Day: October 14, 2026

Catholic lung cancer specialists weigh in on Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis #Catholic Representatives of the American Lung Association and the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) discussed possible underlying causes of Pope Leo XIVʼs lung cancer and potential treatment options.Dr. Jeff McGovern, a pulmonologist, and Dr. Juanita Mora, spokesperson for the American Lung Association, appeared on “EWTN News Nightly” on Oct. 14 to discuss the Holy Father’s health following surgery. The Oct. 13 surgery involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.“It is the most common cause of lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers,” said McGovern, a CMA member. He said “treatments can be varying depending on the size,” and can involve chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation in addition to the surgical removal of the lower part of the lung.The type of ongoing treatment the pope receives will depend on the results of a pathology test, which will reveal the stage of the cancer and whether it is contained or has spread to other areas, McGovern said.The pathology test “usually takes a couple of days,” or sometimes even longer, he said, but noted that because the patient is the Holy Father, “I would expect the pathology would be available a lot sooner than usual.”“In the best of all possible worlds, if it is contained, then going forward, as far as treatment, itʼs a CT scan every six months and then after about two or three years, a year thereafter. And that would be the treatment, and that would be the ideal setting for the Holy Father,” he said.Mora, a Catholic who is also from Chicago, Pope Leo’s hometown, said if the Holy Father’s pathology report reveals that the cancer has not spread, the survival rate is 80% to 90%. A spread would determine “whether he will get chemotherapy, radiotherapy or whether he will need actual immunotherapy thatʼs geared exactly to the biomarkers of the tumor that turn positive.” Mora said the Holy Father is “someone who is active,” playing tennis and staying in shape. “He’s a 71-year-old healthy, strong man. This is what Pope Leo has going for him,” she said. “We know that heʼs going to be at higher risk for some viral respiratory infections,” she said. “So, it is important for him to get his Covid-19 vaccine, his flu vaccine, and his RSV vaccine for those that are eligible.”In terms of travel, Mora said his doctors may determine he needs anticoagulation, or blood thinners, “so that heʼs at less risk of developing any clots, especially with the long flight that he has, [as well as] all the respiratory virus infections.”By the numbers: Impact of lung cancer“One person is diagnosed with lung cancer every 2.5 minutes,” Mora said. “In the United States, we lose 238,000 people a year due to lung cancer. And itʼs the No. 1 cause of mortality from cancer in both men and women in the United States.”In addition to smoking, Mora highlighted several other causes of lung cancer, including radon gas, “a colorless, odorless gas that can seep in through cracks in our ground, in our home, or through cracks in walls,” ozone pollution, and particle contamination.
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Catholic lung cancer specialists weigh in on Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis #Catholic Representatives of the American Lung Association and the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) discussed possible underlying causes of Pope Leo XIVʼs lung cancer and potential treatment options.Dr. Jeff McGovern, a pulmonologist, and Dr. Juanita Mora, spokesperson for the American Lung Association, appeared on “EWTN News Nightly” on Oct. 14 to discuss the Holy Father’s health following surgery. The Oct. 13 surgery involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.“It is the most common cause of lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers,” said McGovern, a CMA member. He said “treatments can be varying depending on the size,” and can involve chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation in addition to the surgical removal of the lower part of the lung.The type of ongoing treatment the pope receives will depend on the results of a pathology test, which will reveal the stage of the cancer and whether it is contained or has spread to other areas, McGovern said.The pathology test “usually takes a couple of days,” or sometimes even longer, he said, but noted that because the patient is the Holy Father, “I would expect the pathology would be available a lot sooner than usual.”“In the best of all possible worlds, if it is contained, then going forward, as far as treatment, itʼs a CT scan every six months and then after about two or three years, a year thereafter. And that would be the treatment, and that would be the ideal setting for the Holy Father,” he said.Mora, a Catholic who is also from Chicago, Pope Leo’s hometown, said if the Holy Father’s pathology report reveals that the cancer has not spread, the survival rate is 80% to 90%. A spread would determine “whether he will get chemotherapy, radiotherapy or whether he will need actual immunotherapy thatʼs geared exactly to the biomarkers of the tumor that turn positive.” Mora said the Holy Father is “someone who is active,” playing tennis and staying in shape. “He’s a 71-year-old healthy, strong man. This is what Pope Leo has going for him,” she said. “We know that heʼs going to be at higher risk for some viral respiratory infections,” she said. “So, it is important for him to get his Covid-19 vaccine, his flu vaccine, and his RSV vaccine for those that are eligible.”In terms of travel, Mora said his doctors may determine he needs anticoagulation, or blood thinners, “so that heʼs at less risk of developing any clots, especially with the long flight that he has, [as well as] all the respiratory virus infections.”By the numbers: Impact of lung cancer“One person is diagnosed with lung cancer every 2.5 minutes,” Mora said. “In the United States, we lose 238,000 people a year due to lung cancer. And itʼs the No. 1 cause of mortality from cancer in both men and women in the United States.”In addition to smoking, Mora highlighted several other causes of lung cancer, including radon gas, “a colorless, odorless gas that can seep in through cracks in our ground, in our home, or through cracks in walls,” ozone pollution, and particle contamination.

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“It is the most common cause of lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers,” said Jeff McGovern, a pulmonologist, about Pope Leo’s diagnosis.

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Wanaque parish honors patron on Feast of St. Francis #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit. St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church. Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main celebrant and homilist. In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, the parish offered refreshments after the weekend Masses. Outside the church stands a new statue, crafted by artisans in Italy and flown to the United States, made possible by a parishioner’s donation. “It was wonderful to welcome Bishop Sweeney for the Feast of St. Francis. He spoke about how St. Francis is dedicated to others, nature, to God, to the poor, to the Church, and bestowed the Gifts of the Holy Spirit upon our confirmandi,” Father Golba said. Bishop Sweeney visited St. Francis on Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus (his passing from earthly life to eternal life with God). It was part of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., celebrations for the 800th anniversary, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, which the universal Church is commemorating. For the anniversary year, faithful are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession. On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims can avail themselves of a plenary indulgence. These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton. Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis. To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God. Click here for a list of Masses and confessions at pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Paterson for the Year of St. Francis. In a recent bulletin reflection, Father Golba wrote that St. Francis “remains one of the most beloved saints in the history of Christianity.” “St. Francis shows us that holiness does not require us to become famous or powerful. Holiness begins when we allow Christ to transform our hearts, Francis became great not because he sought greatness, but because he became small before God and available to others,” Father Golba wrote. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]   Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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Wanaque parish honors patron on Feast of St. Francis #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit. St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church. Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main celebrant and homilist. In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, the parish offered refreshments after the weekend Masses. Outside the church stands a new statue, crafted by artisans in Italy and flown to the United States, made possible by a parishioner’s donation. “It was wonderful to welcome Bishop Sweeney for the Feast of St. Francis. He spoke about how St. Francis is dedicated to others, nature, to God, to the poor, to the Church, and bestowed the Gifts of the Holy Spirit upon our confirmandi,” Father Golba said. Bishop Sweeney visited St. Francis on Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus (his passing from earthly life to eternal life with God). It was part of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., celebrations for the 800th anniversary, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, which the universal Church is commemorating. For the anniversary year, faithful are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession. On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims can avail themselves of a plenary indulgence. These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton. Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis. To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God. Click here for a list of Masses and confessions at pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Paterson for the Year of St. Francis. In a recent bulletin reflection, Father Golba wrote that St. Francis “remains one of the most beloved saints in the history of Christianity.” “St. Francis shows us that holiness does not require us to become famous or powerful. Holiness begins when we allow Christ to transform our hearts, Francis became great not because he sought greatness, but because he became small before God and available to others,” Father Golba wrote. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]   Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

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Wanaque parish honors patron on Feast of St. Francis #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit.

St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church.

Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main celebrant and homilist. In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, the parish offered refreshments after the weekend Masses. Outside the church stands a new statue, crafted by artisans in Italy and flown to the United States, made possible by a parishioner’s donation.

“It was wonderful to welcome Bishop Sweeney for the Feast of St. Francis. He spoke about how St. Francis is dedicated to others, nature, to God, to the poor, to the Church, and bestowed the Gifts of the Holy Spirit upon our confirmandi,” Father Golba said.

Bishop Sweeney visited St. Francis on Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus (his passing from earthly life to eternal life with God). It was part of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., celebrations for the 800th anniversary, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, which the universal Church is commemorating.

For the anniversary year, faithful are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession.

On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims can avail themselves of a plenary indulgence.
These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton. Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis.

To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God.

Click here for a list of Masses and confessions at pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Paterson for the Year of St. Francis.

In a recent bulletin reflection, Father Golba wrote that St. Francis “remains one of the most beloved saints in the history of Christianity.”

“St. Francis shows us that holiness does not require us to become famous or powerful. Holiness begins
when we allow Christ to transform our hearts, Francis became great not because he sought greatness, but because he became small before God and available to others,” Father Golba wrote.

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

 

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit. St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church. Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 15 October 2026 – A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 1:1-10 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In Christ we have redemption by his Blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.From the Gospel according to Luke 11:47-54 The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets  whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.This taking away the ability to understand God’s revelation, to understand the heart of God, to understand God’s salvation—the key to knowledge—we can say that it represents a serious oversight. The gratuitousness of salvation is forgotten; the closeness of God is forgotten, and the mercy of God is forgotten. And those who forget the gratuitousness of salvation, the closeness of God, and the mercy of God, have taken away the key to knowledge. (…) This happens even today. The Pharisees, the doctors of the law, are not just figures of those times; even today, there are many. This is why it is necessary to pray for us shepherds. To pray, so that we do not lose the key to knowledge and do not close the door to ourselves and to the people who want to enter. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 19 October 2017)

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A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
1:1-10

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
to the holy ones who are in Ephesus
and faithful in Christ Jesus:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.

In Christ we have redemption by his Blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

From the Gospel according to Luke
11:47-54

The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets 
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

This taking away the ability to understand God’s revelation, to understand the heart of God, to understand God’s salvation—the key to knowledge—we can say that it represents a serious oversight. The gratuitousness of salvation is forgotten; the closeness of God is forgotten, and the mercy of God is forgotten. And those who forget the gratuitousness of salvation, the closeness of God, and the mercy of God, have taken away the key to knowledge. (…)

This happens even today. The Pharisees, the doctors of the law, are not just figures of those times; even today, there are many. This is why it is necessary to pray for us shepherds. To pray, so that we do not lose the key to knowledge and do not close the door to ourselves and to the people who want to enter. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 19 October 2017)

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Pope Leo XIV sends message after surgery to Vatican conference, asks for prayers #Catholic Pope Leo XIV, recovering from lung cancer surgery in Rome, sent a request for prayers to participants in a Vatican conference.“As you know, I have been unable to be among you during these days,” Pope Leo wrote in the Oct. 14 message to clergy members and Catholics. “I thank you warmly for your prayers and for the work you have done together. Your sharing of experiences and attentive listening are indeed a gift to the whole Church.”The pope’s message was read at the conclusion of the conference “10 Years After Amoris Laetitia: Proclaiming the Gospel with Families Today,” a meeting examining the legacy of the apostolic exhortation and how to strengthen family participation in the churchʼs mission.“Entrusting each of you to the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth, I ask you please to pray for me, as I pray for you,” he wrote.The pope encouraged participants to bring the meetingʼs insights back to their bishops' conferences and dioceses, continue proclaiming the Gospel with families, and ensure families remain active participants in the life and mission of local churches.Leo’s homily deliveredAt the closing Mass for the conference “10 Years After Amoris Laetitia: Proclaiming the Gospel with Families Today,” Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered a homily prepared by Pope Leo XIV, saying, “the world has no future without strong families open to the gift of children and attentive to their education and growth.”Families and faith communities should accompany people facing hardship with compassion rather than condemnation, the pope’s homily said. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 14, 2026, in place of Pope Leo XIV for the closing of a meeting marking 10 years of Amoris Laetitia. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News “Those who are more vulnerable, or who are experiencing difficult circumstances and moments of crisis, will also find support and encouragement, surrounded by affection and shielded from judgment and prejudice. Let us remember that ‘as wounded as the family may be, it can always grow beginning with love,’” Tagle said, delivering the homily prepared by Pope Leo.
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Pope Leo XIV sends message after surgery to Vatican conference, asks for prayers #Catholic Pope Leo XIV, recovering from lung cancer surgery in Rome, sent a request for prayers to participants in a Vatican conference.“As you know, I have been unable to be among you during these days,” Pope Leo wrote in the Oct. 14 message to clergy members and Catholics. “I thank you warmly for your prayers and for the work you have done together. Your sharing of experiences and attentive listening are indeed a gift to the whole Church.”The pope’s message was read at the conclusion of the conference “10 Years After Amoris Laetitia: Proclaiming the Gospel with Families Today,” a meeting examining the legacy of the apostolic exhortation and how to strengthen family participation in the churchʼs mission.“Entrusting each of you to the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth, I ask you please to pray for me, as I pray for you,” he wrote.The pope encouraged participants to bring the meetingʼs insights back to their bishops' conferences and dioceses, continue proclaiming the Gospel with families, and ensure families remain active participants in the life and mission of local churches.Leo’s homily deliveredAt the closing Mass for the conference “10 Years After Amoris Laetitia: Proclaiming the Gospel with Families Today,” Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered a homily prepared by Pope Leo XIV, saying, “the world has no future without strong families open to the gift of children and attentive to their education and growth.”Families and faith communities should accompany people facing hardship with compassion rather than condemnation, the pope’s homily said. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 14, 2026, in place of Pope Leo XIV for the closing of a meeting marking 10 years of Amoris Laetitia. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News “Those who are more vulnerable, or who are experiencing difficult circumstances and moments of crisis, will also find support and encouragement, surrounded by affection and shielded from judgment and prejudice. Let us remember that ‘as wounded as the family may be, it can always grow beginning with love,’” Tagle said, delivering the homily prepared by Pope Leo.

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“I ask you please to pray for me, as I pray for you,” Pope Leo XIV wrote.

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U.S. Catholic bishops, National Association of Evangelicals issue joint declaration on immigration – #Catholic – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) have teamed up in calling for “compassion” in immigration policy amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown.Bishop Brendan Cahill, who chairs the USCCB Committee on Migration, signed onto the five-page document along with NAE President Walter Kim, as part of a joint effort called the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration (ECDI).“We write as Christian leaders who love our country and our immigrant neighbors,” they wrote in an Oct. 13 statement titled “A Call for Christian Compassion and Wisdom in the Immigration Debate.”“As Catholic and evangelical Christians, we have doctrinal differences, but we are united in our conviction that God calls us to stand both with our fellow Americans who are experiencing economic and cultural anxieties and with our immigrant neighbors who are facing existential challenges,” they indicated.According to a USCCB news release, ECDI timed the statement to correspond with an increase in reported detentions and deportations, as well as the ending of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of several countries, including Haitians and Syrians.The document puts a “special focus” on children and families, citing Matt. 18:5, in which Christ says, “whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”Cahill and Kim emphasized all people, regardless of where they are born or their immigration status, are made in the image of God, adding: “This dignity comes from God, not government, and no earthly power may erase it.”“The stranger is not merely a burden to bear,” they wrote. “Again and again, God has blessed his people through the outsider. From Ruth the Moabite to the present day, immigrants can bring renewal to congregations and communities that welcome them. We lament approaches that pit citizens against noncitizens.”Both leaders said that they recognize the government’s responsibility to secure and manage borders, but that governments must also uphold religious liberty, protect the persecuted, and facilitate pathways for legal immigration.Cahill and Kim encouraged “a better path forward,” which they argued would be consistent with all of those obligations.“Catholic and evangelical Christians make up a large portion of our American citizenry,” the letter added. “Majorities of evangelicals and Catholics support immigration reform that would provide meaningful opportunities for longtime residents to regularize their status.”According to the document, one element is secure borders and targeted immigration enforcement that protects family unity and prioritizes action against people who are a threat to public safety. Other elements include limiting detentions of non-violent people, access to chaplains, and more legal pathways to permanent status for workers, family members, and humanitarian populations.Cahill and Kim asked Christians to pray for their leaders as commanded in 1 Tim. 2:1-2, which reads: “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”“Our promise of prayer extends to our law enforcement officers, our policymakers, our judges, and all in our communities who play an essential role in building up the common good,” they wrote.“Every Christian deserves to know that he or she has been made a new creation in Christ and is a member of his Body — no matter what the particular circumstances of duty or residence,” the document points out.
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U.S. Catholic bishops, National Association of Evangelicals issue joint declaration on immigration – #Catholic – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) have teamed up in calling for “compassion” in immigration policy amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown.Bishop Brendan Cahill, who chairs the USCCB Committee on Migration, signed onto the five-page document along with NAE President Walter Kim, as part of a joint effort called the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration (ECDI).“We write as Christian leaders who love our country and our immigrant neighbors,” they wrote in an Oct. 13 statement titled “A Call for Christian Compassion and Wisdom in the Immigration Debate.”“As Catholic and evangelical Christians, we have doctrinal differences, but we are united in our conviction that God calls us to stand both with our fellow Americans who are experiencing economic and cultural anxieties and with our immigrant neighbors who are facing existential challenges,” they indicated.According to a USCCB news release, ECDI timed the statement to correspond with an increase in reported detentions and deportations, as well as the ending of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of several countries, including Haitians and Syrians.The document puts a “special focus” on children and families, citing Matt. 18:5, in which Christ says, “whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”Cahill and Kim emphasized all people, regardless of where they are born or their immigration status, are made in the image of God, adding: “This dignity comes from God, not government, and no earthly power may erase it.”“The stranger is not merely a burden to bear,” they wrote. “Again and again, God has blessed his people through the outsider. From Ruth the Moabite to the present day, immigrants can bring renewal to congregations and communities that welcome them. We lament approaches that pit citizens against noncitizens.”Both leaders said that they recognize the government’s responsibility to secure and manage borders, but that governments must also uphold religious liberty, protect the persecuted, and facilitate pathways for legal immigration.Cahill and Kim encouraged “a better path forward,” which they argued would be consistent with all of those obligations.“Catholic and evangelical Christians make up a large portion of our American citizenry,” the letter added. “Majorities of evangelicals and Catholics support immigration reform that would provide meaningful opportunities for longtime residents to regularize their status.”According to the document, one element is secure borders and targeted immigration enforcement that protects family unity and prioritizes action against people who are a threat to public safety. Other elements include limiting detentions of non-violent people, access to chaplains, and more legal pathways to permanent status for workers, family members, and humanitarian populations.Cahill and Kim asked Christians to pray for their leaders as commanded in 1 Tim. 2:1-2, which reads: “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”“Our promise of prayer extends to our law enforcement officers, our policymakers, our judges, and all in our communities who play an essential role in building up the common good,” they wrote.“Every Christian deserves to know that he or she has been made a new creation in Christ and is a member of his Body — no matter what the particular circumstances of duty or residence,” the document points out.

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The document “A Call for Christian Compassion and Wisdom in the Immigration Debate” is the product of the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration.

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More than two million people participate in procession in Brazil – #Catholic – The 234th Círio de Nazaré, a traditional pilgrimage honoring Our Lady of Nazareth, drew approximately 2.3 million people to the streets of Belém in Pará state, Brazil, on Sunday, Oct. 11 for a procession that according to organizers is the largest in Brazil and one of the largest in the world. The procession took about five hours for participants to cover the 3.6-kilometer (about 2.25 miles) route from the Belém Metropolitan Cathedral to Sanctuary Square located in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth.The Círio’s Sunday program began at 6:00 a.m. with a Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Belém, Julio Akamine Endi, in front of the metropolitan cathedral. In his homily, he highlighted the significance of the procession as an expression of a shared journey toward Christ.“The procession is very slow and takes a long time, but the pace is because we don’t want to leave anyone behind; we don’t want to abandon anyone along the way. We want everyone to reach Jesus Christ, to reach eternal life together,” he said.“What kind of salvation is it where we leave others behind? We want to walk together, and this must also be reflected in our evangelizing and missionary work,” the archbishop continued.In closing, he invoked the intercession of Our Lady of Nazareth so that the faithful might persevere on this journey: “May Our Lady of Nazareth, in whose honor we hold this most beautiful procession, help us to walk together toward the definitive Kingdom.”Akamine also urged the faithful to care for others and to look after the salvation of their brothers and sisters, following Mary’s example.“Let us ask Our Lady of Nazareth that we may know how to be submissive to God, just as she was, and that we may also care more, having zeal for the salvation of our brothers and sisters. We do not achieve this by seeking to claim a leading role that is not ours. The leading role always belongs to God. He is the Savior. He is the Savior of all. He is our Savior. And it is by obeying God that we actively collaborate in the salvation of humanity,” he noted.Devotees fulfilling vows express their faith on the streets of BelémAfter Mass, the image of Our Lady of Nazareth was placed on the “berlinda” (a ceremonial carriage) and taken in procession through the streets of Belém, pulled by a rope, one of the symbols of the Círio festival, that devotees strive to hold onto.Along the route, devotees fulfilled their vows in various ways: walking on their knees, carrying heavy crosses or images of Our Lady, performing ballet, and even while blindfolded.Among those fulfilling vows was 28-year-old Fabrício Corrêa, who traversed the route on his knees to honor a promise made for his motherʼs recovery. She was facing complications resulting from diabetes and was at risk of having one of her feet amputated.“I am an Evangelical and asked God to heal her, but I also went to the basilica and asked Our Lady to intercede with Jesus so that he would grant this healing to my mother,” Corrêa told the website O Liberal.According to him, a week later, the family received the news that the amputation would not be necessary. His mother lost only one of her toes, and Fabrício fulfilled the vow during this year’s Círio.“I promised that if she interceded, I would fulfill that vow. I kept that to myself,” he said. His mother, a Catholic, did not know her son had made the vow and only learned of his participation in the Círio after the video went viral on social media.Along the route, individuals and institutions also paid tribute to Our Lady of Nazareth. To help alleviate the heat, the fire department used water trucks, while volunteers distributed water to the pilgrims.After the image arrived at Sanctuary Square, the program for the procession concluded with a Mass celebrated by the auxiliary bishop of Belém, Paulo Andreolli.The Círio schedule of events continues throughout October with other pilgrimages and religious activities, leading up to the “Recírio”, which marks the conclusion of the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth.This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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More than two million people participate in procession in Brazil – #Catholic – The 234th Círio de Nazaré, a traditional pilgrimage honoring Our Lady of Nazareth, drew approximately 2.3 million people to the streets of Belém in Pará state, Brazil, on Sunday, Oct. 11 for a procession that according to organizers is the largest in Brazil and one of the largest in the world. The procession took about five hours for participants to cover the 3.6-kilometer (about 2.25 miles) route from the Belém Metropolitan Cathedral to Sanctuary Square located in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth.The Círio’s Sunday program began at 6:00 a.m. with a Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Belém, Julio Akamine Endi, in front of the metropolitan cathedral. In his homily, he highlighted the significance of the procession as an expression of a shared journey toward Christ.“The procession is very slow and takes a long time, but the pace is because we don’t want to leave anyone behind; we don’t want to abandon anyone along the way. We want everyone to reach Jesus Christ, to reach eternal life together,” he said.“What kind of salvation is it where we leave others behind? We want to walk together, and this must also be reflected in our evangelizing and missionary work,” the archbishop continued.In closing, he invoked the intercession of Our Lady of Nazareth so that the faithful might persevere on this journey: “May Our Lady of Nazareth, in whose honor we hold this most beautiful procession, help us to walk together toward the definitive Kingdom.”Akamine also urged the faithful to care for others and to look after the salvation of their brothers and sisters, following Mary’s example.“Let us ask Our Lady of Nazareth that we may know how to be submissive to God, just as she was, and that we may also care more, having zeal for the salvation of our brothers and sisters. We do not achieve this by seeking to claim a leading role that is not ours. The leading role always belongs to God. He is the Savior. He is the Savior of all. He is our Savior. And it is by obeying God that we actively collaborate in the salvation of humanity,” he noted.Devotees fulfilling vows express their faith on the streets of BelémAfter Mass, the image of Our Lady of Nazareth was placed on the “berlinda” (a ceremonial carriage) and taken in procession through the streets of Belém, pulled by a rope, one of the symbols of the Círio festival, that devotees strive to hold onto.Along the route, devotees fulfilled their vows in various ways: walking on their knees, carrying heavy crosses or images of Our Lady, performing ballet, and even while blindfolded.Among those fulfilling vows was 28-year-old Fabrício Corrêa, who traversed the route on his knees to honor a promise made for his motherʼs recovery. She was facing complications resulting from diabetes and was at risk of having one of her feet amputated.“I am an Evangelical and asked God to heal her, but I also went to the basilica and asked Our Lady to intercede with Jesus so that he would grant this healing to my mother,” Corrêa told the website O Liberal.According to him, a week later, the family received the news that the amputation would not be necessary. His mother lost only one of her toes, and Fabrício fulfilled the vow during this year’s Círio.“I promised that if she interceded, I would fulfill that vow. I kept that to myself,” he said. His mother, a Catholic, did not know her son had made the vow and only learned of his participation in the Círio after the video went viral on social media.Along the route, individuals and institutions also paid tribute to Our Lady of Nazareth. To help alleviate the heat, the fire department used water trucks, while volunteers distributed water to the pilgrims.After the image arrived at Sanctuary Square, the program for the procession concluded with a Mass celebrated by the auxiliary bishop of Belém, Paulo Andreolli.The Círio schedule of events continues throughout October with other pilgrimages and religious activities, leading up to the “Recírio”, which marks the conclusion of the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth.This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The massive, five-hour procession in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth begins and ends with a Mass and features pilgrims fulfilling vows for favors granted

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Children with disabilities reveal ‘beautiful diversity’ #Catholic – In 1983, Cubby LaHood was pregnant with her first child and wanted to work from home. She decided to offer daycare for children with disabilities because that’s what she had experience doing. Cubby and her husband Dan came to name their ministry St. Joseph’s House and raised their own kids there, including Joe, who now runs St. Joseph’s House with his wife Natalie. During a “Christopher Closeup” interview, Joe explained, “When you’re a child growing up in this environment, you adapt to what is around you…I was given so many gifts from the kids, in terms of being able to understand how we are all created in the image and likeness of God, no matter what we look like, what we sound like, if we can walk, if we can’t walk, how we eat, if we’re fed through a tube, or if we’re able to use our hands. Just being able to experience the beautiful diversity of the human person was such a gift to me as a child. And now that Natalie and I’s children get to experience that as well, it’s just incredible.” Natalie didn’t get to know Joe until 10 years ago, but she had already developed her own passion for helping vulnerable human beings through volunteer work in the U.S. and Thailand. She said, “That instilled in me the importance of being able to be a compassionate presence for anyone in the world. The deepest desire of the human heart is to know that we’re not alone, that we’re loved by God and those around us, and to know that we have someone to accompany us.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. When Natalie met Joe, he was the first person whose values and experiences reflected her own, so they immediately connected. Joe recalled, “We were engaged, and my mom had just died at age 58 after a years-long battle with ovarian and breast cancer. We knew how important this work was to all the families we serve, but we also knew that there were going to be many more families in the years to come and…they can live very isolated lives. We decided that we wanted to [run St. Joseph’s House] for our family, for their families, and to make it part of our greater community, which we have tried to do here in Hyattsville, Maryland.” The “kids” at St. Joseph’s House range in age from five to 21, and the community they have found there is making a profound difference. Natalie said, “Many are with us, and with each other, for years of their childhood and adolescence. To see a nonverbal autistic child walk into our home and light up with a smile and know…where their friends are…where they know they’re known and loved and…they can come and be themselves, is beautiful to be a part of.” Joe hopes that through their efforts at St. Joseph’s House—and through interviews like this—society will be more embracing of families dealing with disabilities. He concluded, “[Don’t] be afraid, if you see someone with a disability at the playground or at school, to treat them like a normal child and befriend them, or talk to their parents because it can be very isolating. I feel like that’s our mission at St. Joseph’s House: to help get kids and families out in the world so there can be encounters and real relationships made. We hope that’s what we do in our community, and we hope that that can happen in other communities as well.” Tony Rossi is director of communications for The Christophers. For free copies of the Christopher News Note We Belong To Each Other, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th St., Room 603, New York, N.Y. 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org
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Children with disabilities reveal ‘beautiful diversity’ #Catholic – In 1983, Cubby LaHood was pregnant with her first child and wanted to work from home. She decided to offer daycare for children with disabilities because that’s what she had experience doing. Cubby and her husband Dan came to name their ministry St. Joseph’s House and raised their own kids there, including Joe, who now runs St. Joseph’s House with his wife Natalie. During a “Christopher Closeup” interview, Joe explained, “When you’re a child growing up in this environment, you adapt to what is around you…I was given so many gifts from the kids, in terms of being able to understand how we are all created in the image and likeness of God, no matter what we look like, what we sound like, if we can walk, if we can’t walk, how we eat, if we’re fed through a tube, or if we’re able to use our hands. Just being able to experience the beautiful diversity of the human person was such a gift to me as a child. And now that Natalie and I’s children get to experience that as well, it’s just incredible.” Natalie didn’t get to know Joe until 10 years ago, but she had already developed her own passion for helping vulnerable human beings through volunteer work in the U.S. and Thailand. She said, “That instilled in me the importance of being able to be a compassionate presence for anyone in the world. The deepest desire of the human heart is to know that we’re not alone, that we’re loved by God and those around us, and to know that we have someone to accompany us.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. When Natalie met Joe, he was the first person whose values and experiences reflected her own, so they immediately connected. Joe recalled, “We were engaged, and my mom had just died at age 58 after a years-long battle with ovarian and breast cancer. We knew how important this work was to all the families we serve, but we also knew that there were going to be many more families in the years to come and…they can live very isolated lives. We decided that we wanted to [run St. Joseph’s House] for our family, for their families, and to make it part of our greater community, which we have tried to do here in Hyattsville, Maryland.” The “kids” at St. Joseph’s House range in age from five to 21, and the community they have found there is making a profound difference. Natalie said, “Many are with us, and with each other, for years of their childhood and adolescence. To see a nonverbal autistic child walk into our home and light up with a smile and know…where their friends are…where they know they’re known and loved and…they can come and be themselves, is beautiful to be a part of.” Joe hopes that through their efforts at St. Joseph’s House—and through interviews like this—society will be more embracing of families dealing with disabilities. He concluded, “[Don’t] be afraid, if you see someone with a disability at the playground or at school, to treat them like a normal child and befriend them, or talk to their parents because it can be very isolating. I feel like that’s our mission at St. Joseph’s House: to help get kids and families out in the world so there can be encounters and real relationships made. We hope that’s what we do in our community, and we hope that that can happen in other communities as well.” Tony Rossi is director of communications for The Christophers. For free copies of the Christopher News Note We Belong To Each Other, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th St., Room 603, New York, N.Y. 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org

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Children with disabilities reveal ‘beautiful diversity’ #Catholic –

In 1983, Cubby LaHood was pregnant with her first child and wanted to work from home. She decided to offer daycare for children with disabilities because that’s what she had experience doing. Cubby and her husband Dan came to name their ministry St. Joseph’s House and raised their own kids there, including Joe, who now runs St. Joseph’s House with his wife Natalie.

During a “Christopher Closeup” interview, Joe explained, “When you’re a child growing up in this environment, you adapt to what is around you…I was given so many gifts from the kids, in terms of being able to understand how we are all created in the image and likeness of God, no matter what we look like, what we sound like, if we can walk, if we can’t walk, how we eat, if we’re fed through a tube, or if we’re able to use our hands. Just being able to experience the beautiful diversity of the human person was such a gift to me as a child. And now that Natalie and I’s children get to experience that as well, it’s just incredible.”

Natalie didn’t get to know Joe until 10 years ago, but she had already developed her own passion for helping vulnerable human beings through volunteer work in the U.S. and Thailand. She said, “That instilled in me the importance of being able to be a compassionate presence for anyone in the world. The deepest desire of the human heart is to know that we’re not alone, that we’re loved by God and those around us, and to know that we have someone to accompany us.”

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

When Natalie met Joe, he was the first person whose values and experiences reflected her own, so they immediately connected. Joe recalled, “We were engaged, and my mom had just died at age 58 after a years-long battle with ovarian and breast cancer. We knew how important this work was to all the families we serve, but we also knew that there were going to be many more families in the years to come and…they can live very isolated lives. We decided that we wanted to [run St. Joseph’s House] for our family, for their families, and to make it part of our greater community, which we have tried to do here in Hyattsville, Maryland.”

The “kids” at St. Joseph’s House range in age from five to 21, and the community they have found there is making a profound difference. Natalie said, “Many are with us, and with each other, for years of their childhood and adolescence. To see a nonverbal autistic child walk into our home and light up with a smile and know…where their friends are…where they know they’re known and loved and…they can come and be themselves, is beautiful to be a part of.”

Joe hopes that through their efforts at St. Joseph’s House—and through interviews like this—society will be more embracing of families dealing with disabilities. He concluded, “[Don’t] be afraid, if you see someone with a disability at the playground or at school, to treat them like a normal child and befriend them, or talk to their parents because it can be very isolating. I feel like that’s our mission at St. Joseph’s House: to help get kids and families out in the world so there can be encounters and real relationships made. We hope that’s what we do in our community, and we hope that that can happen in other communities as well.”

Tony Rossi is director of communications for The Christophers. For free copies of the Christopher News Note We Belong To Each Other, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th St., Room 603, New York, N.Y. 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org

– In 1983, Cubby LaHood was pregnant with her first child and wanted to work from home. She decided to offer daycare for children with disabilities because that’s what she had experience doing. Cubby and her husband Dan came to name their ministry St. Joseph’s House and raised their own kids there, including Joe, who now runs St. Joseph’s House with his wife Natalie. During a “Christopher Closeup” interview, Joe explained, “When you’re a child growing up in this environment, you adapt to what is around you…I was given so many gifts from the kids, in terms of being able to

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Transporter-18 SmallSats Encapsulation – Three NASA-supported small spacecraft, shown along with many commercial payloads, before being encapsulated in a SpaceX Falcon 9. The rocket launched the payloads into low-Earth orbit at 11:32 a.m. PDT Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, as part of the company’s Transporter-18 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
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Transporter-18 SmallSats Encapsulation – Three NASA-supported small spacecraft, shown along with many commercial payloads, before being encapsulated in a SpaceX Falcon 9. The rocket launched the payloads into low-Earth orbit at 11:32 a.m. PDT Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, as part of the company’s Transporter-18 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

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Three NASA-supported small spacecraft, shown along with many commercial payloads, before being encapsulated in a SpaceX Falcon 9. The rocket launched the payloads into low-Earth orbit at 11:32 a.m. PDT Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, as part of the company’s Transporter-18 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

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Ohio’s University of Dayton names first woman president – #Catholic – The University of Dayton announced that Darlene Weaver, the university’s provost and executive vice president, will serve as the Ohio university’s 20th president.Weaver’s appointment makes her the first woman president in the universityʼs history, according to an Oct. 12 press release. She succeeds University of Dayton President Eric Spina and is set to begin the role on July 1, 2027.“Darlene has an innate understanding of the University of Dayton, a deep belief in our Catholic, Marianist mission and a demonstrated ability to move important work forward,” Deborah Tobias, chair of the University of Dayton Board of Trustees and the presidential search advisory committee, said in the release.“UD’s mission has never been more important,” Weaver said. “In a world shaped by technological change, social division and questions about the value of higher education, the University of Dayton has a distinctive role to play in serving the common good. We educate students not only for professional success, but for lives of meaning, responsibility and service. That is the promise of a Catholic, Marianist education, and it will guide the work ahead.”Cleveland diocesan school launches ‘Pathways’ initiative for young menBenedictine High School in Cleveland announced the start of Pathways, an initiative aimed at empowering young men to explore their passions while preparing for college.“Rather than following a one-size-fits-all educational model, Pathways allows students to engage in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences aligned with their interests and future aspirations with concentrations in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), business-entrepreneurship, fine and performing arts and vocations,” the diocese said in an Oct. 6 press release.Students will have the opportunity to continue exploring courses in fields already offered by the school, including STEM, business, entrepreneurship, and fine arts. “Launching with electives in computer repair, media production, construction and manufacturing, the vocations pathway will provide students with hands-on experiences, opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials and meaningful exposure to technical careers,” the release said.Omaha Archdiocese announces pilot program for career, technical trainingArchbishop Michael McGovern is launching a pilot program for technical vocational training at six Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska.“Archbishop Michael McGovern is proud to announce this initiative to expand opportunities in Career and Technical Education in Catholic schools across Northeast Nebraska,” according to the program’s website. “This multi-year initiative is the first such effort by a diocesan school system in the United States and will begin with a pilot at six schools in 2027-2028.”The program will feature “trade bootcamps” in fields such as auto repair, construction, and HVAC; career exploration days; and a “Lunch and Learn” series for women in technical areas.Participating schools include Norfolk Catholic Junior and High School, St. Joseph Elementary School, Christ the King Catholic School, Skutt Catholic High School, All Saints Catholic School, and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School.“Career & Technical Education expands the ways students in Archdiocese of Omaha schools can discover their gifts, apply their knowledge in hands-on lessons, explore meaningful careers and prepare for life beyond high school,” the website said.
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Ohio’s University of Dayton names first woman president – #Catholic – The University of Dayton announced that Darlene Weaver, the university’s provost and executive vice president, will serve as the Ohio university’s 20th president.Weaver’s appointment makes her the first woman president in the universityʼs history, according to an Oct. 12 press release. She succeeds University of Dayton President Eric Spina and is set to begin the role on July 1, 2027.“Darlene has an innate understanding of the University of Dayton, a deep belief in our Catholic, Marianist mission and a demonstrated ability to move important work forward,” Deborah Tobias, chair of the University of Dayton Board of Trustees and the presidential search advisory committee, said in the release.“UD’s mission has never been more important,” Weaver said. “In a world shaped by technological change, social division and questions about the value of higher education, the University of Dayton has a distinctive role to play in serving the common good. We educate students not only for professional success, but for lives of meaning, responsibility and service. That is the promise of a Catholic, Marianist education, and it will guide the work ahead.”Cleveland diocesan school launches ‘Pathways’ initiative for young menBenedictine High School in Cleveland announced the start of Pathways, an initiative aimed at empowering young men to explore their passions while preparing for college.“Rather than following a one-size-fits-all educational model, Pathways allows students to engage in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences aligned with their interests and future aspirations with concentrations in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), business-entrepreneurship, fine and performing arts and vocations,” the diocese said in an Oct. 6 press release.Students will have the opportunity to continue exploring courses in fields already offered by the school, including STEM, business, entrepreneurship, and fine arts. “Launching with electives in computer repair, media production, construction and manufacturing, the vocations pathway will provide students with hands-on experiences, opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials and meaningful exposure to technical careers,” the release said.Omaha Archdiocese announces pilot program for career, technical trainingArchbishop Michael McGovern is launching a pilot program for technical vocational training at six Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska.“Archbishop Michael McGovern is proud to announce this initiative to expand opportunities in Career and Technical Education in Catholic schools across Northeast Nebraska,” according to the program’s website. “This multi-year initiative is the first such effort by a diocesan school system in the United States and will begin with a pilot at six schools in 2027-2028.”The program will feature “trade bootcamps” in fields such as auto repair, construction, and HVAC; career exploration days; and a “Lunch and Learn” series for women in technical areas.Participating schools include Norfolk Catholic Junior and High School, St. Joseph Elementary School, Christ the King Catholic School, Skutt Catholic High School, All Saints Catholic School, and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School.“Career & Technical Education expands the ways students in Archdiocese of Omaha schools can discover their gifts, apply their knowledge in hands-on lessons, explore meaningful careers and prepare for life beyond high school,” the website said.

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The University of Dayton announced its first woman president, while Catholic high schools in Cleveland and Omaha launched career development programs in this week’s roundup of Catholic education news.

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Sen. Hawley asks FDA to address concerns over incomplete data in abortion drug safety study – #Catholic – U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas last week asking whether the agency “is reviewing all relevant data” in the mifepristone safety study it has undertaken.Hawley questioned whether the study is accurately measuring risks to women of the abortion drug, which since 2021 has been available by mail. The FDA halted in-person dispensing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic and formally modified the policy in 2023, continuing to allow abortion pills by mail.He expressed concern that the study did not provide dates for what it called “relevant time periods” during which the drug’s effects were measured. He wrote that the study relies on Sentinel, a database of insurance claims and health records, but does not provide the time frame being analyzed. He expressed concern that data must include dates “after the Biden Administration gutted safety regulations in 2023.”Hawley noted that Louisiana is challenging the FDA in a federal suit alleging the government did not adequately ascertain the drug’s safety before removing safeguards.The senator asked Diamantas to provide answers in writing by Oct. 22.Catholics join LDS Church in Idaho in opposing ballot measure expanding abortion accessThe Diocese of Boise, Idaho, has joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in a campaign opposing Proposition 1, an initiative that expands abortion access.Last week, the diocese donated 0,000 to the political action committee Too Extreme for Idaho, to which the LDS church had already donated million, according to the Idaho secretary of state.Boise Bishop Peter F. Christensen in July and again in September urged Catholics to vote against the measure, which he called “too extreme” for the state, saying if passed, it “would remove nearly all protections for pre-born babies and put vulnerable women at risk.”He emphasized that the measure, if passed, would undermine parental rights by no longer requiring parental consent for abortions as well as other medical procedures on minors and would remove the current legal requirement that only physicians perform abortions.“Proposition 1 concerns matters of profound moral significance, particularly abortion, human dignity, freedom and the protection owed to unborn human life,” he wrote in September. “These questions cannot be separated from our Catholic faith simply because they appear on a ballot. The voting booth does not somehow stand outside our relationship with Christ.”Fired teacher sues school in England for discriminating against her Christian faithA teacher in England is suing after she was fired in March for telling a student who asked her about her views on abortion that she was pro-life.Anita Meston, a 63-year-old who taught history at Biddick Academy in Washington, Sunderland, is suing the school for discriminating against her Christian faith, which she says is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.“If our national education system continues to claim to foster inclusion and tolerance, this must include tolerance of perspectives with which others disagree,” Meston said in a press release from Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal group representing her.“In a free and just society, teachers should not be fired for honestly expressing their deeply held beliefs in response to questions in the classroom,” she said. “What happened to me is nothing short of censorship, and this precedent cannot be allowed to stand.”Pro-abortion protesters block pro-life group at student fair in EnglandProtesters blocked the stall of the Pro-Life Society, a pro-life student group, at a student fair held at the University of Manchester in England on Sept. 25.While the protesters, some of them members of Manchester Leftist Action, did not touch the stall, they held a banner in front of it that said “Destroy Pro-Life Soc.” They also collected money for and passed out leaflets on pro-abortion groups as well as links to an Instagram account called @stopmanchesterprolife, according to The Mancunion.A Pro-Life Society spokesperson told The Mancunion the roughly four-hour blockade limited their free speech and prevented students from approaching the stall, adding that university staff’s requests for protesters to move were largely ineffective.The society has faced campus opposition since its founding according to the report, including earlier protests and an unsuccessful disbandment petition.A spokesperson for Manchester Leftist Action stated that, because the university would not act against what they described as “bigotry and dangerous pseudoscience,” they chose to counter the stall by engaging students and raising funds for abortion care. They said they would continue opposing the society’s efforts on campus.
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Sen. Hawley asks FDA to address concerns over incomplete data in abortion drug safety study – #Catholic – U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas last week asking whether the agency “is reviewing all relevant data” in the mifepristone safety study it has undertaken.Hawley questioned whether the study is accurately measuring risks to women of the abortion drug, which since 2021 has been available by mail. The FDA halted in-person dispensing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic and formally modified the policy in 2023, continuing to allow abortion pills by mail.He expressed concern that the study did not provide dates for what it called “relevant time periods” during which the drug’s effects were measured. He wrote that the study relies on Sentinel, a database of insurance claims and health records, but does not provide the time frame being analyzed. He expressed concern that data must include dates “after the Biden Administration gutted safety regulations in 2023.”Hawley noted that Louisiana is challenging the FDA in a federal suit alleging the government did not adequately ascertain the drug’s safety before removing safeguards.The senator asked Diamantas to provide answers in writing by Oct. 22.Catholics join LDS Church in Idaho in opposing ballot measure expanding abortion accessThe Diocese of Boise, Idaho, has joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in a campaign opposing Proposition 1, an initiative that expands abortion access.Last week, the diocese donated $300,000 to the political action committee Too Extreme for Idaho, to which the LDS church had already donated $1 million, according to the Idaho secretary of state.Boise Bishop Peter F. Christensen in July and again in September urged Catholics to vote against the measure, which he called “too extreme” for the state, saying if passed, it “would remove nearly all protections for pre-born babies and put vulnerable women at risk.”He emphasized that the measure, if passed, would undermine parental rights by no longer requiring parental consent for abortions as well as other medical procedures on minors and would remove the current legal requirement that only physicians perform abortions.“Proposition 1 concerns matters of profound moral significance, particularly abortion, human dignity, freedom and the protection owed to unborn human life,” he wrote in September. “These questions cannot be separated from our Catholic faith simply because they appear on a ballot. The voting booth does not somehow stand outside our relationship with Christ.”Fired teacher sues school in England for discriminating against her Christian faithA teacher in England is suing after she was fired in March for telling a student who asked her about her views on abortion that she was pro-life.Anita Meston, a 63-year-old who taught history at Biddick Academy in Washington, Sunderland, is suing the school for discriminating against her Christian faith, which she says is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.“If our national education system continues to claim to foster inclusion and tolerance, this must include tolerance of perspectives with which others disagree,” Meston said in a press release from Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal group representing her.“In a free and just society, teachers should not be fired for honestly expressing their deeply held beliefs in response to questions in the classroom,” she said. “What happened to me is nothing short of censorship, and this precedent cannot be allowed to stand.”Pro-abortion protesters block pro-life group at student fair in EnglandProtesters blocked the stall of the Pro-Life Society, a pro-life student group, at a student fair held at the University of Manchester in England on Sept. 25.While the protesters, some of them members of Manchester Leftist Action, did not touch the stall, they held a banner in front of it that said “Destroy Pro-Life Soc.” They also collected money for and passed out leaflets on pro-abortion groups as well as links to an Instagram account called @stopmanchesterprolife, according to The Mancunion.A Pro-Life Society spokesperson told The Mancunion the roughly four-hour blockade limited their free speech and prevented students from approaching the stall, adding that university staff’s requests for protesters to move were largely ineffective.The society has faced campus opposition since its founding according to the report, including earlier protests and an unsuccessful disbandment petition.A spokesperson for Manchester Leftist Action stated that, because the university would not act against what they described as “bigotry and dangerous pseudoscience,” they chose to counter the stall by engaging students and raising funds for abortion care. They said they would continue opposing the society’s efforts on campus.

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Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

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The Sky Today on Wednesday, October 14: Io covers Callisto

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  October 13: Vesta at opposition Observers in the U.S. Midwest and farther west have a great opportunity this morning to watch one Galilean moon pass in front of another. Io crosses in front of Callisto, occulting it from our point of viewContinue reading “The Sky Today on Wednesday, October 14: Io covers Callisto”

The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, October 14: Io covers Callisto appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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