CASTRO MARIM, PORTUGAL — According to sources, American tourist Debrah Thompson’s mood soured Monday after seeing her husband gaze in wonderment at the Guadiana International Bridge, knowing in her heart that he would never look at her like she was a cool suspension bridge.
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CAPERNAUM — Residents of several nearby villages were abuzz with excitement this week, as the traveling carpenter-turned-teacher Jesus of Nazareth healed a demon-possessed man by taking away his smartphone.
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Basilica, Xavier, Navarre, Spain. The basilica belongs to the ensemble of the Castle of Xavier, built in the 10th century, although the basilica was not built until end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Of eclectic style, the interior has a unique neogothic nave built with grey stone and white marble. The stained glass is a work of painter Marcelino Santamaría from Burgos. The main altar is an artistic decorative work, carved in stone inlaid with mosaics, bronzes and enamels by the Biais house in Paris. The tabernacle is located on a high relief that represents San Francisco baptizing and preaching.
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The atmospheric glow blankets southern Europe and the northwestern Mediterranean coast, outlined by city lights. At left, the Po Valley urban corridor in Italy shines with the metropolitan areas of Milan and Turin and their surrounding suburbs.
Read MoreMission Highlight: China’s Shenzhou-22 launches as an urgent crew lifeboat The mission highlight this week is the uncrewed launch of Shenzhou-22 by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The launch is now officially confirmed for Tuesday, Nov. 25, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. CMSA reported on Monday that the Long March-2F Y22Continue reading “China to launch emergency lifeboat to Tiangong station”
The post China to launch emergency lifeboat to Tiangong station appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More(This is a Mother’s Prayer to the Guardian Angels of her children)
I humbly salute you,
O you faithful,
heavenly Friends of my children!
I give you heartfelt thanks
for all the love and goodness you show them.
At some future day I shall,
with thanks more worthy than I can now give,
repay your care for them,
and before the whole heavenly court
acknowledge their indebtedness to your guidance and protection.
Continue to watch over them.
Provide for all their …
![Hundreds of Nigerian students remain captive; Cameroon archbishop warns of church closures - #Catholic -
Parishioners at a church in Akute Ogun State, Nigeria, in June 11, 2023. / Credit: Ariyo Olasunkanmi/ Shutterstock
ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 24, 2025 / 17:41 pm (CNA).
The Catholic Church is facing a new wave of violence in Africa: In Nigeria, 265 students from a Catholic school remain captive after being kidnapped last week while an archbishop in Cameroon is threatening to close parishes if a kidnapped priest is not released.In Nigeria, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Kontagora told Fides: “The kidnappers are almost certainly criminals seeking illicit gain by demanding a ransom.”An official statement from the diocese, published on Nov. 23, reported that 50 minors managed to escape and reunite with their families after fleeing between Friday and Saturday following the attack. These developments were confirmed through visits and phone calls with their relatives, the statement said.However, of the 315 people initially captured, “265 remain in the hands of the kidnappers, of whom 239 are children, 14 are high school students, and 12 are members of the school staff,” the diocesan statement specified.The institution serves 430 primary school students (377 boarders and 53 day students) and 199 secondary school students, figures that, according to the diocese, “are important in helping the public understand the scale of the incident and the extensive efforts underway to account for every missing child and staff member.”Cameroon archbishop demands release of kidnapped priestThe archbishop of Bamenda, Andrew Nkea Fuanya, announced that “if Father John is not released before Nov. 26, the churches in the deanery will be closed” as a measure to pressure for the release of parish priest John Berinyuy Tatah, who was kidnapped on Nov. 15 by armed men in northeastern Cameroon along with his vicar.The faithful were informed of the possible closures in an official message read on Sunday, Nov. 23, in all parishes, the Vatican news agency Fides reported.Nkea explained that if the priest remains in the hands of his captors by that date, the parishes, schools, and Catholic institutions of the Ndop deanery will be closed. “Priests will be evacuated for their safety, and the Blessed Sacrament will be removed from the churches.”Furthermore, he warned that if the priest continues to be held captive on Nov. 28, the archbishop, the clergy, and lay faithful will march to the village of Baba I, where he is believed to be held, “and will either bring him back home or remain there until he is released,” Fides reported.The prelate denounced the frequent kidnappings of priests and pastoral workers, stating that the perpetrators “have put us against the wall, and all of this must end immediately,” noting that many laypeople have also suffered torture, violence, and extortion.According to Fides, the kidnapping was carried out by armed separatists who have proclaimed the so-called “Republic of Ambazonia” in the English-speaking northeast and southeast regions of the country. The rest of Cameroon is French-speaking.Bishop Barron: ‘The persecution is real and we must react’The situation in Nigeria has caused international outrage. The bishop of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, Robert Barron, recently referred to the wave of attacks against Catholic communities, noting that what has happened is part of “an ongoing and long-standing persecution.”“Over the last 10 years, I think 100,000 Christians have been murdered, tens of thousands of churches burned, [and there has been a] huge displacement of the Christian population,” he said on X.After explaining that in the middle parts of the country the attacks on Christians may be motivated by a mixture of religious, tribal, or economic reasons, Barron said he did not want the appeal to mixed motives as an excuse for inaction.“Are the motives of the persecutors mixed? Sure, I’ll grant you that. There are economic or tribal elements, of course. But my overall point is: Who cares? What matters here is that our brother and sister Christians are being brutally mistreated.”Barron also appealed to the international Christian community: “Our connections in Christ to one another are deeper than our national identity.” Christians must pray, speak out, raise awareness, and ask our representatives to act, he said.The bishop also emphasized that Nigeria today is “a flourishing Church” in vocations and vitality. “Am I surprised that that Church especially is undergoing a very vicious persecution? No. The more successful a Church becomes, the more on fire with Christ it becomes, the more it attracts the attention of the enemy.”Call for calm and prayerThe Diocese of Kontagora assured that it is “fully committed to the safe rescue of those still in captivity” and reported that it continues to work with the police, authorities, and families.It also asked the faithful to remain calm, continue praying, and support the ongoing efforts.Meanwhile, in Cameroon, Nkea once again called on the authorities to stop the abuses against the population and demanded that the priest and all kidnapping victims be returned home as soon as possible.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/hundreds-of-nigerian-students-remain-captive-cameroon-archbishop-warns-of-church-closures-catholic-parishioners-at-a-church-in-akute-ogun-state-nigeria-in-june-11-2023-credit-ariyo-ol.webp)
ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 24, 2025 / 17:41 pm (CNA).
The Catholic Church is facing a new wave of violence in Africa: In Nigeria, 265 students from a Catholic school remain captive after being kidnapped last week while an archbishop in Cameroon is threatening to close parishes if a kidnapped priest is not released.
In Nigeria, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Kontagora told Fides: “The kidnappers are almost certainly criminals seeking illicit gain by demanding a ransom.”
An official statement from the diocese, published on Nov. 23, reported that 50 minors managed to escape and reunite with their families after fleeing between Friday and Saturday following the attack. These developments were confirmed through visits and phone calls with their relatives, the statement said.
However, of the 315 people initially captured, “265 remain in the hands of the kidnappers, of whom 239 are children, 14 are high school students, and 12 are members of the school staff,” the diocesan statement specified.
The institution serves 430 primary school students (377 boarders and 53 day students) and 199 secondary school students, figures that, according to the diocese, “are important in helping the public understand the scale of the incident and the extensive efforts underway to account for every missing child and staff member.”
The archbishop of Bamenda, Andrew Nkea Fuanya, announced that “if Father John is not released before Nov. 26, the churches in the deanery will be closed” as a measure to pressure for the release of parish priest John Berinyuy Tatah, who was kidnapped on Nov. 15 by armed men in northeastern Cameroon along with his vicar.
The faithful were informed of the possible closures in an official message read on Sunday, Nov. 23, in all parishes, the Vatican news agency Fides reported.
Nkea explained that if the priest remains in the hands of his captors by that date, the parishes, schools, and Catholic institutions of the Ndop deanery will be closed. “Priests will be evacuated for their safety, and the Blessed Sacrament will be removed from the churches.”
Furthermore, he warned that if the priest continues to be held captive on Nov. 28, the archbishop, the clergy, and lay faithful will march to the village of Baba I, where he is believed to be held, “and will either bring him back home or remain there until he is released,” Fides reported.
The prelate denounced the frequent kidnappings of priests and pastoral workers, stating that the perpetrators “have put us against the wall, and all of this must end immediately,” noting that many laypeople have also suffered torture, violence, and extortion.
According to Fides, the kidnapping was carried out by armed separatists who have proclaimed the so-called “Republic of Ambazonia” in the English-speaking northeast and southeast regions of the country. The rest of Cameroon is French-speaking.
The situation in Nigeria has caused international outrage. The bishop of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, Robert Barron, recently referred to the wave of attacks against Catholic communities, noting that what has happened is part of “an ongoing and long-standing persecution.”
“Over the last 10 years, I think 100,000 Christians have been murdered, tens of thousands of churches burned, [and there has been a] huge displacement of the Christian population,” he said on X.
After explaining that in the middle parts of the country the attacks on Christians may be motivated by a mixture of religious, tribal, or economic reasons, Barron said he did not want the appeal to mixed motives as an excuse for inaction.
“Are the motives of the persecutors mixed? Sure, I’ll grant you that. There are economic or tribal elements, of course. But my overall point is: Who cares? What matters here is that our brother and sister Christians are being brutally mistreated.”
Barron also appealed to the international Christian community: “Our connections in Christ to one another are deeper than our national identity.” Christians must pray, speak out, raise awareness, and ask our representatives to act, he said.
The bishop also emphasized that Nigeria today is “a flourishing Church” in vocations and vitality. “Am I surprised that that Church especially is undergoing a very vicious persecution? No. The more successful a Church becomes, the more on fire with Christ it becomes, the more it attracts the attention of the enemy.”
The Diocese of Kontagora assured that it is “fully committed to the safe rescue of those still in captivity” and reported that it continues to work with the police, authorities, and families.
It also asked the faithful to remain calm, continue praying, and support the ongoing efforts.
Meanwhile, in Cameroon, Nkea once again called on the authorities to stop the abuses against the population and demanded that the priest and all kidnapping victims be returned home as soon as possible.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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EWTN News, Nov 24, 2025 / 16:08 pm (CNA).
Three German bishops have publicly distanced themselves from the German Bishops’ Conference’s new document on “diversity of sexual identities” for schools, further escalating the dispute over how Catholic education should address gender identity.
At the center of the controversy is the 48-page text “Geschaffen, erlöst und geliebt: Sichtbarkeit und Anerkennung der Vielfalt sexueller Identitäten in der Schule” (“Created, Redeemed, and Loved: Visibility and Recognition of the Diversity of Sexual Identities in the School”).
Published on Oct. 30 by the bishops’ conference’s Commission for Education and Schools, the document is intended to serve as an orientation aid for Catholic and other schools in Germany. Due to internal discussions last summer, the orientation text was initially withheld and revised.
Based on the premise that “the diversity of sexual identities is a fact,” the text urges schools to foster an environment free of discrimination for students, staff, and parents who identify as queer. The document calls on students to respect the self-identification and self-designation of classmates who identify as queer and to support initiatives that highlight their situation.
The English word “queer” is frequently used by some German organizations, including certain dioceses, as an umbrella term for people who identify as LGBT.
In his foreword, commission chair Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers of Dresden-Meissen stresses that the text does not claim to offer a full moral-theological evaluation. Rather, it is intended to provide school-pastoral and pedagogical guidelines rooted in contemporary human sciences.
Teachers are encouraged to use language that reflects “the diversity of sexual identities.” In religion classes, teachers should present disputed questions of sexual morality as such, allowing students to form their own judgments.
Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau issued the most detailed response. In an online commentary, he acknowledged concerns about vulnerable young people but said he “fully” distanced himself from the document’s presuppositions and its theological, philosophical, pedagogical, and developmental psychological approach.
Although the booklet is published under the name “The German Bishops,” Oster insists that it does not speak for him and warns that it promotes an anthropology that effectively desacralizes the Christian understanding of the human person.
Since then, Regensburg’s bishop, Rudolf Voderholzer, has aligned himself explicitly with Oster’s critique. His diocese republished the Passau text as a “critical analysis” of the central theses, and Voderholzer accused the bishops’ conference leadership of pushing the paper through almost unchanged despite requests for revisions in the Standing Council. The Regensburg response spoke of an “agenda” being pursued “in our name.”
The Standing Council is the German Bishops’ Conference’s governing body where all 27 diocesan bishops meet five to six times per year to handle ongoing business and coordinate between the less-frequent plenary assemblies.
The third critical response came from Cologne. The archdiocese, led by Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, released a statement rejecting all forms of discrimination in Catholic schools. Regarding the theological and anthropological assessment of “Geschaffen, erlöst und geliebt,” however, the archdiocese said it “aligns itself” with Oster’s commentary.
Other voices have contributed to the mixed reception. Thomas Maria Renz, the Rottenburg auxiliary bishop and vice chair of the school commission, welcomed the effort to protect vulnerable youth. However, he warned against a “naive” endorsement of every form of adolescent self-description during development. He called for a stronger focus on broader educational goals.
For now, the document remains officially in force as an orientation aid of the bishops’ conference. However, the open opposition of three diocesan bishops has turned it into a key issue in the broader struggle over the Church’s reform efforts in Germany, particularly with regard to sexuality and anthropology.
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ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 24, 2025 / 15:38 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV stated that hope “does not mean having all the answers, but rather it calls us to put our trust in God.”
The pontiff made his remarks during an audience granted Nov. 24 at the Vatican to faithful from Latvia, who traveled to the Eternal City to commemorate the centenary of the first official Latvian pilgrimage to Rome.
After greeting Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, with whom he had met privately earlier, the Holy Father thanked the pilgrims for keeping the tradition alive and following in the footsteps “of your forebears in the faith.”
He then recalled that Rome “has always been a home for all Christians, since it is here that the great apostles Peter and Paul gave the supreme witness to the Gospel by becoming martyrs for the faith.”
The Holy Father also recalled Pope Francis’ visit to the country in 2018, on the occasion of the centenary of the nation’s independence, where he spoke “of the difficulties your country experienced in the past.”
“While the current conflict in your region may evoke memories of those turbulent times,” Leo said, “it is important for all of us to turn to God and to be strengthened by God’s grace when faced with such tribulation.”
Recalling Francis’ words, Leo emphasized the “vital role the Christian faith played in your country’s history.” He expressed gratitude for the bond between Latvia and the Holy See, whose relations have grown closer in recent years.
The Holy Father also affirmed that it is necessary to unite with hope “the virtue of faith in order to keep our eyes on the present and see the many ways that God is blessing us here and now.”
In this regard, he explained that a pilgrimage “has an important role in our life of faith for it gives us the time and space to encounter God more deeply.”
“It takes us away from the routine and noise of everyday life,” he added, “and offers the space and silence to hear God’s voice more clearly.”
Finally, he encouraged them to share what they experienced in Rome when they return home, because, he affirmed, “a pilgrimage does not end but its seeds should take root in your daily discipleship and bear fruit in your lives.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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This week, Trump strengthened a key alliance. Schiff delivered another failed attempt to undermine Trump. Only one of them was focused on America’s future.
The post ICYMI: Adam Schiff Freaks Out Over Trump–Saudi Meeting (But Forgets Biden Did the Same) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Members of Congress are pushing for the U.S.
The post Lawmakers Push For Action Against Hamas-Linked Organizations in the USA appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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(Note: Thank you for supporting businesses like those presenting a sponsored message below and ordering through the links below, which benefits Gateway Pundit.
The post White House Insider Reveals Estimated $2.2 Trillion “Manhattan II” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More![16,000 teens attend Mass together to conclude NCYC #Catholic
Priests process into Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025, for the concluding Mass in Lucas Oil Stadium at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. / Credit: Tessa Gervasini/CNA
Indianapolis, Indiana, Nov 24, 2025 / 10:35 am (CNA).
The 2025 National Catholic Youth Conferences (NCYC) concluded with a nighttime Mass drawing around 16,000 teenagers.After three days of prayer, community, sacraments, and a conversation with Pope Leo XIV, young Catholics packed into Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to end the conference with Mass on Nov. 22. Archbishop Nelson Pérez told CNA it was “beautiful” to celebrate the Mass alongside 25 of his brother bishops and more than 240 priests. “It’s the Church in its splendor,” Pérez said. “Tonight, we experienced the Church in its splendor.” The final Mass was celebrated on the Saturday before the solemnity of Christ the King. In his homily, Pérez said: “When I think about a king, I think about palaces and big thrones and power and authority.”“But when Jesus talks about king it’s … different,” Pérez said. “His throne is a cross. His crown is not made of gold and gems. It’s made of thorns. He doesn’t wear fancy, beautiful, priceless rings on his hands. He has nails.”The “very mystery of the life and the death of Christ, the King, and all of our lives is actually a dying and a rising — dying to sin, dying to the parts of our humanity that might be warped and wounded, and rising to new life to renewal of our soul.”Then “that process goes over and over over and over and over again until we die in Christ for the last time and then rise with him,” Pérez said. “How blessed, how filled with hope we are.”Pérez reminds teens: ‘Christ loves you just as you are’Pérez concluded his homily by tying his message back to what Pope Leo told the teens in his digital encounter with them on Nov. 21. Pérez told the teenagers Pope Leo spoke with them because he loves them.Pope Leo has “gathered with youth all over the place, especially this summer, [during] the Jubilee of Youth,” Pérez said. The pope’s “message is profound, powerful, and simple at the same time: ‘Christ loves you just as you are.’”Pérez reminded the crowd to listen to what the pope said to them. “Think of your closest friends. If they were hurting, you would walk with them, listen, and stay close,” the pope said. “Our relation with Jesus is similar. He knows when life feels heavy, even when we do not feel his presence, our faith tells us he is there.”“To entrust our struggles to Jesus, we have to spend time in prayer … We can speak honestly about what’s in our hearts,” Pérez said, quoting the pope. “That is why daily moments of silence are so important, whether through adoration, reading Scripture, or simply talking to him.”“‘Little by little, we learn to hear his voice, both from within and through the people he sends us. As you grow closer to Jesus,’ he said to us, ‘Do not fear what he may ask of you. If he challenges you to make changes in your life, it’s always because he wants to give you greater joy and freedom. God is never outdone in generosity.’”“The pope’s digital visit was what made this NCYC epic, really epic and different from any other,” Pérez told CNA. The success was from “the excitement of our youth to welcome the Holy Father” and Pope Leo’s “generosity and willingness” to speak with them. Being a part of the conference and seeing so many young Catholics at Mass together made Pérez feel “hopeful,” he said. “In a world and a country that’s so divided right now and violent at times, after this, I’m just so full of hope. It’s almost like we’re going to be OK.”“It’s incredible to see the young Church alive,” Pérez said. “It’s such a beautiful, beautiful gathering.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/16000-teens-attend-mass-together-to-conclude-ncyc-catholic-priests-process-into-lucas-oil-stadium-on-nov-22-2025-for-the-concluding-mass-in-lucas-oil-stadium-at-the-national-catholic-youth-co.webp)
Indianapolis, Indiana, Nov 24, 2025 / 10:35 am (CNA).
The 2025 National Catholic Youth Conferences (NCYC) concluded with a nighttime Mass drawing around 16,000 teenagers.
After three days of prayer, community, sacraments, and a conversation with Pope Leo XIV, young Catholics packed into Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to end the conference with Mass on Nov. 22. Archbishop Nelson Pérez told CNA it was “beautiful” to celebrate the Mass alongside 25 of his brother bishops and more than 240 priests.
“It’s the Church in its splendor,” Pérez said. “Tonight, we experienced the Church in its splendor.”
The final Mass was celebrated on the Saturday before the solemnity of Christ the King. In his homily, Pérez said: “When I think about a king, I think about palaces and big thrones and power and authority.”
“But when Jesus talks about king it’s … different,” Pérez said. “His throne is a cross. His crown is not made of gold and gems. It’s made of thorns. He doesn’t wear fancy, beautiful, priceless rings on his hands. He has nails.”
The “very mystery of the life and the death of Christ, the King, and all of our lives is actually a dying and a rising — dying to sin, dying to the parts of our humanity that might be warped and wounded, and rising to new life to renewal of our soul.”
Then “that process goes over and over over and over and over again until we die in Christ for the last time and then rise with him,” Pérez said. “How blessed, how filled with hope we are.”
Pérez concluded his homily by tying his message back to what Pope Leo told the teens in his digital encounter with them on Nov. 21. Pérez told the teenagers Pope Leo spoke with them because he loves them.
Pope Leo has “gathered with youth all over the place, especially this summer, [during] the Jubilee of Youth,” Pérez said. The pope’s “message is profound, powerful, and simple at the same time: ‘Christ loves you just as you are.’”
Pérez reminded the crowd to listen to what the pope said to them. “Think of your closest friends. If they were hurting, you would walk with them, listen, and stay close,” the pope said. “Our relation with Jesus is similar. He knows when life feels heavy, even when we do not feel his presence, our faith tells us he is there.”
“To entrust our struggles to Jesus, we have to spend time in prayer … We can speak honestly about what’s in our hearts,” Pérez said, quoting the pope. “That is why daily moments of silence are so important, whether through adoration, reading Scripture, or simply talking to him.”
“‘Little by little, we learn to hear his voice, both from within and through the people he sends us. As you grow closer to Jesus,’ he said to us, ‘Do not fear what he may ask of you. If he challenges you to make changes in your life, it’s always because he wants to give you greater joy and freedom. God is never outdone in generosity.’”
“The pope’s digital visit was what made this NCYC epic, really epic and different from any other,” Pérez told CNA. The success was from “the excitement of our youth to welcome the Holy Father” and Pope Leo’s “generosity and willingness” to speak with them.
Being a part of the conference and seeing so many young Catholics at Mass together made Pérez feel “hopeful,” he said. “In a world and a country that’s so divided right now and violent at times, after this, I’m just so full of hope. It’s almost like we’re going to be OK.”
“It’s incredible to see the young Church alive,” Pérez said. “It’s such a beautiful, beautiful gathering.”
Read More
Pope calls treatment of migrants in U.S. ‘extremely disrespectful’ #Catholic – 
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Insisting that the dignity of all people, including immigrants, must be respected, Pope Leo XIV asked U.S. Catholics and “people of goodwill” to read and listen to the U.S. bishops’ recent pastoral message on the topic.
“When people are living good lives — and many of them (in the United States) for 10, 15, 20 years — to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful, to say the least,” is not acceptable, the pope said Nov. 18.
Meeting reporters outside his villa in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo was asked what he thought of the “special pastoral message on immigration” approved overwhelmingly by members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Nov. 12.
“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,” the bishops said. “We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care. We lament that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status.”
The bishops also said, “We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people,” and they prayed “for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.”
Pope Leo told reporters in Castel Gandolfo that the pastoral message is “a very important statement. I would invite especially all Catholics, but people of goodwill, to listen carefully to what they said.”
“No one has said that the United States should have open borders,” the pope said. “I think every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter.”
However, he said, in enforcing immigration policy “we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have.”
“If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that,” he said. “There are courts. There’s a system of justice,” but the system has “a lot of problems” that should be addressed.
Pope Leo also was asked about what he does in Castel Gandolfo.
Tuesdays traditionally are the one day a week when popes have no official audiences or public events. When his schedule permits, Pope Leo goes to Castel Gandolfo late Monday afternoon and returns to the Vatican Tuesday night.
Pope Leo said he uses the day for “a bit of sport, a bit of reading, a bit of work,” specifying that at Castel Gandolfo he plays tennis and swims in the pool.
Having a break during the week “helps a lot,” the pope said. And it is important to take care of the body as well as the soul.
As he prepares for his first trip outside Italy as pope — a visit to Turkey and Lebanon Nov. 27-Dec. 2 — he also was asked when he thought he would get back to Peru where he served as a missionary and as a bishop.
Pope Leo said he likes to travel, but the events of the Jubilee year kept his 2025 calendar full. The challenge for 2026 will be finding a way to schedule the trips he would like to make, including to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico and then a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, “of course.”
– VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Insisting that the dignity of all people, including immigrants, must be respected, Pope Leo XIV asked U.S. Catholics and “people of goodwill” to read and listen to the U.S. bishops’ recent pastoral message on the topic. “When people are living good lives — and many of them (in the United States) for 10, 15, 20 years — to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful, to say the least,” is not acceptable, the pope said Nov. 18. Meeting reporters outside his villa in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo was asked what he thought of the
CNA Staff, Nov 24, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
After a month and a half of walking an average of 17 miles a day, 67-year-old Father Gary Graf said he is starting to get “a little pain in one shin,” but his broken ribs are “getting much better.”
On Oct. 6, Graf, a Catholic priest from Chicago, began a journey on foot from Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home in Dolton, Illinois, to New York City to bring attention to the plight of immigrants amid the sometimes “inhumane” ways the Trump administration is treating them during its immigration enforcement actions.
He hopes to arrive at the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island, where his own great-grandparents entered the country as immigrants, by Dec. 2.
A few weeks ago, when visiting a parish in Indiana, he was invited to ride a horse. He fell off as it galloped and broke several ribs, which led him to take one day off to recover. That day, friends walked in his stead.
Graf, the pastor of the mostly Hispanic Our Lady of the Heights Catholic Church in Chicago Heights and a longtime member of Priests for Justice for Immigrants, has committed his life to helping immigrants. Ordained in 1984, he spent five years as a priest in Mexico serving a people “with whom I fell deeply in love.”
He told CNA that after initially feeling helpless watching the raids taking place against his beloved community in his hometown of Chicago, he “felt a call that was directly from above” to start walking.
Within weeks, he was on the road. He first spoke to an old friend about his idea, who immediately connected him with Lauren Foley, the head of a public relations firm. She “immediately embraced the idea,” and between her help and that of some “young people who understand social media,” a website as well as social media accounts were set up to chronicle his journey and to share the stories of immigrant families.
Of the immigrants on whose behalf he is walking, Graf said: “I look to help people who get up every single morning to work and raise their families. If I can do this small gesture on their behalf, what a blessing it is, what a privilege.”
Asked about the most profound insight he has gained thus far, Graf said his long days walking through the wide expanse of rural America have helped him understand better the ways of people who did not grow up in a multicultural city like he did.
“We have to reverently appreciate and try to connect with those whose lives we’re passing through,” he said.
As he has spoken with people in diners along his path, Graf has developed “a greater sensitivity,” discovering that “there’s not a lot of animosity against the immigrant.”
Many of the people he has met simply do not know any, he said.
Along the way, he has also experienced unity with Christians from other denominations, as well as with those without religious faith, who all care about the humane treatment of human beings.
“I have seen so much goodness,” he said. “This has brought so many of us together: people from many different faith traditions, or none. This is an opportunity given to us.”
During his quiet walks through rural farmland, he has marveled at the amount of labor it took to build the many roads, bridges, and overpasses he has seen.
“I’m sure the hands of many immigrants helped build these things,” he reflected.
Graf said he is delighted that both the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Pope Leo XIV addressed the immigration enforcement situation in the past week.
The U.S. bishops issued a special message during its Fall Plenary Assembly two weeks ago, calling for “a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures.” The bishops argued that “human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of goodwill work together.”
The pope echoed the bishops’ message. On Nov. 18, he acknowledged to reporters that “every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter.”
“But when people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful, to say the least — and there’s been some violence, unfortunately — I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they said.”
“I think that I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them,” the pope said.
“Both the pope and the bishops used the word ‘indiscriminate’ to talk about the way people are being singled out and aggressively having their wrists zip-tied behind their backs as their faces are pushed to the ground in front of their children,” Graf said.
“It is indeed indiscriminate. This reflects dishonesty on the administration’s part,” he said. “They said they were going after the ‘worst of the worst,’ criminals, but this isn’t the case, at least in Chicago. They’re grabbing people first and asking questions later.”
“The violent way many of these people are being treated is amoral and un-American,” he said.
Like the pope and the American bishops, Graf said he hopes the federal government will establish a more humane immigration system that respects the dignity of immigrants as well as the rule of law and the country’s right to regulate its borders.
“I am not a politician,” he said. “My job is to mediate, to speak up, in God’s name, in the united name of the Church. But can we look for a way for those who are fulfilling their responsibilities; for them to one day receive the rights of citizens?”
The priest, who appeared on “EWTN News Nightly” in October, said he has been “impressed by the media” and is grateful his message is being spread.
“If we don’t hear the whole truth, the incredible ignorance and darkness we live in can paralyze us, and keep us from doing what we ought to do,” he said.
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AMARILLO, TX — Local pastor Robbie Ashlock has installed a "Heresy Gong" in the sanctuary for whenever the associate pastor is up to preach.
Read MoreGraciously hear us, O Lord, when we call upon You,
and grant unto our supplications a calm atmosphere,
that we, who are justly afflicted for our sins,
may, by Your protecting mercy, experience pardon.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Read MoreA reading from the Book of Daniel
1:1-6, 8-20
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came
and laid siege to Jerusalem.
The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and some of the vessels of the temple of God;
he carried them off to the land of Shinar,
and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.
The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain,
to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood
and of the nobility, young men without any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise,
quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,
such as could take their place in the king’s palace;
they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;
after three years’ training they were to enter the king’s service.
The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine
from the royal table.
Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.
But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself
with the king’s food or wine;
so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.
Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy
of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel,
"I am afraid of my lord the king;
it is he who allotted your food and drink.
If he sees that you look wretched
by comparison with the other young men of your age,
you will endanger my life with the king."
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain
had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
"Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men
who eat from the royal table,
and treat your servants according to what you see."
He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed
than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
So the steward continued to take away
the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency
in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation,
the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
When the king had spoken with all of them,
none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah;
and so they entered the king’s service.
In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.
From the Gospel according to Luke
21:1-4
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, "I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."
The works of mercy are the most secure and profitable bank where we can entrust the treasure of our existence, because there, as the Gospel teaches us, with “two small copper coins” even the poor widow becomes the richest person in the world (…).
To understand what he means by this, we can think of a mother who embraces her children: is she not the most beautiful and richest person in the world? Or a boyfriend and girlfriend, when they are together: do they not feel like king and queen? We could think of many other examples.
Therefore, wherever we are, in the family, parish, school or workplace, we should try not to miss any opportunity to act with love. This is the type of vigilance that Jesus asks of us: to grow in the habit of being attentive, ready and sensitive to one another, just as he is with us in every moment. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 10 August 2025)
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Rome Newsroom, Nov 23, 2025 / 13:10 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday praised the “precious” ministry of liturgical music and told choir members from around the world that their service at the altar must be sustained above all by a deep life of prayer. He later used his pre-Angelus remarks to appeal for the release of hostages kidnapped in Nigeria and Cameroon and to encourage young people on World Youth Day.
The pope celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of Choirs on the Solemnity of Christ the King, telling choristers and musicians that their vocation is to lead God’s people into the mystery of worship.
“Dear choristers and musicians, today you celebrate your jubilee and you show thanks to the Lord for granting you the gift and grace to serve him by offering your voices and talents for his glory and for the spiritual edification of your brothers and sisters,” he said in his homily. “Your task is to draw others into the praise of God and to help them to participate more fully in the liturgy through song.”
Drawing on the day’s responsorial psalm, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122), Pope Leo said the liturgy calls Christians “to walk together in praise and joy toward the encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, gentle and humble Sovereign.”
“His power is love, his throne the Cross, and through the Cross his Kingdom shines forth upon the world,” he said. “From the wood he reigns as Prince of Peace and King of Justice who, in his Passion, reveals to the world the immense mercy of God’s heart. This love is also the inspiration and motive for your singing.”
Pope Leo described singing as a uniquely human way of expressing what words alone cannot say.
“Music can give expression to the whole range of feelings and emotions that arise within us from a living relationship with reality,” he said, adding that “singing, in particular, constitutes a natural and refined expression of the human being: mind, feelings, body and soul come together to communicate the great events of life.”
Quoting St. Augustine, he recalled that “ ‘Cantare amantis est’ … that is, ‘singing belongs to those who love.’”
For Christians, he continued, liturgical song is more than performance. “For the people of God, song expresses invocation and praise,” he said. “Liturgical music thus becomes a precious instrument through which we carry out our service of praise to God and express the joy of new life in Christ.”
The pope underlined that choir members exercise a genuine ecclesial service, especially in the liturgy.
“You belong to choirs that carry out their ministry primarily in liturgical settings. Yours is a true ministry that requires preparation, commitment, mutual understanding and, above all, a deep spiritual life, so that when you sing, you both pray and help everyone else to pray,” he said.
This ministry, he added, “requires discipline and a spirit of service, especially when preparing for a solemn liturgy or an important event in your communities.”
Pope Leo urged choristers not to see themselves as performers set apart from the congregation, but as part of the praying assembly.
“The choir is a small family of individuals united by their love of music and the service they offer. However, remember that the community is your larger family,” he said. “You are not on stage, but rather a part of that community, endeavoring to help it grow in unity by inspiring and engaging its members.”
He acknowledged the ordinary tensions that can arise in any group, but said that even these can become a sign of the Church’s pilgrimage through history.
“We can say to some extent that the choir symbolizes of the Church, which, striving toward its goal, walks through history praising God,” he said. “Even when this journey is beset by difficulties and trials and joyful moments give way to more challenging ones, singing makes the journey lighter, providing relief and consolation.”
Citing both St. Augustine and St. Ignatius of Antioch, the pope presented the choir as a sign of synodality and unity in the Church, in which diverse voices become a single hymn of praise.
“In fact, the different voices of a choir harmonize with each other, giving rise to a single hymn of praise, a luminous symbol of the Church, which unites everyone in love in a single pleasing melody,” he said.
Pope Leo also encouraged musicians to study the Church’s teaching on sacred music and to resist the impulse to draw attention to themselves rather than to God.
“Strive, therefore, to make your choirs ever harmonious and beautiful, and a brighter image of the Church praising her Lord,” he said. “Study the Magisterium carefully. The conciliar documents set out the norms for carrying out your service in the best possible way.”
“Above all, dedicate yourselves to facilitating the participation of the people of God, without giving in to the temptation of ostentation, which prevents the entire liturgical assembly from actively participating in the singing,” he added. “In this, be an eloquent sign of the Church’s prayer, expressing its love for God through the beauty of music. Take care that your spiritual life is always worthy of the service you perform, so that your ministry may authentically express the grace of the liturgy.”
At the end of his homily, the pope entrusted all choir members to the patron saint of sacred music.
“I place all of you under the protection of Saint Cecilia, the virgin and martyr who raised the most beautiful song of love through her life here in Rome, giving herself entirely to Christ and offering the Church a shining example of faith and love,” he said. “Let us continue singing and once again make our own the invitation of today’s responsorial psalm: ‘Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.’”
After Mass and before leading the Angelus, Pope Leo greeted the many choirs and pilgrims present and turned to urgent news from Africa, where priests, lay faithful, and students have been kidnapped in Nigeria and Cameroon.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the kidnapping of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria and Cameroon,” he said. “I feel great pain, above all for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their distressed families.”
“I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release,” he continued. “Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours, and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope.”
Recent weeks have seen the kidnapping of a Catholic priest in Kaduna State in northern Nigeria, as well as the abduction of at least two dozen schoolgirls from a secondary school in Kebbi State, amid ongoing attacks on Christian communities and widespread insecurity in several regions of the country.
Nigeria is classified as a “country in a situation of persecution” in the 2025 Religious Freedom in the World report by Aid to the Church in Need, which notes the continued activity of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, and repeated attacks against churches and Christian communities.
Pope Leo also marked the diocesan celebration of World Youth Day, observed this Sunday in local Churches around the globe.
“Today, dioceses around the world are celebrating World Youth Day,” he said. “I bless and spiritually embrace all those taking part in the various celebrations and initiatives.”
“On the feast of Christ the King, I pray that every young person may discover the beauty and joy of following him, the Lord, and dedicating him or herself to his Kingdom of love, justice and peace,” the pope added.
Looking ahead to his upcoming Apostolic Journey, the pope noted that he will soon travel to Türkiye and Lebanon.
“My Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon is now close. In Türkiye, the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea will be celebrated. For this reason, the Apostolic Letter In Unitate Fidei is being published today, commemorating this historic event,” he said.
Before beginning the Angelus prayer, he invited the faithful to entrust all these intentions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Now let us turn to the Virgin Mary,” he said, “entrusting all these intentions and our prayer for peace to her maternal intercession.”
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Vatican City, Nov 23, 2025 / 12:29 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians to move beyond “theological controversies” that no longer serve the cause of unity and to rediscover together the faith professed at the Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago.
In a new apostolic letter, In unitate fidei (“In the Unity of Faith”), released Nov. 23, the solemnity of Christ the King, the pope links the anniversary of the first ecumenical council to the Holy Year of 2025 and to his upcoming apostolic journey to Türkiye, where he will commemorate Nicaea’s 1700th anniversary and take part in an ecumenical event with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Nov. 30 before traveling on to Lebanon.
“I would like this Letter to encourage the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith,” the pope writes, stressing that the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed “for centuries… has been the common heritage of Christians, and it deserves to be professed and understood in ever new and relevant ways.”
In a strong ecumenical appeal, Leo XIV says the Nicene Creed “can be the basis and reference point” for a renewed journey toward full communion among Christians. “It offers us a model of true unity in legitimate diversity. Unity in the Trinity, Trinity in Unity, because unity without multiplicity is tyranny, multiplicity without unity is fragmentation,” he writes.
“We must therefore leave behind theological controversies that have lost their raison d’être in order to develop a common understanding and even more, a common prayer to the Holy Spirit, so that he may gather us all together in one faith and one love,” the pope continues.
“The restoration of unity among Christians does not make us poorer; on the contrary, it enriches us,” he adds, calling the goal of full visible unity “a theological challenge and, even more so, a spiritual challenge, which requires repentance and conversion on the part of all.”
Linking Nicaea to today’s crises, Leo XIV notes that the Holy Year is dedicated to the theme “Christ our hope” and that the Nicene Creed remains a source of confidence amid war, injustice, and suffering.
“In this Holy Year, dedicated to the theme of Christ our hope, it is a providential coincidence that we are also celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea,” he writes. That council, he recalls, “proclaimed the profession of faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God. This is the heart of the Christian faith.”
“In these difficult times we are living, amid so many concerns and fears, threats of war and violence, natural disasters, grave injustices and imbalances, and the hunger and misery suffered by millions of our brothers and sisters, this Creed gives us hope,” the pope says.
Leo XIV presents the letter as an invitation for all Christians “to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy,” especially through the words of the Creed: “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God… for our salvation he came down from heaven.”
The pope devotes much of In unitate fidei to explaining the historical and theological context of the Council of Nicaea, which met in 325 to address the Arian controversy over the divinity of Christ.
The dispute, he notes, “concerned the essence of the Christian faith,” namely the answer to Jesus’ question in the Gospel: “Who do you say that I am?” In response, the Nicene Fathers confessed that Jesus is the Son of God “in as much as he is of the substance (ousia) of the Father… ‘begotten, not made, consubstantial (homooúsios) with the Father.’”
“The Fathers of Nicaea were firm in their resolution to remain faithful to biblical monotheism and the authenticity of the Incarnation,” Leo XIV writes. By adopting terms such as “substance” and “consubstantial,” which are not found in Scripture, the Council “did not… replace biblical statements with Greek philosophy,” he explains. Rather, it sought “to affirm biblical faith with clarity and to distinguish it from Arius’ error, which was deeply influenced by Hellenism.”
“The Nicene Creed does not depict a distant, inaccessible and immovable God who rests in himself, but a God who is close to us and accompanies us on our journey in the world, even in the darkest places on earth,” the pope writes. “His immensity is revealed when he makes himself small, laying aside his infinite majesty to become our neighbor in the little ones and in the poor. This revolutionizes pagan and philosophical conceptions of God.”
Leo XIV also highlights the Nicene emphasis on the full humanity of Christ, noting the clarification that the Word “became man.” Against teachings that suggested the Logos only assumed a body, he recalls that later councils made explicit that “in Christ, God assumed and redeemed the whole human being, body and soul.”
Quoting St. Athanasius and the patristic tradition, the pope writes: “Divinization, then, is true humanization (becoming fully human). This is why human existence points beyond itself, seeks beyond itself, desires beyond itself, and is restless until it rests in God.” Only God, he adds, “in his infinity, can satisfy the infinite desire of the human heart, and for this reason the Son of God chose to become our brother and redeemer.”
Beyond doctrine, Leo XIV insists that the Creed must shape Christian life.
“Both the liturgy and the Christian life are thus firmly anchored in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed: what we profess with our mouths must come from the heart so that we may bear witness to it with our lives,” he writes. “We must therefore ask ourselves: What about our interior reception of the Creed today? Do we experience that it also affects our current situation? Do we understand and live out what we say every Sunday? What do these words mean for our lives?”
“In this sense, the Nicene Creed invites us to examine our conscience,” the pope continues. “What does God mean to me and how do I bear witness to my faith in him? Is the one and only God truly the Lord of my life, or do I have idols that I place before God and his commandments?”
He ties this examination to care for creation and social justice, asking: “How do I treat creation, the work of his hands? Do I exploit and destroy it, or do I use it with reverence and gratitude, caring for and cultivating it as the common home of humanity?”
Echoing the Second Vatican Council, Leo XIV notes that “for many people today, however, God and the question of God have almost no meaning in their lives,” and that Christians themselves bear some responsibility, since “they do not bear witness to the true faith; they hide the true face of God with lifestyles and actions that diverge from the Gospel.”
Instead of proclaiming a merciful God, he laments, “a vengeful God has been presented who instils terror and punishes.”
At the center of the Creed, the pope writes, is the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and God.
“The profession of faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and God is the center of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. This is the heart of our Christian life,” he says. “For this reason, we commit to follow Jesus as our master, companion, brother and friend.”
Following Christ, he continues, “is not a wide and comfortable path,” but “this often demanding or even painful path always leads to life and salvation.”
“If God loves us with all his being, then we too must love one another,” Leo XIV writes. “We cannot love God whom we do not see without loving our brother and sister whom we do see. Love for God without love for neighbor is hypocrisy; radical love for our neighbor, especially love for our enemies, without love for God, requires a ‘heroism’ that would overwhelm and oppress us.”
“In the face of disasters, wars and misery, we bear witness to God’s mercy to those who doubt him only when they experience his mercy through us,” he adds.
Recalling the teaching of Vatican II and St. John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical Ut unum sint, the pope says that in a divided world “the one universal Christian community can be a sign of peace and an instrument of reconciliation, playing a decisive role in the global commitment to peace.”
He notes that, while full visible unity with Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and communities born of the Reformation has not yet been achieved, ecumenical dialogue “founded on one baptism and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed” has already helped Christians recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and rediscover “the one universal community of Christ’s disciples throughout the world.”
“We share the same faith in the one and only God, the Father of all people; we confess together the one Lord and true Son of God, Jesus Christ, and the one Holy Spirit, who inspires us and impels us towards full unity and the common witness to the Gospel,” he writes. “Truly, what unites us is much greater than what divides us!”
The letter concludes with a prayer to the Holy Spirit for the renewal of faith and the healing of divisions among Christians.
“Holy Spirit of God, you guide believers along the path of history,” Leo XIV prays. “We thank you for inspiring the Symbols of Faith and for stirring in our hearts the joy of professing our salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, consubstantial with the Father. Without him, we can do nothing.”
“Come, divine Comforter, source of harmony, unite the hearts and minds of believers. Come and grant us to taste the beauty of communion,” he continues. “Come, Love of the Father and the Son, gather us into the one flock of Christ. Show us the ways to follow, so that with your wisdom, we become once again what we are in Christ: one, so that the world may believe.”
Read More![Pastor installed at N.J.’s oldest parish in West Milford #Catholic - St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, New Jersey’s oldest Catholic faith community, marked three major milestones during a Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Nov. 16: the parish’s 260th birthday, the 120th anniversary of its current church, and the installation of its new pastor, Father Jakub Grzybowski.
The rural 300-family Passaic County parish lives that long legacy of faith through liturgical, spiritual, and religious-formation activities, social justice outreaches, and improvement and historical preservation projects. St. Joseph’s is also the oldest Catholic parish in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey.
St. Joseph Church was filled as Bishop Sweeney served as the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Many priests concelebrated, including Father Grzybowski and Father Zig Peplowski, pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway, N.J., and a former pastor of the parish. A diverse congregation of current and former members of St. Joseph’s attended the liturgy.
Bishop Sweeney also installed Grzybowski as pastor during the Mass. The priest was named the parish’s administrator in 2019 and its pastor on March 19 this year.
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“Becoming pastor of St. Joseph’s fills my heart with profound gratitude and humility,” the Polish-born Father Grzybowski said. “What stands out about this parish is its beauty and its quiet, prayerful atmosphere. I love this church, its history, and the way it holds the memories of so many generations. Although it has suffered fires and undergone significant changes during various periods of reformation, the people today are working with tremendous dedication to restore the original character of the oldest church in New Jersey. Their love for this place is visible everywhere, and it inspires me daily.”
St. Joseph’s has embarked on projects to honor its history, such as reinstalling rediscovered altar rails from the earliest days of the current church, which opened in 1905, and installing new side altars to replace those removed years ago, as well as a new ambo. The parish also renovated its pastoral center.
The parish lives out its faith through Masses, Friday Eucharistic adoration, various religious devotions, Bible study, Generations of Faith religious formation, a food pantry, and Disciples of Christ, an evangelization and service group.
In 1765, German immigrants founded the Catholic settlement that became St. Joseph’s upon their arrival in the U.S. In time, Jesuit Father Ferdinand Farmer, also born in Germany, began riding horseback from his parish, St. Joseph in Philadelphia, Penn., to West Milford. In between his twice-yearly visits, these pioneers gathered in their homes to pray. Father Farmer stopped visiting in 1786, and no Masses were celebrated in the area for 25 years. Yet, the faithful continued to pray and catechize.
In 1829, the first church, dedicated to St. Luke, was built. Back in 1880, the renamed St. Joseph was considered a mission church, part of St. Anthony Parish in Butler, N.J., and was administered by Franciscan friars. They would include Father Mychal Judge, St. Joseph’s pastor from 1979 to 1985, and chaplain of the New York City Fire Department, who died in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
In 1887, a larger church was built, but it was burnt to the ground in 1904. The current church opened in 1905. In 1956, the Sisters of Charity arrived to administer the parish school, which opened that year. The Franciscans returned the parish to the Paterson Diocese’s administration in 2003. The school closed in 2006.
“To now be installed as pastor in this Jubilee year celebrating 260 years of the parish and 120 years since the church’s rebuilding is meaningful,” Father Grzybowski said. “It feels like stepping into a living story of faith, resilience, and God’s ongoing presence.”
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pastor-installed-at-n-j-s-oldest-parish-in-west-milford-catholic-st-joseph-parish-in-west-milford-new-jerseys-oldest-catholic-faith-community-marked-three-major-milestones-during.jpg)
Pastor installed at N.J.’s oldest parish in West Milford #Catholic – 
St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, New Jersey’s oldest Catholic faith community, marked three major milestones during a Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Nov. 16: the parish’s 260th birthday, the 120th anniversary of its current church, and the installation of its new pastor, Father Jakub Grzybowski.
The rural 300-family Passaic County parish lives that long legacy of faith through liturgical, spiritual, and religious-formation activities, social justice outreaches, and improvement and historical preservation projects. St. Joseph’s is also the oldest Catholic parish in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey.
St. Joseph Church was filled as Bishop Sweeney served as the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Many priests concelebrated, including Father Grzybowski and Father Zig Peplowski, pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Rockaway, N.J., and a former pastor of the parish. A diverse congregation of current and former members of St. Joseph’s attended the liturgy.
Bishop Sweeney also installed Grzybowski as pastor during the Mass. The priest was named the parish’s administrator in 2019 and its pastor on March 19 this year.
“Becoming pastor of St. Joseph’s fills my heart with profound gratitude and humility,” the Polish-born Father Grzybowski said. “What stands out about this parish is its beauty and its quiet, prayerful atmosphere. I love this church, its history, and the way it holds the memories of so many generations. Although it has suffered fires and undergone significant changes during various periods of reformation, the people today are working with tremendous dedication to restore the original character of the oldest church in New Jersey. Their love for this place is visible everywhere, and it inspires me daily.”
St. Joseph’s has embarked on projects to honor its history, such as reinstalling rediscovered altar rails from the earliest days of the current church, which opened in 1905, and installing new side altars to replace those removed years ago, as well as a new ambo. The parish also renovated its pastoral center.
The parish lives out its faith through Masses, Friday Eucharistic adoration, various religious devotions, Bible study, Generations of Faith religious formation, a food pantry, and Disciples of Christ, an evangelization and service group.
In 1765, German immigrants founded the Catholic settlement that became St. Joseph’s upon their arrival in the U.S. In time, Jesuit Father Ferdinand Farmer, also born in Germany, began riding horseback from his parish, St. Joseph in Philadelphia, Penn., to West Milford. In between his twice-yearly visits, these pioneers gathered in their homes to pray. Father Farmer stopped visiting in 1786, and no Masses were celebrated in the area for 25 years. Yet, the faithful continued to pray and catechize.
In 1829, the first church, dedicated to St. Luke, was built. Back in 1880, the renamed St. Joseph was considered a mission church, part of St. Anthony Parish in Butler, N.J., and was administered by Franciscan friars. They would include Father Mychal Judge, St. Joseph’s pastor from 1979 to 1985, and chaplain of the New York City Fire Department, who died in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
In 1887, a larger church was built, but it was burnt to the ground in 1904. The current church opened in 1905. In 1956, the Sisters of Charity arrived to administer the parish school, which opened that year. The Franciscans returned the parish to the Paterson Diocese’s administration in 2003. The school closed in 2006.
“To now be installed as pastor in this Jubilee year celebrating 260 years of the parish and 120 years since the church’s rebuilding is meaningful,” Father Grzybowski said. “It feels like stepping into a living story of faith, resilience, and God’s ongoing presence.”
– St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, New Jersey’s oldest Catholic faith community, marked three major milestones during a Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Nov. 16: the parish’s 260th birthday, the 120th anniversary of its current church, and the installation of its new pastor, Father Jakub Grzybowski. The rural 300-family Passaic County parish lives that long legacy of faith through liturgical, spiritual, and religious-formation activities, social justice outreaches, and improvement and historical preservation projects. St. Joseph’s is also the oldest Catholic parish in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey. St. Joseph Church was filled as Bishop Sweeney served as
ACI MENA, Nov 23, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
Anticipation is building across Lebanon as the country prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV next week. The visit is not without precedent, however. Lebanon has received two other popes in recent history — John Paul II in 1997 and Benedict XVI in 2012. Both trips are remembered as milestones in a nation marked by conflict and resilience.
As preparations intensify, many of those who witnessed previous papal visits are reflecting on their impact and the memories they carry — memories that shape expectations for what Pope Leo’s visit may bring.
Pope John Paul II arrived in Lebanon in May 1997, carrying the apostolic exhortation “A New Hope for Lebanon.” Robert El Haybe, who was 33 at the time, shared with ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, his memories of that trip. He remembers the warmth, the welcome, and the streets completely full of people.
“Everyone was there, including Muslims,” he said. “It was extremely beautiful.”
The visit took place during the height of the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, a period marked by political tension and tight control over public expression. At the time, there were concerns among Syrian authorities that the pope’s presence could spark a broader movement or escalate into protests. Many Lebanese Christians drew parallels between Lebanon under Syrian rule and Poland under the Soviet Union, recalling the pivotal role John Paul II played in mobilizing Polish society against communist control.
For this reason, Syrian officials insisted that the trip be strictly pastoral and not political. Yet even within those restrictions, the visit carried a powerful symbolic weight. The enormous crowds, the unity on the streets, and the overwhelming public response demonstrated the deep spiritual and national significance the pope’s presence had for the Lebanese people.
Although the Syrian occupation ended in 2005, not much has changed in Lebanon, El Haybe said. In his view, the war simply changes form: from military confrontation to financial collapse to political paralysis.
Opinions today are divided: Some believe a papal visit can bring real change, while others take a more measured view, seeing it primarily as a moment of prayer and pastoral support rather than an event that will alter political realities.
For El Haybe, the impact of St. John Paul II’s visit was clear: It offered support to Christians who felt abandoned. “Christians are forgotten; no one thinks about us except the pope,” he said, adding that while many countries claim to help Lebanon, “none actually do.” In his view, the pope’s presence, even within limited political influence, honors the people, carries a message of peace, and reminds others that Christians in Lebanon simply want to live together.
Fifteen years later, Pope Benedict XVI visited Lebanon from Sept. 14–16, 2012. Elie Baroud, a Maronite who was 19 at the time, recalled the tense regional context: The Middle East was in turmoil, and the Syrian civil war had begun spilling over into Lebanon, marking the beginning of a difficult period. Against that backdrop, he said, Pope Benedict’s visit was seen as a light of hope and was eagerly anticipated by millions of Lebanese.
Baroud remembers seeing the pope on Sept. 15, the second day of the trip, when Benedict XVI visited the Synod of Bishops at the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Bzommar, the village where his extended family lived.
Baroud carries many beautiful souvenirs from that day. “Looking back now, I feel blessed that I was able to witness the same spiritual revival and hope in my heart as those who were old enough to remember Pope John Paul II’s visit,” he said, noting that John Paul II holds a special place in the heart of every Lebanese Christian.
Baroud noted that he was entering adulthood during an extremely unstable period, when terrorist forces, not yet known as ISIS, threatened to cross the Lebanese border, Hezbollah was actively engaged in the Syrian conflict, and the economy was already showing signs of severe fragility.
“It was an unsettling time; things could erupt at any second,” he said. In that context, Pope Benedict’s visit acted as a shield, a blessing, and a source of comfort, he said, reminding him that Lebanon, and especially its Christians, are not forgotten.
Baroud stressed that the parallels between Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit and Pope Benedict XVI’s visit in 2012 cannot be understated. He noted that Lebanon is once again suffering from regional conflict, with the Israeli-Gaza war spilling onto Lebanese territory, and the economy in an even worse state than it was a decade ago.
“Lebanon today still faces economic strains, intercommunal tensions, and a population exhausted and burned out,” he said. “In the last five years alone, we witnessed the Beirut Port explosion, one of the largest nonnuclear explosions in recorded history; we lived through the coronavirus pandemic, economic collapse, and people losing their life savings in banks, leaving families vulnerable and on the verge of bankruptcy. And just as things were beginning to look up, Hezbollah’s intervention in the Gaza war invited the Israelis to bomb Lebanon ferociously again, placing yet another roadblock before any hope of living a normal life in this country.”
Looking ahead, Baroud said he believes the contrast between the two visits will be reflected in the pope’s message. “Lebanon has always been presented as a model of coexistence for the world, and I am sure this message will return, as it did with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI,” he said. “However, in my humble opinion, if coexistence were the only message, it would be redundant, and I do not believe it will be the only one.”
“I expect the pope to address our demands for peace in the region, the restriction of arms and artillery to the Lebanese Armed Forces alone, and the hope that millions of Lebanese expatriates, many of whom are Christians forced to leave because of the hostile environment, can one day return,” he continued.
“Lebanon has overpaid its dues as the carrier of the region’s conflicts. We deserve to know peace and stability. We need a state that protects everyone without favoritism, where our youth can build their lives here instead of boarding planes to exile. We need justice, a healed economy, security, and international pressure to enforce sovereignty. Only then can this wounded mosaic become whole again.”
Baroud emphasized the significance of the upcoming visit. “When the pope lands in Beirut, it’s a reminder to the world that our ancient community, battered by wars, economic collapse, and emigration, is still seen, still matters,” he said. “These moments rally our people, slow the exodus of our youth, boost morale, and force global powers and local leaders to remember that Lebanon’s Christians are not relics of the past but a vital thread in this nation’s future.”
Baroud added that it would have been “a blessing to witness a visit from Pope Francis,” noting that plans were beginning to take shape before the deterioration of his health and his passing. “May he rest in peace,” he said.
This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated for and adapted by CNA.
Read MoreOn Nov. 23, 1221, Alfonso X was born in Spain, the son of King Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon. By the time he succeeded his father in 1252, Alfonso was already known as a scholar – though he demonstrated his military might as well, putting down several revolts and annexing Murcia. Known as AlfonsoContinue reading “Nov. 23, 1221: The birth of Alfonso the Wise”
The post Nov. 23, 1221: The birth of Alfonso the Wise appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Theo, a free Catholic prayer and meditation app for children and their parents, plans to host the largest Advent celebration for children to help them discover the true meaning of the season.
From Nov. 30 to Dec. 24, more than 1 million children are expected to take part in a 25-day journey filled with stories, songs, activities, and reflections.
The Advent campaign will be led by Theodore, a cheerful animated donkey who is described as a direct descendant of the donkey that carried the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bethlehem. It will also feature several special guests including Catholic actor David Henrie and Father Ambrose Criste, among others.
Participants will read through the first two chapters of Luke, which will be accompanied by some meditations and reflection questions for children to do with their parents as well as hearing the stories of several saints, listening to songs, and explaining activities that both parent and child can do together.
Francisco Cornejo, CEO of Theo, told CNA in an interview that this campaign will help children “hear the word of God” and “prepare their hearts for the birth of Jesus.”
“We prepared these four weeks in a way that is engaging; it’s fun, but it’s also educational,” he added.
While Theo can be used for children of all ages, Cornejo pointed out that the Advent campaign is best suited for children between the ages of 4 and 12.
“The content tends to be on the more mature side of things, I would say, meaning 6 to 8 and older, but again this is the beauty of creating an app that is for the parent and the child — if the theme or the topic is a little hard to grasp or we want to go deeper in the learning, you have your parent by your side,” Cornejo said. “So you can discuss that and we’ll provide those discussion points and all the guidance there.”
Theo launched seven months ago and already has over 2 million users. Cornejo attributes the app’s success first and foremost to God but also to the need among Catholics families for a tool like this.
“We’ve seen over the last few years how families and how parents specifically wanted to have something like Theo because it’s not enough to take kids to Mass every Sunday or to get them through holy Communion preparation or confirmation preparation,” he said. “What happens every other day of the year or of their lives? So we really wanted to create a tool that makes faith accessible and teachings accessible for everyday kids and families regardless of where they are in their faith journey.”
He added: “It’s not meant to replace all the good things that we parents have to do, but it’s meant to help make faith an everyday thing. Something that kids want to hear more because it’s packed in a way that it’s accessible for them.”
The content on Theo includes daily Scripture readings, prayers, bedtime stories, faith-based affirmations, meditations, novenas, stories of the saints, the rosary, and much more.
Cornejo also highlighted the importance of having both child and parent involved in using the app because “education needs to be done together.”
“You need to exemplify what you want to try to teach and you have to do it with your kids — that’s the domestic Church. That’s what we are meant to do as parents,” he added.
As for what he hopes children and their parents will take away from participating in the Advent campaign, Cornejo said: “I think the main thing is remembering and living the actual meaning of Advent — the waiting for Jesus’ birth, preparing our hearts as the manger to welcome Jesus into our hearts” and that participants “forget about the fluff and the gifts and the ‘me me me’ and start thinking about what this actually represents.”
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CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
As Advent quickly approaches and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins to make its way into our lives, here are five resources to help you prepare to welcome Jesus this Christmas.
Join Father Mike Schmitz this Advent for “Waiting Well: Advent with Fr. Mike Schmitz” on the Ascension app.
Beginning Nov. 30, a 26-day video series will guide viewers on becoming aware of how God is shaping them through seasons of waiting and how to wait well. Each day a five-minute video will be released and feature a reflection from Schmitz that unpacks the daily Mass reading as well as Scripture versus, catechism excerpts, and reflection questions to encourage participants to go deeper into the meaning of Advent.
Schmitz’s weekly homily videos during Advent are part of the “Waiting Well” series and available for free on YouTube. However, the daily reflections will only be available on the Ascension app with a subscription or free trial.
This year’s video reflections will also be accompanied by the “Waiting Well” printed journal for individuals, parishes, and small-group study. It is designed to help readers slow down for 15 minutes a day as they prepare to meet Christ in the manger. Each day includes a word or Scripture verse to pray with, a reflection, and a prompt to write down your thoughts and insights.
Hallow’s annual “Advent Prayer Challenge” is back once again. Beginning Dec. 1, “Pray25: Be Still” features Jonathan Roumie; Chris Pratt; Gwen Stefani; Father John Burns; Mother Natalia; Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT; and Father Pierre Toussaint, CFR. This Advent, listeners are invited to discover deeper stillness amid the chaos of the holiday season, just like the Blessed Mother did that first Christmas.
Roumie and Heidland will lead reflections on “The Reed of God” by Caryll Houselander, while Pratt will guide sessions on “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer. Stefani and Mother Natalia will guide sessions focusing on being still, using the lives of saints as inspiration. Burns will guide listeners through sessions of imaginative prayer and Toussaint will offer homily reflections each Sunday during Advent.
Blessed Is She has Advent devotionals for the whole family this year — women, men, and children. “In Time: An Advent Devotional for Women” invites readers to reflect on God’s continuous presence in our lives. Written by Claire Dwyer, this devotional helps women see that waiting is filled with God’s loving action.
“Feast: An Advent Devotional for Men” is written by Paul George, rooted in Scripture, and inspired by the story of the prodigal son. This devotional invites men to return to God the Father with courage, humility, and hope. It also aims to encourage those seeking renewal, healing, and deeper faith during Advent. Both the devotionals for men and women include daily Scripture readings, prayer, and reflection.
Lastly, “Watch and Wait: A Kids Advent Devotional” written by Olivia Spears helps kids prepare for Christmas with daily prayers, reflections, and simple Scripture-based activities. This devotional teaches children to wait with hope and joy as they prepare for the birth of Christ. It is recommended for children older than 7 years old.
The Augustine Institute is inviting Catholics to enter into the Advent season with renewed purpose and joyful expectation with a new video series titled “How To Advent.”
The video series will consist of four 12- to 15-minute-long episodes that explore the beauty and meaning of Advent traditions in an engaging and meaningful way and highlight a different cherished Advent tradition — the Advent calendar, Advent wreath, Jesse Tree, and Nativity scene. The video series is available on Formed.
The EWTN Religious Catalogue offers a wide variety of Advent devotionals including “Encountering Emmanuel: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” by Heather Khym, cohost of the “Abiding Together” podcast, and “The True Gifts of Christmas” by Megan Alexander, which takes readers on a journey through the deeper meaning of our most cherished Christmas traditions. (Editor’s note: EWTN is CNA’s parent company.)
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California Democrat Rep.
The post WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Eric Swalwell Wants Americans to be Able to Vote by Phone (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Bill Maher criticized America’s public education system on his show on Friday night, seemingly backing the Trump idea of ending the Department of Education.
The post Bill Maher Defends Trump Idea of Ending Education Department, Notes That Southern Red States Now Outperforming Others (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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LANSING, MI — Local mom Janet Fields has continued her decades-long tradition of making cranberry sauce for no one to eat.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announcing her resignation in January, the average IQ in Congress is expected to rise about 7,000 points.
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View on Val Montanaia (Montanaia Valley), with the Cima Both (2,437 m) on the left and the “Campanile” (2,173 m) in the middle; both are peaks of the Spalti di Toro group, in the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy.
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Former CIA agent Bryan Dean Wright appeared on the Jesse Watters show on Friday night and said that Senator Elissa Slotkin, also former CIA, knew exactly what she was doing when she put out a video last week of herself and other Democrats, urging members of the U.S.
The post Former CIA Agent Says Elissa Slotkin ‘Knew Exactly What She Was Doing’ With Video Calling on Military to Defy Trump (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft lifts off for its first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, from U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The aircraft’s first flight marks the start of flight testing for NASA’s Quesst mission, the result of years of design, integration, and ground testing and begins a new chapter in NASA’s aeronautics research legacy.
Read MoreLord Jesus, I lovingly pray for this sweet hope
that I keep within my womb.
You have granted me the immense gift
of a tiny little life,
living in my own life,
and I humbly thank you for choosing me
as an instrument of your love.
In this sweet waiting,
help me to live in a constant attitude
of self-surrender to your will.
Grant me a motherly heart that is pure,
steadfast and generous.
I hand over to you my own concerns;
any anxious fears that may come, …
A reading from the Second Book of Samuel
5:1-3
In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:
"Here we are, your bone and your flesh.
In days past, when Saul was our king,
it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.
And the LORD said to you,
‘You shall shepherd my people Israel
and shall be commander of Israel.’"
When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,
King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,
and they anointed him king of Israel.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians
1:12-20
Brothers and sisters:
Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
From the Gospel accoording to Luke
23:35-43
The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
"He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God."
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
"If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."
Above him there was an inscription that read,
"This is the King of the Jews."
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
"Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us."
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
"Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal."
Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied to him,
"Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."
On the cross, we see a single phrase: “This is the King of the Jews” (Lk 23:38). That is Jesus’ title: he is a king. Yet as we gaze upon him, our idea of a king is turned upside down. When we try to visualize a king, what comes to mind is a powerful man seated on a throne with magnificent insignia, a sceptre in his hand and precious rings on his fingers, speaking in solemn tones to his subjects. That, more or less, is what we imagine. Looking at Jesus, though, we see the complete opposite. He is not comfortably enthroned, but hanging on a gibbet. The God who “casts down the mighty from their thrones” (Lk 1:52) appears as a slave executed by those in power. Appareled only with nails and thorns, stripped of everything yet rich in love, from his throne on the cross he no longer teaches the crowds by his words; he no longer lifts his hands as a teacher. He does more: pointing a finger at no one, he opens his arms to all. That is how he shows himself to be our king: with open arms. (…) Only by entering into his embrace do we understand: we come to realize that God went to this extreme, even to the paradox of the cross, in order to embrace every one of us, no matter how far distant we may be from him: he embraces our death, our pain, our poverty, our weakness. He embraced all of it. He became a slave so that each of us could become a son. (Pope Francis, Homily, Asti Cathedral, Solemnity of Christ the King, 20 November 2022)
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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 22, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).
Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.
A report has found that the majority of Australian priests and deacons are thriving in their ministry roles.
In the first-ever survey of well-being among Australia’s clergy, the National Centre for Pastoral Research and the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office found 75% of clergy reported having “good” or “very good” self-confidence, 66% reported they maintain a healthy diet, 61% said they get sufficient rest, and 55% reported high energy levels.
In addition, the vast majority of clergy, at 90%, described their connections with their parishes as positive. Overall, 71% reported feeling hopeful, and 61% said they felt joyful frequently.
This comes on the heels of an October survey in France that found most Catholic priests — 80% of those who responded — said they “are happy in their mission” and feel “faithful to their calling,” useful, and “at peace,” according to the Catholic Weekly. The survey by the Observatory of Catholicism was conducted with the French Institute of Public Opinion.
Bishop Rob Mutsaerts, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, has called Cardinal Manuel Fernandez’s decision to advise against using the Co-Redemptrix Marian title “mistaken.”
“There is no truth that cannot be misunderstood,” he wrote in a blog post, according to the Catholic Herald. The prelate argued that the cardinal’s new guidance, issued via the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, is “mistaken to claim that it is no longer advisable to use the title ‘Co-Redemptrix’ for Mary.”
“If he is concerned that people will equate Mary with Christ, the problem lies with him, not Mary,” the bishop said. “Christ’s position is so absolute that it is nonsensical to imagine anyone overshadowing him. Cooperation does not imply rivalry.”
The Associate Secretary General of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has described Africa’s debt crisis as “an ethical and spiritual tragedy” that needs to be addressed.
Presenting during the G20 Social Summit side event that was held in Johannesburg on the theme, “A Jubilee for Solidarity: Towards a People and Planet Driven Financial Architecture for Africa,” Sister Dominica Mkhize said Africa’s debt crisis wounds human dignity, ACI Africa reported Nov. 20.
“Across Africa, the debt crisis has become one of these wounds,” she said. “As a Catholic family, guided by the gospel and by our social teaching, we cannot remain silent in the face of this ethical and spiritual tragedy.”
In the heart of Homs, the new “House of Nazareth Listening Center” has opened its doors with a mission to provide safe, compassionate support for families, young people, and individuals facing emotional, spiritual, or psychological challenges.
The initiative, launched with a special liturgy, aims to strengthen family life and promote healing in a city still recovering from years of conflict, according to a Nov. 17 report from CNA’s Arabic language news partner, ACI Mena.
Staffed by religious sisters and trained counselors, the center offers marriage preparation, youth guidance, individual accompaniment, and programs designed especially for women navigating hardship, including widows and women supporting their households alone. Counselors say the demand for such services has grown significantly, particularly among young people.
As Turkey prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 27, attention is turning toward the historic St. George’s Patriarchal Church in the Phanar district of Istanbul.
The church, regarded as the spiritual heart of global Orthodoxy, will once again host a pivotal moment of Christian unity, as the pope joins Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for the Great Doxology and the signing of a joint declaration, ACI Mena reported.
Patriarch Bartholomew, who has worked closely with four popes over the past several decades, continues to play a central role in nurturing dialogue between Rome and Constantinople.
A cash reward is being offered in the northern Indian state of Punjab for anyone who provides evidence-backed tips of violations of the state’s anti-conversion laws.
The Save Punjab Movement is offering 200,000 rupees ($2,250) for any “information with proof” of conversions to Christianity, according to a UCA News report. The group’s president, Tejasvi Minhas, said identities of informants would be kept confidential, as it seeks to counter “large scale illegal religious conversions across Punjab.”
Minhas claimed that the Christian population has “grown to nearly 15 percent,” and that “around 65,000 pastors” are engaged in conversion schemes involving manipulation and pressure tactics such as promises of miraculous cures. “The Catholic Church has never indulged in religious conversion activities,” Father Daniel Gill, Vicar General of the Jalandhar diocese said in response to the allegations.
A Catholic missionary in Haiti expressed hope amid ongoing violence and natural disasters in the beleaguered country.
Father Massimo Miraglio, a Camillian missionary in Haiti, told Agenzia Fides he has “finally managed” to return to his parish in Pourcine-Pic Malaya after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.
While the natural disaster has destroyed bean crops, orchards, and livestock, he said, in the banana groves, “after being cleared, are beginning to raise the flag of hope: the first large leaf, a sign of rebirth.”
The devastation of Hurricane Melissa comes amid clashes between gangs and the U.S. military, and continued violent crime.
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Dublin, Ireland, Nov 22, 2025 / 13:00 pm (CNA).
Marthe de Noaillat, called the “Apostle of Christ the King” by her biographer, had a singular mission in life that she believed had been entrusted to her: to promote the universal kingship of Jesus Christ.
“Marthe was the woman who single-handedly brought this to the Church. This is not unusual, indeed the hard lifting in many of these causes was done by women of profound faith,” Father Bernard McGuckian, SJ, host of a new EWTN Ireland television series, told CNA.
De Noaillat was the seventh child in a family of 12 whose parents, Jean-Baptiste Devuns and Anne Zélina, were pious Catholics.
After spending seven years discerning a cloistered vocation, de Noaillat was led instead into the heart of the world as a missionary. With the encouragement and approval of Popes Benedict XV and Pius XI, she organized a global referendum aimed at gathering the faithful to acknowledge the “sovereign rights” of Christ, meaning that Christ is king over everything, including the entire universe.
Her efforts, carried out over six demanding years, helped pave the way for the Church’s solemn proclamation of Christ’s kingship and the establishment of the feast of Christ the King, which was formally instituted by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Quas Primas in December 1925.
Jean-Claude Prieto de Acha, author of a 2025 biography of de Noaillat, told CNA: “No trace of the kingship of Christ is found in Marthe’s early writings. On the other hand, St. Joan of Arc was greatly venerated in her family home. The mention of this kingship is very present in the life of St. Joan of Arc, from the exhortation of the archangel St. Michael: ‘Go, daughter of God! The King of Heaven will help you.’”
From Joan’s meeting with the Dauphin in Chinon she reportedly said: “I come from the King of Heaven to lift the siege of Orléans,” and “Gentle Dauphin, my name is Joan the Maid, and the King of Heaven informs you through me that you will be consecrated and crowned in the city of Reims.” And when she reached Orléans, she said: “I bring you the help of the King of Heaven.”
De Noaillat wanted to be a nun and entered the convent where, despite numerous health problems, she was determined to take vows. Eventually, however, her poor health became too much, and she left the convent at her mother superior’s instructions.
“Each of her stays at the convent resulted in considerable physical weakness, forcing her to return regularly to her family home to regain her health,” de Acha told CNA.
“Her desire for religious life constantly drew her back to the cloister, but with each new attempt at religious life, her health deteriorated further, and she found herself in such a state of physical decline that when she finally had to renounce this cloistered life, it took her months to stand again. But she remained faithful throughout her life — even after her marriage — to her religious vows. Her husband, Georges de Noaillat, attested to this in writing after his wife’s death.”
Georges also relayed that one of his wife’s superiors in the convent said: “Marthe is not made to live within four walls; it is in the public squares that she must preach… She had only one thought: to win souls for Jesus Christ.”
De Acha pointed out that it is likely that de Noaillat’s natural eloquence was noticed at the convent “not during the daily routine of community life, during which silence was imposed, but when she was asked to speak before the sisters.”
Marthe and Georges’ relationship was reportedly a happy one — two zealous servants of Christ in a Josephine marriage, living as brother and sister, with the blessing of their bishop. After their marriage, each continued their work. In 1918, Marthe took up the role of director of the Hieron Museum in Paray-Le-Monial. There she redoubled her efforts in support of the kingship of Christ.
De Acha told CNA: “It is certain that she knew — and perhaps felt more keenly than others — her utter powerlessness to carry out the tasks entrusted to her without the help, support, and inner strength drawn from Eucharistic adoration and daily Communion. Marthe never relied on her own strength; the experience of her profound physical weakness during her attempts at religious life certainly marked her forever.”
The Italian Jesuit Father Jean-Maria Sanna-Solaro in 1870 initiated a request to institute the feast of Christ the King. The Congregation of Rites in the Vatican rejected that request.
Explaining de Noaillat’s subsequent initial petition to the pope to establish a feast of Christ the King, de Acha explained: “This initial petition to Rome was merely a personal initiative by Marthe, even though it had been forwarded and thus approved by Bishop Berthoin of Autun. Benedict XV’s response — a request that would be echoed by his successor, Pius XI — was therefore legitimate: to establish this feast, the request had to be universal and therefore bear the signatures of bishops from around the world. The head of the Church will only accept the petition on the day it is signed by a majority of the episcopate.”
Finally convinced of the support from the faithful, Pope Pius XI let de Noaillat know of his intention to establish the feast in a Mass on the last day of the holy year of 1925, to which she and her husband were invited as guests of honor. The feast of Christ the King is now celebrated on the last Sunday before Advent.
Marthe de Noaillat died unexpectedly and suddenly along with her secretary on Feb. 5, 1926, not long after the feast of Christ the King was inaugurated.
“Marthe had her breakfast as usual with the parish priest after Mass in Paray Le Monial — the church where the Sacred Heart appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque — and went back to her office to work,” McGuckian explained. “When she failed to return later for lunch as agreed, she was found dead in her office along with her secretary, Jeanne Lépine; both had succumbed to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.”
He added: “It was a tragic and unexpected end to the life of such a remarkable woman. It is hoped now that with the anniversary of the inauguration of the feast day, and 100 years since the publication of Quas Primas, that Marthe will receive the recognition that she never sought for herself but which is fully deserved for her devoted and tenacious advocacy for the kingship of Christ.”
Georges de Noaillat, 10 years later, was ordained to the priesthood and died in January 1948.
Read MoreOn November 20, Astronomy magazine hosted a live event featuring nine speakers, all standouts in the world of amateur astronomy. The event was sponsored by Celestron, the world’s leading telescope manufacturer. Hundreds of people from all over the world tuned in as the presenters walked them through the wonderful possibilities offered by amateur astronomy. Hosted by Astronomy’s ContentContinue reading “Astronomy Unlocked videos are now available”
The post Astronomy Unlocked videos are now available appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More![Pope Leo XIV warns against ‘false mercy’ in marriage annulment proceedings - #Catholic -
Pope Leo XIV holds an audience with the Roman Rota on Nov. 21, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media
ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.During a Friday audience with participants in the legal-pastoral training course of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s court of appeals, the Holy Father read a lengthy speech in which he recalled the importance of the reform of marriage annulment processes initiated by Pope Francis 10 years ago.The pontiff emphasized that theology, law, and pastoral care must be understood in a harmonious way, not as separate or opposing areas, and pointed out that annulment proceedings are not merely technical procedures to obtain the “free status of persons” but rather an ecclesial service based on the search for truth and on family pastoral care.Judicial processes at the service of truthIn this context, Pope Leo stressed that ecclesial judicial processes must be “at the service of the truth” and also reiterated that “the mystery of the conjugal covenant” must be kept in mind.“A fundamental aspect of pastoral service operates in judicial authority: the diaconia [ministry] of truth. Every faithful person, every family, every community needs truth about their ecclesial situation in order to walk well the path of faith and charity. The truth about personal and community rights is situated in this context: the juridical truth declared in ecclesiastical processes is an aspect of existential truth within the Church,” he stated.Consequently, the Holy Father pointed out that “the sacred authority is participation in the authority of Christ, and its service to truth is a way of knowing and embracing the ultimate truth, which is Christ himself.”A manifestation of justice and mercyHe then recalled that in God’s judgment on salvation, “his forgiveness of the repentant sinner is always at work, but human judgment on the nullity of marriage cannot however be manipulated by false mercy.”“Any activity contrary to the service of the process of truth must certainly be deemed unjust. However, it is precisely in the proper exercise of judicial authority that true mercy must be practiced,” he emphasized.In this regard, Pope Leo XIV insisted that the process of matrimonial nullity can be seen as “a contribution by legal practitioners to satisfy the need for justice that is so deeply rooted in the conscience of the faithful, and thus to accomplish a just work motivated by true mercy.”“The aim of the reform,” he added, “which is to make the process more accessible and expeditious, but never at the expense of truth, thus appears as a manifestation of justice and mercy.”The pontiff also emphasized the urgency of ensuring realism in annulment cases and appealed to the responsibility of the judges of the Roman Rota. He thus encouraged them to view the institution of the judicial process “as an instrument of justice” in which there is “an impartial judge” and the aim is to seek “a great benefit for all concerned and for the Church herself.”He stressed the importance of making “efforts to promote reconciliation between spouses are very important, including, where possible, through the validation of the marriage.”“Behind the procedural technicalities, with the faithful application of the current legislation, the ecclesiological presuppositions of the matrimonial process are therefore at stake: the search for truth and the ‘salus animarum’ itself [the salvation of souls],” he noted.Synergy between justice and pastoral carePope Leo recalled in this regard that, in recent years, there has been “a growing awareness of the inclusion of the Church’s judicial activity in the field of marriage within the overall pastoral care of the family.”“This pastoral care,” he pointed out, “cannot ignore or underestimate the work of ecclesiastical tribunals, and the latter must not forget that their specific contribution to justice is a piece in the task of promoting the good of families, with particular reference to those in difficulty.”Thus, he emphasized that “the synergy between pastoral attention to critical situations and the judicial sphere has found significant expression in the implementation of preliminary investigations aimed at ascertaining the existence of grounds for initiating a case of nullity.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-false-mercy-in-marriage-annulment-proceedings-catholic-pope-leo-xiv-holds-an-audience-with-the-roman-rota-on-nov-21-2025-at-the-vatican-cred.webp)
ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.
During a Friday audience with participants in the legal-pastoral training course of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s court of appeals, the Holy Father read a lengthy speech in which he recalled the importance of the reform of marriage annulment processes initiated by Pope Francis 10 years ago.
The pontiff emphasized that theology, law, and pastoral care must be understood in a harmonious way, not as separate or opposing areas, and pointed out that annulment proceedings are not merely technical procedures to obtain the “free status of persons” but rather an ecclesial service based on the search for truth and on family pastoral care.
In this context, Pope Leo stressed that ecclesial judicial processes must be “at the service of the truth” and also reiterated that “the mystery of the conjugal covenant” must be kept in mind.
“A fundamental aspect of pastoral service operates in judicial authority: the diaconia [ministry] of truth. Every faithful person, every family, every community needs truth about their ecclesial situation in order to walk well the path of faith and charity. The truth about personal and community rights is situated in this context: the juridical truth declared in ecclesiastical processes is an aspect of existential truth within the Church,” he stated.
Consequently, the Holy Father pointed out that “the sacred authority is participation in the authority of Christ, and its service to truth is a way of knowing and embracing the ultimate truth, which is Christ himself.”
He then recalled that in God’s judgment on salvation, “his forgiveness of the repentant sinner is always at work, but human judgment on the nullity of marriage cannot however be manipulated by false mercy.”
“Any activity contrary to the service of the process of truth must certainly be deemed unjust. However, it is precisely in the proper exercise of judicial authority that true mercy must be practiced,” he emphasized.
In this regard, Pope Leo XIV insisted that the process of matrimonial nullity can be seen as “a contribution by legal practitioners to satisfy the need for justice that is so deeply rooted in the conscience of the faithful, and thus to accomplish a just work motivated by true mercy.”
“The aim of the reform,” he added, “which is to make the process more accessible and expeditious, but never at the expense of truth, thus appears as a manifestation of justice and mercy.”
The pontiff also emphasized the urgency of ensuring realism in annulment cases and appealed to the responsibility of the judges of the Roman Rota. He thus encouraged them to view the institution of the judicial process “as an instrument of justice” in which there is “an impartial judge” and the aim is to seek “a great benefit for all concerned and for the Church herself.”
He stressed the importance of making “efforts to promote reconciliation between spouses are very important, including, where possible, through the validation of the marriage.”
“Behind the procedural technicalities, with the faithful application of the current legislation, the ecclesiological presuppositions of the matrimonial process are therefore at stake: the search for truth and the ‘salus animarum’ itself [the salvation of souls],” he noted.
Pope Leo recalled in this regard that, in recent years, there has been “a growing awareness of the inclusion of the Church’s judicial activity in the field of marriage within the overall pastoral care of the family.”
“This pastoral care,” he pointed out, “cannot ignore or underestimate the work of ecclesiastical tribunals, and the latter must not forget that their specific contribution to justice is a piece in the task of promoting the good of families, with particular reference to those in difficulty.”
Thus, he emphasized that “the synergy between pastoral attention to critical situations and the judicial sphere has found significant expression in the implementation of preliminary investigations aimed at ascertaining the existence of grounds for initiating a case of nullity.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Wrapped with Love to spread holiday cheer at Chester event #Catholic – 
For the first time, the holiday craftwork of Wrapped in Love, a new ministry of volunteer knitters and crocheters at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Chester, N.J., will appear at the township’s annual Festival of Trees fundraiser, to be held from Saturday, Dec. 6 to Saturday, Dec. 13. The group is donating a Christmas tree filled with 70 handmade ornaments to be displayed for the public’s enjoyment and available for purchase at auction.
The Festival of Trees is a community celebration featuring a spectacular display of holiday trees in a winter wonderland setting at the rustically stunning Barn at Highlands Ridge Park in Chester. The many decorated trees donated by various organizations are available for purchase through a silent auction. All proceeds support the Senior Resource Center, which offers programming that facilitates a healthy, joyful lifestyle for people 55-plus in the greater Chester area.
Wrapped with Love’s appearance at the Festival of Trees also will also help promote the ministry, St. Lawrence, and Catholicism in Chester area.
Founded in 2003, The Festival of Trees draws in thousands of people from across the region. The event will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Sunday to Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., and on Friday from noon to 8 p.m. The silent auction closes on Saturday, Dec.13, at 3 p.m.
Wrapped in Love has knitted and crocheted prayer shawls and donated them to anyone, regardless of faith, who needed hugs and prayers. Founded a year ago, the ministry has grown to include making baby blankets and scarves for donations to schools and shelters.
The cost for Festival of Trees is $10 for general admission and $5 for seniors/students.
– For the first time, the holiday craftwork of Wrapped in Love, a new ministry of volunteer knitters and crocheters at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Chester, N.J., will appear at the township’s annual Festival of Trees fundraiser, to be held from Saturday, Dec. 6 to Saturday, Dec. 13. The group is donating a Christmas tree filled with 70 handmade ornaments to be displayed for the public’s enjoyment and available for purchase at auction. The Festival of Trees is a community celebration featuring a spectacular display of holiday trees in a winter wonderland setting at the rustically stunning Barn at
CNA Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 08:20 am (CNA).
Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.
Four in five voters have some at least some concerns about embryo screening, a recent Ethics and Public Policy Center poll found.
Embryonic screening is the practice of selecting some babies to be born because of their genetic traits — such as appearance, health, or predicted intelligence — while discarding other unborn babies.
The Ethics and Public Policy Center poll, led by center fellow Patrick Brown, comes in the wake of some Silicon Valley-funded startups saying they will give parents the ability to screen embryos.
The poll found that very few Americans want Silicon Valley to “hack” reproduction.
“While Americans support measures to help infertile couples have children, they express concerns about broader implications of these technologies,” the report says.
Across demographic groups, voters voiced support for “commonsense regulations.”
Women were more likely to have concerns about embryo screening than men, while older voters (ages 46+) were more likely to have concerns than younger voters (ages 18-45).
A South Carolina bill would enable prosecution of women who have abortions — a practice that South Carolina Citizens for Life (SCCL) and most pro-life groups oppose.
The bill, which would designate abortion as equivalent to the homicide of a born person, contains no provisions protecting women who obtain abortions.
While pro-life groups tend to support prosecution of abortionists who illegally perform the deadly procedure, most groups oppose the prosecution of abortive mothers themselves, whom they also consider to be victims of abortion.
Holly Gatling, who heads South Carolina Citizens for Life, called the bill “unacceptable.”
“This provision of the law alone would shut down post-abortion ministries such as Rachel’s Vineyard and jeopardize the livesaving, compassionate work of pregnancy care ministries,” she told CNA.
The Catholic bishops ask that Project Rachel, a counseling resource for post-abortive women, be present in every diocese in the U.S.
Gatling said she opposes the bill “because it criminalizes post-aborted women, jeopardizes the work of pregnancy care centers and post-abortion ministries, and undermines the pro-life legislation previously passed by the General Assembly.”
“Not only are post-aborted women subject to criminal prosecution, but pastors, counselors, and any ‘person’ also can be compelled to testify in the criminal prosecution of a post-aborted woman,” Gatling said.
Gatling noted that South Carolina’s current heartbeat law has saved thousands of lives while explicitly protecting women from prosecution.
“SCCL and many other pro-life and pro-family organizations in South Carolina oppose legislation that reverses this protection for women,” Gatling said.
A federal court has issued a permanent injunction ruling that Christian employers will not be compelled to accommodate abortions.
The Herzog Foundation in a lawsuit had argued that a Biden-era rule requiring employers to accommodate abortions for pregnant employees violated the First Amendment.
On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri granted the permanent injunction protecting faith-based employers.
Herzog Foundation spokeswoman Elizabeth Roberts lauded the court’s decision in a Nov. 20 statement, saying that the ruling “solidifies that the government cannot overstep its authority by trying to dictate or suppress our beliefs.”
Attorneys general of Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri filed a challenge to stop mail-order abortion drugs and block the recent approval of generic mifepristone.
The Nov. 20 challenge claims that the FDA “cut corners when it removed safeguards from this dangerous drug.”
Mifeprisotone’s label says that 1 in 25 women will go to the emergency room after taking the drug, while other studies have found that it poses a risk to the women and girls who take it.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said in a statement that Missouri “will not stand by while manufacturers gamble with women’s lives.”
“Mifepristone is sending women to the hospital with life-threatening complications, and yet drug companies continue pushing new versions of it into the market without basic medical safeguards,” Hanaway said.
After Texas implemented a heartbeat law protecting unborn children when their heartbeats are detectable, the state has seen a marked drop in abortions among minors, a recent study found.
Published online on Nov. 13 by the American Journal of Public Health, the study found that abortions decreased by more than 25% among minors in Texas.
Additionally, among Texans ages 18-24, abortions decreased by about 20%; for Texans aged 25-29, abortions decreased by 17%, the study found.
The study, which cited concerns about “young people’s reproductive autonomy,” has several authors affiliated with abortion clinics including Planned Parenthood as well as two authors affiliated with a pro-abortion research center, Resound Research for Reproductive Health.
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CNA Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 07:56 am (CNA).
The 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference features prayer, community, evangelization, and service among Catholic teenagers from Nov. 20–22 in Indianapolis. Follow CNA’s live coverage of the event below.
Watch the Day 3 of the event:
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Rapper Prakazrel Michel, part of the pop music group the ‘Fugees,’ was sentenced to 14 years in prison this week, after being found guilty of funneling millions of dollars worth of illegal campaign contributions to Obama in 2012.
The post Rapper Gets 14 Years in Prison for Funneling Millions of Dollars in Illegal Campaign Contributions to Obama in 2012 appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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It has been three days since a handful of Democrats released a bizarre video where they told members of the U.S.
The post Journalist Matt Taibbi on the Democrats’ ‘Defy Illegal Orders’ Message: ‘Reminds Me of the Beginning of Russiagate’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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President Donald J.
The post BREAKING: Trump Announces He is Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota — EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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SEATTLE, WA — In an effort to attract more male customers, Starbucks announced the release of its new Zyn Spice Frappuccino.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration announced plans this week for the president to host a thrilling game show for members of Congress in which the audience must help determine who he executes next.
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