Day: March 5, 2026

This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of March #Catholic Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of March is for disarmament and peace.In a video released on X, the Holy Father posed a question to the faithful: “Would you imagine what a world without wars would be like? A world without the terror of approaching explosions? Without rocket alarms shattering the silence of the night?”“Please join me in prayer this month for disarmament and peace,” he said.In the full video shared on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month’s prayer intention.Here is the pope’s full prayer:Lord of Life,you shaped every human being in your image and likeness.We believe you created us for communion, not for war,for fraternity, not for destruction.You who greeted your disciples saying, “Peace be with you,”grant us the gift of your peaceand the strength to make it a reality in history.Today we lift up our prayer for peace in the world,asking that nations renounce weaponsand choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy.Disarm our hearts of hatred, resentment, and indifference,so we may become instruments of reconciliation.Help us understand that true securitydoes not come from control fueled by fear,but from trust, justice, and solidarity among peoples.Lord, enlighten the leaders of the nations,so they may have the courage to abandon projects of death,halt the arms race,and place the lives of the most vulnerable at the center.May the nuclear threat never again dictate the future of humanity.Holy Spirit,make us faithful and creative builders of daily peace:in our hearts, our families,our communities, and our cities.May every kind word, every gesture of reconciliation,and every choice for dialogue be seeds of a new world.Amen.“Pray with the Pope” is accessible on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website and its digital platforms.

This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of March #Catholic Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of March is for disarmament and peace.In a video released on X, the Holy Father posed a question to the faithful: “Would you imagine what a world without wars would be like? A world without the terror of approaching explosions? Without rocket alarms shattering the silence of the night?”“Please join me in prayer this month for disarmament and peace,” he said.In the full video shared on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month’s prayer intention.Here is the pope’s full prayer:Lord of Life,you shaped every human being in your image and likeness.We believe you created us for communion, not for war,for fraternity, not for destruction.You who greeted your disciples saying, “Peace be with you,”grant us the gift of your peaceand the strength to make it a reality in history.Today we lift up our prayer for peace in the world,asking that nations renounce weaponsand choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy.Disarm our hearts of hatred, resentment, and indifference,so we may become instruments of reconciliation.Help us understand that true securitydoes not come from control fueled by fear,but from trust, justice, and solidarity among peoples.Lord, enlighten the leaders of the nations,so they may have the courage to abandon projects of death,halt the arms race,and place the lives of the most vulnerable at the center.May the nuclear threat never again dictate the future of humanity.Holy Spirit,make us faithful and creative builders of daily peace:in our hearts, our families,our communities, and our cities.May every kind word, every gesture of reconciliation,and every choice for dialogue be seeds of a new world.Amen.“Pray with the Pope” is accessible on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website and its digital platforms.

In a video released on X, the Holy Father posed a question to the faithful: “Would you imagine what a world without wars would be like? A world without the terror of approaching explosions?”

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Little Falls Knights honor Free Throw Contest winners #Catholic – The Knights of Columbus Council 3835, Our Lady of the Highway, Little Falls, N.J., hosted a Free Throw Contest awards night on Feb. 24 at the Little Falls Recreation Center. The basketball-throwing contest was open to boys and girls ages 9 to 14. Six of the 10 winners attended the awards event. Pictured in the front row from left are Juliana Macaluso, 11; Vincenzo Castaldo, 11; Danica Lightner, 13; Jonathan Moreno, 10; Brayden Moreno, 13; and Jake Borges, 12. In the back row from left are Christopher Troyano, co-chairman; Ron Yutko, co-chairman; Anthony Montuori; and Mike Vaclavicek.

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Little Falls Knights honor Free Throw Contest winners #Catholic –

The Knights of Columbus Council 3835, Our Lady of the Highway, Little Falls, N.J., hosted a Free Throw Contest awards night on Feb. 24 at the Little Falls Recreation Center. The basketball-throwing contest was open to boys and girls ages 9 to 14. Six of the 10 winners attended the awards event. Pictured in the front row from left are Juliana Macaluso, 11; Vincenzo Castaldo, 11; Danica Lightner, 13; Jonathan Moreno, 10; Brayden Moreno, 13; and Jake Borges, 12. In the back row from left are Christopher Troyano, co-chairman; Ron Yutko, co-chairman; Anthony Montuori; and Mike Vaclavicek.


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The Knights of Columbus Council 3835, Our Lady of the Highway, Little Falls, N.J., hosted a Free Throw Contest awards night on Feb. 24 at the Little Falls Recreation Center. The basketball-throwing contest was open to boys and girls ages 9 to 14. Six of the 10 winners attended the awards event. Pictured in the front row from left are Juliana Macaluso, 11; Vincenzo Castaldo, 11; Danica Lightner, 13; Jonathan Moreno, 10; Brayden Moreno, 13; and Jake Borges, 12. In the back row from left are Christopher Troyano, co-chairman; Ron Yutko, co-chairman; Anthony Montuori; and Mike Vaclavicek. Click here to

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Morristown vocations retreat inspires young men’s faith journey #Catholic - Twenty young men, aged 15 to 31, from various parishes around the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey participated in the Vocations Discernment Retreat with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, N.J., from Feb. 27 to March 1.
Bishop Sweeney served as retreat master. He offered four talks to the young men who attended with seven diocesan seminarians.
During the retreat, Bishop Sweeney led the group to pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross. He also prayed the liturgy of the hours with them and celebrated Mass in the chapel. Mass concelebrants included Father Charles Lana, diocesan vocation director, and Father Jader Avila, a diocesan priest. Dan Ferrari led them all in song.

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Retreatants had the opportunity to spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and to receive the sacrament of penance, offered by Father Avila, Father Cesar Jaramillo, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J., and Father Krzysztof Tyszko, parochial vicar of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Morristown, N.J.
During the Second Sunday of Lent Mass, Bishop Sweeney connected the retreat to the mountaintop experience of the Transfiguration. He reminded the young men of the blessings of encountering Jesus and encouraged them to stay close to him and to listen for his voice.
According to Father Lana, “The retreat was a moment of grace for these young men to step aside from the busyness of ordinary life and open their hearts in prayer and reflect on what the Lord might be asking them to do with their lives. The Lord invites all of us to deepen our friendship with him, and these young men accepted that invitation with trust over the weekend. Hopefully, this time spent on retreat will bear fruit, bringing each of them peace, clarity, and understanding of how they can best serve using their gifts.”
On social media, Bishop Sweeney posted, “We were blessed with a wonderful Vocation Discernment Retreat.”
“We thank Fr. Charlie Lana, our vocation director, and our priests, seminarians, and the retreat center staff for allowing a weekend in prayer, community, conversation, and discernment. We also thank all those who were and will be praying for us,” Bishop Sweeney posted. “Let us continue to pray for an increase in Vocations to the priesthood and consecrated Religious Life.”
 [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

Morristown vocations retreat inspires young men’s faith journey #Catholic – Twenty young men, aged 15 to 31, from various parishes around the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey participated in the Vocations Discernment Retreat with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, N.J., from Feb. 27 to March 1. Bishop Sweeney served as retreat master. He offered four talks to the young men who attended with seven diocesan seminarians. During the retreat, Bishop Sweeney led the group to pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross. He also prayed the liturgy of the hours with them and celebrated Mass in the chapel. Mass concelebrants included Father Charles Lana, diocesan vocation director, and Father Jader Avila, a diocesan priest. Dan Ferrari led them all in song. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Retreatants had the opportunity to spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and to receive the sacrament of penance, offered by Father Avila, Father Cesar Jaramillo, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J., and Father Krzysztof Tyszko, parochial vicar of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Morristown, N.J. During the Second Sunday of Lent Mass, Bishop Sweeney connected the retreat to the mountaintop experience of the Transfiguration. He reminded the young men of the blessings of encountering Jesus and encouraged them to stay close to him and to listen for his voice. According to Father Lana, “The retreat was a moment of grace for these young men to step aside from the busyness of ordinary life and open their hearts in prayer and reflect on what the Lord might be asking them to do with their lives. The Lord invites all of us to deepen our friendship with him, and these young men accepted that invitation with trust over the weekend. Hopefully, this time spent on retreat will bear fruit, bringing each of them peace, clarity, and understanding of how they can best serve using their gifts.” On social media, Bishop Sweeney posted, “We were blessed with a wonderful Vocation Discernment Retreat.” “We thank Fr. Charlie Lana, our vocation director, and our priests, seminarians, and the retreat center staff for allowing a weekend in prayer, community, conversation, and discernment. We also thank all those who were and will be praying for us,” Bishop Sweeney posted. “Let us continue to pray for an increase in Vocations to the priesthood and consecrated Religious Life.” [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

Morristown vocations retreat inspires young men’s faith journey #Catholic –

Twenty young men, aged 15 to 31, from various parishes around the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey participated in the Vocations Discernment Retreat with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, N.J., from Feb. 27 to March 1.

Bishop Sweeney served as retreat master. He offered four talks to the young men who attended with seven diocesan seminarians.

During the retreat, Bishop Sweeney led the group to pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross. He also prayed the liturgy of the hours with them and celebrated Mass in the chapel. Mass concelebrants included Father Charles Lana, diocesan vocation director, and Father Jader Avila, a diocesan priest. Dan Ferrari led them all in song.


Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Retreatants had the opportunity to spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and to receive the sacrament of penance, offered by Father Avila, Father Cesar Jaramillo, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J., and Father Krzysztof Tyszko, parochial vicar of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Morristown, N.J.

During the Second Sunday of Lent Mass, Bishop Sweeney connected the retreat to the mountaintop experience of the Transfiguration. He reminded the young men of the blessings of encountering Jesus and encouraged them to stay close to him and to listen for his voice.

According to Father Lana, “The retreat was a moment of grace for these young men to step aside from the busyness of ordinary life and open their hearts in prayer and reflect on what the Lord might be asking them to do with their lives. The Lord invites all of us to deepen our friendship with him, and these young men accepted that invitation with trust over the weekend. Hopefully, this time spent on retreat will bear fruit, bringing each of them peace, clarity, and understanding of how they can best serve using their gifts.”

On social media, Bishop Sweeney posted, “We were blessed with a wonderful Vocation Discernment Retreat.”

“We thank Fr. Charlie Lana, our vocation director, and our priests, seminarians, and the retreat center staff for allowing a weekend in prayer, community, conversation, and discernment. We also thank all those who were and will be praying for us,” Bishop Sweeney posted. “Let us continue to pray for an increase in Vocations to the priesthood and consecrated Religious Life.”

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org] – Twenty young men, aged 15 to 31, from various parishes around the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey participated in the Vocations Discernment Retreat with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, N.J., from Feb. 27 to March 1. Bishop Sweeney served as retreat master. He offered four talks to the young men who attended with seven diocesan seminarians. During the retreat, Bishop Sweeney led the group to pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross. He also prayed the liturgy of the hours with them and celebrated Mass in the chapel. Mass concelebrants included Father Charles Lana, diocesan

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Pew report examines how people rate fellow citizens’ morals #Catholic A Pew Research Center study found ​​Americans are more likely than people in other countries to question the morality of their fellow citizens.The report, “In 25-Country Survey, Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” explores how adults in 25 countries rate the morality of others in their nation. It also examines if people consider different behaviors to be morally wrong including drinking alcohol, gambling, having extramarital affairs, using marijuana, viewing pornography, having abortions, homosexuality, getting divorces, and using contraceptives.The research was based on data from participants in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Surveys conducted outside the U.S. were based on nationally representative surveys of 28,333 adults conducted from Jan. 8 to April 26, 2025. In the U.S., Pew surveyed 3,605 adults who are members of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP) from March 24–30, 2025.
 
 A March 2026 Pew report, “In 25-Country Survey, Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” explores if adults in 25 countries consider nine behaviors to be morally unacceptable or acceptable. | Credit: Courtesy of Pew Research Center
 
 The report also includes some findings from a separate ATP survey of 8,937 U.S. adults conducted from May 5–11, 2025. The margin of sampling error for the full sample of 3,605 respondents is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.According to the research, 47% of U.S. adults reported Americans have “very good” or “somewhat good” morals and ethics, which was the lowest of all countries. The majority of adults in Canada and Indonesia (92%) said the same of the people in their countries.Most and least accepted behaviors across the globeGetting a divorce and the use of contraception were found to be the most widely accepted of the nine behaviors. Only 12% of adults overall said getting a divorce is morally wrong, and 8% said using contraceptives is. The only countries with a slight majority that believe getting a divorce is morally unacceptable are India with 65% holding this view and Nigeria with 55%.Of the nine behaviors Pew asked participants about, married people having affairs had the strongest overall disapproval. Across the 25 countries, a median of 77% of adults said married people having affairs is morally unacceptable, with at least half of adults in every country holding this view.U.S. adults were among those to be most likely to condemn extramarital affairs as immoral. Nine in 10 Americans said having an affair is morally wrong, similar to the share of people in Indonesia and in Turkey (92%) who believe the same.
 
 A March 2026 Pew report, “In 25-Country Survey, Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” explores how adults in 25 countries rate the morality of others in their country. | Credit: Courtesy of Pew Research Center
 
 Adults in Germany (55%) and France (53%) are among the least likely to believe having an affair is morally unacceptable.Behaviors with least international consensusThe report found that for most behaviors asked about, there is not an international consensus if they are morally acceptable or not.In the Latin American and African countries surveyed, half or more of adults said they believe abortions are morally unacceptable, but in most European countries, the vast majority of adults view abortions as either morally acceptable or not a moral issue at all. In the U.S., the group was fairly split with 47% reporting it is morally unacceptable to have an abortion.In the U.S., adults are the most accepting of using marijuana and gambling. Only 23% of Americans said using marijuana is morally unacceptable, and 29% said the same in regard to gambling. In most other countries surveyed, more than 40% of adults said they consider gambling and marijuana use to be morally wrong.In 10 countries, a majority said gambling is morally wrong, including 89% in Indonesia and 71% in Italy. In Australia, 25% said gambling is morally acceptable, and 43% do not see gambling as a moral issue.In the U.S., 39% of adults reported homosexuality is morally wrong, which was found to be much more than those who hold the same belief in Germany (5%) or Sweden (5%). In other nations including Indonesia (93%) and Nigeria (96%), the majority reported it is morally wrong.In regard to drinking alcohol, the majority of adults in Indonesia (83%) reported it is a morally unacceptable act. In contrast, only 7% of adults in Australia and Sweden reported the same. In the U.S., a small share of 16% said it is morally unacceptable.What factors affect views of behaviors?According to the report, a number of factors seem to affect how adults view the morality of behaviors including political party, religion, and gender.Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party are more likely than Republicans and Republican leaners to rate fellow Americans as morally and ethically bad (60% vs. 46%).Pew examined citizens’ stances based on religious belief and found those who said religion is very important in their lives were more likely to view the behaviors as morally wrong.In 13 of the 25 countries surveyed, the research looked specifically at the differences between Protestants and Catholics. The report detailed that Protestants are typically more likely than Catholics in the same country to believe homosexuality is wrong. In the U.S., 59% of Protestants reported homosexuality is morally wrong, while 34% of Catholics did.There is a large variation between Christians in different countries. The majority of Christians surveyed in Africa, Latin America, and the U.S. said having an abortion is morally wrong, but across Europe, the share of Christians who hold this view ranges from 40% in Spain to 7% in Sweden.Gender is also a factor in how people view moral behaviors. Women tend to be more likely than men to believe some behaviors are morally unacceptable. In nearly every country surveyed, women were more likely than men to say that viewing pornography is wrong. In contrast, men were more likely than women to report homosexuality is morally unacceptable. Overall, older adults were more likely than younger adults to report the behaviors are morally unacceptable. This is the case with using marijuana in 19 of the 25 surveyed countries. In Germany, adults ages 40 and older are twice as likely as younger adults to believe marijuana use is morally wrong, with 30% of older adults holding this belief and 15% of younger adults.

Pew report examines how people rate fellow citizens’ morals #Catholic A Pew Research Center study found ​​Americans are more likely than people in other countries to question the morality of their fellow citizens.The report, “In 25-Country Survey, Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” explores how adults in 25 countries rate the morality of others in their nation. It also examines if people consider different behaviors to be morally wrong including drinking alcohol, gambling, having extramarital affairs, using marijuana, viewing pornography, having abortions, homosexuality, getting divorces, and using contraceptives.The research was based on data from participants in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Surveys conducted outside the U.S. were based on nationally representative surveys of 28,333 adults conducted from Jan. 8 to April 26, 2025. In the U.S., Pew surveyed 3,605 adults who are members of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP) from March 24–30, 2025. A March 2026 Pew report, “In 25-Country Survey, Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” explores if adults in 25 countries consider nine behaviors to be morally unacceptable or acceptable. | Credit: Courtesy of Pew Research Center The report also includes some findings from a separate ATP survey of 8,937 U.S. adults conducted from May 5–11, 2025. The margin of sampling error for the full sample of 3,605 respondents is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.According to the research, 47% of U.S. adults reported Americans have “very good” or “somewhat good” morals and ethics, which was the lowest of all countries. The majority of adults in Canada and Indonesia (92%) said the same of the people in their countries.Most and least accepted behaviors across the globeGetting a divorce and the use of contraception were found to be the most widely accepted of the nine behaviors. Only 12% of adults overall said getting a divorce is morally wrong, and 8% said using contraceptives is. The only countries with a slight majority that believe getting a divorce is morally unacceptable are India with 65% holding this view and Nigeria with 55%.Of the nine behaviors Pew asked participants about, married people having affairs had the strongest overall disapproval. Across the 25 countries, a median of 77% of adults said married people having affairs is morally unacceptable, with at least half of adults in every country holding this view.U.S. adults were among those to be most likely to condemn extramarital affairs as immoral. Nine in 10 Americans said having an affair is morally wrong, similar to the share of people in Indonesia and in Turkey (92%) who believe the same. A March 2026 Pew report, “In 25-Country Survey, Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” explores how adults in 25 countries rate the morality of others in their country. | Credit: Courtesy of Pew Research Center Adults in Germany (55%) and France (53%) are among the least likely to believe having an affair is morally unacceptable.Behaviors with least international consensusThe report found that for most behaviors asked about, there is not an international consensus if they are morally acceptable or not.In the Latin American and African countries surveyed, half or more of adults said they believe abortions are morally unacceptable, but in most European countries, the vast majority of adults view abortions as either morally acceptable or not a moral issue at all. In the U.S., the group was fairly split with 47% reporting it is morally unacceptable to have an abortion.In the U.S., adults are the most accepting of using marijuana and gambling. Only 23% of Americans said using marijuana is morally unacceptable, and 29% said the same in regard to gambling. In most other countries surveyed, more than 40% of adults said they consider gambling and marijuana use to be morally wrong.In 10 countries, a majority said gambling is morally wrong, including 89% in Indonesia and 71% in Italy. In Australia, 25% said gambling is morally acceptable, and 43% do not see gambling as a moral issue.In the U.S., 39% of adults reported homosexuality is morally wrong, which was found to be much more than those who hold the same belief in Germany (5%) or Sweden (5%). In other nations including Indonesia (93%) and Nigeria (96%), the majority reported it is morally wrong.In regard to drinking alcohol, the majority of adults in Indonesia (83%) reported it is a morally unacceptable act. In contrast, only 7% of adults in Australia and Sweden reported the same. In the U.S., a small share of 16% said it is morally unacceptable.What factors affect views of behaviors?According to the report, a number of factors seem to affect how adults view the morality of behaviors including political party, religion, and gender.Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party are more likely than Republicans and Republican leaners to rate fellow Americans as morally and ethically bad (60% vs. 46%).Pew examined citizens’ stances based on religious belief and found those who said religion is very important in their lives were more likely to view the behaviors as morally wrong.In 13 of the 25 countries surveyed, the research looked specifically at the differences between Protestants and Catholics. The report detailed that Protestants are typically more likely than Catholics in the same country to believe homosexuality is wrong. In the U.S., 59% of Protestants reported homosexuality is morally wrong, while 34% of Catholics did.There is a large variation between Christians in different countries. The majority of Christians surveyed in Africa, Latin America, and the U.S. said having an abortion is morally wrong, but across Europe, the share of Christians who hold this view ranges from 40% in Spain to 7% in Sweden.Gender is also a factor in how people view moral behaviors. Women tend to be more likely than men to believe some behaviors are morally unacceptable. In nearly every country surveyed, women were more likely than men to say that viewing pornography is wrong. In contrast, men were more likely than women to report homosexuality is morally unacceptable. Overall, older adults were more likely than younger adults to report the behaviors are morally unacceptable. This is the case with using marijuana in 19 of the 25 surveyed countries. In Germany, adults ages 40 and older are twice as likely as younger adults to believe marijuana use is morally wrong, with 30% of older adults holding this belief and 15% of younger adults.

U.S. adults were among those most likely to condemn extramarital affairs as immoral in a study of 25 countries.

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7 Tips For Christian Women To Dress Modestly #BabylonBee – It can be difficult to find modest attire when you’re a Christian woman, what with all the competing expectations. Fortunately, we at the Babylon Bee are not just prophets – we’re also fashion experts. Here are seven simple tips for Christian ladies to dress modestly:

It can be difficult to find modest attire when you’re a Christian woman, what with all the competing expectations. Fortunately, we at the Babylon Bee are not just prophets – we’re also fashion experts. Here are seven simple tips for Christian ladies to dress modestly:

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