Day: June 10, 2026

Pope Leo blesses Sagrada Familia’s Tower of Jesus, says beauty can lead people to God #Catholic – BARCELONA, Spain (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica June 10, inaugurating the crowning spire that makes the iconic church the tallest Catholic church the world and urging people to lift their gaze to Christ “who alone reveals to us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves.” Pope Leo offered Mass inside the basilica and formally inaugurated the Tower of Jesus Christ, which stands at more than 564 feet, before a crowd of thousands gathered inside and around the Sagrada Familia. “By looking at Christ, we can see the world with renewed eyes: the tower of the cross then becomes a banner of charity, for God loves us in this way, transforming an instrument of death into a sign of hope,” the pope said. 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death Spain’s King Felipe VI welcomed the pope upon his arrival at the basilica. Before Mass, Pope Leo descended to the basilica’s crypt to pray at the tomb of Antoni Gaudí, the visionary Catalan architect who devoted 43 years of his life to the design and construction of the basilica before his death in 1926 at age 73. The papal Mass fell on the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. Known as “God’s architect,” Gaudí’s cause for canonization advanced last year when Pope Francis declared him venerable in April 2025. Pope Leo paid tribute to the visionary builder in his homily, reflecting on Gaudí’s intent to narrate the mysteries of Christ’s life through stone and light. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Power of beauty to evangelize Light streamed through the basilica’s colorful stained glass windows as the pope spoke, casting dancing colors on the soaring columns. Trumpets sounded as a choir of 500 people sang hymns from the high galleries on either side of the basilica, as multiple children’s choirs harmonized around the apse. Pope Leo pointed to the Sagrada Familia as a testament to the power of art and beauty to draw people closer to God. “In her wisdom, the Church thus renews the ‘Biblia pauperum’ of the ancient cathedrals, which are in themselves rich messages of evangelization,” he said, invoking the medieval tradition of visual depictions of the Scripture designed to communicate the faith to those who could not read. “In this age in which image is so prevalent, it becomes even more evident how art and beauty are privileged channels of evangelization,” he said. The Sagrada Familia’s three facades — dedicated to the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory of Christ — embody this vision architecturally. Gaudí designed them so that sunlight illuminates each portal at the moment most consonant with its theological meaning: dawn light for the Nativity, the setting sun for the Passion and full midday light for the Glory facade. Gaudí’s design drew inspiration from both Christian doctrines and the observation of nature. The basilica is filled with organic forms inspired by natural elements. Its central nave columns evoke a forest of trees. Tower of Jesus Christ The Tower of Jesus Christ is now the tallest structure in Barcelona, and it makes the Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world. Gaudí designed the tower to stand precisely half a meter below the summit of the nearby Montjuïc hill, believing the work of human hands should not surpass the work of God. At its crown stands a four-armed cross of glass and white enameled ceramic, roughly 17 meters tall and 13 meters wide, bearing the inscription: “Tu solus Sanctus, Tu solus Dominus, Tu solus Altissimus” — “You alone are Holy, You alone are Lord, You alone are Most High.” “In Jesus’ cross, our faith reaches its summit,” the pope said. “This cross shines by day, reflecting the sunlight, and shines by night, illuminating the city like a lighthouse overlooking the Mediterranean. Yes, the light of Christ shines in the darkness, even though the darkness has not received it.” Strong words on war, abortion, salvation An estimated 9,000 people attended the papal Mass inside the basilica, while an estimated 120,000 people worshipped from outside. In his homily in the Sagrada Familia, Pope Leo issued a forceful appeal against abortion, war and the exclusion of migrants. “Dear brothers and sisters, we cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent even before birth. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who weep, those who flee from misery,” the pope said. The pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading from John, in which Jesus tells the Pharisees, “you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he” (Jn 8:24). “These are strong words,” Pope Leo said. “They are an invitation to salvation — that is, a call to freedom extended by Christ, who desires for us the ultimate, eternal good.” “As God made man, he becomes for us Emmanuel, the source of grace and forgiveness, of salvation and new life,” he said. “That is why, if we do not believe in Jesus Christ, we remain in sin, and not only do we die, but we bring about the death of our neighbor.” Basilica a century in the making Pope Leo paid tribute to Gaudí and to all who have labored on the basilica across generations. “Together with Gaudí, as we commemorate the centenary of his death, we remember and give thanks to all the supporters and benefactors, the artists and the workers who cooperated in the construction of an architectural masterpiece, which is also an eloquent catechesis made of stones, colors and light.” The foundation stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid in 1882. The project was initially entrusted to architect Francisco de Paula del Villar before passing to Gaudí in 1883, who transformed it into one of the most ambitious building projects in modern history, comprising three facades, five naves and 18 towers. The portion built by Gaudí was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Unfinished masterpiece Despite the completion of its crowning tower, the basilica remains unfinished; work is still ongoing on the baptistery, the sacristy, the Chapel of the Assumption, the cloisters and the Glory Facade. It is projected that the basilica will not be completed until 2036. Pope Leo embraced that incompleteness as a spiritual metaphor. “Much more than a monument, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia remains a work in progress today, reminding us that the Christian life is always a journey, because it is a project that God is carrying out,” he said. “The fact that it is incomplete is not a flaw, for it bears witness to a desire; it does not signify a shortcoming, but rather expresses a promise that we wish to honor with consistency,” he added. “Our gratitude thus becomes a commitment as we cooperate in God’s plan — that is, in the edification to which he himself calls us.” “Since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, this work consists in our very lives, which God conceives as a masterpiece that we are to create together.” Fireworks celebrate the tallest church in the world After Mass, the pope presided over the formal blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ. The inauguration ceremony concluded with a dazzling interactive light show and a live musical performance by the Escolanía de Montserrat, the oldest boys choir in the world, followed by fireworks from the basilica’s towering spires. A drone show in the sky illuminated the face of Gaudí, as well the architect’s words, “First you need love, then technique.” “As we lift our gaze toward him, the crucified and risen One, let us commit ourselves to lifting up those who lie in the dust,” the pope said. “And let us show in this way that the Sagrada Familia is the tallest church in the world, not so as to stand out in worldly rankings, but rather to guide the steps of the people of God who make their pilgrimage in Spain, with the cross illuminating their path, like a lamp burning brightly as we await the return of the Bridegroom.” Courtney Mares is Vatican editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @catholicourtney.  
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Pope Leo blesses Sagrada Familia’s Tower of Jesus, says beauty can lead people to God #Catholic – BARCELONA, Spain (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica June 10, inaugurating the crowning spire that makes the iconic church the tallest Catholic church the world and urging people to lift their gaze to Christ “who alone reveals to us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves.” Pope Leo offered Mass inside the basilica and formally inaugurated the Tower of Jesus Christ, which stands at more than 564 feet, before a crowd of thousands gathered inside and around the Sagrada Familia. “By looking at Christ, we can see the world with renewed eyes: the tower of the cross then becomes a banner of charity, for God loves us in this way, transforming an instrument of death into a sign of hope,” the pope said. 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death Spain’s King Felipe VI welcomed the pope upon his arrival at the basilica. Before Mass, Pope Leo descended to the basilica’s crypt to pray at the tomb of Antoni Gaudí, the visionary Catalan architect who devoted 43 years of his life to the design and construction of the basilica before his death in 1926 at age 73. The papal Mass fell on the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. Known as “God’s architect,” Gaudí’s cause for canonization advanced last year when Pope Francis declared him venerable in April 2025. Pope Leo paid tribute to the visionary builder in his homily, reflecting on Gaudí’s intent to narrate the mysteries of Christ’s life through stone and light. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Power of beauty to evangelize Light streamed through the basilica’s colorful stained glass windows as the pope spoke, casting dancing colors on the soaring columns. Trumpets sounded as a choir of 500 people sang hymns from the high galleries on either side of the basilica, as multiple children’s choirs harmonized around the apse. Pope Leo pointed to the Sagrada Familia as a testament to the power of art and beauty to draw people closer to God. “In her wisdom, the Church thus renews the ‘Biblia pauperum’ of the ancient cathedrals, which are in themselves rich messages of evangelization,” he said, invoking the medieval tradition of visual depictions of the Scripture designed to communicate the faith to those who could not read. “In this age in which image is so prevalent, it becomes even more evident how art and beauty are privileged channels of evangelization,” he said. The Sagrada Familia’s three facades — dedicated to the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory of Christ — embody this vision architecturally. Gaudí designed them so that sunlight illuminates each portal at the moment most consonant with its theological meaning: dawn light for the Nativity, the setting sun for the Passion and full midday light for the Glory facade. Gaudí’s design drew inspiration from both Christian doctrines and the observation of nature. The basilica is filled with organic forms inspired by natural elements. Its central nave columns evoke a forest of trees. Tower of Jesus Christ The Tower of Jesus Christ is now the tallest structure in Barcelona, and it makes the Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world. Gaudí designed the tower to stand precisely half a meter below the summit of the nearby Montjuïc hill, believing the work of human hands should not surpass the work of God. At its crown stands a four-armed cross of glass and white enameled ceramic, roughly 17 meters tall and 13 meters wide, bearing the inscription: “Tu solus Sanctus, Tu solus Dominus, Tu solus Altissimus” — “You alone are Holy, You alone are Lord, You alone are Most High.” “In Jesus’ cross, our faith reaches its summit,” the pope said. “This cross shines by day, reflecting the sunlight, and shines by night, illuminating the city like a lighthouse overlooking the Mediterranean. Yes, the light of Christ shines in the darkness, even though the darkness has not received it.” Strong words on war, abortion, salvation An estimated 9,000 people attended the papal Mass inside the basilica, while an estimated 120,000 people worshipped from outside. In his homily in the Sagrada Familia, Pope Leo issued a forceful appeal against abortion, war and the exclusion of migrants. “Dear brothers and sisters, we cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent even before birth. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who weep, those who flee from misery,” the pope said. The pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading from John, in which Jesus tells the Pharisees, “you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he” (Jn 8:24). “These are strong words,” Pope Leo said. “They are an invitation to salvation — that is, a call to freedom extended by Christ, who desires for us the ultimate, eternal good.” “As God made man, he becomes for us Emmanuel, the source of grace and forgiveness, of salvation and new life,” he said. “That is why, if we do not believe in Jesus Christ, we remain in sin, and not only do we die, but we bring about the death of our neighbor.” Basilica a century in the making Pope Leo paid tribute to Gaudí and to all who have labored on the basilica across generations. “Together with Gaudí, as we commemorate the centenary of his death, we remember and give thanks to all the supporters and benefactors, the artists and the workers who cooperated in the construction of an architectural masterpiece, which is also an eloquent catechesis made of stones, colors and light.” The foundation stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid in 1882. The project was initially entrusted to architect Francisco de Paula del Villar before passing to Gaudí in 1883, who transformed it into one of the most ambitious building projects in modern history, comprising three facades, five naves and 18 towers. The portion built by Gaudí was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Unfinished masterpiece Despite the completion of its crowning tower, the basilica remains unfinished; work is still ongoing on the baptistery, the sacristy, the Chapel of the Assumption, the cloisters and the Glory Facade. It is projected that the basilica will not be completed until 2036. Pope Leo embraced that incompleteness as a spiritual metaphor. “Much more than a monument, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia remains a work in progress today, reminding us that the Christian life is always a journey, because it is a project that God is carrying out,” he said. “The fact that it is incomplete is not a flaw, for it bears witness to a desire; it does not signify a shortcoming, but rather expresses a promise that we wish to honor with consistency,” he added. “Our gratitude thus becomes a commitment as we cooperate in God’s plan — that is, in the edification to which he himself calls us.” “Since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, this work consists in our very lives, which God conceives as a masterpiece that we are to create together.” Fireworks celebrate the tallest church in the world After Mass, the pope presided over the formal blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ. The inauguration ceremony concluded with a dazzling interactive light show and a live musical performance by the Escolanía de Montserrat, the oldest boys choir in the world, followed by fireworks from the basilica’s towering spires. A drone show in the sky illuminated the face of Gaudí, as well the architect’s words, “First you need love, then technique.” “As we lift our gaze toward him, the crucified and risen One, let us commit ourselves to lifting up those who lie in the dust,” the pope said. “And let us show in this way that the Sagrada Familia is the tallest church in the world, not so as to stand out in worldly rankings, but rather to guide the steps of the people of God who make their pilgrimage in Spain, with the cross illuminating their path, like a lamp burning brightly as we await the return of the Bridegroom.” Courtney Mares is Vatican editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @catholicourtney.  

unitedyam

Pope Leo blesses Sagrada Familia’s Tower of Jesus, says beauty can lead people to God #Catholic –

BARCELONA, Spain (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica June 10, inaugurating the crowning spire that makes the iconic church the tallest Catholic church the world and urging people to lift their gaze to Christ “who alone reveals to us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves.”

Pope Leo offered Mass inside the basilica and formally inaugurated the Tower of Jesus Christ, which stands at more than 564 feet, before a crowd of thousands gathered inside and around the Sagrada Familia.

“By looking at Christ, we can see the world with renewed eyes: the tower of the cross then becomes a banner of charity, for God loves us in this way, transforming an instrument of death into a sign of hope,” the pope said.

100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death

Spain’s King Felipe VI welcomed the pope upon his arrival at the basilica. Before Mass, Pope Leo descended to the basilica’s crypt to pray at the tomb of Antoni Gaudí, the visionary Catalan architect who devoted 43 years of his life to the design and construction of the basilica before his death in 1926 at age 73.

The papal Mass fell on the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. Known as “God’s architect,” Gaudí’s cause for canonization advanced last year when Pope Francis declared him venerable in April 2025.

Pope Leo paid tribute to the visionary builder in his homily, reflecting on Gaudí’s intent to narrate the mysteries of Christ’s life through stone and light.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Power of beauty to evangelize

Light streamed through the basilica’s colorful stained glass windows as the pope spoke, casting dancing colors on the soaring columns. Trumpets sounded as a choir of 500 people sang hymns from the high galleries on either side of the basilica, as multiple children’s choirs harmonized around the apse.
Pope Leo pointed to the Sagrada Familia as a testament to the power of art and beauty to draw people closer to God.

“In her wisdom, the Church thus renews the ‘Biblia pauperum’ of the ancient cathedrals, which are in themselves rich messages of evangelization,” he said, invoking the medieval tradition of visual depictions of the Scripture designed to communicate the faith to those who could not read.

“In this age in which image is so prevalent, it becomes even more evident how art and beauty are privileged channels of evangelization,” he said.

The Sagrada Familia’s three facades — dedicated to the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory of Christ — embody this vision architecturally. Gaudí designed them so that sunlight illuminates each portal at the moment most consonant with its theological meaning: dawn light for the Nativity, the setting sun for the Passion and full midday light for the Glory facade.

Gaudí’s design drew inspiration from both Christian doctrines and the observation of nature. The basilica is filled with organic forms inspired by natural elements. Its central nave columns evoke a forest of trees.

Tower of Jesus Christ

The Tower of Jesus Christ is now the tallest structure in Barcelona, and it makes the Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world.

Gaudí designed the tower to stand precisely half a meter below the summit of the nearby Montjuïc hill, believing the work of human hands should not surpass the work of God. At its crown stands a four-armed cross of glass and white enameled ceramic, roughly 17 meters tall and 13 meters wide, bearing the inscription: “Tu solus Sanctus, Tu solus Dominus, Tu solus Altissimus” — “You alone are Holy, You alone are Lord, You alone are Most High.”

“In Jesus’ cross, our faith reaches its summit,” the pope said. “This cross shines by day, reflecting the sunlight, and shines by night, illuminating the city like a lighthouse overlooking the Mediterranean. Yes, the light of Christ shines in the darkness, even though the darkness has not received it.”

Strong words on war, abortion, salvation

An estimated 9,000 people attended the papal Mass inside the basilica, while an estimated 120,000 people worshipped from outside. In his homily in the Sagrada Familia, Pope Leo issued a forceful appeal against abortion, war and the exclusion of migrants.

“Dear brothers and sisters, we cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent even before birth. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who weep, those who flee from misery,” the pope said.

The pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading from John, in which Jesus tells the Pharisees, “you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he” (Jn 8:24).

“These are strong words,” Pope Leo said. “They are an invitation to salvation — that is, a call to freedom extended by Christ, who desires for us the ultimate, eternal good.”

“As God made man, he becomes for us Emmanuel, the source of grace and forgiveness, of salvation and new life,” he said. “That is why, if we do not believe in Jesus Christ, we remain in sin, and not only do we die, but we bring about the death of our neighbor.”

Basilica a century in the making

Pope Leo paid tribute to Gaudí and to all who have labored on the basilica across generations.

“Together with Gaudí, as we commemorate the centenary of his death, we remember and give thanks to all the supporters and benefactors, the artists and the workers who cooperated in the construction of an architectural masterpiece, which is also an eloquent catechesis made of stones, colors and light.”

The foundation stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid in 1882. The project was initially entrusted to architect Francisco de Paula del Villar before passing to Gaudí in 1883, who transformed it into one of the most ambitious building projects in modern history, comprising three facades, five naves and 18 towers. The portion built by Gaudí was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

Unfinished masterpiece

Despite the completion of its crowning tower, the basilica remains unfinished; work is still ongoing on the baptistery, the sacristy, the Chapel of the Assumption, the cloisters and the Glory Facade. It is projected that the basilica will not be completed until 2036.

Pope Leo embraced that incompleteness as a spiritual metaphor. “Much more than a monument, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia remains a work in progress today, reminding us that the Christian life is always a journey, because it is a project that God is carrying out,” he said.

“The fact that it is incomplete is not a flaw, for it bears witness to a desire; it does not signify a shortcoming, but rather expresses a promise that we wish to honor with consistency,” he added. “Our gratitude thus becomes a commitment as we cooperate in God’s plan — that is, in the edification to which he himself calls us.”

“Since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, this work consists in our very lives, which God conceives as a masterpiece that we are to create together.”

Fireworks celebrate the tallest church in the world

After Mass, the pope presided over the formal blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ. The inauguration ceremony concluded with a dazzling interactive light show and a live musical performance by the Escolanía de Montserrat, the oldest boys choir in the world, followed by fireworks from the basilica’s towering spires. A drone show in the sky illuminated the face of Gaudí, as well the architect’s words, “First you need love, then technique.”

“As we lift our gaze toward him, the crucified and risen One, let us commit ourselves to lifting up those who lie in the dust,” the pope said. “And let us show in this way that the Sagrada Familia is the tallest church in the world, not so as to stand out in worldly rankings, but rather to guide the steps of the people of God who make their pilgrimage in Spain, with the cross illuminating their path, like a lamp burning brightly as we await the return of the Bridegroom.”

Courtney Mares is Vatican editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @catholicourtney.

 

– BARCELONA, Spain (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica June 10, inaugurating the crowning spire that makes the iconic church the tallest Catholic church the world and urging people to lift their gaze to Christ “who alone reveals to us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves.” Pope Leo offered Mass inside the basilica and formally inaugurated the Tower of Jesus Christ, which stands at more than 564 feet, before a crowd of thousands gathered inside and around the Sagrada Familia. “By looking at Christ, we

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Caps fly high for 145 Pope John graduates #Catholic - On June 5, 145 Pope John XXIII Regional High School graduates in Sparta, N.J., received diplomas with help from Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney during a commencement ceremony that included Mass in the gym. Bishop Sweeney was the principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass. Several priests concelebrated the liturgy, including Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization and education of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Father Richard Carton, vice president of the Catholic Academy of Sussex and pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, also in Sparta; and Father John Calabro, a Pope John chaplain and teacher. Pope John’s valedictorian was Gwendolyn O’Hearn, while its salutatorian was Rylan Chintada. The Class of 2026 earned a total of $32,240,284 in scholarships and financial aid. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Caps fly high for 145 Pope John graduates #Catholic – On June 5, 145 Pope John XXIII Regional High School graduates in Sparta, N.J., received diplomas with help from Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney during a commencement ceremony that included Mass in the gym. Bishop Sweeney was the principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass. Several priests concelebrated the liturgy, including Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization and education of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Father Richard Carton, vice president of the Catholic Academy of Sussex and pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, also in Sparta; and Father John Calabro, a Pope John chaplain and teacher. Pope John’s valedictorian was Gwendolyn O’Hearn, while its salutatorian was Rylan Chintada. The Class of 2026 earned a total of $32,240,284 in scholarships and financial aid. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Caps fly high for 145 Pope John graduates #Catholic –

On June 5, 145 Pope John XXIII Regional High School graduates in Sparta, N.J., received diplomas with help from Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney during a commencement ceremony that included Mass in the gym.

Bishop Sweeney was the principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass. Several priests concelebrated the liturgy, including Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization and education of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Father Richard Carton, vice president of the Catholic Academy of Sussex and pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, also in Sparta; and Father John Calabro, a Pope John chaplain and teacher.

Pope John’s valedictorian was Gwendolyn O’Hearn, while its salutatorian was Rylan Chintada. The Class of 2026 earned a total of $32,240,284 in scholarships and financial aid.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– On June 5, 145 Pope John XXIII Regional High School graduates in Sparta, N.J., received diplomas with help from Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney during a commencement ceremony that included Mass in the gym. Bishop Sweeney was the principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass. Several priests concelebrated the liturgy, including Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization and education of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Father Richard Carton, vice president of the Catholic Academy of Sussex and pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, also in Sparta; and Father John Calabro, a Pope John chaplain and teacher. Pope John’s valedictorian was

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Jubilarian priests honored for years of love and service #Catholic - Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney rejoiced in celebrating 37 priests who have served the Paterson Diocese, N.J., as they marked milestone priesthood anniversaries this year — from five to 65 years — on June 9 during the annual diocesan Priests Jubilee Mass in Corpus Christi Church in Chatham Township, N.J. The bishop also thanked the Jubilarians, who have given a total of 1,371 years of service as priests. On that Tuesday morning, Bishop Sweeney served as the main celebrant of the Mass honoring diocesan and religious-order priests, both retired and still active in ministry. Concelebrants included the Jubilarians in attendance, as well as other priests from around the diocese. Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli delivered the homily. He is a Jubilarian celebrating 26 years since his ordination as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., in 2000. Later, Bishop Serratelli served as the seventh Bishop of Paterson from June 1, 2004, until his retirement on April 15, 2020. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. During the Mass, Bishop Sweeney also led the Jubilarians in renewing their priestly promises and presented those in attendance with a certificate marking their anniversary. Afterward, Bishop Sweeney posted on social media, “We had a wonderful celebration of priesthood at our annual Jubilarians’ Mass.” The bishop recognized Msgr. James O’Rorke and Father Paul Iovino, the longest-serving Jubilarians who are celebrating 65 years, and Bishop Serratelli, celebrating 26 years as a bishop, who “gave a beautiful homily.” “It was a blessing to be together that more than 100 of our priests came together in prayer and fraternity, especially as we look forward to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday and to the ordination of two new priests on Saturday. Ad Multos Annos!” Bishop Sweeney posted. 65 Years Father Paul Iovino, retired Msgr. James O’Rorke, retired 60 Years Franciscan Father John Alderson Msgr. John J. Carroll, retired Benedictine Abbot Emeritus Richard Cronin Franciscan Father Gerald Mudd Msgr. Rocco Remigio, retired Father Bernardo Velasquez, retired 55 Years Msgr. John J. Cusack, retired Msgr. Peter J. Doody, retired Franciscan Father Christopher Keenen Father P. Christopher Muldoon, retired Father Raymond Pavick, retired Franciscan Father Andrew Reitz 50 Years Father Joseph G. Buffardi, retired Father Zbigniew Kluba, retired Benedictine Father Joel Macul Franciscan Father Francis McHugh Father J. Patrick Ryan, retired 40 Years Father Peter Filipkowski, retired Franciscan Father Emmet Murphy Father Jorge Rodriguez, pastor 26 Years Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, Paterson Diocese 25 Years Father Misael Jaramillo, pastor Father Thomas Mangieri, retired 10 Years Father Domink Bakowski, military Father Jeider S. Barraza, pastor Father Marcin Bradtke, pastoral assistant Father Przemyslaw Gawlik, pastor Father Krzysztof Liwarski, parochial vicar Father Michal J. Szwarc, pastor Father Slawomir Tomaszewski, chaplain Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor Father Artur Zaba, pastor 5 Years Father James Eichman, Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Father Francis H. Lennie, chaplain Father Joseph A. Mactal, parochial vicar BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
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Jubilarian priests honored for years of love and service #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney rejoiced in celebrating 37 priests who have served the Paterson Diocese, N.J., as they marked milestone priesthood anniversaries this year — from five to 65 years — on June 9 during the annual diocesan Priests Jubilee Mass in Corpus Christi Church in Chatham Township, N.J. The bishop also thanked the Jubilarians, who have given a total of 1,371 years of service as priests. On that Tuesday morning, Bishop Sweeney served as the main celebrant of the Mass honoring diocesan and religious-order priests, both retired and still active in ministry. Concelebrants included the Jubilarians in attendance, as well as other priests from around the diocese. Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli delivered the homily. He is a Jubilarian celebrating 26 years since his ordination as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., in 2000. Later, Bishop Serratelli served as the seventh Bishop of Paterson from June 1, 2004, until his retirement on April 15, 2020. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. During the Mass, Bishop Sweeney also led the Jubilarians in renewing their priestly promises and presented those in attendance with a certificate marking their anniversary. Afterward, Bishop Sweeney posted on social media, “We had a wonderful celebration of priesthood at our annual Jubilarians’ Mass.” The bishop recognized Msgr. James O’Rorke and Father Paul Iovino, the longest-serving Jubilarians who are celebrating 65 years, and Bishop Serratelli, celebrating 26 years as a bishop, who “gave a beautiful homily.” “It was a blessing to be together that more than 100 of our priests came together in prayer and fraternity, especially as we look forward to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday and to the ordination of two new priests on Saturday. Ad Multos Annos!” Bishop Sweeney posted. 65 Years Father Paul Iovino, retired Msgr. James O’Rorke, retired 60 Years Franciscan Father John Alderson Msgr. John J. Carroll, retired Benedictine Abbot Emeritus Richard Cronin Franciscan Father Gerald Mudd Msgr. Rocco Remigio, retired Father Bernardo Velasquez, retired 55 Years Msgr. John J. Cusack, retired Msgr. Peter J. Doody, retired Franciscan Father Christopher Keenen Father P. Christopher Muldoon, retired Father Raymond Pavick, retired Franciscan Father Andrew Reitz 50 Years Father Joseph G. Buffardi, retired Father Zbigniew Kluba, retired Benedictine Father Joel Macul Franciscan Father Francis McHugh Father J. Patrick Ryan, retired 40 Years Father Peter Filipkowski, retired Franciscan Father Emmet Murphy Father Jorge Rodriguez, pastor 26 Years Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, Paterson Diocese 25 Years Father Misael Jaramillo, pastor Father Thomas Mangieri, retired 10 Years Father Domink Bakowski, military Father Jeider S. Barraza, pastor Father Marcin Bradtke, pastoral assistant Father Przemyslaw Gawlik, pastor Father Krzysztof Liwarski, parochial vicar Father Michal J. Szwarc, pastor Father Slawomir Tomaszewski, chaplain Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor Father Artur Zaba, pastor 5 Years Father James Eichman, Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Father Francis H. Lennie, chaplain Father Joseph A. Mactal, parochial vicar BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

unitedyam

Jubilarian priests honored for years of love and service #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney rejoiced in celebrating 37 priests who have served the Paterson Diocese, N.J., as they marked milestone priesthood anniversaries this year — from five to 65 years — on June 9 during the annual diocesan Priests Jubilee Mass in Corpus Christi Church in Chatham Township, N.J. The bishop also thanked the Jubilarians, who have given a total of 1,371 years of service as priests.

On that Tuesday morning, Bishop Sweeney served as the main celebrant of the Mass honoring diocesan and religious-order priests, both retired and still active in ministry. Concelebrants included the Jubilarians in attendance, as well as other priests from around the diocese.

Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli delivered the homily. He is a Jubilarian celebrating 26 years since his ordination as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., in 2000. Later, Bishop Serratelli served as the seventh Bishop of Paterson from June 1, 2004, until his retirement on April 15, 2020.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

During the Mass, Bishop Sweeney also led the Jubilarians in renewing their priestly promises and presented those in attendance with a certificate marking their anniversary.

Afterward, Bishop Sweeney posted on social media, “We had a wonderful celebration of priesthood at our annual Jubilarians’ Mass.” The bishop recognized Msgr. James O’Rorke and Father Paul Iovino, the longest-serving Jubilarians who are celebrating 65 years, and Bishop Serratelli, celebrating 26 years as a bishop, who “gave a beautiful homily.”

“It was a blessing to be together that more than 100 of our priests came together in prayer and fraternity, especially as we look forward to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday and to the ordination of two new priests on Saturday. Ad Multos Annos!” Bishop Sweeney posted.

65 Years
Father Paul Iovino, retired
Msgr. James O’Rorke, retired

60 Years
Franciscan Father John Alderson
Msgr. John J. Carroll, retired
Benedictine Abbot Emeritus Richard Cronin
Franciscan Father Gerald Mudd
Msgr. Rocco Remigio, retired
Father Bernardo Velasquez, retired

55 Years
Msgr. John J. Cusack, retired
Msgr. Peter J. Doody, retired
Franciscan Father Christopher Keenen
Father P. Christopher Muldoon, retired
Father Raymond Pavick, retired
Franciscan Father Andrew Reitz

50 Years
Father Joseph G. Buffardi, retired
Father Zbigniew Kluba, retired
Benedictine Father Joel Macul
Franciscan Father Francis McHugh
Father J. Patrick Ryan, retired

40 Years
Father Peter Filipkowski, retired
Franciscan Father Emmet Murphy
Father Jorge Rodriguez, pastor

26 Years
Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, Paterson Diocese

25 Years
Father Misael Jaramillo, pastor
Father Thomas Mangieri, retired

10 Years
Father Domink Bakowski, military
Father Jeider S. Barraza, pastor
Father Marcin Bradtke, pastoral assistant
Father Przemyslaw Gawlik, pastor
Father Krzysztof Liwarski, parochial vicar
Father Michal J. Szwarc, pastor
Father Slawomir Tomaszewski, chaplain
Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor
Father Artur Zaba, pastor

5 Years
Father James Eichman, Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Father Francis H. Lennie, chaplain
Father Joseph A. Mactal, parochial vicar

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney rejoiced in celebrating 37 priests who have served the Paterson Diocese, N.J., as they marked milestone priesthood anniversaries this year — from five to 65 years — on June 9 during the annual diocesan Priests Jubilee Mass in Corpus Christi Church in Chatham Township, N.J. The bishop also thanked the Jubilarians, who have given a total of 1,371 years of service as priests. On that Tuesday morning, Bishop Sweeney served as the main celebrant of the Mass honoring diocesan and religious-order priests, both retired and still active in ministry. Concelebrants included the Jubilarians in attendance, as

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 11 June 2026 – A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 11:21b-26; 13:1-3 In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.From the Gospel according to Matthew 10:7-13 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.“Preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Mt 10:7). It is the same proclamation with which Jesus began his preaching: the kingdom of God, that is, his lordship of love, has come near; it comes in our midst. And this is not just one piece of news among others, no, but the fundamental reality of life: the closeness of God, the closeness of Jesus. Indeed, if the God of heaven is close, we are not alone on earth, and even in difficulty, we do not lose faith. Here is the first thing to say to people: God is not far away, but rather he is a Father. God is not distant, he is a Father, he knows you and he loves you; he wants to take you by the hand, even when you travel on steep and rugged paths, even when you fall and struggle to get up again and get back on track. He, the Lord, is there with you. (…) To proclaim that God is near — but how can we do this? In the Gospel, Jesus advises not to say many words, but rather to perform many deeds of love and hope in the name of the Lord. Not saying many words, but performing deeds! “Heal the sick”, says the Lord, “raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay” (Mt 10:8). Here is the heart of proclamation: freely given witness, service. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 18 June 2023)

unitedyam

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
11:21b-26; 13:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.”
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
10:7-13

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.

“Preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Mt 10:7). It is the same proclamation with which Jesus began his preaching: the kingdom of God, that is, his lordship of love, has come near; it comes in our midst. And this is not just one piece of news among others, no, but the fundamental reality of life: the closeness of God, the closeness of Jesus.

Indeed, if the God of heaven is close, we are not alone on earth, and even in difficulty, we do not lose faith. Here is the first thing to say to people: God is not far away, but rather he is a Father. God is not distant, he is a Father, he knows you and he loves you; he wants to take you by the hand, even when you travel on steep and rugged paths, even when you fall and struggle to get up again and get back on track. He, the Lord, is there with you. (…)

To proclaim that God is near — but how can we do this? In the Gospel, Jesus advises not to say many words, but rather to perform many deeds of love and hope in the name of the Lord. Not saying many words, but performing deeds! “Heal the sick”, says the Lord, “raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay” (Mt 10:8). Here is the heart of proclamation: freely given witness, service. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 18 June 2023)

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Proud day as 98 Morris Catholic graduates receive diplomas #Catholic - Ninety-eight proud Morris Catholic High School graduates in Denville, N.J., received diplomas on June 4 during a commencement in the school’s gym. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney helped distribute the diplomas during the ceremony, which included a Mass. Bishop Sweeney presided over the Mass. Concelebrating were several priests, including Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization and education of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Father Peter Clarke, the school’s president; and Father Carmen Buono, a retired diocesan priest who serves as a part-time chaplain at Morris Catholic. Many students, faculty, and staff participated graduation events that day. Morris Catholic’s valedictorian was Jack Smitreski, while its salutatorian was Oliva Lopes. The Class of 2026 earned a total of $20,541,477 in scholarships and financial aid. Afterward, the high school posted on social media, “What a beautiful day to celebrate Morris Catholic’s graduation. The graduates of the Class of 2026 have amazing futures ahead of them. We are beyond proud.” BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]   Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Proud day as 98 Morris Catholic graduates receive diplomas #Catholic – Ninety-eight proud Morris Catholic High School graduates in Denville, N.J., received diplomas on June 4 during a commencement in the school’s gym. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney helped distribute the diplomas during the ceremony, which included a Mass. Bishop Sweeney presided over the Mass. Concelebrating were several priests, including Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization and education of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Father Peter Clarke, the school’s president; and Father Carmen Buono, a retired diocesan priest who serves as a part-time chaplain at Morris Catholic. Many students, faculty, and staff participated graduation events that day. Morris Catholic’s valedictorian was Jack Smitreski, while its salutatorian was Oliva Lopes. The Class of 2026 earned a total of $20,541,477 in scholarships and financial aid. Afterward, the high school posted on social media, “What a beautiful day to celebrate Morris Catholic’s graduation. The graduates of the Class of 2026 have amazing futures ahead of them. We are beyond proud.” BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]   Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

unitedyam

Proud day as 98 Morris Catholic graduates receive diplomas #Catholic –

Ninety-eight proud Morris Catholic High School graduates in Denville, N.J., received diplomas on June 4 during a commencement in the school’s gym. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney helped distribute the diplomas during the ceremony, which included a Mass.

Bishop Sweeney presided over the Mass. Concelebrating were several priests, including Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization and education of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Father Peter Clarke, the school’s president; and Father Carmen Buono, a retired diocesan priest who serves as a part-time chaplain at Morris Catholic.

Many students, faculty, and staff participated graduation events that day.

Morris Catholic’s valedictorian was Jack Smitreski, while its salutatorian was Oliva Lopes. The Class of 2026 earned a total of $20,541,477 in scholarships and financial aid.

Afterward, the high school posted on social media, “What a beautiful day to celebrate Morris Catholic’s graduation. The graduates of the Class of 2026 have amazing futures ahead of them. We are beyond proud.”

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– Ninety-eight proud Morris Catholic High School graduates in Denville, N.J., received diplomas on June 4 during a commencement in the school’s gym. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney helped distribute the diplomas during the ceremony, which included a Mass. Bishop Sweeney presided over the Mass. Concelebrating were several priests, including Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization and education of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Father Peter Clarke, the school’s president; and Father Carmen Buono, a retired diocesan priest who serves as a part-time chaplain at Morris Catholic. Many students, faculty, and staff participated graduation events that day. Morris Catholic’s valedictorian was Jack Smitreski,

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In Washington, National Eucharistic Pilgrimage includes national blessing, downtown procession #Catholic – WASHINGTON (OSV News) — While flashy events are planned in the U.S. capital for the Independence Day weekend, a prayerful commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary unfolded June 5-6 as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage came to Washington to renew and deepen faith in Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The pilgrimage included a special blessing of America near the Washington Monument on the evening of June 5, a Eucharistic procession through downtown Washington the next day, followed by a Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the solemnity of Corpus Christi. “Today we walk with Jesus Christ our Redeemer, our Savior. We walk with him in the streets of our nation’s capital,” Father Charles Trullols, the director of the Catholic Information Center, said in his homily during a June 6 Mass outside the center before leading its fourth annual Eucharistic procession through the city. This year’s procession was held in conjunction with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s arrival in Washington. An estimated crowd of 1,000 people attended the Mass and then prayerfully processed through the city, following Father Trullols and other priests who held the Eucharist aloft in a monstrance beneath a canopy, passing the city’s office buildings, public squares and landmarks, including within sight of the White House. Hundreds of people knelt reverently on the sidewalk and on closed-off sections of streets. The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage — with the theme “One Nation Under God” — began May 24 in St. Augustine, Florida, and will wind through most of the 13 original colonies, traveling about 2,200 miles before arriving in Philadelphia July 4 to commemorate with prayer and Eucharistic devotion the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The pilgrimage’s St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route is placed under the patronage of the religious sister and Italian immigrant who in 1946 became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized. In his homily at the Mass, Father Trullols said the phrase “one nation under God” should be more than a patriotic slogan. “A nation remains ‘under God’ only if its people place God first,” said Father Trullols, a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei. The priest said that ways Catholics can put God first include through daily prayer, attending Mass, receiving the sacrament of confession, caring for the poor, remaining faithful in marriage and pursuing holiness in everyday life. “Today’s procession is not a parade,” he said, emphasizing that it would offer a public witness to the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. Father Trullols said early Christians understood that the Eucharist is not just a symbol — it is Jesus, the Bread of Life who transforms people’s lives. He noted how Mother Cabrini worked tirelessly to minister to poor immigrants, drawing her strength from praying before the Eucharist in the tabernacle, and he also pointed out how Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, who evangelized millions through his radio shows and TV programs, prayed before the Eucharist in a daily Holy Hour, no matter how busy he was. Noting the importance of such Eucharistic devotion, Father Trullols said, “There is where saints are made.” The evening before, Father Trullols had received the Blessed Sacrament at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia. Then he joined the nine young adult “perpetual pilgrims” accompanying the Eucharist in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, as their Ford Transit Van crossed the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Washington. A press statement from the pilgrimage’s organizers noted that bridge, “long recognized as a symbol of national unity and reconciliation between North and South, serves as a fitting gateway for bringing Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, into the heart of the nation’s capital.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. After the pilgrimage vehicle arrived on the National Mall on the evening of June 5, Father Trullols led a Eucharistic procession toward the grounds near the base of the Washington Monument, and he offered a symbolic blessing for the nation within sight of that illuminated monument and the U.S. Capitol in the distance. Later that day, the perpetual pilgrims visited the St. John Paul II National Shrine in northeast Washington before attending Mass at the adjacent basilica, where Bishop-elect designate Gary R. Studniewski was principal celebrant and homilist. By instituting the Eucharist, Jesus “wanted for us to know, to see and to even feel that He is still among us not just a symbol, not just half a locket with the promise we will get the other half when we get to heaven, but his real body and blood right here,” said Bishop-elect designated Studniewski, whose episcopal ordination as an auxiliary bishop of Washington is scheduled for July 7. “And we do more than just see and touch his body and blood: We take Jesus into ourselves as food for our perilous journey,” the bishop-elect said. Speaking at the shrine prior to that Mass, perpetual pilgrim John Paul Flynn said, “accompanying Jesus is a one-of-a-kind experience, a really beautiful experience.” “We are having Jesus in the very center of our nation’s capital,” said Flynn, a native of the Washington area and a student at The Catholic University of America. “We are bringing Jesus to where all the decisions are made.” Saying he was blessed to “travel with Jesus every single day,” Flynn called it very special to “see Jesus walking our streets, walking the same steps I have walked.” Mark Zimmermann is editor of the Catholic Standard, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Washington. Richard Szczepanowski, the Catholic Standard’s managing editor, contributed to this story. This story was originally published by the Catholic Standard and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.  
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In Washington, National Eucharistic Pilgrimage includes national blessing, downtown procession #Catholic – WASHINGTON (OSV News) — While flashy events are planned in the U.S. capital for the Independence Day weekend, a prayerful commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary unfolded June 5-6 as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage came to Washington to renew and deepen faith in Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The pilgrimage included a special blessing of America near the Washington Monument on the evening of June 5, a Eucharistic procession through downtown Washington the next day, followed by a Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the solemnity of Corpus Christi. “Today we walk with Jesus Christ our Redeemer, our Savior. We walk with him in the streets of our nation’s capital,” Father Charles Trullols, the director of the Catholic Information Center, said in his homily during a June 6 Mass outside the center before leading its fourth annual Eucharistic procession through the city. This year’s procession was held in conjunction with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s arrival in Washington. An estimated crowd of 1,000 people attended the Mass and then prayerfully processed through the city, following Father Trullols and other priests who held the Eucharist aloft in a monstrance beneath a canopy, passing the city’s office buildings, public squares and landmarks, including within sight of the White House. Hundreds of people knelt reverently on the sidewalk and on closed-off sections of streets. The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage — with the theme “One Nation Under God” — began May 24 in St. Augustine, Florida, and will wind through most of the 13 original colonies, traveling about 2,200 miles before arriving in Philadelphia July 4 to commemorate with prayer and Eucharistic devotion the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The pilgrimage’s St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route is placed under the patronage of the religious sister and Italian immigrant who in 1946 became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized. In his homily at the Mass, Father Trullols said the phrase “one nation under God” should be more than a patriotic slogan. “A nation remains ‘under God’ only if its people place God first,” said Father Trullols, a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei. The priest said that ways Catholics can put God first include through daily prayer, attending Mass, receiving the sacrament of confession, caring for the poor, remaining faithful in marriage and pursuing holiness in everyday life. “Today’s procession is not a parade,” he said, emphasizing that it would offer a public witness to the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. Father Trullols said early Christians understood that the Eucharist is not just a symbol — it is Jesus, the Bread of Life who transforms people’s lives. He noted how Mother Cabrini worked tirelessly to minister to poor immigrants, drawing her strength from praying before the Eucharist in the tabernacle, and he also pointed out how Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, who evangelized millions through his radio shows and TV programs, prayed before the Eucharist in a daily Holy Hour, no matter how busy he was. Noting the importance of such Eucharistic devotion, Father Trullols said, “There is where saints are made.” The evening before, Father Trullols had received the Blessed Sacrament at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia. Then he joined the nine young adult “perpetual pilgrims” accompanying the Eucharist in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, as their Ford Transit Van crossed the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Washington. A press statement from the pilgrimage’s organizers noted that bridge, “long recognized as a symbol of national unity and reconciliation between North and South, serves as a fitting gateway for bringing Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, into the heart of the nation’s capital.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. After the pilgrimage vehicle arrived on the National Mall on the evening of June 5, Father Trullols led a Eucharistic procession toward the grounds near the base of the Washington Monument, and he offered a symbolic blessing for the nation within sight of that illuminated monument and the U.S. Capitol in the distance. Later that day, the perpetual pilgrims visited the St. John Paul II National Shrine in northeast Washington before attending Mass at the adjacent basilica, where Bishop-elect designate Gary R. Studniewski was principal celebrant and homilist. By instituting the Eucharist, Jesus “wanted for us to know, to see and to even feel that He is still among us not just a symbol, not just half a locket with the promise we will get the other half when we get to heaven, but his real body and blood right here,” said Bishop-elect designated Studniewski, whose episcopal ordination as an auxiliary bishop of Washington is scheduled for July 7. “And we do more than just see and touch his body and blood: We take Jesus into ourselves as food for our perilous journey,” the bishop-elect said. Speaking at the shrine prior to that Mass, perpetual pilgrim John Paul Flynn said, “accompanying Jesus is a one-of-a-kind experience, a really beautiful experience.” “We are having Jesus in the very center of our nation’s capital,” said Flynn, a native of the Washington area and a student at The Catholic University of America. “We are bringing Jesus to where all the decisions are made.” Saying he was blessed to “travel with Jesus every single day,” Flynn called it very special to “see Jesus walking our streets, walking the same steps I have walked.” Mark Zimmermann is editor of the Catholic Standard, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Washington. Richard Szczepanowski, the Catholic Standard’s managing editor, contributed to this story. This story was originally published by the Catholic Standard and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.  

unitedyam

In Washington, National Eucharistic Pilgrimage includes national blessing, downtown procession #Catholic –

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — While flashy events are planned in the U.S. capital for the Independence Day weekend, a prayerful commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary unfolded June 5-6 as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage came to Washington to renew and deepen faith in Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

The pilgrimage included a special blessing of America near the Washington Monument on the evening of June 5, a Eucharistic procession through downtown Washington the next day, followed by a Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the solemnity of Corpus Christi.

“Today we walk with Jesus Christ our Redeemer, our Savior. We walk with him in the streets of our nation’s capital,” Father Charles Trullols, the director of the Catholic Information Center, said in his homily during a June 6 Mass outside the center before leading its fourth annual Eucharistic procession through the city.

This year’s procession was held in conjunction with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s arrival in Washington. An estimated crowd of 1,000 people attended the Mass and then prayerfully processed through the city, following Father Trullols and other priests who held the Eucharist aloft in a monstrance beneath a canopy, passing the city’s office buildings, public squares and landmarks, including within sight of the White House. Hundreds of people knelt reverently on the sidewalk and on closed-off sections of streets.

The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage — with the theme “One Nation Under God” — began May 24 in St. Augustine, Florida, and will wind through most of the 13 original colonies, traveling about 2,200 miles before arriving in Philadelphia July 4 to commemorate with prayer and Eucharistic devotion the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The pilgrimage’s St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route is placed under the patronage of the religious sister and Italian immigrant who in 1946 became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized.

In his homily at the Mass, Father Trullols said the phrase “one nation under God” should be more than a patriotic slogan.

“A nation remains ‘under God’ only if its people place God first,” said Father Trullols, a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei.

The priest said that ways Catholics can put God first include through daily prayer, attending Mass, receiving the sacrament of confession, caring for the poor, remaining faithful in marriage and pursuing holiness in everyday life.

“Today’s procession is not a parade,” he said, emphasizing that it would offer a public witness to the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist.

Father Trullols said early Christians understood that the Eucharist is not just a symbol — it is Jesus, the Bread of Life who transforms people’s lives. He noted how Mother Cabrini worked tirelessly to minister to poor immigrants, drawing her strength from praying before the Eucharist in the tabernacle, and he also pointed out how Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, who evangelized millions through his radio shows and TV programs, prayed before the Eucharist in a daily Holy Hour, no matter how busy he was.

Noting the importance of such Eucharistic devotion, Father Trullols said, “There is where saints are made.”

The evening before, Father Trullols had received the Blessed Sacrament at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia. Then he joined the nine young adult “perpetual pilgrims” accompanying the Eucharist in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, as their Ford Transit Van crossed the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Washington.

A press statement from the pilgrimage’s organizers noted that bridge, “long recognized as a symbol of national unity and reconciliation between North and South, serves as a fitting gateway for bringing Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, into the heart of the nation’s capital.”

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After the pilgrimage vehicle arrived on the National Mall on the evening of June 5, Father Trullols led a Eucharistic procession toward the grounds near the base of the Washington Monument, and he offered a symbolic blessing for the nation within sight of that illuminated monument and the U.S. Capitol in the distance.

Later that day, the perpetual pilgrims visited the St. John Paul II National Shrine in northeast Washington before attending Mass at the adjacent basilica, where Bishop-elect designate Gary R. Studniewski was principal celebrant and homilist.

By instituting the Eucharist, Jesus “wanted for us to know, to see and to even feel that He is still among us not just a symbol, not just half a locket with the promise we will get the other half when we get to heaven, but his real body and blood right here,” said Bishop-elect designated Studniewski, whose episcopal ordination as an auxiliary bishop of Washington is scheduled for July 7.

“And we do more than just see and touch his body and blood: We take Jesus into ourselves as food for our perilous journey,” the bishop-elect said.

Speaking at the shrine prior to that Mass, perpetual pilgrim John Paul Flynn said, “accompanying Jesus is a one-of-a-kind experience, a really beautiful experience.”

“We are having Jesus in the very center of our nation’s capital,” said Flynn, a native of the Washington area and a student at The Catholic University of America. “We are bringing Jesus to where all the decisions are made.”

Saying he was blessed to “travel with Jesus every single day,” Flynn called it very special to “see Jesus walking our streets, walking the same steps I have walked.”

Mark Zimmermann is editor of the Catholic Standard, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Washington. Richard Szczepanowski, the Catholic Standard’s managing editor, contributed to this story. This story was originally published by the Catholic Standard and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.

 

– WASHINGTON (OSV News) — While flashy events are planned in the U.S. capital for the Independence Day weekend, a prayerful commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary unfolded June 5-6 as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage came to Washington to renew and deepen faith in Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The pilgrimage included a special blessing of America near the Washington Monument on the evening of June 5, a Eucharistic procession through downtown Washington the next day, followed by a Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the solemnity of Corpus Christi. “Today we

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Life Hack: Wife Texting You Too Much? Reply ‘Unsubscribe’ And She’s Legally Required To Stop #BabylonBee – Unsubscribing from spam texts is well known, but did you know you can also unsubscribe from your wife? All you have to do is text back "UNSUBSCRIBE" and she’s legally required to stop.

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Pope Leo XIV: Fragility in old age can teach our efficiency-obsessed world – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV has called for greater respect for the elderly, affirming that their fragility still has much to teach humanity today.In a letter sent via the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the participants of the June 10 symposium in Rome titled “A Bridge Toward Heaven,” the pontiff expressed his hope that their efforts would encourage “renewed attitudes of respect, gratitude, and esteem toward the elderly.”Leo also criticized the modern tendency to equate strength with mere displays of power. “The society we live in is dominated by the logic of performance and competition, whereby strength is conceived as a display of power and tends to degenerate into abuse,” the message said.The pope also praised the witness of the elderly in their physical weakness with age and described them as offering profound lessons for the younger generation, who might not yet recognize their value.“The elderly, in the serene acceptance of the limitations linked to the passing of the years, without hiding them or being ashamed of them, can be teachers of life, capable of showing everyone — and especially young people — that the value of an existence is not measured by the yardstick of efficiency or self-sufficiency but by the capacity to love and to let oneself be loved, to give and to receive,” the message said.
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Pope Leo XIV: Fragility in old age can teach our efficiency-obsessed world – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV has called for greater respect for the elderly, affirming that their fragility still has much to teach humanity today.In a letter sent via the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the participants of the June 10 symposium in Rome titled “A Bridge Toward Heaven,” the pontiff expressed his hope that their efforts would encourage “renewed attitudes of respect, gratitude, and esteem toward the elderly.”Leo also criticized the modern tendency to equate strength with mere displays of power. “The society we live in is dominated by the logic of performance and competition, whereby strength is conceived as a display of power and tends to degenerate into abuse,” the message said.The pope also praised the witness of the elderly in their physical weakness with age and described them as offering profound lessons for the younger generation, who might not yet recognize their value.“The elderly, in the serene acceptance of the limitations linked to the passing of the years, without hiding them or being ashamed of them, can be teachers of life, capable of showing everyone — and especially young people — that the value of an existence is not measured by the yardstick of efficiency or self-sufficiency but by the capacity to love and to let oneself be loved, to give and to receive,” the message said.

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The pontiff, who is traveling in Spain, sent a letter to be read at a Vatican symposium on the elderly.

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Pope Leo entrusts his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat: May she ‘guide us to Jesus’ – #Catholic – MONTSERRAT, Spain — The rugged silhouette of the Montserrat mountain range was one of the first symbols of Catalonia that Pope Leo XIV saw from above as his plane brought him to Barcelona from Madrid on June 9.The following day, the pope traveled by car to the mountainous area of Montserrat — whose name in Catalan means “serrated mountain” — home to a Benedictine abbey, which rises to a height of over 4,000 feet on the west side of the Llobregat River.Before arriving, however, the pontiff made a brief detour during the approximate 25-mile journey from Barcelona to stop at Brians 1 Penitentiary Center — a place steeped in suffering, where the lives of inmates find some comfort thanks to the prison chaplain, Father Jesús Bel, coordinator of prison ministry for the Diocese of Sant Feliu de Llobregat and a Mercedarian priest who has spent 40 years accompanying those deprived of their freedom.As he did during his trip to Equatorial Guinea, the pope embraced the suffering carried by prisoners.There, he heard directly from two inmates, Montserrat and Josefina, about the importance of having an anchor such as faith in Christ when life shows its harshest face. 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Pope Leo entrusts his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat: May she ‘guide us to Jesus’ – #Catholic – MONTSERRAT, Spain — The rugged silhouette of the Montserrat mountain range was one of the first symbols of Catalonia that Pope Leo XIV saw from above as his plane brought him to Barcelona from Madrid on June 9.The following day, the pope traveled by car to the mountainous area of Montserrat — whose name in Catalan means “serrated mountain” — home to a Benedictine abbey, which rises to a height of over 4,000 feet on the west side of the Llobregat River.Before arriving, however, the pontiff made a brief detour during the approximate 25-mile journey from Barcelona to stop at Brians 1 Penitentiary Center — a place steeped in suffering, where the lives of inmates find some comfort thanks to the prison chaplain, Father Jesús Bel, coordinator of prison ministry for the Diocese of Sant Feliu de Llobregat and a Mercedarian priest who has spent 40 years accompanying those deprived of their freedom.As he did during his trip to Equatorial Guinea, the pope embraced the suffering carried by prisoners.There, he heard directly from two inmates, Montserrat and Josefina, about the importance of having an anchor such as faith in Christ when life shows its harshest face. Their testimony moved the pope.“Here in prison I am not alone — Jesus gives me strength, he gives me life. I feel him within me; otherwise, I don’t know how I could have endured this,” Josefina told him.After her words, a heavy silence fell. Then, Leo offered a reflection that resonated among those present: “The mistakes of a person’s life do not determine who they are.”God loves you as you areThe pontiff invoked St. Augustine to underscore that the past does not chain the future, adding: “God loves you just as you are, but he dreams of you being even better! The Lord allows us all to start anew, for being human and being Christian does not mean never making mistakes, but rather growing in the ability to convert, repent, make amends, and, above all, to reconcile and forgive.”The encounter — though barely 20 minutes — set the tone for the rest of the day: the mercy of God embracing even the darkest hearts.The ascent to MontserratAfter visiting the prison, the pontiff headed to the Abbey of Montserrat, nestled among towering rock formations that resemble sculpted figures of animals or objects. The monastery radiates peace both inside and outside its ancient walls.In 1025, Abbot Oliba, then superior of the monastery of Ripoll, founded a smaller monastery on the mountain of Montserrat at a site where a small hermitage dedicated to the Virgin already stood.According to tradition, the first image of the Virgin — known in Catalan as “La Mare de Déu de Montserrat” — was discovered in the year 880 by children tending a flock in a cave after seeing a light on the mountain.When the bishop learned of the discovery, he sought to move the small statue to Manresa but was unable to do so because it became too heavy — a sign, he believed, that the Virgin wished to remain there. He then ordered a sanctuary to be built on the spot.At the foot of Montserrat, after praying the rosary, the pope lifted up his prayer: “Let us ask her to help us clothe ourselves only with the armor of God.”“Let us also consider how the Virgin holds the globe in her right hand, a sign of her maternal care, for the whole world finds a place in her heart. She invites us to recognize one another as brothers and sisters, so that no one is excluded and that communion is stronger than every division,” he added.The image of Mary currently venerated is a 12th-century Romanesque wooden sculpture, just over 3 feet tall, depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus.Except for the faces and hands, the statue is covered in gold, while the Virgin’s dark complexion has earned her the popular nickname “La Moreneta." In 2023, Pope Francis offered a Golden Rose to this venerated image.Among those who entrusted themselves to her was St. Ignatius of Loyola, in one of the most profound conversions in Christian tradition: “After a night spent in prayer before the Virgin, [he] laid aside his knightly arms — a moment that marked the beginning of a new life in the service of Jesus Christ,” Pope Leo XIV recalled.For centuries, faithful from all walks of life have passed through this sanctuary, praying the rosary bead by bead, because Mary, “Mare de Déu,” as the pope said, “is fundamental in the life of every Christian.”“I am happy to come to the feet of La Moreneta to entrust to her, with full confidence in her maternal intercession, my Petrine ministry and the mission of the Church in a world that cries out for justice and peace,” the pope said.“I invite you today to accept Mary’s invitation: ‘Do whatever he tells you' (Jn 2:5). These words spoken at Cana in Galilee contain a true guide for Christian living, because Mary leads us to Christ and teaches us to listen to his voice, obey his word, and allow him to transform us,” he added.The pontiff also made clear the message God brought to the world when he became man: “Jesus shows us the path of mercy, reconciliation, truth, and gentleness. At the same time, he exposes the violence that can lurk in our words and attitudes: criticism that humiliates, condemnation that destroys, and aggression that divides.”That hidden violence, he continued, “can often disguise itself as a kind of armor, which we use to protect our wounds, our fears, and the suffering caused by injustice.”Over the centuries, Montserrat has grown as living things do — with scars and memory. It has not always been a place of peace. It was plundered, destroyed, abandoned. Yet it always rose again, as if the mountain itself sustained it.Leo XIV concluded by asking that “Mary, Mother of the Church, always guide us to Jesus. I invite you to honor her with these words that you know so well: To the Catalans, you will always be the Princess; to the Spanish people and to the whole world, all our love; say to us: You are my treasure, I am your mother, do not be afraid.”In the abbey cloister, hundreds of people waited eagerly for the pope. Among them was Miguel, a kind-eyed boy who wrote a letter hoping to hand it to the pontiff himself.“He wanted to write it in Italian, even though the pope — as we know — speaks Spanish perfectly,” said his father, also named Miguel. In the letter, he asks nothing for himself or his family. “I would like him to bless all of Ukraine,” said the 9-year-old, an avid reader who currently keeps the greatest of all books on his nightstand. “I’m reading the Bible. I love everything about it,” he said.‘Catalonia without La Moreneta would be nothing’Also waiting for the pope were two nuns from the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Sister Ángeles Piqué, from a small town in Lleida, and Sister Doraliza, originally from Cajamarca, Peru. “We need the pope to bring us Christ’s message: unity, fraternity, and to come to the Virgin as our point of reference," Sister Doralizia said.She gave voice to the widespread devotion to the Virgin of Montserrat in this region of Spain. “Catalonia without La Moreneta would be nothing,” she said.“Our Lady of Montserrat is a very special grace. This is her sanctuary, and all her children come here to ask for her protection and to be sheltered under her mantle,” Piqué added.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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After visiting a prison, Pope Leo headed to the Abbey of Montserrat northwest of Barcelona and nestled among towering rock formations that resemble sculpted figures of animals or objects.

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Eugene Parker, pioneer of theoretical solar and plasma astrophysics, was born June 10, 1927. Parker revolutionized the field of heliophysics, notably by first proposing the existence of the solar wind — a stream of charged particles ejected from the Sun — in 1958. His theory was confirmed by Mariner II in 1962. Among many otherContinue reading “June 10, 1927: The birth of Eugene Parker”

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Pope Leo XIV honors Our Lady of Almudena with Golden Rose, reflects on Spain’s Christian heritage #Catholic For more than a thousand years, generations of Catholics in Madrid have turned to Our Lady of Almudena in times of celebration, hardship, and prayer. On June 8, that enduring devotion received one of the Church’s highest marks of recognition when Pope Leo XIV bestowed a Golden Rose upon the historic statue.“As a symbol of the pope’s filial love for the Virgin Mary, I will place a Golden Rose at her feet,” Leo said during a ceremony at Madrid’s Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena.The papal honor — one of the highest distinctions a pope can bestow upon a Marian image or shrine — recognizes the deep devotion generations of Spanish Catholics have shown to the Blessed Virgin under the title of Almudena.The exact origin of the gifting of a Golden Rose is unknown, although it is considered one of the oldest papal traditions. The earliest reliable record dates to 1096, when Pope Urban II sent one to Fulcone d’Angers. Hidden in the citadel wallAddressing the faithful gathered in the cathedral, Leo reflected on the image’s unique place in Madrid’s history.“For centuries, countless generations of Madrileños have venerated this image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding her divine Son in her arms and presenting him to us,” the pope said.According to long-standing tradition, the devotion dates to the early centuries of Christianity in Spain. When Muslim forces conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula in A.D. 712, Christians in Madrid reportedly concealed the statue within the city’s defensive walls to protect it from destruction. The image remained hidden for centuries as Christian kingdoms gradually sought to reclaim territories across the peninsula during the Reconquista.The wall that fell In 1083, after King Alfonso VI of Castile recaptured Madrid, Christians searched for the long-lost statue. Tradition holds that after days of prayer, a section of the city wall suddenly collapsed, revealing the image preserved within. Witnesses reported seeing lights near the site, and the statue was discovered largely intact despite centuries of concealment.Recalling the story, Leo noted that “during challenging periods for the Christian community, the statue of the Virgin Mary was hidden in a niche of the citadel wall for protection. It remained concealed for some time, until parts of the wall collapsed and it was miraculously discovered intact.”The title “Almudena” derives from the Arabic word “al-mudayna,” meaning “citadel” or “fortress,” a reference to the location where the image was found.A message for today In his homily, the pope used the collapse of the wall as a spiritual lesson for modern society.“It was thanks to a collapsed wall that the Mother was reunited with her people,” Leo said. “This event is providential, because it points to the path that Jesus, through his most holy mother, invites us to follow.”Leo connected that image to challenges facing the modern world, observing that “there are still many walls that do not protect but rather divide, separate, and isolate.”The ceremony also highlighted the popeʼs connection to Spain, a nation whose Catholic heritage has profoundly shaped the history of the Church. By honoring one of Spain’s most beloved Marian images, the pontiff underscored the enduring importance of popular Marian devotion and the Christian roots that continue to influence Spanish culture.Renewing faith and hope Beyond its historical significance, the story of Our Lady of Almudena continues to resonate with Catholics today. The devotion recalls themes of perseverance, hope, and trust in God’s providence, themes Pope Leo himself highlighted as he encouraged the faithful to remain steadfast in faith, charity, and hope.Calling the devotion a source of hope, Leo described it as “a sign of the Christian roots that characterize you and give you life, but also of the great hope which continues to motivate you to move forward.”He concluded by encouraging Catholics to remain steadfast in faith, charity, and hope, asking that the intercession of Our Lady of Almudena strengthen believers in their love for Christ and help them “form bonds and restore the universal language of communion, fraternal love, and harmony.”
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Pope Leo XIV honors Our Lady of Almudena with Golden Rose, reflects on Spain’s Christian heritage #Catholic For more than a thousand years, generations of Catholics in Madrid have turned to Our Lady of Almudena in times of celebration, hardship, and prayer. On June 8, that enduring devotion received one of the Church’s highest marks of recognition when Pope Leo XIV bestowed a Golden Rose upon the historic statue.“As a symbol of the pope’s filial love for the Virgin Mary, I will place a Golden Rose at her feet,” Leo said during a ceremony at Madrid’s Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena.The papal honor — one of the highest distinctions a pope can bestow upon a Marian image or shrine — recognizes the deep devotion generations of Spanish Catholics have shown to the Blessed Virgin under the title of Almudena.The exact origin of the gifting of a Golden Rose is unknown, although it is considered one of the oldest papal traditions. The earliest reliable record dates to 1096, when Pope Urban II sent one to Fulcone d’Angers. Hidden in the citadel wallAddressing the faithful gathered in the cathedral, Leo reflected on the image’s unique place in Madrid’s history.“For centuries, countless generations of Madrileños have venerated this image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding her divine Son in her arms and presenting him to us,” the pope said.According to long-standing tradition, the devotion dates to the early centuries of Christianity in Spain. When Muslim forces conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula in A.D. 712, Christians in Madrid reportedly concealed the statue within the city’s defensive walls to protect it from destruction. The image remained hidden for centuries as Christian kingdoms gradually sought to reclaim territories across the peninsula during the Reconquista.The wall that fell In 1083, after King Alfonso VI of Castile recaptured Madrid, Christians searched for the long-lost statue. Tradition holds that after days of prayer, a section of the city wall suddenly collapsed, revealing the image preserved within. Witnesses reported seeing lights near the site, and the statue was discovered largely intact despite centuries of concealment.Recalling the story, Leo noted that “during challenging periods for the Christian community, the statue of the Virgin Mary was hidden in a niche of the citadel wall for protection. It remained concealed for some time, until parts of the wall collapsed and it was miraculously discovered intact.”The title “Almudena” derives from the Arabic word “al-mudayna,” meaning “citadel” or “fortress,” a reference to the location where the image was found.A message for today In his homily, the pope used the collapse of the wall as a spiritual lesson for modern society.“It was thanks to a collapsed wall that the Mother was reunited with her people,” Leo said. “This event is providential, because it points to the path that Jesus, through his most holy mother, invites us to follow.”Leo connected that image to challenges facing the modern world, observing that “there are still many walls that do not protect but rather divide, separate, and isolate.”The ceremony also highlighted the popeʼs connection to Spain, a nation whose Catholic heritage has profoundly shaped the history of the Church. By honoring one of Spain’s most beloved Marian images, the pontiff underscored the enduring importance of popular Marian devotion and the Christian roots that continue to influence Spanish culture.Renewing faith and hope Beyond its historical significance, the story of Our Lady of Almudena continues to resonate with Catholics today. The devotion recalls themes of perseverance, hope, and trust in God’s providence, themes Pope Leo himself highlighted as he encouraged the faithful to remain steadfast in faith, charity, and hope.Calling the devotion a source of hope, Leo described it as “a sign of the Christian roots that characterize you and give you life, but also of the great hope which continues to motivate you to move forward.”He concluded by encouraging Catholics to remain steadfast in faith, charity, and hope, asking that the intercession of Our Lady of Almudena strengthen believers in their love for Christ and help them “form bonds and restore the universal language of communion, fraternal love, and harmony.”

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The origin of the gifting of a golden rose is unknown, but it is considered one of the oldest papal traditions dating back to 1096.

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13,000 gather at Knock in Ireland for largest Catholic rally since papal visit #Catholic In the largest gathering of Catholics in Ireland since Pope Francis’ visit in 2018, the annual All Ireland Rosary brought over 13,000 people to Knock Shrine on June 6 in a joint prayer for peace. Speaking to EWTN News after the rally, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin said: “It was a very special joy for me to preside at the Eucharist in Knock at the rosary rally. I felt a tremendous sense of joy and hope among the people who were gathered there. And it was especially gratifying to see many young people, including the childrenʼs rosary group, who made a very important and beautiful contribution to the day.”The archbishop added: “I really felt that Knock was alive, and it makes me realize that our Blessed Mother continues to speak into the troubled world in which we live, with many new problems and new challenges. From the point of view of Ireland, itʼs very important for us to have a gathering like this, to affirm the very many people who have remained strong and steadfast in their faith and who need this kind of gathering in order to give them encouragement and a strong sense of mission.”Martin said the word “mission” stayed with him after leaving the rally. “Thatʼs a word that I went home with in my head,“ he said. ”There is a wonderful mission involved in the rosary rally. Itʼs about gathering people but also about sending them back into their homes, parishes, and communities, to continue to make the beautiful graces of our Blessed Mother well known, to continue to pray for peace.” Thousands gather at Knock Shrine in Knock, Ireland, for the All Ireland Rosary Rally on June 6, 2026. | Credit Dáithi Quinn Turning to the practical ways in which people can make a difference in their local parishes, Martin said: “I personally would invite people to restore the practice of the First Saturday devotions. This would be in fulfillment of our Blessed Motherʼs own wish, but it would also provide a new and further structure for parishes to gather, to pray the rosary, to have adoration, to have the sacrament of reconciliation available.”Martin also expressed hope that other countries might be inspired by the example of the All Ireland Rosary Rally.In his sermon during the Mass at the shrine on the day of the rally, the archbishop encouraged the congregation of thousands to pray often, in union with Mary, for the protection of humanity in this technological age.Echoing the words of Pope Leo XIV in his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, he said: “Artificial Intelligence is already shaping human life in homes, workplaces, and communities; in hospitals, public services, and economies. AI can do remarkable and helpful things. It can even mimic human behavior and voices, but it cannot love, suffer, forgive, pray, or hope as humans can, nor can it be truly ‘wise.’ AI does not have a conscience.”Together with Bishop Donal McKeown and Bishop John Buckley, Martin led the renewal of the consecration of Ireland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the culmination of the rosary procession.Speaking to EWTN News, Christine O’Hara, a secondary schoolteacher in Cork, Ireland, said: “The rosary rally was a very blessed and grace-filled day, and thereʼs a number of things that weʼre really hoping people will take away from the event. The first being that people will feel inspired to pray the rosary every day.”O’Hara, who runs a childrenʼs rosary group and two First Saturday communities, added: “Our Lady said in Fátima, pray the rosary every day to obtain peace in the world and an end to the war. Itʼs the desire of Archbishop Eamon Martin that the renewal of the First Saturday devotion would happen in this country. Weʼre really hoping and praying that one of the fruits, and Iʼm sure there will be many fruits from this rosary rally, but weʼre really hoping and praying that people will feel inspired to start the First Saturday devotion in their parish.”OʼHara also said she hopes more people will be inspired to start childrenʼs rosary groups as well as rosary groups for adults in their parishes. The huge crowd also heard from an inspiring panel of international speakers. Bishop Oliver Doeme spoke to the crowds about the power of the rosary in strengthening the faith and courage of the people of his diocese in Nigeria who live in daily fear of murder at the hands of Boko Haram terrorists.Nikki Kingsley shared her remarkable conversion journey from the Muslim faith in her native Pakistan to being received into the Catholic faith. Her moving and inspiring story focused on the power of the rosary and her devotion to Our Lady.Other speakers included Father Chris Alar, the provincial superior of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, who talked of the importance of Marian devotion, and Sister Ângela de Fátima, vice postulator for the cause of the three Fátima children.
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13,000 gather at Knock in Ireland for largest Catholic rally since papal visit #Catholic In the largest gathering of Catholics in Ireland since Pope Francis’ visit in 2018, the annual All Ireland Rosary brought over 13,000 people to Knock Shrine on June 6 in a joint prayer for peace. Speaking to EWTN News after the rally, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin said: “It was a very special joy for me to preside at the Eucharist in Knock at the rosary rally. I felt a tremendous sense of joy and hope among the people who were gathered there. And it was especially gratifying to see many young people, including the childrenʼs rosary group, who made a very important and beautiful contribution to the day.”The archbishop added: “I really felt that Knock was alive, and it makes me realize that our Blessed Mother continues to speak into the troubled world in which we live, with many new problems and new challenges. From the point of view of Ireland, itʼs very important for us to have a gathering like this, to affirm the very many people who have remained strong and steadfast in their faith and who need this kind of gathering in order to give them encouragement and a strong sense of mission.”Martin said the word “mission” stayed with him after leaving the rally. “Thatʼs a word that I went home with in my head,“ he said. ”There is a wonderful mission involved in the rosary rally. Itʼs about gathering people but also about sending them back into their homes, parishes, and communities, to continue to make the beautiful graces of our Blessed Mother well known, to continue to pray for peace.” Thousands gather at Knock Shrine in Knock, Ireland, for the All Ireland Rosary Rally on June 6, 2026. | Credit Dáithi Quinn Turning to the practical ways in which people can make a difference in their local parishes, Martin said: “I personally would invite people to restore the practice of the First Saturday devotions. This would be in fulfillment of our Blessed Motherʼs own wish, but it would also provide a new and further structure for parishes to gather, to pray the rosary, to have adoration, to have the sacrament of reconciliation available.”Martin also expressed hope that other countries might be inspired by the example of the All Ireland Rosary Rally.In his sermon during the Mass at the shrine on the day of the rally, the archbishop encouraged the congregation of thousands to pray often, in union with Mary, for the protection of humanity in this technological age.Echoing the words of Pope Leo XIV in his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, he said: “Artificial Intelligence is already shaping human life in homes, workplaces, and communities; in hospitals, public services, and economies. AI can do remarkable and helpful things. It can even mimic human behavior and voices, but it cannot love, suffer, forgive, pray, or hope as humans can, nor can it be truly ‘wise.’ AI does not have a conscience.”Together with Bishop Donal McKeown and Bishop John Buckley, Martin led the renewal of the consecration of Ireland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the culmination of the rosary procession.Speaking to EWTN News, Christine O’Hara, a secondary schoolteacher in Cork, Ireland, said: “The rosary rally was a very blessed and grace-filled day, and thereʼs a number of things that weʼre really hoping people will take away from the event. The first being that people will feel inspired to pray the rosary every day.”O’Hara, who runs a childrenʼs rosary group and two First Saturday communities, added: “Our Lady said in Fátima, pray the rosary every day to obtain peace in the world and an end to the war. Itʼs the desire of Archbishop Eamon Martin that the renewal of the First Saturday devotion would happen in this country. Weʼre really hoping and praying that one of the fruits, and Iʼm sure there will be many fruits from this rosary rally, but weʼre really hoping and praying that people will feel inspired to start the First Saturday devotion in their parish.”OʼHara also said she hopes more people will be inspired to start childrenʼs rosary groups as well as rosary groups for adults in their parishes. The huge crowd also heard from an inspiring panel of international speakers. Bishop Oliver Doeme spoke to the crowds about the power of the rosary in strengthening the faith and courage of the people of his diocese in Nigeria who live in daily fear of murder at the hands of Boko Haram terrorists.Nikki Kingsley shared her remarkable conversion journey from the Muslim faith in her native Pakistan to being received into the Catholic faith. Her moving and inspiring story focused on the power of the rosary and her devotion to Our Lady.Other speakers included Father Chris Alar, the provincial superior of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, who talked of the importance of Marian devotion, and Sister Ângela de Fátima, vice postulator for the cause of the three Fátima children.

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Busloads of people from across Ireland converged on Knock on Saturday for the 41st All Ireland Rosary, with crowds exceeding last year’s attendance.

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Artemis III Crew Announced – NASA announced the Artemis III crew on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, mission specialist; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, pilot; NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, commander; and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, mission specialist, will demonstrate the Orion spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking capabilities with test versions from one, or both, American commercial human landing systems in development by Blue Origin and SpaceX.
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Artemis III Crew Announced – NASA announced the Artemis III crew on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, mission specialist; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, pilot; NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, commander; and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, mission specialist, will demonstrate the Orion spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking capabilities with test versions from one, or both, American commercial human landing systems in development by Blue Origin and SpaceX.

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NASA announced the Artemis III crew on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, mission specialist; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, pilot; NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, commander; and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, mission specialist, will demonstrate the Orion spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking capabilities with test versions from one, or both, American commercial human landing systems in development by Blue Origin and SpaceX.

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