and in life, has much to do with this truth. (Pope Leo XIV, Homily, 9 October 2025)
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Justice Amy Coney Barrett speaks at Benedictine College, the Archdiocese of Chicago urges Illinois’ governor to opt in to an education tax program, and more in this week’s education roundup.
The bishop died in a local hospital “surrounded by close family and friends,” current Bishop Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap, said.
Obituary: Msgr. Robert Carroll, 89 #Catholic – 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church in the Highland Lakes neighborhood of Vernon, N.J., for Msgr. Robert Carroll, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Oct. 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. He was 89.
Bishop James J. Navagh ordained Msgr. Carroll on May 25, 1963.
Msgr. Carroll faithfully served throughout the diocese of Paterson, especially in parochial assignments at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J., St. Brendan Parish in Clifton, N.J., St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson, N.J., St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, N.J., St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., and finally at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Highland Lakes before his retirement in 2016.
Msgr. Carroll also served on the faculty at former Neumann Prep in Wayne, N.J., as the assistant director of vocations; Passaic dean; and spiritual director for both the Morris County Curia of the Legion of Mary and the former Domus Bartimaeus House of Discernment in Boonton, N.J.
Visitation for Msgr. Carroll will occur on Monday, Oct. 12 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church in the Highland Lakes. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima. Priests are invited to concelebrate the funeral Mass. Please bring diocesan vestment.
Interment to follow the Mass at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Newton, N.J.
Condolences may be sent to the attention of the Clergy Personnel Office, 205 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940
Please keep Msgr. Carroll; his sister-in-law, Denise Carrol; his niece, Amy Carroll; his nephew, Peter Carroll; all of his family and friends; and all of the Priests of the Paterson Diocese in your prayers, especially at the Eucharist.
– A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church in the Highland Lakes neighborhood of Vernon, N.J., for Msgr. Robert Carroll, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Oct. 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. He was 89. Bishop James J. Navagh ordained Msgr. Carroll on May 25, 1963. Msgr. Carroll faithfully served throughout the diocese of Paterson, especially in parochial assignments at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J., St. Brendan Parish in Clifton, N.J., St. Gerard
“Circumstances of a person’s birth should not determine the respect for one’s inherent God-given dignity or the opportunities an individual is able to access,” Archbishop Christophe El-Kassis said.
The government has debated expanding its medical assistance in dying program for those suffering solely from mental health issues.
NJCC to voters: Ask Gov. Sherrill to opt in N.J. for students to access federal tax dollars #Catholic – 
Federal tax dollars could soon be applied to education expenses for eligible New Jersey families at no cost to the state – but only if Governor Mikie Sherrill opts in by Jan. 1, 2027.
The New Jersey Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the bishops of New Jersey, launched an advocacy campaign Oct. 5, featuring dedicated web pages, an Action Alert and a packet of digital and social media graphics and bulletin inserts to be shared throughout the state via Catholic schools, parishes and media outlets. The campaign urges voters to reach out to Governor Sherrill and ask her to say “yes” to New Jersey’s participation in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit.
According to the NJCC’s website, if the Governor accepts the program for NJ, it would provide federal tax dollars to New Jersey families for educational assistance. The program would impose no cost to the state, and scholarships would benefit both students attending public and non-public schools. Each state must formally opt in to the FSTC by the new year to receive the benefits.
The Diocese of Trenton’s Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in his role as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education, advocated for the FSTC as “a transformative opportunity for children across the country.” In a brief message released Oct. 2, he writes, “The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first and primary educators of our children, and that parents have the obligation of educating their children in the manner best suited for their development and needs. The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will create opportunities for families to access much-needed resources to expand their options for choosing the best tools and learning environment for their children.”
Bishop O’Connell’s full message is available HERE.
As indicated in the Internal Revenue Code Section 25F,taxpayers living in participating states can allocate federal tax dollars already owed – up to $1,700 per individual or $3,400 for married couples – as a nonrefundable tax credit to an approved Scholarship Granting Organization: a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for K–12 education-related expenses, which is certified by the state. Scholarship Granting Organizations then use those contributions to provide scholarships for tuition, books, fees, supplies, tutoring and other educational services.
“You may have heard this program described as a ‘school voucher’ scheme that will hurt public education, or as a benefit for wealthy families who could already afford private school,” reads the NJCC Action Alert. “Neither is accurate, and we need your voice to help set the record straight. By federal law, scholarships are limited to students from households earning no more than 300% of their area’s median income, keeping the focus on working- and middle-class families.”
These federal tax dollars can make educational choices and support more available and affordable for everyday families with K-12 students. But if New Jersey doesn’t participate, those scholarship donations will go to help students in other states, the Action Alert cites. As of publication, 31 states have opted in or committed to the tax credits; four have declined and two have vetoed. Source: https://eftccredit.com/tools/state-opt-in-tracker.
The Action Alert can be accessed at https://www.votervoice.net/NJCC/Campaigns/139845/Respond.
Advocacy campaign materials and an overview of FSTC can be found at: https://njcatholic.org/education-tax-credit-spread-the-word. https://njcatholic.org/education-tax-credit-overview.
EmmaLee Italia is a contributing editor and writer for The Monitor, the official news publication and website of the Catholic Diocese of Trenton, N.J.
– Federal tax dollars could soon be applied to education expenses for eligible New Jersey families at no cost to the state – but only if Governor Mikie Sherrill opts in by Jan. 1, 2027. The New Jersey Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the bishops of New Jersey, launched an advocacy campaign Oct. 5, featuring dedicated web pages, an Action Alert and a packet of digital and social media graphics and bulletin inserts to be shared throughout the state via Catholic schools, parishes and media outlets. The campaign urges voters to reach out to Governor Sherrill and ask her to
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View of the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, Turkey. The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city. This subterranean cistern was called Basilica because it was located under a large public square, the Stoa Basilica, on the First Hill of Constantinople. The cistern, built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I, provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill, and continued to provide water to the Topkapı Palace after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and into modern times. Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the space.
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