Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
A reading from the Second Book of Maccabees
2, 7:1, 20-31
It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested
and tortured with whips and scourges by the king,
to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law.
Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother,
who saw her seven sons perish in a single day,
yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.
Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage,
she exhorted each of them
in the language of their ancestors with these words:
"I do not know how you came into existence in my womb;
it was not I who gave you the breath of life,
nor was it I who set in order
the elements of which each of you is composed.
Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe
who shapes each man’s beginning,
as he brings about the origin of everything,
he, in his mercy,
will give you back both breath and life,
because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law."
Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words,
thought he was being ridiculed.
As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him,
not with mere words, but with promises on oath,
to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs:
he would make him his Friend
and entrust him with high office.
When the youth paid no attention to him at all,
the king appealed to the mother,
urging her to advise her boy to save his life.
After he had urged her for a long time,
she went through the motions of persuading her son.
In derision of the cruel tyrant,
she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language:
"Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months,
nursed you for three years, brought you up,
educated and supported you to your present age.
I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth
and see all that is in them;
then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things;
and in the same way the human race came into existence.
Do not be afraid of this executioner,
but be worthy of your brothers and accept death,
so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them."
She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said:
"What are you waiting for?
I will not obey the king’s command.
I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses.
But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews,
will not escape the hands of God."
From the Gospel accoording to Luke
19:11-28
While people were listening to Jesus speak,
he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem
and they thought that the Kingdom of God
would appear there immediately.
So he said,
"A nobleman went off to a distant country
to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins
and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’
His fellow citizens, however, despised him
and sent a delegation after him to announce,
‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,
he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,
to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said,
‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’
He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported,
‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’
And to this servant too he said,
‘You, take charge of five cities.’
Then the other servant came and said,
‘Sir, here is your gold coin;
I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;
you take up what you did not lay down
and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you,
you wicked servant.
You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?
Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
And to those standing by he said,
‘Take the gold coin from him
and give it to the servant who has ten.’
But they said to him,
‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’
He replied, ‘I tell you,
to everyone who has, more will be given,
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.’"
After he had said this,
he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
Fear always immobilizes and often leads to making bad choices. Fear discourages us from taking the initiative; it induces us to take refuge in secure and guaranteed solutions, and thus end up not accomplishing anything good. To move forward and grow on the journey of life, we must not have fear; we must have faith.
This parable helps us understand how important it is to have a true concept of God. We must not think that he is a cruel, hard and severe master who wishes to punish us. If this mistaken image of God is within us our life cannot be fruitful, because we will live in fear and this will not lead us to anything constructive. On the contrary, fear paralyzes us; it causes our self-destruction. (…) And Jesus always showed us that God is not a severe or intolerant master, but a father full of love, of tenderness, a father full of goodness. Therefore, we can and must have immense faith in him. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 19 November 2017)
Read More
Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Nov 18, 2025 / 15:56 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV said immigrants must be treated with dignity, and he encouraged all people in the United States to heed the bishops’ message on immigration.
“No one has said that the United States should have open borders. I think every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter,” Pope Leo XIV said Nov. 18 outside the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo before returning to Rome after a daylong stay there.
“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 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on Nov. 12 overwhelmingly opposed the indiscriminate mass deportation of immigrants who lack legal status and urged the government to uphold the dignity of migrants.
Speaking in English, the first U.S.-born pope responded to a journalist’s question asking whether the pope could take credit for the bishops’ statement on immigration because U.S. bishops believe the pope has “got their back” on immigration. The pope replied that immigrants must be treated with dignity even if they lack legal status.
“I think 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. There are courts, there’s a system of justice. I think there are a lot of problems in the system,” the pope said.
In October, the pope used the word “inhuman” to refer to the immigration crackdown in the United States.
When journalists asked about a Chicago-area immigration facility where detainees have been barred from receiving Communion, Pope Leo said: “I would certainly invite the authorities to allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs of those people.”
U.S. bishops met in Baltimore on Nov. 12 to approve a special message on immigration.
“I appreciate very much what the bishops have said. I think it’s a very important statement. I would invite, especially all Catholics, but people of will to listen carefully to what they said,” the pope said.
Read More
This is a Gateway Hispanic article.
The post U.S. Declares Nicolás Maduro’s Cartel of the Suns a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” and Elevates the Chavista Regime to Formal Enemy of the State Status: The Last Legal Step Before Military Action appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More
Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Nov 18, 2025 / 15:36 pm (CNA).
Both Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered in Nigeria, where there is terrorist activity over economic questions, Pope Leo XIV told journalists as he left his Castel Gandolfo residence on Tuesday evening.
“I think in Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians, but for all people. Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered,” he said, addressing a question from EWTN News about the safety of Nigerian Christians on Nov. 18.
“There’s a question of terrorism. There’s a question that has to do a lot with economics, if you will, and control of the lands that they have,” the pope continued. “Unfortunately, many Christians have died, and I think it’s very, it’s important to seek a way for the government, with all peoples, to promote authentic religious freedom.”
Leo answered questions from journalists as he left his Castel Gandolfo residence, Villa Barberini, to return to the Vatican after spending the day at the papal retreat, located 18 miles south of Rome.
As he left his residence, Leo was greeted to enthusiastic cheers from a small group of people, including several engaged couples participating in a marriage preparation course at the local parish. The young people, together with their pastor, Father Tadeusz Rozmus, gave the pope a framed photo of their group.
U.S. President Donald Trump made Nigeria a country of particular concern on Nov. 3. The U.S. government gives the designation to countries identified as having or tolerating particularly severe religious freedom violations.
In the wake of the designation, Nigeria’s government denied that ongoing violence in the country is based on religious affiliation or that Christians are being targeted in particular.
“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality,” authorities said in a statement posted on X on Sept. 28.
“Terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology — Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith alike,” the statement continued. “Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalized in Nigeria.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, drew criticism last month after telling journalists that violence in Nigeria was “not a religious conflict, but rather a social conflict, for example, between herders and farmers.”
Parolin’s remarks were made on the sidelines of a conference for the release of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report.
“Let’s keep in mind that many Muslims who come to Nigeria are victims of this intolerance,” he continued.” So, these extremist groups, these groups that make no distinctions to advance their goals, their objectives, use violence against anyone they perceive as an opponent.”
Parolin’s comments repeat “the Nigerian government’s talking points that obfuscate and downplay the persecution of the Catholic faithful and other Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt,” Nina Shea, a commissioner of the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom, told the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner.
The religious freedom report from Aid to the Church in Need found “a severe and escalating wave of violence, largely driven by extremist Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)” during the two-year reporting period.
The report affirms that religious affiliation plays an important role in the ongoing violence in Nigeria, alongside other social causes, including poverty, preexisting ethnic and intercommunal violence, and conflict over land and water disputes between Fulani herders and non-Fulani farmers.
“Although exact figures are difficult to assess, Christians have been the target of extrajudicial killings and abductions by insurgent groups and criminal gangs,” the report states.
“It is also important to note that, although Christians suffer the brunt of extremist violence, the fact that the terrorist groups operate in states with a predominantly Muslim population means that the violence has not only affected Christians but also Muslims,” it continues.
Read More
CNA Staff, Nov 18, 2025 / 15:35 pm (CNA).
A rising number of New Yorkers are reportedly converting to the Catholic Church, with the spike in converts coming as the U.S. bishops say increasing numbers of men and women are coming into the faith in this country.
The New York Post found that multiple New York City Catholic churches have year-over-year double or even triple the number of adults signing up to become Catholic through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
At one parish, St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village, interest in OCIA tripled since last year, with about 130 people signing up, according to the paper. At St. Vincent Ferrer on the Upper East Side, numbers have doubled to nearly 90 participants.
Sign-ups at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral also doubled to about 100, according to the report.
Many converts reportedly cited the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk as a motivator for their conversions. In addition to his political activism, Kirk, an evangelical Protestant, often spoke about the importance of faith in God.
This report follows a trend of rising OCIA numbers throughout the U.S.
The National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, reported in April on rising conversions across dioceses. Many new Catholics cited immigration, evangelization, and the National Eucharistic Revival as reasons they found their way into the Catholic Church last Easter.
The U.S. bishops last week during their annual fall assembly in Baltimore also noted these rising numbers in a discussion about the National Eucharistic Revival as they approved the next National Eucharistic Congress for 2029.
Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, who spearheaded the most recent congress, said during a session on Nov. 12 that the revival was “a time of great grace for the Church in the United States.”
His diocese, he said, had its largest OCIA class in 20 years.
During the session, the bishops offered a show of hands of those who had large numbers of OCIA participants in their dioceses, with many bishops indicating rising numbers of converts.
“Praise God. Let’s hope that this trend continues,” Cozzens said at the time.
Read More
Mexico and Colombia have been added to Trump’s naughty list.
The post Trump Openly Supports Strikes Against Drug Cartels in Mexico and Colombia, Signaling a Larger Intervention in the Western Hemisphere (VIDEOS) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More
The US House has passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which, if passed in the Senate and signed by President Trump, would force the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files. Many in the House broke out into cheers and applause upon passage of the bill.
The post BREAKING: House Nearly Unanimously Approves Epstein Transparency Act – One Republican Votes in Opposition (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More
Michael and Beth Richardson’s military training prepared them for always being away from home. The couple has visited 50 countries in the last 2.5 years.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TAL-header-michael-beth-traveling-as-married-military-retirees-TRAVASMILTRYRETREE0425-575fdb4e6e5845c59a8e6ece5d458670.jpg)
![NJ’s longest-running group home opens doors at new location #Catholic - Christmas came early at Murray House in Clifton, N.J.
“Welcome home!” Joanna Miller, executive director of the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD) of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese in N.J., and her staff exclaimed as they greeted clients of Murray House, a group home for men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Murray House staff and clients joined diocesan and community leaders, family members, and volunteers for the blessing and ribbon-cutting celebration of the group home’s new location on Nov. 14. DPD is part of Catholic Charities.
Opened in 1971, Murray House was the first group home for men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Garden State. The home is named in honor of Jimmie Murray, who had a developmental disability and died in 1969. DPD aims to make the move to the new location by Christmas.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Residents were excited to tour the home and see their bedrooms freshly painted in the colors they selected. Laura Beahm said her sister, a resident of Murray House for 14 years, is looking forward to moving in.
“My sister called me every day about it. The house is beautiful. I love the garden, the ramp. It makes you feel so safe,” Beahm said.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the blessing and prayer.
“We thank God for the gift of life and the gift of family. And the family needs a home. And we’re so grateful to all those who have made this moment possible. We pray that every family would know peace and happiness in a safe home,” Bishop Sweeney said.
During the ribbon-cutting, Miller presented a plaque to the Murray family for its dedication, in partnership with DPD, for more than 50 years in making the home “a beacon of compassion and dignity.”
Jimmie’s brothers, Dennis Murray, vice president of the board of Catholic Charities, and Patrick Murray, officer in charge of the Paterson Police Department, and other family members, celebrated the milestone with residents and the community. The late Father Jack Wehrlen, founder of DPD, and the Murray family opened the first Murray House in 1971.
Bishop Sweeney thanked community and government leaders for their support, including U.S. Rep. Nellie Pou and State Sen. Kristin Corrado, both of whom attended the event.
“This is a sign of hope in this Jubilee Year of Hope for the Church. Look what we can do when we work together as neighbors and as a community,” Bishop Sweeney said.
The lawmakers applauded the Murray family and the DPD staff for their commitment to helping the residents flourish and grow. They wished the residents much happiness in their home.
“All of you will become one family. That is what we all want,” Pou said.
Corrado noted that there was a time when homes like Murray House were not available for “our most special and wonderful residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” It takes a village, said Corrado, adding, “Every person in this room is part of that village.”
Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities, said it has been their dream to relocate Murray House so that the residents can age in place.
“It’s a testament to our belief that every person deserves to age with dignity, independence, safety, and comfort. This fully accessible ranch-style home in Clifton will ensure they can continue to thrive safely in the place they love. Murray House has set the standard for compassionate, person-centered care for over five decades. This relocation honors that legacy while securing their future,” Milliken said. “This is your home, and you can stay here for a very long time. Enjoy it, live well, and prosper.”
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, DPD operates 10 group homes and one supervised apartment program, with a new group home scheduled to open in Morris County in 2026, to help individuals live with dignity and respect. DPD has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation since 1986 and is the only provider in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field in New Jersey to hold this accreditation.
Miller also said it was essential to the Catholic Charities staff to keep Murray House in Clifton because the residents have been part of the community’s fabric, and their day and support programs are nearby.
“They’re engaged in many activities. They worship there. They shop there. They take part in recreational activities and all the different activities that make Clifton a great place for them,” Miller said.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/njs-longest-running-group-home-opens-doors-at-new-location-catholic-christmas-came-early-at-murray-house-in-clifton-n-j-welcome-home-joanna-miller-executive-director-of-t.jpg)
NJ’s longest-running group home opens doors at new location #Catholic – 
Christmas came early at Murray House in Clifton, N.J.
“Welcome home!” Joanna Miller, executive director of the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD) of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese in N.J., and her staff exclaimed as they greeted clients of Murray House, a group home for men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Murray House staff and clients joined diocesan and community leaders, family members, and volunteers for the blessing and ribbon-cutting celebration of the group home’s new location on Nov. 14. DPD is part of Catholic Charities.
Opened in 1971, Murray House was the first group home for men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Garden State. The home is named in honor of Jimmie Murray, who had a developmental disability and died in 1969. DPD aims to make the move to the new location by Christmas.
Residents were excited to tour the home and see their bedrooms freshly painted in the colors they selected. Laura Beahm said her sister, a resident of Murray House for 14 years, is looking forward to moving in.
“My sister called me every day about it. The house is beautiful. I love the garden, the ramp. It makes you feel so safe,” Beahm said.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the blessing and prayer.
“We thank God for the gift of life and the gift of family. And the family needs a home. And we’re so grateful to all those who have made this moment possible. We pray that every family would know peace and happiness in a safe home,” Bishop Sweeney said.
During the ribbon-cutting, Miller presented a plaque to the Murray family for its dedication, in partnership with DPD, for more than 50 years in making the home “a beacon of compassion and dignity.”
Jimmie’s brothers, Dennis Murray, vice president of the board of Catholic Charities, and Patrick Murray, officer in charge of the Paterson Police Department, and other family members, celebrated the milestone with residents and the community. The late Father Jack Wehrlen, founder of DPD, and the Murray family opened the first Murray House in 1971.
Bishop Sweeney thanked community and government leaders for their support, including U.S. Rep. Nellie Pou and State Sen. Kristin Corrado, both of whom attended the event.
“This is a sign of hope in this Jubilee Year of Hope for the Church. Look what we can do when we work together as neighbors and as a community,” Bishop Sweeney said.
The lawmakers applauded the Murray family and the DPD staff for their commitment to helping the residents flourish and grow. They wished the residents much happiness in their home.
“All of you will become one family. That is what we all want,” Pou said.
Corrado noted that there was a time when homes like Murray House were not available for “our most special and wonderful residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” It takes a village, said Corrado, adding, “Every person in this room is part of that village.”
Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities, said it has been their dream to relocate Murray House so that the residents can age in place.
“It’s a testament to our belief that every person deserves to age with dignity, independence, safety, and comfort. This fully accessible ranch-style home in Clifton will ensure they can continue to thrive safely in the place they love. Murray House has set the standard for compassionate, person-centered care for over five decades. This relocation honors that legacy while securing their future,” Milliken said. “This is your home, and you can stay here for a very long time. Enjoy it, live well, and prosper.”
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, DPD operates 10 group homes and one supervised apartment program, with a new group home scheduled to open in Morris County in 2026, to help individuals live with dignity and respect. DPD has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation since 1986 and is the only provider in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field in New Jersey to hold this accreditation.
Miller also said it was essential to the Catholic Charities staff to keep Murray House in Clifton because the residents have been part of the community’s fabric, and their day and support programs are nearby.
“They’re engaged in many activities. They worship there. They shop there. They take part in recreational activities and all the different activities that make Clifton a great place for them,” Miller said.
– Christmas came early at Murray House in Clifton, N.J. “Welcome home!” Joanna Miller, executive director of the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD) of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese in N.J., and her staff exclaimed as they greeted clients of Murray House, a group home for men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Murray House staff and clients joined diocesan and community leaders, family members, and volunteers for the blessing and ribbon-cutting celebration of the group home’s new location on Nov. 14. DPD is part of Catholic Charities. Opened in 1971, Murray House was the first group home
NASA ER-2 pilot Kirt Stallings waits inside the transport vehicle at Edwards, California, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, moments before boarding NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center’s ER-2 aircraft for a high-altitude mission supporting the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx). Through the vehicle window, the aircraft can be seen being readied for flight.
Read More
MORRISTOWN, NJ — Drug manufacturer Bayer announced this week that they are releasing their popular Flintstones vitamins with added Ozempic to help slim down fat kids.
Read More
JERUSALEM — In a development which many see as an irrefutable sign of the impeding end times, biblical scholars and historians have reached a consensus that the Number of the Beast is actually 67.
Read More
| Picture of the day |
|---|
_kissing,_Satchari_National_Park_(alt).jpg)
|
|
Two chestnut-tailed starlings (Sturnia malabarica) kissing while perched on a branch in Satchari National Park, Bangladesh
|
Opening in theaters and IMAX March 20, 2026, Project Hail Mary is a feature film based on Andy Weir’s best-selling novel of the same name. Weir, who also wrote the smash hit The Martian, has an incredible talent for blending science and fiction, creating thrilling stories based in real science and astronomy. Ryan Gosling starsContinue reading “The new trailer for ‘Project Hail Mary’ just dropped — watch it here”
The post The new trailer for ‘Project Hail Mary’ just dropped — watch it here appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More
Sparta Knights reach fundraising goal for medical center #Catholic – 
On a brisk, windy November morning, the Knights of Columbus Marquette Council 588 in New Jersey held its annual street collection fundraiser, benefiting Deborah Heart and Lung Center and accomplished their financial goal.
“Deborah Heart and Lung Center is New Jersey’s premier provider of high-quality heart, lung and vascular care. The Deborah Foundation relies annually on the generous support of individuals, corporations, foundations and membership organizations. Deborah has never issued a bill to a patient,” according to the Marquette Council. “Thank you to the Sparta and Sussex County communities for your charitable contributions to this critical, life-saving organization.”
The Marquette Council serves three Sussex County parishes in New Jersey: Our Lady of the Lake in Sparta, St. Thomas of Aquin in Ogdensburg, and Immaculate Conception in Franklin.
– On a brisk, windy November morning, the Knights of Columbus Marquette Council 588 in New Jersey held its annual street collection fundraiser, benefiting Deborah Heart and Lung Center and accomplished their financial goal. “Deborah Heart and Lung Center is New Jersey’s premier provider of high-quality heart, lung and vascular care. The Deborah Foundation relies annually on the generous support of individuals, corporations, foundations and membership organizations. Deborah has never issued a bill to a patient,” according to the Marquette Council. “Thank you to the Sparta and Sussex County communities for your charitable contributions to this critical, life-saving organization.” Click here
CNA Staff, Nov 18, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
On Nov. 18 the Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, a French religious sister who came to the United States as a missionary in the 1800s.
Rose was born on Aug. 29, 1769, in Grenoble, France. On the day of her baptism, she received the names Philip, honoring the apostle, and Rose, honoring St. Rose of Lima. She was educated at the Convent of the Visitation of Ste. Marie d’en Haut and became drawn to contemplative life. At the age of 18, she became a novice at the convent.
During the revolution in France, Rose’s community was dispersed and she ended up returning to her family home. After the Concordat of 1801, she tried to rebuild her community’s monastery but was unable to do so.
In 1804, Rose heard of a new congregation — the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She became a novice in the society that same year.
Despite her great desire for contemplative life, Rose also felt a calling for missionary work.
In a letter she wrote to Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat, the foundress of the society, Rose described an experience she had during adoration: “I spent the entire night in the New World … carrying the Blessed Sacrament to all parts of the land … I had all my sacrifices to offer: a mother, sisters, family, my mountain! When you say to me ‘now I send you,’ I will respond quickly, ‘I go.’”
In 1818, Rose was finally sent to do missionary work. Bishop Louis William Valentine DuBourg, the St. Louis area’s first bishop, was looking for a congregation of educators to help him evangelize the children of the diocese. At St. Charles, near St. Louis, Rose founded the first house of the society outside of France.
That same year, Rose and four other sisters opened the first free school for Native American children in the United States. By 1828 Rose had founded six schools.
The saint once said: “You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds of knowledge which were never dreamed of before; yet, if you have not developed in the soul of the pupil strong habits of virtue, which will sustain her in the struggle of life, you have not educated her.”
Rose always carried a desire to serve Native Americans. In 1841, at the age of 71, she established a school for Potawatomi girls in Sugar Creek, Kansas. She spent a year with the Potawatomi, spending much of her time in prayer because she was unable to help with much of the physical work. They gave her the name “Quah-kah-ka-num-ad,” which means “woman who is always praying.”
In 1842, Rose returned to St. Charles and died there on Nov. 18, 1852, at the age of 83. She was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II on July 3, 1988, and is buried at the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne in St. Charles, Missouri.
This story was first published on Nov. 18, 2024, and has been updated.
Read More