In the Picture of the Month from the James Webb Space Telescope, we are taken on a visit to a building site of significant scale. The project is a galaxy cluster named MACS J0553.4-3342, located in the constellation Columba (the Dove).
Read MoreIn 1839, the president of Harvard University invited William Bond to move into a house on campus and, by virtue of bringing along his own astronomical equipment, become the university’s first astronomer in residence. With public interest spurred by the 1835 passage of Halley’s Comet and the Comet of 1843, Harvard soon had enough moneyContinue reading “July 16, 1850: Bond and Whipple photograph Vega”
The post July 16, 1850: Bond and Whipple photograph Vega appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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Active volcanoes, pristine lakes, and epic wildlife sightings await at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, voted the No. 3 U.S. National Park in the 2026 World’s Best Awards.
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Seed pods of a Silene dioica. Focus stack of 40 photos.
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Haiti climbed to No. 5 on the International Rescue Committee’s 2026 emergency watch list, which ranks the top 20 countries facing the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
26:7-9, 12, 16-19
The way of the just is smooth;
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,
we look to you;
Your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world’s inhabitants learn justice.
O LORD, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
O LORD, oppressed by your punishment,
we cried out in anguish under your chastising.
As a woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pains,
so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We conceived and writhed in pain,
giving birth to wind;
Salvation we have not achieved for the earth,
the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.
But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise;
awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a dew of light,
and the land of shades gives birth.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
11:28-30
Jesus said:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
The Lord’s invitation is surprising: He calls to follow Him people who are lowly and burdened by a difficult life; He calls to follow Him people who have many needs, and He promises them that in Him they will find rest and relief. (…) This means those who cannot rely on their own means, nor on important friendships. They can only trust in God. Conscious of their humble and wretched condition, they know that they depend on the Lord’s mercy, awaiting from Him the only help possible. At last, in Jesus’ invitation they find the response they have been waiting for. Becoming his disciples they receive the promise of finding rest for all their life. (…) The yoke which the poor and the oppressed bear is the same yoke that He bore before them: for this reason the yoke is light. He took upon his shoulders the pain and the sins of the whole of humanity. For a disciple, therefore, receiving Jesus’ yoke means receiving his revelation and accepting it: in Him God’s mercy takes on mankind’s poverty, thus giving the possibility of salvation to everyone. (…) The Lord teaches us not to be afraid to follow Him, because the hope that we place in Him will never disappoint. Thus, we are called to learn from Him what it means to live on mercy so as to be instruments of mercy. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 14 September 2016)
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Haiti preschool class advances thanks to Stirling parish support #Catholic – 
St. Paul Catholic School in Nanpol, Haiti, is celebrating its first preschool graduating class and dedicating the class to its sister parish, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the Stirling neighborhood of Long Hill Township, N.J. The students will move on to the newly completed primary school in the fall.
St. Vincent’s has been participating in Haiti’s Hope, the parish twinning program with St. Paul, for several years. Parishioner generosity provided for the construction and operation of the school, where children receive a Catholic education and meals. The students will advance to the newly completed primary school in the fall.
Haiti’s Hope, a Parish Twinning Program of Americas project, is desperately needed in the island nation. It faces a political, social, and humanitarian crisis, marked by murders, gang violence, injuries, kidnappings, and hunger.
Nanpol is relatively calm, but villagers live in fear. Gangs block roads, stopping raw materials and food from reaching people.
St. Vincent’s supported rebuilding the church that was damaged by an earthquake in 2010, installing a solar-powered water purification system, making extensive exterior and interior rectory repairs, and building the school.
The Stirling parish has raised more funds for school supplies, books, faculty salaries, and meals. The school has two pre-school classes and plans to add a grade each year.
Read Colette Liddy’s story on Haiti’s Hope.
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– St. Paul Catholic School in Nanpol, Haiti, is celebrating its first preschool graduating class and dedicating the class to its sister parish, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the Stirling neighborhood of Long Hill Township, N.J. The students will move on to the newly completed primary school in the fall. St. Vincent’s has been participating in Haiti’s Hope, the parish twinning program with St. Paul, for several years. Parishioner generosity provided for the construction and operation of the school, where children receive a Catholic education and meals. The students will advance to the newly completed primary school in the fall.
According to First Liberty Institute, Arkansas ranks first among all 50 states for protecting religious liberty, while New York ranks last.
Faith leads effort to end preventable blindness in Guatemala and beyond #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — Many profess that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37), but a story unfolding in Guatemala has validated that Scripture daily for more than two decades.
An international partnership of those involved with Guatemala Brillando — a plan to end treatable blindness for 17 million Guatemalans by 2032 — recently had occasion to look back in wonder and gratitude.
They gathered for the opening of Hospital Oftalmológico Visualiza in Santa Cruz del Quiché, Guatemala, the fourth in a planned system of eight eye hospitals and 38 clinics across the Central American country, and they celebrated the innumerable connections that have made it all possible.
Chris Wurst — who has participated in what he calls over 50 “adventures” around the globe addressing vision problems and a longtime board director of Vision for the Poor — cut the ribbon for the latest hospital last fall. He remembers his first mission to Mexico.
“We were basically just giving out glasses,” he said. But even then, he witnessed transformation.
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“After one woman received hers, she threaded a needle,” he said, “and everyone just started to clap. I was hooked.”
But it was Dr. Doug Villella of Erie, Pennsylvania, an eye doctor, who recognized that mission trips were not meeting the enormous need in Guatemala.
Soon after graduating from optometry studies, Villella participated in several mission trips to poor nations in the Western Hemisphere. Seeking a more sustainable approach, he was introduced to Vincent Pescatore, founder of an orphanage in Guatemala’s Petén region.
Their bond was immediate.
“Vincent said, ‘I need you to build an eye hospital,’” Villella recalled in an interview for OSV News. “He didn’t say, ‘Would you,’ he said, ‘I need you to.’”
Although Villella readily agreed, today, he finds it almost comical.
“I had no skill other than taking care of people’s eyes,” Villella told OSV News. “No grant writing, no idea how to run a nonprofit. But because of who and what Vincent was, I didn’t hesitate.”
And so, in prayer and trust, Villella began the work, inviting several board members of VOSH/PA, the Pennsylvania chapter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, into the fold.
A seismic shift occurred when Villella met Dr. Mariano Yee of Guatemala City. Yee, a young chief resident ophthalmologist and surgeon, was asked if he knew someone who could escort Villella’s group during another mission.
“I volunteered,” Yee remembered. He describes that outreach as massive, with hundreds of patients seen each day. But there were many who needed more care, people with cataracts and other eye diseases.
The doctors spent their evenings brainstorming ways to address the vast needs in a consistent, sustainable way.
“It was a good thing we were naive,” Yee said with a laugh. “When you don’t know how big the problem is, you’re like, ‘Let’s go and do it!’ But we saw the need and said, ‘Whatever it takes.’”
Nearly a quarter century later, Yee is flanked daily by two of his brothers: Nicolás, also an eye surgeon, and Juan Francisco, an architect who earned his MBA when his brothers asked him to oversee what is now Visualiza. A fourth brother is now in charge of operations for the hospital that just opened in the Quiche region. In addition to changing the landscape of eye care in Guatemala, the organization employs 410 people.
For the Yees, family is essential.
“It’s something that God called us to do,” Nicolás Yee said “And because he called us, God resolves the problems. On our own we can do nothing.”
The Yees credit their parents, who were deeply committed to the Catholic faith.
“My parents showed us how to live our faith,” Mariano Yee said. “Our house was always full of people, it was fun! We went to nursing homes just to talk with the residents. In high school, our parents took us to marginalized areas of Guatemala City to teach catechism to younger kids. We realized we had to give back.”
Now that the project has a track record and a detailed plan to ensure all Guatemalans have access to eyecare by 2032, the group is developing a model for other low and middle-income countries.
Another momentous leveling up occurred in 2006 when Visualiza and Vision for the Poor formed a partnership with the Seva Foundation, an international organization dedicated to creating equitable access to eye care in underserved populations.
Seva’s executive director is Kate Moynihan, a former regional director for Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Church’s overseas relief and development agency. She has worked in areas ranging from the Balkans to the Middle East. Although Seva has supported the work of Visualiza for more than two decades, Moynihan recognized the potential when she took the reins in 2017.
“Kate and Doug knew their work was in alignment,” said Auxiliary Bishop Joseph L. Coffey of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services and a director on the board of Vision for the Poor. “Seva has helped to elevate the excellence Vision for the Poor and the Yee brothers created.”
Seva’s research underpinning the work taking place demonstrates:
— Vision loss drains more from the global economy each year than the combined direct costs of all natural disasters.
— Ninety percent of people affected with vision impairment live in developing countries, where not being able to see often means a life of poverty.
— Restoring sight is one of the most cost-effective health interventions to reduce poverty.
Moynihan noted that treatable visual impairment is among the most prevalent yet under-prioritized health challenges globally, although the tools to address the situation already exist.
“What’s missing is global urgency,” she said.
Seva, along with the Fred Hollows Foundation, an international development organization committed to improving eye care globally, presented an investment case to the U.N. General Assembly this fall.
The people behind Visualiza continue to promote and provide high-quality, effective eye care to populations that otherwise would not have access. Seva and Vision for the Poor continue to mentor, fundraise and provide technical support, maintaining their commitment to sustainability.
Efforts in Guatemala have required $24 million to date, more than half of which has been raised by the Seva Foundation. Building the four remaining hospitals to provide nationwide access will require another $30 million. It also will point the way for developing countries across the globe.
The goal is audacious, but those involved are undeterred.
“So often we try swimming upstream,” Villella said. “But grace doesn’t flow that way. Now I go with the flow. I still bump into rocks, but I find ways around them.”
As for the future?
“It once seemed beyond imagination to create nationwide eye care in a developing country,” he said. “All we can do is keep trying. We will take steps forward in the dark, meeting with potential benefactors. The Holy Spirit will have to take over from there.”
Anne-Marie Welsh writes for OSV News from Erie, Pennsylvania.
– (OSV News) — Many profess that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37), but a story unfolding in Guatemala has validated that Scripture daily for more than two decades. An international partnership of those involved with Guatemala Brillando — a plan to end treatable blindness for 17 million Guatemalans by 2032 — recently had occasion to look back in wonder and gratitude. They gathered for the opening of Hospital Oftalmológico Visualiza in Santa Cruz del Quiché, Guatemala, the fourth in a planned system of eight eye hospitals and 38 clinics across the Central American country, and they celebrated the innumerable
Four years after the National Eucharistic Revival began, Bishop Thomas Paprocki says Catholics must unite belief in Christ’s real presence with moral life and worthy Communion.
What started out as a friendly match among local priests has grown into a tournament with priests from seven dioceses in Peru, an event that strengthens fraternity and is a seedbed for vocations.
The vote, ending an unusual parliamentary stalemate between the National Assembly and the Senate, came three years after President Emmanuel Macron first opened the question to national debate.
Nearly 400 days and a billion kilometers after leaving Earth, China’s Tianwen-2 spacecraft has arrived at its target: the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, also known as 2016 HO3. And the mission’s first photo of the rock has already had scientific impact, reopening an ongoing investigation over whether Kamoʻoalewa began as a chunk of the Moon.Continue reading “Tianwen-2 arrives at target asteroid Kamoʻoalewa”
The post Tianwen-2 arrives at target asteroid Kamoʻoalewa appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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A glowing landscape of gas and dust is heated and illuminated by a thriving population of young stars in the LH 95 region of the Large Magellanic Cloud.
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Photograph of Louis Armstrong playing Trumpet by Harry Warnecke and Gus Schoenbaechler, 1947.
Armstrong died on this day 55 years ago. |
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
10:5-7, 13b-16
Thus says the LORD:
Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,
my staff in wrath.
Against an impious nation I send him,
and against a people under my wrath I order him
To seize plunder, carry off loot,
and tread them down like the mud of the streets.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind;
Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,
to make an end of nations not a few.
For he says:
“By my own power I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.
I have moved the boundaries of peoples,
their treasures I have pillaged,
and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned.
My hand has seized like a nest
the riches of nations;
As one takes eggs left alone,
so I took in all the earth;
No one fluttered a wing,
or opened a mouth, or chirped!”
Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?
Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it?
As if a rod could sway him who lifts it,
or a staff him who is not wood!
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts,
will send among his fat ones leanness,
And instead of his glory there will be kindling
like the kindling of fire.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
11:25-27
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
The action of the Holy Spirit is the source of the deepest inner joy. Jesus Himself experienced this particular “exultation in the Holy Spirit” when He spoke the words: “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will” (Lk 10:21; cf. Mt 11:25–26). In the texts of Luke and Matthew, these are followed by Jesus’ words on the knowledge of the Father by the Son and of the Son by the Father: a knowledge which is communicated by the Son precisely to those “babes”. It is therefore the Holy Spirit who gives also to Jesus’ disciples not only the power of victory over evil, over the “demons” (Lk 10:17), but also the supernatural joy of discovering God and life in Him through His Son. The revelation of the Holy Spirit through the power of action that fills the whole of Christ’s mission will also accompany the apostles and disciples in the work they will carry out by divine mandate. Jesus Himself announces this to them: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses . . . to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). (Saint John Paul II, Catechesis of 19 September 1990)
Read More![2 historic churches in Mexico City reopen almost 9 years after earthquake damage #Catholic Almost nine years after the earthquakes that shook central and southwestern Mexico in September 2017, St. John of God Church and Holy True Cross Church, both located in Mexico City, have reopened their doors for worship.On July 8, a Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Church, marking the communityʼs return to their church and concluding a lengthy restoration process.
Start of the reopening Mass at Holy Cross Parish. | Credit: Holy True Cross Parish, Mexico City
The earthquakes of Sept. 7 and 19, 2017, resulted in 468 deaths and caused damage to thousands of buildings.In Mexico City alone, around 160 Catholic churches suffered structural damage of varying severity such as these two churches located just a short distance apart.
Restoration work at the Holy True Cross Parish. | Credit: Holy True Cross Parish, Mexico City
5 centuries of historyHoly True Cross Church is considered one of the oldest churches in the country.According to tradition, the explorer and conquistador Hernán Cortés ordered the construction of a small chapel to commemorate the landing of the Spanish expedition at the port of what is now known as the state of Veracruz. Over time, that chapel gave rise to the parish as it is known today.Facebook postThe church also houses important works of sacred art, such as the Christ of the Seven Veils, which is said to have been a gift from Pope Paul III to King Carlos V of Spain. Additionally, a relic of the true cross is preserved there, considered by Christian tradition to be a fragment of the cross on which Jesus Christ died.
Reliquary containing a splinter of the true cross. | Credit: “EWTN Noticias”
In an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Father Juan Carlos Guerrero Ugalde, the pastor of Holy True Cross and St. John of God, stated that restoring the churches was a priority of “not only ecclesiastical but also civic interest.”“This church [Holy True Cross] was the third parish established in the city and, therefore, holds a tradition of faith dating back to the 16th century,” he explained.9 years to returnGuerrero described the restoration process as “meticulous and slow” due to the complexity of the damage.Among other measures, the bell towers, which were at risk of collapse, were reinforced, cracks were repaired, the hydraulic piles supporting both structures were serviced, the roofs were waterproofed, and work was carried out to correct the effects of the ground settling.Facebook postThe work was overseen by the National Institute of Anthropology and History, as both buildings are part of the nationʼs historical heritage.In Mexico, religious buildings constructed prior to the 1992 constitutional reforms are state property, although they remain places of worship and are used by religious associations.The restoration of the Holy True Cross church faced an additional challenge: a fire in August 2020 caused by individuals living on the street. Reports indicate that a campfire spiraled out of control, damaging the choir loft, the dome, and sacred art.Today, those walking through the historic central part of Mexico City can once again enter the church. Marcela Eduardo, who works in the area and took a moment of free time to stop in and pray, did just that.“It brought me great joy to see it open and to see that repairs are underway,” she noted in an interview with ACI Prensa. She said that when she saw the parish church open, her first thought was to go in to see Christ and “greet him, make the sign of the cross, and ask him for something: that he give me more energy.” Much more than a churchThese churches are surrounded by some of Mexico’s most important cultural landmarks, such as the Franz Mayer Museum, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Alameda Central, a large city park.
Visible in the background of the photo are the Torre Latinoamericana, the Palace of Fine Arts, and part of the Alameda Central. | Credit: “EWTN Noticias”
Although Holy True Cross and St. John of God churches might go unnoticed by some tourists amid so many other buildings, Guerrero noted that their value has been “significant for both the faith and the city.”He explained that, following the 1985 earthquake, the area welcomed numerous families from various places, necessitating the construction of a new community identity. Pastoral work at the time “consisted of gradually integrating the way of life of longtime residents and that of those who were newly arriving.”Over the years, he added, violence, drug trafficking, and social breakdown affected life in the neighborhood, making the Church’s presence even more necessary.Facebook postFor Betsabé Jara, who visited the church after touring the Franz Mayer Museum, the reopening represents an opportunity to regain a place for encountering God.“It brings peace of mind that the church is open, that one can enter and pray. Especially for people who couldnʼt go elsewhere because there wasnʼt a church nearby,” she said in an interview with ACI Prensa.Building the communityThe priest noted that reactivating community life will be the next challenge. He explained that a “call has already gone out to neighborhood residents to come for formation as pastoral workers.”
Interior of Holy True Cross Church. | Credit: “EWTN Noticias”
He also noted that they aim to develop social programs such as job training for individuals who did not complete their formal education as well as cultural initiatives in collaboration with nearby museums.“We want the spaces we have in both churches to be truly utilized and filled with formation programs,” Guerrero said.As the community gradually restores life to these churches, Masses are currently held regularly on Sundays, whereas weekday Masses take place only upon the request of the faithful.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/2026/07/2-historic-churches-in-mexico-city-reopen-almost-9-years-after-earthquake-damage-catholic-almost-nine-years-after-the-earthquakes-that-shook-central-and-southwestern-mexico-in-september-2017-st-joh.jpg)
Work was slow and meticulous due to the complexity of the damage, but the two churches in the historic city center of Mexico City are now open to the faithful.
“More than 110,000 metric tons of U.S.-grown agricultural commodities” will be delivered under an agreement in principle between Catholic Relief Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Newly ordained permanent deacons are serving with Christ’s heart #Catholic – 
In Scripture, the number 40 is far more than a measure of time. It signifies a sacred season of prayer, preparation, testing, transformation, and new beginnings. Noah witnessed 40 days of rain before the Earth was renewed. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai before receiving the Law. The Israelites wandered for 40 years before entering the Promised Land. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert before beginning his public ministry. After his resurrection, Christ remained with his disciples for 40 days before his ascension, preparing them to continue his mission.
As I reflected on the first 40 days after our ordination to the permanent diaconate on May 30, I invited my brother deacons from my ordination class to share their experiences. Together, our reflections revealed a beautiful truth: although our ministries differ, our calling is the same — to serve with the heart of Jesus Christ.
Contributors to this column are Deacon Elmer Lopez Maximo of Sacred Heart Parish in Rockaway, N.J.; Deacon Stephen Deehan of St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley neighborhood of Washington Township, N.J.; Deacon Paul DePinto of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park, N.J.; Deacon Timothy Dunmyer of St. Jude Parish in Hopatcong, N.J.; Deacon James Gillespie of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mountain Lakes, N.J.; Deacon Tobi Ippolito of Holy Family Parish in Florham Park, N.J.; Deacon Tom Kimble of St. Jude Parish in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J.; and Deacon Gregory Marchesi of St. Therese Parish in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J.
Living the Gospel Through Service
The transition from ordination to ministry happened almost immediately. The joy of ordination quickly gave way to the privilege of serving God’s people.
Many of us began preaching within days of our ordination, and we regularly proclaim the Gospel in our respective parishes.
Baptism has been one of the greatest joys of our new ministry. Deacon Kimble’s very first baptism was his grandson Tommy’s into the Church. Deacons Gillespie, DePinto, Marchesi, Ippolito, and Deehan had the privilege of celebrating baptisms in the first weeks of ministry.
I was blessed to celebrate my first baptism on the Feast of St. Benedict. Watching a child become a son of God while an entire family renewed their faith made the celebration memorable.
Our ministry has brought us joys and sorrows. Some celebrated, assisted or preached at weddings. Deacon DePinto blessed two couples celebrating their 60th wedding anniversaries, a beautiful witness to the enduring grace of Christian marriage. They also have presided over funeral vigils, assisted at funeral Masses, and conducted their first committal services.
Deacon Deehan said he blesses at least one person every day, seeing each blessing as an opportunity to renew hearts and strengthen faith. The new deacons have also blessed homes, religious articles, parishioners after Mass, and individuals asking for prayers.
The deacons have found that some of the most meaningful moments happen quietly, accompanying Christ’s people in hospital rooms, parish meetings, Eucharistic adoration, holy hours, conversations after Mass, and simple encounters with people seeking encouragement.
Moments That Will Stay With Us
When I asked my classmates about their most memorable experiences so far, their responses reminded me that ministry is never about numbers; it is always about people served by Christ.
Deacon Marchesi said that moment was when he preached his first homily, with his father present. Deacon DePinto said it was the overwhelming gratitude parishioners expressed after his first homily, thanking him for answering God’s call.
Deacon Dunmyer recalls Trinity Sunday, when he delivered his first Sunday homily and realized that years of prayer, discernment, and formation had become a living reality.
Deacon Deehan finds his greatest joy in witnessing lives renewed through simple, faithful presence at St. Luke’s. He said, “The best thing I find that I do is re-energizing people’s faith through my commitment to them through God.”
I had the privilege of preaching at my pastor’s farewell Mass before his transfer to another parish. That day, I realized that a deacon is often invited into the holiest moments of people’s lives, not to be the center of attention but to help others encounter Christ.
What We Are Learning
Although each of us serves in different parishes and ministries, our reflections reveal remarkable unity. Deacon Kimble said deacons receive the grace of Holy Orders to share the Good News more effectively. Deacon Marchesi said, “Being a deacon is a humbling ministry.”
Deacon DePinto reflected, “A deacon is a humble servant,” striving each day to follow Christ in both word and example. Deacon Ippolito said being a deacon involves “service to others in the name of Jesus.”
Deacon Dunmyer admitted that he still has much to learn and prays for the wisdom to serve God’s people. Deacon Gillespie said, “Being a deacon means that I will be in a ministry of service, meeting the needs of my parish, community, and the diocese.”
Deacon Deehan said that through a deacon’s compassionate presence, attentive listening, and faithful accompaniment, God often brings people back to the Church one encounter at a time.
One of the greatest blessings of these first 40 days has been realizing that ordination did not mark the end of our journey together; it marked the beginning of a lifelong fraternity — a brotherhood in Christ, strengthening one another. We gather weekly on Zoom to pray, make sure we see each other at family gatherings and diocesan events, and have monthly dinners with our wives and families.
Looking Ahead
These first 40 days have taught us that a deacon’s ministry is measured not by statistics but by faithfulness. Whether preaching to a full church, baptizing a child, blessing couples celebrating 60 years of marriage, comforting grieving families, accompanying hospital patients, or quietly praying with someone after Mass, each act of service becomes an opportunity to make Christ present.
We remain grateful to Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, our pastors, formation directors, mentors, families, and parish communities, whose prayers continue to sustain us. Above all, we thank God for the gift of Holy Orders and the privilege of serving His Church.
Our prayer is that the Lord will continue to form our hearts after His own, so that in every word we proclaim, every person we accompany, and every act of charity we perform, others may encounter not us but Jesus Christ, the Servant of all. That is the final lesson of these first 40 days: our ministry is meant to lead others to Christ.
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– In Scripture, the number 40 is far more than a measure of time. It signifies a sacred season of prayer, preparation, testing, transformation, and new beginnings. Noah witnessed 40 days of rain before the Earth was renewed. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai before receiving the Law. The Israelites wandered for 40 years before entering the Promised Land. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert before beginning his public ministry. After his resurrection, Christ remained with his disciples for 40 days before his ascension, preparing them to continue his mission. As I reflected on the first 40 days
![BBC correspondent David Willey, longtime Vatican and papal chronicler, dies at 93 - #Catholic - David Willey, a BBC correspondent whose career in Rome spanned more than 50 years and five papacies, died July 11 in Italy at the age of 93.From being a student taking in the pomp of Pope Pius XII carried in a ceremonial throne to traveling the world with St. John Paul II to writing about the changes brought by Pope Francis, Willey saw “a complete revolution so that people saw the pope much more as a personality rather than in a hierarchical sense,” the journalist told EWTN News at his home in February.Catholic backgroundDavid Douglas Willey was born in High Wycombe, in the county of Buckinghamshire, northwest of London, in December 1932. He grew up Catholic in nearby Marlow.Willey’s first experience of Rome was a visit as a student, when he witnessed Pope Pius XII being carried through crowds in a gestatorial chair. “For me, the Vatican, St. Peter’s in Rome, was a spectacle, it was almost operatic,” he noted.After studying law and modern languages at Cambridge, he moved to Rome as a trainee for Reuters.He then left for stints in Algeria as a freelancer and subsequently East Africa as a correspondent for BBC. He also reported from Asia, including Saigon and Beijing, and then spent some time in London as the BBC’s assistant diplomatic correspondent.He returned to Italy as BBC’s Rome correspondent in 1972 — and he never left.
David Willey, who died July 11, 2026, served as a BBC correspondent in Rome starting in 1972. He is seen here standing on a street in 1980. | Credit: Photo courtesy of BBC
“I never imagined I would be covering the Vatican [as a] correspondent when I was an altar boy at St. Peter’s Church in Marlow,” he said.Willey explained that he no longer practiced the Catholic faith of his childhood but that he had “the greatest respect for the Catholic religion.”His reporting on the Vatican was through this lens. “I always treated reporting for the Vatican as a secular matter rather than a religious one,” he said, adding that he still found “inspiration and pleasure in covering Vatican affairs” because he thought the pope and the Church had an important message in a world “torn by war and discord.”Lengthy Rome careerDuring his more than five decades covering Rome and the Vatican, Willey witnessed dramatic technological changes both to journalism and to the Vatican’s own operations and communication.Two episodes from his early days in Rome illustrate this, including a call to the Vatican switchboard asking to be connected to a cardinal.He was immediately put through to Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, who would later become the pope’s No. 2 as the Vatican secretary of state.“An important cardinal in the Vatican because he dealt with what was called the Ostpolitik, the Vaticanʼs policy towards Eastern Europe, communist Eastern Europe, during the years of the Cold War,” Willey said, noting that he asked to speak and the cardinal invited him that very afternoon to his “palatial” apartment for what would become a three-and-a-half-hour conversation.Willey recalled how, while a Reuters apprentice in the 1950s, international news agencies would pay a Vatican official for information. Once, on Easter Sunday, he was sent to wait at a bar close to the Vatican to pick up a text of the pope’s “urbi et orbi” blessing.“That was how the system worked. The changes wrought by Vatican II were extraordinary in the sense that a whole department was set up in the Vatican dealing with relations with the media,” he noted.During the pontificate of St. John Paul II, Willey joined the Polish pope on at least 40 of his international trips, nearly half of the jet-setting pope’s total apostolic journeys.“We went all over the world,” Willey noted. “It added to my knowledge of the world immeasurably, but it also enabled me to see the Catholic Church as an international, worldwide body of believers, which you donʼt always understand when you live here in Europe or in Rome in particular.”Veering from the prevailing idea that the faithful should come to see the pope in Rome, John Paul II went out “to meet his flock in person. And he did this with great panache,” the British journalist said.“And by allowing journalists like me to join him on the papal plane; one day, for example, I found him sitting next to me at breakfast on the plane,” Willey recalled. “He used to get bored during his very long journeys across the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans and he mingled with the journalists and sat down and actually talked to them.”“I remember talking to him once about the usefulness of the United Nations, for example. He had some quite interesting things to say.”Willey said he also had a memorable encounter with another living saint — Mother Teresa of Calcutta.One day he rang up the Sisters of Charity in Rome to ask if he could interview Mother Teresa and was told they could arrange a meeting at the airport, in between her landing in Rome from India and before she would immediately depart again for Canada.“We sat down together, and she was, I must say, great fun,” Willey recalled. “We had a very lively conversation in which she confided all sorts of little secrets to me, such as I said, ‘What do you do when you normally arrive in a new country?’ ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘I go to the local phone box and call up the head of state and ask him to send a car to meet me. I ring up the pope and he sends me a car.’”“She was this combination of extreme saintliness and piety — and of course her work among the poor in India was completely a subject of which she was prepared to talk endlessly — but what I found was her sense of fun and her sense that the world was completely open to her,” the journalist said.In 2003, Willey was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to broadcast journalism.He wrote several books, including “God’s Politician,” a 1992 biography of John Paul II’s global impact. He also wrote about the start of Pope Francis’ pontificate in “The Promise of Francis: The Man, the Pope, and the Challenge of Change” in 2015.Willey continued to be active into his 90s — including writing a final reflection on the Vatican following Pope Francis’ death in April 2025. Willey spent his final years in the quiet lakeside town of Trevignano Romano, about 30 miles north of Rome. He died on July 11 from heart failure, the BBC reported.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bbc-correspondent-david-willey-longtime-vatican-and-papal-chronicler-dies-at-93-catholic-david-willey-a-bbc-correspondent-whose-career-in-rome-spanned-more-than-50-years-and-five-papacies-die-scaled.jpg)
EWTN News spoke to the journalist in February about his more than 50 years covering the Vatican.
Bishop Marc Aillet has warned ahead of France’s decisive final vote on July 15 that Catholic lawmakers who support the bill “will no longer be able to receive Communion.”
![Totowa parish celebrates 100 years of faith, significant growth #Catholic - On July 12, St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa, N.J., marked 100 years of faith with a centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. The parish began with a small but strong group of faithful and has grown into a dynamic community of 800 families.
Since its inception, St. James has served the Catholic community in the area by celebrating the Eucharist, attending to those in need, and administering the sacraments to all who wish to receive them.
“For this centennial, parishioners are celebrating 100 years of people living the Catholic Christian faith as members of St. James. It’s a time for our parishioners now to become inspired by what they accomplished as they move forward, guided by the pastoral staff,” said Father Marc Mancini, who became pastor of St. James in 2019.
St. James began in 1924 when Catholics in Totowa organized under the leadership of Franciscan Friars at St. Bonaventure Parish in nearby Paterson, N.J. A mission was established on July 4, 1926, and a hall on Grant Avenue and Church Street was outfitted to accommodate Masses.
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The Franciscans named the parish after a Franciscan saint: St. James of the Marches, a noted Italian preacher from the late medieval and early Renaissance period.
In 1928, St. James built a permanent church on Totowa Road. The mission became a parish in 1945, when diocesan clergy assumed administration of St. James. The Academy of St. James of the Marches opened the following year and continues to serve local youth. A new church was built in 1955.
St. James was originally founded by Italian Americans and today welcomes an increasing number of Hispanics and Eastern Europeans who have settled in Totowa. The parish holds periodic Spanish Masses, including for Our Lady of Guadalupe, and prayer services.
Along with Father Mancini, concelebrants of the July 12 centennial Mass included Father Joseph DeMarzo III, parochial vicar of St. James, and Father Joseph Mactal, parochial vicar of St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway, N.J., who previously served St. James. Another concelebrant, Father Paul Iovino, spent 20 years at the parish starting in 1985, retired, and recently returned to live there.
In April, St. James began centennial celebrations with a brunch featuring a talk about the parish’s history by Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, diocesan archivist.
Centennial festivities will continue Sunday, Sept. 27, with a concert for the dedication of a new organ by Maestro Hector Olivera at 4 p.m. in the church. There is no charge, but donations will be accepted after the concert. A banquet will also be held at The Grand in Totowa on Sunday, Nov. 8.
For questions about centennial celebrations, including obtaining tickets for the organ concert, call St. James at 973-790-0288.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/totowa-parish-celebrates-100-years-of-faith-significant-growth-catholic-on-july-12-st-james-of-the-marches-parish-in-totowa-n-j-marked-100-years-of-faith-with-a-centennial-mass-celebrated-by.jpg)
Totowa parish celebrates 100 years of faith, significant growth #Catholic – 
On July 12, St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa, N.J., marked 100 years of faith with a centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. The parish began with a small but strong group of faithful and has grown into a dynamic community of 800 families.
Since its inception, St. James has served the Catholic community in the area by celebrating the Eucharist, attending to those in need, and administering the sacraments to all who wish to receive them.
“For this centennial, parishioners are celebrating 100 years of people living the Catholic Christian faith as members of St. James. It’s a time for our parishioners now to become inspired by what they accomplished as they move forward, guided by the pastoral staff,” said Father Marc Mancini, who became pastor of St. James in 2019.
St. James began in 1924 when Catholics in Totowa organized under the leadership of Franciscan Friars at St. Bonaventure Parish in nearby Paterson, N.J. A mission was established on July 4, 1926, and a hall on Grant Avenue and Church Street was outfitted to accommodate Masses.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
The Franciscans named the parish after a Franciscan saint: St. James of the Marches, a noted Italian preacher from the late medieval and early Renaissance period.
In 1928, St. James built a permanent church on Totowa Road. The mission became a parish in 1945, when diocesan clergy assumed administration of St. James. The Academy of St. James of the Marches opened the following year and continues to serve local youth. A new church was built in 1955.
St. James was originally founded by Italian Americans and today welcomes an increasing number of Hispanics and Eastern Europeans who have settled in Totowa. The parish holds periodic Spanish Masses, including for Our Lady of Guadalupe, and prayer services.
Along with Father Mancini, concelebrants of the July 12 centennial Mass included Father Joseph DeMarzo III, parochial vicar of St. James, and Father Joseph Mactal, parochial vicar of St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway, N.J., who previously served St. James. Another concelebrant, Father Paul Iovino, spent 20 years at the parish starting in 1985, retired, and recently returned to live there.
In April, St. James began centennial celebrations with a brunch featuring a talk about the parish’s history by Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, diocesan archivist.
Centennial festivities will continue Sunday, Sept. 27, with a concert for the dedication of a new organ by Maestro Hector Olivera at 4 p.m. in the church. There is no charge, but donations will be accepted after the concert. A banquet will also be held at The Grand in Totowa on Sunday, Nov. 8.
For questions about centennial celebrations, including obtaining tickets for the organ concert, call St. James at 973-790-0288.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– On July 12, St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa, N.J., marked 100 years of faith with a centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. The parish began with a small but strong group of faithful and has grown into a dynamic community of 800 families. Since its inception, St. James has served the Catholic community in the area by celebrating the Eucharist, attending to those in need, and administering the sacraments to all who wish to receive them. “For this centennial, parishioners are celebrating 100 years of people living the Catholic Christian faith as members of St.
Church leaders applauded Iraq Prime Minister Ali Falih al Zaidi’s call for Christians and business leaders to return to their homeland but stressed the need for reform.
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The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back toContinue reading “2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases”
The post 2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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NASA astronaut and Expedition 75 flight engineer Anil Menon poses in a spacesuit for a portrait at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
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Photographic art based on pastel chalks, taken in Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
The photo was taken using ICM technique and multiple exposure. |
The society filed its appeal with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on July 11, arguing that under canon law the move suspends the recent excommunication decree.
Graham, 71, died on July 11, and pro-life groups pledged to continue legislative efforts he supported.
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
7:1-9
In the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, son of Jotham,
son of Uzziah, Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel,
son of Remaliah, went up to attack Jerusalem,
but they were not able to conquer it.
When word came to the house of David
that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim,
the heart of the king and heart of the people trembled,
as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.
Then the LORD said to Isaiah:
Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub,
at the end of the conduit of the upper pool,
on the highway to the fuller’s field,
and say to him: Take care you remain calm and do not fear;
do not let your courage fail before these two stumps of smoldering brands,
the blazing anger of Rezin
and the Arameans and of the son of Remaliah—
because Aram, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah,
has planned evil against you. They say,
“Let us go up against Judah, tear it apart,
make it our own by force,
and appoint the son of Tabeel king there.”
Thus says the Lord GOD:
It shall not stand, it shall not be!
The head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is Rezin;
The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
Within sixty-five years,
Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation.
Unless your faith is firm,
you shall not be firm!
From the Gospel according to Matthew
11:20-24
Then he began to reproach the towns where most
of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done
in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
on the day of judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum:
‘Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.’
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom on the day
of judgment than for you.”
At times the yearning we feel toward the Lord is too weak and it almost seems that God is silent; his promises of consolation seem far away and unreal to us (…). And so one is tempted to say that it is impossible to truly convert. How often we have heard this discouragement! “No, I can’t do it. I barely start and then I turn back”. And this is bad. But it is possible. It is possible. When you have this discouraging thought, do not remain there, because this is quicksand. It is quicksand: the quicksand of a mediocre existence. This is mediocrity. What can we do in these cases, when one would like to go but feels he or she cannot do it? First of all, remind ourselves that conversion is a grace: no one can convert by his or own strength. It is a grace that the Lord gives you, and thus we need to forcefully ask God for it. To ask God to convert us, that we can truly convert, to the degree in which we open ourselves up to the beauty, the goodness, the tenderness of God. Think about God’s tenderness. God is not a bad father, an unkind father, no. He is tender. He loves us so much, like the Good Shepherd, who searches for the last member of his flock. It is love, and this is conversion: a grace of God. Begin to walk, because it is he who moves you to walk, and you will see how he will arrive. Pray, walk, and you will always take a step forward. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 6 December 2020)
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After liturgical disputes in India nearly led to a schism in 2025, the Syro-Malabar community came together July 9–12 in Chicago to honor its 25th year as an official eparchy in the U.S.
![Indian court upholds Hindu prayers in state schools, calls them ‘moral instruction’ – #Catholic – Catholic and other Christian groups have expressed concern after the High Court of Chhattisgarh — a central Indian state governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — declined to set aside a state government order making Hindu prayers mandatory in government schools, dismissing a challenge to it as “premature.”“The government order of June 12 [mandating Hindu prayers in schools at assemblies, meal breaks, and at closing] came as a shock to us,” Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur, the state capital, told EWTN News on July 13.“We were looking forward to the judiciary to uphold the fundamental rights of the religious minorities enshrined under the constitution. But the July 2 verdict of the High Court belies our hope, as it has dismissed the plea against the government order as ‘premature,’” Thakur said.What the circular requiresThe ruling came on a petition filed by former Chhattisgarh Waqf Board chairman Abdul Salam Rizvi and two others challenging the June 12 order. According to The Hindu, which cited a government official, the morning assembly would include the national anthem, national song, Deep Mantra, Saraswati Vandana, Guru Mantra, and excerpts from the biographies of great personalities.During the midday meal, students would recite a food prayer, the Bhojan Mantra, while the closing session at the end of the school day would include the state song, the Gayatri Mantra, and the Shanti Mantra. The order also threatened punitive action “to ensure strict implementation of the order,” with officials inspecting schools to check for violations of the prescribed guidelines.The court’s rulingWhile dismissing the petition against the June 12 order as “premature,” the High Court said the plea was “based on mere apprehension rather than any actual grievance.”The judge, Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad, said the petitioners could approach the court “afresh by way of an appropriate petition, supported by cogent and relevant material, if any exigency arises in the future.”However, Thakur said: “In a secular democratic country, young children or their families should not be forced to wage legal battle against the system to uphold their fundamental rights.”“We urge all concerned to ensure that the schools — temples of learning and harmony — are not reduced to communal battlefields of division and religious dominance,” reiterated Thakur, who heads the Catholic Church in Chhattisgarh, where Christians number less than 2% of the state’s 25 million people and the Catholic Church runs over 250 schools.Article 30 of the Indian Constitution empowers all religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.Protests and ‘deep disappointment’The notification of the order drew protests from Christian and civil rights groups and opposition political parties, which dubbed it a Hindu nationalist “majoritarian show.”Sushil Anand Shukla, spokesperson for the opposition Congress party, said: “Students of all faiths, castes, and communities study in government schools and making the recitation of specific religious mantras compulsory could hurt the sentiments of people belonging to other faiths.”The Progressive Christian Alliance (PCA), in a statement on July 10, expressed “deep disappointment” with the High Court order: “The judgment fails to adequately protect the fundamental rights of students of religious minorities and other faith streams … who now face daily pressure to participate in religious practices that are not their own.”“The dismissal overlooks the real and immediate coercive atmosphere created by a government circular that uses the … school setting where children have little agency to opt out without fear of stigma or exclusion,” said the Rev. Akhilesh Edgar, general secretary of the Evangelical Churches in India, in the statement issued on behalf of the educational wing of the PCA.“We organized protests in several places including Raipur against this move to enforce Hindutva [Hindu nationalist] agenda,” said Pastor Simon Digbal Tandi, coordinator of the PCA.“This court order has come even as we were preparing to move the court,” said Tandi, who heads the PCA’s Chhattisgarh chapter.Tandi also said “the government is hypocritical and playing double talk.” While the government had told the court the order drew no objections, he said, it had already begun allotting 25,000 rupees (about $260) per village school to install sound systems to carry out the prayers.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/indian-court-upholds-hindu-prayers-in-state-schools-calls-them-moral-instruction-catholic-catholic-and-other-christian-groups-have-expressed-concern-after-the-high-court-of-chh-scaled.jpg "Indian court upholds Hindu prayers in state schools, calls them ‘moral instruction’ – #Catholic – Catholic and other Christian groups have expressed concern after the High Court of Chhattisgarh — a central Indian state governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — declined to set aside a state government order making Hindu prayers mandatory in government schools, dismissing a challenge to it as “premature.”“The government order of June 12 [mandating Hindu prayers in schools at assemblies, meal breaks, and at closing] came as a shock to us,” Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur, the state capital, told EWTN News on July 13.“We were looking forward to the judiciary to uphold the fundamental rights of the religious minorities enshrined under the constitution. But the July 2 verdict of the High Court belies our hope, as it has dismissed the plea against the government order as ‘premature,’” Thakur said.What the circular requiresThe ruling came on a petition filed by former Chhattisgarh Waqf Board chairman Abdul Salam Rizvi and two others challenging the June 12 order. According to The Hindu, which cited a government official, the morning assembly would include the national anthem, national song, Deep Mantra, Saraswati Vandana, Guru Mantra, and excerpts from the biographies of great personalities.During the midday meal, students would recite a food prayer, the Bhojan Mantra, while the closing session at the end of the school day would include the state song, the Gayatri Mantra, and the Shanti Mantra. The order also threatened punitive action “to ensure strict implementation of the order,” with officials inspecting schools to check for violations of the prescribed guidelines.The court’s rulingWhile dismissing the petition against the June 12 order as “premature,” the High Court said the plea was “based on mere apprehension rather than any actual grievance.”The judge, Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad, said the petitioners could approach the court “afresh by way of an appropriate petition, supported by cogent and relevant material, if any exigency arises in the future.”However, Thakur said: “In a secular democratic country, young children or their families should not be forced to wage legal battle against the system to uphold their fundamental rights.”“We urge all concerned to ensure that the schools — temples of learning and harmony — are not reduced to communal battlefields of division and religious dominance,” reiterated Thakur, who heads the Catholic Church in Chhattisgarh, where Christians number less than 2% of the state’s 25 million people and the Catholic Church runs over 250 schools.Article 30 of the Indian Constitution empowers all religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.Protests and ‘deep disappointment’The notification of the order drew protests from Christian and civil rights groups and opposition political parties, which dubbed it a Hindu nationalist “majoritarian show.”Sushil Anand Shukla, spokesperson for the opposition Congress party, said: “Students of all faiths, castes, and communities study in government schools and making the recitation of specific religious mantras compulsory could hurt the sentiments of people belonging to other faiths.”The Progressive Christian Alliance (PCA), in a statement on July 10, expressed “deep disappointment” with the High Court order: “The judgment fails to adequately protect the fundamental rights of students of religious minorities and other faith streams … who now face daily pressure to participate in religious practices that are not their own.”“The dismissal overlooks the real and immediate coercive atmosphere created by a government circular that uses the … school setting where children have little agency to opt out without fear of stigma or exclusion,” said the Rev. Akhilesh Edgar, general secretary of the Evangelical Churches in India, in the statement issued on behalf of the educational wing of the PCA.“We organized protests in several places including Raipur against this move to enforce Hindutva [Hindu nationalist] agenda,” said Pastor Simon Digbal Tandi, coordinator of the PCA.“This court order has come even as we were preparing to move the court,” said Tandi, who heads the PCA’s Chhattisgarh chapter.Tandi also said “the government is hypocritical and playing double talk.” While the government had told the court the order drew no objections, he said, it had already begun allotting 25,000 rupees (about $260) per village school to install sound systems to carry out the prayers.")
The Chhattisgarh High Court dismissed as “premature” a challenge to a government order mandating Hindu prayers in schools, prompting concern from Christian leaders.
The apostolic nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Miguel Maury, has been in the Vatican’s diplomatic service for nearly four decades.
To be a planet, NASA says an object must be big enough that its gravity has cleared away any other objects of a similar size near its orbit around the Sun. I can understand how something can clear objects close to itself, but how does it clear something 180° away in its orbit? Rebecca SmithWashougal,Continue reading “How do planets clear out objects on the other side of their orbit?”
The post How do planets clear out objects on the other side of their orbit? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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Tucked between two mountain ranges in British Columbia, Revelstoke has endless outdoor adventures.
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The Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. commemorates the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826). Today marks the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s death as well as the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Jefferson.
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O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
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Calling all history buffs, architecture fans, and art lovers—these castles should be on your list.
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A reading from the Book of Isaiah
1:10-17
Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!
What care I for the number of your sacrifices?
says the LORD.
I have had enough of whole-burnt rams
and fat of fatlings;
In the blood of calves, lambs and goats
I find no pleasure.When you come in to visit me,
who asks these things of you?
Trample my courts no more!
Bring no more worthless offerings;
your incense is loathsome to me.
New moon and sabbath, calling of assemblies,
octaves with wickedness: these I cannot bear.
Your new moons and festivals I detest;
they weigh me down, I tire of the load.
When you spread out your hands,
I close my eyes to you;
Though you pray the more,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood!
Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
10:34-11:1
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s enemies will be those of his household.“Whoever loves
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is righteous
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because he is a disciple–
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”When Jesus
finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,
he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
Christ’s words mean that the peace he came to bring us is not synonymous with the mere absence of conflicts. On the contrary, Jesus’ peace is the result of a constant battle against evil. The fight that Jesus is determined to support is not against human beings or human powers, but against Satan, the enemy of God and man.
Anyone who desires to resist this enemy by remaining faithful to God and to good, must necessarily confront misunderstandings and sometimes real persecutions.
All, therefore, who intend to follow Jesus and to commit themselves without compromise to the truth, must know that they will encounter opposition and that in spite of themselves they will become a sign of division between people, even in their own families. In fact, love for one’s parents is a holy commandment, but to be lived authentically it can never take precedence over love for God and love for Christ.
Thus, following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, in accordance with St Francis of Assisi’s famous words, Christians become "instruments of peace"; not of a peace that is inconsistent and only apparent but one that is real, pursued with courage and tenacity in the daily commitment to overcome evil with good and paying in person the price that this entails. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 19 August 2007)
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NEW YORK CITY — Concerns over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s "Immigrant Enclave Map" have grown after it was noted that the Mayor had added a "Little Auschwitz" in the middle of Brooklyn.
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BIRMINGHAM, AL — Local man Brett Callahan informed his wife that he wouldn’t be able to mow the lawn today as he was completely tied up playing a lawn-mowing simulator.
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FBI agents and members of the Violent Crimes Taskforce have been spotted at the Washington, D.C., home of the late Sen.
The post VIDEO: FBI and Violent Crimes Taskforce Spotted Outside Home of Sen. Lindsey Graham appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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After Caitlin Clark Assaults, Divisive and Unserious WNBA Promotes Kamala and Tim Walz This Weekend Two weeks ago, basketball phenom Caitlin Clark was beaten by an opponent who kneed her in the groin, then shoved her fist on Clark’s throat and tried to stomp on her.
The post After Caitlin Clark Assaults, Divisive and Unserious WNBA Promotes Kamala and Tim Walz This Weekend appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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President Donald Trump’s Shield of the Americas initiative continues to gain momentum across the Western Hemisphere.
The post Trump’s Shield of the Americas Gains Momentum: Colombia Set to Join, Ecuador Deepens U.S. Security Partnership, and Haiti Draws Regional Attention appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More![Legatus members learn about the most prominent U.S. Catholics #Catholic - On July 1, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a Mass for the Northern New Jersey Chapter of Legatus at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J. Founded in 1987 by Domino’s Pizza creator Tom Monaghan, Legatus is an international peer group for Catholic CEOs, presidents, and business owners.
Chapter members actively seek ways to integrate their Catholic faith into their daily professional lives. The chapter operates under the guidance and support of Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.
Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney was Msgr. John Hart, pastor of Assumption and director of Clergy Personnel for the Paterson Diocese, N.J., along with other priests invited to learn more about Legatus. Deacon Len Deo of St. Ann Parish in Parsippany, N.J., assisted with the liturgy and facilitates the chapter’s Men’s Forum.
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After the Mass, Legatus members and many spouses enjoyed dinner at a local establishment. As the featured speaker, Bishop Sweeney discussed a recent column on BeaconNJ.com written by Msgr. Raymond Kupke, diocesan archivist, about “The most prominent Catholics of the United States in our first 250 years.”
The column paid tribute to the recent 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Read the column at https://beaconnj.org/the-most-prominent-catholics-of-the-united-states-in-our-first-250-years-msgr-kupkes-top-10/
Established in 2000, the Northern New Jersey Legatus Chapter meets monthly, typically on a Wednesday or Thursday, beginning with the rosary and followed by Mass. Members and their spouses then enjoy dinner and a presentation at venues throughout northern New Jersey.
There are more than 90 Legatus chapters across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/legatus-members-learn-about-the-most-prominent-u-s-catholics-catholic-on-july-1-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-celebrated-a-mass-for-the-northern-new-jersey-chapter-of-legatus-at-assumption-parish-in-mo.jpg)
Legatus members learn about the most prominent U.S. Catholics #Catholic – 
On July 1, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a Mass for the Northern New Jersey Chapter of Legatus at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J. Founded in 1987 by Domino’s Pizza creator Tom Monaghan, Legatus is an international peer group for Catholic CEOs, presidents, and business owners.
Chapter members actively seek ways to integrate their Catholic faith into their daily professional lives. The chapter operates under the guidance and support of Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.
Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney was Msgr. John Hart, pastor of Assumption and director of Clergy Personnel for the Paterson Diocese, N.J., along with other priests invited to learn more about Legatus. Deacon Len Deo of St. Ann Parish in Parsippany, N.J., assisted with the liturgy and facilitates the chapter’s Men’s Forum.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
After the Mass, Legatus members and many spouses enjoyed dinner at a local establishment. As the featured speaker, Bishop Sweeney discussed a recent column on BeaconNJ.com written by Msgr. Raymond Kupke, diocesan archivist, about “The most prominent Catholics of the United States in our first 250 years.”
The column paid tribute to the recent 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Read the column at https://beaconnj.org/the-most-prominent-catholics-of-the-united-states-in-our-first-250-years-msgr-kupkes-top-10/
Established in 2000, the Northern New Jersey Legatus Chapter meets monthly, typically on a Wednesday or Thursday, beginning with the rosary and followed by Mass. Members and their spouses then enjoy dinner and a presentation at venues throughout northern New Jersey.
There are more than 90 Legatus chapters across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– On July 1, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a Mass for the Northern New Jersey Chapter of Legatus at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J. Founded in 1987 by Domino’s Pizza creator Tom Monaghan, Legatus is an international peer group for Catholic CEOs, presidents, and business owners. Chapter members actively seek ways to integrate their Catholic faith into their daily professional lives. The chapter operates under the guidance and support of Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney was Msgr. John Hart, pastor of Assumption and director of Clergy Personnel for the Paterson Diocese, N.J., along with other
The Soviet Union launched Phobos 2 on July 12, 1988, the second of two uncrewed probes designed to study Mars, moons Phobos and Deimos, the Sun, and the interplanetary environment. Each probe was equipped with 25 instruments including high-energy detectors; X-ray and solar photometers; infrared, ultrasound, and gamma-ray spectrometers; and more. Phobos 1 was lostContinue reading “July 12, 1988: Phobos 2 launches”
The post July 12, 1988: Phobos 2 launches appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More![Pope Leo XIV: Make time for prayer and silence in the summer - #Catholic - From the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, where he moved on July 5 to enjoy a period of rest, Pope Leo XIV has invited the faithful to make time for “meaningful moments of silence and prayer” during the summer.The pontiff’s remarks were made during his Sunday Angelus address on July 12 at Castel Gandolfo, where he will remain until July 27.Reviving a summer papal traditionThis summer, Leo XIV decided to spend part of it on vacation at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, becoming the first pope to do so since 2012. The residence has been used by the popes as a countryside retreat for over 400 years, and was a preferred vacation spot of Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II.Pope Francis, however, never left the Vatican during the summer of his 12-year papacy, choosing instead to remain at the Casa Santa Marta and repurpose the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo as a museum.The palace itself is a 17th-century building on the shores of Lake Albano. Although it will be closed to the public during the pope’s vacation, the nearby papal gardens will remain open to visitors.During Leo’s vacation, all private and public audiences, including the Wednesday general audience, are suspended. His only public audiences will be the Sunday Angelus, with the only exception so far being his lunch with the poor in the gardens on July 11.The parable of the sowerCommenting on the Sunday Gospel for the day, which contains the parable of the sower, Leo XIV highlighted “the generosity and trust” with which God puts his word and power in the hearts of believers.“Jesus himself, the Word made flesh, who gave his life for our salvation, is the seed that the Father continues to sow throughout the world so that, by dying, he may bear much fruit,” Leo said in his address.
Pope Leo XIV greets the crowds after his Sunday Angelus on July 12, 2026, at the Piazza della Libertà at Castel Gandolfo. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
The pope also explained that, just as in the parable where the seed is planted in different soils, the faithful do not each receive this gift in the same way.“It is true that sometimes [God] finds in us hard and unresponsive soil, at other times distracted soil, like the beaten path, the rocky ground, or the thorny bushes. Yet there are also moments when he finds receptive and fertile ground, and then miracles of love are set in motion that have the power to transform everything — as we ourselves have no doubt experienced in our own lives.”Leo also reminded the faithful present that God’s love “is stronger than our weakness” and that he never stops sowing and believing in them. He also invited them to take advantage of the summer holidays to experience God through silence and prayer.“Let us therefore resolve, especially during these summer days of vacation, to make room for listening to, reading, and meditating on the Word of God, thereby fostering — together with rest and wholesome recreation— meaningful moments of silence and prayer,” Leo said.A renewed appeal for peaceAfter praying the Angelus, Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in war-torn regions, lamenting that “the winds of war are blowing once again in the Middle East, in Ukraine and in many other parts of the world, sowing violence, terror and death.”The pope also urged political leaders to resume dialogue and opt for diplomatic means to stop the escalation of conflicts.Leoʼs words come at a time of rising international tension, after the United States and Iran once again became embroiled in a dangerous spiral of attacks. The United States launched new airstrikes against Iranian territory following the Revolutionary Guardʼs attack on a Cypriot-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.Finally, the pope, recalling that July 12 is “Sea Sunday,” gave a special greeting to sailors, fishermen, and port workers. He praised them for their work despite being “marked by separation from their loved ones and sometimes by fear of the conflicts [that] occur on the seas.”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/2026/07/pope-leo-xiv-make-time-for-prayer-and-silence-in-the-summer-catholic-from-the-apostolic-palace-of-castel-gandolfo-where-he-moved-on-july-5-to-enjoy-a-period-of-rest-pope-leo-xiv-has-invited-th-scaled.jpg)
The pontiff addressed the faithful during the July 12 Angelus at Castel Gandolfo, where he is currently on vacation.
Throughout the month of July, the Church celebrates the feast days of several holy married couples whose lives continue to inspire Catholic families today.
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Schwäbisch Hall, Germany: the northern old town on Salinenstrasse, seen over the River Kocher. In the foreground is the Kocher weir with a fish ladder (right).
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