Most holy Apostle St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered the beloved Master into the hands of His enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; make use, I implore you, of this particular privilege accorded to you, to bring visible and speedy help, where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in …
Read MoreA reading from the Book of Sirach
15:15-20
If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;
if you trust in God, you too shall live;
he has set before you fire and water
to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
Before man are life and death, good and evil,
whichever he chooses shall be given him.
Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.
The eyes of God are on those who fear him;
he understands man’s every deed.
No one does he command to act unjustly,
to none does he give license to sin.
A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Brothers and sisters:
We speak a wisdom to those who are mature,
not a wisdom of this age,
nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.
Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden,
which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,
and which none of the rulers of this age knew;
for, if they had known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written:
What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,
and what has not entered the human heart,
what God has prepared for those who love him,
this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
5:17-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
"It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife – unless the marriage is unlawful –
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
"Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the evil one."
“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 5:17,20). But what do this “fullness” of Christ’s Law and this “superior” justice that he demands consist in?
Jesus explains it with a series of antitheses between the old commandments and his new way of propounding them. He begins each time: “You have heard that it was said to the men of old…”, and then he asserts: “but I say to you”…. (…).
And he does this six times. This manner of speaking made a great impression on the people, who were shocked, because those words: “I say to you” were equivalent to claiming the actual authority of God, the source of the Law. The newness of Jesus consists essentially in the fact that he himself “fulfils” the commandments with the love of God, with the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within him. And we, through faith in Christ, can open ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit who makes us capable of living divine love.
So it is that every precept becomes true as a requirement of love, and all join in a single commandment: love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 13 February 2011)
Read More
“We can say that, thanks to God, thanks to our Faith, we have a strong foundation,” said Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk.
According to Pew data, the share of U.S. adults identifying as Christian is down from 2007 levels but has held steady since 2020.
Urgent search for stem cell donor to save boy #Catholic – 
Father Jude Salus, a Benedictine monk at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., is coming to communities he served and the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey —and beyond —with a desperate plea for help for a 15-year-old boy with a rare blood disorder.
The priest is asking people of both genders, ages 18 to 35, of mixed heritage, with roots in the Caribbean or South America, who may also have European ancestry, to take a genetic test to determine whether they might be a match as a stem-cell donor for Max Uribe. He was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder more than two years ago.
A simple 30-second cheek swab is all it takes to see if someone is Max’s “genetic twin” and possibly save his life. To request a kit or learn more about Max’s story, click here. This vibrant, energetic ninth-grader excels in school, sports, and music.
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Father Salus made the plea in a letter published in the bulletin of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., where he formally served as pastor. Max is the grandson of Joseph and Gloria Uribe, who were Notre Dame parishioners for many years, and the son of Juan Uribe, Joseph and Gloria’s son, and his wife, Lucia. Father Salus taught Juan at Delbarton School, also in Morristown, run by the Benedictine community there.
Max’s doctors told the family that Max needs a stem cell transplant to repair his bone marrow. Because of his unique Afro-Latino and European heritage, Max has a rare marker (B*42:02) that makes finding a perfect-match donor very difficult. The prevalence of Max’s rare marker is higher among these groups.
A perfect match donor will raise Max’s five-year survival rate from 85 to 95 percent, a 10-percent increase. The reality is that white patients have an 80 percent chance of finding a perfect match, a Latin/Hispanic patient’s chances are only 50 percent, and a black patient’s are only 30 percent.
For an overview of the stem-cell donation process, click here.
– Father Jude Salus, a Benedictine monk at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., is coming to communities he served and the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey —and beyond —with a desperate plea for help for a 15-year-old boy with a rare blood disorder. The priest is asking people of both genders, ages 18 to 35, of mixed heritage, with roots in the Caribbean or South America, who may also have European ancestry, to take a genetic test to determine whether they might be a match as a stem-cell donor for Max Uribe. He was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder
Archbishop Richard Moth served as bishop of Arundel and Brighton in southern England for the past decade until Pope Leo XIV nominated him in December.
The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, who has reached retirement age.
Ave Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Florida, is opening a new campus at a former monastery in rural Ireland. Learn more in this Catholic education news roundup.
![Mother of boy healed through intercession of Fulton Sheen celebrates his upcoming beatification #Catholic Bonnie Engstrom, the mother of the child who was healed through Archbishop J. Fulton Sheen’s intercession, said she “laughed out loud with joy” when she heard his beatification was going to move forward.On Feb. 9, the Holy See officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification. He is credited for the miracle that saved the life of Engstrom’s son James Fulton Engstrom, who was named after Sheen.“We had started getting to know Fulton Sheen and growing in our devotion to him while I was pregnant with James,” Engstrom said in a Feb. 13 interview with “EWTN News In Depth.” “During that pregnancy we had decided to name our son after him … to really put him under his patronage.”On Sept. 16, 2010, James was born at home. It had been a healthy pregnancy, and it was a healthy labor, but there was a knot in James’ umbilical cord that tightened during birth. “He was a stillborn, there was absolutely no sign of life,” Engstrom said.In the “time of crisis, I was in a state of shock,” she said. “I didn’t really know what to do, but I remember calling on Fulton Sheen, just saying his name, ‘Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen.’”“While [James] was at home, while he was in the ambulance, and while he was at the hospital in the emergency room, he did not have a pulse for that entire time,” she said. “Right as the medical team was ready to call time of death, all hands were off. And at that moment, his heart started to beat again, and it never stopped after that.”James is a freshman in high school and doing “great,” Engstrom said. “He is doing really well. He loves music. He’s in an art class that he’s really enjoying … he’s a great kid. Hardworking, funny.”While James “has had some medical issues along the way,” there is nothing the family can attribute to his health issues at birth.Engstrom said that her son’s “initial MRI, the first 24 hours of his life, showed extensive brain damage, and the follow-up one was perfectly clear.”Sheen’s beatificationSheen’s cause for canonization was first opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, Sheen’s birthplace, and from then on he was referred to as a servant of God. Pope Benedict XVI declared him venerable in June 2012.On March 6, 2014, the board of medical experts who advise the then-Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved the reported miracle of James. Pope Francis approved of the miracle of Sheen’s on July 5, 2019, and the beatification experienced numerous delays due to an ownership dispute of his remains and an investigation into clergy sex abuse in New York.While obstacles were eventually cleared, Engstrom said initially her family was “frustrated” and “disappointed” with the delays. “I think as things in the Church just continue to progress and time went by, we realized, we trust in Jesus and he’s got it in control. And so we were able to really lean into that and move past the initial disappointment,” she said.The family is “so excited,” Engstrom said. "We’re so happy about it.” “We really appreciate that in all of Church history, our family has a little footnote in it in a very special way, and it’s remarkable. It is such an honor, and it’s such a joyful thing,” she said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mother-of-boy-healed-through-intercession-of-fulton-sheen-celebrates-his-upcoming-beatification-catholic-bonnie-engstrom-the-mother-of-the-child-who-was-healed-through-archbishop-j-fulton-sheen.png "Mother of boy healed through intercession of Fulton Sheen celebrates his upcoming beatification #Catholic Bonnie Engstrom, the mother of the child who was healed through Archbishop J. Fulton Sheen’s intercession, said she “laughed out loud with joy” when she heard his beatification was going to move forward.On Feb. 9, the Holy See officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification. He is credited for the miracle that saved the life of Engstrom’s son James Fulton Engstrom, who was named after Sheen.“We had started getting to know Fulton Sheen and growing in our devotion to him while I was pregnant with James,” Engstrom said in a Feb. 13 interview with “EWTN News In Depth.” “During that pregnancy we had decided to name our son after him … to really put him under his patronage.”On Sept. 16, 2010, James was born at home. It had been a healthy pregnancy, and it was a healthy labor, but there was a knot in James’ umbilical cord that tightened during birth. “He was a stillborn, there was absolutely no sign of life,” Engstrom said.In the “time of crisis, I was in a state of shock,” she said. “I didn’t really know what to do, but I remember calling on Fulton Sheen, just saying his name, ‘Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen.’”“While [James] was at home, while he was in the ambulance, and while he was at the hospital in the emergency room, he did not have a pulse for that entire time,” she said. “Right as the medical team was ready to call time of death, all hands were off. And at that moment, his heart started to beat again, and it never stopped after that.”James is a freshman in high school and doing “great,” Engstrom said. “He is doing really well. He loves music. He’s in an art class that he’s really enjoying … he’s a great kid. Hardworking, funny.”While James “has had some medical issues along the way,” there is nothing the family can attribute to his health issues at birth.Engstrom said that her son’s “initial MRI, the first 24 hours of his life, showed extensive brain damage, and the follow-up one was perfectly clear.”Sheen’s beatificationSheen’s cause for canonization was first opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, Sheen’s birthplace, and from then on he was referred to as a servant of God. Pope Benedict XVI declared him venerable in June 2012.On March 6, 2014, the board of medical experts who advise the then-Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved the reported miracle of James. Pope Francis approved of the miracle of Sheen’s on July 5, 2019, and the beatification experienced numerous delays due to an ownership dispute of his remains and an investigation into clergy sex abuse in New York.While obstacles were eventually cleared, Engstrom said initially her family was “frustrated” and “disappointed” with the delays. “I think as things in the Church just continue to progress and time went by, we realized, we trust in Jesus and he’s got it in control. And so we were able to really lean into that and move past the initial disappointment,” she said.The family is “so excited,” Engstrom said. \"We’re so happy about it.” “We really appreciate that in all of Church history, our family has a little footnote in it in a very special way, and it’s remarkable. It is such an honor, and it’s such a joyful thing,” she said.")
Bonnie Engstrom, the mother of boy healed through the intercession of Fulton Sheen, provides an update on her son following the announcement of the archbishop’s upcoming beatification.
![Mexican priest appeals to violent criminals to repent and convert this Lent – #Catholic – With Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, Father Manuel Corral, canon of the metropolitan cathedral of Mexico City, called on those involved in criminal violence to live this liturgical season as a genuine opportunity for interior conversion.During a Feb. 6 press conference, the priest explained that Lent is a 40-day liturgical season of preparation for Easter in the Catholic Church, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding before Holy Thursday.He emphasized that this is a privileged period for undergoing a profound transformation of attitudes, as it is an opportune moment to “be disposed to change.”He also reminded everyone that, although many Christians like to visibly wear the ash cross on their foreheads, its essential meaning should not be lost, since “it is a symbol of repentance” that invites us to examine our lives and turn our hearts back to God.In this context, he made an explicit appeal to those who perpetrate violence in the country. He acknowledged that this exhortation is particularly complex regarding those involved in organized crime, since the cartels, he said, “are in such a huge spiral of violence that making an appeal” for an end to violence during Holy Week “is very difficult.”Nevertheless, he affirmed that “prayer, as recollection, can bring us peace, provided there is dialogue and that encounter with Christ.”As an example, he recalled when in 2011 the relic of St. John Paul II was being taken from place to place both in San Fernando in Tamaulipas state, and in Apatzingán in Michoacán state. In both cases, he explained, it was possible to create a period of calm amid contexts marked by violence.In an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, the cathedral canon noted that, although it is not common, there are criminals who approach the Church seeking reconciliation. He acknowledged that this process is not easy, since receiving sacramental forgiveness requires taking responsibility, because “you have to repent,” and sometimes that means “going and turning yourself in to the authorities.”“It’s not easy,” he admitted, “but I tell you there have been [cases]… I can attest to people who have changed.”Beyond armed violence, Corral emphasized that the call to conversion is also personal and daily. In this regard, he urged the faithful to examine those attitudes that create conflict in daily life, reminding them that each person must “do what you have to do within yourself to foster and create a peaceful environment.”He also called for recognizing behaviors that harm others, such as “selfishness, not cooperating, or annoying others.”Begin Lent reconciledTo begin Lent reconciled with Christ, the priest pointed out that the most important thing is to approach the sacrament of confession.As a sign of hope, Corral shared that during the opening of the Jubilee of Hope door at the metropolitan cathedral, he witnessed long days of confessions in which thousands of people came “moved by a real desire for change.”“Confession is like a blank check the Lord gives us, and we fill it with whatever we want, but having this [disposition], to say: Lord, here I am, and I want to have different attitudes, give me the strength so that my life is transformed, so that my life is changed,” he said.Along with confession, the priest reminded everyone that Lent is lived concretely through fasting, prayer, and charity.He clarified that fasting is not a meaningless deprivation but rather “means self-discipline”; that prayer is not simply repeating formulas but rather involves “above all, silence… that is, ‘speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”He also emphasized that charity goes beyond giving alms, as it involves living with genuine generosity, since “to be charitable is to be generous, but generous in giving the best of myself, yes, taking responsibility for my life; that is carrying the cross, as I was saying, that is what it means to be charitable.”This story was first pub lished by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mexican-priest-appeals-to-violent-criminals-to-repent-and-convert-this-lent-catholic-with-lent-beginning-on-ash-wednesday-feb-18-father-manuel-corral-canon-of-the-metropolitan-cathedral-of-me.jpg "Mexican priest appeals to violent criminals to repent and convert this Lent – #Catholic – With Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, Father Manuel Corral, canon of the metropolitan cathedral of Mexico City, called on those involved in criminal violence to live this liturgical season as a genuine opportunity for interior conversion.During a Feb. 6 press conference, the priest explained that Lent is a 40-day liturgical season of preparation for Easter in the Catholic Church, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding before Holy Thursday.He emphasized that this is a privileged period for undergoing a profound transformation of attitudes, as it is an opportune moment to “be disposed to change.”He also reminded everyone that, although many Christians like to visibly wear the ash cross on their foreheads, its essential meaning should not be lost, since “it is a symbol of repentance” that invites us to examine our lives and turn our hearts back to God.In this context, he made an explicit appeal to those who perpetrate violence in the country. He acknowledged that this exhortation is particularly complex regarding those involved in organized crime, since the cartels, he said, “are in such a huge spiral of violence that making an appeal” for an end to violence during Holy Week “is very difficult.”Nevertheless, he affirmed that “prayer, as recollection, can bring us peace, provided there is dialogue and that encounter with Christ.”As an example, he recalled when in 2011 the relic of St. John Paul II was being taken from place to place both in San Fernando in Tamaulipas state, and in Apatzingán in Michoacán state. In both cases, he explained, it was possible to create a period of calm amid contexts marked by violence.In an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, the cathedral canon noted that, although it is not common, there are criminals who approach the Church seeking reconciliation. He acknowledged that this process is not easy, since receiving sacramental forgiveness requires taking responsibility, because “you have to repent,” and sometimes that means “going and turning yourself in to the authorities.”“It’s not easy,” he admitted, “but I tell you there have been [cases]… I can attest to people who have changed.”Beyond armed violence, Corral emphasized that the call to conversion is also personal and daily. In this regard, he urged the faithful to examine those attitudes that create conflict in daily life, reminding them that each person must “do what you have to do within yourself to foster and create a peaceful environment.”He also called for recognizing behaviors that harm others, such as “selfishness, not cooperating, or annoying others.”Begin Lent reconciledTo begin Lent reconciled with Christ, the priest pointed out that the most important thing is to approach the sacrament of confession.As a sign of hope, Corral shared that during the opening of the Jubilee of Hope door at the metropolitan cathedral, he witnessed long days of confessions in which thousands of people came “moved by a real desire for change.”“Confession is like a blank check the Lord gives us, and we fill it with whatever we want, but having this [disposition], to say: Lord, here I am, and I want to have different attitudes, give me the strength so that my life is transformed, so that my life is changed,” he said.Along with confession, the priest reminded everyone that Lent is lived concretely through fasting, prayer, and charity.He clarified that fasting is not a meaningless deprivation but rather “means self-discipline”; that prayer is not simply repeating formulas but rather involves “above all, silence… that is, ‘speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”He also emphasized that charity goes beyond giving alms, as it involves living with genuine generosity, since “to be charitable is to be generous, but generous in giving the best of myself, yes, taking responsibility for my life; that is carrying the cross, as I was saying, that is what it means to be charitable.”This story was first pub lished by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.")
With Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, Mexican priest Father Manuel Corral called on those involved in criminal violence to use this liturgical season as an opportunity for inner conversion.
Founded under Russian imperial rule in 1910, Lithuania’s Ateitis federation has survived occupations and secularization to become a rare model of sustained Catholic youth engagement in Europe.
![Head of U.S. bishops joins call for Notre Dame to drop appointment of pro-abortion professor #Catholic U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops President Archbishop Paul Coakley is urging the University of Notre Dame to drop the leadership appointment of an outspoken pro-abortion professor, joining nearly a dozen bishops in calling on the historic Catholic university to back away from the controversial decision. The controversy at Notre Dame exploded this week after Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Feb. 11 expressed “dismay” and “strong opposition” to the school's appointment of Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.Ostermann has in the past spoken out strongly in favor of abortion and sharply criticized the pro-life movement, at times suggesting that its roots are in "white supremacy" and misogyny. Rhoades said Ostermann's beliefs, coupled with her leadership promotion at the Catholic school, were “causing scandal to the faithful of our diocese and beyond.”Multiple U.S. bishops from around the country backed Rhoades's call throughout the week, with Coakley himself speaking out about the controversy on Feb. 13. "I fully support Bishop Kevin Rhoades in his challenge to Notre Dame to rectify its poor judgement in hiring a professor who openly stands against Catholic teaching when it comes to the sanctity of life, in this case protection of the unborn," Coakley said in a statement on X. TweetThe statement was shared hundreds of times on X, including by Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong. Though criticism against Notre Dame's decision has come from top Catholic leadership in the U.S. throughout the week, the school has indicated that it will be standing by its plan to have Ostermann lead the institute. Notre Dame told EWTN News on Feb. 13 that Ostermann is "a highly regarded political scientist and legal scholar" who is "well prepared" to serve in the role. At the same time the university stressed its “unwavering” commitment “to upholding the inherent dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life at every stage.” Ostermann herself has told media that she “respect[s] Notre Dame’s institutional position on the sanctity of life at every stage." She has described herself as "fully committed to maintaining an environment of academic freedom where a plurality of voices can flourish."](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/head-of-u-s-bishops-joins-call-for-notre-dame-to-drop-appointment-of-pro-abortion-professor-catholic-u-s-conference-of-catholic-bishops-president-archbishop-paul-coakley-is-urging-the-university-of.jpg "Head of U.S. bishops joins call for Notre Dame to drop appointment of pro-abortion professor #Catholic U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops President Archbishop Paul Coakley is urging the University of Notre Dame to drop the leadership appointment of an outspoken pro-abortion professor, joining nearly a dozen bishops in calling on the historic Catholic university to back away from the controversial decision. The controversy at Notre Dame exploded this week after Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Feb. 11 expressed “dismay” and “strong opposition” to the school's appointment of Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.Ostermann has in the past spoken out strongly in favor of abortion and sharply criticized the pro-life movement, at times suggesting that its roots are in \"white supremacy\" and misogyny. Rhoades said Ostermann's beliefs, coupled with her leadership promotion at the Catholic school, were “causing scandal to the faithful of our diocese and beyond.”Multiple U.S. bishops from around the country backed Rhoades's call throughout the week, with Coakley himself speaking out about the controversy on Feb. 13. \"I fully support Bishop Kevin Rhoades in his challenge to Notre Dame to rectify its poor judgement in hiring a professor who openly stands against Catholic teaching when it comes to the sanctity of life, in this case protection of the unborn,\" Coakley said in a statement on X. TweetThe statement was shared hundreds of times on X, including by Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong. Though criticism against Notre Dame's decision has come from top Catholic leadership in the U.S. throughout the week, the school has indicated that it will be standing by its plan to have Ostermann lead the institute. Notre Dame told EWTN News on Feb. 13 that Ostermann is \"a highly regarded political scientist and legal scholar\" who is \"well prepared\" to serve in the role. At the same time the university stressed its “unwavering” commitment “to upholding the inherent dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life at every stage.” Ostermann herself has told media that she “respect[s] Notre Dame’s institutional position on the sanctity of life at every stage.\" She has described herself as \"fully committed to maintaining an environment of academic freedom where a plurality of voices can flourish.\"")
The school has indicated it will stick by its decision for Professor Susan Ostermann to lead a university institute.
![New film brings to life the Book of Revelation - #Catholic - A new movie titled “The Apocalypse of St. John” brings to life the Book of Revelation. Not only does the film tackle the challenging messages found in Revelation, but it also makes them accessible to a wider audience.Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, the docudrama will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17 after having tremendous success in South America and Latin America.Delacre told EWTN News that he was inspired to make the film because he was a big fan of apocalyptic Hollywood movies growing up.“But of course, being Catholic, I knew that would be somewhat far from the truth, somewhat far from the actual book of Revelation,” he said.He began to dive deeper into the theology of the Book of Revelation because he was “very intrigued” by the symbolism and complex images and explained that what impacted him the most was “how current the topic of Revelation was for our times.”“We are living in a crisis that is global in all aspects of men — like in the moral aspect, there’s a huge crisis, there’s a big crisis in the spiritual aspect, there’s a crisis in the economic aspect, political aspect, all aspects of life. We’re going through a great crisis that is at the same time global,” Delacre said.He added: “Since we are living — well, this is my opinion — the greatest crisis of all time, I think it is very important to give the world the good prophecy that is the Book of Revelation and give it in a Catholic way.”Delacre explained that he worked with many priests, biblical scholars, and theologians to properly depict Revelation and ensured to use language that would be understood by a general audience.
A still from the docudrama “The Apocalypse of St. John,” which will be in theaters Feb. 15–17, 2026. | Credit: Caravel Films
Amid his research into Revelation and creating the film, Delacre said his own faith was impacted in a way that allowed him to view crises in the world “not with desperation but with hope.”“Every time I see a new crisis, I just see something that moves history forwards to the second coming,” he shared.He recalled being in the middle of studying Revelation when his home country of Argentina legalized abortion in 2020. He spoke with a friend of his who is a priest on that day and despite being disappointed by the news, they “couldn’t feel sad because we saw in that another sign that proves that we are closer to the second coming and that Christ is coming soon.”The filmmaker said he hopes audiences will have a similar experience after watching the film in that it will “bring comfort and solace to people who watch the movie in the midst of this crisis we are living [through].”“Also, to teach them that the book of Revelation is not a book of terror, but a book of hope … Just rip off that fear to the book and encourage them to study more of Revelation.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/new-film-brings-to-life-the-book-of-revelation-catholic-a-new-movie-titled-the-apocalypse-of-st-john-brings-to-life-the-book-of-revelation-not-only-does-the-film-tackle-the-ch.jpg)
Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, “The Apocalypse of St. John” will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost.
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![On Valentine’s Day, Boston Archdiocese welcomes marriages into Church with convalidation ceremony - #Catholic - About two dozen couples in the Archdiocese of Boston will have their marriages “brought into the Church” this year, part of a now-yearly tradition there in which husbands and wives can take part in “convalidation” ceremonies. Convalidation offers civilly married husbands and wives the opportunity for a valid Catholic sacramental marriage. The Boston Archdiocese describes the ceremony as “an opportunity for couples married outside of the Catholic Church to enter a marriage covenant in the Catholic tradition, be strengthened by God’s grace, and be supported by his Church.”
Couples celebrate the convalidation of their marriages in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston
Liz Cotrupi, the director of family life and ecclesial movements in the archdiocesan evangelization office, told EWTN News that this year’s ceremony will be the third the archdiocese has held in as many years. “We’ve been doing it during National Marriage Week,” she said. “It just so happens that this year it falls on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a little special.”The program arose in Boston when former Regional Bishop Mark O’Connell began offering convalidation ceremonies in the north region of the archdiocese over which he presided. “When he became the vicar general [in 2023], he said, ‘Hey I’ve been doing this regionally in the north region and it’s had some good feedback — what about doing it archdiocesan-wide?’” Cotrupi said. The program has grown ever since. “We’ll probably have 22 to 24 couples this year,” Cotrupi said. The archdiocese has advertised the ceremony in parish bulletins and on social media, she said, and the reaction has been positive. “People are coming out of the woodwork,” she said.
A couple receives convalidation of their marriage by Bishop Mark O’Connell in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston
The process is similar, but not identical, to that of preparing couples for marriage. “We’ve learned a lot through this process,” Cotrupi said with a laugh. The archdiocesan canonical affairs office takes part in the marriage preparation, she said, while a priest helps prepare the couple directly. “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time,” she said. “They will exchange consent, answer the questions, and then exchange rings, which are blessed.”
“Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time.”
Liz CotrupiDirector of Family Life and Ecclesial Movements, Archdiocese of Boston
The ceremony is not a full Mass, she said, but rather consists of the Liturgy of the Word, the prayers of the faithful, a blessing, and the marriage ceremony itself. The event often has all the trappings of a wedding, she said. “Some brides come dressed in wedding dresses,” she said. Others are dressed more casually. Some families bring their children.
Young guests attend a convalidation ceremony in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston
At times, Cotrupi said, couples forget to bring the required two witnesses to the event, in which case she and archdiocesan Family Life Consultant Emily Elliott have often stood as witnesses. Couples are often given a gift on the day of the ceremony, she said, and afterward they often go out to dinner with family and friends to celebrate. Cotrupi said the usual administrative tasks surrounding the process, like “all the paperwork,” can be “a bit much.” Still, she said, “it’s a joyous occasion.”“We’re so happy to do it for them,” she said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/on-valentines-day-boston-archdiocese-welcomes-marriages-into-church-with-convalidation-ceremony-catholic-about-two-dozen-couples-in-the-archdiocese-of-boston-will-have-their-marriages.jpg)
U.S. — Up-and-coming crime reporter Megan Coolidge said she was excited to hear about the latest gruesome kidnapping case, as it would be a huge boost to her career.
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U.S. — Finally, after decades of obscurity on the subject, a groundbreaking new documentary will reportedly examine the history of World War II.
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Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) young female in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. February 13: Catch the zodiacal light This Valentine’s Day, the sky is serving up the perfect target: the Heart Nebula (IC 1805) in Cassiopeia the Queen. Best seen in the early evening after dark, there’s no Moon in the sky to interfereContinue reading “The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula)”
The post The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula) appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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