Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
Read MoreA reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 15:22-31
The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:
“The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’“
And so they were sent on their journey.
Upon their arrival in Antioch
they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.
When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.
From the Gospel according to John
15:12-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
In his long farewell discourse to his disciples, Jesus says this: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (Jn 15:15-16). But this is a blank cheque: “whatever you ask the Father in my name, I will give to you”! God is a friend, an ally, a spouse. In prayer one can establish an intimate relationship with him, so much so that in the “Our Father” Jesus taught us to address to him a series of questions. We can ask God everything, everything; explain everything, recount everything. It does not matter if we feel flawed in our relationship with God: we are not good friends, we are not grateful children, we are not faithful spouses. He continues to love us. (…) God is always close to our heart’s door and he waits for us to open it to him. And sometimes he knocks on the heart, but he is not intrusive: he waits. God’s patience with us is the patience of a father, of one who loves us dearly. I would say it is the combined patience of a father and a mother. Always close to our heart, and when he knocks he does so with tenderness and with much love. (Pope Francis, General audience, 13 May 2020)
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Obituary: Father Peter Andrew Oddo, served Sussex County parishes, 90 #Catholic – 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 9, at noon at Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Church in the Swartswood neighborhood of Newton, N.J., for Father Peter Andrew Oddo, a retired priest of the Newark Archdiocese and U.S. Navy veteran, who died on May 4, at Merry Heart in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J. He was 90.
After retiring, Father Oddo served in Sussex County parishes of the Paterson Diocese, including Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Branchville, N.J., and OLMC as a weekend associate. These roles followed his service in the Newark Archdiocese and his Navy career.
Father Oddo was born and grew up in Lodi, N.J. He was the son of Andrew and Angelina Oddo. He graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic, N.J. He earned a bachelor’s degree in classical languages and a master’s in psychology from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., and a master’s in theology from Immaculate Conception School of Theology in Darlington, N.J.
Father Oddo was ordained to the priesthood for the Newark Archdiocese on May 27, 1961. He first served in parish assignments and then ministered to individuals with alcohol and drug addiction before beginning his service in the U.S. Navy.
Following these assignments, Father Oddo joined the U.S. Navy, where he served for 24 years and achieved the rank of captain.
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During his service, Father Oddo traveled widely on the U.S.S. Carl Vinson (CVN-70), a U.S. Navy supercarrier and flagship for Carrier Strike Group 1. He served in the Persian Gulf War and earned the Navy Commendation Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.
After retiring from the Navy, Father Oddo made his home in Swartswood in Newton. He served Our Lady Queen of Peace and OLMC. He was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time in nature, and was a member of local hunting clubs.
Father Oddo is survived by his brother, Rosario Oddo, and his wife, Angela, and his sister-in-law, Mary Anne Oddo, the wife of his late brother Andrew M. Oddo. His nieces and nephews are Mary Anne Montelbano and her husband, Keith; Carole Anne Cavanagh and her husband, Brian; Andrew P. Oddo and his wife, Meg; and Jessica Carlin and her husband, John. He is also survived by five great-nieces, seven great-nephews, and many cousins and extended family members.
Visitation for Father Oddo will be held on Friday, May 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newton. His Mass of Christian Burial will follow at noon on Saturday, May 9, at OLMC.
Please keep Father Oddo, his family and friends, and the priests of the Newark Archdiocese and Paterson Diocese in your prayers.
– A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 9, at noon at Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Church in the Swartswood neighborhood of Newton, N.J., for Father Peter Andrew Oddo, a retired priest of the Newark Archdiocese and U.S. Navy veteran, who died on May 4, at Merry Heart in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J. He was 90. After retiring, Father Oddo served in Sussex County parishes of the Paterson Diocese, including Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Branchville, N.J., and OLMC as a weekend associate. These roles followed his service in the
![Beatification candidate Fulton Sheen forged strong ties in Paterson #Catholic - Sometime in 1974, Lo Anne Mayer, formerly of Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham Township, N.J., received a surprise phone call. On the other end was Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the world-renowned Catholic radio and TV evangelist. They met briefly after a talk he gave at another parish in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and here he was asking her, “What do you think about St. Joseph?” — the topic of an upcoming presentation.
“I realized that Archbishop Sheen called people to get their views on particular topics — the Blessed Mother or St. Joseph — to make his talks more relevant to his audience. I was impressed; I didn’t know any priest who did that,” said Mayer, who first heard him speak at Christ the King Church in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., in 1974. “I saw Christ in Archbishop Sheen. His total dedication to the Lord was part of his persona. I felt as if I were in the presence of a saint,” she said.
So it was no surprise when Mayer, 85, now living in Manchester, N.J., heard the news on March 25 that Archbishop Sheen — now Venerable Fulton J. Sheen — is getting a step closer to sainthood. With joy, she plans to attend with her family the Mass of his beatification, where he will be designated as “blessed.” This will take place on Thursday, Sept. 24, at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo.
That first conversation in 1974 blossomed into a close family friendship. Venerable Sheen often spoke with Mayer at length on the phone and visited their home for dinner. Through Mayer, he became reacquainted with the Discalced Carmelites of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Morristown, N.J. He also baptized her and her husband Raymond’s youngest child, Michael, at Corpus Christi in 1975.
“I couldn’t be happier about Archbishop Sheen’s beatification,” said Mayer, who had started helping promote his cause before his home diocese in Peoria, Ill., opened it in 2002. “I know Archbishop Sheen would not have wanted this [beatification], but he needs to be recognized. People around the globe know him for his powerful preaching and are still interested in him,” she said.
Mayer will discuss Venerable Sheen and his beatification this Friday, May 8, his birthday, while recording an episode of the Beyond the Beacon podcast with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish. The episode will be available on all major podcast platforms on March 14, 2026.
Venerable Sheen earned worldwide renown as one of the 20th century’s leading English-speaking Catholic preachers. He used books, radio, and TV to reach a broad audience. Decades later, his program, “Life Is Worth Living,” resonates with younger Catholics through EWTN reruns. In 1979, Sheen died in New York at age 84.
“Archbishop Sheen was down to earth, speaking simply from the heart for everybody to understand,” said Mayer. She recalled how he spoke to her children before dinner, mesmerizing them with his message and presence. “As a young mother, Archbishop Sheen helped my faith. He was understanding and kind,” she said.
In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI declared Archbishop Sheen “venerable” for his heroic virtue. In 2019, Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to Sheen, paving the way for beatification. The Vatican, however, paused the process to investigate — and ultimately cleared him of — allegations from Sheen’s tenure as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. Mayer remains optimistic that a second miracle will be recognized to advance him to sainthood.
In 1984, Mayer participated in the first national gathering of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation at the Madison Hotel in Madison, N.J. She later chaired the organization and now serves on its advisory board. Mayer traveled to Peoria to witness the sealing of roughly 500 pages of documents for the cause for review in Rome.
Over the years, Mayer heard Venerable Sheen speak at other local parishes. She also invited him to the Carmelite monastery in Morristown, where he delivered the homily at the dedication Mass of the chapel in 1941. He quickly became friends with the community and made subsequent visits. “He made the Carmelites happy,” Mayer said.
Previously, Venerable Sheen had another diocesan connection: Yolanda Holliger of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Wayne, N.J. He married her to his cousin, Tom, baptized their six children, and remained close to their family. Both Holligers testified in his cause and have since died.
“Archbishop Sheen had a saintly aura,” Holliger told The Beacon in a 2008 interview. “With him, you felt you were in heaven — perfect happiness.”
Mayer encourages local faithful to watch Venerable Sheen’s beatification Mass on EWTN on Sept. 24, starting at 3 p.m. EST.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beatification-candidate-fulton-sheen-forged-strong-ties-in-paterson-catholic-sometime-in-1974-lo-anne-mayer-formerly-of-corpus-christi-parish-in-chatham-township-n-j-received-a-surprise-phone.jpg)
Beatification candidate Fulton Sheen forged strong ties in Paterson #Catholic – 
Sometime in 1974, Lo Anne Mayer, formerly of Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham Township, N.J., received a surprise phone call. On the other end was Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the world-renowned Catholic radio and TV evangelist. They met briefly after a talk he gave at another parish in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and here he was asking her, “What do you think about St. Joseph?” — the topic of an upcoming presentation.
“I realized that Archbishop Sheen called people to get their views on particular topics — the Blessed Mother or St. Joseph — to make his talks more relevant to his audience. I was impressed; I didn’t know any priest who did that,” said Mayer, who first heard him speak at Christ the King Church in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., in 1974. “I saw Christ in Archbishop Sheen. His total dedication to the Lord was part of his persona. I felt as if I were in the presence of a saint,” she said.
So it was no surprise when Mayer, 85, now living in Manchester, N.J., heard the news on March 25 that Archbishop Sheen — now Venerable Fulton J. Sheen — is getting a step closer to sainthood. With joy, she plans to attend with her family the Mass of his beatification, where he will be designated as “blessed.” This will take place on Thursday, Sept. 24, at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo.
That first conversation in 1974 blossomed into a close family friendship. Venerable Sheen often spoke with Mayer at length on the phone and visited their home for dinner. Through Mayer, he became reacquainted with the Discalced Carmelites of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Morristown, N.J. He also baptized her and her husband Raymond’s youngest child, Michael, at Corpus Christi in 1975.
“I couldn’t be happier about Archbishop Sheen’s beatification,” said Mayer, who had started helping promote his cause before his home diocese in Peoria, Ill., opened it in 2002. “I know Archbishop Sheen would not have wanted this [beatification], but he needs to be recognized. People around the globe know him for his powerful preaching and are still interested in him,” she said.
Mayer will discuss Venerable Sheen and his beatification this Friday, May 8, his birthday, while recording an episode of the Beyond the Beacon podcast with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish. The episode will be available on all major podcast platforms on March 14, 2026.
Venerable Sheen earned worldwide renown as one of the 20th century’s leading English-speaking Catholic preachers. He used books, radio, and TV to reach a broad audience. Decades later, his program, “Life Is Worth Living,” resonates with younger Catholics through EWTN reruns. In 1979, Sheen died in New York at age 84.
“Archbishop Sheen was down to earth, speaking simply from the heart for everybody to understand,” said Mayer. She recalled how he spoke to her children before dinner, mesmerizing them with his message and presence. “As a young mother, Archbishop Sheen helped my faith. He was understanding and kind,” she said.
In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI declared Archbishop Sheen “venerable” for his heroic virtue. In 2019, Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to Sheen, paving the way for beatification. The Vatican, however, paused the process to investigate — and ultimately cleared him of — allegations from Sheen’s tenure as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. Mayer remains optimistic that a second miracle will be recognized to advance him to sainthood.
In 1984, Mayer participated in the first national gathering of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation at the Madison Hotel in Madison, N.J. She later chaired the organization and now serves on its advisory board. Mayer traveled to Peoria to witness the sealing of roughly 500 pages of documents for the cause for review in Rome.
Over the years, Mayer heard Venerable Sheen speak at other local parishes. She also invited him to the Carmelite monastery in Morristown, where he delivered the homily at the dedication Mass of the chapel in 1941. He quickly became friends with the community and made subsequent visits. “He made the Carmelites happy,” Mayer said.
Previously, Venerable Sheen had another diocesan connection: Yolanda Holliger of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Wayne, N.J. He married her to his cousin, Tom, baptized their six children, and remained close to their family. Both Holligers testified in his cause and have since died.
“Archbishop Sheen had a saintly aura,” Holliger told The Beacon in a 2008 interview. “With him, you felt you were in heaven — perfect happiness.”
Mayer encourages local faithful to watch Venerable Sheen’s beatification Mass on EWTN on Sept. 24, starting at 3 p.m. EST.
– Sometime in 1974, Lo Anne Mayer, formerly of Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham Township, N.J., received a surprise phone call. On the other end was Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the world-renowned Catholic radio and TV evangelist. They met briefly after a talk he gave at another parish in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and here he was asking her, “What do you think about St. Joseph?” — the topic of an upcoming presentation. “I realized that Archbishop Sheen called people to get their views on particular topics — the Blessed Mother or St. Joseph — to make his talks more relevant
Recent excavations at the site match the account of an eighth-century Bavarian bishop who wrote about a church in Bethsaida that was built over the home of Sts. Peter and Andrew.
The pontiff met with the secretary of state amid Trump’s ongoing criticism of the Holy Father and the Vatican.
Vaonis Vespera II — X Edition VaonisMontpellier, France The Vespera II — X Edition is a version of Vaonis’ f/5 imaging system that has a limited run of 150 units; it features a clear shell that shows off its internal components. It uses a Sony IMX 585, an 8.3-megapixel color sensor. Its field of viewContinue reading “May we present this month’s new astronomy products”
The post May we present this month’s new astronomy products appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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Father Gerardo F. Saco Jr. cited “human limitations” in withdrawing from the Diocese of Tagbilaran weeks before his scheduled May 26 episcopal ordination.
![Inspiring toe-picking guitarist amps up hope at Dover concert #Catholic - On May 1, Tony Meléndez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, delivered the message, “Don’t be afraid with our good Lord,” through inspiring music and personal stories of faith during a joyful bilingual concert at Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J.
Meléndez has played at 11 World Youth Days, sharing the stage with St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. He has visited all 50 U.S. states and more than 44 foreign countries. Recognized as an ambassador of hope and resilience, Meléndez appeals to all generations.
At the May 1 concert, Meléndez, originally from Rivas, Nicaragua, sang and played a mix of original and popular religious songs, with occasional secular tunes such as “La Bamba,” throughout the evening.
In both English and Spanish, Meléndez told the audience that he was born without arms and a clubbed foot due to the drug Thalidomide, which his mother was prescribed for morning sickness. His family later immigrated to the United States so he could undergo seven corrective surgeries on his left foot to enable him to walk.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
These challenges shaped his journey, as Meléndez learned to do almost everything with his feet. When he was 16, he taught himself to play the guitar with his toes and, over time, became proficient as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
“I would pray with my music when I first started to play guitar, with whatever came out of my voice—my heart,” said Meléndez, who is married with two children. “God blessed me to be able to play guitar with my toes. I thank him with all my heart.”
Meléndez’s inspirational career reached a turning point when he performed for St. Pope John Paul II during a major youth teleconference at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1987, as part of the pontiff’s 10-day U.S. tour.
That Friday evening began with Father Leonardo López, pastor of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary, introducing the concert, with support from Father Cerilo Javinez and Father Edgar Rivera, the parish’s parochial vicars, who set a welcoming tone for the event. Father Rivera booked and organized the concert.
Adding a personal touch, Meléndez’s older brother, Jose, who serves as his manager and ministry partner, also spoke about the featured performer’s life during the event.
Meléndez will be featured on Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney’s Beyond The Beacon podcast later this month.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/inspiring-toe-picking-guitarist-amps-up-hope-at-dover-concert-catholic-on-may-1-tony-melendez-a-renowned-toe-picking-catholic-guitarist-born-without-arms-delivered-the-message-don.jpg)
Inspiring toe-picking guitarist amps up hope at Dover concert #Catholic – 
On May 1, Tony Meléndez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, delivered the message, “Don’t be afraid with our good Lord,” through inspiring music and personal stories of faith during a joyful bilingual concert at Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J.
Meléndez has played at 11 World Youth Days, sharing the stage with St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. He has visited all 50 U.S. states and more than 44 foreign countries. Recognized as an ambassador of hope and resilience, Meléndez appeals to all generations.
At the May 1 concert, Meléndez, originally from Rivas, Nicaragua, sang and played a mix of original and popular religious songs, with occasional secular tunes such as “La Bamba,” throughout the evening.
In both English and Spanish, Meléndez told the audience that he was born without arms and a clubbed foot due to the drug Thalidomide, which his mother was prescribed for morning sickness. His family later immigrated to the United States so he could undergo seven corrective surgeries on his left foot to enable him to walk.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
These challenges shaped his journey, as Meléndez learned to do almost everything with his feet. When he was 16, he taught himself to play the guitar with his toes and, over time, became proficient as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
“I would pray with my music when I first started to play guitar, with whatever came out of my voice—my heart,” said Meléndez, who is married with two children. “God blessed me to be able to play guitar with my toes. I thank him with all my heart.”
Meléndez’s inspirational career reached a turning point when he performed for St. Pope John Paul II during a major youth teleconference at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1987, as part of the pontiff’s 10-day U.S. tour.
That Friday evening began with Father Leonardo López, pastor of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary, introducing the concert, with support from Father Cerilo Javinez and Father Edgar Rivera, the parish’s parochial vicars, who set a welcoming tone for the event. Father Rivera booked and organized the concert.
Adding a personal touch, Meléndez’s older brother, Jose, who serves as his manager and ministry partner, also spoke about the featured performer’s life during the event.
Meléndez will be featured on Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney’s Beyond The Beacon podcast later this month.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– On May 1, Tony Meléndez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, delivered the message, “Don’t be afraid with our good Lord,” through inspiring music and personal stories of faith during a joyful bilingual concert at Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J. Meléndez has played at 11 World Youth Days, sharing the stage with St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. He has visited all 50 U.S. states and more than 44 foreign countries. Recognized as an ambassador of hope and resilience, Meléndez appeals to all generations. At the May 1 concert,
Lithuania’s only consistently pro-life maternity home — once blessed by St. John Paul II — faces closure under a government merger plan opposed by more than 12,000 petitioners.
Pope to lead Corpus Christi procession in Madrid, Vatican says as it releases Spain schedule #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — The Vatican released the official schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic visit to Spain, a seven-day trip that will take the pontiff to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands for meetings with Spain’s royal family and political leaders, as well as migrants, prisoners, young people and Catholic communities across the country.
The packed June 6-12 itinerary also included public Masses, a Corpus Christi procession in Madrid, an encounter with volunteers, a visit to Barcelona’s Basilica of the Holy Family, known as Sagrada Família, and stops at migrant reception centers in the Canary Islands.
Coinciding with the Vatican’s release of the pope’s schedule, the Spanish bishops’ conference hosted a press briefing with the bishops of Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands and Tenerife.
At the briefing, Archbishop Luis Argüello of Valladolid, president of the Spanish bishops’ conference, said the papal visit comes at a moment when Pope Leo has emerged as a “reference point in the current situation of the world.”
“For this reason, his words — undoubtedly words of dialogue, encounter, communion and peace — will help all of us,” Archbishop Argüello said.
Madrid
According to the official schedule, upon his arrival June 6, the pope will meet with Spanish King Felipe VI and his wife, Queen Letizia, followed by meetings with government authorities and the country’s diplomatic corps.
Noting the country’s climate of political and social tensions, Cardinal José Cobo of Madrid said the pope’s meetings with political and government leaders during his stop in the Spanish capital were highly anticipated.
“There was a hunger for a visit of this kind at a special moment in our political, social and economic life, because there is also a hunger for reference points, and I believe the pope can be a reference point to give light and direction to many who are searching,” Cardinal Cobo said.
In the evening, the pope will visit an emergency homeless shelter operated by Caritas Madrid, before a meeting with young people at the Plaza de Lima, where St. John Paul II celebrated Mass during his 1982 visit to the country.
Cardinal Cobo said the meeting will serve as a “platform” for the pope to “speak with the youth of the entire world.”
The following day, the pope will celebrate Mass on the feast of Corpus Christi at Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles, a celebration Cardinal Cobo confirmed would include a procession reflecting the city’s local traditions.
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“The Corpus Christi procession will be beautiful,” he said. “A great many people are involved: those preparing floral carpets, those carrying the platforms, numerous associations. It will not be excessively long for reasons of time and space because we are expecting an enormous crowd.”
After the Mass, the pope will meet privately with members of the Augustinian order, followed by a meeting at Movistar Arena with representatives of the “world of culture, art, economy and sport,” the Vatican said.
On his final day in Madrid June 8, Pope Leo will meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, followed by a highly anticipated address to members of the Spanish Parliament.
When asked if he was concerned that the pope’s address to parliamentarians “could be politically or ideologically manipulated,” Archbishop Argüello said that “while it can always happen,” it was important to note that the decision to invite the pope to speak was “unanimous.”
“Over the years, popes have spoken in academic and political institutions throughout the world. Any later interpretations are beyond our control,” he said.
Adding that the pope would prepare “the speeches as he sees fit,” Archbishop Argüello told journalists that the church was awaiting “a possible new encyclical that seems likely to emphasize the centrality of the human person, human dignity, the common good, dialogue and encounter.”
The president of the Spanish bishops’ conference did not indicate if the encyclical would be released before the visit.
Barcelona
Pope Leo will depart for Barcelona June 9 where he will preside over midday prayer at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia and in the evening will take part in a prayer vigil at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.
For Cardinal Juan José Omella of Barcelona, there is “enormous expectation” for the pontiff’s visit and that Pope Leo’s “words and gestures are reaching people very deeply.”
“The classical thinkers said that God has three attributes: ‘bonum, verum et pulchrum’ (the good, the true and the beautiful),” the cardinal said. “I believe that in some way we are expressing this through the Pope’s visit — the communion of a diverse Church. And we see it every day: diverse, yet united around the universal shepherd, who is the pope. I think this unity will become visible.”
Pope Leo will begin his first full day in Barcelona with a visit to the Brians 1 Penitentiary Center, followed by a visit to the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, where he will pray the rosary and have lunch with the Benedictine community.
Cardinal Omella said the penitentiary represented “the world of sorrow, the deprivation of freedom and everything connected to prison ministry, which is something very present in the life of the Church,” and that the pope “wants to make himself present there.”
Additionally, the abbey, he continued, represented all the monasteries in Spain and “the world of contemplatives, which is the praying Church.”
The cardinal also said anticipation was high for the pope’s evening Mass June 10 at one of the world’s most iconic churches, the Sagrada Família, where he will inaugurate the tower of Jesus Christ. At more than 564 feet tall, the tower makes the basilica the tallest Catholic church in the world.
The pope’s visit to the basilica coincides with the 100th anniversary of the death of the basilica’s architect, Antoni Gaudí. While there were hopes for a beatification ceremony at the Mass, the official schedule did not include it.
Cardinal Omella told journalists that a miracle attributed to Gaudí’s intercession was being studied and “in a very advanced phase in Rome, but there is nothing further yet.”
Canary Islands
On June 11, Pope Leo will depart for the Canary Islands, a trip that his predecessor, Pope Francis, had wanted to make.
The archipelago, geographically located in Africa, is the destination every year for thousands of sub-Saharan migrants seeking a better future. They arrive in precarious and fragile boats called “cayucos,” and many die on the way.
According to the schedule, the pope will meet with organizations working with migrants at the port of Arguineguín, followed by a meeting with bishops, clergy and religious men and women at the Cathedral of St. Anne. In the evening, he will celebrate Mass at the Gran Canaria Stadium.
Noting the rarity of a pontiff visiting the islands, which are geographically distant from mainland Spain, Bishop José Mazuelos Pérez of the Canary Islands said the pope’s visit was “a blessing from God.”
“People are absolutely delighted,” the bishop said. “I especially want to emphasize the joy and excitement. For example, I go to the market to buy something and people immediately come up to me saying, ‘The pope is coming, the pope is coming!’”
Noting that the pope’s visit will place “greater emphasis on the reality of migration,” Bishop Mazuelos also noted anticipation for the pope’s meeting with clergy and religious “who are working tirelessly and who are eager to embark upon new paths of evangelization.”
“There is a strong secularization in the Canary Islands. There are many people who have left the Church,” he said. “But there are also many people who have deep needs and a thirst for encountering the Gospel and the Lord. And the pope comes to strengthen us, encourage us and help us continue fighting — never giving up, but rather winning hearts through the proclamation of the Gospel.”
On the pope’s final day in Spain June 12, he will depart for Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, where he will meet with migrants living at the “Las Raices Center” followed by a meeting with organizations helping to integrate migrants.
Bishop Eloy Alberto Santiago of Tenerife told journalists that at one point, the center had housed 4,000 migrants who came “from the deadly Atlantic route as well as from Latin America.”
Before departing for Rome, Pope Leo will also preside over an outdoor Mass at the port of Santa Cruz, which the bishop noted was “the ideal place because of its closeness to the sea, where so many people arrive.”
“This closeness to the sea also allows us to enter into communion and harmony with the migratory reality and with the ecclesial reality,” he said.
Bishop Santiago noted that while the pope will visit the island for “five or six very intense hours,” he was joyful that his diocese will be the final place Pope Leo will visit.
“Our Diocese of Tenerife is a diocese that welcomes many migrants, and in this case, it will also warmly bid farewell to the Holy Father after his first visit to Spain,” he said.
Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist.
– (OSV News) — The Vatican released the official schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic visit to Spain, a seven-day trip that will take the pontiff to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands for meetings with Spain’s royal family and political leaders, as well as migrants, prisoners, young people and Catholic communities across the country. The packed June 6-12 itinerary also included public Masses, a Corpus Christi procession in Madrid, an encounter with volunteers, a visit to Barcelona’s Basilica of the Holy Family, known as Sagrada Família, and stops at migrant reception centers in the Canary Islands. Coinciding with the
The Church must speak clearly, decisively against all evil, pope says #Catholic – 
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church is the guardian of hope, whose members are called to speak clearly against all evil and in defense of human life, Pope Leo XIV said.
The Church, as “the pilgrim people of God on earth,” he said during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square May 6, “reads and interprets the dynamics of history through the Gospel, denouncing evil in all its forms and proclaiming, in word and deed, the salvation that Christ wishes to bring about for all humanity and his kingdom of justice, love and peace.”
“As the guardian of a hope that enlightens the path,” he added, the Church is “invested with the mission of speaking clearly to reject everything that mortifies life and prevents its development, and to take a position in favor of the poor, the exploited, the victims of violence and war, and all those who suffer in body and in spirit.”
The pope’s remarks were part of his continuing series of reflections on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, specifically, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, “Lumen Gentium.” His May 6 catechesis was dedicated to the Church’s eschatological dimension, that is, the transcendent, transtemporal and transhistorical nature of the kingdom of God.
“This is an essential dimension which, however, we often overlook or downplay, because we are too focused on what is immediately visible and on the more concrete dynamics of the life of the Christian community,” the pope said.
“The Church is God’s people journeying through history, which has the kingdom of God as the purpose of all her action,” he said. “We are therefore called to consider the community and cosmic dimension of salvation in Christ and to turn our eyes to this final horizon, to measure and evaluate everything from this perspective.”
The Catholic Church lives in human history at the service of the coming of the kingdom of God in the world, he said. “She proclaims the words of this promise to all and always.”
That means the Church is not proclaiming herself, he said. “On the contrary, everything within her must point to salvation in Christ.”
Despite being at the service of the kingdom of God, “the Church is called to recognize humbly the human fragility and transience of her own institutions,” which can never be treated as “absolute,” he said.
“Indeed, since they exist within history and time, they are called to continual conversion, to the renewal of forms and the reform of structures, to the continual regeneration of relationships, so that they may truly fulfil their mission,” Pope Leo said.
As members of the same body, he said in a summary of his remarks in English, “we too are called to renewal. We do this by remaining in communion with Christ and one another. The entire Church is most closely united in our praise of God in the liturgy.”
The Church “does not identify perfectly with the Kingdom of God, but is its seed and beginning, for its fulfilment will be granted to humanity and the cosmos only at the end,” he said in his main catechesis.
Those who believe in Christ can walk this pilgrimage on earth, marked by injustices and suffering, without being either deluded or despairing, he said, as “they live guided by the promise received from the One who will ‘make all things new.’”
That is why the church, as a guardian of hope, urges her members to clearly reject evil and promote God’s kingdom of justice, love and peace, he said.
– VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church is the guardian of hope, whose members are called to speak clearly against all evil and in defense of human life, Pope Leo XIV said. The Church, as “the pilgrim people of God on earth,” he said during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square May 6, “reads and interprets the dynamics of history through the Gospel, denouncing evil in all its forms and proclaiming, in word and deed, the salvation that Christ wishes to bring about for all humanity and his kingdom of justice, love and peace.” “As the guardian of a
CHURCH, VA — Employees at a local shrimp house were reportedly traumatized following a surprise visit by President Trump who, upon arriving, vowed that a civilization would die that night.
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The internet has been abuzz once again about the dueling claims and court cases between actress Blake Lively and actor Justin Baldoni. With so much contradictory information, it’s hard to know what’s real or where to begin. Here, collected at last in one space, is everything you need to know about the Lively-Baldoni saga:
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Pilot boat outside Öja island (Landsort), Stockholm Archipelago’s most southern point.
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New sign on a street corner in Brooklyn, N.Y., honors legacy of Dorothy Day #Catholic – 
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (OSV News) — Dorothy Day’s extraordinary life began in Brooklyn, and now a street corner near her birthplace has been named after the legendary co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.
The intersection of Pineapple and Henry streets in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood is now officially called “Dorothy Day Way” in honor of the “Servant of God,” who was born nearby at 71 Pineapple St. in 1897.
On May 2, Martha Hennessy, Day’s granddaughter, and members of the Dorothy Day Guild, the organization promoting her cause for sainthood, joined clergy for the ceremony to unveil the street sign.
Hennessy and Councilman Lincoln Restler, who sponsored legislation in the City Council to name the street corner, did the honors of pulling the string to remove a covering and reveal the street sign.
Hennessy, who like her grandmother is a Catholic peace activist, called the ceremony “a beautiful moment.”
The street naming marked the second time New York City has paid tribute to Day.
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In 2021, the city commissioned a Staten Island ferry in her name, and the Dorothy Day had its inaugural voyage in 2023.
Day (1897-1980) was a journalist and social activist who lived a wild, bohemian youth before becoming a Catholic in 1927. She fed and clothed the poor, advocated for civil rights and protested all wars.
On May 1, 1933, she co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement with Peter Maurin. It is a faith-based organization that urges members to perform the corporal works of mercy and work for peace and justice. At the same time, Day also began publishing a newspaper, The Catholic Worker, which is still published today.
Day’s life of faith inspired others, said Father Anthony Andreassi, administrative vicar for the Brooklyn Oratory Parishes in Brooklyn Heights.
“She was a convert to Catholicism, a woman of incredible faith and committed to the poor,” he told The Tablet, newspaper of the Brooklyn Diocese. “I know many people who have been attracted to the church because of Dorothy Day and have come to accept baptism.”
New York Cardinal John J. O’Connor officially opened Day’s sainthood cause in 2000, granting her the title of “Servant of God.”
Twenty-one years later, following the conclusion of the diocesan phase of the investigation into her life and her fitness for sainthood, her case was submitted to the Vatican for review by New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan.
Kevin Ahern, board chairman of the Dorothy Day Guild, said he sees the street corner naming as an opportunity to promote her good works.
“And maybe by learning about her,” Ahern said, “they can be inspired by her to live their life a little … and make the world a better place.”
Alex Avitabile, a guild board member, spearheaded the drive to have the street corner named for Day, whom he met in 1970. He asked Restler to sponsor legislation.
Avitabile recalled walking up to her after a talk she had given at the Catholic Worker House in Rochester and telling her how much he admired her. Even back then, he said he felt he was in the presence of a saintly person.
“I knew,” Avitabile recalled. “She had a way about her — her eyes. There are a few people I’ve met who are saintly people. And I could just see that.”
The Catholic Worker Movement, which celebrated its 93rd anniversary on May 1, is still going strong today, according to guild members.
Hennessy said she is pleased to see that people are still inspired by her grandmother, even 46 years after her death.
“It’s pretty astounding, the place she holds in their hearts and in their minds,” she told The Tablet. “It’s only expanding, and I truly believe that she will bring so much good to the Catholic Church and bring people back to the church.”
Paula Katinas is senior reporter at The Tablet, newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn. This story was first published in The Tablet and distributed in partnership with OSV News.
– BROOKLYN, N.Y. (OSV News) — Dorothy Day’s extraordinary life began in Brooklyn, and now a street corner near her birthplace has been named after the legendary co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. The intersection of Pineapple and Henry streets in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood is now officially called “Dorothy Day Way” in honor of the “Servant of God,” who was born nearby at 71 Pineapple St. in 1897. On May 2, Martha Hennessy, Day’s granddaughter, and members of the Dorothy Day Guild, the organization promoting her cause for sainthood, joined clergy for the ceremony to unveil the street sign. Hennessy
El diplomático de Dios: el Papa León XIV y su estrategia para llevar el Evangelio a los poderosos #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — Aproximadamente dos meses antes de cumplir un año en el trono de Pedro, el Papa León XIV se convirtió en uno de los líderes mundiales más citados del planeta.
De repente, la diplomacia papal se puso de moda. Ya sea por el giro mediático obsesionado con el presidente Donald Trump o por los ángulos occidentales de las redacciones de todo el mundo, para quienes lo conocen bien, hablar de Dios a los poderosos no es nada nuevo en la estrategia pastoral del Papa León XIV.
Cuando era el joven padre Robert Prevost en Perú y luego obispo en Chiclayo, hizo lo mismo, aunque a una escala menor que la del escenario mundial.
“El Papa es un hombre de profunda oración y contemplación de la realidad, un amante del Evangelio”, dijo Armando Jesús Lovera Vásquez, quien vivió con el padre Prevost en una casa de formación agustiniana en Perú durante siete años. “Desde esta perspectiva, no me sorprendió que nos llamara a buscar la paz y a denunciar todo lo que la amenaza”.
Según el peruano, autor del libro “De Roberto a León”, el pontífice es una persona “a quien Dios ha ido moldeando a través de su ministerio, y creo que es el Papa para estos tiempos, por la gracia de Dios. Es un hijo de San Agustín, que se deja mover por el Espíritu”.
Lovera conoció al entonces padre Prevost, quien llegó por primera vez a Perú como misionero durante la convulsa década de los noventa. El joven sacerdote, recuerda su amigo, no se amedrentó ante los graves desafíos que enfrentaba el país en aquella época.
A finales de la década de 1980 y principios de la de 1990, Perú se enfrentaba a una guerra interna contra grupos insurgentes. El ejército adquirió una gran influencia mientras los gobiernos civiles luchaban por controlar la violencia. La declaración de zonas de emergencia y la concesión de mayores poderes a las fuerzas armadas, especialmente en las zonas rurales, dieron lugar a violaciones de los derechos humanos.
El principal motor de la inestabilidad fue el grupo guerrillero maoísta Sendero Luminoso, que lanzó una violenta insurgencia a partir de 1980 con el objetivo de derrocar al Estado. Sus tácticas incluían atentados con coches bomba, asesinatos y ataques a la infraestructura.
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Ninguna parte del país quedó al margen del conflicto, pero la peor violencia se concentró en las tierras altas andinas, particularmente en la región de Ayacucho, donde la guerrilla y las fuerzas gubernamentales competían por controlar a la población indígena mediante el terror.
En 1990, Alberto Fujimori fue elegido presidente como un “outsider” político, prometiendo resolver la profunda crisis económica de Perú y la violencia creciente. El 5 de abril de 1992, llevó a cabo un autogolpe, disolviendo el Congreso, suspendiendo la Constitución y tomando el control del poder judicial con el respaldo de los militares. Fujimori justificó estas medidas extraordinarias como necesarias para derrotar al terrorismo y estabilizar la economía, aprovechando en última instancia este clima de crisis para legitimar un giro hacia un régimen autoritario.
Tras otros breves períodos de trabajo misionero en Perú, el entonces padre Prevost comenzó a servir a la Arquidiócesis de Trujillo durante nueve años como vicario judicial en 1989; en ese momento también era profesor de derecho canónico, patrístico y moral en el Seminario Mayor de San Carlos y San Marcelo.
“(El padre Prevost) defendía la democracia y los derechos humanos, y más tarde, como obispo, cuando regresó a Chiclayo, tuvo que mediar entre los campesinos y las empresas mineras”, dijo Lovera. “Tiene una trayectoria bien establecida en la defensa de los derechos humanos y la justicia, y por eso no sorprende escuchar su llamado, que no es otra cosa que un énfasis en el anuncio del Evangelio: ‘Bienaventurados los que trabajan por la paz’”.
Hablando a bordo del avión Papal en el trayecto de Roma a Argel, el Papa dijo que había visto la reciente publicación de Trump en las redes sociales en la que lo arremetía la noche anterior al viaje Papal. A medida que las tensiones se intensificaban en el Medio Oriente y tras más de un mes de llamamientos a la paz por parte del Papa León, Trump arremetió contra el Papa el 12 de abril, calificándolo de “débil ante el crimen” y “terrible en política exterior”.
“No le tengo miedo a la administración de Trump, ni de hablar en voz alta del mensaje del Evangelio” por el que trabaja la Iglesia, dijo el Papa durante el vuelo en un video grabado por OSV News. “Creo que es a lo que estoy llamado, y a lo que la Iglesia está llamada”.
Hablando antes de la publicación presidencial de última hora en Truth Social, Janina Sesa, quien trabajó de cerca con el entonces obispo Prevost como directora de Cáritas en la Diócesis de Chiclayo, coincidió con Lovera: “Siempre defiende la justicia y la paz. No se queda en silencio”.
En Chiclayo, una diócesis costera marcada por la pobreza, la migración y los desastres naturales periódicos, el liderazgo del obispo Prevost fue puesto a prueba no en teoría, sino en medio de la crisis.
Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, cuando la escasez de oxígeno se volvió mortal, traspasó los límites tradicionales del liderazgo eclesial para movilizar a la comunidad en general.
“Podría haberse quedado en lo que le correspondía a la Iglesia –el apoyo espiritual”, dijo Sesa. “Pero actuó”.
Para quienes lo presenciaron, el episodio reveló un patrón que se ha trasladado a su pontificado: un líder que primero escucha, pero que no duda en actuar –o en hablar– cuando está en juego la dignidad humana.
Ese mismo instinto se hizo patente más allá de la pandemia.
El padre Jorge Millán Cotrina, rector de la catedral de Chiclayo, recordó cómo el obispo Prevost se dirigía a las autoridades locales durante situaciones de emergencia, como las inundaciones provocadas por El Niño, centrándose siempre no en la política, sino en las personas.
“En su mente están Cristo y la persona humana”, dijo el sacerdote. “Eso es lo que defiende”.
Para el padre Millán, ese marco explica las intervenciones actuales del Papa sobre los conflictos globales.
“No está hablando como un político”, dijo. “Está hablando desde el Evangelio”.
Lovera, quien habló con OSV News dos veces –antes y después del último intercambio entre el sucesor de Pedro y el presidente–, definió a León como alguien respetuoso, “pero valiente”, insistiendo en que en Perú el pontífice “vivió muchas situaciones en las que tuvo que tomar postura”.
Al mismo tiempo, quienes lo conocen de cerca enfatizan que su disposición a hablar no proviene de la impulsividad.
“No es alguien que reaccione rápidamente”, añadió Lovera. “Escucha, reflexiona y luego actúa”.
Ese proceso, en el que coinciden los sacerdotes que trabajaron con él en Chiclayo, ayuda a explicar el tono que ha marcado sus primeros pasos como pontífice: mesurado, pero firme.
Esa distinción –entre reacción y convicción– es clave para entender el reciente intercambio del Papa con Trump, dicen quienes lo conocen.
“No habla para confrontar”, dijo Sesa. “Habla cuando algo toca la dignidad de las personas”.
El propio Papa lo ha insistido, diciendo a los periodistas que sus llamados a la paz “no pretenden ser ataques contra nadie”, sino más bien parte de la misión de la Iglesia en un mundo marcado por el sufrimiento y el conflicto.
Para el padre Millán, esa claridad no es nueva, solo más evidente.
“Ahora todo el mundo lo ve”, dijo días antes de que el presidente de Estados Unidos atacara abiertamente al Papa León, pero el pontífice ya había advertido contra “la idolatría de uno mismo y del dinero … ¡Basta ya de la exhibición de la fuerza! ¡Basta ya de la guerra!!” durante la vigilia de oración del 11 de abril en el Vaticano.
El padre Millán señaló un patrón constante: cuando el obispo Prevost asumía una responsabilidad, lo hacía plenamente, sin dividir su atención.
“Cuando era obispo de Chiclayo, era completamente para Chiclayo”, dijo el sacerdote. “Ahora es completamente para la Iglesia”.
Ese compromiso total, sugirió, requiere una cierta libertad –incluida la libertad de hablar cuando sea necesario, independientemente de la audiencia.
Para quienes lo conocieron antes de Roma, el momento actual es menos una desviación que una revelación.
El hombre que alguna vez recorrió caminos polvorientos para llegar a comunidades remotas, que discretamente se inscribió en clases de idiomas para servir mejor a los fieles indígenas y que movilizó a una ciudad para enfrentar una pandemia, ahora se dirige a una audiencia global –con las mismas prioridades.
“Está guiado por el Evangelio”, dijo Sesa. “Eso no ha cambiado”.
Y si eso significa adentrarse en un terreno incómodo, dicen quienes mejor lo conocen, no dudará.
“No tiene miedo”, dijo Lovera. “Pero tampoco busca el conflicto”.
En cambio, dicen, el Papa León XIV está haciendo lo que siempre ha hecho, solo que ahora en un escenario más amplio: escuchar, discernir y, cuando es necesario, hablar con claridad.
“Cree que alguien tiene que decir que hay un camino mejor”, dijo Sesa.
Inés San Martin escribe para OSV News desde Rosario, Argentina. Es la editora de Mission Magazine, una publicación de las Obras Misionales Pontificias de los Estados Unidos.
– (OSV News) — Aproximadamente dos meses antes de cumplir un año en el trono de Pedro, el Papa León XIV se convirtió en uno de los líderes mundiales más citados del planeta. De repente, la diplomacia papal se puso de moda. Ya sea por el giro mediático obsesionado con el presidente Donald Trump o por los ángulos occidentales de las redacciones de todo el mundo, para quienes lo conocen bien, hablar de Dios a los poderosos no es nada nuevo en la estrategia pastoral del Papa León XIV. Cuando era el joven padre Robert Prevost en Perú y luego obispo