In Pope Francis’ homeland, his successor carries forward a legacy of prioritizing the poor #Catholic – BUENOS AIRES (CNS) – With seven mouths to feed, Mirta Franco Godoy knew she had to find work fast. In 2001, Argentina’s economy came crashing down amid mounting public debt, economic instability and a run on the country’s banks. Her family had previously managed to get by with odd jobs, including tailoring and seamstress work. But as the economic crisis deepened, those earnings were no longer enough. Desperate to make ends meet, many Argentines began sifting through trash, collecting cardboard and other recyclable materials to sell to companies. Known as “cartoneros,” or waste pickers, they became part of a growing informal economy. At the time, Argentina had no widespread municipal system for separating recyclable materials from ordinary trash, instead sending most waste to landfills. “We started collecting cardboard because we were struggling to make ends meet,” Godoy told Catholic News Service in a Nov. 9 interview. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. During her first year as a waste picker, Godoy recalled preparing a large pot of food for people living on the streets when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, then-archbishop of Buenos Aires and the future Pope Francis, appeared. As she began lifting the heavy, hot pot to distribute the food, Cardinal Bergoglio intervened. “He wanted to carry the pot, but we wouldn’t let him,” she said. “But he insisted that we do it together.” Argentina gave the Catholic Church its first Latin American pope but never welcomed him home during his 12-year pontificate. Now Pope Leo XIV has come to a country where Pope Francis’ memory remains a source of both pride and political controversy, retracing his predecessor’s footsteps while advancing his vision of a Church close to the poor. Throughout his visit, Pope Leo’s itinerary has been closely connected to Pope Francis’ years in Argentina, including stops at Buenos Aires Cathedral, where Cardinal Bergoglio served as archbishop from 1998 until his election as pope in 2013, and the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione de Claypole, a charitable institution associated with his ministry. At the Catholic University of Argentina, where the Argentine pope once served as grand chancellor, Pope Leo addressed workers, business leaders, trade unions and popular movements Nov. 9, emphasizing the dignity of work and the responsibility of governments and businesses to protect vulnerable workers. He specifically mentioned waste pickers, farmers and artisans as examples of grassroots movements that organize themselves to address economic hardship, recalling Pope Francis’ longstanding support for such workers. Pope Leo said those movements advocate the three principles Pope Francis frequently identified as essential to social justice: “tierra, techo y trabajo” — land, housing and work. The pope emphasized that economic activity must serve human dignity rather than reduce workers to their productivity, drawing on the social teachings of both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIII. He also defended the role of workers’ associations and trade unions in protecting people excluded from formal employment, calling on public authorities to promote stable policies that foster employment and social inclusion. For waste pickers like Godoy, organizing collectively transformed what began as a means of survival into a movement seeking recognition, labor protections and a greater voice in Argentine society. Initially, waste pickers faced resistance, particularly from police, but grassroots organizing eventually helped them establish cooperatives and join a union of informal workers. Under previous government programs, some received a supplemental payment equivalent to half the minimum wage, while cooperatives gained access to spaces where workers could sort cardboard, plastic and glass for sale to larger companies. There are now approximately 6,000 waste pickers in Buenos Aires, Godoy said. One of the movement’s leaders, Sergio Sanchez, was invited to Rome for Pope Francis’ inaugural Mass in 2013 and subsequently participated in dialogues with Vatican officials and popular movements on social inclusion and labor rights. Pope Leo’s itinerary reflected his predecessor’s longstanding relationship with the poor and marginalized in Buenos Aires, where he was known for traveling by public transportation and personally engaging with people living in poverty. Marian Father Diego Maximino, an Argentine priest now based in Washington, said Cardinal Bergoglio was deeply involved in the daily lives of ordinary Argentines. Although some disagreed with his political positions and theological approach, Father Maximino said Pope Francis’ commitment to mercy, particularly toward the poor, was widely recognized. “He was like a prophet,” the priest told CNS in an Oct. 22 interview by phone. Yet Pope Francis’ willingness to challenge political leaders and established interests also contributed to his complicated relationship with his homeland. Argentina’s last papal visit was in 1987, when St. John Paul II visited for the second time. David Lantigua, an associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame who specializes in Latin American Christianity, said Pope Francis knew how easily the Church could become entangled in Argentine politics and may have feared a visit would be interpreted as an endorsement of a particular political administration. “I think it was just too close to home. I think he probably did have the intention of going back,” Lantigua told CNS Oct. 30, adding that Pope Francis became more explicit about that desire toward the end of his life. While Pope Francis was frequently outspoken in his criticism of economic and political systems, Pope Leo has largely advanced similar concerns through an emphasis on dialogue, social cohesion and institutional responsibility to protect the human dignity of all people. Addressing President Javier Milei, government authorities, civil society leaders and diplomats Nov. 8, Pope Leo called for the protection of democratic institutions and urged public officials to exercise power in service of the common good. “Democracy, then, is also a part of Argentina’s heritage that needs to be safeguarded,” he said, emphasizing the importance of listening to people with opposing views and seeking agreement. He also stressed that political authority carries an obligation to promote the well-being of all citizens, including those struggling to support their families despite working. Pope Leo’s remarks came as waste pickers and other informal workers continued to face economic uncertainty under Milei’s administration. The president, who was elected in 2023, has been categorized by international media as a far-right politician. Godoy said government payments supporting waste pickers had disappeared, along with funding for improvements in the impoverished neighborhoods where many of them live. “Everything has gone backwards,” she said. The pope did not directly address those claims, but in his meeting with workers the following day, he argued that neither governments nor corporations should replace grassroots initiatives, but should instead support and strengthen them. His message echoed Pope Francis’ longstanding defense of popular movements and their role in advancing social justice. Throughout his Argentina visit, Pope Leo repeatedly invoked his predecessor’s teachings on poverty, human dignity and the Church’s responsibility toward marginalized communities. During his four days in the country, Pope Leo drew immense crowds, with an estimated 2.5 million people attending his Nov. 9 Mass, another 1 million gathering for a prayer vigil in Buenos Aires Nov. 10, and more than 2 million at his Nov. 11 Mass outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, according to local estimates. At a Nov. 10 Mass in Córdoba where an estimated 650,000 people attended, Pope Leo again recalled Pope Francis’ insistence that the poor need not only material assistance but also the love and spiritual care of the Church. In a meeting with clergy Nov. 10, Pope Leo emphasized the need to provide spiritual care to the poor, a priority his predecessor had championed as archbishop through his support for the “curas villeros,” that is, priests who live and minister in Buenos Aires’ impoverished settlements. Earlier, during a Nov. 9 visit to the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione de Claypole, which serves people with disabilities and other needs, Pope Leo emphasized the inherent dignity of every human life. “Today I would like to affirm that your lives are not a burden on society,” he said. “A nation’s progress is also measured by how it welcomes all people with disabilities and particular needs.” Lantigua said Pope Francis’ emphasis on the poor reflected a broader transformation of the Latin American Church following the Second Vatican Council, when bishops increasingly emphasized pastoral ministry, social justice and the Church’s responsibility toward marginalized communities. “You can’t villainize Francis for caring for the poor. He is the pope after all,” Lantigua said. He sees Pope Leo as continuing that mission while placing particular emphasis on unity and avoiding the divisions that characterized parts of Pope Francis’ pontificate. “Unity is going to be found in proximity to Christ, and where do we know we can find Christ? In the poor,” Lantigua said. For many Argentines, Pope Francis’ legacy remains deeply personal even as his relationship with the country’s politics continues to provoke debate. Marta Ramos, speaking to CNS Nov. 8 among crowds gathered to welcome Pope Leo in Buenos Aires, said the enthusiasm surrounding Pope Francis’ election eventually became complicated as political groups sought to appropriate his words and actions. “I think that’s why he didn’t come here, so as not to divide this country even further,” she said. Ramos said she believes Pope Leo is following a similar path, but with a different temperament. “I think he’s very reserved. You have to listen to him,” she said. “He’s very profound, but he’s not as expressive as the other popes.” Meanwhile, the Argentine Church continues some of the pastoral traditions Cardinal Bergoglio established, including an annual outdoor Mass in Buenos Aires’ Plaza Constitución dedicated to waste pickers and other marginalized workers. Although Pope Francis never returned to Argentina as pope, his successor has brought his message back to the country where much of it first took shape. With two Holy See flags flying in front of the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s presidential offices, Rosa González told CNS that Pope Leo’s visit offered hope for greater unity in a country marked by political divisions. “I believe Francis left a great legacy, but I think Leo’s new dawn awakens in us another chapter of the papacy,” she said.  
Read More

In Pope Francis’ homeland, his successor carries forward a legacy of prioritizing the poor #Catholic – BUENOS AIRES (CNS) – With seven mouths to feed, Mirta Franco Godoy knew she had to find work fast. In 2001, Argentina’s economy came crashing down amid mounting public debt, economic instability and a run on the country’s banks. Her family had previously managed to get by with odd jobs, including tailoring and seamstress work. But as the economic crisis deepened, those earnings were no longer enough. Desperate to make ends meet, many Argentines began sifting through trash, collecting cardboard and other recyclable materials to sell to companies. Known as “cartoneros,” or waste pickers, they became part of a growing informal economy. At the time, Argentina had no widespread municipal system for separating recyclable materials from ordinary trash, instead sending most waste to landfills. “We started collecting cardboard because we were struggling to make ends meet,” Godoy told Catholic News Service in a Nov. 9 interview. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. During her first year as a waste picker, Godoy recalled preparing a large pot of food for people living on the streets when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, then-archbishop of Buenos Aires and the future Pope Francis, appeared. As she began lifting the heavy, hot pot to distribute the food, Cardinal Bergoglio intervened. “He wanted to carry the pot, but we wouldn’t let him,” she said. “But he insisted that we do it together.” Argentina gave the Catholic Church its first Latin American pope but never welcomed him home during his 12-year pontificate. Now Pope Leo XIV has come to a country where Pope Francis’ memory remains a source of both pride and political controversy, retracing his predecessor’s footsteps while advancing his vision of a Church close to the poor. Throughout his visit, Pope Leo’s itinerary has been closely connected to Pope Francis’ years in Argentina, including stops at Buenos Aires Cathedral, where Cardinal Bergoglio served as archbishop from 1998 until his election as pope in 2013, and the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione de Claypole, a charitable institution associated with his ministry. At the Catholic University of Argentina, where the Argentine pope once served as grand chancellor, Pope Leo addressed workers, business leaders, trade unions and popular movements Nov. 9, emphasizing the dignity of work and the responsibility of governments and businesses to protect vulnerable workers. He specifically mentioned waste pickers, farmers and artisans as examples of grassroots movements that organize themselves to address economic hardship, recalling Pope Francis’ longstanding support for such workers. Pope Leo said those movements advocate the three principles Pope Francis frequently identified as essential to social justice: “tierra, techo y trabajo” — land, housing and work. The pope emphasized that economic activity must serve human dignity rather than reduce workers to their productivity, drawing on the social teachings of both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIII. He also defended the role of workers’ associations and trade unions in protecting people excluded from formal employment, calling on public authorities to promote stable policies that foster employment and social inclusion. For waste pickers like Godoy, organizing collectively transformed what began as a means of survival into a movement seeking recognition, labor protections and a greater voice in Argentine society. Initially, waste pickers faced resistance, particularly from police, but grassroots organizing eventually helped them establish cooperatives and join a union of informal workers. Under previous government programs, some received a supplemental payment equivalent to half the minimum wage, while cooperatives gained access to spaces where workers could sort cardboard, plastic and glass for sale to larger companies. There are now approximately 6,000 waste pickers in Buenos Aires, Godoy said. One of the movement’s leaders, Sergio Sanchez, was invited to Rome for Pope Francis’ inaugural Mass in 2013 and subsequently participated in dialogues with Vatican officials and popular movements on social inclusion and labor rights. Pope Leo’s itinerary reflected his predecessor’s longstanding relationship with the poor and marginalized in Buenos Aires, where he was known for traveling by public transportation and personally engaging with people living in poverty. Marian Father Diego Maximino, an Argentine priest now based in Washington, said Cardinal Bergoglio was deeply involved in the daily lives of ordinary Argentines. Although some disagreed with his political positions and theological approach, Father Maximino said Pope Francis’ commitment to mercy, particularly toward the poor, was widely recognized. “He was like a prophet,” the priest told CNS in an Oct. 22 interview by phone. Yet Pope Francis’ willingness to challenge political leaders and established interests also contributed to his complicated relationship with his homeland. Argentina’s last papal visit was in 1987, when St. John Paul II visited for the second time. David Lantigua, an associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame who specializes in Latin American Christianity, said Pope Francis knew how easily the Church could become entangled in Argentine politics and may have feared a visit would be interpreted as an endorsement of a particular political administration. “I think it was just too close to home. I think he probably did have the intention of going back,” Lantigua told CNS Oct. 30, adding that Pope Francis became more explicit about that desire toward the end of his life. While Pope Francis was frequently outspoken in his criticism of economic and political systems, Pope Leo has largely advanced similar concerns through an emphasis on dialogue, social cohesion and institutional responsibility to protect the human dignity of all people. Addressing President Javier Milei, government authorities, civil society leaders and diplomats Nov. 8, Pope Leo called for the protection of democratic institutions and urged public officials to exercise power in service of the common good. “Democracy, then, is also a part of Argentina’s heritage that needs to be safeguarded,” he said, emphasizing the importance of listening to people with opposing views and seeking agreement. He also stressed that political authority carries an obligation to promote the well-being of all citizens, including those struggling to support their families despite working. Pope Leo’s remarks came as waste pickers and other informal workers continued to face economic uncertainty under Milei’s administration. The president, who was elected in 2023, has been categorized by international media as a far-right politician. Godoy said government payments supporting waste pickers had disappeared, along with funding for improvements in the impoverished neighborhoods where many of them live. “Everything has gone backwards,” she said. The pope did not directly address those claims, but in his meeting with workers the following day, he argued that neither governments nor corporations should replace grassroots initiatives, but should instead support and strengthen them. His message echoed Pope Francis’ longstanding defense of popular movements and their role in advancing social justice. Throughout his Argentina visit, Pope Leo repeatedly invoked his predecessor’s teachings on poverty, human dignity and the Church’s responsibility toward marginalized communities. During his four days in the country, Pope Leo drew immense crowds, with an estimated 2.5 million people attending his Nov. 9 Mass, another 1 million gathering for a prayer vigil in Buenos Aires Nov. 10, and more than 2 million at his Nov. 11 Mass outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, according to local estimates. At a Nov. 10 Mass in Córdoba where an estimated 650,000 people attended, Pope Leo again recalled Pope Francis’ insistence that the poor need not only material assistance but also the love and spiritual care of the Church. In a meeting with clergy Nov. 10, Pope Leo emphasized the need to provide spiritual care to the poor, a priority his predecessor had championed as archbishop through his support for the “curas villeros,” that is, priests who live and minister in Buenos Aires’ impoverished settlements. Earlier, during a Nov. 9 visit to the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione de Claypole, which serves people with disabilities and other needs, Pope Leo emphasized the inherent dignity of every human life. “Today I would like to affirm that your lives are not a burden on society,” he said. “A nation’s progress is also measured by how it welcomes all people with disabilities and particular needs.” Lantigua said Pope Francis’ emphasis on the poor reflected a broader transformation of the Latin American Church following the Second Vatican Council, when bishops increasingly emphasized pastoral ministry, social justice and the Church’s responsibility toward marginalized communities. “You can’t villainize Francis for caring for the poor. He is the pope after all,” Lantigua said. He sees Pope Leo as continuing that mission while placing particular emphasis on unity and avoiding the divisions that characterized parts of Pope Francis’ pontificate. “Unity is going to be found in proximity to Christ, and where do we know we can find Christ? In the poor,” Lantigua said. For many Argentines, Pope Francis’ legacy remains deeply personal even as his relationship with the country’s politics continues to provoke debate. Marta Ramos, speaking to CNS Nov. 8 among crowds gathered to welcome Pope Leo in Buenos Aires, said the enthusiasm surrounding Pope Francis’ election eventually became complicated as political groups sought to appropriate his words and actions. “I think that’s why he didn’t come here, so as not to divide this country even further,” she said. Ramos said she believes Pope Leo is following a similar path, but with a different temperament. “I think he’s very reserved. You have to listen to him,” she said. “He’s very profound, but he’s not as expressive as the other popes.” Meanwhile, the Argentine Church continues some of the pastoral traditions Cardinal Bergoglio established, including an annual outdoor Mass in Buenos Aires’ Plaza Constitución dedicated to waste pickers and other marginalized workers. Although Pope Francis never returned to Argentina as pope, his successor has brought his message back to the country where much of it first took shape. With two Holy See flags flying in front of the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s presidential offices, Rosa González told CNS that Pope Leo’s visit offered hope for greater unity in a country marked by political divisions. “I believe Francis left a great legacy, but I think Leo’s new dawn awakens in us another chapter of the papacy,” she said.  

unitedyam

In Pope Francis’ homeland, his successor carries forward a legacy of prioritizing the poor #Catholic –

BUENOS AIRES (CNS) – With seven mouths to feed, Mirta Franco Godoy knew she had to find work fast.

In 2001, Argentina’s economy came crashing down amid mounting public debt, economic instability and a run on the country’s banks.

Her family had previously managed to get by with odd jobs, including tailoring and seamstress work. But as the economic crisis deepened, those earnings were no longer enough.

Desperate to make ends meet, many Argentines began sifting through trash, collecting cardboard and other recyclable materials to sell to companies. Known as “cartoneros,” or waste pickers, they became part of a growing informal economy. At the time, Argentina had no widespread municipal system for separating recyclable materials from ordinary trash, instead sending most waste to landfills.

“We started collecting cardboard because we were struggling to make ends meet,” Godoy told Catholic News Service in a Nov. 9 interview.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

During her first year as a waste picker, Godoy recalled preparing a large pot of food for people living on the streets when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, then-archbishop of Buenos Aires and the future Pope Francis, appeared.

As she began lifting the heavy, hot pot to distribute the food, Cardinal Bergoglio intervened.

“He wanted to carry the pot, but we wouldn’t let him,” she said. “But he insisted that we do it together.”

Argentina gave the Catholic Church its first Latin American pope but never welcomed him home during his 12-year pontificate. Now Pope Leo XIV has come to a country where Pope Francis’ memory remains a source of both pride and political controversy, retracing his predecessor’s footsteps while advancing his vision of a Church close to the poor.

Throughout his visit, Pope Leo’s itinerary has been closely connected to Pope Francis’ years in Argentina, including stops at Buenos Aires Cathedral, where Cardinal Bergoglio served as archbishop from 1998 until his election as pope in 2013, and the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione de Claypole, a charitable institution associated with his ministry.

At the Catholic University of Argentina, where the Argentine pope once served as grand chancellor, Pope Leo addressed workers, business leaders, trade unions and popular movements Nov. 9, emphasizing the dignity of work and the responsibility of governments and businesses to protect vulnerable workers.

He specifically mentioned waste pickers, farmers and artisans as examples of grassroots movements that organize themselves to address economic hardship, recalling Pope Francis’ longstanding support for such workers.

Pope Leo said those movements advocate the three principles Pope Francis frequently identified as essential to social justice: “tierra, techo y trabajo” — land, housing and work.

The pope emphasized that economic activity must serve human dignity rather than reduce workers to their productivity, drawing on the social teachings of both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIII.

He also defended the role of workers’ associations and trade unions in protecting people excluded from formal employment, calling on public authorities to promote stable policies that foster employment and social inclusion.

For waste pickers like Godoy, organizing collectively transformed what began as a means of survival into a movement seeking recognition, labor protections and a greater voice in Argentine society.

Initially, waste pickers faced resistance, particularly from police, but grassroots organizing eventually helped them establish cooperatives and join a union of informal workers.

Under previous government programs, some received a supplemental payment equivalent to half the minimum wage, while cooperatives gained access to spaces where workers could sort cardboard, plastic and glass for sale to larger companies.

There are now approximately 6,000 waste pickers in Buenos Aires, Godoy said.

One of the movement’s leaders, Sergio Sanchez, was invited to Rome for Pope Francis’ inaugural Mass in 2013 and subsequently participated in dialogues with Vatican officials and popular movements on social inclusion and labor rights.

Pope Leo’s itinerary reflected his predecessor’s longstanding relationship with the poor and marginalized in Buenos Aires, where he was known for traveling by public transportation and personally engaging with people living in poverty.

Marian Father Diego Maximino, an Argentine priest now based in Washington, said Cardinal Bergoglio was deeply involved in the daily lives of ordinary Argentines.

Although some disagreed with his political positions and theological approach, Father Maximino said Pope Francis’ commitment to mercy, particularly toward the poor, was widely recognized.

“He was like a prophet,” the priest told CNS in an Oct. 22 interview by phone.

Yet Pope Francis’ willingness to challenge political leaders and established interests also contributed to his complicated relationship with his homeland.

Argentina’s last papal visit was in 1987, when St. John Paul II visited for the second time.

David Lantigua, an associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame who specializes in Latin American Christianity, said Pope Francis knew how easily the Church could become entangled in Argentine politics and may have feared a visit would be interpreted as an endorsement of a particular political administration.

“I think it was just too close to home. I think he probably did have the intention of going back,” Lantigua told CNS Oct. 30, adding that Pope Francis became more explicit about that desire toward the end of his life.

While Pope Francis was frequently outspoken in his criticism of economic and political systems, Pope Leo has largely advanced similar concerns through an emphasis on dialogue, social cohesion and institutional responsibility to protect the human dignity of all people.

Addressing President Javier Milei, government authorities, civil society leaders and diplomats Nov. 8, Pope Leo called for the protection of democratic institutions and urged public officials to exercise power in service of the common good.

“Democracy, then, is also a part of Argentina’s heritage that needs to be safeguarded,” he said, emphasizing the importance of listening to people with opposing views and seeking agreement.

He also stressed that political authority carries an obligation to promote the well-being of all citizens, including those struggling to support their families despite working.

Pope Leo’s remarks came as waste pickers and other informal workers continued to face economic uncertainty under Milei’s administration. The president, who was elected in 2023, has been categorized by international media as a far-right politician.

Godoy said government payments supporting waste pickers had disappeared, along with funding for improvements in the impoverished neighborhoods where many of them live.

“Everything has gone backwards,” she said.

The pope did not directly address those claims, but in his meeting with workers the following day, he argued that neither governments nor corporations should replace grassroots initiatives, but should instead support and strengthen them.

His message echoed Pope Francis’ longstanding defense of popular movements and their role in advancing social justice.

Throughout his Argentina visit, Pope Leo repeatedly invoked his predecessor’s teachings on poverty, human dignity and the Church’s responsibility toward marginalized communities.

During his four days in the country, Pope Leo drew immense crowds, with an estimated 2.5 million people attending his Nov. 9 Mass, another 1 million gathering for a prayer vigil in Buenos Aires Nov. 10, and more than 2 million at his Nov. 11 Mass outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, according to local estimates.

At a Nov. 10 Mass in Córdoba where an estimated 650,000 people attended, Pope Leo again recalled Pope Francis’ insistence that the poor need not only material assistance but also the love and spiritual care of the Church.

In a meeting with clergy Nov. 10, Pope Leo emphasized the need to provide spiritual care to the poor, a priority his predecessor had championed as archbishop through his support for the “curas villeros,” that is, priests who live and minister in Buenos Aires’ impoverished settlements.

Earlier, during a Nov. 9 visit to the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione de Claypole, which serves people with disabilities and other needs, Pope Leo emphasized the inherent dignity of every human life.

“Today I would like to affirm that your lives are not a burden on society,” he said. “A nation’s progress is also measured by how it welcomes all people with disabilities and particular needs.”

Lantigua said Pope Francis’ emphasis on the poor reflected a broader transformation of the Latin American Church following the Second Vatican Council, when bishops increasingly emphasized pastoral ministry, social justice and the Church’s responsibility toward marginalized communities.

“You can’t villainize Francis for caring for the poor. He is the pope after all,” Lantigua said. He sees Pope Leo as continuing that mission while placing particular emphasis on unity and avoiding the divisions that characterized parts of Pope Francis’ pontificate.

“Unity is going to be found in proximity to Christ, and where do we know we can find Christ? In the poor,” Lantigua said.

For many Argentines, Pope Francis’ legacy remains deeply personal even as his relationship with the country’s politics continues to provoke debate.

Marta Ramos, speaking to CNS Nov. 8 among crowds gathered to welcome Pope Leo in Buenos Aires, said the enthusiasm surrounding Pope Francis’ election eventually became complicated as political groups sought to appropriate his words and actions.

“I think that’s why he didn’t come here, so as not to divide this country even further,” she said.

Ramos said she believes Pope Leo is following a similar path, but with a different temperament.

“I think he’s very reserved. You have to listen to him,” she said. “He’s very profound, but he’s not as expressive as the other popes.”

Meanwhile, the Argentine Church continues some of the pastoral traditions Cardinal Bergoglio established, including an annual outdoor Mass in Buenos Aires’ Plaza Constitución dedicated to waste pickers and other marginalized workers.

Although Pope Francis never returned to Argentina as pope, his successor has brought his message back to the country where much of it first took shape.

With two Holy See flags flying in front of the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s presidential offices, Rosa González told CNS that Pope Leo’s visit offered hope for greater unity in a country marked by political divisions.

“I believe Francis left a great legacy, but I think Leo’s new dawn awakens in us another chapter of the papacy,” she said.

 

– BUENOS AIRES (CNS) – With seven mouths to feed, Mirta Franco Godoy knew she had to find work fast. In 2001, Argentina’s economy came crashing down amid mounting public debt, economic instability and a run on the country’s banks. Her family had previously managed to get by with odd jobs, including tailoring and seamstress work. But as the economic crisis deepened, those earnings were no longer enough. Desperate to make ends meet, many Argentines began sifting through trash, collecting cardboard and other recyclable materials to sell to companies. Known as “cartoneros,” or waste pickers, they became part of a growing

Read More
3 million people give Pope Leo XIV a warm welcome as he arrives in Peru, his home for two decades #Catholic – LIMA, Peru (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lima Nov. 11 for the much-anticipated final leg of his 12-day apostolic journey to South America, landing in the country that the pope described as “one of my many homes.” The visit marks Pope Leo’s first return to Peru since his election and brings him back to a country where he spent two decades that shaped his ministry as an Augustinian missionary and bishop in Peru. He first arrived in Peru as a missionary priest in 1985 and later returned to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo, serving as its bishop from 2015 to 2023. In his very first speech as pope, he gave a special shoutout in Spanish from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to “my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru,” where, he said, “a faithful people has accompanied its bishop, shared its faith and given so much, so much, to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.” For the people of Peru, the apostolic visit is not just a welcoming of the Vicar of Christ; it’s the return of a missionary, a neighbor and a shepherd who understood the realities of those who lived there, particularly the poor and the marginalized. Many signs and welcome banners with images of the pope are spread across the streets of Chiclayo as the city awaits his return. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “It feels like the return of a family member who’s been away,” Mildred Camacho, Pope Leo’s 31-year-old goddaughter, told OSV News the day before his arrival. Camacho, who was named after Pope Leo’s late mother, Mildred, is serving as a volunteer for the papal visit. Then-Father Robert Francis Prevost was just 40 years old when she was baptized shortly after turning 1 in August 1996 in Chulucanas, Peru. The papal flight touched down at the Callao Air Base in Lima at about 5 p.m. local time after traveling around 2,000 miles on a four-hour, 20-minute flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Peru’s President Keiko Fujimori welcomed Pope Leo at the foot of the stairs, and two children presented him with flowers. A children’s choir sang hymns in Latin and people in the crowds lining his walkway shouted with excitement as he greeted people, especially babies and children, and accepted gifts. Pope Leo’s first stop in Peru was at the Palacio de Gobierno for the official welcome ceremony and a private meeting with Fujimori, who in July became the country’s ninth president in 10 years. People lined the streets waving and cheering to catch a glimpse of the papal motorcade as Pope Leo traveled from the airport to the city center. The Holy See estimated 3 million people were present on Lima’s streets to welcome Pope Leo that evening. The pope addressed the nation’s political authorities at Lima’s Grand National Theater that evening in his first speech in Peru. “This return visit holds a very special meaning for me,” he said. “My history with Peru began long before the Lord entrusted me with the Diocese of Chiclayo. For decades, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith. Many opened the doors of their homes to me, shared their table with me — and, of course, some good ceviche — and made me feel like one of their own.” Noting he received Peruvian citizenship in 2015, he added, “That act symbolized a bond that this people had been weaving into my life long before. Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you.” Now as pope, he said, he recognizes how the Lord was “forming me as a shepherd” while in Peru. “If I were granted the chance to relive those years, I would do so with joy, embracing both their happy moments and their difficulties,” he said. “That is why I can tell you, with deep gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland.” He spoke about the impact of the Gospel on Peru’s history when it was first proclaimed there 500 years ago. “The faith took deep root in these lands and found expression in their traditions and in countless works of charity,” he said. “Suffice it to recall that the first flower of Latin American holiness bore the name ‘Rosa,’ and that this Rosa was Peruvian” — a nod to St. Rose of Lima, a Dominican tertiary who lived in Peru’s capital 1586-1617, and was the first canonized saint of the Americas. He urged the officials to listen to the Peruvian people, noting that “Democratic life implies recognizing that no one has all the answers and that differences do not prevent us from sharing a sincere concern for the good of the country.” “I would like to encourage everyone to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others — qualities that sustain trust among people and give strength to the life of institutions,” Pope Leo said. Families should not be deprived of peace, which, for them, includes “going out to work without fear, caring for one’s children, and returning home with peace of mind,” he said. The Associated Press has reported that crime, extortion and killings have been on the rise in Peru, with homicides reaching 10.7 per 100,000 ?inhabitants, up from 5.8 five years ago. The pope acknowledged the suffering caused by violence and the Church’s desire “to remain close to those who endure it,” he said. He also said that “providing for one’s family with dignity is also part of that everyday peace” and that development has a “cultural, moral, and spiritual” dimension as well. “There are goods that no economic prosperity can replace: peace of conscience, the certainty of being loved, and the freedom to seek the truth and to guide one’s life according to it,” he said. Among Peru’s challenges is its inequality and poverty: In 2025, 25.7% of the Peruvian population was living in poverty, according to government data. Stressing the need for unity in the country, Pope Leo also said that “To love a people is to desire that everyone may live with dignity among them, to take an interest in them, and to be willing to offer something of oneself for their good. It is a sentiment that I have come to understand better thanks to you, and which I wish to share today with those who hold public office,” he said. The pope also listed different expressions of solidarity preserved in Peru, such as communal work projects, women running soup kitchens and meal programs, and the different ways families help one another in times of difficulty. Through the intercession of Mary and all the saints and blesseds of the country, the pope asked God “that the love of Christ may help you to recognize in every Peruvian a brother or sister, and in each one, yet another reason to love your homeland.” He concluded the speech asking for God’s blessings upon Peru and all his people. On his second day in Lima Nov. 12, Pope Leo expects to meet with Peru’s bishops and lead mid-morning prayer at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist with the country’s Catholic community. He plans to give a speech outside the cathedral on the challenges and hopes of the Peruvian people. That evening, Pope Leo is scheduled to join young people and college students at the National Stadium for a prayer vigil. In addition to Lima, the capital and largest city of Peru, Pope Leo will also visit Chiclayo, where he will celebrate a large outdoor Mass; Cusco, the former Inca capital in the Andes; and Pucallpa, a city on the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest that has long been a center of Catholic missionary outreach before arriving back in Rome on Nov. 17. Courtney Mares is Vatican editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @catholicourtney.
Read More

3 million people give Pope Leo XIV a warm welcome as he arrives in Peru, his home for two decades #Catholic – LIMA, Peru (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lima Nov. 11 for the much-anticipated final leg of his 12-day apostolic journey to South America, landing in the country that the pope described as “one of my many homes.” The visit marks Pope Leo’s first return to Peru since his election and brings him back to a country where he spent two decades that shaped his ministry as an Augustinian missionary and bishop in Peru. He first arrived in Peru as a missionary priest in 1985 and later returned to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo, serving as its bishop from 2015 to 2023. In his very first speech as pope, he gave a special shoutout in Spanish from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to “my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru,” where, he said, “a faithful people has accompanied its bishop, shared its faith and given so much, so much, to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.” For the people of Peru, the apostolic visit is not just a welcoming of the Vicar of Christ; it’s the return of a missionary, a neighbor and a shepherd who understood the realities of those who lived there, particularly the poor and the marginalized. Many signs and welcome banners with images of the pope are spread across the streets of Chiclayo as the city awaits his return. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “It feels like the return of a family member who’s been away,” Mildred Camacho, Pope Leo’s 31-year-old goddaughter, told OSV News the day before his arrival. Camacho, who was named after Pope Leo’s late mother, Mildred, is serving as a volunteer for the papal visit. Then-Father Robert Francis Prevost was just 40 years old when she was baptized shortly after turning 1 in August 1996 in Chulucanas, Peru. The papal flight touched down at the Callao Air Base in Lima at about 5 p.m. local time after traveling around 2,000 miles on a four-hour, 20-minute flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Peru’s President Keiko Fujimori welcomed Pope Leo at the foot of the stairs, and two children presented him with flowers. A children’s choir sang hymns in Latin and people in the crowds lining his walkway shouted with excitement as he greeted people, especially babies and children, and accepted gifts. Pope Leo’s first stop in Peru was at the Palacio de Gobierno for the official welcome ceremony and a private meeting with Fujimori, who in July became the country’s ninth president in 10 years. People lined the streets waving and cheering to catch a glimpse of the papal motorcade as Pope Leo traveled from the airport to the city center. The Holy See estimated 3 million people were present on Lima’s streets to welcome Pope Leo that evening. The pope addressed the nation’s political authorities at Lima’s Grand National Theater that evening in his first speech in Peru. “This return visit holds a very special meaning for me,” he said. “My history with Peru began long before the Lord entrusted me with the Diocese of Chiclayo. For decades, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith. Many opened the doors of their homes to me, shared their table with me — and, of course, some good ceviche — and made me feel like one of their own.” Noting he received Peruvian citizenship in 2015, he added, “That act symbolized a bond that this people had been weaving into my life long before. Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you.” Now as pope, he said, he recognizes how the Lord was “forming me as a shepherd” while in Peru. “If I were granted the chance to relive those years, I would do so with joy, embracing both their happy moments and their difficulties,” he said. “That is why I can tell you, with deep gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland.” He spoke about the impact of the Gospel on Peru’s history when it was first proclaimed there 500 years ago. “The faith took deep root in these lands and found expression in their traditions and in countless works of charity,” he said. “Suffice it to recall that the first flower of Latin American holiness bore the name ‘Rosa,’ and that this Rosa was Peruvian” — a nod to St. Rose of Lima, a Dominican tertiary who lived in Peru’s capital 1586-1617, and was the first canonized saint of the Americas. He urged the officials to listen to the Peruvian people, noting that “Democratic life implies recognizing that no one has all the answers and that differences do not prevent us from sharing a sincere concern for the good of the country.” “I would like to encourage everyone to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others — qualities that sustain trust among people and give strength to the life of institutions,” Pope Leo said. Families should not be deprived of peace, which, for them, includes “going out to work without fear, caring for one’s children, and returning home with peace of mind,” he said. The Associated Press has reported that crime, extortion and killings have been on the rise in Peru, with homicides reaching 10.7 per 100,000 ?inhabitants, up from 5.8 five years ago. The pope acknowledged the suffering caused by violence and the Church’s desire “to remain close to those who endure it,” he said. He also said that “providing for one’s family with dignity is also part of that everyday peace” and that development has a “cultural, moral, and spiritual” dimension as well. “There are goods that no economic prosperity can replace: peace of conscience, the certainty of being loved, and the freedom to seek the truth and to guide one’s life according to it,” he said. Among Peru’s challenges is its inequality and poverty: In 2025, 25.7% of the Peruvian population was living in poverty, according to government data. Stressing the need for unity in the country, Pope Leo also said that “To love a people is to desire that everyone may live with dignity among them, to take an interest in them, and to be willing to offer something of oneself for their good. It is a sentiment that I have come to understand better thanks to you, and which I wish to share today with those who hold public office,” he said. The pope also listed different expressions of solidarity preserved in Peru, such as communal work projects, women running soup kitchens and meal programs, and the different ways families help one another in times of difficulty. Through the intercession of Mary and all the saints and blesseds of the country, the pope asked God “that the love of Christ may help you to recognize in every Peruvian a brother or sister, and in each one, yet another reason to love your homeland.” He concluded the speech asking for God’s blessings upon Peru and all his people. On his second day in Lima Nov. 12, Pope Leo expects to meet with Peru’s bishops and lead mid-morning prayer at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist with the country’s Catholic community. He plans to give a speech outside the cathedral on the challenges and hopes of the Peruvian people. That evening, Pope Leo is scheduled to join young people and college students at the National Stadium for a prayer vigil. In addition to Lima, the capital and largest city of Peru, Pope Leo will also visit Chiclayo, where he will celebrate a large outdoor Mass; Cusco, the former Inca capital in the Andes; and Pucallpa, a city on the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest that has long been a center of Catholic missionary outreach before arriving back in Rome on Nov. 17. Courtney Mares is Vatican editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @catholicourtney.

unitedyam

3 million people give Pope Leo XIV a warm welcome as he arrives in Peru, his home for two decades #Catholic –

LIMA, Peru (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lima Nov. 11 for the much-anticipated final leg of his 12-day apostolic journey to South America, landing in the country that the pope described as “one of my many homes.”

The visit marks Pope Leo’s first return to Peru since his election and brings him back to a country where he spent two decades that shaped his ministry as an Augustinian missionary and bishop in Peru. He first arrived in Peru as a missionary priest in 1985 and later returned to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo, serving as its bishop from 2015 to 2023.

In his very first speech as pope, he gave a special shoutout in Spanish from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to “my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru,” where, he said, “a faithful people has accompanied its bishop, shared its faith and given so much, so much, to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.”

For the people of Peru, the apostolic visit is not just a welcoming of the Vicar of Christ; it’s the return of a missionary, a neighbor and a shepherd who understood the realities of those who lived there, particularly the poor and the marginalized. Many signs and welcome banners with images of the pope are spread across the streets of Chiclayo as the city awaits his return.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

“It feels like the return of a family member who’s been away,” Mildred Camacho, Pope Leo’s 31-year-old goddaughter, told OSV News the day before his arrival.

Camacho, who was named after Pope Leo’s late mother, Mildred, is serving as a volunteer for the papal visit. Then-Father Robert Francis Prevost was just 40 years old when she was baptized shortly after turning 1 in August 1996 in Chulucanas, Peru.

The papal flight touched down at the Callao Air Base in Lima at about 5 p.m. local time after traveling around 2,000 miles on a four-hour, 20-minute flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Peru’s President Keiko Fujimori welcomed Pope Leo at the foot of the stairs, and two children presented him with flowers. A children’s choir sang hymns in Latin and people in the crowds lining his walkway shouted with excitement as he greeted people, especially babies and children, and accepted gifts.

Pope Leo’s first stop in Peru was at the Palacio de Gobierno for the official welcome ceremony and a private meeting with Fujimori, who in July became the country’s ninth president in 10 years.

People lined the streets waving and cheering to catch a glimpse of the papal motorcade as Pope Leo traveled from the airport to the city center. The Holy See estimated 3 million people were present on Lima’s streets to welcome Pope Leo that evening.

The pope addressed the nation’s political authorities at Lima’s Grand National Theater that evening in his first speech in Peru.

“This return visit holds a very special meaning for me,” he said. “My history with Peru began long before the Lord entrusted me with the Diocese of Chiclayo. For decades, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith. Many opened the doors of their homes to me, shared their table with me — and, of course, some good ceviche — and made me feel like one of their own.”

Noting he received Peruvian citizenship in 2015, he added, “That act symbolized a bond that this people had been weaving into my life long before. Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you.”

Now as pope, he said, he recognizes how the Lord was “forming me as a shepherd” while in Peru.

“If I were granted the chance to relive those years, I would do so with joy, embracing both their
happy moments and their difficulties,” he said. “That is why I can tell you, with deep gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland.”

He spoke about the impact of the Gospel on Peru’s history when it was first proclaimed there 500 years ago. “The faith took deep root in these lands and found expression in their
traditions and in countless works of charity,” he said. “Suffice it to recall that the first flower of Latin American holiness bore the name ‘Rosa,’ and that this Rosa was Peruvian” — a nod to St. Rose of Lima, a Dominican tertiary who lived in Peru’s capital 1586-1617, and was the first canonized saint of the Americas.

He urged the officials to listen to the Peruvian people, noting that “Democratic life implies recognizing that no one has all the answers and that differences do not prevent us from sharing a sincere concern for the good of the country.”

“I would like to encourage everyone to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others — qualities that sustain trust among people and give strength to the life of institutions,” Pope Leo said.

Families should not be deprived of peace, which, for them, includes “going out to work without fear, caring for one’s children, and returning home with peace of mind,” he said.

The Associated Press has reported that crime, extortion and killings have been on the rise in Peru, with homicides reaching 10.7 per 100,000 ?inhabitants, up from 5.8 five years ago.

The pope acknowledged the suffering caused by violence and the Church’s desire “to remain close to those who endure it,” he said. He also said that “providing for one’s family with dignity is also part of that everyday peace” and that development has a “cultural, moral, and spiritual” dimension as well.

“There are goods that no economic prosperity can replace: peace of conscience, the certainty of being loved, and the freedom to seek the truth and to guide one’s life according to it,” he said.

Among Peru’s challenges is its inequality and poverty: In 2025, 25.7% of the Peruvian population was living in poverty, according to government data.

Stressing the need for unity in the country, Pope Leo also said that “To love a people is to desire that everyone may live with dignity among them, to take an interest in them, and to be willing to offer something of oneself for their good. It is a sentiment that I have come to understand better thanks to you, and which I wish to share today with those who hold public office,” he said.

The pope also listed different expressions of solidarity preserved in Peru, such as communal work projects, women running soup kitchens and meal programs, and the different ways families help one another in times of difficulty.

Through the intercession of Mary and all the saints and blesseds of the country, the pope asked God “that the love of Christ may help you to recognize in every Peruvian a brother or sister, and in each one, yet another reason to love your homeland.”

He concluded the speech asking for God’s blessings upon Peru and all his people.

On his second day in Lima Nov. 12, Pope Leo expects to meet with Peru’s bishops and lead mid-morning prayer at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist with the country’s Catholic community. He plans to give a speech outside the cathedral on the challenges and hopes of the Peruvian people. That evening, Pope Leo is scheduled to join young people and college students at the National Stadium for a prayer vigil.

In addition to Lima, the capital and largest city of Peru, Pope Leo will also visit Chiclayo, where he will celebrate a large outdoor Mass; Cusco, the former Inca capital in the Andes; and Pucallpa, a city on the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest that has long been a center of Catholic missionary outreach before arriving back in Rome on Nov. 17.

Courtney Mares is Vatican editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @catholicourtney.

– LIMA, Peru (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lima Nov. 11 for the much-anticipated final leg of his 12-day apostolic journey to South America, landing in the country that the pope described as “one of my many homes.” The visit marks Pope Leo’s first return to Peru since his election and brings him back to a country where he spent two decades that shaped his ministry as an Augustinian missionary and bishop in Peru. He first arrived in Peru as a missionary priest in 1985 and later returned to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo, serving as its bishop

Read More

Picture of the day Orange-lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus), Red Sea, Egypt. This demersal triggerfish has a maximum body size of about 30 centimetres (12 in) and is found across the Indo-western Pacific East Africa, Red Sea and Japan, typically in coral reefs ecosystems, coral lagoons, and external reef slopes within this area. Within coral reefs, the orange-lined triggerfish are more versatile than other triggerfish species and can be found at depths up to 50 metres (160 ft), although studies have found that they prefer depths of 2 to 8 metres (6 ft 7 in to 26 ft 3 in). It’s an omnivorous feeder that can, because of its strong and heavy teeth, tackle a variety of benthic prey like cnidarians, molluscs, ctenophores, crustaceans, other fish, algae, and echinoderms. This species in particular, given its broad diet and distribution, is a crucial component in coral reef ecosystems through top-down control and especially through consumption of sea-urchin. #ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam
Picture of the day
Orange-lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus), Red Sea, Egypt. This demersal triggerfish has a maximum body size of about 30 centimetres (12 in) and is found across the Indo-western Pacific East Africa, Red Sea and Japan, typically in coral reefs ecosystems, coral lagoons, and external reef slopes within this area. Within coral reefs, the orange-lined triggerfish are more versatile than other triggerfish species and can be found at depths up to 50 metres (160 ft), although studies have found that they prefer depths of 2 to 8 metres (6 ft 7 in to 26 ft 3 in). It’s an omnivorous feeder that can, because of its strong and heavy teeth, tackle a variety of benthic prey like cnidarians, molluscs, ctenophores, crustaceans, other fish, algae, and echinoderms. This species in particular, given its broad diet and distribution, is a crucial component in coral reef ecosystems through top-down control and especially through consumption of sea-urchin.
Read More
Jennifer Hudson to headline Vatican Christmas concert for the poor – #Catholic – Grammy- and Academy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson will usher in the Christmas season at the Vatican with a concert for the poor.The R&B artist will perform on Dec. 5 at the seventh edition of the Concert with the Poor in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. As in 2025, Pope Leo XIV will attend the concert, which will support approximately 3,000 people in need served by volunteer organizations around Rome.Hudson will become the first American vocalist to perform at the Christmas concert, singing alongside the renowned priest and composer Monsignor Marco Frisina, Italian actress and singer Serena Autieri, and the choir of the Diocese of Rome. It will also mark Hudson’s second performance at the Vatican, following her 2025 appearance with others at “Grace for the World,” in tribute to Pope Francis, who died earlier that year. Illuminated drones reproduce Michelangelo’s “Pietà” over St. Peter’s Basilica during the “Grace for the World” concert at the Vatican on Sept. 14, 2025. | Credit: Courtney Mares/EWTN News The 2025 edition, which hosted a pope for the first time in its history, featured Canadian singer Michael Bublé, who described the experience as an encouragement to others to discuss their Christian faith openly.“My hope is that there’s a young person who might listen to me today who might be afraid to share their faith or to be open about it, and they look at me and they say, ‘Wow, look at Bublé. He’s not afraid to share it,’ and maybe it will give them the strength to do the same,” Bublé told EWTN News. Andrea Bocelli during his performance at the “Canticle of Peace” before Pope Leo XIV and the young people gathered at the Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo on July 29, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV has attended at least eight musical events since his election in 2025; his most recent was the “Canticle of Peace” musical prayer service at Castel Gandolfo in July, performed by Andrea Bocelli.Tickets for the Dec. 5 concert are free, with registration opening on Nov. 19 through the website.
Read More

Jennifer Hudson to headline Vatican Christmas concert for the poor – #Catholic – Grammy- and Academy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson will usher in the Christmas season at the Vatican with a concert for the poor.The R&B artist will perform on Dec. 5 at the seventh edition of the Concert with the Poor in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. As in 2025, Pope Leo XIV will attend the concert, which will support approximately 3,000 people in need served by volunteer organizations around Rome.Hudson will become the first American vocalist to perform at the Christmas concert, singing alongside the renowned priest and composer Monsignor Marco Frisina, Italian actress and singer Serena Autieri, and the choir of the Diocese of Rome. It will also mark Hudson’s second performance at the Vatican, following her 2025 appearance with others at “Grace for the World,” in tribute to Pope Francis, who died earlier that year. Illuminated drones reproduce Michelangelo’s “Pietà” over St. Peter’s Basilica during the “Grace for the World” concert at the Vatican on Sept. 14, 2025. | Credit: Courtney Mares/EWTN News The 2025 edition, which hosted a pope for the first time in its history, featured Canadian singer Michael Bublé, who described the experience as an encouragement to others to discuss their Christian faith openly.“My hope is that there’s a young person who might listen to me today who might be afraid to share their faith or to be open about it, and they look at me and they say, ‘Wow, look at Bublé. He’s not afraid to share it,’ and maybe it will give them the strength to do the same,” Bublé told EWTN News. Andrea Bocelli during his performance at the “Canticle of Peace” before Pope Leo XIV and the young people gathered at the Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo on July 29, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV has attended at least eight musical events since his election in 2025; his most recent was the “Canticle of Peace” musical prayer service at Castel Gandolfo in July, performed by Andrea Bocelli.Tickets for the Dec. 5 concert are free, with registration opening on Nov. 19 through the website.

unitedyam

The American R&B singer and others will perform in the presence of Pope Leo XIV on Dec. 5.

Read More
‘God first and country first’: Neal McDonough hopes film inspires new generation to serve – #Catholic – For Catholic actor Neal McDonough, the story of Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart is about more than fame or military heroism. Itʼs also a story of faith, sacrifice, and the importance of putting God and country before oneself.McDonough portrays Alexander Stewart, Jimmy Stewart’s father, in the new film “Jimmy,” produced by Papaian Studios and Burns & Co. The film, which premiered Nov. 6, explores the transformative time of Stewart’s service in World War II as a bomber pilot and how this experience impacted his portrayal of George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”Alexander Stewart, who served in the Spanish-American War and World War I, had a profound influence on his son and inspired Jimmyʼs desire to serve his country. Before Jimmy went to war, his father slipped a handwritten letter — a copy of Psalm 91 — and a devotional into Jimmy’s pocket. Jimmy carried and read these items before every single bombing mission he went on during his service in World War II.That scene of a father passing down his faith to his son resonated with McDonough, who has sought to do the same with his wife, Ruvé, in raising their five children.In an interview with EWTN News, McDonough shared that while his daughter Catherine was playing volleyball in college, she wrote a verse from Philippians on her shoe and his son, who is a baseball pitcher, always draws a cross in the dirt on the pitcher’s mound before he begins to pitch.“It makes me think, ‘OK, my wife Ruvé and I did the right thing,’” he said. “We brought our kids up correctly that theyʼre putting God first and country first before themselves.” Actor Neal McDonough sits down with EWTN News at the premiere of the new film “Jimmy” in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2026. | Credit: Francesca Fenton/EWTN News screenshot With this in mind, McDonough pointed out that young people today need more examples of what it looks like to put something bigger than yourself first.“Nowadays, weʼre pretty selfish about a lot of things, not just in America, all over the world. Social media has kind of ruined a lot of kids and a lot of thought processes … I canʼt imagine being 16 years old and looking at a phone and thinking, ‘I could never be as cool or as pretty or as handsome as that person,’ or ‘Gosh, Iʼm a loser.’ Wow, what a horrible way to start your day,” he shared.He added: “We need to have more heroes. We need to have films where kids can go to a movie theater and think, ‘Oh wow, that dude did it. I can do it, too. I can work a little bit harder and not worry so much about what Iʼm wearing or what Iʼm saying or what my hair looks like. I can care more about whatʼs the right thing for the United States of America.’”McDonough also recalled President John F. Kennedyʼs famous call to service, arguing that Americans need to rediscover the spirit behind the words “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”The actor lamented that this spirit of service has been “lost nowadays,” pointing to declining trust in institutions as one reason Americans may feel powerless to bring about change. However, he encouraged people not to let that discourage them.“There are great journalists out there. There are some terrible journalists out there, but keep going towards the good ones. There are great politicians out there. There are some not so great politicians — keep going towards the good ones and youʼll weed out the bad things after a while,” he said.“But if you let the bad ones permeate into your soul and make you realize, ‘Oh, thereʼs nothing I can do as an American. I canʼt change the system.’ Yeah, you can. You can stand up for what is right by being the best version of yourself for God and for your country, not just for yourself. That was Jimmy Stewart.”Ultimately, McDonough said, he hopes the film will encourage a new generation to recognize the importance of faith, selflessness, and service.“Itʼs OK to do the right thing. Itʼs OK to put God first before yourself. Itʼs OK to put country first before yourself,” he said. “And in a day and age where people just tear heroes down so much, there are few heroes left. Jimmy Stewart is one of those heroes. And itʼs time for us to start building up some heroes again.”
Read More

‘God first and country first’: Neal McDonough hopes film inspires new generation to serve – #Catholic – For Catholic actor Neal McDonough, the story of Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart is about more than fame or military heroism. Itʼs also a story of faith, sacrifice, and the importance of putting God and country before oneself.McDonough portrays Alexander Stewart, Jimmy Stewart’s father, in the new film “Jimmy,” produced by Papaian Studios and Burns & Co. The film, which premiered Nov. 6, explores the transformative time of Stewart’s service in World War II as a bomber pilot and how this experience impacted his portrayal of George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”Alexander Stewart, who served in the Spanish-American War and World War I, had a profound influence on his son and inspired Jimmyʼs desire to serve his country. Before Jimmy went to war, his father slipped a handwritten letter — a copy of Psalm 91 — and a devotional into Jimmy’s pocket. Jimmy carried and read these items before every single bombing mission he went on during his service in World War II.That scene of a father passing down his faith to his son resonated with McDonough, who has sought to do the same with his wife, Ruvé, in raising their five children.In an interview with EWTN News, McDonough shared that while his daughter Catherine was playing volleyball in college, she wrote a verse from Philippians on her shoe and his son, who is a baseball pitcher, always draws a cross in the dirt on the pitcher’s mound before he begins to pitch.“It makes me think, ‘OK, my wife Ruvé and I did the right thing,’” he said. “We brought our kids up correctly that theyʼre putting God first and country first before themselves.” Actor Neal McDonough sits down with EWTN News at the premiere of the new film “Jimmy” in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2026. | Credit: Francesca Fenton/EWTN News screenshot With this in mind, McDonough pointed out that young people today need more examples of what it looks like to put something bigger than yourself first.“Nowadays, weʼre pretty selfish about a lot of things, not just in America, all over the world. Social media has kind of ruined a lot of kids and a lot of thought processes … I canʼt imagine being 16 years old and looking at a phone and thinking, ‘I could never be as cool or as pretty or as handsome as that person,’ or ‘Gosh, Iʼm a loser.’ Wow, what a horrible way to start your day,” he shared.He added: “We need to have more heroes. We need to have films where kids can go to a movie theater and think, ‘Oh wow, that dude did it. I can do it, too. I can work a little bit harder and not worry so much about what Iʼm wearing or what Iʼm saying or what my hair looks like. I can care more about whatʼs the right thing for the United States of America.’”McDonough also recalled President John F. Kennedyʼs famous call to service, arguing that Americans need to rediscover the spirit behind the words “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”The actor lamented that this spirit of service has been “lost nowadays,” pointing to declining trust in institutions as one reason Americans may feel powerless to bring about change. However, he encouraged people not to let that discourage them.“There are great journalists out there. There are some terrible journalists out there, but keep going towards the good ones. There are great politicians out there. There are some not so great politicians — keep going towards the good ones and youʼll weed out the bad things after a while,” he said.“But if you let the bad ones permeate into your soul and make you realize, ‘Oh, thereʼs nothing I can do as an American. I canʼt change the system.’ Yeah, you can. You can stand up for what is right by being the best version of yourself for God and for your country, not just for yourself. That was Jimmy Stewart.”Ultimately, McDonough said, he hopes the film will encourage a new generation to recognize the importance of faith, selflessness, and service.“Itʼs OK to do the right thing. Itʼs OK to put God first before yourself. Itʼs OK to put country first before yourself,” he said. “And in a day and age where people just tear heroes down so much, there are few heroes left. Jimmy Stewart is one of those heroes. And itʼs time for us to start building up some heroes again.”

unitedyam

Actor Neal McDonough said he hopes a new film about Jimmy Stewart will inspire Americans to rediscover the importance of faith, sacrifice, and service.

Read More

The Sky Today on Thursday, November 12: An open cluster in Perseus

unitedyam

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  November 11: Venus comes to a halt The constellation Perseus is famous for its bright Double Cluster, but these two open clusters aren’t the only groups of young stars in the Hero worth viewing. Today, let’s shift our gaze to the westernContinue reading “The Sky Today on Thursday, November 12: An open cluster in Perseus”

The post The Sky Today on Thursday, November 12: An open cluster in Perseus appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Read More
Pope Leo XIV returns to Peru: ‘Much of my own story belongs to you’ #Catholic LIMA, Peru — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in a spectacular homecoming that drew an estimated three million people to the streets to greet him.Leo, a U.S. citizen but also a naturalized citizen of the country where he served as a missionary and bishop for about 20 years before becoming pope, met privately with President Keiko Fujimori, then addressed her and other dignitaries about Peru’s current state and prospects.“For decades, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith,” the pope said, drawing laughter when he noted that he also ate ceviche, a traditional Peruvian dish based on raw fish. “Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you.”Invoking his deep personal experience — “I recall seemingly simple conversations in which the difficulties of a family or the hopes of an entire community came to light” — Leo called on Fujimori and other public officeholders to listen to their citizens.The pope referred gently to the national reconciliation process still underway in Peru after decades of left-wing terrorism, followed by years of a counterterrorism campaign led by President Alberto Fujimori, which was denounced for violations of human rights. The future Pope Leo, then Father Robert Prevost, criticized both the left-wing insurgents and the government at the time. He also called on the elder Fujimori to ask forgiveness. Pope Leo XIV delivers his address to the authorities at the Gran Teatro Nacional in Lima on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News In his speech on Wednesday the pope addressed the related problem of polarization, encouraging everyone “to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others — qualities that sustain trust among people and give strength to the life of institutions.”He also addressed the issue of violent crime, an urgent concern not just in Peru but across Latin America.“For families, peace has a very concrete meaning: going out to work without fear, caring for one’s children, and returning home with peace of mind. These are simple aspirations, but no one should be deprived of them. The Church is aware of the suffering caused by violence and wishes to remain close to those who endure it, encouraging the efforts of all who work to protect the life, dignity, and rights of people through law and justice,” the pope said.At a time when many Latin American governments have moved to the right and hence to favor less social spending, Leo took a contrary position:“When a person falls ill or needs ongoing care, the lives of those around them also change. Anyone who has cared for a loved one knows how much timely medical care, a friendly presence and a word of comfort mean. I think of the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering from loneliness or mental health challenges. Many families quietly shoulder this burden, often with great sacrifice. I encourage the authorities to support this dedication by providing them with accessible health services and strengthening preventive medicine.”After the speech, Leo went to the apostolic nunciature in Lima, where a large crowd was waiting for him. On Thursday he is scheduled to meet Peru’s bishops, visit Lima’s cathedral and lead an evening vigil with young people.
Read More

Pope Leo XIV returns to Peru: ‘Much of my own story belongs to you’ #Catholic LIMA, Peru — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in a spectacular homecoming that drew an estimated three million people to the streets to greet him.Leo, a U.S. citizen but also a naturalized citizen of the country where he served as a missionary and bishop for about 20 years before becoming pope, met privately with President Keiko Fujimori, then addressed her and other dignitaries about Peru’s current state and prospects.“For decades, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith,” the pope said, drawing laughter when he noted that he also ate ceviche, a traditional Peruvian dish based on raw fish. “Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you.”Invoking his deep personal experience — “I recall seemingly simple conversations in which the difficulties of a family or the hopes of an entire community came to light” — Leo called on Fujimori and other public officeholders to listen to their citizens.The pope referred gently to the national reconciliation process still underway in Peru after decades of left-wing terrorism, followed by years of a counterterrorism campaign led by President Alberto Fujimori, which was denounced for violations of human rights. The future Pope Leo, then Father Robert Prevost, criticized both the left-wing insurgents and the government at the time. He also called on the elder Fujimori to ask forgiveness. Pope Leo XIV delivers his address to the authorities at the Gran Teatro Nacional in Lima on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News In his speech on Wednesday the pope addressed the related problem of polarization, encouraging everyone “to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others — qualities that sustain trust among people and give strength to the life of institutions.”He also addressed the issue of violent crime, an urgent concern not just in Peru but across Latin America.“For families, peace has a very concrete meaning: going out to work without fear, caring for one’s children, and returning home with peace of mind. These are simple aspirations, but no one should be deprived of them. The Church is aware of the suffering caused by violence and wishes to remain close to those who endure it, encouraging the efforts of all who work to protect the life, dignity, and rights of people through law and justice,” the pope said.At a time when many Latin American governments have moved to the right and hence to favor less social spending, Leo took a contrary position:“When a person falls ill or needs ongoing care, the lives of those around them also change. Anyone who has cared for a loved one knows how much timely medical care, a friendly presence and a word of comfort mean. I think of the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering from loneliness or mental health challenges. Many families quietly shoulder this burden, often with great sacrifice. I encourage the authorities to support this dedication by providing them with accessible health services and strengthening preventive medicine.”After the speech, Leo went to the apostolic nunciature in Lima, where a large crowd was waiting for him. On Thursday he is scheduled to meet Peru’s bishops, visit Lima’s cathedral and lead an evening vigil with young people.

unitedyam

On his first night back in Peru, his adopted homeland, Pope Leo XIV told the country’s leaders that his return has “a very special meaning” and urged them to open paths for young people.

Read More
PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV concludes visit to Argentina, returns to adopted country of Peru #Catholic Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Argentina on Nov. 11 and departed for Peru, his adopted country where he spent years as a bishop and where he will finish his historic South American papal voyage. The Holy Father spent his last hours in Argentina visiting prisoners at a federal prison complex and holding a public Mass before flying to the Peruvian city of Callao, where he took part in welcoming ceremonies and met with civil authorities.Here are photos of Pope Leo’s activities in Argentina and Peru on Nov. 11: Pope Leo XIV walks through the federal prison complex in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN Pope Leo XIV greets an assembly of prisoners at the federal prison complex in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN A prisoner embraces Pope Leo XIV at the federal prison complex in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds outside of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV processes in to Mass in the square in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in the square in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in the square in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Argentine President Javier Milei as the Holy Father departs after a three-day trip to the country on Nov. 11, 2026, before heading for Peru. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves as he prepares to board a plane for Peru after a three-day trip to Argentina on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV greets the crowds as he steps off the airplane after arriving in Peru on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV is greeted by Peru President Keiko Fujimori upon his arrival in Peru on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV participates in a welcome ceremony at the Palacio de Gobierno in Lima, Peru, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN Pope Leo XIV participates in a welcome ceremony at the Palacio de Gobierno in Lima, Peru, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN
Read More

PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV concludes visit to Argentina, returns to adopted country of Peru #Catholic Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Argentina on Nov. 11 and departed for Peru, his adopted country where he spent years as a bishop and where he will finish his historic South American papal voyage. The Holy Father spent his last hours in Argentina visiting prisoners at a federal prison complex and holding a public Mass before flying to the Peruvian city of Callao, where he took part in welcoming ceremonies and met with civil authorities.Here are photos of Pope Leo’s activities in Argentina and Peru on Nov. 11: Pope Leo XIV walks through the federal prison complex in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN Pope Leo XIV greets an assembly of prisoners at the federal prison complex in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN A prisoner embraces Pope Leo XIV at the federal prison complex in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds outside of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV processes in to Mass in the square in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in the square in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in the square in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Argentine President Javier Milei as the Holy Father departs after a three-day trip to the country on Nov. 11, 2026, before heading for Peru. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves as he prepares to board a plane for Peru after a three-day trip to Argentina on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV greets the crowds as he steps off the airplane after arriving in Peru on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV is greeted by Peru President Keiko Fujimori upon his arrival in Peru on Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV participates in a welcome ceremony at the Palacio de Gobierno in Lima, Peru, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN Pope Leo XIV participates in a welcome ceremony at the Palacio de Gobierno in Lima, Peru, Nov. 11, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN

unitedyam

The Holy Father will conclude his historic South American visit with nearly a week in Peru.

Read More

Gospel and Word of the Day – 12 November 2026 – A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philemon 7-20 Beloved: I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper, I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the Gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me. And if he has done you any injustice or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay. May I not tell you that you owe me your very self. Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.From the Gospel according to Luke 17:20-25 Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”The Lord never says that the Kingdom of God is a spectacle. Of course, “it is a celebration, but it’s different! It’s a beautiful celebration, a grand feast. And Heaven will be feast, but not a spectacle”. Instead, “our human weakness prefers a spectacle”. As opposed to a spectacle, there is “the perseverance of so many Christians carrying the family forward: men, women who care for their children, take care of grandparents, who have only 50 cents in their pocket by month’s end, but they pray”. And the Kingdom of God “is there, hidden in that holiness of daily life, that everyday holiness”. Because “the Kingdom of God is not far from us, it’s close”. The very “closeness is one of the characteristics” of the Kingdom. It is an “everyday” closeness. The Kingdom of God is humble, like a seed: humble; but it becomes big by the power of the Holy Spirit”. And we have to “let it grow within us, without boasting. May the Spirit come, change our soul and lead us forth in silence, in peace, in quiet, in closeness to God, to others, in adoration of God, without pageantry”. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 13 November 2014)

unitedyam

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philemon
7-20

Beloved:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,
because the hearts of the holy ones
have been refreshed by you, brother.
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ
to order you to do what is proper,
I rather urge you out of love,
being as I am, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment,
who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the Gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
And if he has done you any injustice
or owes you anything, charge it to me.
I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.
May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.
Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in Christ.

From the Gospel according to Luke
17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Then he said to his disciples,
“The days will come when you will long to see
one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will say to you,
‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’
Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.
For just as lightning flashes
and lights up the sky from one side to the other,
so will the Son of Man be in his day.
But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

The Lord never says that the Kingdom of God is a spectacle. Of course, “it is a celebration, but it’s different! It’s a beautiful celebration, a grand feast. And Heaven will be feast, but not a spectacle”. Instead, “our human weakness prefers a spectacle”.

As opposed to a spectacle, there is “the perseverance of so many Christians carrying the family forward: men, women who care for their children, take care of grandparents, who have only 50 cents in their pocket by month’s end, but they pray”. And the Kingdom of God “is there, hidden in that holiness of daily life, that everyday holiness”. Because “the Kingdom of God is not far from us, it’s close”.

The very “closeness is one of the characteristics” of the Kingdom. It is an “everyday” closeness. The Kingdom of God is humble, like a seed: humble; but it becomes big by the power of the Holy Spirit”. And we have to “let it grow within us, without boasting. May the Spirit come, change our soul and lead us forth in silence, in peace, in quiet, in closeness to God, to others, in adoration of God, without pageantry”. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 13 November 2014)

Read More
Vatican theologians advance sainthood cause of Wisconsin missionary priest – #Catholic – Vatican theologians unanimously voted in favor of advancing the canonization cause of Servant of God Joseph Walijewski, a priest from the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, who served as a missionary in Latin America.The nine members of the Theological Congress of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints examined the “positio” for Walijewski, which is the formal document about his life that shows evidence of heroic virtue, a reputation for holiness, and his intercessory power.In a unanimous vote, the theologians voted in favor of affirming the merits of his cause. The positio will be reviewed by the cardinals and bishops at the dicastery, who will determine whether to recommend his cause favorably to the pope. If they do, it would be up to Pope Leo XIV to decide whether to beatify him and grant him the title “venerable.” Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski serves as a priest in Lima, Peru, in 1996. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of La Crosse “This marks a significant milestone and an important step forward in the advancement of his cause,” Diocese of La Crosse Bishop Gerard W. Battersby said in an announcement. “… While additional steps remain, the favorable vote of the Theological Congress represents a noteworthy affirmation and source of encouragement.”Walijewski was born in 1924 to poor Polish immigrants in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and planned to eventually become a priest while he was selling newspapers as a child. He promised God he would serve in Latin America if he were ordained a priest.According to the Father Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild, the servant of God began missionary work in Bolivia, where he built a parish in a jungle along with a rectory and a school. The location is now part of the urban center of Santa Cruz. He later served as a missionary in Peru, where he served the poor and operated an orphanage. Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski serves as a priest in Lima, Peru, circa 1999. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of La Crosse Battersby said the diocese received this news on Nov. 6, on the same day they celebrated the legacy of Walijewski and the work of Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, a home for youth in Peru. The bishop expressed gratitude for the “dedicated work of the theological experts, the dedication of those who have promoted the Cause, and the many faithful whose prayers continue to accompany this journey.”“We give thanks to God, whose grace was evident in Father Joe’s priestly ministry and continues to bear fruit today through the lives he touched and the mission he inspired,” the bishop added. “I invite the faithful to continue praying for the successful advancement of the Cause according to God’s holy will.”
Read More

Vatican theologians advance sainthood cause of Wisconsin missionary priest – #Catholic – Vatican theologians unanimously voted in favor of advancing the canonization cause of Servant of God Joseph Walijewski, a priest from the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, who served as a missionary in Latin America.The nine members of the Theological Congress of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints examined the “positio” for Walijewski, which is the formal document about his life that shows evidence of heroic virtue, a reputation for holiness, and his intercessory power.In a unanimous vote, the theologians voted in favor of affirming the merits of his cause. The positio will be reviewed by the cardinals and bishops at the dicastery, who will determine whether to recommend his cause favorably to the pope. If they do, it would be up to Pope Leo XIV to decide whether to beatify him and grant him the title “venerable.” Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski serves as a priest in Lima, Peru, in 1996. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of La Crosse “This marks a significant milestone and an important step forward in the advancement of his cause,” Diocese of La Crosse Bishop Gerard W. Battersby said in an announcement. “… While additional steps remain, the favorable vote of the Theological Congress represents a noteworthy affirmation and source of encouragement.”Walijewski was born in 1924 to poor Polish immigrants in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and planned to eventually become a priest while he was selling newspapers as a child. He promised God he would serve in Latin America if he were ordained a priest.According to the Father Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild, the servant of God began missionary work in Bolivia, where he built a parish in a jungle along with a rectory and a school. The location is now part of the urban center of Santa Cruz. He later served as a missionary in Peru, where he served the poor and operated an orphanage. Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski serves as a priest in Lima, Peru, circa 1999. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of La Crosse Battersby said the diocese received this news on Nov. 6, on the same day they celebrated the legacy of Walijewski and the work of Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, a home for youth in Peru. The bishop expressed gratitude for the “dedicated work of the theological experts, the dedication of those who have promoted the Cause, and the many faithful whose prayers continue to accompany this journey.”“We give thanks to God, whose grace was evident in Father Joe’s priestly ministry and continues to bear fruit today through the lives he touched and the mission he inspired,” the bishop added. “I invite the faithful to continue praying for the successful advancement of the Cause according to God’s holy will.”

unitedyam

Servant of God Joseph Walijewski served as a missionary priest in Bolivia and Peru. His canonization cause will be reviewed by the prelates at the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

Read More
LeBron James Forced To Press Life Alert Button After Falling During Game #BabylonBee – PHILADELPHIA, PA — One of the sports world’s brightest stars suffered a significant health scare on Tuesday night, as LeBron James was forced to press his Life Alert button after falling during a game.
Read More

LeBron James Forced To Press Life Alert Button After Falling During Game #BabylonBee – PHILADELPHIA, PA — One of the sports world’s brightest stars suffered a significant health scare on Tuesday night, as LeBron James was forced to press his Life Alert button after falling during a game.

unitedyam

PHILADELPHIA, PA — One of the sports world’s brightest stars suffered a significant health scare on Tuesday night, as LeBron James was forced to press his Life Alert button after falling during a game.

Read More
11 Things You Should Go Enjoy One Last Time Before The Dems Institute A Communist State #BabylonBee – The end is officially near, as Democrats’ midterm wins have swept them back into power, giving America — and indeed freedom itself — mere days left to live. Fortunately, you still have time to enjoy some of life’s sweetest liberties before democracy dies.
Read More

11 Things You Should Go Enjoy One Last Time Before The Dems Institute A Communist State #BabylonBee – The end is officially near, as Democrats’ midterm wins have swept them back into power, giving America — and indeed freedom itself — mere days left to live. Fortunately, you still have time to enjoy some of life’s sweetest liberties before democracy dies.

unitedyam

The end is officially near, as Democrats’ midterm wins have swept them back into power, giving America — and indeed freedom itself — mere days left to live. Fortunately, you still have time to enjoy some of life’s sweetest liberties before democracy dies.

Read More
Cause for canonization of World War I chaplain Father Willie Doyle advances to Rome – #Catholic – The cause for canonization of Servant of God Father Willie Doyle, SJ, officially entered the Roman phase of the cause on Nov. 10 after the documentation gathered during the diocesan phase was formally submitted to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome.The diocesan phase of Doyle’s cause was opened by the Diocese of Meath in Ireland in 2022 and formally closed on Oct. 18, 2026.This is the first time in more than 40 years that a canonization cause pertaining to an Irish candidate has completed its diocesan phase in Ireland. Venerable Nano Nagle, foundress of the Presentation Sisters, was the last cause in which this occurred.Jesuit Father Pascual Cebollada, postulator general of the Society of Jesus, will assume the role of postulator for Doyle’s cause, while Father John Hogan of the Diocese of Meath will serve as vice postulator.“I am delighted that the cause has reached this important stage. I am confident that the cause will progress further and I encourage people to pray through the intercession of Father Willie Doyle,” Bishop Tom Deenihan of the Diocese of Meath said in a statement. “Father Doyle’s generosity and heroism, which stemmed from his religious conviction, is an example for our time. It was very evident from the closing ceremony in Mullingar on 18 October that devotion to Father Doyle has extended beyond his own century and is as relevant today as it ever was.”Hogan added: “More than 3,000 pages of Father Willieʼs writings, together with extensive historical and theological analyses and commentaries, have been assembled during the diocesan phase and were delivered to the dicastery this week. This represents a major milestone in the cause for his canonization.”“We will now begin work on the positio — the detailed study of Father Willieʼs life, heroic virtues, and reputation for holiness,” he said. “Alongside this, we will continue to promote devotion to Father Willie and encourage people to seek his intercession, particularly through prayer for miracles.” Documents from the diocesan process of the cause of Father Willie Doyle are presented at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome. | Credit: Photo courtesy of The Father Willie Doyle Association Born on March 3, 1873, in Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland, Doyle was the youngest of seven children. He grew up in a devout Catholic family who cared deeply for the less fortunate. Long lines of the local poor people would form outside the Doyle home during Christmas where they would be given financial assistance and gifts.In 1891, at the age of 18, Doyle entered the Jesuit novitiate in Tullabeg, Rahan, in the Diocese of Meath. Most of his priesthood was spent preaching missions in parishes and giving retreats to religious communities around Ireland. He was particularly devoted to ministering to ordinary workmen.In November 1915, Doyle was appointed chaplain to the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. Despite having the rank of captain, he lived and suffered alongside his men, experiencing all of the dangers and trials of life in the trenches.He was awarded the 16th (Irish) Division Parchment of Merit for bravery during a gas attack in April 1916 and received the Military Cross for his bravery at the Battle of the Somme.On Aug. 16, 1917, at the Battle of Passchendaele, Doyle laid down his life to assist two wounded soldiers at the front line. He was struck by a German shell and his body was never recovered.His private diaries, discovered after his death, reveal a life of intense prayer, sacrifice, and spiritual discipline. Devotion to him spread after his death, and his life and writings have continued to inspire people around the world.
Read More

Cause for canonization of World War I chaplain Father Willie Doyle advances to Rome – #Catholic – The cause for canonization of Servant of God Father Willie Doyle, SJ, officially entered the Roman phase of the cause on Nov. 10 after the documentation gathered during the diocesan phase was formally submitted to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome.The diocesan phase of Doyle’s cause was opened by the Diocese of Meath in Ireland in 2022 and formally closed on Oct. 18, 2026.This is the first time in more than 40 years that a canonization cause pertaining to an Irish candidate has completed its diocesan phase in Ireland. Venerable Nano Nagle, foundress of the Presentation Sisters, was the last cause in which this occurred.Jesuit Father Pascual Cebollada, postulator general of the Society of Jesus, will assume the role of postulator for Doyle’s cause, while Father John Hogan of the Diocese of Meath will serve as vice postulator.“I am delighted that the cause has reached this important stage. I am confident that the cause will progress further and I encourage people to pray through the intercession of Father Willie Doyle,” Bishop Tom Deenihan of the Diocese of Meath said in a statement. “Father Doyle’s generosity and heroism, which stemmed from his religious conviction, is an example for our time. It was very evident from the closing ceremony in Mullingar on 18 October that devotion to Father Doyle has extended beyond his own century and is as relevant today as it ever was.”Hogan added: “More than 3,000 pages of Father Willieʼs writings, together with extensive historical and theological analyses and commentaries, have been assembled during the diocesan phase and were delivered to the dicastery this week. This represents a major milestone in the cause for his canonization.”“We will now begin work on the positio — the detailed study of Father Willieʼs life, heroic virtues, and reputation for holiness,” he said. “Alongside this, we will continue to promote devotion to Father Willie and encourage people to seek his intercession, particularly through prayer for miracles.” Documents from the diocesan process of the cause of Father Willie Doyle are presented at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome. | Credit: Photo courtesy of The Father Willie Doyle Association Born on March 3, 1873, in Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland, Doyle was the youngest of seven children. He grew up in a devout Catholic family who cared deeply for the less fortunate. Long lines of the local poor people would form outside the Doyle home during Christmas where they would be given financial assistance and gifts.In 1891, at the age of 18, Doyle entered the Jesuit novitiate in Tullabeg, Rahan, in the Diocese of Meath. Most of his priesthood was spent preaching missions in parishes and giving retreats to religious communities around Ireland. He was particularly devoted to ministering to ordinary workmen.In November 1915, Doyle was appointed chaplain to the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. Despite having the rank of captain, he lived and suffered alongside his men, experiencing all of the dangers and trials of life in the trenches.He was awarded the 16th (Irish) Division Parchment of Merit for bravery during a gas attack in April 1916 and received the Military Cross for his bravery at the Battle of the Somme.On Aug. 16, 1917, at the Battle of Passchendaele, Doyle laid down his life to assist two wounded soldiers at the front line. He was struck by a German shell and his body was never recovered.His private diaries, discovered after his death, reveal a life of intense prayer, sacrifice, and spiritual discipline. Devotion to him spread after his death, and his life and writings have continued to inspire people around the world.

unitedyam

This is the first time in more than 40 years that a canonization cause has completed its diocesan phase in Ireland and moved on to the Vatican.

Read More
Father Mike Schmitz to take center stage at Radio City Music Hall – #Catholic – On Nov. 16, Father Mike Schmitz will bring Jesus’ parables to one of New York’s most historic venues — Radio City Music Hall.Schmitz has been traveling around the world on his Parables tour, which focuses on bringing the Gospel message to audiences. The tour focuses on providing impactful messages by using several of Jesus’ parables taught in the New Testament.“I’ve never been inside Radio City Music Hall and I’m so excited to be able to be there, but when it comes down to it, it’s out there: the people in the 12th row! There are people there to hear the word of God. You can see their faces, and there’s something about that to realize, OK, God wants them. He brought them here. To be entrusted with a bit of that. There’s an exciting part of it, but it’s also humbling,” Schmitz told “The Good Newsroom.”He pointed out that while on tour he asks venues to leave the house lights up higher than usual so that the connection between preacher and those gathered can be maintained.“I need to see their faces. I want to see them because it makes a connection,” he explained.When discussing the reasoning behind choosing to focus on Jesus’ parables, Schmitz said: “God says, ‘No, this is what I need you to know, not just here’s a nice little story, but here’s what I need you to know.’ I was just so convicted by that. This is both urgent and important. That was the main driver [for the tour].”The tour is part of Schmitz’s Seeds of Faith Campaign, which is raising funds for a new Newman Center to be built on the University of Minnesota, Duluth, (UMD) campus, where Schmitz is the chaplain at the Newman Center.In an interview with EWTN News in 2025, the priest explained that while he has loved working in both parish and campus settings, each is unique. While college kids can tend to be “fickle” in their faith, he said, they also have a beautiful openness to change that he didn’t experience at a parish.“College ministry is unique because you have this openness … It is that place where so many people are asking the big questions in life and we just see so many conversions happening when we’re there,” he said.The Newman Center at UMD has seen a flourishing of vocations. According to Bulldog Catholic, the name of the university’s campus ministry, 400 couples have gone through marriage preparation classes, eight women have entered religious life, and over 16 men have entered seminary, with seven ordained as priests.“One of my favorite things to do is marriage prep; it just really brings me so much life,” Schmitz said. “I just love even being able to present to couples who are discerning marriage like, no you’re actually discerning how God is asking you, calling you, to be his disciple in your life. That’s the big question. That’s one of the reasons why we get married in churches is because this is a sacrament of discipleship.”As for those who have discerned religious life, Schmitz called it “a great grace” to walk with these individuals in their vocations.For others working in campus ministry, Schmitz gave three suggestions to grow involvement: Offer daily Mass and confession, start engaging Bible studies, and host retreats often.He emphasized that these events in which people are brought together, such as Bible studies and retreats, help grow involvement because “as Catholics we worship in rows, but we grow in circles.”Tickets can be purchased for the Parables tour at Radio City Music Hall here.
Read More

Father Mike Schmitz to take center stage at Radio City Music Hall – #Catholic – On Nov. 16, Father Mike Schmitz will bring Jesus’ parables to one of New York’s most historic venues — Radio City Music Hall.Schmitz has been traveling around the world on his Parables tour, which focuses on bringing the Gospel message to audiences. The tour focuses on providing impactful messages by using several of Jesus’ parables taught in the New Testament.“I’ve never been inside Radio City Music Hall and I’m so excited to be able to be there, but when it comes down to it, it’s out there: the people in the 12th row! There are people there to hear the word of God. You can see their faces, and there’s something about that to realize, OK, God wants them. He brought them here. To be entrusted with a bit of that. There’s an exciting part of it, but it’s also humbling,” Schmitz told “The Good Newsroom.”He pointed out that while on tour he asks venues to leave the house lights up higher than usual so that the connection between preacher and those gathered can be maintained.“I need to see their faces. I want to see them because it makes a connection,” he explained.When discussing the reasoning behind choosing to focus on Jesus’ parables, Schmitz said: “God says, ‘No, this is what I need you to know, not just here’s a nice little story, but here’s what I need you to know.’ I was just so convicted by that. This is both urgent and important. That was the main driver [for the tour].”The tour is part of Schmitz’s Seeds of Faith Campaign, which is raising funds for a new Newman Center to be built on the University of Minnesota, Duluth, (UMD) campus, where Schmitz is the chaplain at the Newman Center.In an interview with EWTN News in 2025, the priest explained that while he has loved working in both parish and campus settings, each is unique. While college kids can tend to be “fickle” in their faith, he said, they also have a beautiful openness to change that he didn’t experience at a parish.“College ministry is unique because you have this openness … It is that place where so many people are asking the big questions in life and we just see so many conversions happening when we’re there,” he said.The Newman Center at UMD has seen a flourishing of vocations. According to Bulldog Catholic, the name of the university’s campus ministry, 400 couples have gone through marriage preparation classes, eight women have entered religious life, and over 16 men have entered seminary, with seven ordained as priests.“One of my favorite things to do is marriage prep; it just really brings me so much life,” Schmitz said. “I just love even being able to present to couples who are discerning marriage like, no you’re actually discerning how God is asking you, calling you, to be his disciple in your life. That’s the big question. That’s one of the reasons why we get married in churches is because this is a sacrament of discipleship.”As for those who have discerned religious life, Schmitz called it “a great grace” to walk with these individuals in their vocations.For others working in campus ministry, Schmitz gave three suggestions to grow involvement: Offer daily Mass and confession, start engaging Bible studies, and host retreats often.He emphasized that these events in which people are brought together, such as Bible studies and retreats, help grow involvement because “as Catholics we worship in rows, but we grow in circles.”Tickets can be purchased for the Parables tour at Radio City Music Hall here.

unitedyam

Schmitz has been traveling Schmitz has been traveling around the world on his Parables tour, which focuses on bringing the Gospel message to audiences.

Read More

The Sky Today on Wednesday, November 11: Venus comes to a halt

unitedyam

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  November 10: Seek Saturn’s two-toned moon Venus reaches a stationary point among the stars of Virgo at 10 A.M. EST. This brings its retrograde (westward) motion to an end; after today, Venus will begin moving eastward or prograde through the sky, swingingContinue reading “The Sky Today on Wednesday, November 11: Venus comes to a halt”

The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, November 11: Venus comes to a halt appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Read More
Pope Leo XIV urges youth to shun ‘the idols of our time’ and turn to Christ #Catholic BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV appealed to young people to reject worldly distractions and follow Christ, assuring them that their past mistakes are no obstacle to joining the Church.“Dear young people, Christ loves us and wants us to share in his own life,” Leo told an estimated 1 million participants at a vigil on Nov. 10, his last night in Argentina. “Christ offers you a life that not even death can take away.”The event took place at the same site in northern Buenos Aires where Leo had celebrated Mass the previous day, drawing an estimated 2.5 million people. The crowds in Argentina have been by far the largest of his pontificate. Pope Leo XIV participates in a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN The pope’s speech came after testimonies and questions from young people, including a man recovering from drug addiction.Leo urged his listeners to reject what he called “the idols of our time,” which cannot provide happiness or life.“Idols arise and demand our worship: success at any cost, money, an obsession with appearance, popularity or the unrestrained pursuit of pleasure. Sometimes, in order to win the approval of others, we may go so far as to lie, betray or humiliate someone on social media,” the pope said.“There are also those who make a business of offering pleasures that ultimately enslave us, such as pornography and addictive substances,” he added.Leo cited Pope Francis’ insistence that “everyone, everyone, everyone” is welcome in the Church.“Whoever you are and whatever you may have done, Jesus Christ knows you, loves you and wants you to be close to him,” the pope said. “No one has fallen so low that Christ cannot raise them up.”He added that “we all need conversion” and that welcome is not the equivalent of moral indifference.“Christ loves us as we are, but his love is too great to leave us prisoners of sin, of what destroys us,” Leo said. “There are wounds to be healed, failings to be acknowledged and, whenever possible, wrongs to be made right.” Pope Leo XIV holds a candle during a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN He urged his listeners to confess their sins, pray, read Scripture and receive the Eucharist in order to be transformed by Christ.“Share your bread with those who are hungry, open your doors to those who have no home, visit the sick and those whom no one wants to visit,” the pope told his young listeners, as part of his program for their pursuit of sanctity.On Wednesday, following a pilgrimage to Argentina’s most prominent Marian shrine, in Luján, Leo was scheduled to leave for Peru, the last stop on his tour of South America.
Read More

Pope Leo XIV urges youth to shun ‘the idols of our time’ and turn to Christ #Catholic BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV appealed to young people to reject worldly distractions and follow Christ, assuring them that their past mistakes are no obstacle to joining the Church.“Dear young people, Christ loves us and wants us to share in his own life,” Leo told an estimated 1 million participants at a vigil on Nov. 10, his last night in Argentina. “Christ offers you a life that not even death can take away.”The event took place at the same site in northern Buenos Aires where Leo had celebrated Mass the previous day, drawing an estimated 2.5 million people. The crowds in Argentina have been by far the largest of his pontificate. Pope Leo XIV participates in a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN The pope’s speech came after testimonies and questions from young people, including a man recovering from drug addiction.Leo urged his listeners to reject what he called “the idols of our time,” which cannot provide happiness or life.“Idols arise and demand our worship: success at any cost, money, an obsession with appearance, popularity or the unrestrained pursuit of pleasure. Sometimes, in order to win the approval of others, we may go so far as to lie, betray or humiliate someone on social media,” the pope said.“There are also those who make a business of offering pleasures that ultimately enslave us, such as pornography and addictive substances,” he added.Leo cited Pope Francis’ insistence that “everyone, everyone, everyone” is welcome in the Church.“Whoever you are and whatever you may have done, Jesus Christ knows you, loves you and wants you to be close to him,” the pope said. “No one has fallen so low that Christ cannot raise them up.”He added that “we all need conversion” and that welcome is not the equivalent of moral indifference.“Christ loves us as we are, but his love is too great to leave us prisoners of sin, of what destroys us,” Leo said. “There are wounds to be healed, failings to be acknowledged and, whenever possible, wrongs to be made right.” Pope Leo XIV holds a candle during a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN He urged his listeners to confess their sins, pray, read Scripture and receive the Eucharist in order to be transformed by Christ.“Share your bread with those who are hungry, open your doors to those who have no home, visit the sick and those whom no one wants to visit,” the pope told his young listeners, as part of his program for their pursuit of sanctity.On Wednesday, following a pilgrimage to Argentina’s most prominent Marian shrine, in Luján, Leo was scheduled to leave for Peru, the last stop on his tour of South America.

unitedyam

The pontiff echoed Pope Francis’ promise that “everyone, everyone, everyone” is welcome in the Church, while insisting that “we all need conversion.”

Read More
Honoring our veterans: As we celebrate Veterans Day, are you aware of Catholic Charities veterans services? Do you know about ‘Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey’? Are you familiar with St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers? #Catholic – For (at least) the past three years, at our annual Catholic Charities’ “Caritas Gala,” in addition to showing our gratitude and celebrating our honorees, we have been privileged to see and hear a presentation on the “Missing Man Table” (or “Fallen Soldier Table”), honoring the women and men who serve our country in the military and remembering especially those who never returned home. You can watch a video presentation on the “Missing Man Table” given by Val Digiacinto, “Veteran Partner of the Year,” and hear from one of our 2024 Caritas Honorees, veteran Richard Vohden. BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY As I attended the 2026 Caritas Gala last week, we gave thanks for our 2026 Honorees (for more information, see our Beacon coverage), and gave thanks for all the wonderful work that is done every day by the leaders, staff, and volunteers of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson, also giving thanks for the incredibly generous support of our donors, I was particularly grateful for all that is done by Catholic Charities and our partners to honor, serve, and support the women and men who have served and continue to serve our country in our armed forces and military. As we will celebrate Veterans’ Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, I encourage readers not only to watch the “Missing Man Table” video, but to go to our Catholic Charities website to learn about the many ways that we are supporting and honoring our veterans, especially through our “SSVF” Program: “Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program provides supportive services to Veterans with very low income who are literally homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Veteran families are provided a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability….” ccpaterson.org/veterans In many ways, it is hard to imagine that someone who has served our country would end up being homeless after returning from service, but many veterans struggle with the transition upon their return home to “civilian life.” We have a special responsibility to help and serve these brothers and sisters who have served us by serving our country. Especially in recent years, as I have attended Catholic Charities events and learned more about our outreach to veterans and their families, I have been very grateful to learn about the partnerships that Catholic Charities has with military, government, and other community organizations, as we strive to work together to serve and support our veterans. One of the organizations that stands out is Welcome Home VETS of New Jersey. I encourage you to go to their website and learn about their mission: “To provide care for New Jersey soldiers, veterans, and their families in need. Immediate and long-term assistance is provided through our organization and our Strategic Partners.” When you click on what the organization is “about,” you will learn: “Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey (WHVNJ) is an entirely volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping our service men and women overcome obstacles in their return to civilian life. America asked these stalwart men and women to possibly die in its defense, and yet, when they return home, the support provided is often inadequate. We strive to provide former service members from all conflict eras legal assistance as well as help with access to medical services, housing, and jobs….”  You will also learn about their membership, goals, history (WHVNJ was “created on July 24, 2009, when it became evident that GI’s returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families who remained behind in New Jersey had very important and unmet needs.) and much more. I am very glad to know that Catholic Charities of Paterson is a close and active partner with WHVNJ. I presume most readers are aware that Veterans Day is commemorated in the United States on Nov. 11 because it marks the anniversary of the armistice that led to the end of World War I. You can learn more about the history of Veterans Day on the website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including: “In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” History of Veterans Day. I believe that it is a “happy coincidence” and providential that, as our country celebrates Veterans’ Day on Nov. 11, the liturgical calendar of the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers. “(St.) Martin became a Christian catechumen and was baptized when he was 18. It was said that he lived more like a monk than a soldier. At 23, Martin of Tours refused a war bonus and told his commander: “I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. But I am a soldier of Christ …”  The Church has a detailed account of the final hours of St. Martin’s life on earth, as he went to his eternal reward (more than 1,600 years ago) on Nov. 8, 397. “As death approached, Martin’s followers begged him not to leave them. He prayed, “Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work. Your will be done.” (See: Office of Readings – Memorial for Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop) He was a good and faithful soldier to his last breath. On this Veterans Day, let us offer a special prayer of gratitude for all the good and faithful soldiers who have served and continue to serve our country and for all who help to welcome and support our veterans, as they return home. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
Read More

Honoring our veterans: As we celebrate Veterans Day, are you aware of Catholic Charities veterans services? Do you know about ‘Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey’? Are you familiar with St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers? #Catholic – For (at least) the past three years, at our annual Catholic Charities’ “Caritas Gala,” in addition to showing our gratitude and celebrating our honorees, we have been privileged to see and hear a presentation on the “Missing Man Table” (or “Fallen Soldier Table”), honoring the women and men who serve our country in the military and remembering especially those who never returned home. You can watch a video presentation on the “Missing Man Table” given by Val Digiacinto, “Veteran Partner of the Year,” and hear from one of our 2024 Caritas Honorees, veteran Richard Vohden. BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY As I attended the 2026 Caritas Gala last week, we gave thanks for our 2026 Honorees (for more information, see our Beacon coverage), and gave thanks for all the wonderful work that is done every day by the leaders, staff, and volunteers of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson, also giving thanks for the incredibly generous support of our donors, I was particularly grateful for all that is done by Catholic Charities and our partners to honor, serve, and support the women and men who have served and continue to serve our country in our armed forces and military. As we will celebrate Veterans’ Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, I encourage readers not only to watch the “Missing Man Table” video, but to go to our Catholic Charities website to learn about the many ways that we are supporting and honoring our veterans, especially through our “SSVF” Program: “Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program provides supportive services to Veterans with very low income who are literally homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Veteran families are provided a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability….” ccpaterson.org/veterans In many ways, it is hard to imagine that someone who has served our country would end up being homeless after returning from service, but many veterans struggle with the transition upon their return home to “civilian life.” We have a special responsibility to help and serve these brothers and sisters who have served us by serving our country. Especially in recent years, as I have attended Catholic Charities events and learned more about our outreach to veterans and their families, I have been very grateful to learn about the partnerships that Catholic Charities has with military, government, and other community organizations, as we strive to work together to serve and support our veterans. One of the organizations that stands out is Welcome Home VETS of New Jersey. I encourage you to go to their website and learn about their mission: “To provide care for New Jersey soldiers, veterans, and their families in need. Immediate and long-term assistance is provided through our organization and our Strategic Partners.” When you click on what the organization is “about,” you will learn: “Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey (WHVNJ) is an entirely volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping our service men and women overcome obstacles in their return to civilian life. America asked these stalwart men and women to possibly die in its defense, and yet, when they return home, the support provided is often inadequate. We strive to provide former service members from all conflict eras legal assistance as well as help with access to medical services, housing, and jobs….”  You will also learn about their membership, goals, history (WHVNJ was “created on July 24, 2009, when it became evident that GI’s returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families who remained behind in New Jersey had very important and unmet needs.) and much more. I am very glad to know that Catholic Charities of Paterson is a close and active partner with WHVNJ. I presume most readers are aware that Veterans Day is commemorated in the United States on Nov. 11 because it marks the anniversary of the armistice that led to the end of World War I. You can learn more about the history of Veterans Day on the website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including: “In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” History of Veterans Day. I believe that it is a “happy coincidence” and providential that, as our country celebrates Veterans’ Day on Nov. 11, the liturgical calendar of the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers. “(St.) Martin became a Christian catechumen and was baptized when he was 18. It was said that he lived more like a monk than a soldier. At 23, Martin of Tours refused a war bonus and told his commander: “I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. But I am a soldier of Christ …”  The Church has a detailed account of the final hours of St. Martin’s life on earth, as he went to his eternal reward (more than 1,600 years ago) on Nov. 8, 397. “As death approached, Martin’s followers begged him not to leave them. He prayed, “Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work. Your will be done.” (See: Office of Readings – Memorial for Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop) He was a good and faithful soldier to his last breath. On this Veterans Day, let us offer a special prayer of gratitude for all the good and faithful soldiers who have served and continue to serve our country and for all who help to welcome and support our veterans, as they return home. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

unitedyam

Honoring our veterans: As we celebrate Veterans Day, are you aware of Catholic Charities veterans services? Do you know about ‘Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey’? Are you familiar with St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers? #Catholic –

For (at least) the past three years, at our annual Catholic Charities’ “Caritas Gala,” in addition to showing our gratitude and celebrating our honorees, we have been privileged to see and hear a presentation on the “Missing Man Table” (or “Fallen Soldier Table”), honoring the women and men who serve our country in the military and remembering especially those who never returned home. You can watch a video presentation on the “Missing Man Table” given by Val Digiacinto, “Veteran Partner of the Year,” and hear from one of our 2024 Caritas Honorees, veteran Richard Vohden.

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

As I attended the 2026 Caritas Gala last week, we gave thanks for our 2026 Honorees (for more information, see our Beacon coverage), and gave thanks for all the wonderful work that is done every day by the leaders, staff, and volunteers of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson, also giving thanks for the incredibly generous support of our donors, I was particularly grateful for all that is done by Catholic Charities and our partners to honor, serve, and support the women and men who have served and continue to serve our country in our armed forces and military.

As we will celebrate Veterans’ Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, I encourage readers not only to watch the “Missing Man Table” video, but to go to our Catholic Charities website to learn about the many ways that we are supporting and honoring our veterans, especially through our “SSVF” Program:

“Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program provides supportive services to Veterans with very low income who are literally homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Veteran families are provided a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability….” ccpaterson.org/veterans

In many ways, it is hard to imagine that someone who has served our country would end up being homeless after returning from service, but many veterans struggle with the transition upon their return home to “civilian life.” We have a special responsibility to help and serve these brothers and sisters who have served us by serving our country.

Especially in recent years, as I have attended Catholic Charities events and learned more about our outreach to veterans and their families, I have been very grateful to learn about the partnerships that Catholic Charities has with military, government, and other community organizations, as we strive to work together to serve and support our veterans. One of the organizations that stands out is Welcome Home VETS of New Jersey. I encourage you to go to their website and learn about their mission: “To provide care for New Jersey soldiers, veterans, and their families in need. Immediate and long-term assistance is provided through our organization and our Strategic Partners.”

When you click on what the organization is “about,” you will learn:

“Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey (WHVNJ) is an entirely volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping our service men and women overcome obstacles in their return to civilian life. America asked these stalwart men and women to possibly die in its defense, and yet, when they return home, the support provided is often inadequate. We strive to provide former service members from all conflict eras legal assistance as well as help with access to medical services, housing, and jobs….” 

You will also learn about their membership, goals, history (WHVNJ was “created on July 24, 2009, when it became evident that GI’s returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families who remained behind in New Jersey had very important and unmet needs.) and much more. I am very glad to know that Catholic Charities of Paterson is a close and active partner with WHVNJ.

I presume most readers are aware that Veterans Day is commemorated in the United States on Nov. 11 because it marks the anniversary of the armistice that led to the end of World War I. You can learn more about the history of Veterans Day on the website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including:

“In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” History of Veterans Day.

I believe that it is a “happy coincidence” and providential that, as our country celebrates Veterans’ Day on Nov. 11, the liturgical calendar of the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers. “(St.) Martin became a Christian catechumen and was baptized when he was 18. It was said that he lived more like a monk than a soldier. At 23, Martin of Tours refused a war bonus and told his commander: “I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. But I am a soldier of Christ …” 

The Church has a detailed account of the final hours of St. Martin’s life on earth, as he went to his eternal reward (more than 1,600 years ago) on Nov. 8, 397. “As death approached, Martin’s followers begged him not to leave them. He prayed, “Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work. Your will be done.” (See: Office of Readings – Memorial for Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop) He was a good and faithful soldier to his last breath. On this Veterans Day, let us offer a special prayer of gratitude for all the good and faithful soldiers who have served and continue to serve our country and for all who help to welcome and support our veterans, as they return home.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

 

– For (at least) the past three years, at our annual Catholic Charities’ “Caritas Gala,” in addition to showing our gratitude and celebrating our honorees, we have been privileged to see and hear a presentation on the “Missing Man Table” (or “Fallen Soldier Table”), honoring the women and men who serve our country in the military and remembering especially those who never returned home. You can watch a video presentation on the “Missing Man Table” given by Val Digiacinto, “Veteran Partner of the Year,” and hear from one of our 2024 Caritas Honorees, veteran Richard Vohden. BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY As

Read More
PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV visits Argentina during South American papal trip #Catholic Pope Leo XIV marked two full days in Argentina with several Masses and meetings with Catholic leadership along with a youth vigil and a celebration of vespers.The pope will finish his Argentinian visit on Nov. 11 and fly to Peru, his adopted country where he spent years as a bishop and where he will finish out his historic South American trip. The Holy Father already visited Uruguay at the outset of his journey. Here are some photos of Pope Leo’s activities in Argentina. Javier Milei, president of Argentina, welcomes Pope Leo XIV at airport in Buenos Aires on Nov. 8, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV visits on Nov. 9, 2026 the staff and residents of the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a residential institution in Argentina inspired by St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV visits on Nov. 9, 2026 the staff and residents of the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a residential institution in Argentina inspired by St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV visits on Nov. 9, 2026 the staff and residents of the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a residential institution in Argentina inspired by St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, an Italian priest from Turin who founded a network of charitable institutions dedicated to caring for people whom society often neglected, especially people with disabilities, the poor, and chronically ill. | Credit: Vatican Media About 2.5 million faithful gather for Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at the Monument de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Nov. 9, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV delivers his homily during the celebration of vespers with the Argentine bishops on Nov. 9, 2026, at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Buenos Aires, Argentina. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV arrives in Córdoba, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. The Holy Father came to Argentina as part of his whirlwind 12-day papal trip to South America. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV is greeted by youth after arriving in Córdoba, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. The Holy Father came to Argentina as part of his whirlwind 12-day papal trip to South America. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds in Córdoba, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. The Holy Father came to Argentina as part of his whirlwind 12-day papal trip to South America. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowds as he processes in for Mass in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Military Aviation School in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Military Aviation School in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Military Aviation School in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV meets with bishops, clergy, religious, seminarians, and pastoral workers outside Córdoba’s cathedral in Argentina on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV meets with bishops, clergy, religious, seminarians, and pastoral workers outside Córdoba’s cathedral in Argentina on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV greets a Catholic woman while meeting with bishops, clergy, religious, seminarians, and pastoral workers outside Córdoba’s cathedral in Argentina on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV holds a candle during a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN Pope Leo XIV participates in a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN
Read More

PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV visits Argentina during South American papal trip #Catholic Pope Leo XIV marked two full days in Argentina with several Masses and meetings with Catholic leadership along with a youth vigil and a celebration of vespers.The pope will finish his Argentinian visit on Nov. 11 and fly to Peru, his adopted country where he spent years as a bishop and where he will finish out his historic South American trip. The Holy Father already visited Uruguay at the outset of his journey. Here are some photos of Pope Leo’s activities in Argentina. Javier Milei, president of Argentina, welcomes Pope Leo XIV at airport in Buenos Aires on Nov. 8, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV visits on Nov. 9, 2026 the staff and residents of the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a residential institution in Argentina inspired by St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV visits on Nov. 9, 2026 the staff and residents of the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a residential institution in Argentina inspired by St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV visits on Nov. 9, 2026 the staff and residents of the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a residential institution in Argentina inspired by St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, an Italian priest from Turin who founded a network of charitable institutions dedicated to caring for people whom society often neglected, especially people with disabilities, the poor, and chronically ill. | Credit: Vatican Media About 2.5 million faithful gather for Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at the Monument de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Nov. 9, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV delivers his homily during the celebration of vespers with the Argentine bishops on Nov. 9, 2026, at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Buenos Aires, Argentina. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV arrives in Córdoba, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. The Holy Father came to Argentina as part of his whirlwind 12-day papal trip to South America. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV is greeted by youth after arriving in Córdoba, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. The Holy Father came to Argentina as part of his whirlwind 12-day papal trip to South America. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds in Córdoba, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. The Holy Father came to Argentina as part of his whirlwind 12-day papal trip to South America. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowds as he processes in for Mass in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Military Aviation School in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Military Aviation School in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Military Aviation School in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV meets with bishops, clergy, religious, seminarians, and pastoral workers outside Córdoba’s cathedral in Argentina on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV meets with bishops, clergy, religious, seminarians, and pastoral workers outside Córdoba’s cathedral in Argentina on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV greets a Catholic woman while meeting with bishops, clergy, religious, seminarians, and pastoral workers outside Córdoba’s cathedral in Argentina on Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV holds a candle during a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN Pope Leo XIV participates in a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN

unitedyam

The Holy Father has celebrated Mass in multiple cities, met with Catholic leadership and visited with several communities in Argentina.

Read More
Bishop Receives Tri-County award, expresses hope for Catholic education #Catholic – On Nov. 2, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney graciously accepted the Making a Difference Award from the Tri-County Scholarship Fund during its 45th Annual Awards Dinner at Legacy Castle in Pompton Plains, N.J. Bishop Sweeney and two other distinguished honorees were recognized for their leadership, exceptional accomplishments, and commitment to Tri-County’s mission of making quality, values-based, independent and parochial education accessible to the most financially disadvantaged children. Pictured to the left of Bishop Sweeney are Lindsay Hans (fifth from left), president and co-head of Merrill Wealth Management and a member of Bank of America Corporation’s executive management team, and Deidre Meehan (next to bishop on his right), worldwide vice president and general counsel, Innovative Medicine at Johnson & Johnson, who both received the Tri-County Hall of Fame Award. Also shown in the photo are Prudence Pigott, Tri-County’s president (left), and student scholarship recipients from various Catholic schools in the Paterson Diocese, N.J. Bishop Sweeney has served on the Tri-County board since becoming the eighth Bishop of Paterson in 2020. In a tribute video produced by Tri-County for the gala, Bishop Sweeney says, “Being able to visit our Catholic schools gives me a lift, an inspiration. I’m happy to do that because it inspires me. This is why we do what we do — for the children, for these communities, these families.” He also says that he and his sister and brother attended Catholic schools — an experience that helped prepare him for the call to priesthood. “I’m very hopeful about the future of Catholic education,” Bishop Sweeney says in the video. Founded in 1981, Tri-County Scholarship Fund raises funds to provide partial K-12 scholarships to financially disadvantaged children in NJ, regardless of race, religion, or national origin, so that they can obtain a quality, values-based education through accredited private elementary and secondary schools, including Catholic schools. Schools partnering with Tri-County often offer discounted tuition. The families make significant sacrifices to pay their share. This shared responsibility means everyone is invested in these students’ success while they make the most of the educational opportunity. The Annual Awards Dinner is the largest fundraiser for the New Jersey nonprofit, which has provided over million in scholarships to more than 40,000 students since Tri-County’s inception. To learn more about Tri-County Scholarship Fund, visit tcsfund.org. PHOTOS | JOSH CUPPEK / CUPPEK PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy Tri-County Scholarship Fund [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]   Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Read More

Bishop Receives Tri-County award, expresses hope for Catholic education #Catholic – On Nov. 2, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney graciously accepted the Making a Difference Award from the Tri-County Scholarship Fund during its 45th Annual Awards Dinner at Legacy Castle in Pompton Plains, N.J. Bishop Sweeney and two other distinguished honorees were recognized for their leadership, exceptional accomplishments, and commitment to Tri-County’s mission of making quality, values-based, independent and parochial education accessible to the most financially disadvantaged children. Pictured to the left of Bishop Sweeney are Lindsay Hans (fifth from left), president and co-head of Merrill Wealth Management and a member of Bank of America Corporation’s executive management team, and Deidre Meehan (next to bishop on his right), worldwide vice president and general counsel, Innovative Medicine at Johnson & Johnson, who both received the Tri-County Hall of Fame Award. Also shown in the photo are Prudence Pigott, Tri-County’s president (left), and student scholarship recipients from various Catholic schools in the Paterson Diocese, N.J. Bishop Sweeney has served on the Tri-County board since becoming the eighth Bishop of Paterson in 2020. In a tribute video produced by Tri-County for the gala, Bishop Sweeney says, “Being able to visit our Catholic schools gives me a lift, an inspiration. I’m happy to do that because it inspires me. This is why we do what we do — for the children, for these communities, these families.” He also says that he and his sister and brother attended Catholic schools — an experience that helped prepare him for the call to priesthood. “I’m very hopeful about the future of Catholic education,” Bishop Sweeney says in the video. Founded in 1981, Tri-County Scholarship Fund raises funds to provide partial K-12 scholarships to financially disadvantaged children in NJ, regardless of race, religion, or national origin, so that they can obtain a quality, values-based education through accredited private elementary and secondary schools, including Catholic schools. Schools partnering with Tri-County often offer discounted tuition. The families make significant sacrifices to pay their share. This shared responsibility means everyone is invested in these students’ success while they make the most of the educational opportunity. The Annual Awards Dinner is the largest fundraiser for the New Jersey nonprofit, which has provided over $44 million in scholarships to more than 40,000 students since Tri-County’s inception. To learn more about Tri-County Scholarship Fund, visit tcsfund.org. PHOTOS | JOSH CUPPEK / CUPPEK PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy Tri-County Scholarship Fund [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]   Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

unitedyam

Bishop Receives Tri-County award, expresses hope for Catholic education #Catholic –

On Nov. 2, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney graciously accepted the Making a Difference Award from the Tri-County Scholarship Fund during its 45th Annual Awards Dinner at Legacy Castle in Pompton Plains, N.J. Bishop Sweeney and two other distinguished honorees were recognized for their leadership, exceptional accomplishments, and commitment to Tri-County’s mission of making quality, values-based, independent and parochial education accessible to the most financially disadvantaged children.

Pictured to the left of Bishop Sweeney are Lindsay Hans (fifth from left), president and co-head of Merrill Wealth Management and a member of Bank of America Corporation’s executive management team, and Deidre Meehan (next to bishop on his right), worldwide vice president and general counsel, Innovative Medicine at Johnson & Johnson, who both received the Tri-County Hall of Fame Award. Also shown in the photo are Prudence Pigott, Tri-County’s president (left), and student scholarship recipients from various Catholic schools in the Paterson Diocese, N.J.

Bishop Sweeney has served on the Tri-County board since becoming the eighth Bishop of Paterson in 2020.

In a tribute video produced by Tri-County for the gala, Bishop Sweeney says, “Being able to visit our Catholic schools gives me a lift, an inspiration. I’m happy to do that because it inspires me. This is why we do what we do — for the children, for these communities, these families.” He also says that he and his sister and brother attended Catholic schools — an experience that helped prepare him for the call to priesthood.

“I’m very hopeful about the future of Catholic education,” Bishop Sweeney says in the video.

Founded in 1981, Tri-County Scholarship Fund raises funds to provide partial K-12 scholarships to financially disadvantaged children in NJ, regardless of race, religion, or national origin, so that they can obtain a quality, values-based education through accredited private elementary and secondary schools, including Catholic schools.

Schools partnering with Tri-County often offer discounted tuition. The families make significant sacrifices to pay their share. This shared responsibility means everyone is invested in these students’ success while they make the most of the educational opportunity.

The Annual Awards Dinner is the largest fundraiser for the New Jersey nonprofit, which has provided over $44 million in scholarships to more than 40,000 students since Tri-County’s inception.

To learn more about Tri-County Scholarship Fund, visit tcsfund.org.

PHOTOS | JOSH CUPPEK / CUPPEK PHOTOGRAPHY
Courtesy Tri-County Scholarship Fund

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– On Nov. 2, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney graciously accepted the Making a Difference Award from the Tri-County Scholarship Fund during its 45th Annual Awards Dinner at Legacy Castle in Pompton Plains, N.J. Bishop Sweeney and two other distinguished honorees were recognized for their leadership, exceptional accomplishments, and commitment to Tri-County’s mission of making quality, values-based, independent and parochial education accessible to the most financially disadvantaged children. Pictured to the left of Bishop Sweeney are Lindsay Hans (fifth from left), president and co-head of Merrill Wealth Management and a member of Bank of America Corporation’s executive management team, and Deidre Meehan

Read More
JUST IN: British Counterterrorism Police Arrest US Soldier On Suspicion of Espionage Related to Russia – British Counterterrorism police arrested a US Army soldier in England on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage related to Russia. The post JUST IN: British Counterterrorism Police Arrest US Soldier On Suspicion of Espionage Related to Russia appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More

JUST IN: British Counterterrorism Police Arrest US Soldier On Suspicion of Espionage Related to Russia – British Counterterrorism police arrested a US Army soldier in England on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage related to Russia. The post JUST IN: British Counterterrorism Police Arrest US Soldier On Suspicion of Espionage Related to Russia appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam

British Counterterrorism police arrested a US Army soldier in England on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage related to Russia.

The post JUST IN: British Counterterrorism Police Arrest US Soldier On Suspicion of Espionage Related to Russia appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Read More
Obituary: Father Ronald T. Sordillo, retired diocesan priest, 80 #Catholic – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 11:45 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, N.J., for Father Ronald T. Sordillo, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on the morning of Nov. 6 at Morristown Medical Center. He was 80. Father Sordillo served the diocese as a priest for more than 50 years. A native of Boston, Mass., Father Sordillo earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College in St. Mary, Ky., and a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974 by Bishop Lawrence B. Casey. In the Paterson Diocese, Father Sordillo served St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, N.J.; St. Virgil Parish in Morris Plains, N.J.; St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J.; St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, N.J., as pastor; and St. Vincent Martyr Parish in Madison. He also served as an educator at Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J., and the former Bailey Ellard High School in Madison. After retiring in 2009, Father Sordillo moved to Nazareth Village, a residence for retired priests, in Chester, N.J. In his retirement, Father Sordillo remained active, serving as chaplain at Merry Heart in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., and to the Religious Teachers Filippini (Villa Walsh) in Morristown, N.J. He also assisted at St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley neighborhood of Washington Township, N.J.; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in the Flanders neighborhood of Flanders, N.J., and St. Brigid Parish in Peapack, N.J., in the Metuchen Diocese. Father Sordillo was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Phyllis (nee Mele) Sordillo, and his brother, Richard. He is survived by several cousins in the Boston area. Visitation for Father Sordillo will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, beginning at 10:45 a.m., at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial there at 11:45 a.m. Priests are invited to concelebrate the funeral Mass and are asked to bring diocesan vestments. Interment will follow at St. Vincent Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the Clergy Personnel Office, 205 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940. Please keep Father Sordillo; his predeceased parents, Anthony and Phyllis; his predeceased brother, Richard; his niece, Dorothy Hayes; his nephew, John Sordillo; all of his family and friends; and all the priests of the Paterson Diocese in your prayers, especially at the Eucharist Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Read More

Obituary: Father Ronald T. Sordillo, retired diocesan priest, 80 #Catholic – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 11:45 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, N.J., for Father Ronald T. Sordillo, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on the morning of Nov. 6 at Morristown Medical Center. He was 80. Father Sordillo served the diocese as a priest for more than 50 years. A native of Boston, Mass., Father Sordillo earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College in St. Mary, Ky., and a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974 by Bishop Lawrence B. Casey. In the Paterson Diocese, Father Sordillo served St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, N.J.; St. Virgil Parish in Morris Plains, N.J.; St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J.; St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, N.J., as pastor; and St. Vincent Martyr Parish in Madison. He also served as an educator at Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J., and the former Bailey Ellard High School in Madison. After retiring in 2009, Father Sordillo moved to Nazareth Village, a residence for retired priests, in Chester, N.J. In his retirement, Father Sordillo remained active, serving as chaplain at Merry Heart in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., and to the Religious Teachers Filippini (Villa Walsh) in Morristown, N.J. He also assisted at St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley neighborhood of Washington Township, N.J.; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in the Flanders neighborhood of Flanders, N.J., and St. Brigid Parish in Peapack, N.J., in the Metuchen Diocese. Father Sordillo was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Phyllis (nee Mele) Sordillo, and his brother, Richard. He is survived by several cousins in the Boston area. Visitation for Father Sordillo will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, beginning at 10:45 a.m., at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial there at 11:45 a.m. Priests are invited to concelebrate the funeral Mass and are asked to bring diocesan vestments. Interment will follow at St. Vincent Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the Clergy Personnel Office, 205 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940. Please keep Father Sordillo; his predeceased parents, Anthony and Phyllis; his predeceased brother, Richard; his niece, Dorothy Hayes; his nephew, John Sordillo; all of his family and friends; and all the priests of the Paterson Diocese in your prayers, especially at the Eucharist Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

unitedyam

Obituary: Father Ronald T. Sordillo, retired diocesan priest, 80 #Catholic –

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 11:45 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, N.J., for Father Ronald T. Sordillo, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on the morning of Nov. 6 at Morristown Medical Center. He was 80.

Father Sordillo served the diocese as a priest for more than 50 years.
A native of Boston, Mass., Father Sordillo earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College in St. Mary, Ky., and a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974 by Bishop Lawrence B. Casey.

In the Paterson Diocese, Father Sordillo served St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, N.J.; St. Virgil Parish in Morris Plains, N.J.; St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J.; St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, N.J., as pastor; and St. Vincent Martyr Parish in Madison. He also served as an educator at Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J., and the former Bailey Ellard High School in Madison.

After retiring in 2009, Father Sordillo moved to Nazareth Village, a residence for retired priests, in Chester, N.J.

In his retirement, Father Sordillo remained active, serving as chaplain at Merry Heart in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., and to the Religious Teachers Filippini (Villa Walsh) in Morristown, N.J. He also assisted at St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley neighborhood of Washington Township, N.J.; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in the Flanders neighborhood of Flanders, N.J., and St. Brigid Parish in Peapack, N.J., in the Metuchen Diocese.

Father Sordillo was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Phyllis (nee Mele) Sordillo, and his brother, Richard. He is survived by several cousins in the Boston area.

Visitation for Father Sordillo will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, beginning at 10:45 a.m., at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial there at 11:45 a.m. Priests are invited to concelebrate the funeral Mass and are asked to bring diocesan vestments. Interment will follow at St. Vincent Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the Clergy Personnel Office, 205 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940.

Please keep Father Sordillo; his predeceased parents, Anthony and Phyllis; his predeceased brother, Richard; his niece, Dorothy Hayes; his nephew, John Sordillo; all of his family and friends; and all the priests of the Paterson Diocese in your prayers, especially at the Eucharist

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 11:45 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, N.J., for Father Ronald T. Sordillo, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on the morning of Nov. 6 at Morristown Medical Center. He was 80. Father Sordillo served the diocese as a priest for more than 50 years. A native of Boston, Mass., Father Sordillo earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College in St. Mary, Ky., and a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. He was

Read More
Defeated RINO Thomas Massie Vows Separate Votes on Each Article of His Bogus Hegseth Impeachment Resolution — The Same Massie Who Never Introduced or Cosponsored a Single Article Against Lloyd Austin’s Afghanistan Disaster – Outgoing RINO Rep. The post Defeated RINO Thomas Massie Vows Separate Votes on Each Article of His Bogus Hegseth Impeachment Resolution — The Same Massie Who Never Introduced or Cosponsored a Single Article Against Lloyd Austin’s Afghanistan Disaster appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More

Defeated RINO Thomas Massie Vows Separate Votes on Each Article of His Bogus Hegseth Impeachment Resolution — The Same Massie Who Never Introduced or Cosponsored a Single Article Against Lloyd Austin’s Afghanistan Disaster – Outgoing RINO Rep. The post Defeated RINO Thomas Massie Vows Separate Votes on Each Article of His Bogus Hegseth Impeachment Resolution — The Same Massie Who Never Introduced or Cosponsored a Single Article Against Lloyd Austin’s Afghanistan Disaster appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam

Outgoing RINO Rep.

The post Defeated RINO Thomas Massie Vows Separate Votes on Each Article of His Bogus Hegseth Impeachment Resolution — The Same Massie Who Never Introduced or Cosponsored a Single Article Against Lloyd Austin’s Afghanistan Disaster appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Read More
Back from the Grave #Catholic – Catholics visiting St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa, N.J., had the chance to see and hear from an assortment of the Church’s popular saints — and a possible saint to be — during its Back from the Grave seasonal event, held on the evening of Oct. 29 — ahead of Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. A cast of St. James’ confirmation students, 8th graders, and adults dressed up and portrayed more than a dozen featured saints at “stations” that started in front of the rectory and wrapped around the church. At least 100 visitors, including families, took a tour, visiting each station and listening to each actor speak in first person as the saint. The saints included St. Joan of Arc, St. Patrick, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Faustina, St. Mother Ann Seton, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Michael the Archangel, St. James of the Marches, the parish’s patron, St. 
Teresa of Avila, St. John the Baptist, the patron of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and St. Therese of Lisieux. The display also included Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, who was beatified in September and had personal ties to the diocese. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Father Joseph S. DeMarzo III, parochial vicar of St. James, produced Back From the Grave, with the support of Father Marc Mancini, the parish’s pastor. The event, originally called Back from the Dead, was started by a deacon at Mother Ann Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Md. Father DeMarzo first produced a Back from the Grave in 2024 at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., where he served as a transitional deacon while a diocesan seminarian. The event also included games and treats. The adjoining St. James Place was blocked off for participants’ safety. “Back from the Grave was a success. It was a great opportunity — and great evangelization effort — to help Catholics do something fun while concentrating on ‘the meaning of the season’: All Saints Day [on Oct. 1] and All Souls Day [on Oct. 2]— for the souls and heaven and the souls in the way,” Father DeMarzo said. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  
Read More

Back from the Grave #Catholic – Catholics visiting St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa, N.J., had the chance to see and hear from an assortment of the Church’s popular saints — and a possible saint to be — during its Back from the Grave seasonal event, held on the evening of Oct. 29 — ahead of Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. A cast of St. James’ confirmation students, 8th graders, and adults dressed up and portrayed more than a dozen featured saints at “stations” that started in front of the rectory and wrapped around the church. At least 100 visitors, including families, took a tour, visiting each station and listening to each actor speak in first person as the saint. The saints included St. Joan of Arc, St. Patrick, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Faustina, St. Mother Ann Seton, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Michael the Archangel, St. James of the Marches, the parish’s patron, St. 
Teresa of Avila, St. John the Baptist, the patron of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and St. Therese of Lisieux. The display also included Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, who was beatified in September and had personal ties to the diocese. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Father Joseph S. DeMarzo III, parochial vicar of St. James, produced Back From the Grave, with the support of Father Marc Mancini, the parish’s pastor. The event, originally called Back from the Dead, was started by a deacon at Mother Ann Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Md. Father DeMarzo first produced a Back from the Grave in 2024 at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., where he served as a transitional deacon while a diocesan seminarian. The event also included games and treats. The adjoining St. James Place was blocked off for participants’ safety. “Back from the Grave was a success. It was a great opportunity — and great evangelization effort — to help Catholics do something fun while concentrating on ‘the meaning of the season’: All Saints Day [on Oct. 1] and All Souls Day [on Oct. 2]— for the souls and heaven and the souls in the way,” Father DeMarzo said. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  

unitedyam

Back from the Grave #Catholic –

Catholics visiting St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa, N.J., had the chance to see and hear from an assortment of the Church’s popular saints — and a possible saint to be — during its Back from the Grave seasonal event, held on the evening of Oct. 29 — ahead of Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

A cast of St. James’ confirmation students, 8th graders, and adults dressed up and portrayed more than a dozen featured saints at “stations” that started in front of the rectory and wrapped around the church. At least 100 visitors, including families, took a tour, visiting each station and listening to each actor speak in first person as the saint.

The saints included St. Joan of Arc, St. Patrick, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Faustina, St. Mother Ann Seton, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Michael the Archangel, St. James of the Marches, the parish’s patron, St. 
Teresa of Avila, St. John the Baptist, the patron of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and St. Therese of Lisieux. The display also included Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, who was beatified in September and had personal ties to the diocese.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Father Joseph S. DeMarzo III, parochial vicar of St. James, produced Back From the Grave, with the support of Father Marc Mancini, the parish’s pastor. The event, originally called Back from the Dead, was started by a deacon at Mother Ann Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Md. Father DeMarzo first produced a Back from the Grave in 2024 at Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., where he served as a transitional deacon while a diocesan seminarian.

The event also included games and treats. The adjoining St. James Place was blocked off for participants’ safety.

“Back from the Grave was a success. It was a great opportunity — and great evangelization effort — to help Catholics do something fun while concentrating on ‘the meaning of the season’: All Saints Day [on Oct. 1] and All Souls Day [on Oct. 2]— for the souls and heaven and the souls in the way,” Father DeMarzo said.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

– Catholics visiting St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa, N.J., had the chance to see and hear from an assortment of the Church’s popular saints — and a possible saint to be — during its Back from the Grave seasonal event, held on the evening of Oct. 29 — ahead of Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. A cast of St. James’ confirmation students, 8th graders, and adults dressed up and portrayed more than a dozen featured saints at “stations” that started in front of the rectory and wrapped around the church. At least 100 visitors, including

Read More
Astronauts Across Generations Share the Stage – On Nov. 6, 2026, Purpose Entertainment hosted the Artemis Celebration Gala at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. Held on the eve of NASA’s MAX POWER event, the gala celebrated the explorers, innovators, and visionaries advancing the next era of human spaceflight. The event honored the successful completion of the agency’s Artemis II mission, marking a historic milestone in America’s return to deep space exploration. As one of the signature events concluding the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, the gala commemorated the achievements of Artemis II while looking ahead to humanity’s return to the lunar surface through the Artemis campaign.
Read More

Astronauts Across Generations Share the Stage – On Nov. 6, 2026, Purpose Entertainment hosted the Artemis Celebration Gala at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. Held on the eve of NASA’s MAX POWER event, the gala celebrated the explorers, innovators, and visionaries advancing the next era of human spaceflight. The event honored the successful completion of the agency’s Artemis II mission, marking a historic milestone in America’s return to deep space exploration. As one of the signature events concluding the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, the gala commemorated the achievements of Artemis II while looking ahead to humanity’s return to the lunar surface through the Artemis campaign.

unitedyam

On Nov. 6, 2026, Purpose Entertainment hosted the Artemis Celebration Gala at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. Held on the eve of NASA’s MAX POWER event, the gala celebrated the explorers, innovators, and visionaries advancing the next era of human spaceflight.

The event honored the successful completion of the agency’s Artemis II mission, marking a historic milestone in America’s return to deep space exploration. As one of the signature events concluding the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, the gala commemorated the achievements of Artemis II while looking ahead to humanity’s return to the lunar surface through the Artemis campaign.

Read More
Catholic Bible study project wins entrepreneurial award – #Catholic – The business apostolate His Way at Work (HWAW) has bestowed an award for the project “Según tu Palabra” (“According to Your Word”), an initiative by a young Spaniard, Yael Moreno, that aims to facilitate Bible study among Catholics. Developed through the EROI Incubator at the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV, by its Spanish acronym), “Según tu Palabra” took first prize at the 10th annual HWAW event held in Cancún, Mexico, in October.‘Making reading the Bible trendy again’Moreno, who holds a degree in translation and interpreting from the University of Granada and specializes in the Syriac language, won the award with her proposal to create a “Bible with notes” (laid out to provide space for annotations) along with a mobile phone app that through a few simple questions offers a personalized study tailored to the user.In an interview with EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Moreno explained that the proposal aims to “make reading the Bible trendy again” and to help Catholics “overcome their fear of reading the Bible,” because they think it is “an encrypted book that must be deciphered.”This aspiration took shape during her childhood. Her parents were part of Bible study groups and initiatives to create biblical musical theater, both initiatives promoted by Juan Bautista Arroyo, a priest of the Archdiocese of Granada who passed away in 2020 and whom Cardinal Antonio Cañizares had appointed as director of performing arts for that ecclesiastical region.For Moreno, Bible study was part of her daily routine. Upon reaching adolescence, she discovered that “it’s not all that common in the Catholic Church to know the Bible beyond hearing the Gospel at Mass and having the priest explain it during the homily.”At the age of 15 or 16, she began looking for Bible studies: “I wanted to delve deeper, to have the Bible be a part of my prayer life, and to encounter God and his word. But there weren’t many Catholic options available.” ‘Lord, are you calling me to be an entrepreneur?’With a desire to address this situation, she completed her university studies but was still uncertain about what to do next. At that time, she recalled, “I wasn’t sure which path to take, nor could I quite see how my gifts might take concrete form, what my professional vocation was.” Prototype of the “Según tu Palabra” (“According to Your Word”) app designed by Yael Moreno with the support of His Way At Work and Francisco de Vitoria University. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Yael Moreno Following a friend’s recommendation, she joined the EROI Incubator — a Catholic business entrepreneurship program with the personal goal of answering one question: “Lord, are you calling me to be an entrepreneur?”Having won the HWAW competition, she joined Growth Lab, another UFV initiative where students are currently putting together their business venture. For Moreno, this presents a challenge, given her background in the humanities; however, with this support, she hopes to soon launch the first prototype of the app and determine whether the concept is truly a viable business idea.The young, up-and-coming entrepreneur is convinced of the need for a project of this nature: “We live in a world where it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish what is true from what is not, especially with AI. I believe it is important that, when it comes to faith, that there be no distortion of what Jesus said.”Understanding the context of each book, recognizing the original meaning of the words “in the language in which they were conceived,” being able to apply this to concrete, everyday life, and sharing it with others — these are some of the project’s main objectives.For Moreno, “According to Your Word” is more than just the name of a project. “It constantly reminds me what my prayer should be” regarding this endeavor: namely, she said, “that it may be done according to his word.”This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Read More

Catholic Bible study project wins entrepreneurial award – #Catholic – The business apostolate His Way at Work (HWAW) has bestowed an award for the project “Según tu Palabra” (“According to Your Word”), an initiative by a young Spaniard, Yael Moreno, that aims to facilitate Bible study among Catholics. Developed through the EROI Incubator at the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV, by its Spanish acronym), “Según tu Palabra” took first prize at the 10th annual HWAW event held in Cancún, Mexico, in October.‘Making reading the Bible trendy again’Moreno, who holds a degree in translation and interpreting from the University of Granada and specializes in the Syriac language, won the award with her proposal to create a “Bible with notes” (laid out to provide space for annotations) along with a mobile phone app that through a few simple questions offers a personalized study tailored to the user.In an interview with EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Moreno explained that the proposal aims to “make reading the Bible trendy again” and to help Catholics “overcome their fear of reading the Bible,” because they think it is “an encrypted book that must be deciphered.”This aspiration took shape during her childhood. Her parents were part of Bible study groups and initiatives to create biblical musical theater, both initiatives promoted by Juan Bautista Arroyo, a priest of the Archdiocese of Granada who passed away in 2020 and whom Cardinal Antonio Cañizares had appointed as director of performing arts for that ecclesiastical region.For Moreno, Bible study was part of her daily routine. Upon reaching adolescence, she discovered that “it’s not all that common in the Catholic Church to know the Bible beyond hearing the Gospel at Mass and having the priest explain it during the homily.”At the age of 15 or 16, she began looking for Bible studies: “I wanted to delve deeper, to have the Bible be a part of my prayer life, and to encounter God and his word. But there weren’t many Catholic options available.” ‘Lord, are you calling me to be an entrepreneur?’With a desire to address this situation, she completed her university studies but was still uncertain about what to do next. At that time, she recalled, “I wasn’t sure which path to take, nor could I quite see how my gifts might take concrete form, what my professional vocation was.” Prototype of the “Según tu Palabra” (“According to Your Word”) app designed by Yael Moreno with the support of His Way At Work and Francisco de Vitoria University. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Yael Moreno Following a friend’s recommendation, she joined the EROI Incubator — a Catholic business entrepreneurship program with the personal goal of answering one question: “Lord, are you calling me to be an entrepreneur?”Having won the HWAW competition, she joined Growth Lab, another UFV initiative where students are currently putting together their business venture. For Moreno, this presents a challenge, given her background in the humanities; however, with this support, she hopes to soon launch the first prototype of the app and determine whether the concept is truly a viable business idea.The young, up-and-coming entrepreneur is convinced of the need for a project of this nature: “We live in a world where it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish what is true from what is not, especially with AI. I believe it is important that, when it comes to faith, that there be no distortion of what Jesus said.”Understanding the context of each book, recognizing the original meaning of the words “in the language in which they were conceived,” being able to apply this to concrete, everyday life, and sharing it with others — these are some of the project’s main objectives.For Moreno, “According to Your Word” is more than just the name of a project. “It constantly reminds me what my prayer should be” regarding this endeavor: namely, she said, “that it may be done according to his word.”This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam

The business apostolate His Way at Work” has given an award to “According to Your Word,” a project created to facilitate Bible study for Catholics.

Read More

The Sky Today on Tuesday, November 10: Seek Saturn’s two-toned moon

unitedyam

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  November 9: Chase Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS Challenge yourself to pick up Saturn’s moon Iapetus, which tonight reaches greatest eastern elongation 9.4’ east of the ringed planet. The two-toned moon is tidally locked to its parent world, which means it rotates in time withContinue reading “The Sky Today on Tuesday, November 10: Seek Saturn’s two-toned moon”

The post The Sky Today on Tuesday, November 10: Seek Saturn’s two-toned moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Read More
Behind the numbers: Stories from Leo XIV’s largest Mass #Catholic An estimated 2.5 million people made Pope Leo XIV’s Mass in Buenos Aires on Monday the largest of his pontificate. Behind that figure were faces, stories and testimonies of faith that filled a historic day.Access opened at midnight, on a national holiday declared for the apostolic visit, for the Mass at the Monumento a los Españoles in the Palermo neighborhood, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Local artists greeted those who had camped overnight beside the altar, a large structure put up some weeks earlier, under a clear spring sky.Around 9 a.m., the singer-songwriter Athenas warmed the crowd with familiar Catholic songs. The surprise of the morning was Soledad Pastorutti, who sang her own pieces, including La Viajera and A Don Ata, and closed with religious songs such as Alma Misionera and Oración del Remanso. The crowd at the Mass with Pope Leo XIV in Buenos Aires, Nov. 9, 2026. | Credit: Julieta Villar/EWTN News With the streets closed, people walked in the hundreds: families, parish groups, couples, friends and a few onlookers, mixed in with street vendors selling flags, mugs and even images made with artificial intelligence that showed Pope Leo embracing Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.Florencia Raspi and Nicolás Deim arrived on Avenida del Libertador with four of their five children, all in yellow and white caps bearing the pope’s image. Raspi, who was nine when she saw St. John Paul II with her own family, wanted her children to have that same experience.“What moves us is the faith, the unique moment we are going to live,” she told EWTN News, “and above all this great public act of faith, how faith moves us and stirs us.” For Argentine families, she hoped the pope would leave “a message of hope, of unity,” and the sense of “welcome everyone … that in our differences we all come together.” A group of young people at the Mass with Pope Leo XIV at the Monumento a los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Nov. 9, 2026. | Credit: Julieta Villar/EWTN News Olga walked arm in arm with her daughter, and with tears in her eyes spoke of “the emotion of seeing him, the faith we have,” and of waiting for “the blessing he is going to give us all.” For her country she wished “that we may be united, that we respect one another, and that the country may move forward.”Manuel Bur arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday with his girlfriend, from Concepción del Uruguay in Entre Ríos province. He hoped the pope would “give us strength, encouragement, to be better people, to be a better community.”Milagros Kirpach, of the Noche de la Caridad group at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, said she had come for more than a glimpse of the pope. “What is being lived, the people walking to meet their faith, is what brought me,” she said. For Argentines she hoped for a message of unity and peace. “I think that all of us being united today reflects that.”Martina Navarro, of the Residencia Universitaria Sur of Opus Dei, had been volunteering since the early hours. “I had the joy of being able to take part. It was incredible to see the Church so alive, so happy to receive Pope Leo.”“As always, the pope leaves us unity, because he is literally the vicar of Christ on earth,” she said. “We have the joy of being able to be a little closer to heaven with him.”Francisco Brusco, of the Piarist Schools at Colegio Calasanz in Buenos Aires, also served as a volunteer. “I cannot think of Pope Leo without thinking of the first pope, who is St. Peter, and whenever I think of St. Peter I think of the great mercy of God,” he said. “Falling is human. Redemption comes from God and from his great mercy.”With the pope’s arrival, he said, “the most important thing is to show that the faith is more alive than ever,” and that it is “a very good way of showing that Argentina really is Catholic.” Two pilgrims at the Mass with Pope Leo XIV in Buenos Aires, Nov. 9, 2026. | Credit: Julieta Villar/EWTN News The popemobile crossed Avenida del Libertador after 11 a.m., nearly an hour behind schedule. The crowd in the sun covered their heads with caps, scarves, blankets and even bags. Many were moved by the pope’s arrival; others were somewhat surprised at how quickly the vehicle passed.The Mass itself was marked by respect, prayer and recollection. At the consecration, a great many of the faithful knelt, then went in an orderly way to receive Communion, distributed by more than 2,000 ministers of Holy Communion.In his homily, the pope spoke of the family as the place where faith, human virtues, a culture of work, respect for the elderly, the defense of life and fidelity to one’s word are handed on. He also drew applause when he recalled Pope Francis, who was archbishop of Buenos Aires before he became pope.At the sign of peace there was joy and a sense of fellowship, which lasted to the end, when the crowd left the site in an orderly way for home.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Read More

Behind the numbers: Stories from Leo XIV’s largest Mass #Catholic An estimated 2.5 million people made Pope Leo XIV’s Mass in Buenos Aires on Monday the largest of his pontificate. Behind that figure were faces, stories and testimonies of faith that filled a historic day.Access opened at midnight, on a national holiday declared for the apostolic visit, for the Mass at the Monumento a los Españoles in the Palermo neighborhood, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Local artists greeted those who had camped overnight beside the altar, a large structure put up some weeks earlier, under a clear spring sky.Around 9 a.m., the singer-songwriter Athenas warmed the crowd with familiar Catholic songs. The surprise of the morning was Soledad Pastorutti, who sang her own pieces, including La Viajera and A Don Ata, and closed with religious songs such as Alma Misionera and Oración del Remanso. The crowd at the Mass with Pope Leo XIV in Buenos Aires, Nov. 9, 2026. | Credit: Julieta Villar/EWTN News With the streets closed, people walked in the hundreds: families, parish groups, couples, friends and a few onlookers, mixed in with street vendors selling flags, mugs and even images made with artificial intelligence that showed Pope Leo embracing Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.Florencia Raspi and Nicolás Deim arrived on Avenida del Libertador with four of their five children, all in yellow and white caps bearing the pope’s image. Raspi, who was nine when she saw St. John Paul II with her own family, wanted her children to have that same experience.“What moves us is the faith, the unique moment we are going to live,” she told EWTN News, “and above all this great public act of faith, how faith moves us and stirs us.” For Argentine families, she hoped the pope would leave “a message of hope, of unity,” and the sense of “welcome everyone … that in our differences we all come together.” A group of young people at the Mass with Pope Leo XIV at the Monumento a los Españoles in Buenos Aires, Nov. 9, 2026. | Credit: Julieta Villar/EWTN News Olga walked arm in arm with her daughter, and with tears in her eyes spoke of “the emotion of seeing him, the faith we have,” and of waiting for “the blessing he is going to give us all.” For her country she wished “that we may be united, that we respect one another, and that the country may move forward.”Manuel Bur arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday with his girlfriend, from Concepción del Uruguay in Entre Ríos province. He hoped the pope would “give us strength, encouragement, to be better people, to be a better community.”Milagros Kirpach, of the Noche de la Caridad group at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, said she had come for more than a glimpse of the pope. “What is being lived, the people walking to meet their faith, is what brought me,” she said. For Argentines she hoped for a message of unity and peace. “I think that all of us being united today reflects that.”Martina Navarro, of the Residencia Universitaria Sur of Opus Dei, had been volunteering since the early hours. “I had the joy of being able to take part. It was incredible to see the Church so alive, so happy to receive Pope Leo.”“As always, the pope leaves us unity, because he is literally the vicar of Christ on earth,” she said. “We have the joy of being able to be a little closer to heaven with him.”Francisco Brusco, of the Piarist Schools at Colegio Calasanz in Buenos Aires, also served as a volunteer. “I cannot think of Pope Leo without thinking of the first pope, who is St. Peter, and whenever I think of St. Peter I think of the great mercy of God,” he said. “Falling is human. Redemption comes from God and from his great mercy.”With the pope’s arrival, he said, “the most important thing is to show that the faith is more alive than ever,” and that it is “a very good way of showing that Argentina really is Catholic.” Two pilgrims at the Mass with Pope Leo XIV in Buenos Aires, Nov. 9, 2026. | Credit: Julieta Villar/EWTN News The popemobile crossed Avenida del Libertador after 11 a.m., nearly an hour behind schedule. The crowd in the sun covered their heads with caps, scarves, blankets and even bags. Many were moved by the pope’s arrival; others were somewhat surprised at how quickly the vehicle passed.The Mass itself was marked by respect, prayer and recollection. At the consecration, a great many of the faithful knelt, then went in an orderly way to receive Communion, distributed by more than 2,000 ministers of Holy Communion.In his homily, the pope spoke of the family as the place where faith, human virtues, a culture of work, respect for the elderly, the defense of life and fidelity to one’s word are handed on. He also drew applause when he recalled Pope Francis, who was archbishop of Buenos Aires before he became pope.At the sign of peace there was joy and a sense of fellowship, which lasted to the end, when the crowd left the site in an orderly way for home.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam

Families and volunteers who waited overnight in Buenos Aires spoke of handing on the faith, of unity and of a living Church.

Read More
Pope Leo XIV calls for religious and social unity in Argentina #Catholic BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV has made it clear since the start of his pontificate that he seeks to be a pope of unity. On Monday, Nov. 9, he brought that message to Argentina, in speeches on economic relations, interfaith dialogue and leadership of the Church itself.Speaking to an audience at the Catholic University of Argentina that included business leaders, trade unionists and grass-roots social activists, the pope encouraged groups with apparently conflicting interests to join together in embracing the fundamental principles of Catholic Social Teaching.Leo made his talk a mini-tutorial in the subject, offering brief definitions of the dignity of the human person, the common good, the universal destination of goods, solidarity and subsidiarity. By acting in accordance with these, he said, society could “build the civilization of love.”The pope offered a concrete example of someone who lived by the principles in the Venerable Enrique Shaw, an Argentine businessman “who underwent a conversion after discovering the beauty of the Gospel as expressed in the Church’s Social Doctrine.”Leo said the entrepreneur “understood that industry was not just a productive mechanism or a means of accumulating capital, but a true community of people called to grow together.”Shaw died in 1962 and Pope Francis recognized his heroic virtues in 2021.The pope also pointed to trade unions, workers’ associations, cooperatives and welfare organizations, whose “specific mission is to be instruments of solidarity and cohesion, channels of cooperation between workers and businesses.”A little later the same afternoon, Leo addressed representatives of other Christian churches and other religions, proposing an understanding of “sincere prayer” that unites their different creeds. Such prayer, the pope said, gives voice to “religions as guardians of human dignity, religions as expressions of our freedom, and religions as places in which to cultivate hope.”The pope’s last public event of the day was a vespers service with the Catholic bishops of Argentina. After surveying the geographic and cultural diversity of the country, Leo noted that Catholicism in the country is united by veneration of the Virgin Mary, though under different titles and devotions, including the Most Holy Virgin of the Miracle, Our Lady of the Valley, the Virgin of the Rosary, Mary of Itatí and Our Lady of Luján.Leo is scheduled to celebrate Mass in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján on Wednesday, his last day in Argentina.The pope offered the biblical story of Joseph’s reunion with his father Jacob and his brothers, depicted in a relief on the facade of the cathedral where he was speaking, as a model of reconciliation for his listeners.“Let us cultivate communion, welcoming our legitimate differences with charity and fostering fraternity, so that our unity may make Christ’s love visible and help many to encounter him,” the pope said.Leo asked the bishops “to continue listening to one another and discerning together what the Holy Spirit is asking of you in the light of the word of God and the Magisterium of the Church.” He said they should do so in conjunction with their synodal teams, also present in the cathedral, since they were “fellow disciples of the one Teacher.”Synodality, a signature initiative of Pope Francis that Leo has pledged to continue, seeks to involve the whole Church, including the laity, more fully in discernment and mission.
Read More

Pope Leo XIV calls for religious and social unity in Argentina #Catholic BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV has made it clear since the start of his pontificate that he seeks to be a pope of unity. On Monday, Nov. 9, he brought that message to Argentina, in speeches on economic relations, interfaith dialogue and leadership of the Church itself.Speaking to an audience at the Catholic University of Argentina that included business leaders, trade unionists and grass-roots social activists, the pope encouraged groups with apparently conflicting interests to join together in embracing the fundamental principles of Catholic Social Teaching.Leo made his talk a mini-tutorial in the subject, offering brief definitions of the dignity of the human person, the common good, the universal destination of goods, solidarity and subsidiarity. By acting in accordance with these, he said, society could “build the civilization of love.”The pope offered a concrete example of someone who lived by the principles in the Venerable Enrique Shaw, an Argentine businessman “who underwent a conversion after discovering the beauty of the Gospel as expressed in the Church’s Social Doctrine.”Leo said the entrepreneur “understood that industry was not just a productive mechanism or a means of accumulating capital, but a true community of people called to grow together.”Shaw died in 1962 and Pope Francis recognized his heroic virtues in 2021.The pope also pointed to trade unions, workers’ associations, cooperatives and welfare organizations, whose “specific mission is to be instruments of solidarity and cohesion, channels of cooperation between workers and businesses.”A little later the same afternoon, Leo addressed representatives of other Christian churches and other religions, proposing an understanding of “sincere prayer” that unites their different creeds. Such prayer, the pope said, gives voice to “religions as guardians of human dignity, religions as expressions of our freedom, and religions as places in which to cultivate hope.”The pope’s last public event of the day was a vespers service with the Catholic bishops of Argentina. After surveying the geographic and cultural diversity of the country, Leo noted that Catholicism in the country is united by veneration of the Virgin Mary, though under different titles and devotions, including the Most Holy Virgin of the Miracle, Our Lady of the Valley, the Virgin of the Rosary, Mary of Itatí and Our Lady of Luján.Leo is scheduled to celebrate Mass in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján on Wednesday, his last day in Argentina.The pope offered the biblical story of Joseph’s reunion with his father Jacob and his brothers, depicted in a relief on the facade of the cathedral where he was speaking, as a model of reconciliation for his listeners.“Let us cultivate communion, welcoming our legitimate differences with charity and fostering fraternity, so that our unity may make Christ’s love visible and help many to encounter him,” the pope said.Leo asked the bishops “to continue listening to one another and discerning together what the Holy Spirit is asking of you in the light of the word of God and the Magisterium of the Church.” He said they should do so in conjunction with their synodal teams, also present in the cathedral, since they were “fellow disciples of the one Teacher.”Synodality, a signature initiative of Pope Francis that Leo has pledged to continue, seeks to involve the whole Church, including the laity, more fully in discernment and mission.

unitedyam

On Monday in Buenos Aires, Pope Leo XIV spoke on Catholic social teaching, prayer among religions, and communion in the Church.

Read More

Gospel and Word of the Day – 10 November 2026 – A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 Beloved: You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely, that older men should be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance. Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves, showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without anything bad to say about us. For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.From the Gospel according to Luke 17:7-10 Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”Jesus invites us to be humble and suggests the example of a servant who has worked in the fields. When he returns home, the master asks him to go on working. According to the mentality of Jesus’ time the master had every right to do this. The servant owed his master total availability; and the master did not feel under any obligation to him for having carried out the orders he had received. Jesus makes us aware that, before God, we are in a similar situation: we are God’s servants, we are not his creditors but are always indebted to him, because we owe him everything since everything is a gift from him. Accepting and doing his will is the approach to have every day, at every moment of our life. Before God we must never present ourselves as if we believe we have done a service and deserve a great reward. This is an illusion that can be born in everyone, even in people who work very hard in the Lord’s service, in the Church. Rather, we must be aware that in reality we never do enough for God. We must say, as Jesus’ suggests: "we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty" (Lk 17: 10). This is an attitude of humility that really puts us in our place and permits the Lord to be very generous to us. (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, Foro Italico in Palermo, 3 October 2010)    

unitedyam

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Titus
2:1-8, 11-14

Beloved:
You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine,
namely, that older men should be temperate, dignified,
self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance.
Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior,
not slanderers, not addicted to drink,
teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women
to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers,
under the control of their husbands,
so that the word of God may not be discredited.

Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves,
showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect,
with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech
that cannot be criticized,
so that the opponent will be put to shame
without anything bad to say about us.

For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of the great God
and of our savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.

From the Gospel according to Luke
17:7-10

Jesus said to the Apostles:
“Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?
Would he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished’?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded, say,
‘We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

Jesus invites us to be humble and suggests the example of a servant who has worked in the fields. When he returns home, the master asks him to go on working. According to the mentality of Jesus’ time the master had every right to do this. The servant owed his master total availability; and the master did not feel under any obligation to him for having carried out the orders he had received. Jesus makes us aware that, before God, we are in a similar situation: we are God’s servants, we are not his creditors but are always indebted to him, because we owe him everything since everything is a gift from him. Accepting and doing his will is the approach to have every day, at every moment of our life. Before God we must never present ourselves as if we believe we have done a service and deserve a great reward. This is an illusion that can be born in everyone, even in people who work very hard in the Lord’s service, in the Church. Rather, we must be aware that in reality we never do enough for God. We must say, as Jesus’ suggests: "we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty" (Lk 17: 10). This is an attitude of humility that really puts us in our place and permits the Lord to be very generous to us. (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, Foro Italico in Palermo, 3 October 2010)

 

 

Read More
More than 90 members of Congress urge leaders to invite Pope Leo XIV – #Catholic – A bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to Republican and Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives encouraging them to formally invite Pope Leo XIV to address a joint session of Congress next year.The letter — addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York — was signed by 91 Republican and Democratic members of Congress.“The election of Pope Leo XIV serves as a sign of great pride for millions of Americans,” the letter said. “As the first ever American-born Pope, his unique perspective, and ties to our country, would serve as a unifying force for members of Congress.”“Following a divisive election, Pope Leo’s unifying message of service, compassion for fellow mankind, and the importance of human dignity would be especially timely,” the letter added.The lawmakers wrote that a visit from the Holy Father “would offer a much-needed outlook as we navigate complex foreign and domestic issues.”“Given the undeniable historical significance and cultural impact of Pope Francis’s address to Congress in 2015, we urge you to work to schedule a joint address as soon as possible in the beginning of the 120th Congress with the first American-born Pope,” the letter added.Neither Johnson’s nor Jeffries’ offices immediately responded to EWTN News’ request for comment.A decision to invite a pope to address Congress has come from congressional leadership in the past, often together with the executive branch, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). “No formal procedure on when or how to issue invitations is codified in law or in House or Senate rules,” according to CRS. ‘Looking at the calendar’The Chicago-born pontiff does not have a visit to the United States on his schedule yet but did say in June that he intends to travel to the country soon: “We were looking at the calendar for the next couple of years. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I certainly hope to be there soon.”In July, Leo honored the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by penning a letter that said that moment “gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice, and democratic self-government.” He also accepted the National Constitution Center’s 2026 Liberty Medal.Leo is visiting South America until Nov. 17. His first stop was Uruguay and he is  in Argentina until Nov. 11. The final stop for this trip will be Peru, where the Holy Father spent more than 20 years of his adult life.Pope Francis visited the United States in 2015, as did Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. St. John Paul II visited the country seven times during his long 26-year papacy.
Read More

More than 90 members of Congress urge leaders to invite Pope Leo XIV – #Catholic – A bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to Republican and Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives encouraging them to formally invite Pope Leo XIV to address a joint session of Congress next year.The letter — addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York — was signed by 91 Republican and Democratic members of Congress.“The election of Pope Leo XIV serves as a sign of great pride for millions of Americans,” the letter said. “As the first ever American-born Pope, his unique perspective, and ties to our country, would serve as a unifying force for members of Congress.”“Following a divisive election, Pope Leo’s unifying message of service, compassion for fellow mankind, and the importance of human dignity would be especially timely,” the letter added.The lawmakers wrote that a visit from the Holy Father “would offer a much-needed outlook as we navigate complex foreign and domestic issues.”“Given the undeniable historical significance and cultural impact of Pope Francis’s address to Congress in 2015, we urge you to work to schedule a joint address as soon as possible in the beginning of the 120th Congress with the first American-born Pope,” the letter added.Neither Johnson’s nor Jeffries’ offices immediately responded to EWTN News’ request for comment.A decision to invite a pope to address Congress has come from congressional leadership in the past, often together with the executive branch, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). “No formal procedure on when or how to issue invitations is codified in law or in House or Senate rules,” according to CRS. ‘Looking at the calendar’The Chicago-born pontiff does not have a visit to the United States on his schedule yet but did say in June that he intends to travel to the country soon: “We were looking at the calendar for the next couple of years. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I certainly hope to be there soon.”In July, Leo honored the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by penning a letter that said that moment “gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice, and democratic self-government.” He also accepted the National Constitution Center’s 2026 Liberty Medal.Leo is visiting South America until Nov. 17. His first stop was Uruguay and he is  in Argentina until Nov. 11. The final stop for this trip will be Peru, where the Holy Father spent more than 20 years of his adult life.Pope Francis visited the United States in 2015, as did Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. St. John Paul II visited the country seven times during his long 26-year papacy.

unitedyam

“The election of Pope Leo XIV serves as a sign of great pride for millions of Americans,” the bipartisan letter said.

Read More
U.S. Catholic bishops urge world leaders to take decisive climate action at COP31 – #Catholic – As world leaders prepare to gather this week for the 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement calling on world leaders to actively work to protect life on our common home.The annual conference takes place in November or December and this year takes place from Nov. 9–20.The statement was issued by Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, along with President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services Sean Callahan.“As leaders gather at COP31, we recognize the need for decisive action that will protect and promote human flourishing and our common home. The global Church continues to witness the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” they wrote. “We accompany those most impacted by a changing climate and the resulting extreme weather, rising seas, and biodiversity loss.”They pointed out that young people in particular “are leading this response, demanding climate justice for their generation and generations to come,” adding that “their witness is our hope: proof that our faith in action answers the hardest realities.”The Catholic leaders recalled Pope Leo XIV’s message shared during last year’s conference in which he said that God’s creation is “crying out in floods, droughts, storms, and relentless heat.”“He also reminded us that it is not the Paris Agreement that is failing, but our collective response to it — and that to overlook communities most exposed to climate change is to deny our shared humanity,” the statement said.“We urge world leaders and institutions to deliver additional climate finance that prioritizes grants over loans so that poor countries can invest in resilience and adaptation without the weight of more debt,” the statement said. “We implore negotiators to agree on how progress on adaptation will be measured within the Global Goal on Adaptation. We call on them to finalize a ‘just transition’ mechanism to accompany developing countries with expertise, cooperation, and funding as they move away from fossil fuels.”“This transition should center on protecting the dignity of every worker, family, and community affected.”The statement concluded: “Echoing the call of our Holy Father, we ask leaders to leave Antalya having matched the scale of their commitments to the scale of the need — and to remember, in every negotiating room, that behind every number is a family making difficult, daily decisions on survival amidst more extreme, erratic, and frequent climate shocks.”The Irish Bishops’ Conference also issued a statement last week urging the Irish delegation attending the COP31 to recognize the “important role” Ireland plays in “safeguarding our common home.”The Irish bishops urged the country’s delegation to advocate for four specific topics: climate finance and social justice, clean energy investment and sufficiency, fossil fuel phase-out, and fossil fuel profit tax.The COP31 is expected to draw roughly 100,000 participants including heads of states, heads of governments, prime ministers, vice presidents, climate ministers, negotiators, scientists, corporate executives, and nongovernmental organizations like Greenpeace and WWF.The conference is being led by COP31 president and Turkey’s Environment Minister Murat Kurum. Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen is presiding over negotiations, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opened the summit.This is the second consecutive year that the United States lacks an official government delegation at the summit due to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from climate pacts. However, some U.S. governors, lawmakers, and business leaders will be in attendance independently.
Read More

U.S. Catholic bishops urge world leaders to take decisive climate action at COP31 – #Catholic – As world leaders prepare to gather this week for the 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement calling on world leaders to actively work to protect life on our common home.The annual conference takes place in November or December and this year takes place from Nov. 9–20.The statement was issued by Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, along with President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services Sean Callahan.“As leaders gather at COP31, we recognize the need for decisive action that will protect and promote human flourishing and our common home. The global Church continues to witness the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” they wrote. “We accompany those most impacted by a changing climate and the resulting extreme weather, rising seas, and biodiversity loss.”They pointed out that young people in particular “are leading this response, demanding climate justice for their generation and generations to come,” adding that “their witness is our hope: proof that our faith in action answers the hardest realities.”The Catholic leaders recalled Pope Leo XIV’s message shared during last year’s conference in which he said that God’s creation is “crying out in floods, droughts, storms, and relentless heat.”“He also reminded us that it is not the Paris Agreement that is failing, but our collective response to it — and that to overlook communities most exposed to climate change is to deny our shared humanity,” the statement said.“We urge world leaders and institutions to deliver additional climate finance that prioritizes grants over loans so that poor countries can invest in resilience and adaptation without the weight of more debt,” the statement said. “We implore negotiators to agree on how progress on adaptation will be measured within the Global Goal on Adaptation. We call on them to finalize a ‘just transition’ mechanism to accompany developing countries with expertise, cooperation, and funding as they move away from fossil fuels.”“This transition should center on protecting the dignity of every worker, family, and community affected.”The statement concluded: “Echoing the call of our Holy Father, we ask leaders to leave Antalya having matched the scale of their commitments to the scale of the need — and to remember, in every negotiating room, that behind every number is a family making difficult, daily decisions on survival amidst more extreme, erratic, and frequent climate shocks.”The Irish Bishops’ Conference also issued a statement last week urging the Irish delegation attending the COP31 to recognize the “important role” Ireland plays in “safeguarding our common home.”The Irish bishops urged the country’s delegation to advocate for four specific topics: climate finance and social justice, clean energy investment and sufficiency, fossil fuel phase-out, and fossil fuel profit tax.The COP31 is expected to draw roughly 100,000 participants including heads of states, heads of governments, prime ministers, vice presidents, climate ministers, negotiators, scientists, corporate executives, and nongovernmental organizations like Greenpeace and WWF.The conference is being led by COP31 president and Turkey’s Environment Minister Murat Kurum. Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen is presiding over negotiations, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opened the summit.This is the second consecutive year that the United States lacks an official government delegation at the summit due to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from climate pacts. However, some U.S. governors, lawmakers, and business leaders will be in attendance independently.

unitedyam

The 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), is taking place in Antalya, Turkey, Nov. 9–20.

Read More
A beautiful night of Caritas: Love in action #Catholic – More than 375 friends, supporters, clergy, religious, community leaders, and members of the Catholic Charities family gathered at The Meadow Wood in Randolph for the annual Caritas Gala, sharing an elegant evening of cocktails, honoree presentations, dinner, and a festive Venetian Hour. The Gala honored five extraordinary individuals whose commitment to others reflects the mission of Catholic Charities. Joseph and Karen Jaworski received the Diocese of Paterson Bishop’s Award; Sister Theresa Lee, F.M.A., received the Father Jack Wehrlen Award; Jonathan Camiolo received the Monsignor Mark Giordani Award; and Paul Natoli received the Father Norman James O’Connor Award. During the program, guests watched videos celebrating each honoree and heard tributes recognizing their contributions. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Father Martin Glynn, Catholic Charities board president, and Scott Milliken, CEO, joined friends of Catholic Charities and parishioners and community members from across the diocese for the celebration, underscoring the strong community of support behind the organization’s mission. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The evening also featured a moving tribute to veterans and recognized Lucy Del Gaudio as Catholic Charities’ Veteran Partner of the Year, along with the inspiring story of Debra Hunter, who is served by the Department for Persons with Disabilities. Debra’s story offered a powerful reminder that behind every program, every gift, and every act of generosity is a person with dreams, talents, and a unique story to share. Above all, the Caritas Gala was a celebration of community and hope. The generosity of guests, sponsors, honorees, and supporters helps Catholic Charities feed families, support veterans, bring healing to people in recovery, empower individuals with disabilities, and provide hope to neighbors in need. As one of Catholic Charities’ largest fundraising events of the year, the annual Caritas Gala brings together a remarkable community united by compassion and service. Catholic Charities is deeply grateful to everyone who attended, celebrated the honorees, sponsored the evening, and continues to champion its mission. That generosity transforms compassion into action, helping bring hope and meaningful support to neighbors throughout Passaic, Morris, and Sussex Counties. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Read More

A beautiful night of Caritas: Love in action #Catholic – More than 375 friends, supporters, clergy, religious, community leaders, and members of the Catholic Charities family gathered at The Meadow Wood in Randolph for the annual Caritas Gala, sharing an elegant evening of cocktails, honoree presentations, dinner, and a festive Venetian Hour. The Gala honored five extraordinary individuals whose commitment to others reflects the mission of Catholic Charities. Joseph and Karen Jaworski received the Diocese of Paterson Bishop’s Award; Sister Theresa Lee, F.M.A., received the Father Jack Wehrlen Award; Jonathan Camiolo received the Monsignor Mark Giordani Award; and Paul Natoli received the Father Norman James O’Connor Award. During the program, guests watched videos celebrating each honoree and heard tributes recognizing their contributions. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Father Martin Glynn, Catholic Charities board president, and Scott Milliken, CEO, joined friends of Catholic Charities and parishioners and community members from across the diocese for the celebration, underscoring the strong community of support behind the organization’s mission. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The evening also featured a moving tribute to veterans and recognized Lucy Del Gaudio as Catholic Charities’ Veteran Partner of the Year, along with the inspiring story of Debra Hunter, who is served by the Department for Persons with Disabilities. Debra’s story offered a powerful reminder that behind every program, every gift, and every act of generosity is a person with dreams, talents, and a unique story to share. Above all, the Caritas Gala was a celebration of community and hope. The generosity of guests, sponsors, honorees, and supporters helps Catholic Charities feed families, support veterans, bring healing to people in recovery, empower individuals with disabilities, and provide hope to neighbors in need. As one of Catholic Charities’ largest fundraising events of the year, the annual Caritas Gala brings together a remarkable community united by compassion and service. Catholic Charities is deeply grateful to everyone who attended, celebrated the honorees, sponsored the evening, and continues to champion its mission. That generosity transforms compassion into action, helping bring hope and meaningful support to neighbors throughout Passaic, Morris, and Sussex Counties. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

unitedyam

A beautiful night of Caritas: Love in action #Catholic –

More than 375 friends, supporters, clergy, religious, community leaders, and members of the Catholic Charities family gathered at The Meadow Wood in Randolph for the annual Caritas Gala, sharing an elegant evening of cocktails, honoree presentations, dinner, and a festive Venetian Hour.

The Gala honored five extraordinary individuals whose commitment to others reflects the mission of Catholic Charities. Joseph and Karen Jaworski received the Diocese of Paterson Bishop’s Award; Sister Theresa Lee, F.M.A., received the Father Jack Wehrlen Award; Jonathan Camiolo received the Monsignor Mark Giordani Award; and Paul Natoli received the Father Norman James O’Connor Award. During the program, guests watched videos celebrating each honoree and heard tributes recognizing their contributions.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Father Martin Glynn, Catholic Charities board president, and Scott Milliken, CEO, joined friends of Catholic Charities and parishioners and community members from across the diocese for the celebration, underscoring the strong community of support behind the organization’s mission.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

The evening also featured a moving tribute to veterans and recognized Lucy Del Gaudio as Catholic Charities’ Veteran Partner of the Year, along with the inspiring story of Debra Hunter, who is served by the Department for Persons with Disabilities. Debra’s story offered a powerful reminder that behind every program, every gift, and every act of generosity is a person with dreams, talents, and a unique story to share.

Above all, the Caritas Gala was a celebration of community and hope. The generosity of guests, sponsors, honorees, and supporters helps Catholic Charities feed families, support veterans, bring healing to people in recovery, empower individuals with disabilities, and provide hope to neighbors in need.

As one of Catholic Charities’ largest fundraising events of the year, the annual Caritas Gala brings together a remarkable community united by compassion and service. Catholic Charities is deeply grateful to everyone who attended, celebrated the honorees, sponsored the evening, and continues to champion its mission. That generosity transforms compassion into action, helping bring hope and meaningful support to neighbors throughout Passaic, Morris, and Sussex Counties.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org] – More than 375 friends, supporters, clergy, religious, community leaders, and members of the Catholic Charities family gathered at The Meadow Wood in Randolph for the annual Caritas Gala, sharing an elegant evening of cocktails, honoree presentations, dinner, and a festive Venetian Hour. The Gala honored five extraordinary individuals whose commitment to others reflects the mission of Catholic Charities. Joseph and Karen Jaworski received the Diocese of Paterson Bishop’s Award; Sister Theresa Lee, F.M.A., received the Father Jack Wehrlen Award; Jonathan Camiolo received the Monsignor Mark Giordani Award; and Paul Natoli received the Father Norman James O’Connor Award. During the program,

Read More
Father Patrick Ryan’s 50th anniversary of ordination celebrated #Catholic – On Sunday, Sept. 13, Father Patrick Ryan celebrated his 50th anniversary as a retired priest in the Diocese of Paterson. Father Ryan was ordained on Aug. 28, 1976, at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in New York. He came to the Diocese of Paterson in 1995. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
Read More

Father Patrick Ryan’s 50th anniversary of ordination celebrated #Catholic – On Sunday, Sept. 13, Father Patrick Ryan celebrated his 50th anniversary as a retired priest in the Diocese of Paterson. Father Ryan was ordained on Aug. 28, 1976, at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in New York. He came to the Diocese of Paterson in 1995. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

unitedyam

Father Patrick Ryan’s 50th anniversary of ordination celebrated #Catholic –

On Sunday, Sept. 13, Father Patrick Ryan celebrated his 50th anniversary as a retired priest in the Diocese of Paterson. Father Ryan was ordained on Aug. 28, 1976, at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in New York. He came to the Diocese of Paterson in 1995.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

 

– On Sunday, Sept. 13, Father Patrick Ryan celebrated his 50th anniversary as a retired priest in the Diocese of Paterson. Father Ryan was ordained on Aug. 28, 1976, at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in New York. He came to the Diocese of Paterson in 1995. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

Read More
Spain’s Toledo Cathedral at 800: A tour of its Marian and Eucharistic heart – #Catholic – The Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain is in the midst of celebrating a jubilee on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of its cathedral in August 1226. On Oct. 25, Primatial Archbishop Francisco Cerro opened the holy door in a ceremony without precedent. EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, asked the cathedral dean, Father Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, for a tour of some of the most significant elements that, in his opinion, showcase the deep Marian and Eucharistic heart of the church.Inside, the cathedral houses an immense wealth of heritage accumulated over the centuries featuring works by artists such as Goya, Titian, Berruguete, Luca Giordano, Caravaggio, and El Greco, all in the service of evangelization. Construction of the Toledo Cathedral began in 1226. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español “Everything here is made for him — specifically so that by contemplating it, everyone may come to Jesus Christ and get to know him much better,” explained the dean as he began the tour at the Chapel of the Descent. The dean of the Cathedral of Toledo Cathedral, Father Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, at the Chapel of the Descent. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español The site of this chapel is located where tradition places the high altar of the Visigothic church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the first church on the present site of the cathedral, and where the people of Toledo come to touch the stone associated with a remarkable event according to tradition: “The Virgin Mary descended from the heavens to bestow a chasuble upon St. Ildefonso, in recognition of his fervent defense of Mary’s virginity,” the dean explained.After admiring the small original chapel, the tour continued along the left aisle of the central nave to admire the monstrance crafted by Enrique de Arfe (Custodia de Arfe), built from the one used by the Servant of God Queen Isabella (1451–1504) for her private devotion. “When she died, it was Cardinal [Francisco Jiménez de] Cisneros [1436–1517] who purchased it from Queen Isabella’s estate for the cathedral” and ordered it to be made of new pieces that highlight the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. The monstrance crafted by Enrique de Arfe (Custodia de Arfe) was recreated from the one used by the Servant of God Queen Isabella for her personal devotion. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español “Above is the Holy Spirit beneath the cross. Then there is a child holding an orb, [as if] saying: God is man, Jesus is man, and he is here. And further down, there is a magnificent figure of the risen Christ, which declares: He is God. Jesus is not only man; he is also God,” the priest explained.The third area the dean highlighted is the main chapel. Its layout is credited to Cisneros and it serves as the liturgical heart of the church. Sánchez drew attention to the imposing gilded and polychromed Baroque altarpiece, specifically noting the central placement of the tabernacle, which was moved there from a side chapel. The altarpiece in the main chapel of the Toledo Cathedral is one of the most significant works of its kind from that period. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español This tabernacle is also at the origin of the “Transparente,” another expression of devotion to the Eucharist within the cathedral, which, in the view of the dean, represents an architectural “bold stroke” in the service of the liturgy; it involves an opening made in the vault above to allow light to stream down toward the tabernacle, creating “an explosion of joy directed toward the Eucharist.”At this point, the dean took the tour back to the center of the cathedral, where the choir is located. Upon passing through the gate, an image of the “White Virgin” holding the child Jesus in her arms greets the visitor.“It is the most beautiful Gothic-era Virgin I have ever beheld. Observe the tenderness, the motherhood of Mary, her smile, and the pleasure she takes in having her chin caressed by her Son, as well as the way she holds him close to her breast. They express to each other mutual delight, joy, tenderness, and her motherhood that is truly worth contemplating,” Sánchez remarked.The dean next takes the tour to the chapter house, the upper reaches of which are adorned with numerous motifs alluding to the Virgin Mary, while, just below, one can see portraits of all the bishops of the primatial see of Spain, from St. Eugenius to Braulio Rodríguez, the archbishop emeritus of Toledo. View of the frescoes in the chapter house of the Toledo Cathedral. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español The tour concludes at the Chapel of the Rosary, where a jubilee Mass is celebrated daily under the patronage of the patroness of Toledo who last year received a silver lily (a papal distinction) to commemorate the centenary of her canonical coronation. An image of Our Lady of the Rosary in her chapel at the Toledo Cathedral features the silver lily granted by the pope. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Read More

Spain’s Toledo Cathedral at 800: A tour of its Marian and Eucharistic heart – #Catholic – The Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain is in the midst of celebrating a jubilee on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of its cathedral in August 1226. On Oct. 25, Primatial Archbishop Francisco Cerro opened the holy door in a ceremony without precedent. EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, asked the cathedral dean, Father Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, for a tour of some of the most significant elements that, in his opinion, showcase the deep Marian and Eucharistic heart of the church.Inside, the cathedral houses an immense wealth of heritage accumulated over the centuries featuring works by artists such as Goya, Titian, Berruguete, Luca Giordano, Caravaggio, and El Greco, all in the service of evangelization. Construction of the Toledo Cathedral began in 1226. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español “Everything here is made for him — specifically so that by contemplating it, everyone may come to Jesus Christ and get to know him much better,” explained the dean as he began the tour at the Chapel of the Descent. The dean of the Cathedral of Toledo Cathedral, Father Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, at the Chapel of the Descent. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español The site of this chapel is located where tradition places the high altar of the Visigothic church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the first church on the present site of the cathedral, and where the people of Toledo come to touch the stone associated with a remarkable event according to tradition: “The Virgin Mary descended from the heavens to bestow a chasuble upon St. Ildefonso, in recognition of his fervent defense of Mary’s virginity,” the dean explained.After admiring the small original chapel, the tour continued along the left aisle of the central nave to admire the monstrance crafted by Enrique de Arfe (Custodia de Arfe), built from the one used by the Servant of God Queen Isabella (1451–1504) for her private devotion. “When she died, it was Cardinal [Francisco Jiménez de] Cisneros [1436–1517] who purchased it from Queen Isabella’s estate for the cathedral” and ordered it to be made of new pieces that highlight the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. The monstrance crafted by Enrique de Arfe (Custodia de Arfe) was recreated from the one used by the Servant of God Queen Isabella for her personal devotion. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español “Above is the Holy Spirit beneath the cross. Then there is a child holding an orb, [as if] saying: God is man, Jesus is man, and he is here. And further down, there is a magnificent figure of the risen Christ, which declares: He is God. Jesus is not only man; he is also God,” the priest explained.The third area the dean highlighted is the main chapel. Its layout is credited to Cisneros and it serves as the liturgical heart of the church. Sánchez drew attention to the imposing gilded and polychromed Baroque altarpiece, specifically noting the central placement of the tabernacle, which was moved there from a side chapel. The altarpiece in the main chapel of the Toledo Cathedral is one of the most significant works of its kind from that period. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español This tabernacle is also at the origin of the “Transparente,” another expression of devotion to the Eucharist within the cathedral, which, in the view of the dean, represents an architectural “bold stroke” in the service of the liturgy; it involves an opening made in the vault above to allow light to stream down toward the tabernacle, creating “an explosion of joy directed toward the Eucharist.”At this point, the dean took the tour back to the center of the cathedral, where the choir is located. Upon passing through the gate, an image of the “White Virgin” holding the child Jesus in her arms greets the visitor.“It is the most beautiful Gothic-era Virgin I have ever beheld. Observe the tenderness, the motherhood of Mary, her smile, and the pleasure she takes in having her chin caressed by her Son, as well as the way she holds him close to her breast. They express to each other mutual delight, joy, tenderness, and her motherhood that is truly worth contemplating,” Sánchez remarked.The dean next takes the tour to the chapter house, the upper reaches of which are adorned with numerous motifs alluding to the Virgin Mary, while, just below, one can see portraits of all the bishops of the primatial see of Spain, from St. Eugenius to Braulio Rodríguez, the archbishop emeritus of Toledo. View of the frescoes in the chapter house of the Toledo Cathedral. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español The tour concludes at the Chapel of the Rosary, where a jubilee Mass is celebrated daily under the patronage of the patroness of Toledo who last year received a silver lily (a papal distinction) to commemorate the centenary of her canonical coronation. An image of Our Lady of the Rosary in her chapel at the Toledo Cathedral features the silver lily granted by the pope. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam

The dean of Toledo Cathedral revealed the Marian and Eucharistic heart of the cathedral, which is celebrating a jubilee on the 800th anniversary of the beginning of its construction.

Read More

The Sky Today on Monday, November 9: Chase Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS

unitedyam

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  November 8: Io and Callisto race across Jupiter Dark skies make tonight the perfect opportunity to try spotting Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS, still nearly 50° above the western horizon two hours after sunset.  Glowing around 10th magnitude, the comet is currently located in farContinue reading “The Sky Today on Monday, November 9: Chase Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS”

The post The Sky Today on Monday, November 9: Chase Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Read More

Picture of the day MACS 2129-1 Galactic Graveyard: “This chillingly haunted galaxy mysteriously stopped making stars only a few billion years after the Big Bang! It became a cosmic cemetery, illuminated by the red glow of decaying stars. Dare to enter, and you might encounter the frightening corpses of exoplanets or the final death throes of once-mighty stars.” NASA Exoplanet Exploration Halloween poster 2020. #ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam
Picture of the day
MACS 2129-1 Galactic Graveyard: “This chillingly haunted galaxy mysteriously stopped making stars only a few billion years after the Big Bang! It became a cosmic cemetery, illuminated by the red glow of decaying stars. Dare to enter, and you might encounter the frightening corpses of exoplanets or the final death throes of once-mighty stars.”
NASA Exoplanet Exploration Halloween poster 2020.
Read More

Gospel and Word of the Day – 9 November 2026 – A reading from the Book of Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the southern side. He said to me, "This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."   A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17 Brothers and sisters: You are God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.From the Gospel according to John 2:13-22 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.In order to better understand today’s Gospel passage, we must highlight an important characteristic. The merchants were in the courtyard reserved for Gentiles, the area that was accessible to non Jews. This very hall had been transformed into a market. But God wants his temple to be “a house of prayer for all peoples” (Is 56:7).(…) Jesus knows that this provocative behaviour will cost him dear. And when they ask him: “What sign have you to show us for doing this?” (Jn 2:18), the Lord answers by saying: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn 2:19). (…) In our lives as sinners, we often happen to distance ourselves from the Lord and to dampen the Spirit. We destroy the temple of God which is each of us. And yet this is never a definitive situation: three days are enough for the Lord to rebuild his temple within us! As much as they may have been wounded by evil, no one is condemned to be forever separated from God on this earth. In an often mysterious but real way, the Lord opens new small openings in hearts, the desire for truth, good and beauty that make room for evangelization. At times, one can come across mistrust and hostility. One should not allow oneself to be stopped but rather safeguard the conviction that for God three days are enough to resuscitate his Son in the heart of man. (Pope Francis, Homily, 9 November 2019)  

unitedyam

A reading from the Book of Ezekiel
47:1-2, 8-9, 12

The angel brought me
back to the entrance of the temple,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,
south of the altar.
He led me outside by the north gate,
and around to the outer gate facing the east,
where I saw water trickling from the southern side.
He said to me,
"This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;
their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.
Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,
for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.
Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."

 

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians
3:9c-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters:
You are God’s building.
According to the grace of God given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,
and another is building upon it.
But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

From the Gospel according to John
2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.

In order to better understand today’s Gospel passage, we must highlight an important characteristic. The merchants were in the courtyard reserved for Gentiles, the area that was accessible to non Jews. This very hall had been transformed into a market. But God wants his temple to be “a house of prayer for all peoples” (Is 56:7).(…) Jesus knows that this provocative behaviour will cost him dear. And when they ask him: “What sign have you to show us for doing this?” (Jn 2:18), the Lord answers by saying: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn 2:19). (…)
In our lives as sinners, we often happen to distance ourselves from the Lord and to dampen the Spirit. We destroy the temple of God which is each of us. And yet this is never a definitive situation: three days are enough for the Lord to rebuild his temple within us! As much as they may have been wounded by evil, no one is condemned to be forever separated from God on this earth. In an often mysterious but real way, the Lord opens new small openings in hearts, the desire for truth, good and beauty that make room for evangelization. At times, one can come across mistrust and hostility. One should not allow oneself to be stopped but rather safeguard the conviction that for God three days are enough to resuscitate his Son in the heart of man. (Pope Francis, Homily, 9 November 2019)

 

Read More
In Argentina, Pope Leo XIV highlights social problems #Catholic BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV spoke about crime, economic inequality, and political polarization, among other topics, in a wide-ranging speech to President Javier Milei and other dignitaries Nov. 8, the pope’s first day in Argentina.Milei is a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” whose policies of austerity have drawn criticism from Argentina’s Catholic bishops. Though Leo did not directly criticize the president, his speech was the most political he has given so far on his tour of South America, which began Nov. 6 in Uruguay and will conclude Nov. 16 in Peru.The pope opened by stating that he had come to Argentina “as a pastor,” but that the Church wishes “to propose to those who hold public office a message inspired by the Gospel and aimed at safeguarding the dignity of every person, civic concord, and the common good.”Leo highlighted several widespread social problems, including public safety. “Organized crime, human trafficking networks, arms and drug trafficking together with corruption all undermine social cohesion, fuel violence and divert resources necessary for the common good,” the pope said.Violent crime is an urgent concern across the region. According to a U.N. report, the homicide rate for Latin America and the Caribbean was the world’s highest in 2023, and nearly four times the world average.Addressing the question of inequality, the pope said that efforts should be made to ensure “that economic growth also benefits those who are disadvantaged. Here I think of families facing an uncertain future, the unemployed, the elderly who for years contributed to society, and all those who, despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household’s needs.”Leo pointed to the plight of young people driven to emigrate in search of opportunities. “A nation must seriously ask itself where it has failed when its young people have to leave their homeland in order to make their dreams come true,” he said. Pope Leo XIV tours the Casa Rosada alongside Argentine President Javier Milei and other members of the delegation during his visit to Buenos Aires on Nov. 8, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media He also addressed what he described as a threat to democracy from political polarization, a widely noted trend in Latin America and beyond.The pope said democracy is strengthened “through willingness to listen, through careful use of words, through the patient search for agreement, and through the ability to see those who think differently as fellow citizens with whom we share a common future. In this way, a spirit of trust is created, one that enables a society to deal with its differences without losing sight of the things that keep it united,” Leo said.Milei campaigned for president as a firebrand, wielding a chainsaw to show what he would do to government budgets and deriding his fellow Argentine Pope Francis as, among other things, a “filthy leftist,” though he later said he apologized personally to Francis. On Sunday, speaking right before the current pope, the president lauded the late pontiff as “an exceptional figure who inspired us all with his humanity, regardless of our creed. A person of immense generosity, whom I had the honor of knowing personally.”Leo opened his own speech by recalling his predecessor, saying the universal Church had “listened to the voice of an Argentinian pope” for years. The pope also urged the countryʼs leaders to make room for the unborn.  The audience of foreign diplomats and Argentine civil and political leaders frequently interrupted Leo’s speech with vigorous applause and cheering reminiscent of a parliament or a political convention.Earlier on Sunday, Milei met Leo’s plane at the airport and met with him privately at the seat of government, the Casa Rosada, before he and the pope gave their speeches.
Read More

In Argentina, Pope Leo XIV highlights social problems #Catholic BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV spoke about crime, economic inequality, and political polarization, among other topics, in a wide-ranging speech to President Javier Milei and other dignitaries Nov. 8, the pope’s first day in Argentina.Milei is a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” whose policies of austerity have drawn criticism from Argentina’s Catholic bishops. Though Leo did not directly criticize the president, his speech was the most political he has given so far on his tour of South America, which began Nov. 6 in Uruguay and will conclude Nov. 16 in Peru.The pope opened by stating that he had come to Argentina “as a pastor,” but that the Church wishes “to propose to those who hold public office a message inspired by the Gospel and aimed at safeguarding the dignity of every person, civic concord, and the common good.”Leo highlighted several widespread social problems, including public safety. “Organized crime, human trafficking networks, arms and drug trafficking together with corruption all undermine social cohesion, fuel violence and divert resources necessary for the common good,” the pope said.Violent crime is an urgent concern across the region. According to a U.N. report, the homicide rate for Latin America and the Caribbean was the world’s highest in 2023, and nearly four times the world average.Addressing the question of inequality, the pope said that efforts should be made to ensure “that economic growth also benefits those who are disadvantaged. Here I think of families facing an uncertain future, the unemployed, the elderly who for years contributed to society, and all those who, despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household’s needs.”Leo pointed to the plight of young people driven to emigrate in search of opportunities. “A nation must seriously ask itself where it has failed when its young people have to leave their homeland in order to make their dreams come true,” he said. Pope Leo XIV tours the Casa Rosada alongside Argentine President Javier Milei and other members of the delegation during his visit to Buenos Aires on Nov. 8, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media He also addressed what he described as a threat to democracy from political polarization, a widely noted trend in Latin America and beyond.The pope said democracy is strengthened “through willingness to listen, through careful use of words, through the patient search for agreement, and through the ability to see those who think differently as fellow citizens with whom we share a common future. In this way, a spirit of trust is created, one that enables a society to deal with its differences without losing sight of the things that keep it united,” Leo said.Milei campaigned for president as a firebrand, wielding a chainsaw to show what he would do to government budgets and deriding his fellow Argentine Pope Francis as, among other things, a “filthy leftist,” though he later said he apologized personally to Francis. On Sunday, speaking right before the current pope, the president lauded the late pontiff as “an exceptional figure who inspired us all with his humanity, regardless of our creed. A person of immense generosity, whom I had the honor of knowing personally.”Leo opened his own speech by recalling his predecessor, saying the universal Church had “listened to the voice of an Argentinian pope” for years. The pope also urged the countryʼs leaders to make room for the unborn.  The audience of foreign diplomats and Argentine civil and political leaders frequently interrupted Leo’s speech with vigorous applause and cheering reminiscent of a parliament or a political convention.Earlier on Sunday, Milei met Leo’s plane at the airport and met with him privately at the seat of government, the Casa Rosada, before he and the pope gave their speeches.

unitedyam

The pontiff met with President Javier Milei on his first day in the country.

Read More
Built to flex, made to last: Inside New Zealand’s first new cathedral in a century #Catholic The architects of Christchurchʼs new cathedral have revealed new details about the building that they will last for generationsWarren and Mahoney, the Christchurch firm responsible for the master plan, architecture and landscape design, has released new details of New Zealandʼs first new Catholic cathedral in more than 120 years.“Some projects carry a different responsibility. They ask us to think beyond our own lifetime and consider what stewardship looks like 50, 100, or even 200 years from now,” said Joseph Hampton, the firmʼs principal and lead architect.The church will have seating for 800 people and go up on Barbadoes Street, a mere 20 meters (65 feet) from where its 1905 predecessor stood until it was demolished in 2020, nine years after the Canterbury earthquakes left it beyond repair.The walls will be of local brick and stone, with glass-fiber reinforced concrete. The structure is designed to bend rather than break in a quake. To keep costs down, much of the building will be made off-site in building modules, which the firm said still allows “a sense of monumentality within a constrained budget.”While the old cathedral faced the street, the new edifice will face north, toward a planned Catholic campus. Behind it will be a perpetual adoration chapel, which Bishop Michael Gielen said will be open day and night, along with the Te Rangimarie community center.The diocese unveiled the design in July and appealed to Catholics to help pay for it. The project will cost 80 million New Zealand dollars (about million). Insurance proceeds and asset sales cover 45 million New Zealand dollars.Construction can start once the total reaches 72 million New Zealand dollars.To save money, the diocese will put electronic bells in the two towers instead of real ones, saving about 7 million New Zealand dollars. Students from Catholic schools will design the side windows until the diocese can afford stained glass.Gielen told “EWTN News Nightly” in September that the rebuild is “a metaphor.”“Itʼs not only the cathedral weʼre rebuilding. We lost 30 or 35 of our churches — damaged or demolished — in the last 15 years,” he said.Hampton said the cathedral is meant to reach beyond its walls.“It is a home for the Catholic community, but it is also part of Christchurch,” he said.
Read More

Built to flex, made to last: Inside New Zealand’s first new cathedral in a century #Catholic The architects of Christchurchʼs new cathedral have revealed new details about the building that they will last for generationsWarren and Mahoney, the Christchurch firm responsible for the master plan, architecture and landscape design, has released new details of New Zealandʼs first new Catholic cathedral in more than 120 years.“Some projects carry a different responsibility. They ask us to think beyond our own lifetime and consider what stewardship looks like 50, 100, or even 200 years from now,” said Joseph Hampton, the firmʼs principal and lead architect.The church will have seating for 800 people and go up on Barbadoes Street, a mere 20 meters (65 feet) from where its 1905 predecessor stood until it was demolished in 2020, nine years after the Canterbury earthquakes left it beyond repair.The walls will be of local brick and stone, with glass-fiber reinforced concrete. The structure is designed to bend rather than break in a quake. To keep costs down, much of the building will be made off-site in building modules, which the firm said still allows “a sense of monumentality within a constrained budget.”While the old cathedral faced the street, the new edifice will face north, toward a planned Catholic campus. Behind it will be a perpetual adoration chapel, which Bishop Michael Gielen said will be open day and night, along with the Te Rangimarie community center.The diocese unveiled the design in July and appealed to Catholics to help pay for it. The project will cost 80 million New Zealand dollars (about $46 million). Insurance proceeds and asset sales cover 45 million New Zealand dollars.Construction can start once the total reaches 72 million New Zealand dollars.To save money, the diocese will put electronic bells in the two towers instead of real ones, saving about 7 million New Zealand dollars. Students from Catholic schools will design the side windows until the diocese can afford stained glass.Gielen told “EWTN News Nightly” in September that the rebuild is “a metaphor.”“Itʼs not only the cathedral weʼre rebuilding. We lost 30 or 35 of our churches — damaged or demolished — in the last 15 years,” he said.Hampton said the cathedral is meant to reach beyond its walls.“It is a home for the Catholic community, but it is also part of Christchurch,” he said.

unitedyam

Architects say Christchurch’s new Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, the first Catholic cathedral built in New Zealand in more than 120 years, is designed to serve for the next 200 years.

Read More

Gemini North reveals Twin Spirits in Pegasus

unitedyam

Three high school students in the Project Hōkūlani internship at Gemini North on Maunakea, Hawaii, chose this pair of clashing spirals, cataloged collectively as NGC 7253 or Arp 278, for imaging with the 8.1-meter telescope. It captured this photo — the most detailed ever taken of these galaxies — in October 2025. The students selectedContinue reading “Gemini North reveals Twin Spirits in Pegasus”

The post Gemini North reveals Twin Spirits in Pegasus appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Read More
Pope Leo XIV’s appeal to mothers: ‘Never tire of passing on the faith!’ – #Catholic – FLORIDA, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at Uruguay’s most prominent Marian shrine on Sunday, where he paid tribute to women’s role in transmitting the Catholic faith and urged them to continue doing so despite secular trends.“Mothers and grandmothers: never tire of passing on the faith!” Leo told a congregation in the square outside the cathedral of Florida, a city in south-central Uruguay. “Even if your loved ones seem far from God, continue to place them before him. Do not stop blessing them, accompanying them, and simply reminding them of what they once received.”Uruguay is one of Latin America’s most secular countries, where the majority of people are not affiliated with any organized religion and 28% identity as atheist or agnostic.The cathedral in Florida houses the Virgin of Thirty-Three, a small wooden sculpture of Mary named for the number of early 19th-century patriots who entrusted their efforts for Uruguay’s independence to her intercession.Leo noted the history to underscore, as he has done throughout his visit, that Catholicism has deep roots in the country. Pope Leo XIV says Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Florida, Uruguay. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News The patriots’ “gesture reminds us that the history of peoples, too, cannot be fully understood without reference to God. Thus, from the earliest days of the nation’s founding, Uruguay has been intimately linked to a Mother,” the pope said.He linked the figure of Mary to the tradition of mothers and grandmothers teaching children how to pray and “live out Christian charity.”Thanking such women for their efforts, the pope commiserated with them over a widespread decline in religious practice.“I know that many of you carry a very specific sorrow. You taught your children to pray, and today they no longer do so. You used to attend Mass together, and it has been years since they entered a church. You spoke to your grandchildren about God, and now you do not know if those words left a mark. Sometimes you wonder if you did something wrong or if it was all futile,” Leo said.He encouraged them with the example of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, the inspiration for Leo’s religious order, who never despaired of her son’s eventual conversion and sanctity. Thousands of faithful participate in the Mass that Pope Leo XIV is celebrating at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News The pope also urged fathers and grandfathers to foster faith in the young. “Children learn a great deal by seeing that their father can kneel before God without feeling that he is any less of a man doing it,” he said.Leo concluded by urging all Uruguayan Catholics to evangelize in their daily lives.“You must enter people’s homes once more, draw near to them, listen to their questions and bring them to Christ! Each of you knows a person toward whom you need to take that step: perhaps a child, a friend, a neighbor, someone who stopped believing long ago or who has never had anyone close to them to speak to them about God,” the pope said.At the end of the Mass, Leo placed a golden rose before the image of the Virgin, a traditional papal devotion. But his homily contained a note of caution about veneration of Mary, recalling the Vatican’s decision last year to reject the title of “co-redemptrix” for her as potentially confusing.There is “one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus,” the pope said, quoting St. Paul. The he added: “All of Mary’s greatness is based on her relationship with Christ: she welcomes him, lives by him, and leads others to him. An encounter with the Master is the goal of all evangelization and of all authentic Marian devotion.”Instagram postSilvia, from Uruguay, shared her excitement about serving as a Eucharistic minister at the Mass.“It truly is a beautiful moment, very, very moving. I’m eager to help people and to be part of this celebration, which belongs to all of us. It is also a privilege to be able to distribute the Eucharist,” she said.She said being from the city hosting the Holy Father is “a tremendous gift from God,” especially on the feast day of its patroness, Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, celebrated on Nov. 8.Reflecting on the three days the Holy Father has spent in her country, she recalled the pope’s homily during Mass in Paysandú, in which he encouraged the faithful to be bridges, build communities, and accompany others. Pope Leo XIV places a golden rose before the image of the Virgin, a traditional papal devotion, on Nov. 8, 2026 at the end of Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Florida, Uruguay. | Credit: Vatican Media “I think it is a challenge and an invitation that we need in Uruguay,” she said.Later in the afternoon, the pope is scheduled to depart for Argentina, where he is set to visit the Monument to General San Martín and meet with President Javier Milei.Instagram post
Read More

Pope Leo XIV’s appeal to mothers: ‘Never tire of passing on the faith!’ – #Catholic – FLORIDA, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at Uruguay’s most prominent Marian shrine on Sunday, where he paid tribute to women’s role in transmitting the Catholic faith and urged them to continue doing so despite secular trends.“Mothers and grandmothers: never tire of passing on the faith!” Leo told a congregation in the square outside the cathedral of Florida, a city in south-central Uruguay. “Even if your loved ones seem far from God, continue to place them before him. Do not stop blessing them, accompanying them, and simply reminding them of what they once received.”Uruguay is one of Latin America’s most secular countries, where the majority of people are not affiliated with any organized religion and 28% identity as atheist or agnostic.The cathedral in Florida houses the Virgin of Thirty-Three, a small wooden sculpture of Mary named for the number of early 19th-century patriots who entrusted their efforts for Uruguay’s independence to her intercession.Leo noted the history to underscore, as he has done throughout his visit, that Catholicism has deep roots in the country. Pope Leo XIV says Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Florida, Uruguay. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News The patriots’ “gesture reminds us that the history of peoples, too, cannot be fully understood without reference to God. Thus, from the earliest days of the nation’s founding, Uruguay has been intimately linked to a Mother,” the pope said.He linked the figure of Mary to the tradition of mothers and grandmothers teaching children how to pray and “live out Christian charity.”Thanking such women for their efforts, the pope commiserated with them over a widespread decline in religious practice.“I know that many of you carry a very specific sorrow. You taught your children to pray, and today they no longer do so. You used to attend Mass together, and it has been years since they entered a church. You spoke to your grandchildren about God, and now you do not know if those words left a mark. Sometimes you wonder if you did something wrong or if it was all futile,” Leo said.He encouraged them with the example of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, the inspiration for Leo’s religious order, who never despaired of her son’s eventual conversion and sanctity. Thousands of faithful participate in the Mass that Pope Leo XIV is celebrating at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News The pope also urged fathers and grandfathers to foster faith in the young. “Children learn a great deal by seeing that their father can kneel before God without feeling that he is any less of a man doing it,” he said.Leo concluded by urging all Uruguayan Catholics to evangelize in their daily lives.“You must enter people’s homes once more, draw near to them, listen to their questions and bring them to Christ! Each of you knows a person toward whom you need to take that step: perhaps a child, a friend, a neighbor, someone who stopped believing long ago or who has never had anyone close to them to speak to them about God,” the pope said.At the end of the Mass, Leo placed a golden rose before the image of the Virgin, a traditional papal devotion. But his homily contained a note of caution about veneration of Mary, recalling the Vatican’s decision last year to reject the title of “co-redemptrix” for her as potentially confusing.There is “one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus,” the pope said, quoting St. Paul. The he added: “All of Mary’s greatness is based on her relationship with Christ: she welcomes him, lives by him, and leads others to him. An encounter with the Master is the goal of all evangelization and of all authentic Marian devotion.”Instagram postSilvia, from Uruguay, shared her excitement about serving as a Eucharistic minister at the Mass.“It truly is a beautiful moment, very, very moving. I’m eager to help people and to be part of this celebration, which belongs to all of us. It is also a privilege to be able to distribute the Eucharist,” she said.She said being from the city hosting the Holy Father is “a tremendous gift from God,” especially on the feast day of its patroness, Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, celebrated on Nov. 8.Reflecting on the three days the Holy Father has spent in her country, she recalled the pope’s homily during Mass in Paysandú, in which he encouraged the faithful to be bridges, build communities, and accompany others. Pope Leo XIV places a golden rose before the image of the Virgin, a traditional papal devotion, on Nov. 8, 2026 at the end of Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Florida, Uruguay. | Credit: Vatican Media “I think it is a challenge and an invitation that we need in Uruguay,” she said.Later in the afternoon, the pope is scheduled to depart for Argentina, where he is set to visit the Monument to General San Martín and meet with President Javier Milei.Instagram post

unitedyam

The pontiff celebrated Mass at Uruguay’s principal Marian shrine.

Read More
Chaldean monks return historic manuscripts to Iraqi archdiocese after more than 50 years – #Catholic – After safeguarding them for more than half a century, the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd has returned a collection of historic manuscripts belonging to the former Chaldean Diocese of Akra in northern Iraq to its ecclesiastical authorities.The formal handover ceremony took place at the Monastery of the Servant of God and Martyr Gabriel Danbo in Ankawa, Iraq, a predominantly Christian district of Erbil. It was attended by Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel of Mosul and Akra; Abbot Samer Soreshow, superior general of the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd; and several monks.The manuscripts were entrusted to the order in the 1960s amid the difficult circumstances and widespread displacement affecting the region, Soreshow explained in an interview with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News.According to Soreshow, Abdul-Ahad Rabban, a member of the order who served as its superior general and later became bishop of Akra, sought to protect the ecclesiastical heritage from being lost. The manuscripts were placed in the order’s care until circumstances would allow their safe return to the diocese.Soreshow emphasized that throughout the decades, the order regarded the manuscripts not only as priceless treasures but also as an essential part of the Chaldean Church’s historical and spiritual memory and a legacy preserving its identity.He explained that changing conditions over the years forced the order’s manuscript collections, including those belonging to the Diocese of Akra, to be moved repeatedly in search of safety. Manuscripts of the Diocese of Akra are returned after decades of preservation by the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd. | Credit: Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd The manuscripts were transferred from the Monastery of Our Lady of the Seeds in Alqosh to St. George Monastery in Mosul and later to St. Anthony Monastery in Baghdad. Their journey eventually brought them to the order’s general headquarters in Ankawa in 2021, which houses the Scriptorium Syriacum, a cultural center dedicated to preserving Syriac manuscripts.The repeated relocations resulted in the Akra manuscripts becoming mixed with other collections held by the order, requiring extensive efforts to identify and separate them.Soreshow said the monks relied on earlier manuscript catalogs compiled at different times by Bishop Addai Scher, Belgian Dominican orientalist Jacques-Marie Vosté, and Fathers Yousif Habbi, Boutros Haddad, and Jacques Isaac. These cataloging efforts included work published by the Iraqi Academy in 1988.However, the order’s work went well beyond identifying and sorting the manuscripts.Soreshow explained that the restoration and preservation process involved cleaning the manuscripts, gathering their scattered pages, photographing and numbering them, reassembling them into complete volumes, and preparing comprehensive catalogs.This work was particularly demanding, he noted, “especially since several copies of the same manuscript existed, many of which had been copied at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Seeds.”The project required considerable time and effort from the Chaldean Antonian monks, who began the work in 2021 through the Scriptorium Syriacum.The work was carried out under the direction of Father Yousif Ajim, the center’s director, with assistance from other staff members who graduated from the Department of Syriac Language at Salahaddin University in Erbil. Manuscripts of the Diocese of Akra are returned after decades of preservation by the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd. | Credit: Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd 93 manuscripts returned, while 4 remain unaccounted for in the collectionAccording to Soreshow, the Diocese of Akra’s collection originally comprised 97 manuscripts, of which 93 were handed over to Michaeel.Of the remaining four, three were identified in the Chaldean Patriarchate’s digitized archives, made available through manuscript digitization efforts and accessible via the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library in Minnesota.The fourth manuscript remains missing.Soreshow praised the commitment of both the religious order and the archdiocese to ensuring that the manuscripts remain properly preserved and accessible to researchers, scholars, and clergy, contributing to the study of Church history and the advancement of academic research.“The smooth transfer of these manuscripts from the custody of our order to that of their diocese reflects the continuity of the Church’s mission to safeguard its historical memory and preserve its heritage for future generations,” he said.Akra was formerly an independent Chaldean Catholic diocese. However, the unrest and conflicts that affected the region during the 1960s led to the displacement of many of its Christian inhabitants and a decline in the local Church’s presence.In 2018, the independent Diocese of Akra was merged with the Archdiocese of Mosul, forming the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul and Akra, currently headed by Michaeel.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Read More

Chaldean monks return historic manuscripts to Iraqi archdiocese after more than 50 years – #Catholic – After safeguarding them for more than half a century, the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd has returned a collection of historic manuscripts belonging to the former Chaldean Diocese of Akra in northern Iraq to its ecclesiastical authorities.The formal handover ceremony took place at the Monastery of the Servant of God and Martyr Gabriel Danbo in Ankawa, Iraq, a predominantly Christian district of Erbil. It was attended by Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel of Mosul and Akra; Abbot Samer Soreshow, superior general of the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd; and several monks.The manuscripts were entrusted to the order in the 1960s amid the difficult circumstances and widespread displacement affecting the region, Soreshow explained in an interview with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News.According to Soreshow, Abdul-Ahad Rabban, a member of the order who served as its superior general and later became bishop of Akra, sought to protect the ecclesiastical heritage from being lost. The manuscripts were placed in the order’s care until circumstances would allow their safe return to the diocese.Soreshow emphasized that throughout the decades, the order regarded the manuscripts not only as priceless treasures but also as an essential part of the Chaldean Church’s historical and spiritual memory and a legacy preserving its identity.He explained that changing conditions over the years forced the order’s manuscript collections, including those belonging to the Diocese of Akra, to be moved repeatedly in search of safety. Manuscripts of the Diocese of Akra are returned after decades of preservation by the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd. | Credit: Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd The manuscripts were transferred from the Monastery of Our Lady of the Seeds in Alqosh to St. George Monastery in Mosul and later to St. Anthony Monastery in Baghdad. Their journey eventually brought them to the order’s general headquarters in Ankawa in 2021, which houses the Scriptorium Syriacum, a cultural center dedicated to preserving Syriac manuscripts.The repeated relocations resulted in the Akra manuscripts becoming mixed with other collections held by the order, requiring extensive efforts to identify and separate them.Soreshow said the monks relied on earlier manuscript catalogs compiled at different times by Bishop Addai Scher, Belgian Dominican orientalist Jacques-Marie Vosté, and Fathers Yousif Habbi, Boutros Haddad, and Jacques Isaac. These cataloging efforts included work published by the Iraqi Academy in 1988.However, the order’s work went well beyond identifying and sorting the manuscripts.Soreshow explained that the restoration and preservation process involved cleaning the manuscripts, gathering their scattered pages, photographing and numbering them, reassembling them into complete volumes, and preparing comprehensive catalogs.This work was particularly demanding, he noted, “especially since several copies of the same manuscript existed, many of which had been copied at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Seeds.”The project required considerable time and effort from the Chaldean Antonian monks, who began the work in 2021 through the Scriptorium Syriacum.The work was carried out under the direction of Father Yousif Ajim, the center’s director, with assistance from other staff members who graduated from the Department of Syriac Language at Salahaddin University in Erbil. Manuscripts of the Diocese of Akra are returned after decades of preservation by the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd. | Credit: Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd 93 manuscripts returned, while 4 remain unaccounted for in the collectionAccording to Soreshow, the Diocese of Akra’s collection originally comprised 97 manuscripts, of which 93 were handed over to Michaeel.Of the remaining four, three were identified in the Chaldean Patriarchate’s digitized archives, made available through manuscript digitization efforts and accessible via the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library in Minnesota.The fourth manuscript remains missing.Soreshow praised the commitment of both the religious order and the archdiocese to ensuring that the manuscripts remain properly preserved and accessible to researchers, scholars, and clergy, contributing to the study of Church history and the advancement of academic research.“The smooth transfer of these manuscripts from the custody of our order to that of their diocese reflects the continuity of the Church’s mission to safeguard its historical memory and preserve its heritage for future generations,” he said.Akra was formerly an independent Chaldean Catholic diocese. However, the unrest and conflicts that affected the region during the 1960s led to the displacement of many of its Christian inhabitants and a decline in the local Church’s presence.In 2018, the independent Diocese of Akra was merged with the Archdiocese of Mosul, forming the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul and Akra, currently headed by Michaeel.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam

The formal handover ceremony took place at the Monastery of the Servant of God and Martyr Gabriel Danbo in Ankawa, a predominantly Christian district of Erbil.

Read More
‘Bless those who wrong you,’ Kenyan bishop urges Christians – #Catholic – BUNGOMA, Kenya — Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya of Kenya’s Diocese of Bungoma has urged Christians to pray for those who hurt or mistreat them and to set aside their differences when gathering for worship.In his homily during the consecration of St. Mark’s Ojamii Catholic Parish church on Nov. 5, Kadima reflected on Jesus Christ’s institution of the Eucharist amid betrayal.“Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist at the time he was betrayed. Despite the pain, suffering, and betrayal, he gave us a lasting blessing,” he said.The Kenyan bishop called on Christians to follow this example in their relationships with others.“This teaches us that even when someone wrongs us, we should still bless them. Even when we are hurt or mistreated, we should come to church, pray, and ask God to bless others,” he said. “This is a place where we should leave our differences behind and say, ‘May everyone be blessed.’”Kadima emphasized the importance of the church as a place for prayer and the celebration of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. He encouraged the faithful to participate in worship despite difficulties in their personal and family lives.“Coming to church does not mean that everything in our lives is perfect. Our families, marriages, and children may be facing challenges, but we still come to church to pray and ask God to bless everyone,” he said.Turning to promises made before God, Kadima urged Christians to take their commitments seriously, including those made at priestly ordination and in the sacrament of matrimony.“The Church is a place where we come to make promises and honor them,” he said. “When we say yes at the altar, that yes must mean something.”Recalling his own ordination, the bishop said: “Even my own priestly ordination involved being brought before the altar, where I was instructed to lie down. Once you make a commitment, you must be ready to fulfill it.”He added: “We need the Church because we are a people of promises. Our lives as Godʼs people cannot be built without promises and their fulfillment. When we say, ‘I accept’ or ‘I promise,’ we must mean it.”Kadima also called on Catholics to respect rules and regulations in their daily lives.“As Catholics, including myself, we are called to be people who respect and obey the law. The Church reminds us that we must live according to rules and regulations,” he said. Kadima linked this responsibility to service, good conduct, and respectful communication.“When we come to church, we are reminded to become people of service and good conduct. We must cultivate a culture of obedience and respect for rules, whether in the Church, at the table, at the altar, or in the way we communicate with one another,” he said.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
Read More

‘Bless those who wrong you,’ Kenyan bishop urges Christians – #Catholic – BUNGOMA, Kenya — Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya of Kenya’s Diocese of Bungoma has urged Christians to pray for those who hurt or mistreat them and to set aside their differences when gathering for worship.In his homily during the consecration of St. Mark’s Ojamii Catholic Parish church on Nov. 5, Kadima reflected on Jesus Christ’s institution of the Eucharist amid betrayal.“Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist at the time he was betrayed. Despite the pain, suffering, and betrayal, he gave us a lasting blessing,” he said.The Kenyan bishop called on Christians to follow this example in their relationships with others.“This teaches us that even when someone wrongs us, we should still bless them. Even when we are hurt or mistreated, we should come to church, pray, and ask God to bless others,” he said. “This is a place where we should leave our differences behind and say, ‘May everyone be blessed.’”Kadima emphasized the importance of the church as a place for prayer and the celebration of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. He encouraged the faithful to participate in worship despite difficulties in their personal and family lives.“Coming to church does not mean that everything in our lives is perfect. Our families, marriages, and children may be facing challenges, but we still come to church to pray and ask God to bless everyone,” he said.Turning to promises made before God, Kadima urged Christians to take their commitments seriously, including those made at priestly ordination and in the sacrament of matrimony.“The Church is a place where we come to make promises and honor them,” he said. “When we say yes at the altar, that yes must mean something.”Recalling his own ordination, the bishop said: “Even my own priestly ordination involved being brought before the altar, where I was instructed to lie down. Once you make a commitment, you must be ready to fulfill it.”He added: “We need the Church because we are a people of promises. Our lives as Godʼs people cannot be built without promises and their fulfillment. When we say, ‘I accept’ or ‘I promise,’ we must mean it.”Kadima also called on Catholics to respect rules and regulations in their daily lives.“As Catholics, including myself, we are called to be people who respect and obey the law. The Church reminds us that we must live according to rules and regulations,” he said. Kadima linked this responsibility to service, good conduct, and respectful communication.“When we come to church, we are reminded to become people of service and good conduct. We must cultivate a culture of obedience and respect for rules, whether in the Church, at the table, at the altar, or in the way we communicate with one another,” he said.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

unitedyam

Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya reminded Christians to follow Christ’s example to pray for everyone, even those who “hurt and betray.”

Read More
Older Posts