The pontiff reflected on his recent apostolic journey to Spain during his general audience on June 17.
NEW YORK, NY — According to sources, Vice President JD Vance stumbled upon an incredible discovery on Tuesday when he made contact with a tribe of illiterate, feral women.
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RAMSES — Archaeologists excavating at ancient Egyptian historical sites discovered evidence of another biblical plague, this one believed to have consisted of a horde of cyclists blocking Pharaoh’s morning commute.
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God’s “divine love gives meaning to the life of every person and, far from ending with death, invites us to a new fullness in eternity,” the pope said.
Students at Harvard are experiencing mental illness at a rate that is DOUBLE the general population, according to a shocking new report.
The post REPORT: Shocking Percentage of Harvard Students Say They Have Experienced MENTAL ILLNESS During Their Time at the Ivy League School appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Hollywood insiders and people who work in the entertainment industry are saying that they fear the city is going to become the next Detroit.
The post Entertainment Industry Insiders Say They’re Afraid Hollywood is Turning Into the Next Detroit appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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People from Scotland who are in the United States for the World Cup absolutely love America and are having the time of their lives.
The post Scottish People in the U.S. for the World Cup LOVE AMERICA – Make American Democrats Look Even More Miserable and Hateful (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read MoreA reading from the Second Book of Kings
2:1, 6-14
When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,
he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;
the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live,
I will not leave you,” Elisha replied.
And so the two went on together.
Fifty of the guild prophets followed and
when the two stopped at the Jordan,
they stood facing them at a distance.
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up
and struck the water, which divided,
and both crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,
“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”
Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied.
“Still, if you see me taken up from you,
your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”
As they walked on conversing,
a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,
“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”
But when he could no longer see him,
Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.
Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,
and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,
Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,
“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."
“When you pray”, says Jesus, “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt 6:6). First of all, the Lord calls us to enter this hidden place of the heart, patiently delving into it; he invites us to make an inner immersion that demands a journey of emptying and divesting ourselves. Once we have entered, he asks us to close the door to bad thoughts in order to safeguard a pure, humble and meek heart, through vigilance and spiritual combat. Only then can we abandon ourselves with confidence to intimate dialogue with the Father, who dwells and sees in secret, and in secret fills us with his gifts. (…) This vocation to worship and inner prayer, proper to every believer, in an exemplary way, in order to be witnesses in the Church to the beauty of the contemplative life. It is not an escape from the world, but a regeneration of the heart, so that it may be capable of listening, a source of the creative and fruitful action of the charity that God inspires in us. This call to interiority and silence, to live in contact with oneself, with one’s neighbour, with creation and with God, is needed today more than ever, in a world increasingly alienated by the media and technology. From intimate friendship with the Lord, in fact, the joy of living, the wonder of faith and the taste for ecclesial communion are reborn. (Pope Leo XIV, Address to Italian Hermits, 11 October 2025)
Read More![‘Casting out demons’ also means denouncing cruelty of dictatorships, exiled Nicaraguan bishop says – #Catholic – In a homily over the weekend, Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Báez of Managua, Nicaragua, compared “casting out demons” to denouncing the cruelty and irrationality of dictatorships that violate human dignity.“Casting out demons means committing ourselves to processes of personal and social liberation, and helping those trapped by idols, fear, or hopelessness to regain their freedom,” the bishop noted during a Mass he celebrated at St. Agatha Parish in Miami on June 14.“It also means denouncing the irrationality and cruelty of regimes that violate human dignity and multiply peopleʼs misery, often even invoking the name of God,” he emphasized.Báez, who was forced to leave Nicaragua in 2019, now lives in exile and serves at the Miami parish where his compatriots gather. Like many others, Báez was a victim of persecution by the Nicaraguan dictatorship, which intensified its ruthless campaign against the Catholic Church in 2018, a campaign that continues to this day.The Nicaraguan prelate reflected on a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, stating that Jesus saw the crowd and “had compassion for them, because they were weary and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.”This image, he noted, “has lost none of its relevance. Today, too, there are many people living like sheep without a shepherd: individuals who are sad, lonely, disoriented, and disillusioned by deceptive idols; families torn apart by poverty, forced migration, or violence; entire peoples deprived of freedom and a future due to war or dominated by dictatorial regimes that impose themselves through fear and repression.”In this situation, the bishop explained, “prayer is the first and most urgent response,” not because it “replaces action but because it is the root and foundation of action, making it fruitful and strong.”Through prayer, one can be in tune with the Lord and move toward effective action, he noted. “From this compassion and this prayer came forth the choice of the Twelve [Apostles],” the prelate emphasized.“The power Jesus grants is a power at the service of life and human dignity. It is exactly the opposite of the power that seduces the world — the power that crushes, controls, intimidates, and subjugates. This power, received to serve rather than to subjugate, did not end with the Twelve; it continues today through us,” he said.In addition to casting out demons, he said every member of the Church is called to perform various actions, such as “healing the sick, raising the dead, and cleansing lepers.”The bishop explained that resurrecting the dead “is restoring hope to those who no longer expect anything, helping them discover glimmers of Godʼs light in the middle of the nights of life. It’s announcing, without tiring, the God of life.”“And it is also to oppose the oppressive powers that subjugate people, with the conviction that God accompanies and blesses the efforts made for the freedom and dignity of people,” he noted.The Nicaraguan prelate also emphasized that “cleansing the lepers means striving to restore dignity to those marginalized by society or religion, through gestures of inclusion, solidarity, and respectful dialogue.”He remarked that “the laborers remain few. The Lord continues to seek those today who are willing to extend his compassionate gaze into the world. May that gaze be ours.”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/2026/06/casting-out-demons-also-means-denouncing-cruelty-of-dictatorships-exiled-nicaraguan-bishop-says-catholic-in-a-homily-over-the-weekend-auxiliary-bishop-silvio-baez-of-managua.webp "‘Casting out demons’ also means denouncing cruelty of dictatorships, exiled Nicaraguan bishop says – #Catholic – In a homily over the weekend, Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Báez of Managua, Nicaragua, compared “casting out demons” to denouncing the cruelty and irrationality of dictatorships that violate human dignity.“Casting out demons means committing ourselves to processes of personal and social liberation, and helping those trapped by idols, fear, or hopelessness to regain their freedom,” the bishop noted during a Mass he celebrated at St. Agatha Parish in Miami on June 14.“It also means denouncing the irrationality and cruelty of regimes that violate human dignity and multiply peopleʼs misery, often even invoking the name of God,” he emphasized.Báez, who was forced to leave Nicaragua in 2019, now lives in exile and serves at the Miami parish where his compatriots gather. Like many others, Báez was a victim of persecution by the Nicaraguan dictatorship, which intensified its ruthless campaign against the Catholic Church in 2018, a campaign that continues to this day.The Nicaraguan prelate reflected on a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, stating that Jesus saw the crowd and “had compassion for them, because they were weary and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.”This image, he noted, “has lost none of its relevance. Today, too, there are many people living like sheep without a shepherd: individuals who are sad, lonely, disoriented, and disillusioned by deceptive idols; families torn apart by poverty, forced migration, or violence; entire peoples deprived of freedom and a future due to war or dominated by dictatorial regimes that impose themselves through fear and repression.”In this situation, the bishop explained, “prayer is the first and most urgent response,” not because it “replaces action but because it is the root and foundation of action, making it fruitful and strong.”Through prayer, one can be in tune with the Lord and move toward effective action, he noted. “From this compassion and this prayer came forth the choice of the Twelve [Apostles],” the prelate emphasized.“The power Jesus grants is a power at the service of life and human dignity. It is exactly the opposite of the power that seduces the world — the power that crushes, controls, intimidates, and subjugates. This power, received to serve rather than to subjugate, did not end with the Twelve; it continues today through us,” he said.In addition to casting out demons, he said every member of the Church is called to perform various actions, such as “healing the sick, raising the dead, and cleansing lepers.”The bishop explained that resurrecting the dead “is restoring hope to those who no longer expect anything, helping them discover glimmers of Godʼs light in the middle of the nights of life. It’s announcing, without tiring, the God of life.”“And it is also to oppose the oppressive powers that subjugate people, with the conviction that God accompanies and blesses the efforts made for the freedom and dignity of people,” he noted.The Nicaraguan prelate also emphasized that “cleansing the lepers means striving to restore dignity to those marginalized by society or religion, through gestures of inclusion, solidarity, and respectful dialogue.”He remarked that “the laborers remain few. The Lord continues to seek those today who are willing to extend his compassionate gaze into the world. May that gaze be ours.”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.")
Nicaraguan auxiliary bishop Silvio Báez, reflecting on Jesus’ empowering of the Twelve Apostles to drive out demons, drew an analogy to resisting today’s dictatorships.
![America at 250: U.S. bishop calls on Catholics to lead renewal – #Catholic – As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding, Bishop Mark Brennan is calling Catholics to reflect on the nation’s blessings and shortcomings while recommitting themselves to building a “culture of life” and a “civilization of love.”In a pastoral letter released ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial, Brennan, apostolic administrator of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, reflected on America’s history, praised the contributions of Catholics to the common good, and warned that the nation risks moral decline if it abandons God’s law.The letter, which Brennan noted would likely be his final pastoral letter as bishop, comes 50 years after his priestly ordination during the country’s bicentennial celebrations in 1976. Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala is succeeding Brennan, and a Mass of installation will be celebrated on July 2 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling.“Catholics of West Virginia, be truly Catholic and truly patriotic,” Brennan wrote. “Work for the genuine good of your country and trust that God will bless your efforts.”Progress and persistent challengesBrennan acknowledged significant advances in American society since the nation’s founding, including the abolition of slavery, the end of legal racial segregation, and expanded opportunities for women.At the same time, he pointed to ongoing problems including racial disparities, domestic violence, human trafficking, abortion, and hostility toward immigrants.The bishop highlighted the contributions immigrants have made throughout American history, noting that Catholicism itself grew from roughly 1% of the population in 1776 to about 20% today, largely because of immigration.While praising the stability of the nation’s constitutional system, religious liberty protections, and tradition of public service, Brennan warned that Americans should not take God’s blessings for granted.Quoting both Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, Brennan argued that nations will face divine judgment when they ignore moral truths and permit injustice.Defense of human lifeA central theme of the letter was the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.Brennan condemned abortion, assisted suicide, and the death penalty while also calling for greater care for immigrants, the elderly, and the vulnerable.“The God who gave us life does not want us to take it,” he wrote, referring to unborn children and the sick.The bishop praised the work of the pro-life movement, highlighting the role Catholics have played in organizing marches, supporting pregnancy resource centers, and providing housing and assistance for mothers in need.He specifically pointed to the legacy of Nellie Gray, the Catholic lawyer who founded the annual March for Life, and commended the efforts of countless Catholics who have worked to defend unborn children.Catholic contributions to American societyBrennan also emphasized the Church’s historic contributions to social reform in the United States.Among his examples was Cardinal James Gibbons, whose advocacy for workers influenced Pope Leo XIII’s landmark 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum and helped strengthen support for labor rights.He also cited the efforts of Archbishop Patrick O’Boyle, who desegregated Catholic schools in Washington, D.C., in 1948, years before the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.According to Brennan, these examples demonstrate how Catholic teaching has advanced both human dignity and the common good.‘Culture of life’ and ‘civilization of love’The bishop devoted a substantial portion of the letter to outlining what he called a “culture of life,” rooted in respect for every human person.Such a culture, he said, includes opposition to abortion, support for marriage and family life, care for the sick and elderly, and welcoming immigrants while respecting the dignity of every person.Brennan also drew on the teachings of St. John Paul II, who promoted the concept of a “civilization of love.”He pointed to hospice programs, soup kitchens, food pantries, charitable organizations, youth mentorship programs, and service groups such as the Knights of Columbus as examples of that vision in action.Warning against secularismBrennan warned that secularism, relativism, and excessive individualism pose significant challenges to American society.Echoing concerns raised by Pope Benedict XVI, he argued that excluding religion from public life weakens the moral foundations necessary for self-government.The bishop also criticized cultural trends that prioritize personal autonomy over the common good and cautioned against what he described as distractions that prevent Americans from addressing deeper social and moral concerns.Looking aheadAs the nation approaches its 250th birthday, Brennan expressed hope that reform and renewal remain possible.Drawing on biblical examples and the Church’s own history of reform, he urged Catholics to engage actively in public life while remaining faithful to Catholic teaching.“The very soul of our country” is at stake, Brennan wrote, calling on Catholics to educate future generations, defend human dignity, and help shape a society grounded in faith, virtue, and concern for the common good.“As we joyfully celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary of independence,” he concluded, “we are the Americans who must keep it [America].”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/america-at-250-u-s-bishop-calls-on-catholics-to-lead-renewal-catholic-as-the-united-states-prepares-to-celebrate-the-250th-anniversary-of-its-founding-bishop-mark-brennan-is-calling-catholics.jpg "America at 250: U.S. bishop calls on Catholics to lead renewal – #Catholic – As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding, Bishop Mark Brennan is calling Catholics to reflect on the nation’s blessings and shortcomings while recommitting themselves to building a “culture of life” and a “civilization of love.”In a pastoral letter released ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial, Brennan, apostolic administrator of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, reflected on America’s history, praised the contributions of Catholics to the common good, and warned that the nation risks moral decline if it abandons God’s law.The letter, which Brennan noted would likely be his final pastoral letter as bishop, comes 50 years after his priestly ordination during the country’s bicentennial celebrations in 1976. Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala is succeeding Brennan, and a Mass of installation will be celebrated on July 2 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling.“Catholics of West Virginia, be truly Catholic and truly patriotic,” Brennan wrote. “Work for the genuine good of your country and trust that God will bless your efforts.”Progress and persistent challengesBrennan acknowledged significant advances in American society since the nation’s founding, including the abolition of slavery, the end of legal racial segregation, and expanded opportunities for women.At the same time, he pointed to ongoing problems including racial disparities, domestic violence, human trafficking, abortion, and hostility toward immigrants.The bishop highlighted the contributions immigrants have made throughout American history, noting that Catholicism itself grew from roughly 1% of the population in 1776 to about 20% today, largely because of immigration.While praising the stability of the nation’s constitutional system, religious liberty protections, and tradition of public service, Brennan warned that Americans should not take God’s blessings for granted.Quoting both Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, Brennan argued that nations will face divine judgment when they ignore moral truths and permit injustice.Defense of human lifeA central theme of the letter was the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.Brennan condemned abortion, assisted suicide, and the death penalty while also calling for greater care for immigrants, the elderly, and the vulnerable.“The God who gave us life does not want us to take it,” he wrote, referring to unborn children and the sick.The bishop praised the work of the pro-life movement, highlighting the role Catholics have played in organizing marches, supporting pregnancy resource centers, and providing housing and assistance for mothers in need.He specifically pointed to the legacy of Nellie Gray, the Catholic lawyer who founded the annual March for Life, and commended the efforts of countless Catholics who have worked to defend unborn children.Catholic contributions to American societyBrennan also emphasized the Church’s historic contributions to social reform in the United States.Among his examples was Cardinal James Gibbons, whose advocacy for workers influenced Pope Leo XIII’s landmark 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum and helped strengthen support for labor rights.He also cited the efforts of Archbishop Patrick O’Boyle, who desegregated Catholic schools in Washington, D.C., in 1948, years before the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.According to Brennan, these examples demonstrate how Catholic teaching has advanced both human dignity and the common good.‘Culture of life’ and ‘civilization of love’The bishop devoted a substantial portion of the letter to outlining what he called a “culture of life,” rooted in respect for every human person.Such a culture, he said, includes opposition to abortion, support for marriage and family life, care for the sick and elderly, and welcoming immigrants while respecting the dignity of every person.Brennan also drew on the teachings of St. John Paul II, who promoted the concept of a “civilization of love.”He pointed to hospice programs, soup kitchens, food pantries, charitable organizations, youth mentorship programs, and service groups such as the Knights of Columbus as examples of that vision in action.Warning against secularismBrennan warned that secularism, relativism, and excessive individualism pose significant challenges to American society.Echoing concerns raised by Pope Benedict XVI, he argued that excluding religion from public life weakens the moral foundations necessary for self-government.The bishop also criticized cultural trends that prioritize personal autonomy over the common good and cautioned against what he described as distractions that prevent Americans from addressing deeper social and moral concerns.Looking aheadAs the nation approaches its 250th birthday, Brennan expressed hope that reform and renewal remain possible.Drawing on biblical examples and the Church’s own history of reform, he urged Catholics to engage actively in public life while remaining faithful to Catholic teaching.“The very soul of our country” is at stake, Brennan wrote, calling on Catholics to educate future generations, defend human dignity, and help shape a society grounded in faith, virtue, and concern for the common good.“As we joyfully celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary of independence,” he concluded, “we are the Americans who must keep it [America].”")
Bishop Mark Brennan of Wheeling-Charleston is urging Catholics to reflect on the nation’s blessings and shortcomings while renewing their commitment to faith, human dignity, and the common good.
“We are brought together by love for Colombia and the certainty that, without God, we will not be able to build the civilization of love we all long for, nor sustain our common home,” they said.
| Picture of the day |
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Zapornia pusilla (Baillon’s Crake) in Baruipur, West Bengal, India.
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Massimo Di Fusco, taken via Chilescope NGC 6727 is a reflection nebula and star-forming region in Corona Australis, part of the larger Corona Australis Molecular Cloud. It is accompanied in this image by globular cluster NGC 6723, sometimes called the Chandelier Cluster. This wide-field portrait combines 54 minutes of RGB exposure with a 20-inch f/3.8Continue reading “A glob and a stellar nursery”
The post A glob and a stellar nursery appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad chugs slowly along the shoreline, offering unhurried ocean views.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TAL-oregon-coast-scenic-railroad-ORCOASTRR0625-0910df83b3584cb39be0f96da8f92775.jpg)
A beautiful Gospel for a beautiful weekend! #Catholic – 
“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
(Mt. 9:36-38)
BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY
This past Saturday, June 13, during my homily at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood, I mentioned that the original date on our Diocesan Calendar for priesthood ordinations in 2026 was Saturday, May 30. This past fall, as we were looking ahead, we realized that, for a few reasons, it would be better to move the priesthood ordinations to Saturday, June 13 (and schedule the ordination of eight men as permanent deacons on May 30).
In the homily, I mentioned that I had spoken to the two men who would be ordained priests, Father Lucas Folan and Father Jender Medina, to let them know the date of the ordination and telling them that I hoped they had or would have a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, as they would, God willing, be ordained priests on the Feast of St. Anthony. At that time, I had not realized that, in 2026, St. Anthony would “share” his Feast Day with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the day after we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrated on Friday, June 12.
In his encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis emphasized the close relationship that the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary share, “Thanks to the abundant graces streaming from the open side of Christ, in different ways the Church, the Virgin Mary, and all believers become themselves streams of living water.” It is a grace for our newly ordained and all of us who pray for them to remember this special association that their ordination has with the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart.
In recent months, although it would mean that we would have a very busy few days/weekend, I had been happy to realize that, from Thursday, June 11 through Monday, June 15, we would share in: (on Thursday, June 11) the bishops of the United States consecration of our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of our independence; (on Friday, June 12) the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, priesthood ordinations on Saturday, June 13, and the presence of the National Eucharistic Procession in our diocese on Sunday and Monday, June 14 and 15 – a “full weekend,” to put it mildly.
Like most priests or deacons and many lay people, I usually try to look at the Readings for an upcoming Sunday on the Monday or Tuesday before. Due to travel (to Florida for the USCCB meeting) and some other responsibilities, I did not have a chance to look at the Readings for Sunday, June 14 (the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time) until Friday, June 12, as I was returning from Florida. At the same time, I was putting the “finishing touches” on my homily for the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood. When I read the Gospel for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mt. 9:36 – 10:8, I was amazed by the connections.
As I quoted above, in verse 36 of Chapter 9, Matthew’s gospel offers us a “glimpse” of our Lord’s Sacred Heart: “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them…” As He speaks to His disciples, in v. 37-38, we can hear Jesus telling us that, “…The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few…” and then asking or instructing us to pray (for Vocations), “…so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
As Matthew tells us, at the beginning of Chapter 10, Jesus then “summoned his twelve disciples”. In verses 2 – 4, we are told the names of the 12 apostles. Hearing the names of the 12 apostles can be an opportunity for us to remember that we believe that Jesus, from our baptism, calls us each “by name.” The gift and blessing of the ordination of two new priests is also a reminder of the ways in which parents, families, priests (and bishops), consecrated religious, parishioners, catechists, youth ministers, and others can be instruments of grace by praying, inviting and encouraging youth and young adults to be open to “hearing” and responding to God’s call, especially if the Lord may be calling someone to priesthood or consecrated religious life. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.
As we heard at the conclusion of Sunday’s Gospel, after Jesus “called” the disciples, He then sent them out: “… As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt. 10: 6-8).
In the homily at the Ordination Mass, I shared some of Pope Leo XIV’s words, from a homily he gave on April 26, when he ordained 10 new priests for the Diocese of Rome. After reflecting on the way in which a vocation, “… comes to us in a deeply personal encounter with the person of the Son…”, Pope Leo spoke to the men about to be ordained about being “sent”:
In the communities where you will be sent, the risen One is already present, and many have already followed him commendably. You will recognize his wounds and distinguish his voice. You will encounter people who will direct you towards him. These communities will also help you to become saints! For your part, help them to walk together, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, so that they may become places — gardens — of life that rise anew and share themselves with others…”
I write these words on Monday morning, June 15, after having participated last night in the National Eucharist Pilgrimage. There was a procession through the streets of Passaic, leading to a beautiful Mass in Boverini Stadium. More than 1,000 people participated. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. I look forward to another Eucharistic procession in Paterson this evening, followed by Mass in our cathedral. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is just one of countless ways that we do what Jesus asks us to do as he sends us out to His people, the sheep of His flock, “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ”
P.S. It truly was a beautiful (long) weekend. For some of us, something else took place on the weekend that made it even more enjoyable – (in case you had not heard) on Saturday evening, the New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 56 years!
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– “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt. 9:36-38) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY This past Saturday, June 13, during my homily at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood, I mentioned that the original date on our Diocesan Calendar for priesthood ordinations in 2026 was Saturday, May 30. This past fall, as we were
![Church bells in Mexico to toll for peace and in memory of victims of violence #Catholic Catholic church bells in Mexico will be rung on June 20 “as a call to build peace” and in memory of victims of violence in the country, marking the fourth anniversary of the murders of Jesuit priests Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar.In a statement released on June 14, the National Dialogue for Peace called for placing a “white ribbon or small flag” on the doors of homes, schools, and workplaces on June 20 to make “visible the commitment to peace, dialogue, reconciliation, or hope.”The group also called for “ringing church bells on June 20 at 3 p.m. as a call to all sectors of society to build peace and to renew our commitment to forming the community that Mexico needs today.”Campos Morales and Mora Salazar were killed on June 20, 2022, inside their parish church in the town of Cerocahui in the Mexican state of Chihuahua while attempting to protect a man who was being pursued by a criminal. The organization also asked Mexicans to “place photographs of missing persons at church altars during the celebrations on Sunday, June 21,” as well as to “offer a special prayer for families searching [for their loved ones] and invite adolescents and young people to present the offerings as a sign of a Church that recognizes their place and accompanies them in building hope.”The National Dialogue for Peace was started following the murder of the Jesuits as an initiative of the Catholic Church in Mexico formed by the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, the Bishops’ Commission for the Laity, the Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Mexico, and the Society of Jesus in Mexico.In its statement, the National Dialogue for Peace stated that on June 20, “we remember the murdered religious leaders, the thousands of missing persons, the families living amid violence, the merchants suffering extortion, and the forests illegally logged.”“It’s a day to remember the suffering that we are standing against throughout Mexico and to call upon all sectors of society to redouble their efforts to sow peace. Amid the pain this country is experiencing, Jesus continues to call us to build peace,” the statement explained.Reflecting on the efforts made since 2022, the organization noted that “over these four years, we have learned that the great challenge is to build a responsible and participatory community capable of deciding its own destiny.”While “violence isolates people and stifles social participation, paving the way for the imposition of criminal projects and ideas,” the National Dialogue for Peace said, noting that “the process of building peace entails reaching out to others to heal, participate, and form one’s own judgment.”“Building peace today entails healing the wound caused by the forced disappearance of loved ones, having concern for abandoned youth, and envisioning the institutional framework Mexico needs. That wound is healed through truth, political will, and reparation for the harm done,” the National Dialogue for Peace stated.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/2026/06/church-bells-in-mexico-to-toll-for-peace-and-in-memory-of-victims-of-violence-catholic-catholic-church-bells-in-mexico-will-be-rung-on-june-20-as-a-call-to-build-peace-and-in-memory.webp "Church bells in Mexico to toll for peace and in memory of victims of violence #Catholic Catholic church bells in Mexico will be rung on June 20 “as a call to build peace” and in memory of victims of violence in the country, marking the fourth anniversary of the murders of Jesuit priests Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar.In a statement released on June 14, the National Dialogue for Peace called for placing a “white ribbon or small flag” on the doors of homes, schools, and workplaces on June 20 to make “visible the commitment to peace, dialogue, reconciliation, or hope.”The group also called for “ringing church bells on June 20 at 3 p.m. as a call to all sectors of society to build peace and to renew our commitment to forming the community that Mexico needs today.”Campos Morales and Mora Salazar were killed on June 20, 2022, inside their parish church in the town of Cerocahui in the Mexican state of Chihuahua while attempting to protect a man who was being pursued by a criminal. The organization also asked Mexicans to “place photographs of missing persons at church altars during the celebrations on Sunday, June 21,” as well as to “offer a special prayer for families searching [for their loved ones] and invite adolescents and young people to present the offerings as a sign of a Church that recognizes their place and accompanies them in building hope.”The National Dialogue for Peace was started following the murder of the Jesuits as an initiative of the Catholic Church in Mexico formed by the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, the Bishops’ Commission for the Laity, the Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Mexico, and the Society of Jesus in Mexico.In its statement, the National Dialogue for Peace stated that on June 20, “we remember the murdered religious leaders, the thousands of missing persons, the families living amid violence, the merchants suffering extortion, and the forests illegally logged.”“It’s a day to remember the suffering that we are standing against throughout Mexico and to call upon all sectors of society to redouble their efforts to sow peace. Amid the pain this country is experiencing, Jesus continues to call us to build peace,” the statement explained.Reflecting on the efforts made since 2022, the organization noted that “over these four years, we have learned that the great challenge is to build a responsible and participatory community capable of deciding its own destiny.”While “violence isolates people and stifles social participation, paving the way for the imposition of criminal projects and ideas,” the National Dialogue for Peace said, noting that “the process of building peace entails reaching out to others to heal, participate, and form one’s own judgment.”“Building peace today entails healing the wound caused by the forced disappearance of loved ones, having concern for abandoned youth, and envisioning the institutional framework Mexico needs. That wound is healed through truth, political will, and reparation for the harm done,” the National Dialogue for Peace stated.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.")
The National Dialogue for Peace, a Church-led organization in Mexico, is calling a day of remembrance for the victims of violence.
“This is certainly deliberate,” Ukraine Freedom Project Founder Steven Moore said of the attack on the historic 11th-century Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
Homeschool families used to be easy to spot, as twenty years ago the kids were all giant dorks. These days, it’s a lot more difficult to figure out. Take a close look at this picture and see if you can spot all seven clues that this is a homeschool family:
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U.S. — The U.S. Men’s National Team surged into contention as a World Cup betting favorite after bringing in LeBron James to help the team flop around on the grass and act like he’s hurt.
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American Singer Oliver Tree was killed in a midair helicopter collision over Brazil on Sunday, as police are still working to identify the bodies of others on board. The 32-year-old “Alien Boy” singer was reportedly on tour in South America this month.
The post Horrifying Footage Shows Helicopter Plunging to Ground in Brazil During Crash That Killed Singer Oliver Tree (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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An Indiana mother was fatally shot in the head while protecting her son amid a deadly ambush during a Facebook Market exchange last week.
The post HORROR: Indiana Mother Fatally Shot While Protecting Her Son Amid Deadly Ambush During Facebook Marketplace Exchange appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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President Trump’s newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is green again.
The post Mainstream Meltdown Over Stinchfield’s Claim of Reflecting Pool Sabotage (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read MoreA reading from the First Book of Kings
21:17-29
After the death of Naboth the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite:
"Start down to meet Ahab, king of Israel,
who rules in Samaria.
He will be in the vineyard of Naboth,
of which he has come to take possession.
This is what you shall tell him,
‘The LORD says: After murdering, do you also take possession?
For this, the LORD says:
In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth,
the dogs shall lick up your blood, too.’"
Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me out, my enemy?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the LORD’s sight,
I am bringing evil upon you: I will destroy you
and will cut off every male in Ahab’s line,
whether slave or freeman, in Israel.
I will make your house like that of Jeroboam, son of Nebat,
and like that of Baasha, son of Ahijah,
because of how you have provoked me by leading Israel into sin."
(Against Jezebel, too, the LORD declared,
"The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.")
"When one of Ahab’s line dies in the city,
dogs will devour him;
when one of them dies in the field,
the birds of the sky will devour him."
Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evil
in the sight of the LORD as did Ahab,
urged on by his wife Jezebel.
He became completely abominable by following idols,
just as the Amorites had done,
whom the LORD drove out before the children of Israel.
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments
and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh.
He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued.
Then the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite,
"Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me?
Since he has humbled himself before me,
I will not bring the evil in his time.
I will bring the evil upon his house during the reign of his son."
From the Gospel according to Matthew
5:43-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).
But who could become perfect? Our perfection is living humbly as children of God, doing his will in practice. St Cyprian wrote: “that the godly discipline might respond to God, the Father, that in the honour and praise of living, God may be glorified in man (De zelo et livore [On jealousy and envy], 15: CCL 3a, 83).
How can we imitate Jesus? He said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven” (Mt 5:44-45). Anyone who welcomes the Lord into his life and loves him with all his heart is capable of a new beginning. He succeeds in doing God’s will: to bring about a new form of existence enlivened by love and destined for eternity. (…)
A medieval author wrote: “When the whole of man’s being is, so to speak, mingled with God’s love, the splendour of his soul is also reflected in his external aspect” (John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, XXX: PG 88, 1157 B), in the totality of life. “Love is an excellent thing”, we read in the book the Imitation of Christ. “It makes every difficulty easy, and bears all wrongs with equanimity…. Love tends upward; it will not be held down by anything low… love is born of God and cannot rest except in God” (III, V, 3). (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 20 February 2011)
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More than academics: What families are really seeking in education today #Catholic – 
In conversations with parents today, one theme comes up again and again.
Yes, they care about academics. Yes, they want their children to succeed. But increasingly, families are asking a deeper question:
Who is helping my child become a saint?
It is a question that sits at the heart of Catholic education — and one that we encounter every day in both the school and parish communities we serve.
At a time when so much of the educational landscape is focused on outcomes that can be measured — test scores, rankings, college placements — Catholic education continues to hold fast to a broader vision: the formation of the whole child.
That formation is rooted in something very concrete: a relationship with Jesus Christ, who calls each of us to live with purpose, compassion, and integrity.
This formation is not abstract. It takes shape in daily habits, relationships, and experiences. It is present in classrooms where faith and reason are not separate, but integrated – where students are invited to see the world through the lens of the Gospel. It is nurtured in parish life, where students encounter the rhythms of prayer, sacrament, and service and come to know not just about God, but God’s presence in their lives. It is strengthened in a community where families, educators, and clergy walk together with a shared purpose.
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For many families, this is what sets Catholic education apart.
They are not simply looking for the “best” school in a conventional sense. They are looking for a place where their children will be guided — not only intellectually, but morally and spiritually. A place where success is not defined solely by achievement, but by character. A place where their children are known, loved, and called to grow in the example of Christ.
This is especially true in the earliest years of education.
In early childhood, the foundation is laid not just for academic learning, but for identity, belonging, and confidence. Children begin to understand how they relate to others, how they navigate challenges, and how they see themselves in the world.
When that foundation is rooted in faith — and in the love and example of Jesus — it carries forward in powerful ways.
Students who experience this kind of formation are often marked by a sense of purpose that extends beyond themselves. They come to see their gifts not simply as tools for personal advancement, but as opportunities to serve others, just as Christ calls us to do.
This is the enduring promise of Catholic education.
It is not a rejection of academic excellence — far from it. Rather, it is a commitment to ensuring that excellence is grounded in something deeper. That knowledge is paired with wisdom. That achievement is accompanied by humility. That success is understood in the context of a life of faith.
In a world that can often feel uncertain and fragmented, this kind of formation matters.
It is why, even today, families continue to seek out Catholic schools — not only for what their children will learn, but for who they will become.
Leanne Gonzalez is principal of All Saints Academy and Father Nico Quintos is pastor of St. Ann Parish, both in Parsippany, N.J.
– In conversations with parents today, one theme comes up again and again. Yes, they care about academics. Yes, they want their children to succeed. But increasingly, families are asking a deeper question: Who is helping my child become a saint? It is a question that sits at the heart of Catholic education — and one that we encounter every day in both the school and parish communities we serve. At a time when so much of the educational landscape is focused on outcomes that can be measured — test scores, rankings, college placements — Catholic education continues to hold fast
![U.S. vice president, second lady share family Mass attendance practices – #Catholic – Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance discussed their family’s Mass attendance practices ahead of the release of Vance’s memoir, “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith,” which is available June 16.JD Vance is the second Catholic to serve as U.S. vice president, following President Joe Biden, who held the office from 2009 to 2017. Vance has discussed his Catholic faith and shared about his conversion but is not seen or reported by the media attending Mass in the Washington, D.C., area.Vance said in a June 14 interview with “CBS Sunday Morning” that Mass is sometimes said in his home or he attends small churches.Having priests come to celebrate Mass at home is “one of the rare privileges of this life,” Vance said. “I try not to do it too much” because “I try to … have a little bit more of a ritual to it,” he said. “So we do try to leave the house and actually go to church. And thatʼs important.”“But sometimes … you have a late day at work, or somethingʼs going on at the White House, or somethingʼs going on in the world and you say, ‘Could a priest just come by and say Mass at our house?’” Vance said.“It makes it very easy, but itʼs one of those creature comforts of being vice president I try not to use too much because I think it makes us a little lazy,” he said.“Itʼs a perk,” Usha Vance added. “But I think itʼs also important to say that itʼs sometimes a necessity, because a motorcade just shuts down streets.”“It means sometimes people canʼt get into Mass when they arrive,” she said. “It means that you have people trickling in after the start because theyʼre being put through magnetometers.”The second lady, who practices Hinduism, said they try to adjust the “timing of Mass and location” in order “to mitigate all of these discomforts for all the other people who are just trying to live their lives.” “We try to go to smaller churches and we try to get there exactly on time, because if we get there 10 minutes earlier,” security becomes “a nightmare for everybody else,” JD Vance said.“So you try to obviously take your kids to church, but you also try to do it in a way that doesnʼt inconvenience everybody. Thatʼs very important to us,” he said.Vance has attended some highly publicized liturgies. The vice president attended Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass on May 18, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square. He led the U.S. delegation for the ceremony and was joined by Usha Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.He also attended a private Mass celebrated by Franciscan monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem during a three-day diplomatic trip to Israel in October 2025.Vance met with a group of bishops and went to confession prior to Mass, according to the White House press pool report.Memoir on Vance’s Catholic conversionVance’s memoir discusses why he left his faith and describes his conversion to Catholicism. The book has been published by HarperCollins Publishers, which also produced Vance’s 2016 bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.” The book addresses the “story of how I regained my faith,” which “only happened because I had lost it to begin with,” Vance wrote in a HarperCollins press release. “The interesting question that hangs over this book, and over my mind, is why I ever strayed from the path. Why the Christian faith of my youth failed to properly take root.”In the “CBS Sunday Morning” interview, Vance explained some of what the book uncovers about finding his “home” in the Catholic Church.“I was raised in evangelical tradition that in a lot of ways I really loved,” he said.The evangelical faith offered an “incredible generosity of spirit” and an “incredible spirit of ‘welcomingness,’” Vance said. While he said he still tries to “apply” these aspects to his life, he “drift[ed] away from that faith.”“I donʼt think that I was properly rooted,” Vance said. “I started to see myself as too smart, maybe too high-minded. I was going to make decisions based on rationality and science and not on this religious mumbo jumbo.”Then, he said, “as I started to think to myself, ‘Maybe there is some real truth to these Christian ideas that I grew up with‘ … I was just incredibly attracted to the tradition of the church that I ultimately selected.”“Things are constantly changing. Social media is changing how we communicate with each other,” he said. “You go to one church and itʼs … one thing. You go to another church and itʼs something different.”Catholicism “felt rooted” and “if I went to a foreign country and I didnʼt understand the language, I kind of knew what was going on. And I liked that feeling of rootedness.”“Fundamentally, when I started thinking to myself, ‘Maybe I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Maybe I do believe in the core tenets of the Christian faith.’ A lot of the people who [were] encouraging me on that journey … were Catholic, and they took me to Catholic churches, and I felt at home there, and eventually I converted,” Vance said.“God put a lot of people in my path who were very good Christians and ended up being Catholics. And thatʼs where … I found a home,” he said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/u-s-vice-president-second-lady-share-family-mass-attendance-practices-catholic-vice-president-jd-vance-and-second-lady-usha-vance-discussed-their-familys-mass-attendance-practices-ahea.webp "U.S. vice president, second lady share family Mass attendance practices – #Catholic – Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance discussed their family’s Mass attendance practices ahead of the release of Vance’s memoir, “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith,” which is available June 16.JD Vance is the second Catholic to serve as U.S. vice president, following President Joe Biden, who held the office from 2009 to 2017. Vance has discussed his Catholic faith and shared about his conversion but is not seen or reported by the media attending Mass in the Washington, D.C., area.Vance said in a June 14 interview with “CBS Sunday Morning” that Mass is sometimes said in his home or he attends small churches.Having priests come to celebrate Mass at home is “one of the rare privileges of this life,” Vance said. “I try not to do it too much” because “I try to … have a little bit more of a ritual to it,” he said. “So we do try to leave the house and actually go to church. And thatʼs important.”“But sometimes … you have a late day at work, or somethingʼs going on at the White House, or somethingʼs going on in the world and you say, ‘Could a priest just come by and say Mass at our house?’” Vance said.“It makes it very easy, but itʼs one of those creature comforts of being vice president I try not to use too much because I think it makes us a little lazy,” he said.“Itʼs a perk,” Usha Vance added. “But I think itʼs also important to say that itʼs sometimes a necessity, because a motorcade just shuts down streets.”“It means sometimes people canʼt get into Mass when they arrive,” she said. “It means that you have people trickling in after the start because theyʼre being put through magnetometers.”The second lady, who practices Hinduism, said they try to adjust the “timing of Mass and location” in order “to mitigate all of these discomforts for all the other people who are just trying to live their lives.” “We try to go to smaller churches and we try to get there exactly on time, because if we get there 10 minutes earlier,” security becomes “a nightmare for everybody else,” JD Vance said.“So you try to obviously take your kids to church, but you also try to do it in a way that doesnʼt inconvenience everybody. Thatʼs very important to us,” he said.Vance has attended some highly publicized liturgies. The vice president attended Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass on May 18, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square. He led the U.S. delegation for the ceremony and was joined by Usha Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.He also attended a private Mass celebrated by Franciscan monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem during a three-day diplomatic trip to Israel in October 2025.Vance met with a group of bishops and went to confession prior to Mass, according to the White House press pool report.Memoir on Vance’s Catholic conversionVance’s memoir discusses why he left his faith and describes his conversion to Catholicism. The book has been published by HarperCollins Publishers, which also produced Vance’s 2016 bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.” The book addresses the “story of how I regained my faith,” which “only happened because I had lost it to begin with,” Vance wrote in a HarperCollins press release. “The interesting question that hangs over this book, and over my mind, is why I ever strayed from the path. Why the Christian faith of my youth failed to properly take root.”In the “CBS Sunday Morning” interview, Vance explained some of what the book uncovers about finding his “home” in the Catholic Church.“I was raised in evangelical tradition that in a lot of ways I really loved,” he said.The evangelical faith offered an “incredible generosity of spirit” and an “incredible spirit of ‘welcomingness,’” Vance said. While he said he still tries to “apply” these aspects to his life, he “drift[ed] away from that faith.”“I donʼt think that I was properly rooted,” Vance said. “I started to see myself as too smart, maybe too high-minded. I was going to make decisions based on rationality and science and not on this religious mumbo jumbo.”Then, he said, “as I started to think to myself, ‘Maybe there is some real truth to these Christian ideas that I grew up with‘ … I was just incredibly attracted to the tradition of the church that I ultimately selected.”“Things are constantly changing. Social media is changing how we communicate with each other,” he said. “You go to one church and itʼs … one thing. You go to another church and itʼs something different.”Catholicism “felt rooted” and “if I went to a foreign country and I didnʼt understand the language, I kind of knew what was going on. And I liked that feeling of rootedness.”“Fundamentally, when I started thinking to myself, ‘Maybe I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Maybe I do believe in the core tenets of the Christian faith.’ A lot of the people who [were] encouraging me on that journey … were Catholic, and they took me to Catholic churches, and I felt at home there, and eventually I converted,” Vance said.“God put a lot of people in my path who were very good Christians and ended up being Catholics. And thatʼs where … I found a home,” he said.")
Having priests come to celebrate Mass at home is “one of the rare privileges of this life,” Vice President JD Vance said.
Pope Leo XIV addressed a delegation of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, encouraging them to preserve and promote “the inestimable treasures incarnated by all the Eastern Churches.”
![Catholic-backed religious liberty lawsuit asks Supreme Court to address ‘finality’ rule – #Catholic – A long-running legal dispute against a city in Ohio has received the backing of the U.S. Catholic bishops as it seeks to both assert a religious liberty claim and challenge a long-standing U.S. rule over when a lawsuit can be brought before a court. Daniel Grand filed a lawsuit against the city of University Heights, Ohio, in September 2022 after the city blocked his efforts to convene a minyan, or Jewish prayer group, of about a dozen friends at his home. The city directed that he would have to acquire a special-use permit to host the group. “They said if I got the permit, I could have the prayer group,” he told EWTN News. “But halfway into this ordeal, I learned that if anybody qualifies for this permit, there is no residence allowed [where the permit is granted].” His family would have to move in the event the permit was granted, he said. The federal district court dismissed his case on the grounds of a legal concept known as “finality,” a rule that holds that a lawsuit can only be brought if a plaintiff has exhausted all other relevant options first. Jonathan Gross, an attorney who is representing Grand in the ongoing dispute, said governments will sometimes use this rule in order to thwart a lawsuit attempt. “Certain jurisdictions recognize that the government controls everything and that if they want they can 'jerk you around’ and table your case indefinitely to prevent you from ever getting finality that allows you to sue,” he said. “If local government can do whatever they want with your application and make it so you never get a final decision, then you’re ultimately blocked from ever suing them, and they know that,” he said. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio dismissed the case on finality grounds; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld that dismissal. Grand and his attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to review the case and rule on the finality question so that the religious liberty suit can proceed.“We obviously assert that Daniel was harmed,” Gross said. “But we didn’t even go to court because we didn’t get the final decision.”Decision would ‘open up the Hoover Dam’ for some lawsuitsGrand and his attorneys are hoping to resolve the finality question at the Supreme Court for the sake of both themselves and plaintiffs in other lawsuits. A favorable decision from the high court would “open up the Hoover Dam for everyone who wants to get into federal court but is being denied because you didn’t complete some sort of process,” Grand told EWTN News. Yet Grand himself is still focused on resolving the religious liberty dispute as well. Among other supporters, the lawsuit has received backing from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which filed an amicus brief in appeals court arguing that Grandʼs religious liberty claims should be considered without being subject to “finality.” Religious plaintiffs have standing to sue “as soon as a credible threat arises,” the bishops said in their filing, arguing that court processes that play out over “months or years” due to finality rules serve as a “constitutional harm” in and of themselves. In his filing with the Supreme Court, Grand argued that the case is “a playbook for government-sponsored religious discrimination.” Speaking to EWTN News, Grand disputed the implicit contention that “10 Jews in a room makes it a synagogue.” He said his aim was simply to host a small group to speak to God. “It was on my heart to have a prayer gathering, and I thought nothing more than that,” he said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/catholic-backed-religious-liberty-lawsuit-asks-supreme-court-to-address-finality-rule-catholic-a-long-running-legal-dispute-against-a-city-in-ohio-has-received-the-backing-of-th.png "Catholic-backed religious liberty lawsuit asks Supreme Court to address ‘finality’ rule – #Catholic – A long-running legal dispute against a city in Ohio has received the backing of the U.S. Catholic bishops as it seeks to both assert a religious liberty claim and challenge a long-standing U.S. rule over when a lawsuit can be brought before a court. Daniel Grand filed a lawsuit against the city of University Heights, Ohio, in September 2022 after the city blocked his efforts to convene a minyan, or Jewish prayer group, of about a dozen friends at his home. The city directed that he would have to acquire a special-use permit to host the group. “They said if I got the permit, I could have the prayer group,” he told EWTN News. “But halfway into this ordeal, I learned that if anybody qualifies for this permit, there is no residence allowed [where the permit is granted].” His family would have to move in the event the permit was granted, he said. The federal district court dismissed his case on the grounds of a legal concept known as “finality,” a rule that holds that a lawsuit can only be brought if a plaintiff has exhausted all other relevant options first. Jonathan Gross, an attorney who is representing Grand in the ongoing dispute, said governments will sometimes use this rule in order to thwart a lawsuit attempt. “Certain jurisdictions recognize that the government controls everything and that if they want they can 'jerk you around’ and table your case indefinitely to prevent you from ever getting finality that allows you to sue,” he said. “If local government can do whatever they want with your application and make it so you never get a final decision, then you’re ultimately blocked from ever suing them, and they know that,” he said. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio dismissed the case on finality grounds; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld that dismissal. Grand and his attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to review the case and rule on the finality question so that the religious liberty suit can proceed.“We obviously assert that Daniel was harmed,” Gross said. “But we didn’t even go to court because we didn’t get the final decision.”Decision would ‘open up the Hoover Dam’ for some lawsuitsGrand and his attorneys are hoping to resolve the finality question at the Supreme Court for the sake of both themselves and plaintiffs in other lawsuits. A favorable decision from the high court would “open up the Hoover Dam for everyone who wants to get into federal court but is being denied because you didn’t complete some sort of process,” Grand told EWTN News. Yet Grand himself is still focused on resolving the religious liberty dispute as well. Among other supporters, the lawsuit has received backing from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which filed an amicus brief in appeals court arguing that Grandʼs religious liberty claims should be considered without being subject to “finality.” Religious plaintiffs have standing to sue “as soon as a credible threat arises,” the bishops said in their filing, arguing that court processes that play out over “months or years” due to finality rules serve as a “constitutional harm” in and of themselves. In his filing with the Supreme Court, Grand argued that the case is “a playbook for government-sponsored religious discrimination.” Speaking to EWTN News, Grand disputed the implicit contention that “10 Jews in a room makes it a synagogue.” He said his aim was simply to host a small group to speak to God. “It was on my heart to have a prayer gathering, and I thought nothing more than that,” he said.")
The U.S. Catholic bishops have backed the lawsuit brought by Jewish resident Daniel Grand against the city of University Heights, Ohio, in a dispute over a planned prayer group.
![Making history: St. Paul Inside the Walls honors archivist #Catholic - On June 6, Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, Ph.D., a retired priest with 53 years actively serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and respected Church historian, delighted in receiving the 2026 Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Evangelization Award from St. Paul Inside the Walls Catholic Center for Evangelization in Madison, N.J. Msgr. Kupke received the award for his fruitful years in the priesthood and evangelization.
That Friday evening, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presented Msgr. Kupke received the award during St. Paul’s Fifth Annual Garden Party, its largest annual fundraiser, which was held on the center’s front lawn. Msgr. Kupke has been the diocesan archivist since 1976 and is the co-host of “Coffee with Kupke,” a popular podcast that delves into the history of Catholicism in the Church of Paterson. He hosts the podcast with his friend, Father Paul Manning, diocesan vicar for evangelization and education.
Msgr. Kupke is an adjunct professor of Church history at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J. He has also taught many courses at St. Paul’s, notably helping form candidates for the permanent diaconate. He also authored the book, “Living Stones: A History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson.”
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Over the years, Msgr. Kupke has held numerous pastoral assignments. Most recently, he served as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., from 2011 until his retirement last year.
During the Garden Party, Father Manning also welcomed Father Pawel Tomczyk back to St. Paul’s. For years, Father Tomczyk has assisted St. Paul’s evangelization efforts.
Father Tomczyk, who has served as pastoral formation director and assistant moral theology professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, will assume Father Manning’s role as diocesan vicar for evangelization while living at St. Paul’s, effective July 1.
On that date, Father Manning will become pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Mendham, N.J., while continuing as vicar for education. Father Manning will celebrate his final Mass at St. Paul’s, the young adult Mass, on Sunday, June 21, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception.
Founded by Bishop Serratelli, St. Paul’s is a leader, catalyst, and model for the new evangelization. Through both traditional and innovative programs, the center has inspired people of all ages, beliefs, cultures, perspectives, and professions to fully experience the Catholic faith. The Garden Party celebrated St. Paul’s lasting impact and growth around the diocese and beyond.
The event’s attendees included staff from St. Paul’s, members of the Young Adult Ministry, benefactors, and friends and family of community members. The event included a dinner.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/making-history-st-paul-inside-the-walls-honors-archivist-catholic-on-june-6-msgr-raymond-j-kupke-ph-d-a-retired-priest-with-53-years-actively-serving-the-paterson-diocese-n-j-and-respect.jpg)
Making history: St. Paul Inside the Walls honors archivist #Catholic – 
On June 6, Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, Ph.D., a retired priest with 53 years actively serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and respected Church historian, delighted in receiving the 2026 Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Evangelization Award from St. Paul Inside the Walls Catholic Center for Evangelization in Madison, N.J. Msgr. Kupke received the award for his fruitful years in the priesthood and evangelization.
That Friday evening, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presented Msgr. Kupke received the award during St. Paul’s Fifth Annual Garden Party, its largest annual fundraiser, which was held on the center’s front lawn. Msgr. Kupke has been the diocesan archivist since 1976 and is the co-host of “Coffee with Kupke,” a popular podcast that delves into the history of Catholicism in the Church of Paterson. He hosts the podcast with his friend, Father Paul Manning, diocesan vicar for evangelization and education.
Msgr. Kupke is an adjunct professor of Church history at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J. He has also taught many courses at St. Paul’s, notably helping form candidates for the permanent diaconate. He also authored the book, “Living Stones: A History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson.”
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Over the years, Msgr. Kupke has held numerous pastoral assignments. Most recently, he served as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., from 2011 until his retirement last year.
During the Garden Party, Father Manning also welcomed Father Pawel Tomczyk back to St. Paul’s. For years, Father Tomczyk has assisted St. Paul’s evangelization efforts.
Father Tomczyk, who has served as pastoral formation director and assistant moral theology professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, will assume Father Manning’s role as diocesan vicar for evangelization while living at St. Paul’s, effective July 1.
On that date, Father Manning will become pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Mendham, N.J., while continuing as vicar for education. Father Manning will celebrate his final Mass at St. Paul’s, the young adult Mass, on Sunday, June 21, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception.
Founded by Bishop Serratelli, St. Paul’s is a leader, catalyst, and model for the new evangelization. Through both traditional and innovative programs, the center has inspired people of all ages, beliefs, cultures, perspectives, and professions to fully experience the Catholic faith. The Garden Party celebrated St. Paul’s lasting impact and growth around the diocese and beyond.
The event’s attendees included staff from St. Paul’s, members of the Young Adult Ministry, benefactors, and friends and family of community members. The event included a dinner.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– On June 6, Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, Ph.D., a retired priest with 53 years actively serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and respected Church historian, delighted in receiving the 2026 Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Evangelization Award from St. Paul Inside the Walls Catholic Center for Evangelization in Madison, N.J. Msgr. Kupke received the award for his fruitful years in the priesthood and evangelization. That Friday evening, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presented Msgr. Kupke received the award during St. Paul’s Fifth Annual Garden Party, its largest annual fundraiser, which was held on the center’s front lawn. Msgr. Kupke has been the diocesan
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Photographic art based on the multicolored columns in the portal hall in Freiburg Minster, Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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A period of unsettled weather brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to California’s Bay Area on May 27, 2026. That afternoon, a break in the clouds left downtown San Francisco and nearby communities beneath mostly cloud-free skies, allowing an astronaut aboard the International Space Station to take this photograph.
Read More![Morristown pastor thanks God for 10 years of priesthood #Catholic - Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., on June 6 to celebrate the 10th ordination anniversary of its pastor, Father Duberney Villamizar, during a Mass the bishop celebrated in the church. The pastor also serves as diocesan vicar for Hispanic Affairs — the first such position established in the diocese.
In his homily, Father Villamizar thanked God, the Blessed Mother, Bishop Sweeney, Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, the parishes he has served and all the people he met who supported him during his first 10 years of priesthood.
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Father Villamizar was born on July 16, 1990, in La Esmeralda, Arauquita-Arauca, Colombia, and studied in Colombia and the United States. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Serratelli on May 28, 2016.
Since his priestly ordination, Father Villamizar has served as parochial vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, N.J., and then of Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross parishes in Wayne, N.J. He currently serves as pastor of St. Margaret’s.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/morristown-pastor-thanks-god-for-10-years-of-priesthood-catholic-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-visited-st-margaret-of-scotland-parish-in-morristown-n-j-on-june-6-to-celebrate-the-10th-ordination-anni.jpg)
Morristown pastor thanks God for 10 years of priesthood #Catholic – 
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., on June 6 to celebrate the 10th ordination anniversary of its pastor, Father Duberney Villamizar, during a Mass the bishop celebrated in the church. The pastor also serves as diocesan vicar for Hispanic Affairs — the first such position established in the diocese.
In his homily, Father Villamizar thanked God, the Blessed Mother, Bishop Sweeney, Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, the parishes he has served and all the people he met who supported him during his first 10 years of priesthood.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Father Villamizar was born on July 16, 1990, in La Esmeralda, Arauquita-Arauca, Colombia, and studied in Colombia and the United States. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Serratelli on May 28, 2016.
Since his priestly ordination, Father Villamizar has served as parochial vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, N.J., and then of Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross parishes in Wayne, N.J. He currently serves as pastor of St. Margaret’s.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., on June 6 to celebrate the 10th ordination anniversary of its pastor, Father Duberney Villamizar, during a Mass the bishop celebrated in the church. The pastor also serves as diocesan vicar for Hispanic Affairs — the first such position established in the diocese. In his homily, Father Villamizar thanked God, the Blessed Mother, Bishop Sweeney, Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, the parishes he has served and all the people he met who supported him during his first 10 years of priesthood. Click here to subscribe to our
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Astronomers have created a comprehensive census of active galactic nuclei (AGN) — galaxies powered by a feeding central black hole. The new census, led by data pipeline developer Mugdha Polimera at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, began while she was a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,Continue reading “Active black holes are more common than we thought”
The post Active black holes are more common than we thought appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More![Pope Leo XIV: Catholics and Jews must work together to fight antisemtism #Catholic Pope Leo XIV affirmed on June 15 the shared heritage of Jews and Catholics, emphasizing that they must be united against antisemitism and in serving those in need.In an address at the Vatican to representatives of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, the pontiff praised their organization as “an instrument of global Jewish philanthropy, providing essential humanitarian aid and social services to vulnerable populations.” He also drew parallels between their work and the Catholic Churchʼs commitment to human development.“These efforts reflect a clear recognition of human dignity and fraternity, resonating with the Church’s own commitment to integral human development and the call to love our neighbor,” Leo said in his remarks.The pope also reflected on the progress of Catholic-Jewish dialogue since the 1965 publication of Nostra Aetate, a declaration from the Second Vatican Council that condemned all forms of antisemitism. Reaffirming the Churchʼs stance against antisemitism, Leo emphasized the need for Catholics and Jews to work together to combat all forms of discrimination."[Nostra Aetate] affirmed, among other things, the truth that we belong to one human family,“ Leo said. ”Recognizing the inherent dignity of all men and women, Nostra Aetate took a firm stand against antisemitism and declared that the Church rejects all forms of discrimination or harassment because of race, color, condition of life, or religion. In a world still wounded by division and conflict, it called us to move beyond past misunderstandings toward collaboration for the common good."](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pope-leo-xiv-catholics-and-jews-must-work-together-to-fight-antisemtism-catholic-pope-leo-xiv-affirmed-on-june-15-the-shared-heritage-of-jews-and-catholics-emphasizing-that-they-must-be-united-agai.jpg "Pope Leo XIV: Catholics and Jews must work together to fight antisemtism #Catholic Pope Leo XIV affirmed on June 15 the shared heritage of Jews and Catholics, emphasizing that they must be united against antisemitism and in serving those in need.In an address at the Vatican to representatives of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, the pontiff praised their organization as “an instrument of global Jewish philanthropy, providing essential humanitarian aid and social services to vulnerable populations.” He also drew parallels between their work and the Catholic Churchʼs commitment to human development.“These efforts reflect a clear recognition of human dignity and fraternity, resonating with the Church’s own commitment to integral human development and the call to love our neighbor,” Leo said in his remarks.The pope also reflected on the progress of Catholic-Jewish dialogue since the 1965 publication of Nostra Aetate, a declaration from the Second Vatican Council that condemned all forms of antisemitism. Reaffirming the Churchʼs stance against antisemitism, Leo emphasized the need for Catholics and Jews to work together to combat all forms of discrimination.\"[Nostra Aetate] affirmed, among other things, the truth that we belong to one human family,“ Leo said. ”Recognizing the inherent dignity of all men and women, Nostra Aetate took a firm stand against antisemitism and declared that the Church rejects all forms of discrimination or harassment because of race, color, condition of life, or religion. In a world still wounded by division and conflict, it called us to move beyond past misunderstandings toward collaboration for the common good.\"")
The pontiff addressed representatives of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York on June 15.
More than six decades after Archbishop Josef Karel Matocha died under communist internment, a Czech court has formally recognized his imprisonment as unlawful.
U.S. – Leading scholars believe that the angel who saved Daniel in the lion’s den used a red laser pointer to distract the vicious cats.
Read MoreA reading from the First Book of Kings
21:1-16
Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel
next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden,
since it is close by, next to my house.
I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or,
if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.”
Naboth answered him, “The LORD forbid
that I should give you my ancestral heritage.”
Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer
Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him:
“I will not give you my ancestral heritage.”
Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat.
His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him,
“Why are you so angry that you will not eat?”
He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite
and said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or,
if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’
But he refused to let me have his vineyard.”
His wife Jezebel said to him,
“A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed!
Get up.
Eat and be cheerful.
I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and,
having sealed them with his seal,
sent them to the elders and to the nobles
who lived in the same city with Naboth.
This is what she wrote in the letters:
“Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.
Next, get two scoundrels to face him
and accuse him of having cursed God and king.
Then take him out and stone him to death.”
His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city—
did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing,
through the letters she had sent them.
They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people.
Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation,
“Naboth has cursed God and king.”
And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death.
Then they sent the information to Jezebel
that Naboth had been stoned to death.
When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death,
she said to Ahab,
“Go on, take possession of the vineyard
of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you,
because Naboth is not alive, but dead.”
On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way
down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
to take possession of it.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
5:38-42
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."
Jesus quotes the ancient law: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Mt 5:38; Ex 21:24). We know what that law meant: when someone takes something from you, you are to take the same thing from him. This law of retaliation was actually a sign of progress, since it prevented excessive retaliation. If someone harms you, then you can repay him or her in the same degree; you cannot do something worse. Ending the matter there, in a fair exchange, was a step forward. But Jesus goes far beyond this: “But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil” (Mt 5:39). But how, Lord? If someone thinks badly of me, if someone hurts me, why can I not repay him with the same currency? “No”, says Jesus. Nonviolence. No act of violence.
We might think that Jesus’ teaching is a part of a plan; in the end, the wicked will desist. But that is not why Jesus asks us to love even those who do us harm. What, then, is the reason? It is that the Father, our Father, continues to love everyone, even when his love is not reciprocated. (…) If we want to be disciples of Christ, if we want to call ourselves Christians, this is the only way; there is no other. Having been loved by God, we are called to love in return; having been forgiven, we are called to forgive; having been touched by love, we are called to love without waiting for others to love first; having been saved graciously, we are called to seek no benefit from the good we do. (Pope Francis, Homily, 23 February 2020)
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In the latest in waste of money on courses at American schools according to Campus Reform, “Rice University, a private research university in Houston, Texas, is offering multiple courses centered on pop star Taylor Swift, including one class examining far-left themes such as “American nationalism and whiteness” through Swift’s lyrics and public image.” “Rice will offer “COLL 118 Mastermind: The Taylor Swift Eras” this fall, in which students will analyze Swift’s albums as “primary texts” and examine “how a single artist can shape global culture and shift industry standards.” If you find this absurd you are not alone.
The post Outrageous: Rice University Offers Course on Taylor Swift Analyzing “Whiteness” and “Nationalism” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Target is facing scrutiny over the safety of its baby products after two separate recalls this week, one for baby wipes containing bacteria and one for baby formula, leaving babies hospitalized with botulism.
The post Target Hit With Double Baby Product Recalls: Nara Formula Linked to Infant Botulism, Up & Up Wipes Pulled Over Dangerous Bacterial Contamination appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized on Sunday morning, according to his spokesperson.
The post Mitch McConnell Rushed to Hospital appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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At the Angelus, the pontiff said Christ sees the wounds of war, broken families, and young people misled by false ideals.
‘Super Bowl on steroids’: Webinar highlights trafficking around World Cup #Catholic – 
While “all eyes are on us” in the coming weeks with FIFA World Cup activity, the issue of human trafficking will persist even after visitors have returned home, said Detective Sgt. Ehtasham “Izzy” Chaudhry of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
“We are not going to stop when FIFA is over, we are going to continue,” he said. “Even though right now we are being hyper vigilant, we will and we have to continue combatting human trafficking.”
The World Cup begins June 11, and matches are being hosted in the region, beginning with Brazil v. Morocco June 11 in East Rutherford, and Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador June 14 in Philadelphia. The July 19 final will also be in East Rutherford.
In preparation, on June 9 the New Jersey Catholic Conference, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference hosted a webinar, “Human Trafficking and Major Sporting Events.” It featured faith leaders, law enforcement representatives, an elected official and an advocate working to fight sexual and labor exploitation.
Kathleen Friess, program and training coordinator for the Human Trafficking Unit in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Justice, emphasized that “anyone can be a lifesaver,” when it comes to human trafficking.
Friess coordinates training for agencies across New Jersey, including law enforcement as well as prosecutors, paramedics, code enforcement officials, the faith community, casinos, and any other organizations that might encounter human trafficking victims. She noted the particular concerns around labor exploitation surrounding the World Cup matches and the fanfare they will bring with them.
“These events are expected to bring more than 1 million visitors to the region,” she said. “Although we have the experience of preparing for the Super Bowl, someone said this is the Super Bowl on steroids. We cannot fathom the type of impact this is going to have, in many ways.”
She noted that outreach efforts have also included posting flyers raising awareness and sharing information about resources in every restroom stall at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium to try to reach those in need.
Catholic Social Teaching
Felicitas Brugo Onetti, anti-trafficking education and outreach coordinator with USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, told webinar participants, “Large-scale sporting events bring influxes of visitors, temporary workers and cash flow, which can increase vulnerabilities to human trafficking.
“Trafficking does not occur because of the event itself, but events can intensify existing trafficking patterns already present in host communities,” she said. “Risk factors include increased demand for commercial sex, informal labor markets, crowded transportation hubs and limited community awareness.”
Onetti emphasized that fighting human trafficking and the commitment to end slavery in all forms are deeply entrenched in Catholic social teaching. She also noted the estimated 49.6 million people who – at any time – live in conditions of slavery and human trafficking globally.
Part of Chaudhry’s work involves leading his office’s Interfaith Advisory Council, and he emphasized the key role that faith leaders and communities can play in raising awareness about trafficking.
“The Catholic Church is the largest faith-based community here in the State of New Jersey,” he said. “I truly believe that faith leaders are community leaders and have a lot of influence in the community. They are able to get out messages that are important.”
Identifying victims
Theresa Flores, a social worker and a human trafficking survivor, launched the SOAP Project – “Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution” – after she, at the age of 40, realized that she had been a victim herself as a teenager. She emphasized that victims can be anywhere and may be hard to identify.
“I also went to church, I also went to school,” she said of the two-year period when she was being trafficked. Flores said a waitress at a hotel restaurant noticed she was in distress and asked her if she was alright – and ended up saving her.
Today, her organization works to raise awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking, in part through distributing soap in packages labeled with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number to hotels and motels to offer victims a discrete way to find out how to seek help. Her organization recently received a boost from students at Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, who labeled some 2,000 bars of soaps that will be distributed to shore motels in the days and weeks to come.
“We do this around big sporting events a lot of times, because we know demand for sex for sale is going to quadruple during that event,” she said, noting that her organization has worked in the host cities for 15 Super Bowls. “If traffickers are going to be there, and bring victims, we want to be there, too.”
Friess joined others on the webinar in encouraging anyone who suspects they have observed a form of human trafficking to contact authorities – even if they cannot prove what is happening.
“You are never going to be 100 percent sure,” she said. “The people who claim to be experts can never be 100 percent sure at the get go. It takes time.”
Tips or leads regarding possible human trafficking can be shared by calling (855) End-NJ-HT. You can also access Department of Labor resources at www.NJ.gov/labor/worldcup, and resources for victims by contacting Covenant House New Jersey at (862) 240-2453.
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by visiting https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.
– While “all eyes are on us” in the coming weeks with FIFA World Cup activity, the issue of human trafficking will persist even after visitors have returned home, said Detective Sgt. Ehtasham “Izzy” Chaudhry of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. “We are not going to stop when FIFA is over, we are going to continue,” he said. “Even though right now we are being hyper vigilant, we will and we have to continue combatting human trafficking.” The World Cup begins June 11, and matches are being hosted in the region, beginning with Brazil v. Morocco June
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A view of the choir of St. Bonifatius Church (Wiesbaden, Germany). Today is the feast of St. Boniface.
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On June 14, 1949, a rhesus monkey named Albert II was launched into space aboard a V-2 rocket from White Sands, New Mexico. Prior to Albert II, animals including fruit flies, mice, and another monkey (Albert I) had been launched in rocket and balloon flights as part of American space biology research, but Albert II’sContinue reading “June 14, 1949: The first mammal in space”
The post June 14, 1949: The first mammal in space appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More![Michigan diocese celebrates new priests after ordinations moved out of cathedral #Catholic ANN ARBOR, Michigan — Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan, ordained four men to the priesthood on June 6 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing after the crowd was too big for St. Mary’s Cathedral, the mother church of the diocese. In the packed church, Boyea told the ordinands: “You have been spending years being with Jesus. He’s calling you as he called those 12 so many centuries ago. Today, as you are consecrated by the Church for a sacred ministry, consecrate yourselves to drink the cup which the Lord gives and take in the word which the Spirit is providing. Though weak vessels that we are, we will not let that prevent us from following the calling we have received.”Now 75 and due to retire from his duties in Lansing, Boyea has ordained 45 priests during his 18 years of leadership of the diocese in Michigan’s capital. The diocese, one of seven Latin-rite dioceses in Michigan, is currently sponsoring 29 seminarians, and last year’s ordination class was the largest in nearly 50 years.Fathers Joshua Bauer, Jacob Derry, Ryan Ferrigan, and Peter Randolph, ordained by Boyea, all attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary of the Detroit Archdiocese.
Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan, washes the feet of one of the four men he ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 2026, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson
Before their ordination, the men were interviewed on video, displaying the chalices they will use as priests.Ferrigan, 28, said his antique sacred vessel had been left behind at the now-shuttered St. Michael Parish church in Flint, Michigan, established more than 170 years ago. Inscribed on its base are the words of an anonymous donor: “In reparation from a friend of the Sacred Heart.”“You know, it’s a paradox because this chalice has a long history, and I don’t know who the priests are who used it in the past,” he said. “They offered the Holy Sacrifice using this vessel for over 100 years, and I get to continue faithfully offering the Mass and praying for the salvation of the world every day.”In his thanksgiving address to the congregation, Ferrigan said of his priesthood: “It’s all about the glory of God and the salvation of souls!”In an interview with EWTN News, the new priest said: “In being ordained, the palpable joy they could see in me was there because in ordination, I am seeing the purpose for which God created me coming to fruition. I have become what the Lord created me to be.”“The day of my ordination was the best day of my life. Lots of friends and family were there to support me. The Lord has blessed me and is very good to me. I’m still adjusting and realizing that I’m really a priest now and have the privilege of offering the Mass every day. This is my commission and what the Lord wants me to do for his praise and the salvation of the world. It is still sinking in,” he told EWTN News.
From left to right: Fathers Peter Randolph, Ryan Ferrigan, Jacob Derry, and Joshua Bauer at their ordaination on June 6, 2026, in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson
Ferrigan celebrated his first solo Mass that same day at St. Martha Parish in Okemos, near Lansing. He was able to distribute the Eucharist for the first time in both instances to his mother. He will serve at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, which is close to the University of Michigan campus and known for its music and solemn liturgies.“I’m excited to be going there, and I expect to serve about three years at St. Thomas,” he said, adding: “I’m excited about learning to be a parish priest and diving into ministry. This is how the Lord wants me to feed his sheep.”Randolph, 27, reflected in the video about his journey to the altar, which has included profound loss. “The emphasis of this chalice upon the humanity of Christ and about receiving the chalice, and then living it out to the fullest extent, both in pain and suffering, and full self-abandonment and full self-emptying and glory, means a lot to me, because my [18-year-old] brother Xavier died less than a year ago. And the Lord has really promised me that he’s going to meet me in the place of my pain,” he said, adding: “He’s not going to leave me alone. But it’s going to come in my very broken humanity. In my humanity that is now broken in a particular way in grief.”
Peter Randolph prepares for his ordination to the priesthood on June 6, 2026, in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson
Randolph’s father and grandfather serve as deacons in the Lansing Diocese. At the July 2025 funeral for Xavier, hundreds of friends and parishioners of the close-knit Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor were on hand to support the Randolph family with the same solidarity shown at Randolph’s ordination. He has been assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Michigan, which is known for its healing services and charismatic liturgies.As Boyea consecrated Randolph, the newly ordained young man openly sobbed in the presence of his many friends and family members. “I want every day of my priesthood and every time that I offer Mass in this chalice, to be able to say, like, ‘Accipiam calicem,’ right, I accept the chalice,” Randolph vowed. Paraphrasing Matthew 26:42, Randolph said: “Father, I accept this chalice, and I will drink it to the dregs with your Son.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/michigan-diocese-celebrates-new-priests-after-ordinations-moved-out-of-cathedral-catholic-ann-arbor-michigan-bishop-earl-boyea-of-lansing-michigan-ordained-four-men-to-the-priesthood-on-scaled.jpg)
Bishop Earl Boyea ordained four new priests at a local Lansing parish, urging them to “drink the cup which the Lord gives” as they begin their ministry.
![A ministry born from loss: One woman’s mission to comfort families after miscarriage - #Catholic - One year ago, Sarah-Elizabeth Pilato, a Catholic mother of three from New York, found out she was pregnant at the age of 40. It was a surprise to her and her husband but the couple were excited to bring another life into the world. Then, suddenly, their excitement ended when Pilato went into her doctor’s office and was told that her baby no longer had a heartbeat. She had undergone a miscarriage. It was this experience that inspired her to write a book called “H.U.G” — an acronym for “Here, Understood, and Gently held.”“It was a very quick emotional roller-coaster ride,” Pilato told EWTN News. “And when I had the miscarriage, my doctor, she looked at me and she basically said, ‘Iʼm so sorry. Miscarriage is really not talked about. I donʼt know why women donʼt talk about it, but itʼs very common.’ And in that moment, as she looked at me, I thought to myself, ‘OK, Iʼm going to talk about it.’”She recalled sitting in the doctor’s office, alone, looking for anything that would help her with her grief — a pamphlet, a picture on the wall, anything — and there was nothing. Instead, all she was handed as she walked out the door was her bill for the office visit.“There was just nothing for me to make me feel that I was going to be OK and that I wasnʼt alone. I felt completely isolated and I felt like I was the only person in the world that was feeling this,” she recalled.Once she got home, she felt lost, not knowing what to think or do. After some time alone at home, she heard God tell her to sit down and write.“Iʼm like, ‘Well thatʼs a really weird thing to do right now. Thatʼs like the last thing that I want to do is open my laptop,’” she said. “But, when God gives you directions itʼs always best to follow. And so I sat down and I opened my laptop. Iʼve got the tissues out, Iʼm still a mess, and I just started writing what I was feeling.”Her writing went up on her blog and after several hours, Pilato returned to the blog post where she saw hundreds of women commenting and sending her messages of their own similar experiences.
Catholic author Sarah-Elizabeth Pilato with her book, “H.U.G.” | Credit: Tatiana Ariola Photography
“Thatʼs when I knew that we needed to share these stories and that I wasnʼt the only one that had ever felt like this,” she shared. “And it became so important to me, in that moment, that no one ever felt like we felt again — if we can make that feeling go away for as many women as possible, it would be worth it.”This is when Pilato was inspired to write her book, “H.U.G.,” which is made up of over 30 testimonies from women who have walked through pregnancy loss as well as men who share their perspectives as husbands and fathers walking alongside their wives. After each story, there are several reflection questions.“This book is meant to be for the woman thatʼs experiencing it at any stage,” Pilato explained. “And itʼs really the kind of book that you can open, look at the table of contents, and theyʼre all labeled — a hug for when you just want to scream or a hug for when you feel alone, a hug for when you donʼt have the words to pray … So, you can pick it up, put it down, pick it up, put it down whenever you need it, wherever youʼre grieving.”She added: “I wish Iʼd had a book to just hug when I was laying there on my couch that would just make me feel seen.”Speaking to the men in the book, Pilato realized through her own miscarriage that her husband “had no idea what to do with me or how to respond or what to do with his own emotions.”“[Men are] kind of forgotten and theyʼre processing in a very different way. And I realized that he didnʼt know what to do and so I realized that he needed to have a story as well,” she said.Pilato explained that the book was entirely funded by donations from individuals, and with the donations she is now working to get the book available “in any place that a woman might be grieving.”“We have them in hospitals, in urgent cares, in churches, therapy offices — Iʼve had requests come in from all different places. And our goal is to get the book into every state,” she said.Books are available for purchase or, if an organization is unable to pay for them, they can request free books to be donated to them.“I do always say if your organization has the budget and you would like to pay, absolutely, it helps, it all goes back into the book, but if not, if we have inventory, we make it happen,” she said. “So, it is all God filling our inventory, bringing us to the people. And so far, weʼve been able to get books to women as soon as two hours after theyʼve heard that theyʼre experiencing a loss.”The author shared that her main hope for women who come across her book is that “she feels seen and loved and finds hope in her future. I think Itʼs so hard to feel seen and loved and hopeful in the moment, but by reading these stories, I believe that she can feel that and get closer to it in her healing.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/a-ministry-born-from-loss-one-womans-mission-to-comfort-families-after-miscarriage-catholic-one-year-ago-sarah-elizabeth-pilato-a-catholic-mother-of-three-from-new-york-found-out-she.jpg)
“H.U.G.” — which stands for “Here, Understood, and Gently held” — is a book made up of over 30 testimonies from women who have walked through miscarriage and pregnancy loss.
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