Day: September 23, 2026

Haiku Prayer 10: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, September 24, 2026 – #Prayer – “Haiku” prayers, in Japanese poetical form, have their origin in the fourteenth century. They consist of 17 syllables arranged in three lines (5-7-5). This provides a simple format for composing personal and family prayers. The following haiku prayer is a Canadian example. You are encouraged to develop your own. Blessed mother, pray to Jesus for all the world, pray to Him for us.

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“Haiku” prayers, in Japanese poetical form, have their origin in the fourteenth century. They consist of 17 syllables arranged in three lines (5-7-5). This provides a simple format for composing personal and family prayers. The following haiku prayer is a Canadian example. You are encouraged to develop your own.
Blessed mother, pray
to Jesus for all the world,
pray to Him for us.

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As beatification nears, new book explains why Fulton Sheen was ‘America’s Apostle’ #Catholic With the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen approaching, a new book on the life and legacy of the evangelist and television and radio show host explains why he was “America’s Apostle.”Allan Smith, founder and director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Mission Society of Canada, published the book “America’s Apostle” on Sept. 15, just ahead of the archbishop’s beatification on Sept. 24.“I think … the title is a perfect one — ‘Americaʼs Apostle,’ because he really was an apostle to the American people in the great tradition of apostles,” Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News Matthew Bunson told “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Veronica Dudo on Sept. 22.The book was published through EWTN Publishing and Sophia Institute Press.“[Sheen] was a brilliant communicator; he had immense gifts on television, radio, as a writer, as a poet,” Bunson said. “But all of that was geared toward proclaiming Jesus Christ in exactly the same way that a good apostle should.”Sheen began his media career as a priest, hosting an hourlong radio show called “The Catholic Hour” in 1930 until he was consecrated an auxiliary bishop in New York in 1951 and transitioned to television, hosting “Life Is Worth Living.” At its peak, Sheen’s radio show was reaching about 4 million people weekly, and his television show was reaching about 30 million people.“Like a good apostle, he used all the means of communications at his disposal,” Bunson said. “I just mentioned television, radio, you name it. He wanted to use it. So itʼs perfectly appropriate, I think, for him to be called ‘Americaʼs Apostle.’”Sheen also reserved one hour every day for prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament, beginning this when he was ordained in 1919 until he died in 1979. He was found dead at the age of 84 in his chapel in front of the Blessed Sacrament.Bunson explained that Sheen “made a promise on the day of his ordination” that he would do a Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. He also noted Sheen wrote in his autobiography, “Treasure in Clay,” that he prepared for his homilies, his books, and his speeches in front of the Eucharist. The book cover for “America’s Apostle: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen” features a portrait of Sheen. It was released days before Sheen’s beatification set for Sept. 24, 2026. | Credit: EWTN “He made the Blessed Sacrament his way of not just preparing, but making himself holy and worthy of the people he was talking to,” Bunson said. “Because thatʼs how seriously he took what he was saying.”“So as a communicator, it wasnʼt just communicating about himself,” he said. “He was always proclaiming a person, and that was Jesus Christ. And he did that by developing and fostering his love for the Eucharist. And he did it in the Holy Hour.”“Fulton Sheen, pray for us,” Bunson concluded.
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As beatification nears, new book explains why Fulton Sheen was ‘America’s Apostle’ #Catholic With the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen approaching, a new book on the life and legacy of the evangelist and television and radio show host explains why he was “America’s Apostle.”Allan Smith, founder and director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Mission Society of Canada, published the book “America’s Apostle” on Sept. 15, just ahead of the archbishop’s beatification on Sept. 24.“I think … the title is a perfect one — ‘Americaʼs Apostle,’ because he really was an apostle to the American people in the great tradition of apostles,” Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News Matthew Bunson told “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Veronica Dudo on Sept. 22.The book was published through EWTN Publishing and Sophia Institute Press.“[Sheen] was a brilliant communicator; he had immense gifts on television, radio, as a writer, as a poet,” Bunson said. “But all of that was geared toward proclaiming Jesus Christ in exactly the same way that a good apostle should.”Sheen began his media career as a priest, hosting an hourlong radio show called “The Catholic Hour” in 1930 until he was consecrated an auxiliary bishop in New York in 1951 and transitioned to television, hosting “Life Is Worth Living.” At its peak, Sheen’s radio show was reaching about 4 million people weekly, and his television show was reaching about 30 million people.“Like a good apostle, he used all the means of communications at his disposal,” Bunson said. “I just mentioned television, radio, you name it. He wanted to use it. So itʼs perfectly appropriate, I think, for him to be called ‘Americaʼs Apostle.’”Sheen also reserved one hour every day for prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament, beginning this when he was ordained in 1919 until he died in 1979. He was found dead at the age of 84 in his chapel in front of the Blessed Sacrament.Bunson explained that Sheen “made a promise on the day of his ordination” that he would do a Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. He also noted Sheen wrote in his autobiography, “Treasure in Clay,” that he prepared for his homilies, his books, and his speeches in front of the Eucharist. The book cover for “America’s Apostle: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen” features a portrait of Sheen. It was released days before Sheen’s beatification set for Sept. 24, 2026. | Credit: EWTN “He made the Blessed Sacrament his way of not just preparing, but making himself holy and worthy of the people he was talking to,” Bunson said. “Because thatʼs how seriously he took what he was saying.”“So as a communicator, it wasnʼt just communicating about himself,” he said. “He was always proclaiming a person, and that was Jesus Christ. And he did that by developing and fostering his love for the Eucharist. And he did it in the Holy Hour.”“Fulton Sheen, pray for us,” Bunson concluded.

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The book by Allan Smith was published on Sept. 15, about one week before the beatification. EWTN’s Matthew Bunson discusses the book and Sheen’s legacy on “EWTN News Nightly.”

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NASA’s Hubble Telescope Reaches Milestone, Looks for Elusive Supernova – An image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope of galaxy cluster MACS J0417 is part of repeated observations to monitor for the reappearance of supernova Athena, which can help astronomers measure the expansion rate of the universe.
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NASA’s Hubble Telescope Reaches Milestone, Looks for Elusive Supernova – An image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope of galaxy cluster MACS J0417 is part of repeated observations to monitor for the reappearance of supernova Athena, which can help astronomers measure the expansion rate of the universe.

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An image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope of galaxy cluster MACS J0417 is part of repeated observations to monitor for the reappearance of supernova Athena, which can help astronomers measure the expansion rate of the universe.

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Archbishop of Panama asks victims for forgiveness: ‘We cannot remain silent in the face of abuse’ #Catholic The archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, stated that “we cannot remain silent in the face of abuse” during his presentation of the report “Assessment of Institutional Responses (AIR) in cases of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable persons” within the Archdiocese of Panama between 2001 and 2025.The report by the Transparency Commission (TC), a pilot project and the first from an interdisciplinary group of independent experts on addressing and preventing abuse within ecclesial settings, was presented on Sept. 22 at the Santa María La Antigua University auditorium in Panama City.Speaking during the presentation, Ulloa emphasized: “It has already been said here, and we know it: Our Panamanian culture often prefers to remain silent, but in the face of abuse, we cannot remain silent.”“We want to listen; we want to take every complaint seriously, with respect, and confidentiality, protecting the individuals involved and acting in accordance with established procedures,” he added.The prelate explained that the archdiocese he leads “remains committed to reporting relevant allegations to the competent civil authorities in accordance with current legislation” and acknowledged the need to ask what can be done better to move forward in the prevention of abuse.“A culture of protection is not built solely through written rules; it is built when every priest, religious, pastoral worker, collaborator, and member of our communities understands that protecting minors and vulnerable persons is an ongoing, shared responsibility,” the archbishop emphasized.Asking forgiveness of the victimsThe prelate also addressed “in a special way victims and survivors. We are deeply pained by the suffering you have endured.”“It pains us to know that those who should have found a place of welcome, care, and trust within the Church experienced situations that caused them such deep wounds,” he continued.Ulloa emphasized that “wherever members of our Church caused harm, and wherever our institutional response fell short of what the victims needed and had a right to expect, we ask for forgiveness in the name of the Church.”The archbishop also noted that “over this 25-year period, and I wish to highlight this especially for the media, more than 18 priests have been removed from priestly ministry due to situations involving the Sixth Commandment, offenses against property, or other issues they have experienced.”The Transparency CommissionAccording to its website, the Transparency Commission (TC) was established to conduct comprehensive investigations “in a holistic, professional, independent, and rigorous manner regarding cases of abuse of minors and vulnerable persons within the Church.” It is funded by the University of Notre Dame Law School in Indiana and Villanueva University in Madrid.“This group of experts focuses its work on places where crises related to ecclesial abuse have not yet occurred or have not come to light,” notes the TC website. Presentation of the report to the archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa. | Credit: Archdiocese of Panama The report indicates that in cases of sexual abuse, the AIR “must place victims at the center of the analysis, since the way the institution protects their rights, addresses their needs, and fosters their reparation constitutes the primary criterion for evaluating the quality of the response provided.”The Transparency Commission is composed of 17 individuals coordinated by Father Jordi Pujol, a lawyer who holds a doctorate in moral theology and is also a professor of law and communication ethics at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.Its members include Father Thomas Berg, a professor and researcher at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame; Yago de la Cierva, a professor of preventive and crisis communication at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross; and Irma Patricia Espinosa, a psychiatrist, member of the National Council for the Protection of Minors of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, academic director and founding partner of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Training for the Protection of Minors (CEPROME) Latin America, and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors since 2022.Also serving on the Transparency Commission are María Inés Franck, professor of canon law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and a member of the Pastoral Council for the Protection of Minors of the Argentine Bishops’ Conference; Monsignor John Paul Kimes, professor of canon law at the University of Notre Dame Law School; and Father Daniel Portillo, dean of the psychology department at Lumen Gentium Catholic University in Mexico. He is the director and a founding member of CEPROME Latin America.The Panama ReportThe request for the report goes back to October 2025, when the archbishop of Panama requested an assessment of institutional response from the TC “on his own initiative, without a court order or a request from the Holy See.”The commission stated that it accepted the assignment subject to three conditions: full access to information, total independence in the investigation, and a commitment to publish the findings. The archdiocese did not intervene in the compilation of the report and only saw it days before its presentation.The TC states that it operated with financial independence: Its members received no remuneration from the archdiocese, and costs were covered by Notre Dame Law School and the Villanueva University Foundation. The archdiocese only covered transportation and accommodation and provided workspace.The commission reported that, during the period under review, the archdiocese received 37 complaints of which it analyzed 24, while the remaining 13 were excluded from the analysis “because they referred to events that occurred outside the archdioceseʼs territory or the time frame examined, or because they did not involve abuse against minors or vulnerable persons.”The report reveals that case management improved thanks to two initiatives by the archdiocese: the approval of guidelines in 2015 and the creation in 2024 of the Pastoral Care and Prevention Office and the Listening Office.The report, currently available only in Spanish, identifies five areas requiring improvement: listening to and accompanying victims; recordkeeping; prevention; justice for victims; and reparation.“Making reparation requires acknowledging the harm, accepting personal and institutional responsibility, and addressing the physical, psychological, moral, spiritual, and social needs of each victim,” the commission emphasizes.The pilot projectIn a FAQ section about the report, the TC explains that this work is a pilot project because “it is the first time that a comprehensive methodology has been applied that can be replicated in other dioceses or ecclesial organizations.”“This first project has allowed us to test a methodology and a work system, based on professional listening, research in archives, conducting interviews with various audiences of interest, and media analysis and the sociocultural context of the country,” it adds.The Transparency Commission further specifies that the working methodology aims to “place victims at the center, protecting their rights, and guarantee due process for the accused,” applying a clear standard of prudence to avoid “revictimizing a victim or blaming an innocent person.”The Transparency Commission also noted that “the Vatican has been kept informed of the workʼs progress at all times; both the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America are aware of the TC’s work. Furthermore, some members of the commission work or have worked with both the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.”The TC concludes by noting that anyone who has suffered abuse within the Church may, at any time, turn to the Archdiocese of Panama’s Listening Office and file a report with the public prosecutorʼs office.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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Archbishop of Panama asks victims for forgiveness: ‘We cannot remain silent in the face of abuse’ #Catholic The archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, stated that “we cannot remain silent in the face of abuse” during his presentation of the report “Assessment of Institutional Responses (AIR) in cases of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable persons” within the Archdiocese of Panama between 2001 and 2025.The report by the Transparency Commission (TC), a pilot project and the first from an interdisciplinary group of independent experts on addressing and preventing abuse within ecclesial settings, was presented on Sept. 22 at the Santa María La Antigua University auditorium in Panama City.Speaking during the presentation, Ulloa emphasized: “It has already been said here, and we know it: Our Panamanian culture often prefers to remain silent, but in the face of abuse, we cannot remain silent.”“We want to listen; we want to take every complaint seriously, with respect, and confidentiality, protecting the individuals involved and acting in accordance with established procedures,” he added.The prelate explained that the archdiocese he leads “remains committed to reporting relevant allegations to the competent civil authorities in accordance with current legislation” and acknowledged the need to ask what can be done better to move forward in the prevention of abuse.“A culture of protection is not built solely through written rules; it is built when every priest, religious, pastoral worker, collaborator, and member of our communities understands that protecting minors and vulnerable persons is an ongoing, shared responsibility,” the archbishop emphasized.Asking forgiveness of the victimsThe prelate also addressed “in a special way victims and survivors. We are deeply pained by the suffering you have endured.”“It pains us to know that those who should have found a place of welcome, care, and trust within the Church experienced situations that caused them such deep wounds,” he continued.Ulloa emphasized that “wherever members of our Church caused harm, and wherever our institutional response fell short of what the victims needed and had a right to expect, we ask for forgiveness in the name of the Church.”The archbishop also noted that “over this 25-year period, and I wish to highlight this especially for the media, more than 18 priests have been removed from priestly ministry due to situations involving the Sixth Commandment, offenses against property, or other issues they have experienced.”The Transparency CommissionAccording to its website, the Transparency Commission (TC) was established to conduct comprehensive investigations “in a holistic, professional, independent, and rigorous manner regarding cases of abuse of minors and vulnerable persons within the Church.” It is funded by the University of Notre Dame Law School in Indiana and Villanueva University in Madrid.“This group of experts focuses its work on places where crises related to ecclesial abuse have not yet occurred or have not come to light,” notes the TC website. Presentation of the report to the archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa. | Credit: Archdiocese of Panama The report indicates that in cases of sexual abuse, the AIR “must place victims at the center of the analysis, since the way the institution protects their rights, addresses their needs, and fosters their reparation constitutes the primary criterion for evaluating the quality of the response provided.”The Transparency Commission is composed of 17 individuals coordinated by Father Jordi Pujol, a lawyer who holds a doctorate in moral theology and is also a professor of law and communication ethics at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.Its members include Father Thomas Berg, a professor and researcher at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame; Yago de la Cierva, a professor of preventive and crisis communication at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross; and Irma Patricia Espinosa, a psychiatrist, member of the National Council for the Protection of Minors of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, academic director and founding partner of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Training for the Protection of Minors (CEPROME) Latin America, and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors since 2022.Also serving on the Transparency Commission are María Inés Franck, professor of canon law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and a member of the Pastoral Council for the Protection of Minors of the Argentine Bishops’ Conference; Monsignor John Paul Kimes, professor of canon law at the University of Notre Dame Law School; and Father Daniel Portillo, dean of the psychology department at Lumen Gentium Catholic University in Mexico. He is the director and a founding member of CEPROME Latin America.The Panama ReportThe request for the report goes back to October 2025, when the archbishop of Panama requested an assessment of institutional response from the TC “on his own initiative, without a court order or a request from the Holy See.”The commission stated that it accepted the assignment subject to three conditions: full access to information, total independence in the investigation, and a commitment to publish the findings. The archdiocese did not intervene in the compilation of the report and only saw it days before its presentation.The TC states that it operated with financial independence: Its members received no remuneration from the archdiocese, and costs were covered by Notre Dame Law School and the Villanueva University Foundation. The archdiocese only covered transportation and accommodation and provided workspace.The commission reported that, during the period under review, the archdiocese received 37 complaints of which it analyzed 24, while the remaining 13 were excluded from the analysis “because they referred to events that occurred outside the archdioceseʼs territory or the time frame examined, or because they did not involve abuse against minors or vulnerable persons.”The report reveals that case management improved thanks to two initiatives by the archdiocese: the approval of guidelines in 2015 and the creation in 2024 of the Pastoral Care and Prevention Office and the Listening Office.The report, currently available only in Spanish, identifies five areas requiring improvement: listening to and accompanying victims; recordkeeping; prevention; justice for victims; and reparation.“Making reparation requires acknowledging the harm, accepting personal and institutional responsibility, and addressing the physical, psychological, moral, spiritual, and social needs of each victim,” the commission emphasizes.The pilot projectIn a FAQ section about the report, the TC explains that this work is a pilot project because “it is the first time that a comprehensive methodology has been applied that can be replicated in other dioceses or ecclesial organizations.”“This first project has allowed us to test a methodology and a work system, based on professional listening, research in archives, conducting interviews with various audiences of interest, and media analysis and the sociocultural context of the country,” it adds.The Transparency Commission further specifies that the working methodology aims to “place victims at the center, protecting their rights, and guarantee due process for the accused,” applying a clear standard of prudence to avoid “revictimizing a victim or blaming an innocent person.”The Transparency Commission also noted that “the Vatican has been kept informed of the workʼs progress at all times; both the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America are aware of the TC’s work. Furthermore, some members of the commission work or have worked with both the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.”The TC concludes by noting that anyone who has suffered abuse within the Church may, at any time, turn to the Archdiocese of Panama’s Listening Office and file a report with the public prosecutorʼs office.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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Addressing the scourge of sexual abuse, the archbishop of Panama requested the services of the Transparency Commission, a project sponsored by Notre Dame Law School and Madrid’s Villanueva University.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 24 September 2026 – A reading from the Book Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. All speech is labored; there is nothing one can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear satisfied with hearing. What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.From the Gospel according to Luke 9:7-9 Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.You come to know Jesus in the day-to-day routine of everyday life. (…) Yes, you must learn about Jesus from the Catechism. But it is not enough to know Him with your mind: that is just the first step. You must come to know Jesus through dialogue with Him, by speaking to Him, in prayer, on your knees. If you do not pray, if you do not speak to Jesus, you do not know Him. You know things about Jesus, but you do not have that knowledge which the heart gives you in prayer. Knowing Jesus with the mind comes from studying the Catechism; knowing Jesus with the heart comes from prayer and dialogue with Him. This helps us quite a lot, but it is not enough… There is a third way to get to know Jesus: it is discipleship. Going with Him, walking with Him. (…) One cannot get to know Jesus without committing yourself to Him, without staking your life on Him. When so many people – including ourselves – ask this question, “But who is this?”, the Word of God answers us: “Do you want to know who this is? Read what the Church tells you about Him, speak to Him in prayer and walk His path with Him. In this way, you will come to know who this man is”. This is the way! (Pope Francis, Homily at Santa Marta, 26 September 2013)  

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A reading from the Book Ecclesiastes
1:2-11

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor
which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes,
but the world forever stays.
The sun rises and the sun goes down;
then it presses on to the place where it rises.
Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,
the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
All rivers go to the sea,
yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go,
the rivers keep on going.
All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.

What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old;
nor of those to come will there be any remembrance
among those who come after them.

From the Gospel according to Luke
9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.

You come to know Jesus in the day-to-day routine of everyday life. (…) Yes, you must learn about Jesus from the Catechism. But it is not enough to know Him with your mind: that is just the first step. You must come to know Jesus through dialogue with Him, by speaking to Him, in prayer, on your knees. If you do not pray, if you do not speak to Jesus, you do not know Him. You know things about Jesus, but you do not have that knowledge which the heart gives you in prayer. Knowing Jesus with the mind comes from studying the Catechism; knowing Jesus with the heart comes from prayer and dialogue with Him. This helps us quite a lot, but it is not enough… There is a third way to get to know Jesus: it is discipleship. Going with Him, walking with Him. (…) One cannot get to know Jesus without committing yourself to Him, without staking your life on Him. When so many people – including ourselves – ask this question, “But who is this?”, the Word of God answers us: “Do you want to know who this is? Read what the Church tells you about Him, speak to Him in prayer and walk His path with Him. In this way, you will come to know who this man is”. This is the way! (Pope Francis, Homily at Santa Marta, 26 September 2013)

 

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Música y Misión: la Diócesis de Paterson convoca a sus músicos litúrgicos para una jornada de formación con OCP #Catholic – Músicos, cantores, directores de coro e instrumentistas de la Diócesis de Paterson se reunirán el sábado 3 de octubre para una jornada de formación, oración y encuentro junto al Instituto OCP. El evento se celebrará de 8:00 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. en la iglesia St. Andrew the Apostle, ubicada en 400 Mt. Prospect Ave., Clifton. La jornada forma parte de Música y Misión, un programa de formación de un año dirigido a quienes sirven en el ministerio de la música litúrgica. A lo largo del programa, los participantes tienen acceso a sesiones virtuales a través de Facebook y Zoom sobre distintos aspectos de la música y la liturgia. El encuentro del 3 de octubre será el primero de carácter presencial y ofrecerá a músicos de distintas parroquias la oportunidad de conocerse, aprender juntos y compartir sus experiencias de servicio. “La formación nos ayuda a recordar que la música no es solamente algo que hacemos durante la Misa; es un ministerio que ponemos al servicio de Dios y de nuestra comunidad”, señala Alejandra Osorio, músico de la iglesia Santa Margarita de Escocia en Morristown. Un programa abierto a nuevos participantes No es necesario haber asistido a las sesiones virtuales anteriores para participar en el encuentro presencial. Los músicos que aún no se hayan incorporado al programa pueden asistir, conocer la iniciativa y comenzar su proceso de formación junto a otros músicos de la diócesis. La jornada se desarrollará en español y está dirigida principalmente a músicos de las comunidades hispanas de la diócesis. También están invitados quienes entiendan español, incluidos directores y músicos de habla inglesa interesados en conocer el repertorio y las tradiciones musicales de las comunidades hispanas. Los ponentes El evento contará con la participación de los músicos y compositores católicos Iván Díaz y Silvio Cuéllar. Díaz, nacido y criado en Colombia, es compositor de música católica bilingüe, director coral y músico pastoral. Cuenta con una maestría en dirección coral y se desempeña actualmente como director de Campus Ministry en St. Thomas University, en Miami. Sus composiciones forman parte de varias colecciones de OCP, incluida Nuestra Alegría / Our Joy. En 2024 recibió el reconocimiento de Compositor Católico Distinguido del Año, otorgado por la Association of Catholic Publishers. Cuéllar nació en Córdoba, Argentina, y creció en Bolivia antes de emigrar a Estados Unidos. Es músico pastoral, compositor, periodista y conferencista especializado en liturgia y vida familiar. Miembro fundador de la Asociación de Músicos Pastorales Hispanos, ha dedicado parte importante de su ministerio a la formación y el acompañamiento de comunidades católicas hispanas. Contenido de la jornada Durante el encuentro se abordarán temas como la espiritualidad del músico litúrgico, la técnica vocal y la formación de coros efectivos, con herramientas tanto prácticas como espirituales para quienes ejercen este ministerio en sus parroquias. El programa incluirá también una sesión dedicada al repertorio de música de alabanza, utilizando el himnario Flor y Canto, cuarta edición, como recurso para explorar cantos apropiados para la celebración litúrgica en español. Música y Misión busca fortalecer la formación de quienes sirven a través de la música y subrayar el papel que el canto y los instrumentos desempeñan en la participación de la comunidad durante la liturgia. El costo de participación es de e incluye alimentos. Para información y registro, comuníquese con Yessenia Castillo, de la Oficina del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Paterson, al (973) 538-0874, ext. 108, o por correo electrónico a hispanicoffice@patersondiocese.org. Para suscribirse a nuestro boletín electrónico semanal, haga click aquí.  
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Música y Misión: la Diócesis de Paterson convoca a sus músicos litúrgicos para una jornada de formación con OCP #Catholic – Músicos, cantores, directores de coro e instrumentistas de la Diócesis de Paterson se reunirán el sábado 3 de octubre para una jornada de formación, oración y encuentro junto al Instituto OCP. El evento se celebrará de 8:00 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. en la iglesia St. Andrew the Apostle, ubicada en 400 Mt. Prospect Ave., Clifton. La jornada forma parte de Música y Misión, un programa de formación de un año dirigido a quienes sirven en el ministerio de la música litúrgica. A lo largo del programa, los participantes tienen acceso a sesiones virtuales a través de Facebook y Zoom sobre distintos aspectos de la música y la liturgia. El encuentro del 3 de octubre será el primero de carácter presencial y ofrecerá a músicos de distintas parroquias la oportunidad de conocerse, aprender juntos y compartir sus experiencias de servicio. “La formación nos ayuda a recordar que la música no es solamente algo que hacemos durante la Misa; es un ministerio que ponemos al servicio de Dios y de nuestra comunidad”, señala Alejandra Osorio, músico de la iglesia Santa Margarita de Escocia en Morristown. Un programa abierto a nuevos participantes No es necesario haber asistido a las sesiones virtuales anteriores para participar en el encuentro presencial. Los músicos que aún no se hayan incorporado al programa pueden asistir, conocer la iniciativa y comenzar su proceso de formación junto a otros músicos de la diócesis. La jornada se desarrollará en español y está dirigida principalmente a músicos de las comunidades hispanas de la diócesis. También están invitados quienes entiendan español, incluidos directores y músicos de habla inglesa interesados en conocer el repertorio y las tradiciones musicales de las comunidades hispanas. Los ponentes El evento contará con la participación de los músicos y compositores católicos Iván Díaz y Silvio Cuéllar. Díaz, nacido y criado en Colombia, es compositor de música católica bilingüe, director coral y músico pastoral. Cuenta con una maestría en dirección coral y se desempeña actualmente como director de Campus Ministry en St. Thomas University, en Miami. Sus composiciones forman parte de varias colecciones de OCP, incluida Nuestra Alegría / Our Joy. En 2024 recibió el reconocimiento de Compositor Católico Distinguido del Año, otorgado por la Association of Catholic Publishers. Cuéllar nació en Córdoba, Argentina, y creció en Bolivia antes de emigrar a Estados Unidos. Es músico pastoral, compositor, periodista y conferencista especializado en liturgia y vida familiar. Miembro fundador de la Asociación de Músicos Pastorales Hispanos, ha dedicado parte importante de su ministerio a la formación y el acompañamiento de comunidades católicas hispanas. Contenido de la jornada Durante el encuentro se abordarán temas como la espiritualidad del músico litúrgico, la técnica vocal y la formación de coros efectivos, con herramientas tanto prácticas como espirituales para quienes ejercen este ministerio en sus parroquias. El programa incluirá también una sesión dedicada al repertorio de música de alabanza, utilizando el himnario Flor y Canto, cuarta edición, como recurso para explorar cantos apropiados para la celebración litúrgica en español. Música y Misión busca fortalecer la formación de quienes sirven a través de la música y subrayar el papel que el canto y los instrumentos desempeñan en la participación de la comunidad durante la liturgia. El costo de participación es de $25 e incluye alimentos. Para información y registro, comuníquese con Yessenia Castillo, de la Oficina del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Paterson, al (973) 538-0874, ext. 108, o por correo electrónico a hispanicoffice@patersondiocese.org. Para suscribirse a nuestro boletín electrónico semanal, haga click aquí.  

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Música y Misión: la Diócesis de Paterson convoca a sus músicos litúrgicos para una jornada de formación con OCP #Catholic –

Músicos, cantores, directores de coro e instrumentistas de la Diócesis de Paterson se reunirán el sábado 3 de octubre para una jornada de formación, oración y encuentro junto al Instituto OCP. El evento se celebrará de 8:00 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. en la iglesia St. Andrew the Apostle, ubicada en 400 Mt. Prospect Ave., Clifton.

La jornada forma parte de Música y Misión, un programa de formación de un año dirigido a quienes sirven en el ministerio de la música litúrgica. A lo largo del programa, los participantes tienen acceso a sesiones virtuales a través de Facebook y Zoom sobre distintos aspectos de la música y la liturgia. El encuentro del 3 de octubre será el primero de carácter presencial y ofrecerá a músicos de distintas parroquias la oportunidad de conocerse, aprender juntos y compartir sus experiencias de servicio.

“La formación nos ayuda a recordar que la música no es solamente algo que hacemos durante la Misa; es un ministerio que ponemos al servicio de Dios y de nuestra comunidad”, señala Alejandra Osorio, músico de la iglesia Santa Margarita de Escocia en Morristown.

Un programa abierto a nuevos participantes

No es necesario haber asistido a las sesiones virtuales anteriores para participar en el encuentro presencial. Los músicos que aún no se hayan incorporado al programa pueden asistir, conocer la iniciativa y comenzar su proceso de formación junto a otros músicos de la diócesis.

La jornada se desarrollará en español y está dirigida principalmente a músicos de las comunidades hispanas de la diócesis. También están invitados quienes entiendan español, incluidos directores y músicos de habla inglesa interesados en conocer el repertorio y las tradiciones musicales de las comunidades hispanas.

Los ponentes

El evento contará con la participación de los músicos y compositores católicos Iván Díaz y Silvio Cuéllar.

Díaz, nacido y criado en Colombia, es compositor de música católica bilingüe, director coral y músico pastoral. Cuenta con una maestría en dirección coral y se desempeña actualmente como director de Campus Ministry en St. Thomas University, en Miami. Sus composiciones forman parte de varias colecciones de OCP, incluida Nuestra Alegría / Our Joy. En 2024 recibió el reconocimiento de Compositor Católico Distinguido del Año, otorgado por la Association of Catholic Publishers.

Cuéllar nació en Córdoba, Argentina, y creció en Bolivia antes de emigrar a Estados Unidos. Es músico pastoral, compositor, periodista y conferencista especializado en liturgia y vida familiar. Miembro fundador de la Asociación de Músicos Pastorales Hispanos, ha dedicado parte importante de su ministerio a la formación y el acompañamiento de comunidades católicas hispanas.

Contenido de la jornada

Durante el encuentro se abordarán temas como la espiritualidad del músico litúrgico, la técnica vocal y la formación de coros efectivos, con herramientas tanto prácticas como espirituales para quienes ejercen este ministerio en sus parroquias.

El programa incluirá también una sesión dedicada al repertorio de música de alabanza, utilizando el himnario Flor y Canto, cuarta edición, como recurso para explorar cantos apropiados para la celebración litúrgica en español.

Música y Misión busca fortalecer la formación de quienes sirven a través de la música y subrayar el papel que el canto y los instrumentos desempeñan en la participación de la comunidad durante la liturgia.

El costo de participación es de $25 e incluye alimentos. Para información y registro, comuníquese con Yessenia Castillo, de la Oficina del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Paterson, al (973) 538-0874, ext. 108, o por correo electrónico a hispanicoffice@patersondiocese.org.

Para suscribirse a nuestro boletín electrónico semanal, haga click aquí.

 

– Músicos, cantores, directores de coro e instrumentistas de la Diócesis de Paterson se reunirán el sábado 3 de octubre para una jornada de formación, oración y encuentro junto al Instituto OCP. El evento se celebrará de 8:00 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. en la iglesia St. Andrew the Apostle, ubicada en 400 Mt. Prospect Ave., Clifton. La jornada forma parte de Música y Misión, un programa de formación de un año dirigido a quienes sirven en el ministerio de la música litúrgica. A lo largo del programa, los participantes tienen acceso a sesiones virtuales a través de Facebook y Zoom sobre

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Padre Pio: 13 facts about St. Pio of Pietrelcina to know and share – #Catholic – One of the most popular Catholic saints of the 20th century, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as Padre Pio, was a Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic. His tomb can be found in the Sanctuary of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom about prayer and peace, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.As the Church celebrates his feast day on Sept. 23, here’s a look at 13 facts about St. Pio’s life and faith.1. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God.Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, he served as an altar boy at his local parish. At the early age of 5, he consecrated himself to Jesus. By the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could become a Capuchin friar.2. Padre Pio was only 15 when he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice.Being a young teenager, Francesco was given the name Pio or Pius when he entered as a novice. He professed his solemn vows three years later. No stranger to suffering amid frail health throughout much of his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1910. He ascended the Gargano mountains to the rural friary outside of San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916. He remained there for more than 50 years, until his death on Sept. 23, 1968.3. St. Pio received the visible wounds of Christ known as the stigmata, just like St. Francis of Assisi.On Sept. 20, 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata while praying in a church. The wounds remained visible on his body for the rest of his life. The wounds were on his hands, feet, and side, corresponding to the wounds suffered by Jesus during his crucifixion.4. The blood from his stigmata smelled of floral perfume.Referred to as the “odor of sanctity,” the blood that came from Padre Pio’s wounds is said to have smelled like perfume or as having a floral aroma. The trait has also been exhibited by other saints who manifested stigmata markings.5. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day.While listening to confessions, the saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessional. Padre Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins that were forgotten or omitted.The saint once said: “Confession is the soul’s bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!”6. Padre Pio suffered attacks from the devil on a consistent basis.From a young age, Padre Pio was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual warfare, including attacks of the devil. In a book written by Father Gabriele Amorth on Padre Pio, the famous exorcist of Rome said: “The great and constant struggle in the life of the saint was against the enemies of God and souls, those demons who sought to capture his soul.”Amorth continued: “The devil appeared to him under many different forms: as a big black cat, wild and threatening, or as a repulsive animal, in the clear intention to frighten him; under the appearance of naked and provocative young girls who danced obscene dances, obviously to test the chastity of the young priest. However, the worst was when the devil took on the appearance of his spiritual director, or posed as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or St. Francis.”7. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he could be in more than one place at a time.Multiple eyewitness accounts attest to the ability of Padre Pio to be in multiple places at once. Fellow friars remember seeing him in prayer outside when they knew he was still in his room. Some accounts come from others who claim to have seen him on different continents all over the world.As to how Padre Pio experienced such feats, the closest he ever came to an explanation of bilocation was to say that it occurred “by an extension of his personality.”8. A sighting of a “flying friar” kept war planes from bombing Padre Pio’s town during World War II.Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was Padre Pio’s appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during World War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands, American bombers were given the job of attacking the city of San Giovanni Rotondo. However, when they appeared over the city and prepared to unload their munitions, a brown-robed friar appeared before their aircraft. All attempts to release the bombs failed. In this way, Padre Pio kept his promise to the citizens that their town would be spared. Later on, when an American airbase was established at Foggia a few miles away, one of the pilots of the incident visited the friary and found, to his surprise, the friar he had seen in the air that day over San Giovanni.9. Before dying at the age of 81, all his wounds healed without scars, just as he had foretold they would 50 years prior.A doctor examining the saint’s body who was present when he was dying observed that the wounds of the stigmata were completely healed, without any trace or scar. Padre Pio’s body was placed in a coffin in the church of the monastery to allow pilgrims to visit and pray.10. Pilgrims can visit the rooms in which Padre Pio lived.All the cells where Padre Pio lived in Italy have been outfitted with vintage furnishings to make them look exactly like they were in the early 20th century. Each site also boasts a small museum with relics and artifacts from his life.11. Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio.Several miracles have been attributed to the saint’s intercession, including the story of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who visited Padre Pio. Born blind without pupils in either eye, she miraculously regained her sight after visiting him. One truly miraculous factor about her healing was that, although she could see, she still lacked pupils. Another miracle was chronicled on EWTN.12. He established a hospital.Living a life of suffering, made difficult by physical pain and sickness, Padre Pio was able to build a hospital with the help of generous sponsors. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, which means “Home for the Relief of the Suffering,” was inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The hospital sits atop a hill overlooking San Giovanni Rotondo. Starting with only about 250 beds and just enough equipment, the hospital is now known for its state-of-the-art facilities and services.13. Even before his death on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio reportedly spent his last moments in prayer.Beatified in 1999, St. Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002, by the late St. John Paul II. He is known among Catholics as St. Pio of Pietrelcina. More than 500,000 attended his canonization. He celebrated Mass the day before his death.This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted and updated by EWTN News.
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Padre Pio: 13 facts about St. Pio of Pietrelcina to know and share – #Catholic – One of the most popular Catholic saints of the 20th century, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as Padre Pio, was a Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic. His tomb can be found in the Sanctuary of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom about prayer and peace, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.As the Church celebrates his feast day on Sept. 23, here’s a look at 13 facts about St. Pio’s life and faith.1. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God.Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, he served as an altar boy at his local parish. At the early age of 5, he consecrated himself to Jesus. By the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could become a Capuchin friar.2. Padre Pio was only 15 when he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice.Being a young teenager, Francesco was given the name Pio or Pius when he entered as a novice. He professed his solemn vows three years later. No stranger to suffering amid frail health throughout much of his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1910. He ascended the Gargano mountains to the rural friary outside of San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916. He remained there for more than 50 years, until his death on Sept. 23, 1968.3. St. Pio received the visible wounds of Christ known as the stigmata, just like St. Francis of Assisi.On Sept. 20, 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata while praying in a church. The wounds remained visible on his body for the rest of his life. The wounds were on his hands, feet, and side, corresponding to the wounds suffered by Jesus during his crucifixion.4. The blood from his stigmata smelled of floral perfume.Referred to as the “odor of sanctity,” the blood that came from Padre Pio’s wounds is said to have smelled like perfume or as having a floral aroma. The trait has also been exhibited by other saints who manifested stigmata markings.5. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day.While listening to confessions, the saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessional. Padre Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins that were forgotten or omitted.The saint once said: “Confession is the soul’s bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!”6. Padre Pio suffered attacks from the devil on a consistent basis.From a young age, Padre Pio was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual warfare, including attacks of the devil. In a book written by Father Gabriele Amorth on Padre Pio, the famous exorcist of Rome said: “The great and constant struggle in the life of the saint was against the enemies of God and souls, those demons who sought to capture his soul.”Amorth continued: “The devil appeared to him under many different forms: as a big black cat, wild and threatening, or as a repulsive animal, in the clear intention to frighten him; under the appearance of naked and provocative young girls who danced obscene dances, obviously to test the chastity of the young priest. However, the worst was when the devil took on the appearance of his spiritual director, or posed as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or St. Francis.”7. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he could be in more than one place at a time.Multiple eyewitness accounts attest to the ability of Padre Pio to be in multiple places at once. Fellow friars remember seeing him in prayer outside when they knew he was still in his room. Some accounts come from others who claim to have seen him on different continents all over the world.As to how Padre Pio experienced such feats, the closest he ever came to an explanation of bilocation was to say that it occurred “by an extension of his personality.”8. A sighting of a “flying friar” kept war planes from bombing Padre Pio’s town during World War II.Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was Padre Pio’s appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during World War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands, American bombers were given the job of attacking the city of San Giovanni Rotondo. However, when they appeared over the city and prepared to unload their munitions, a brown-robed friar appeared before their aircraft. All attempts to release the bombs failed. In this way, Padre Pio kept his promise to the citizens that their town would be spared. Later on, when an American airbase was established at Foggia a few miles away, one of the pilots of the incident visited the friary and found, to his surprise, the friar he had seen in the air that day over San Giovanni.9. Before dying at the age of 81, all his wounds healed without scars, just as he had foretold they would 50 years prior.A doctor examining the saint’s body who was present when he was dying observed that the wounds of the stigmata were completely healed, without any trace or scar. Padre Pio’s body was placed in a coffin in the church of the monastery to allow pilgrims to visit and pray.10. Pilgrims can visit the rooms in which Padre Pio lived.All the cells where Padre Pio lived in Italy have been outfitted with vintage furnishings to make them look exactly like they were in the early 20th century. Each site also boasts a small museum with relics and artifacts from his life.11. Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio.Several miracles have been attributed to the saint’s intercession, including the story of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who visited Padre Pio. Born blind without pupils in either eye, she miraculously regained her sight after visiting him. One truly miraculous factor about her healing was that, although she could see, she still lacked pupils. Another miracle was chronicled on EWTN.12. He established a hospital.Living a life of suffering, made difficult by physical pain and sickness, Padre Pio was able to build a hospital with the help of generous sponsors. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, which means “Home for the Relief of the Suffering,” was inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The hospital sits atop a hill overlooking San Giovanni Rotondo. Starting with only about 250 beds and just enough equipment, the hospital is now known for its state-of-the-art facilities and services.13. Even before his death on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio reportedly spent his last moments in prayer.Beatified in 1999, St. Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002, by the late St. John Paul II. He is known among Catholics as St. Pio of Pietrelcina. More than 500,000 attended his canonization. He celebrated Mass the day before his death.This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted and updated by EWTN News.

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Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.

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Sri Lanka jails 15 for up to 260 years over Easter Sunday church bombings – #Catholic – Sri Lanka’s High Court has sentenced 15 men to prison terms of 200 to 260 years for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The convictions are the first directly tied to the attacks on three churches and three hotels that killed 279 people.A three-judge bench in Colombo delivered the verdict Sept. 22 after a nearly five-year trial involving 23,270 charges, LiCAS.news reported. Fourteen defendants were convicted on all counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possession of firearms and explosives under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Nine were acquitted, while a 15th was convicted on some counts. The court also ordered the confiscation of the convicts’ property.According to the sentencing list published by Sri Lanka Mirror, one defendant received 260 years, four received 240 years, five received 220 years, and five received 200 years. Prosecutors identified Mohamed Naufar, an Islamist preacher, as the ringleader who supported the suicide bombers, and he received 220 years.The dead included 45 foreign nationals, among them five U.S. citizens, according to the U.S. Justice Department.Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, director of mass communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, welcomed the ruling but said those convicted “represented only one part of the case,” Newswire reported. He also called for scrutiny of whether intelligence and security officials had enough information to prevent the attacks.“Finally, we have justice,” Fernando told Agence France-Presse. “It has taken a long time to get to this point.”Church presses for a full accountingFor years, the Church has pressed to identify those who ordered the attacks. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo called the 2020 release of several suspects “sad and unfortunate,” and Pope Francis urged Sri Lankan authorities in 2022 to clarify “definitively who was responsible.”In February 2026, police arrested former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay, and the archdiocese asked that the investigation proceed “unhindered from any quarters.” Sallay denies the allegations.In July, former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defense secretary Hemasiri Fernando were sentenced to death for failing to act on intelligence warnings. In August, Ranjith said the Church “cannot support capital punishment because it violates human dignity,” Radio Veritas Asia reported.In 2025, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints added the 167 Catholics killed in the bombings to its list of “Witnesses of Faith.”
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Sri Lanka jails 15 for up to 260 years over Easter Sunday church bombings – #Catholic – Sri Lanka’s High Court has sentenced 15 men to prison terms of 200 to 260 years for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The convictions are the first directly tied to the attacks on three churches and three hotels that killed 279 people.A three-judge bench in Colombo delivered the verdict Sept. 22 after a nearly five-year trial involving 23,270 charges, LiCAS.news reported. Fourteen defendants were convicted on all counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possession of firearms and explosives under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Nine were acquitted, while a 15th was convicted on some counts. The court also ordered the confiscation of the convicts’ property.According to the sentencing list published by Sri Lanka Mirror, one defendant received 260 years, four received 240 years, five received 220 years, and five received 200 years. Prosecutors identified Mohamed Naufar, an Islamist preacher, as the ringleader who supported the suicide bombers, and he received 220 years.The dead included 45 foreign nationals, among them five U.S. citizens, according to the U.S. Justice Department.Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, director of mass communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, welcomed the ruling but said those convicted “represented only one part of the case,” Newswire reported. He also called for scrutiny of whether intelligence and security officials had enough information to prevent the attacks.“Finally, we have justice,” Fernando told Agence France-Presse. “It has taken a long time to get to this point.”Church presses for a full accountingFor years, the Church has pressed to identify those who ordered the attacks. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo called the 2020 release of several suspects “sad and unfortunate,” and Pope Francis urged Sri Lankan authorities in 2022 to clarify “definitively who was responsible.”In February 2026, police arrested former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay, and the archdiocese asked that the investigation proceed “unhindered from any quarters.” Sallay denies the allegations.In July, former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defense secretary Hemasiri Fernando were sentenced to death for failing to act on intelligence warnings. In August, Ranjith said the Church “cannot support capital punishment because it violates human dignity,” Radio Veritas Asia reported.In 2025, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints added the 167 Catholics killed in the bombings to its list of “Witnesses of Faith.”

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The Archdiocese of Colombo welcomed the ruling but said those convicted are only part of the case, as a separate probe into alleged state links continues.

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Pope calls for protection of migrant minors: It is everyone’s responsibility – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV appealed on Wednesday to “everyone’s sense of responsibility” to protect migrant and refugee minors, stressing that children and teenagers are the most vulnerable and often endure “unspeakable suffering.”“Children and teenagers are the most vulnerable,” he said at the end of his weekly general audience, recalling that the World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 27.Following his catechesis in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff noted that many minors endure “unspeakable suffering: violence, torture, exploitation, traumatic conditions, and it is not uncommon for them to lose their lives along migration routes.”In light of this reality, he called for ensuring the protection and support of young migrants.“I appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility: Let us all feel a sense of involvement in the lives of these young people, who must always be protected and supported,” Leo XIV urged.The Church celebrates the World Day of Migrants and Refugees each year to raise awareness about the situation of displaced persons and to promote initiatives of welcome, integration, and accompaniment, with particular attention to those in the most vulnerable circumstances.In his message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, titled “Even Just One of These Children,” Pope Leo XIV insisted that “public and private institutions are obliged to place the protection and dignity of every migrant child and adolescent at the center” of their efforts.Progress is not opposed to Christian faithIn his catechesis, the pope challenged the “prejudice” that portrays scientific and technological progress as being opposed to the Christian faith and warned of the “tragedy of atheistic humanism” described by French Jesuit Cardinal Henri de Lubac.“In post-Christian humanisms, the human being and God are mistakenly presented as rivals: In order to assert his knowledge, his freedom, and his progress, man would have to emancipate himself from God. Ultimately, however, by denying the relationship with God, one also loses the possibility of affirming the transcendent value of the human person,” the pontiff said in St. Peter’s Square.According to Leo, this interpretation “has brought about a change in the way contemporary man views the world, compared with previous ages,” opening the door to a “prejudice” that prevails especially in that part of Western culture that has lost its reference to Christian revelation.As part of his reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes, the Holy Father invited the faithful to ask: “What is the value of human activity in the world, and therefore of technical, social, and scientific progress?”“Created in the image and likeness of God, the human being is the agent of progress. With freedom and intelligence, he increases his knowledge, thereby advancing society as a whole,” he explained.Pope Leo XIV also said: “Humanity — and with it work, progress, and the autonomy of created realities — is not absorbed or nullified by the encounter with God but rather taken up in its entirety, continuing to be, in Christ, free and active: Indeed, it is in him that it finds full truth and freedom.”Addressing the pilgrims gathered in the square, the pope said: “Christians, like everyone else, are involved in building the city of man, striving towards the end of all things and the encounter with God, and reminding those with whom they share the adventure of progress, science, and life of this ultimate purpose.”He added, however, that earthly progress must be clearly distinguished from the development of Christ’s kingdom.“Finally, let us recall that in order to become authentic human progress — that is, progress for the whole person and for all people — technical and scientific progress must be inspired and guided by charity. Only in this way can it always be placed in the service of human dignity and promote the living conditions of all, especially the most disadvantaged,” the pope concluded.This story was first published in two parts 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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Pope calls for protection of migrant minors: It is everyone’s responsibility – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV appealed on Wednesday to “everyone’s sense of responsibility” to protect migrant and refugee minors, stressing that children and teenagers are the most vulnerable and often endure “unspeakable suffering.”“Children and teenagers are the most vulnerable,” he said at the end of his weekly general audience, recalling that the World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 27.Following his catechesis in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff noted that many minors endure “unspeakable suffering: violence, torture, exploitation, traumatic conditions, and it is not uncommon for them to lose their lives along migration routes.”In light of this reality, he called for ensuring the protection and support of young migrants.“I appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility: Let us all feel a sense of involvement in the lives of these young people, who must always be protected and supported,” Leo XIV urged.The Church celebrates the World Day of Migrants and Refugees each year to raise awareness about the situation of displaced persons and to promote initiatives of welcome, integration, and accompaniment, with particular attention to those in the most vulnerable circumstances.In his message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, titled “Even Just One of These Children,” Pope Leo XIV insisted that “public and private institutions are obliged to place the protection and dignity of every migrant child and adolescent at the center” of their efforts.Progress is not opposed to Christian faithIn his catechesis, the pope challenged the “prejudice” that portrays scientific and technological progress as being opposed to the Christian faith and warned of the “tragedy of atheistic humanism” described by French Jesuit Cardinal Henri de Lubac.“In post-Christian humanisms, the human being and God are mistakenly presented as rivals: In order to assert his knowledge, his freedom, and his progress, man would have to emancipate himself from God. Ultimately, however, by denying the relationship with God, one also loses the possibility of affirming the transcendent value of the human person,” the pontiff said in St. Peter’s Square.According to Leo, this interpretation “has brought about a change in the way contemporary man views the world, compared with previous ages,” opening the door to a “prejudice” that prevails especially in that part of Western culture that has lost its reference to Christian revelation.As part of his reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes, the Holy Father invited the faithful to ask: “What is the value of human activity in the world, and therefore of technical, social, and scientific progress?”“Created in the image and likeness of God, the human being is the agent of progress. With freedom and intelligence, he increases his knowledge, thereby advancing society as a whole,” he explained.Pope Leo XIV also said: “Humanity — and with it work, progress, and the autonomy of created realities — is not absorbed or nullified by the encounter with God but rather taken up in its entirety, continuing to be, in Christ, free and active: Indeed, it is in him that it finds full truth and freedom.”Addressing the pilgrims gathered in the square, the pope said: “Christians, like everyone else, are involved in building the city of man, striving towards the end of all things and the encounter with God, and reminding those with whom they share the adventure of progress, science, and life of this ultimate purpose.”He added, however, that earthly progress must be clearly distinguished from the development of Christ’s kingdom.“Finally, let us recall that in order to become authentic human progress — that is, progress for the whole person and for all people — technical and scientific progress must be inspired and guided by charity. Only in this way can it always be placed in the service of human dignity and promote the living conditions of all, especially the most disadvantaged,” the pope concluded.This story was first published in two parts 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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The pope’s appeal followed a reflection on how human progress finds full truth and freedom in an encounter with God.

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Annual Walk of Hope supports Haiti schoolchildren #Catholic – Rainy weather didn’t deter about 50 people from coming out to support St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s second annual Walk of Hope, on Sept. 20, at Kantor Memorial Park in Gillette, N.J. Children were able to participate in educational and fun activities, and there were snacks, homemade treats, beverages and ice cream for all. Father Hernan Cely, St. Vincent’s pastor, led the walk kick-off prayer for the event, which raised more than ,000 from generous sponsors and donors, including many local businesses and organizations, to support St. Vincent’s sister parish, St. Paul in Nanpol in Haiti. This year, the funds will primarily support the school and meal program serving more than 130 schoolchildren. Since 2017, the Haiti’s Hope Ministry at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the Stirling neighborhood of Long Hill Township , N.J., has funded the installation of a solar-powered water pump filtration system, helped construct and operate a school, and started a school meal program. To learn more about Haiti’s Hope Ministry, please visit stvincentschurch.org. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Annual Walk of Hope supports Haiti schoolchildren #Catholic – Rainy weather didn’t deter about 50 people from coming out to support St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s second annual Walk of Hope, on Sept. 20, at Kantor Memorial Park in Gillette, N.J. Children were able to participate in educational and fun activities, and there were snacks, homemade treats, beverages and ice cream for all. Father Hernan Cely, St. Vincent’s pastor, led the walk kick-off prayer for the event, which raised more than $7,000 from generous sponsors and donors, including many local businesses and organizations, to support St. Vincent’s sister parish, St. Paul in Nanpol in Haiti. This year, the funds will primarily support the school and meal program serving more than 130 schoolchildren. Since 2017, the Haiti’s Hope Ministry at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the Stirling neighborhood of Long Hill Township , N.J., has funded the installation of a solar-powered water pump filtration system, helped construct and operate a school, and started a school meal program. To learn more about Haiti’s Hope Ministry, please visit stvincentschurch.org. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Annual Walk of Hope supports Haiti schoolchildren #Catholic –

Rainy weather didn’t deter about 50 people from coming out to support St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s second annual Walk of Hope, on Sept. 20, at Kantor Memorial Park in Gillette, N.J. Children were able to participate in educational and fun activities, and there were snacks, homemade treats, beverages and ice cream for all.

Father Hernan Cely, St. Vincent’s pastor, led the walk kick-off prayer for the event, which raised more than $7,000 from generous sponsors and donors, including many local businesses and organizations, to support St. Vincent’s sister parish, St. Paul in Nanpol in Haiti. This year, the funds will primarily support the school and meal program serving more than 130 schoolchildren.

Since 2017, the Haiti’s Hope Ministry at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the Stirling neighborhood of Long Hill Township , N.J., has funded the installation of a solar-powered water pump filtration system, helped construct and operate a school, and started a school meal program.

To learn more about Haiti’s Hope Ministry, please visit stvincentschurch.org.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– Rainy weather didn’t deter about 50 people from coming out to support St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s second annual Walk of Hope, on Sept. 20, at Kantor Memorial Park in Gillette, N.J. Children were able to participate in educational and fun activities, and there were snacks, homemade treats, beverages and ice cream for all. Father Hernan Cely, St. Vincent’s pastor, led the walk kick-off prayer for the event, which raised more than $7,000 from generous sponsors and donors, including many local businesses and organizations, to support St. Vincent’s sister parish, St. Paul in Nanpol in Haiti. This year, the funds

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The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 23: Around Reiner Gamma

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 22: The autumnal equinox The bright Moon stands prominently in Aquarius the Water-bearer this evening, quickly waxing toward Full. Swing your scope up toward Earth’s lone satellite tonight and focus in on a point just east of the terminator dividing nightContinue reading “The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 23: Around Reiner Gamma”

The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 23: Around Reiner Gamma appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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