Art

‘Thanks to John Paul II, my father always kept hope alive,’ Jérôme Lejeune’s daughter says – #Catholic – On June 22, Pope Leo XIV received members of the Lejeune Foundation in an audience marking the centenary of the birth of Jérôme Lejeune, the physician who discovered the cause of Down syndrome. He maintained a close relationship with St. John Paul II, who appointed him the first president of the Pontifical Academy for Life in 1994.Karin Lejeune, his daughter, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that her father’s friendship with the Polish pontiff was key to maintaining hope during the most difficult moments of his life.“It’s important to know that my father went through a real Calvary after the [French] abortion law was passed. He was ostracized by society and, I dare say, by the Church in France; the scientific community, and the entire French ‘political correctness’ establishment,” she said.“They even withdrew research funding for his laboratory. So, it was a truly difficult time. And thanks to that friendship, I believe he held on, that he always kept hope alive,” she added.“These two men shared a common desire to serve the poorest, those whom my father called the most disadvantaged in terms of intellect, namely, children with intellectual disabilities,” Karin noted.The friendship was marked by the assassination attempt on the Holy Father in St. Peterʼs Square on May 13, 1981, just hours after the two men had lunched together at the Vatican.“They spent two hours talking about respect for life, about support precisely for those poor, the disadvantaged. And at the end of those two hours, the pope said: ‘Now I have to go down to St. Peterʼs Square.’ So my parents took a taxi to go to the airport and, when they got off the plane, the taxi driver who was taking them to our house on Galande Street told them: ‘They have murdered the pope, he has died,’” Karin recounted.At home, everyone wept as they waited anxiously, Jérôme Lejeune among them.“We were all crying. My father was pale. We kept watching television for a while, clinging to the faint hope that he would undergo surgery. And at that moment, my father said, ‘I wish it were me,’" Karin recalled of the tragic moment.That same afternoon, her father fell ill after giving a lecture. “We used to tell Dad: ‘That’s actually what empathy is — suffering with … In fact, love and friendship are just that: suffering alongside the person who is suffering.’”‘What I remember most is his gaze’Jérôme Lejeune, a father of five, passed away from cancer in April 1994 at the age of 67. His cause for canonization was opened in 2007, with the diocesan phase concluding in 2012. In January 2024, Pope Francis approved the decree recognizing his heroic virtues and declared him venerable.Karin described her father beyond his persona as a scientist and one of the pioneers of modern genetics, internationally recognized with numerous honorary doctorates: “He was a very tender, very understanding father, and above all, he always looked at us with an extraordinary gaze. And when I picture him today, what I remember most is his look. It was always a kind gaze.”When he was interrupted, she recalled, “he was always available. I never heard him say, ‘Wait, Karin, Iʼm writing a letter.’ No, he would drop everything, push it all aside instantly, whatever he was doing, to be at our disposal.”Together with his Danish-born wife, Birthe, they created a home characterized by its welcoming atmosphere: “At home, the door was always open; you could arrive with 10 friends or come back, I donʼt know, from a lecture or a pilgrimage. We would go home to get something to drink. In fact, we didnʼt go to a bar. The ‘bar’ for all our friends was at 31 Rue Galande in the French capitalʼs Fifth Arrondissement.”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.
Read More

‘Thanks to John Paul II, my father always kept hope alive,’ Jérôme Lejeune’s daughter says – #Catholic – On June 22, Pope Leo XIV received members of the Lejeune Foundation in an audience marking the centenary of the birth of Jérôme Lejeune, the physician who discovered the cause of Down syndrome. He maintained a close relationship with St. John Paul II, who appointed him the first president of the Pontifical Academy for Life in 1994.Karin Lejeune, his daughter, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that her father’s friendship with the Polish pontiff was key to maintaining hope during the most difficult moments of his life.“It’s important to know that my father went through a real Calvary after the [French] abortion law was passed. He was ostracized by society and, I dare say, by the Church in France; the scientific community, and the entire French ‘political correctness’ establishment,” she said.“They even withdrew research funding for his laboratory. So, it was a truly difficult time. And thanks to that friendship, I believe he held on, that he always kept hope alive,” she added.“These two men shared a common desire to serve the poorest, those whom my father called the most disadvantaged in terms of intellect, namely, children with intellectual disabilities,” Karin noted.The friendship was marked by the assassination attempt on the Holy Father in St. Peterʼs Square on May 13, 1981, just hours after the two men had lunched together at the Vatican.“They spent two hours talking about respect for life, about support precisely for those poor, the disadvantaged. And at the end of those two hours, the pope said: ‘Now I have to go down to St. Peterʼs Square.’ So my parents took a taxi to go to the airport and, when they got off the plane, the taxi driver who was taking them to our house on Galande Street told them: ‘They have murdered the pope, he has died,’” Karin recounted.At home, everyone wept as they waited anxiously, Jérôme Lejeune among them.“We were all crying. My father was pale. We kept watching television for a while, clinging to the faint hope that he would undergo surgery. And at that moment, my father said, ‘I wish it were me,’" Karin recalled of the tragic moment.That same afternoon, her father fell ill after giving a lecture. “We used to tell Dad: ‘That’s actually what empathy is — suffering with … In fact, love and friendship are just that: suffering alongside the person who is suffering.’”‘What I remember most is his gaze’Jérôme Lejeune, a father of five, passed away from cancer in April 1994 at the age of 67. His cause for canonization was opened in 2007, with the diocesan phase concluding in 2012. In January 2024, Pope Francis approved the decree recognizing his heroic virtues and declared him venerable.Karin described her father beyond his persona as a scientist and one of the pioneers of modern genetics, internationally recognized with numerous honorary doctorates: “He was a very tender, very understanding father, and above all, he always looked at us with an extraordinary gaze. And when I picture him today, what I remember most is his look. It was always a kind gaze.”When he was interrupted, she recalled, “he was always available. I never heard him say, ‘Wait, Karin, Iʼm writing a letter.’ No, he would drop everything, push it all aside instantly, whatever he was doing, to be at our disposal.”Together with his Danish-born wife, Birthe, they created a home characterized by its welcoming atmosphere: “At home, the door was always open; you could arrive with 10 friends or come back, I donʼt know, from a lecture or a pilgrimage. We would go home to get something to drink. In fact, we didnʼt go to a bar. The ‘bar’ for all our friends was at 31 Rue Galande in the French capitalʼs Fifth Arrondissement.”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.

unitedyam

Lejeune and John Paul II were united in friendship and in defending the right to life, especially of those with intellectual disabilities.

Read More
12 Catholic Americans who helped shape the United States – #Catholic – As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, Americans are reflecting on the men and women whose courage, leadership, and vision helped shape the nationʼs history. While Catholics were not always welcomed with open arms in the new America, many Catholics went on to play an indispensable role in building the country, demonstrating that love of God and love of country can go hand in hand.Here are 12 Catholic Americans whose lives and legacies have left a lasting mark on the United States. 1. Archbishop John Carroll (1735–1815)John Carroll became the first Catholic bishop — and later the first archbishop — in the United States following the American Revolution. He organized the American Catholic Church by establishing dioceses and later went on to found Georgetown College — now Georgetown University.Carroll believed religious freedom was essential to the new republic and worked closely with the nationʼs founders to ensure Catholics could flourish in America. His leadership laid the institutional foundation for the Catholic Church in the United States.2. Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737–1832)As the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the cousin of Archbishop John Carroll, occupies a unique place in American history. At a time when Catholics faced legal restrictions and widespread suspicion in the American colonies, Carroll became one of Marylandʼs leading statesmen and a vocal advocate for independence.He remained a devoted Catholic throughout his life, demonstrating that one could be both faithfully Catholic and deeply patriotic. His public service — including helping ratify the Constitution and serving as one of Marylandʼs first U.S. senators — helped pave the way for greater religious liberty and acceptance of Catholics in American public life.3. St. Junípero Serra (1713–1784)A Spanish Franciscan missionary, Junípero Serra arrived in present-day California in 1769 and founded the first of what would become 21 Spanish missions stretching along the California coast. These missions became centers of evangelization, agriculture, education, and community life, playing a significant role in the early development of what would later become the state of California.While his legacy has been the subject of debate due to the broader Spanish colonial system and its effects on Indigenous communities, many historians acknowledge that Serra often advocated for better treatment of Indigenous peoples within that system and sought to protect them from abuses by colonial authorities.  4. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774–1821)Elizabeth Ann Seton became the first American-born saint after converting to Catholicism in 1805. Widowed at a young age, she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, the first congregation of religious sisters established in the United States. She also opened the nationʼs first free Catholic school in Maryland.Her faith inspired a lifelong commitment to educating children and serving the poor. The school system and religious communities she established became the foundation of Catholic education in America.5. Commodore John Barry (1745–1803)Irish immigrant John Barry came to the American colonies as a young man and became one of the most accomplished naval commanders of the Revolutionary War. He is often remembered as the “Father of the American Navy.” Barry commanded several important naval victories and later helped build the young nationʼs naval forces.Barry remained a faithful Catholic throughout his military career, quietly living his faith while serving his adopted country. His example demonstrated that Catholic immigrants could become indispensable leaders in the defense and development of the United States.6. Archbishop John Ireland (1838–1918)Archbishop John Ireland led the Archdiocese of St. Paul and became one of the most influential Catholic leaders in late 19th-century America. He championed public education, welcomed immigrants, encouraged civic participation, and promoted the idea that Catholics could be fully American while remaining faithful to the Church.The development of education was one of Ireland’s defining characteristics. In 1885 he founded the University of St. Thomas, the preparatory school now known as St. Thomas Academy, and the St. Paul Seminary. He also played an important role in establishing The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.7. Daniel Rudd (1854–1933)Born into slavery in Kentucky, Daniel Rudd became one of the most influential Black Catholic journalists in American history. He founded the American Catholic Tribune, the first national Black Catholic newspaper, and organized the first National Black Catholic Congress in 1889.Rudd believed the Catholic Church had a unique role to play in promoting racial equality and justice. His writing and advocacy encouraged both Black Catholics and Church leaders to work toward greater inclusion, helping lay the groundwork for future conversations on civil rights within American Catholicism.8. Venerable Rose Hawthorne Lathrop (1851–1926)The daughter of famed author Nathaniel Hawthorne, Rose Hawthorne converted to Catholicism after experiencing the loss of her son, Francis, to diphtheria. Devoting herself to work for the Church, she established St. Rose’s Free Home for Incurable Cancer, in honor of St. Rose of Lima, in New York in 1898. In 1900, she became a nun — taking the name Mother Mary Alphonsa — and founded the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, a religious community dedicated to caring for poor cancer patients who had nowhere else to turn.Inspired by Christʼs compassion for the suffering, Hawthorne pioneered a ministry that anticipated many aspects of modern hospice care. Her work transformed end-of-life care for countless Americans while witnessing to the dignity of every human person. Her cause for canonization was opened in 2003 and she was declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2024.9. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917)Born in Italy, Frances Xavier Cabrini came to the United States in 1889 after Pope Leo XIII encouraged her to serve the growing population of Italian immigrants rather than travel to China as she had originally hoped. As the founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she established dozens of schools, orphanages, and hospitals across the country, providing education, healthcare, and spiritual support to thousands of immigrants facing poverty and discrimination.Canonized in 1946 as the first U.S. citizen to become a saint, Cabrini remains one of the most beloved figures in American Catholic history. Her unwavering faith and tireless service helped countless newcomers build new lives in America while preserving their dignity.10. Venerable Augustus Tolton (1854–1897)Born into slavery in Missouri, Augustus Tolton escaped with his family during the Civil War and later became the first publicly recognized Black Catholic priest in the United States. After facing repeated rejection from American seminaries because of his race, he was ordained in Rome before returning to minister in Illinois.Toltonʼs unwavering faith in the face of racism made him a symbol of perseverance and hope for generations of American Catholics. His cause for canonization was opened by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2011 and in 2019 Pope Francis declared him venerable.11. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979)Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen became one of Americaʼs first religious media personalities through his radio broadcasts and Emmy Award-winning television program “Life Is Worth Living.” His engaging style brought Catholic teaching into millions of American homes during the 1950s.Sheenʼs ability to explain the faith with clarity and humor made Catholicism more accessible to both Catholics and non-Catholics. He helped shape religious broadcasting in America and remains one of the countryʼs most influential evangelists. Sheen will be beatified on Sept. 24 at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.12. Servant of God Dorothy Day (1897–1980)Dorothy Day was a journalist, convert to Catholicism, and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement during the Great Depression. Through houses of hospitality, newspapers, and community kitchens, she encouraged Catholics to serve the poor while promoting peace, human dignity, and social justice.Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Day challenged both the Church and society to care for the marginalized. Her influence continues to shape Catholic charitable work, social activism, and discussions about faith in public life. Her cause for canonization opened in 2000.
Read More

12 Catholic Americans who helped shape the United States – #Catholic – As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, Americans are reflecting on the men and women whose courage, leadership, and vision helped shape the nationʼs history. While Catholics were not always welcomed with open arms in the new America, many Catholics went on to play an indispensable role in building the country, demonstrating that love of God and love of country can go hand in hand.Here are 12 Catholic Americans whose lives and legacies have left a lasting mark on the United States. 1. Archbishop John Carroll (1735–1815)John Carroll became the first Catholic bishop — and later the first archbishop — in the United States following the American Revolution. He organized the American Catholic Church by establishing dioceses and later went on to found Georgetown College — now Georgetown University.Carroll believed religious freedom was essential to the new republic and worked closely with the nationʼs founders to ensure Catholics could flourish in America. His leadership laid the institutional foundation for the Catholic Church in the United States.2. Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737–1832)As the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the cousin of Archbishop John Carroll, occupies a unique place in American history. At a time when Catholics faced legal restrictions and widespread suspicion in the American colonies, Carroll became one of Marylandʼs leading statesmen and a vocal advocate for independence.He remained a devoted Catholic throughout his life, demonstrating that one could be both faithfully Catholic and deeply patriotic. His public service — including helping ratify the Constitution and serving as one of Marylandʼs first U.S. senators — helped pave the way for greater religious liberty and acceptance of Catholics in American public life.3. St. Junípero Serra (1713–1784)A Spanish Franciscan missionary, Junípero Serra arrived in present-day California in 1769 and founded the first of what would become 21 Spanish missions stretching along the California coast. These missions became centers of evangelization, agriculture, education, and community life, playing a significant role in the early development of what would later become the state of California.While his legacy has been the subject of debate due to the broader Spanish colonial system and its effects on Indigenous communities, many historians acknowledge that Serra often advocated for better treatment of Indigenous peoples within that system and sought to protect them from abuses by colonial authorities.  4. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774–1821)Elizabeth Ann Seton became the first American-born saint after converting to Catholicism in 1805. Widowed at a young age, she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, the first congregation of religious sisters established in the United States. She also opened the nationʼs first free Catholic school in Maryland.Her faith inspired a lifelong commitment to educating children and serving the poor. The school system and religious communities she established became the foundation of Catholic education in America.5. Commodore John Barry (1745–1803)Irish immigrant John Barry came to the American colonies as a young man and became one of the most accomplished naval commanders of the Revolutionary War. He is often remembered as the “Father of the American Navy.” Barry commanded several important naval victories and later helped build the young nationʼs naval forces.Barry remained a faithful Catholic throughout his military career, quietly living his faith while serving his adopted country. His example demonstrated that Catholic immigrants could become indispensable leaders in the defense and development of the United States.6. Archbishop John Ireland (1838–1918)Archbishop John Ireland led the Archdiocese of St. Paul and became one of the most influential Catholic leaders in late 19th-century America. He championed public education, welcomed immigrants, encouraged civic participation, and promoted the idea that Catholics could be fully American while remaining faithful to the Church.The development of education was one of Ireland’s defining characteristics. In 1885 he founded the University of St. Thomas, the preparatory school now known as St. Thomas Academy, and the St. Paul Seminary. He also played an important role in establishing The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.7. Daniel Rudd (1854–1933)Born into slavery in Kentucky, Daniel Rudd became one of the most influential Black Catholic journalists in American history. He founded the American Catholic Tribune, the first national Black Catholic newspaper, and organized the first National Black Catholic Congress in 1889.Rudd believed the Catholic Church had a unique role to play in promoting racial equality and justice. His writing and advocacy encouraged both Black Catholics and Church leaders to work toward greater inclusion, helping lay the groundwork for future conversations on civil rights within American Catholicism.8. Venerable Rose Hawthorne Lathrop (1851–1926)The daughter of famed author Nathaniel Hawthorne, Rose Hawthorne converted to Catholicism after experiencing the loss of her son, Francis, to diphtheria. Devoting herself to work for the Church, she established St. Rose’s Free Home for Incurable Cancer, in honor of St. Rose of Lima, in New York in 1898. In 1900, she became a nun — taking the name Mother Mary Alphonsa — and founded the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, a religious community dedicated to caring for poor cancer patients who had nowhere else to turn.Inspired by Christʼs compassion for the suffering, Hawthorne pioneered a ministry that anticipated many aspects of modern hospice care. Her work transformed end-of-life care for countless Americans while witnessing to the dignity of every human person. Her cause for canonization was opened in 2003 and she was declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2024.9. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917)Born in Italy, Frances Xavier Cabrini came to the United States in 1889 after Pope Leo XIII encouraged her to serve the growing population of Italian immigrants rather than travel to China as she had originally hoped. As the founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she established dozens of schools, orphanages, and hospitals across the country, providing education, healthcare, and spiritual support to thousands of immigrants facing poverty and discrimination.Canonized in 1946 as the first U.S. citizen to become a saint, Cabrini remains one of the most beloved figures in American Catholic history. Her unwavering faith and tireless service helped countless newcomers build new lives in America while preserving their dignity.10. Venerable Augustus Tolton (1854–1897)Born into slavery in Missouri, Augustus Tolton escaped with his family during the Civil War and later became the first publicly recognized Black Catholic priest in the United States. After facing repeated rejection from American seminaries because of his race, he was ordained in Rome before returning to minister in Illinois.Toltonʼs unwavering faith in the face of racism made him a symbol of perseverance and hope for generations of American Catholics. His cause for canonization was opened by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2011 and in 2019 Pope Francis declared him venerable.11. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979)Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen became one of Americaʼs first religious media personalities through his radio broadcasts and Emmy Award-winning television program “Life Is Worth Living.” His engaging style brought Catholic teaching into millions of American homes during the 1950s.Sheenʼs ability to explain the faith with clarity and humor made Catholicism more accessible to both Catholics and non-Catholics. He helped shape religious broadcasting in America and remains one of the countryʼs most influential evangelists. Sheen will be beatified on Sept. 24 at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.12. Servant of God Dorothy Day (1897–1980)Dorothy Day was a journalist, convert to Catholicism, and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement during the Great Depression. Through houses of hospitality, newspapers, and community kitchens, she encouraged Catholics to serve the poor while promoting peace, human dignity, and social justice.Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Day challenged both the Church and society to care for the marginalized. Her influence continues to shape Catholic charitable work, social activism, and discussions about faith in public life. Her cause for canonization opened in 2000.

unitedyam

Here are 12 Catholic Americans whose lives and legacies have left a lasting mark on the United States.

Read More
He ran across the U.S. to support pregnant women; now he’s off to be a monk - #Catholic - “The loneliness was one of the hardest parts,” said Jared Plasberg, a 23-year-old who ran across the country from February to June to raise money for pregnant women in crisis.The trek took 114 days, about four months, and spanned thousands of miles. The whole time, Plasberg pushed an 80-pound stroller. It held his supplies but symbolized something more: a reference to mothers who need support. By the end of the 3,000 miles — beginning in San Diego on Feb. 19 and ending in St. Augustine, Florida, on June 13 — Plasberg raised $20,000 for a local pregnancy help center. “Every day required making many decisions: where to sleep, where to find food, how to navigate the route, and how to stay safe,” Plasberg said. “There were many days when I felt discouraged, exhausted, or overwhelmed.”“Throughout the journey, I often thought about how many mothers face challenges and sacrifices that are far greater than anything I was experiencing on the road,” he said.Plasberg donated the money to Front Royal Pregnancy Center, a group local to the college he graduated from, Christendom College in Virginia.“The run became a way for me to raise awareness and support for a ministry that walks alongside and supports these mothers,” he said. Jared Plasberg runs past the Dry Gallinas Canyon near the Black Range Mountains in New Mexico on his way from California to Florida on March 20, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg The run was also a spiritual journey for Plasberg; it gave him time to think about his calling to become a monk. He is currently discerning a vocation to the Carthusian order, a contemplative order of monks founded by St. Bruno in 1084.“The run continually reminded me that I depend on him [God] for everything,” Plasberg said.He took inspiration from the Camino de Santiago, a famous pilgrimage in Spain and France. Many people journey along the Camino, whether walking or biking, Catholic or not. The most famous Camino path runs from France to Spain. Plasberg’s run was from San Diego to Florida, but it was a prayerful pilgrimage of its own.“I carried many intentions throughout the journey,” Plasberg said. “I prayed for mothers facing unexpected pregnancies, for the unborn, for the supporters and staff of the Front Royal Pregnancy Center, for my family and friends, and for all the people who entrusted me with their intentions along the way.”When he was a college student, Plasberg would pray the rosary outside abortion clinics on Saturdays with other students.“The pro-life cause is something dear to my heart because every human life has inherent dignity and worth,” he said.“During my years in college, I often pondered the saying of Pope Benedict XVI: ‘The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness,’” Plasberg said. “Also, St. Pier Giorgio Frassatiʼs phrase ‘Verso lʼalto’ inspired me to pursue true greatness.”“Verso lʼalto,” meaning “to the heights,” is an Italian phrase coined by Frassati, who loved mountain climbing, which carries a deeper spiritual meaning.  Jared Plasberg points to the heavens at the end of his run across the country in the Atlantic Ocean on June 12, 2026. The phrase “to the heights” inspires 23-year-old Plasberg; it’s a phrase that not only refers to the summit of a mountain but also to the heights of heaven. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg “As the journey continued, I also found myself praying more for the people I encountered every day,” Plasberg explained. The stroller was “a conversation starter.” “People would stop and ask what I was doing, and those conversations often led to opportunities to share the mission of the pregnancy center,” he said. “The stroller became my constant companion,” says 23-year-old Jared Plasberg. The stroller sits on the Dauphin Island bridge in Alabama on May 23, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg “I prayed for the drivers passing by, store clerks, families, hosts, priests, fellow travelers, and strangers I would never meet again,” he said.Carried by God“The run taught me gratitude for my family, appreciation for the kindness of strangers, and a deeper awareness of God’s providence,” Plasberg said. “It taught me that strength is not the absence of weakness but the willingness to keep moving forward despite it.”Though Plasberg generally stayed in motels, he sometimes stayed with families along the road.“One of the greatest gifts of the journey was meeting people whose lives reflected extraordinary generosity and faith,” he said. “I stayed with families who welcomed a complete stranger into their homes, fed me, prayed with me, and treated me like family.” Jared Plasberg met many people along the road, including the Guenther family in Del Rio, Texas, in April 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg “I met widows who showed remarkable hospitality despite carrying their own crosses,” Plasberg said. “I met religious communities, priests, cyclists crossing the country, and countless ordinary people who quietly lived lives of virtue.”“Maybe the greatest lesson I learned from [my] journey is that we are not meant to carry our lives by ourselves,” he said. “Rather, we are meant to let ourselves be carried by God, and sometimes it takes 3,000 miles to learn that.”Discerning monastic life: ‘I was brought to tears’His next journey is to France, where he plans to join a Carthusian monastery.“In many ways, this journey became a preparation for that discernment,” Plasberg said.Along his run, he met a hermitess — a woman continuing an old practice in a modern world. A priest connected Plasberg with her after a Mass he attended in New Mexico.“I spent about an hour speaking with Amma Chiara, but that hour left a profound impression on me,” Plasberg said. “She radiated joy, peace, and holiness in a way that immediately drew my attention to God.”Plasberg had a unique connection to Chiara — she had walked across the United States.“She shared her own story with me and explained that, before becoming a religious sister, she had actually walked across the United States herself about 30 years earlier.”“Even now, months later, I still think about that encounter,” he said. “Her example showed me that a life completely dedicated to God is not restricted or empty but deeply joyful and fulfilling.”“Without many of the distractions of ordinary life, I became more aware of both my weaknesses and my need for God,” he said.Plasberg has another connection to the hermitess — the order he might join involves living like a hermit.The Carthusians “are one of the most secluded and prayer-focused religious orders in the Church,” he explained.“Their vocation combines elements of both the solitary life of a hermit and the communal life of a monk,” Plasberg said. “Most of the day is spent in silence, prayer, spiritual reading, and work within an individual hermitage, while the monks also come together for certain liturgical prayers and community observances.” A monk from Santo Domingo de Silos Monastery in Spain. | Credit: Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos “Unlike many religious communities, their lives are largely hidden from the world,” Plasberg explained. “Each monk lives in a small hermitage with a garden and spends much of his day alone with God.”The monks don’t see themselves as retreating from the world; rather they pray for everyone who needs prayers and are brothers and fathers to one another. “The silence and solitude are not meant as an escape from the world but as a way of dedicating oneself entirely to prayer for the Church and the salvation of souls,” Plasberg said.After spending time at the monastery of the Grand Chartreuse in discernment, the monks welcomed Plasberg to be a postulant, the first formal stage in joining a religious order. He will go there after he obtains a long-stay French visa.The run was formative for his discernment, he said.“In some ways, this run across America became part of that discernment. Spending nearly four months alone on the road gave me plenty of opportunities for silence, prayer, and reflection,” Plasberg said. “It exposed many of my weaknesses, attachments, and limitations, but it also helped me experience more deeply my dependence on God. I think I realized the importance of humility, gratitude, and trust as a result of this journey.” Jared Plasberg runs along a road in the Arizona desert near the Yuma Proving Grounds in February 2026. “Many roads had little or no shoulder, so I often had to push the stroller through grass, mud, gravel, and ditches while traffic rushed past,” said Plasberg, who pushed a stroller across the country to fundraise for women in need. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg “While I still have discernment ahead of me, the journey confirmed my attraction to a contemplative vocation and my desire to give my life completely to God,” Plasberg said.“Perhaps the most important lesson was learning that holiness is not something we achieve through our own strength,” he said. “Rather, it comes from allowing God to work through our weakness. Holiness starts with allowing God to love us as we are in this present moment, even in our brokenness.
Read More

He ran across the U.S. to support pregnant women; now he’s off to be a monk – #Catholic – “The loneliness was one of the hardest parts,” said Jared Plasberg, a 23-year-old who ran across the country from February to June to raise money for pregnant women in crisis.The trek took 114 days, about four months, and spanned thousands of miles. The whole time, Plasberg pushed an 80-pound stroller. It held his supplies but symbolized something more: a reference to mothers who need support. By the end of the 3,000 miles — beginning in San Diego on Feb. 19 and ending in St. Augustine, Florida, on June 13 — Plasberg raised $20,000 for a local pregnancy help center. “Every day required making many decisions: where to sleep, where to find food, how to navigate the route, and how to stay safe,” Plasberg said. “There were many days when I felt discouraged, exhausted, or overwhelmed.”“Throughout the journey, I often thought about how many mothers face challenges and sacrifices that are far greater than anything I was experiencing on the road,” he said.Plasberg donated the money to Front Royal Pregnancy Center, a group local to the college he graduated from, Christendom College in Virginia.“The run became a way for me to raise awareness and support for a ministry that walks alongside and supports these mothers,” he said. Jared Plasberg runs past the Dry Gallinas Canyon near the Black Range Mountains in New Mexico on his way from California to Florida on March 20, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg The run was also a spiritual journey for Plasberg; it gave him time to think about his calling to become a monk. He is currently discerning a vocation to the Carthusian order, a contemplative order of monks founded by St. Bruno in 1084.“The run continually reminded me that I depend on him [God] for everything,” Plasberg said.He took inspiration from the Camino de Santiago, a famous pilgrimage in Spain and France. Many people journey along the Camino, whether walking or biking, Catholic or not. The most famous Camino path runs from France to Spain. Plasberg’s run was from San Diego to Florida, but it was a prayerful pilgrimage of its own.“I carried many intentions throughout the journey,” Plasberg said. “I prayed for mothers facing unexpected pregnancies, for the unborn, for the supporters and staff of the Front Royal Pregnancy Center, for my family and friends, and for all the people who entrusted me with their intentions along the way.”When he was a college student, Plasberg would pray the rosary outside abortion clinics on Saturdays with other students.“The pro-life cause is something dear to my heart because every human life has inherent dignity and worth,” he said.“During my years in college, I often pondered the saying of Pope Benedict XVI: ‘The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness,’” Plasberg said. “Also, St. Pier Giorgio Frassatiʼs phrase ‘Verso lʼalto’ inspired me to pursue true greatness.”“Verso lʼalto,” meaning “to the heights,” is an Italian phrase coined by Frassati, who loved mountain climbing, which carries a deeper spiritual meaning.  Jared Plasberg points to the heavens at the end of his run across the country in the Atlantic Ocean on June 12, 2026. The phrase “to the heights” inspires 23-year-old Plasberg; it’s a phrase that not only refers to the summit of a mountain but also to the heights of heaven. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg “As the journey continued, I also found myself praying more for the people I encountered every day,” Plasberg explained. The stroller was “a conversation starter.” “People would stop and ask what I was doing, and those conversations often led to opportunities to share the mission of the pregnancy center,” he said. “The stroller became my constant companion,” says 23-year-old Jared Plasberg. The stroller sits on the Dauphin Island bridge in Alabama on May 23, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg “I prayed for the drivers passing by, store clerks, families, hosts, priests, fellow travelers, and strangers I would never meet again,” he said.Carried by God“The run taught me gratitude for my family, appreciation for the kindness of strangers, and a deeper awareness of God’s providence,” Plasberg said. “It taught me that strength is not the absence of weakness but the willingness to keep moving forward despite it.”Though Plasberg generally stayed in motels, he sometimes stayed with families along the road.“One of the greatest gifts of the journey was meeting people whose lives reflected extraordinary generosity and faith,” he said. “I stayed with families who welcomed a complete stranger into their homes, fed me, prayed with me, and treated me like family.” Jared Plasberg met many people along the road, including the Guenther family in Del Rio, Texas, in April 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg “I met widows who showed remarkable hospitality despite carrying their own crosses,” Plasberg said. “I met religious communities, priests, cyclists crossing the country, and countless ordinary people who quietly lived lives of virtue.”“Maybe the greatest lesson I learned from [my] journey is that we are not meant to carry our lives by ourselves,” he said. “Rather, we are meant to let ourselves be carried by God, and sometimes it takes 3,000 miles to learn that.”Discerning monastic life: ‘I was brought to tears’His next journey is to France, where he plans to join a Carthusian monastery.“In many ways, this journey became a preparation for that discernment,” Plasberg said.Along his run, he met a hermitess — a woman continuing an old practice in a modern world. A priest connected Plasberg with her after a Mass he attended in New Mexico.“I spent about an hour speaking with Amma Chiara, but that hour left a profound impression on me,” Plasberg said. “She radiated joy, peace, and holiness in a way that immediately drew my attention to God.”Plasberg had a unique connection to Chiara — she had walked across the United States.“She shared her own story with me and explained that, before becoming a religious sister, she had actually walked across the United States herself about 30 years earlier.”“Even now, months later, I still think about that encounter,” he said. “Her example showed me that a life completely dedicated to God is not restricted or empty but deeply joyful and fulfilling.”“Without many of the distractions of ordinary life, I became more aware of both my weaknesses and my need for God,” he said.Plasberg has another connection to the hermitess — the order he might join involves living like a hermit.The Carthusians “are one of the most secluded and prayer-focused religious orders in the Church,” he explained.“Their vocation combines elements of both the solitary life of a hermit and the communal life of a monk,” Plasberg said. “Most of the day is spent in silence, prayer, spiritual reading, and work within an individual hermitage, while the monks also come together for certain liturgical prayers and community observances.” A monk from Santo Domingo de Silos Monastery in Spain. | Credit: Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos “Unlike many religious communities, their lives are largely hidden from the world,” Plasberg explained. “Each monk lives in a small hermitage with a garden and spends much of his day alone with God.”The monks don’t see themselves as retreating from the world; rather they pray for everyone who needs prayers and are brothers and fathers to one another. “The silence and solitude are not meant as an escape from the world but as a way of dedicating oneself entirely to prayer for the Church and the salvation of souls,” Plasberg said.After spending time at the monastery of the Grand Chartreuse in discernment, the monks welcomed Plasberg to be a postulant, the first formal stage in joining a religious order. He will go there after he obtains a long-stay French visa.The run was formative for his discernment, he said.“In some ways, this run across America became part of that discernment. Spending nearly four months alone on the road gave me plenty of opportunities for silence, prayer, and reflection,” Plasberg said. “It exposed many of my weaknesses, attachments, and limitations, but it also helped me experience more deeply my dependence on God. I think I realized the importance of humility, gratitude, and trust as a result of this journey.” Jared Plasberg runs along a road in the Arizona desert near the Yuma Proving Grounds in February 2026. “Many roads had little or no shoulder, so I often had to push the stroller through grass, mud, gravel, and ditches while traffic rushed past,” said Plasberg, who pushed a stroller across the country to fundraise for women in need. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jared Plasberg “While I still have discernment ahead of me, the journey confirmed my attraction to a contemplative vocation and my desire to give my life completely to God,” Plasberg said.“Perhaps the most important lesson was learning that holiness is not something we achieve through our own strength,” he said. “Rather, it comes from allowing God to work through our weakness. Holiness starts with allowing God to love us as we are in this present moment, even in our brokenness.

unitedyam

Before he enters a monastery, a 23-year-old ran across the country to raise money for his local pregnancy help center and to pray for women, babies, and the people he met along the way.

Read More
The Eucharist in America: 5 centuries of faith that shaped a nation – #Catholic – Before America became a nation, before its founding documents were written, and before its first flag was raised, the holy sacrifice of the Mass was already being celebrated on these shores.For centuries, the history of Catholicism in America has been written in the shadow of hardship, sacrifice, and perseverance. At the center of that story has always been the Eucharist — the real presence of Christ — which sustained missionaries, settlers, soldiers, immigrants, and pioneers long before Catholicism became a visible part of American life.As hundreds of thousands of Catholics gather for Eucharistic pilgrimages, congresses, and parish revivals across the United States to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, they are participating in something that stretches back nearly 500 years. The National Eucharistic Revival may be new, but America’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is as old as the Church’s presence on this continent.The first Masses on American soilSome of the first recorded celebrations of the Mass in what is now the United States took place nearly 500 years ago. These marked the beginning of a Eucharistic presence that would shape the nationʼs Catholic history.During the Narváez expedition in 1528 and the Coronado expedition in 1540–1542, Spanish missionaries carried the Eucharist into Florida and the American Southwest. In 1565, when Spanish settlers led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine, Florida, Mass and the Eucharist quickly became the center of the new colony’s religious life.More than two centuries later, St. Junípero Serra would continue that tradition as he established California’s mission system. Serra often traveled hundreds of miles on foot between missions, carrying the Blessed Sacrament to isolated Catholic communities. Every new mission he founded placed the altar and the celebration of the Eucharist at the center of its life.For missionaries such as the Franciscans, and later the Jesuits, the Eucharist was the heart of their missionary work. Wherever they established a mission, they first erected an altar, making the celebration of the Mass the center of community life.Hidden altars in Colonial AmericaElsewhere in Britain’s American colonies, however, Catholics often practiced their faith in secret.Anti-Catholic laws frequently prohibited the public celebration of Mass. Priests risked arrest, and Catholic families gathered quietly in manor houses, private homes, and secluded chapels.One of the many examples of the hardship Catholics endured in early America occurred in the colonial state of Massachusetts. In 1647 and again in 1700, Massachusetts passed laws prohibiting Catholics from settling in the colony, and any priest who entered could be sentenced to death as “an enemy of the true Christian religion.”At this time, the Eucharist became a symbol not only of faith but also of perseverance. Families sometimes traveled miles through forests to attend clandestine Masses offered by missionary priests.Freedom after the RevolutionThe American Revolution marked a turning point.Over time, legal restrictions eased, allowing practices that had once been forbidden to emerge into public life. In 1788, Boston celebrated its first public Mass, marking a cautious yet significant milestone in establishing a Catholic presence in the region.Leading that new beginning was Father John Carroll, who in 1789 became the first bishop of the United States. Under his leadership, parishes, schools, and charitable institutions spread across the new nation, each centered on the celebration of the Eucharist.The Eucharist on the American frontierAs religious freedom expanded beyond the original colonies, the frontier presented entirely new challenges. Nowhere was this more evident than in Texas.Following Texas' independence from Mexico, the withdrawal of Mexican diocesan priests left the new republic with only one active Catholic parish north of the Nueces River — San Fernando Church in San Antonio.In 1838, Pope Gregory XVI authorized Archbishop Antoine Blanc of New Orleans to send missionaries to Texas, appointing Father John Timon as prefect of Texas to oversee their work. Many of these French Vincentian and Oblate missionaries became known as “saddlebag priests” for the hundreds of miles they traveled across the frontier to minister to scattered Catholic communities.As more settlers pushed westward, priests often rode hundreds of miles carrying the Blessed Sacrament in small pyxes to isolated Catholic families.Among the most remarkable was Jesuit missionary Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, who traveled tens of thousands of miles across the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Carrying the Eucharist with him, De Smet celebrated Mass among Native American tribes and remote frontier settlements, bringing the sacraments to places few other priests had ever reached.In the Southwest, Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy traveled throughout the vast Diocese of Santa Fe, where Catholics sometimes waited months for a priest to arrive. When he finally came, entire villages gathered to celebrate Mass, receive Communion, and adore the Blessed Sacrament.A Church steps into public viewBy the late 19th century, Catholicism had become one of America’s largest religious communities, and Eucharistic devotion increasingly moved into the public square.That growth reached a dramatic high point in 1926, when Chicago hosted the International Eucharistic Congress.More than 1 million Catholics participated in outdoor liturgies, Eucharistic processions, Holy Hours, and public acts of adoration. Newspapers described it as one of the largest religious gatherings in American history. Pilgrims traveled from across the world, transforming Chicago into the center of global Catholic life for several days.For many American Catholics, the congress symbolized something remarkable: A Church that had once worshipped in secret now publicly proclaimed its faith in the Real Presence before the world.A new Eucharistic RevivalOne hundred years after the Chicago Congress, American Catholics are once again gathering around the Blessed Sacrament.The National Eucharistic Revival was launched by the U.S. bishops in 2022. Amid recent decades of declining Mass attendance and surveys indicating weakened belief in the Real Presence among many Catholics, the revival seeks to renew belief in Christ’s real presence through parish formation, Eucharistic processions, perpetual adoration, and missionary outreach.The 2026 pilgrimage began in St. Augustine, Florida, near where the first Mass was celebrated. The route continued up the Eastern Seaboard and will conclude over the Fourth of July weekend in Philadelphia.While today’s pilgrims travel highways instead of frontier trails, their journey echoes generations of Catholics who carried the Eucharist across the U.S.The circumstances have changed dramatically over five centuries, yet beneath those outward changes lies an unbroken thread stretching across nearly five centuries. The same Eucharist celebrated by missionaries in St. Augustine, carried across the Great Plains, hidden in colonial homes, and proclaimed before millions in Chicago is the Eucharist that gathers Catholics today. The history of Catholicism in America is not simply the story of how the Church grew — it is the story of how the Eucharist sustained that growth, generation after generation.
Read More

The Eucharist in America: 5 centuries of faith that shaped a nation – #Catholic – Before America became a nation, before its founding documents were written, and before its first flag was raised, the holy sacrifice of the Mass was already being celebrated on these shores.For centuries, the history of Catholicism in America has been written in the shadow of hardship, sacrifice, and perseverance. At the center of that story has always been the Eucharist — the real presence of Christ — which sustained missionaries, settlers, soldiers, immigrants, and pioneers long before Catholicism became a visible part of American life.As hundreds of thousands of Catholics gather for Eucharistic pilgrimages, congresses, and parish revivals across the United States to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, they are participating in something that stretches back nearly 500 years. The National Eucharistic Revival may be new, but America’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is as old as the Church’s presence on this continent.The first Masses on American soilSome of the first recorded celebrations of the Mass in what is now the United States took place nearly 500 years ago. These marked the beginning of a Eucharistic presence that would shape the nationʼs Catholic history.During the Narváez expedition in 1528 and the Coronado expedition in 1540–1542, Spanish missionaries carried the Eucharist into Florida and the American Southwest. In 1565, when Spanish settlers led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine, Florida, Mass and the Eucharist quickly became the center of the new colony’s religious life.More than two centuries later, St. Junípero Serra would continue that tradition as he established California’s mission system. Serra often traveled hundreds of miles on foot between missions, carrying the Blessed Sacrament to isolated Catholic communities. Every new mission he founded placed the altar and the celebration of the Eucharist at the center of its life.For missionaries such as the Franciscans, and later the Jesuits, the Eucharist was the heart of their missionary work. Wherever they established a mission, they first erected an altar, making the celebration of the Mass the center of community life.Hidden altars in Colonial AmericaElsewhere in Britain’s American colonies, however, Catholics often practiced their faith in secret.Anti-Catholic laws frequently prohibited the public celebration of Mass. Priests risked arrest, and Catholic families gathered quietly in manor houses, private homes, and secluded chapels.One of the many examples of the hardship Catholics endured in early America occurred in the colonial state of Massachusetts. In 1647 and again in 1700, Massachusetts passed laws prohibiting Catholics from settling in the colony, and any priest who entered could be sentenced to death as “an enemy of the true Christian religion.”At this time, the Eucharist became a symbol not only of faith but also of perseverance. Families sometimes traveled miles through forests to attend clandestine Masses offered by missionary priests.Freedom after the RevolutionThe American Revolution marked a turning point.Over time, legal restrictions eased, allowing practices that had once been forbidden to emerge into public life. In 1788, Boston celebrated its first public Mass, marking a cautious yet significant milestone in establishing a Catholic presence in the region.Leading that new beginning was Father John Carroll, who in 1789 became the first bishop of the United States. Under his leadership, parishes, schools, and charitable institutions spread across the new nation, each centered on the celebration of the Eucharist.The Eucharist on the American frontierAs religious freedom expanded beyond the original colonies, the frontier presented entirely new challenges. Nowhere was this more evident than in Texas.Following Texas' independence from Mexico, the withdrawal of Mexican diocesan priests left the new republic with only one active Catholic parish north of the Nueces River — San Fernando Church in San Antonio.In 1838, Pope Gregory XVI authorized Archbishop Antoine Blanc of New Orleans to send missionaries to Texas, appointing Father John Timon as prefect of Texas to oversee their work. Many of these French Vincentian and Oblate missionaries became known as “saddlebag priests” for the hundreds of miles they traveled across the frontier to minister to scattered Catholic communities.As more settlers pushed westward, priests often rode hundreds of miles carrying the Blessed Sacrament in small pyxes to isolated Catholic families.Among the most remarkable was Jesuit missionary Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, who traveled tens of thousands of miles across the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Carrying the Eucharist with him, De Smet celebrated Mass among Native American tribes and remote frontier settlements, bringing the sacraments to places few other priests had ever reached.In the Southwest, Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy traveled throughout the vast Diocese of Santa Fe, where Catholics sometimes waited months for a priest to arrive. When he finally came, entire villages gathered to celebrate Mass, receive Communion, and adore the Blessed Sacrament.A Church steps into public viewBy the late 19th century, Catholicism had become one of America’s largest religious communities, and Eucharistic devotion increasingly moved into the public square.That growth reached a dramatic high point in 1926, when Chicago hosted the International Eucharistic Congress.More than 1 million Catholics participated in outdoor liturgies, Eucharistic processions, Holy Hours, and public acts of adoration. Newspapers described it as one of the largest religious gatherings in American history. Pilgrims traveled from across the world, transforming Chicago into the center of global Catholic life for several days.For many American Catholics, the congress symbolized something remarkable: A Church that had once worshipped in secret now publicly proclaimed its faith in the Real Presence before the world.A new Eucharistic RevivalOne hundred years after the Chicago Congress, American Catholics are once again gathering around the Blessed Sacrament.The National Eucharistic Revival was launched by the U.S. bishops in 2022. Amid recent decades of declining Mass attendance and surveys indicating weakened belief in the Real Presence among many Catholics, the revival seeks to renew belief in Christ’s real presence through parish formation, Eucharistic processions, perpetual adoration, and missionary outreach.The 2026 pilgrimage began in St. Augustine, Florida, near where the first Mass was celebrated. The route continued up the Eastern Seaboard and will conclude over the Fourth of July weekend in Philadelphia.While today’s pilgrims travel highways instead of frontier trails, their journey echoes generations of Catholics who carried the Eucharist across the U.S.The circumstances have changed dramatically over five centuries, yet beneath those outward changes lies an unbroken thread stretching across nearly five centuries. The same Eucharist celebrated by missionaries in St. Augustine, carried across the Great Plains, hidden in colonial homes, and proclaimed before millions in Chicago is the Eucharist that gathers Catholics today. The history of Catholicism in America is not simply the story of how the Church grew — it is the story of how the Eucharist sustained that growth, generation after generation.

unitedyam

From the first Masses in the New World to today’s Eucharistic Revival, here’s how the Real Presence shaped nearly five centuries of Catholic life in America.

Read More
Pope Leo XIV: Migrants lost at sea are victims of choices made and unmade – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass Saturday on the island of Lampedusa, warning that migrants who have died crossing the Mediterranean are “victims both of decisions that were made and of decisions that were not made.”In his homily at the Arena sports field July 4, the pope cited the Gospel parable of the Good Samaritan, saying residents of Lampedusa had seen “thousands of human beings fallen into the hands of robbers who have taken everything from them, beat them brutally and walked away, leaving them half-dead.”“The sea has claimed the lives of others — those who did not manage to reach their hoped-for destination,” he said. “Yet we feel their presence, which challenges us no less than that of those who have landed in need of attention and aid.”The pope arrived at the sports field in a Fiat Nuova Campagnola convertible, the same vehicle Pope Francis used during his July 8, 2013, visit to Lampedusa. The crowd greeted him with songs, waving arms, and yellow-and-white caps against the backdrop of the island’s sea and sky.Before the liturgy, Lampedusa’s mayor presented the pope with a model of the island’s lighthouse. Pope Leo recalled Pope Francis’ closeness to the people of Lampedusa and said he had come not primarily to give speeches but to celebrate the Eucharist, the supreme sign of Christ’s presence.The pope’s homily repeatedly returned to the theme of love — a love made concrete in compassion, hospitality, and the willingness to draw near to those in need.“The Gospel resounds where peoples meet, people welcome one another, their lives intertwine and different cultures engage in dialogue,” he said. “It falls silent, however, when each person makes him or herself an island, avoiding contact and cutting off exchange.”Citing the parable of the Good Samaritan, the pope said the encounter with those stripped of everything calls Christians “to be close to them.”“This is the heart of the Gospel parable: we become neighbors by acting as neighbors,” he said.Pope Leo thanked the people of Lampedusa for what he called the “miracle of compassion,” including the volunteers, organizations in Forum Lampedusa Solidale, civil authorities, the Coast Guard, local administrations, deacons, priests, religious sisters, doctors, psychologists, educators, security forces, and all those who serve migrants on the island.“I greet the migrants who are here,” he added. “They themselves have not only received solidarity but have often shown it on their journey, as the poor helping the poorest.”But the pope also warned against indifference, corruption, fear, prejudice, and policies that fail to respond to the scale of the crisis.“Indifference to the common good and corruption in their countries of origin; a global economic system that generates poverty and exclusion; fear that fuels prejudice and contempt; the belief that such problems do not concern us; the criminal calculations of those who profit from the suffering of others; the slow and difficult transition from mere emergency management to the development of comprehensive and shared policies — all are present-day echoes of the haste to ‘pass by’ in the Gospel narrative,” he said.Pope Leo also said religious belonging must never be used to exclude or discriminate.“It is time to recognize and affirm that religious affiliation must never become a reason for discrimination, as if faith had boundaries rather than being a universal call to salvation,” he said. “There is no love of God without love of neighbor, and there is no neighbor if I do not draw near.”From Lampedusa, which lies between Sicily and North Africa and has become a symbol of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean, the pope turned his attention to Europe.“From this far-flung corner of Europe on the Mediterranean Sea, one can more clearly perceive the momentous challenge that the phenomenon of migration poses to European societies,” he said.Europe, he continued, has “a unique potential” and therefore “a corresponding responsibility” to address migration in a comprehensive way — integrating immediate relief into “a long-term strategic plan capable of receiving, protecting, supporting and integrating migrants,” while also assisting developing countries so that “no one is forced to emigrate.”The pope said the task belongs not only to public institutions but also to civil society and the Church.Speaking directly to the people of Lampedusa, he also noted that tourism on the island can risk creating an “invisible wall” between vacationers and migrants who have survived shipwrecks.“Have the courage to think differently,” he said, urging residents to help visitors become “more humane” through contact with the island’s charity and history.“There is authentic rest when the meaning of life is rediscovered, and true well-being when the economy is just and fraternal,” the pope said. “In such an economy, care for creation and social friendship come together in a synthesis that humanity is seeking today.”At the close of his homily, Pope Leo referred to the image of Our Lady of Safe Harbor, patroness of Lampedusa, placed near the altar.“In God we all have a safe haven, and every Christian community is called to be a reflection of it on earth,” he said. He ended with the traditional local greeting: “O’scià!”Before the Mass, the pope visited the cemetery of Lampedusa, where he placed flowers on the graves of migrants, pausing especially at the graves of children. The moment was marked by silence and strong wind.He then went to the Porta d’Europa, the “Gateway to Europe” monument, where he briefly met a migrant family. A child gave him a soccer ball and read him a note.“Dear pope, I am super excited to meet you. Ten years ago my story began here in Lampedusa. I was alone and had lost everything, especially my mother,” the child wrote.The child said he had stopped crying only after someone gave him a ball made of paper.“From that day, the ball has remained in my heart, and I have never stopped playing,” he wrote. “Now I hope that this ball I am giving you can reach another child and make him happy, just like me.”The pope then moved toward the sea to pray alone. The wind swept away his white zucchetto, which fell into the water as he prayed near the sea.Before heading to the Arena sports field, Pope Leo visited Molo Favaloro, where he blessed a plaque dedicating the dock to Pope Francis. There he greeted migrants accompanied by the Red Cross, as well as religious sisters who are among the first to welcome migrants arriving on the island.The visit came a day after the U.S.-born Pope Leo, accepting the Liberty Medal awarded by the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia, recalled how his native land had opened its doors to waves of immigrants, allowing them and their children to help build the nation’s future. The pope has been critical of Trump administration’s policies on immigration and the coincidence of his visit to Lampedusa with America’s 250th anniversary has been widely noted there.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.Sources used: ACI Stampa Mass report and official English homily text .
Read More

Pope Leo XIV: Migrants lost at sea are victims of choices made and unmade – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass Saturday on the island of Lampedusa, warning that migrants who have died crossing the Mediterranean are “victims both of decisions that were made and of decisions that were not made.”In his homily at the Arena sports field July 4, the pope cited the Gospel parable of the Good Samaritan, saying residents of Lampedusa had seen “thousands of human beings fallen into the hands of robbers who have taken everything from them, beat them brutally and walked away, leaving them half-dead.”“The sea has claimed the lives of others — those who did not manage to reach their hoped-for destination,” he said. “Yet we feel their presence, which challenges us no less than that of those who have landed in need of attention and aid.”The pope arrived at the sports field in a Fiat Nuova Campagnola convertible, the same vehicle Pope Francis used during his July 8, 2013, visit to Lampedusa. The crowd greeted him with songs, waving arms, and yellow-and-white caps against the backdrop of the island’s sea and sky.Before the liturgy, Lampedusa’s mayor presented the pope with a model of the island’s lighthouse. Pope Leo recalled Pope Francis’ closeness to the people of Lampedusa and said he had come not primarily to give speeches but to celebrate the Eucharist, the supreme sign of Christ’s presence.The pope’s homily repeatedly returned to the theme of love — a love made concrete in compassion, hospitality, and the willingness to draw near to those in need.“The Gospel resounds where peoples meet, people welcome one another, their lives intertwine and different cultures engage in dialogue,” he said. “It falls silent, however, when each person makes him or herself an island, avoiding contact and cutting off exchange.”Citing the parable of the Good Samaritan, the pope said the encounter with those stripped of everything calls Christians “to be close to them.”“This is the heart of the Gospel parable: we become neighbors by acting as neighbors,” he said.Pope Leo thanked the people of Lampedusa for what he called the “miracle of compassion,” including the volunteers, organizations in Forum Lampedusa Solidale, civil authorities, the Coast Guard, local administrations, deacons, priests, religious sisters, doctors, psychologists, educators, security forces, and all those who serve migrants on the island.“I greet the migrants who are here,” he added. “They themselves have not only received solidarity but have often shown it on their journey, as the poor helping the poorest.”But the pope also warned against indifference, corruption, fear, prejudice, and policies that fail to respond to the scale of the crisis.“Indifference to the common good and corruption in their countries of origin; a global economic system that generates poverty and exclusion; fear that fuels prejudice and contempt; the belief that such problems do not concern us; the criminal calculations of those who profit from the suffering of others; the slow and difficult transition from mere emergency management to the development of comprehensive and shared policies — all are present-day echoes of the haste to ‘pass by’ in the Gospel narrative,” he said.Pope Leo also said religious belonging must never be used to exclude or discriminate.“It is time to recognize and affirm that religious affiliation must never become a reason for discrimination, as if faith had boundaries rather than being a universal call to salvation,” he said. “There is no love of God without love of neighbor, and there is no neighbor if I do not draw near.”From Lampedusa, which lies between Sicily and North Africa and has become a symbol of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean, the pope turned his attention to Europe.“From this far-flung corner of Europe on the Mediterranean Sea, one can more clearly perceive the momentous challenge that the phenomenon of migration poses to European societies,” he said.Europe, he continued, has “a unique potential” and therefore “a corresponding responsibility” to address migration in a comprehensive way — integrating immediate relief into “a long-term strategic plan capable of receiving, protecting, supporting and integrating migrants,” while also assisting developing countries so that “no one is forced to emigrate.”The pope said the task belongs not only to public institutions but also to civil society and the Church.Speaking directly to the people of Lampedusa, he also noted that tourism on the island can risk creating an “invisible wall” between vacationers and migrants who have survived shipwrecks.“Have the courage to think differently,” he said, urging residents to help visitors become “more humane” through contact with the island’s charity and history.“There is authentic rest when the meaning of life is rediscovered, and true well-being when the economy is just and fraternal,” the pope said. “In such an economy, care for creation and social friendship come together in a synthesis that humanity is seeking today.”At the close of his homily, Pope Leo referred to the image of Our Lady of Safe Harbor, patroness of Lampedusa, placed near the altar.“In God we all have a safe haven, and every Christian community is called to be a reflection of it on earth,” he said. He ended with the traditional local greeting: “O’scià!”Before the Mass, the pope visited the cemetery of Lampedusa, where he placed flowers on the graves of migrants, pausing especially at the graves of children. The moment was marked by silence and strong wind.He then went to the Porta d’Europa, the “Gateway to Europe” monument, where he briefly met a migrant family. A child gave him a soccer ball and read him a note.“Dear pope, I am super excited to meet you. Ten years ago my story began here in Lampedusa. I was alone and had lost everything, especially my mother,” the child wrote.The child said he had stopped crying only after someone gave him a ball made of paper.“From that day, the ball has remained in my heart, and I have never stopped playing,” he wrote. “Now I hope that this ball I am giving you can reach another child and make him happy, just like me.”The pope then moved toward the sea to pray alone. The wind swept away his white zucchetto, which fell into the water as he prayed near the sea.Before heading to the Arena sports field, Pope Leo visited Molo Favaloro, where he blessed a plaque dedicating the dock to Pope Francis. There he greeted migrants accompanied by the Red Cross, as well as religious sisters who are among the first to welcome migrants arriving on the island.The visit came a day after the U.S.-born Pope Leo, accepting the Liberty Medal awarded by the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia, recalled how his native land had opened its doors to waves of immigrants, allowing them and their children to help build the nation’s future. The pope has been critical of Trump administration’s policies on immigration and the coincidence of his visit to Lampedusa with America’s 250th anniversary has been widely noted there.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.Sources used: ACI Stampa Mass report and official English homily text .

unitedyam

Celebrating Mass on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, Pope Leo XIV urged Europe to respond to migration with long-term policies rooted in human dignity.

Read More

Picture of the day Genex Tower in Belgrade, Serbia, an iconic example of Yugoslav brutalism, framed with abandoned car park. Today is 35 years since both Slovenia and Croatia declared their independence from Yugoslavia, and started the breakup of Yugoslavia. #ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam
Picture of the day
Genex Tower in Belgrade, Serbia, an iconic example of Yugoslav brutalism, framed with abandoned car park. Today is 35 years since both Slovenia and Croatia declared their independence from Yugoslavia, and started the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Read More
Pope Leo XIV congratulates the U.S. on its 250th anniversary – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV celebrated the contributions of Catholics and immigrants to the United States in an open letter to Americans for the country’s 250th anniversary.The letter, dated June 25 and released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Friday, also highlighted the principles of religious freedom and the right to life.Unknown block type “cdn77.asset”, specify a component for it in the `components.types` optionLeo, the first U.S.-born pope, wrote that the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, “gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice, and democratic self-government.”The pope called religious freedom “among the most cherished of these principles,” writing that it is “central to the American promise, protecting both individual dignity and the peaceful coexistence of a diverse people.” That freedom has allowed the Catholic Church to flourish in the U.S., serving the nation in many fields including “education, the preferential care for the poor, healthcare, and basic social services,” Leo wroteThe pope also underscored the importance for the country’s history of the “God-given dignity of every human life.” Recognizing that dignity means “safeguarding human life from its beginning at conception until natural death” and caring for the “vulnerable, the suffering, and the forgotten,” he wrote.It also means “welcoming, protecting, and assisting immigrants,” who “have helped to shape the nation’s character,” Leo wrote.The pope’s letter to Americans closed with an invocation of the “Immaculate Conception, patroness of this country, that she will continue to watch over America and protect all who dwell therein.”
Read More

Pope Leo XIV congratulates the U.S. on its 250th anniversary – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV celebrated the contributions of Catholics and immigrants to the United States in an open letter to Americans for the country’s 250th anniversary.The letter, dated June 25 and released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Friday, also highlighted the principles of religious freedom and the right to life.Unknown block type “cdn77.asset”, specify a component for it in the `components.types` optionLeo, the first U.S.-born pope, wrote that the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, “gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice, and democratic self-government.”The pope called religious freedom “among the most cherished of these principles,” writing that it is “central to the American promise, protecting both individual dignity and the peaceful coexistence of a diverse people.” That freedom has allowed the Catholic Church to flourish in the U.S., serving the nation in many fields including “education, the preferential care for the poor, healthcare, and basic social services,” Leo wroteThe pope also underscored the importance for the country’s history of the “God-given dignity of every human life.” Recognizing that dignity means “safeguarding human life from its beginning at conception until natural death” and caring for the “vulnerable, the suffering, and the forgotten,” he wrote.It also means “welcoming, protecting, and assisting immigrants,” who “have helped to shape the nation’s character,” Leo wrote.The pope’s letter to Americans closed with an invocation of the “Immaculate Conception, patroness of this country, that she will continue to watch over America and protect all who dwell therein.”

unitedyam

The pontiff’s letter stressed religious freedom, the right to life, and the contributions of Catholics and immigrants to American history.

Read More
Filipino bishop decries government corruption as ‘grave sin’ – #Catholic – Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, Philippines, spoke out against government corruption during a June 28 rally at the People Power Monument in Manila.“We cannot remain silent while funds meant for the poor are being stolen. We cannot remain silent while the people’s treasury is being turned into the personal wealth of a few. We cannot remain silent while corruption continues to destroy the future of our children,” Bagaforo said at the White Ribbon March on Sunday, according to Licas News. The chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Interreligious Dialogue further condemned corruption as “a grave sin of theft and betrayal of the people.” Bagaforo’s remarks come in the wake of a corruption scandal last year involving infrastructure projects worth an estimated billion.Catholic anti-trafficking leaders  meet in ThailandThe sixth international Talitha Kum Leadership Training Course conference drew 30 Catholic anti-trafficking leaders from 23 countries to the Sam Phran District in Thailand this past week.During the seven-day conference, Talitha Kum Thailand delivered a presentation on education as a form of protection against human trafficking, according to a Licas News report on Monday. Sister Marie-Agnes Suwanna Buasap, SPC, who was present at the first training course in Rome, announced a K–12 curriculum and textbook series called “Don’t Touch Me” aimed at raising vigilance among students and teachers to prevent trafficking cases. “Preventing human trafficking begins in the classroom, from the heart of the teacher, and from the community of love and safety that the school provides,” said Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand.Australian bishops call on Catholics to pray for work on the seaThe Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on Catholics to pray for mariners ahead of Sea Sunday on July 12.“Sea Sunday is a time when we reflect on the lives and the work of all the seafarers of our world,” Father Tony Cox, SSC, the national director of Stella Maris Australia, said in a press release Wednesday. Cox described mariners as living on the margins of society, recalling how they were unable to set foot on dry land for over a year and a half during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he said, they must face the war-torn Strait of Hormuz.“One visiting seafarer said to me: ‘People do not see us and because of our invisibility they think we are not human. They do not see what we do and forget that we too have needs,’” Cox said.Cambodia school takes name of Buddhist and Catholic leadersA Buddhist primary school for monks in southern Cambodia has adopted the names of Buddhist and Catholic religious leaders in a display of unity between the faith communities.The “Chomroen Olivier” school was inaugurated June 25 and combines the names of Venerable Nget Chomroeun, the Buddhist abbot of Ang Montrey Pagoda, and Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, MEP, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, according to a report from Fides News Agency. Schmitthaeusler hailed the school as "a beautiful, concrete, and living sign of collaboration between the pagoda and the Catholic Church.”Maronite, Armenian Catholic leaders meet with Pope Leo Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rai and Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian shared updates about the faithful in their respective countries with Pope Leo XIV during a meeting Tuesday.Al-Rai told Leo a new phase of dialogue for peace began after the pope’s trip to Cedar, and they emphasized the need for continued dialogue and national unity at a fragile moment for Lebanon, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported. Minassian and Leo discussed the witness of the Eastern Catholic Churches and the current state of the Armenian Catholic Church.Irish government proposes abortion leave after removing reflection periodThe Republic of Ireland’s government is considering proposals to provide paid leave for women who lose a baby before 23 weeks, including those who have an abortion.The news comes after the Irish government voted to remove the three-day wait period for pregnant women considering an abortion of their unborn baby. Eilís Mulroy of the Pro-life Campaign said that the government had its priorities in the wrong order. “After the way they voted recently to abolish the three-day reflection period prior to an abortion, senior members of government like Micheál Martin and Simon Harris are now, in effect, saying to women: ‘We recognize the grief and trauma you might experience after an abortion, so we believe youʼre entitled to five days' leave. However, we voted to abolish the three-day reflection period before an abortion despite the fact that it could potentially safeguard you from finding yourself in that awful situation in the first place,’” he said, adding: “The position these politicians are adopting makes absolutely no sense.”Priest who developed video evangelization program named bishop of Arundel and BrightonFather Stephen Wang has been appointed as the new Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, England, replacing Archbishop Richard Moth, who was recently appointed as the archbishop of Westminster.Wang described the appointment as “a huge surprise,” adding: “I’m grateful to Pope Leo for calling me and putting his trust in me, and to Archbishop Moth for his care for the diocese over these years.” The bishop-elect has spent the last five years as rector of the Venerable English College, one of two English and Welsh seminaries in Rome, training men for the priesthood. Wang, whose appointment has been widely welcomed, is renowned for having developed “Sycamore,” a video-based Catholic evangelization program that explores the Catholic faith through short films and guided discussion. Designed to make the faith more accessible, “Sycamore” is now widely used by Catholic parishes, schools, and university chaplaincies across the world.German bishops welcome apostolic nuncio from KenyaMembers of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) have welcomed the former apostolic nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, pledging their collaboration in the Vatican diplomat’s new apostolic mission.“We are delighted by your arrival in our country and wish you God’s abundant blessings for your new task,” GCBC Vice President Bishop Michael Gerber of the Diocese of Fulda said, according to a report from ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on Tuesday. Pope Leo XIV transferred van Megen, who served as the apostolic nuncio in Kenya for seven years, on April 9 to Germany after Archbishop Nikola Eterović resigned upon reaching the canonical age limit.
Read More

Filipino bishop decries government corruption as ‘grave sin’ – #Catholic – Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, Philippines, spoke out against government corruption during a June 28 rally at the People Power Monument in Manila.“We cannot remain silent while funds meant for the poor are being stolen. We cannot remain silent while the people’s treasury is being turned into the personal wealth of a few. We cannot remain silent while corruption continues to destroy the future of our children,” Bagaforo said at the White Ribbon March on Sunday, according to Licas News. The chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Interreligious Dialogue further condemned corruption as “a grave sin of theft and betrayal of the people.” Bagaforo’s remarks come in the wake of a corruption scandal last year involving infrastructure projects worth an estimated $2 billion.Catholic anti-trafficking leaders  meet in ThailandThe sixth international Talitha Kum Leadership Training Course conference drew 30 Catholic anti-trafficking leaders from 23 countries to the Sam Phran District in Thailand this past week.During the seven-day conference, Talitha Kum Thailand delivered a presentation on education as a form of protection against human trafficking, according to a Licas News report on Monday. Sister Marie-Agnes Suwanna Buasap, SPC, who was present at the first training course in Rome, announced a K–12 curriculum and textbook series called “Don’t Touch Me” aimed at raising vigilance among students and teachers to prevent trafficking cases. “Preventing human trafficking begins in the classroom, from the heart of the teacher, and from the community of love and safety that the school provides,” said Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand.Australian bishops call on Catholics to pray for work on the seaThe Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on Catholics to pray for mariners ahead of Sea Sunday on July 12.“Sea Sunday is a time when we reflect on the lives and the work of all the seafarers of our world,” Father Tony Cox, SSC, the national director of Stella Maris Australia, said in a press release Wednesday. Cox described mariners as living on the margins of society, recalling how they were unable to set foot on dry land for over a year and a half during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he said, they must face the war-torn Strait of Hormuz.“One visiting seafarer said to me: ‘People do not see us and because of our invisibility they think we are not human. They do not see what we do and forget that we too have needs,’” Cox said.Cambodia school takes name of Buddhist and Catholic leadersA Buddhist primary school for monks in southern Cambodia has adopted the names of Buddhist and Catholic religious leaders in a display of unity between the faith communities.The “Chomroen Olivier” school was inaugurated June 25 and combines the names of Venerable Nget Chomroeun, the Buddhist abbot of Ang Montrey Pagoda, and Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, MEP, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, according to a report from Fides News Agency. Schmitthaeusler hailed the school as "a beautiful, concrete, and living sign of collaboration between the pagoda and the Catholic Church.”Maronite, Armenian Catholic leaders meet with Pope Leo Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rai and Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian shared updates about the faithful in their respective countries with Pope Leo XIV during a meeting Tuesday.Al-Rai told Leo a new phase of dialogue for peace began after the pope’s trip to Cedar, and they emphasized the need for continued dialogue and national unity at a fragile moment for Lebanon, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported. Minassian and Leo discussed the witness of the Eastern Catholic Churches and the current state of the Armenian Catholic Church.Irish government proposes abortion leave after removing reflection periodThe Republic of Ireland’s government is considering proposals to provide paid leave for women who lose a baby before 23 weeks, including those who have an abortion.The news comes after the Irish government voted to remove the three-day wait period for pregnant women considering an abortion of their unborn baby. Eilís Mulroy of the Pro-life Campaign said that the government had its priorities in the wrong order. “After the way they voted recently to abolish the three-day reflection period prior to an abortion, senior members of government like Micheál Martin and Simon Harris are now, in effect, saying to women: ‘We recognize the grief and trauma you might experience after an abortion, so we believe youʼre entitled to five days' leave. However, we voted to abolish the three-day reflection period before an abortion despite the fact that it could potentially safeguard you from finding yourself in that awful situation in the first place,’” he said, adding: “The position these politicians are adopting makes absolutely no sense.”Priest who developed video evangelization program named bishop of Arundel and BrightonFather Stephen Wang has been appointed as the new Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, England, replacing Archbishop Richard Moth, who was recently appointed as the archbishop of Westminster.Wang described the appointment as “a huge surprise,” adding: “I’m grateful to Pope Leo for calling me and putting his trust in me, and to Archbishop Moth for his care for the diocese over these years.” The bishop-elect has spent the last five years as rector of the Venerable English College, one of two English and Welsh seminaries in Rome, training men for the priesthood. Wang, whose appointment has been widely welcomed, is renowned for having developed “Sycamore,” a video-based Catholic evangelization program that explores the Catholic faith through short films and guided discussion. Designed to make the faith more accessible, “Sycamore” is now widely used by Catholic parishes, schools, and university chaplaincies across the world.German bishops welcome apostolic nuncio from KenyaMembers of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) have welcomed the former apostolic nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, pledging their collaboration in the Vatican diplomat’s new apostolic mission.“We are delighted by your arrival in our country and wish you God’s abundant blessings for your new task,” GCBC Vice President Bishop Michael Gerber of the Diocese of Fulda said, according to a report from ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on Tuesday. Pope Leo XIV transferred van Megen, who served as the apostolic nuncio in Kenya for seven years, on April 9 to Germany after Archbishop Nikola Eterović resigned upon reaching the canonical age limit.

unitedyam

Filipino bishop calls out government corruption, anti-trafficking leaders meet in Thailand, Australian bishops call for prayers for sea mariners, and more in this week’s Catholic world news roundup.

Read More
Cameroon diocese announces release of kidnapped priest, religious brothers – #Catholic – NKONGSAMBA, Cameroon — Cameroon’s Catholic Diocese of Nkongsamba has announced the safe release of a priest and two members of the Fraternity of Franciscans of Emmanuel (FFE) who were reportedly abducted in the country’s North-West Region.In the letter that the diocesan chancellor, Abbé Luc Roger Dodo, issued on July 1, the diocese gave thanks to God for the release of Father John Bosco Bihkong and Brothers Sylvester Sewong and Marie Rodrigue, who were kidnapped on Saturday night, June 27.“Thank you to everyone for your prayers and expressions of support, which have borne fruit,” Dodo said in the letter, quoting the psalmist: "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”In a statement issued June 30, the vicar general of the diocese announced the kidnapping of the three men.According to Father Joseph Tchinda Dountio, Bihkong had traveled to his native village of Melim, near Ndop in the North-West Region of Cameroon, to celebrate his first Mass on Friday, June 26.He was accompanied by Brother Sylvester Sewong, guardian of the FFE convent in Kékem, and Brother Marie Rodrigue Sop, who is preparing for a perpetual profession. The three were abducted the following night.No details were provided regarding the identity of the kidnappers, their motives, or whether contact had been established with the abductors.Cameroonʼs North-West Region is one of the two English-speaking regions that have experienced years of insecurity linked to the countryʼs Anglophone crisis.Clergy, women and men religious, and other civilians have periodically been targeted in abductions as violence persists in the region.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
Read More

Cameroon diocese announces release of kidnapped priest, religious brothers – #Catholic – NKONGSAMBA, Cameroon — Cameroon’s Catholic Diocese of Nkongsamba has announced the safe release of a priest and two members of the Fraternity of Franciscans of Emmanuel (FFE) who were reportedly abducted in the country’s North-West Region.In the letter that the diocesan chancellor, Abbé Luc Roger Dodo, issued on July 1, the diocese gave thanks to God for the release of Father John Bosco Bihkong and Brothers Sylvester Sewong and Marie Rodrigue, who were kidnapped on Saturday night, June 27.“Thank you to everyone for your prayers and expressions of support, which have borne fruit,” Dodo said in the letter, quoting the psalmist: "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”In a statement issued June 30, the vicar general of the diocese announced the kidnapping of the three men.According to Father Joseph Tchinda Dountio, Bihkong had traveled to his native village of Melim, near Ndop in the North-West Region of Cameroon, to celebrate his first Mass on Friday, June 26.He was accompanied by Brother Sylvester Sewong, guardian of the FFE convent in Kékem, and Brother Marie Rodrigue Sop, who is preparing for a perpetual profession. The three were abducted the following night.No details were provided regarding the identity of the kidnappers, their motives, or whether contact had been established with the abductors.Cameroonʼs North-West Region is one of the two English-speaking regions that have experienced years of insecurity linked to the countryʼs Anglophone crisis.Clergy, women and men religious, and other civilians have periodically been targeted in abductions as violence persists in the region.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

unitedyam

The Diocese of Nkongsamba gave thanks for the release of Father John Bosco Bihkong and Brothers Sylvester Sewong and Marie Rodrigue, who were kidnapped on June 27.

Read More
2 SSPX bishops hold dubious distinction of being excommunicated twice – #Catholic – Two bishops of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) — Spaniard Alfonso de Galarreta and Swiss Bernard Fellay — incurred automatic excommunication by committing the canonical offense of schism following the ordination of four bishops without the permission of Pope Leo XIV.The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on July 2 declared that the SSPX is in a state of schism following the ordinations. With this Vatican decision, Galarreta and Fellay represent a unique case: They have each been excommunicated twice. Against the will of St. John Paul II, both were consecrated bishops in 1988 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the SSPX, thereby incurring the penalty of schism and excommunication. Pope Benedict XVI pardoned them in 2009.Fellay entered the Écône, Switzerland, seminary in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982. After serving as the societyʼs bursar general, he was elected superior of the SSPX in 1994, a position he held until 2012.During his tenure, a certain rapprochement took place between the SSPX and the Vatican, leading to Pope Benedict XVIʼs decision to lift the excommunication in January 2009.However, this decision did not eliminate the illegitimacy of his ministry, as the Bavarian pontiff explained in a letter published in March of the same year.De Galarreta was born in Torrelavega, Spain, and his family emigrated to Argentina, where he entered the La Plata seminary in 1975. Rejecting the reforms driven by the Second Vatican Council, he decided to transfer to the Écône seminary in 1978.Lefebvre ordained him a priest in Buenos Aires in 1980. Five years later, de Galarreta assumed the role of superior of the fraternityʼs South American district.He was subsequently assigned as superior of the Autonomous House in Spain and served as the director of the Our Lady Co-Redemptrix Seminary in La Reja, Argentina. Following the 2018 election of Father Davide Pagliarani as superior of the SSPX, Galarreta was promoted to first assistant general of the society.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.
Read More

2 SSPX bishops hold dubious distinction of being excommunicated twice – #Catholic – Two bishops of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) — Spaniard Alfonso de Galarreta and Swiss Bernard Fellay — incurred automatic excommunication by committing the canonical offense of schism following the ordination of four bishops without the permission of Pope Leo XIV.The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on July 2 declared that the SSPX is in a state of schism following the ordinations. With this Vatican decision, Galarreta and Fellay represent a unique case: They have each been excommunicated twice. Against the will of St. John Paul II, both were consecrated bishops in 1988 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the SSPX, thereby incurring the penalty of schism and excommunication. Pope Benedict XVI pardoned them in 2009.Fellay entered the Écône, Switzerland, seminary in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982. After serving as the societyʼs bursar general, he was elected superior of the SSPX in 1994, a position he held until 2012.During his tenure, a certain rapprochement took place between the SSPX and the Vatican, leading to Pope Benedict XVIʼs decision to lift the excommunication in January 2009.However, this decision did not eliminate the illegitimacy of his ministry, as the Bavarian pontiff explained in a letter published in March of the same year.De Galarreta was born in Torrelavega, Spain, and his family emigrated to Argentina, where he entered the La Plata seminary in 1975. Rejecting the reforms driven by the Second Vatican Council, he decided to transfer to the Écône seminary in 1978.Lefebvre ordained him a priest in Buenos Aires in 1980. Five years later, de Galarreta assumed the role of superior of the fraternityʼs South American district.He was subsequently assigned as superior of the Autonomous House in Spain and served as the director of the Our Lady Co-Redemptrix Seminary in La Reja, Argentina. Following the 2018 election of Father Davide Pagliarani as superior of the SSPX, Galarreta was promoted to first assistant general of the society.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.

unitedyam

Society of St. Pius X bishops Galarreta and Fellay have been excommunicated twice: by Pope John Paul II in 1988 and again on July 2 for the canonical offense of schism.

Read More
Parolin: SSPX ordinations are ‘schismatic’ – #Catholic – ROME — Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said Wednesday that the episcopal ordinations carried out earlier in the day without papal mandate by the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) constitute a schismatic act.“I don’t think there is much to say about this episode,” Parolin said at an event July 1. “First of all, I want to express great sorrow. I want to express great sorrow because, speaking of the unity of the Church, an act like this deeply wounds the unity of the Church.”The cardinal was commenting on the episcopal ordination of four new bishops at the SSPX headquarters in Switzerland.“Evidently this is in itself a schismatic act, because we know that episcopal ordinations without pontifical mandate break the unity of the Church and are also subject to very precise sanctions, which are fundamentally excommunication,” Parolin said.The cardinal said he did not know “the timing and the manner” in which the excommunication would be formally addressed.“My hope is that, despite what happened today, dialogue can resume and that a solution can truly be found here as well,” he said. “The fundamental point is the council — that is, whether or not to accept the Second Vatican Council.”“One certainly cannot think that the history of the Church stops at a certain point,” Parolin continued. “The history of the Church continues, and therefore the Second Vatican Council is a milestone in the history of the Church that must be accepted and implemented in the right way.”Parolin added that “despite this serious wound that has been produced,” he hopes dialogue with the SSPX can resume and “paths can be found that make it possible to resolve this problem.”This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Read More

Parolin: SSPX ordinations are ‘schismatic’ – #Catholic – ROME — Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said Wednesday that the episcopal ordinations carried out earlier in the day without papal mandate by the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) constitute a schismatic act.“I don’t think there is much to say about this episode,” Parolin said at an event July 1. “First of all, I want to express great sorrow. I want to express great sorrow because, speaking of the unity of the Church, an act like this deeply wounds the unity of the Church.”The cardinal was commenting on the episcopal ordination of four new bishops at the SSPX headquarters in Switzerland.“Evidently this is in itself a schismatic act, because we know that episcopal ordinations without pontifical mandate break the unity of the Church and are also subject to very precise sanctions, which are fundamentally excommunication,” Parolin said.The cardinal said he did not know “the timing and the manner” in which the excommunication would be formally addressed.“My hope is that, despite what happened today, dialogue can resume and that a solution can truly be found here as well,” he said. “The fundamental point is the council — that is, whether or not to accept the Second Vatican Council.”“One certainly cannot think that the history of the Church stops at a certain point,” Parolin continued. “The history of the Church continues, and therefore the Second Vatican Council is a milestone in the history of the Church that must be accepted and implemented in the right way.”Parolin added that “despite this serious wound that has been produced,” he hopes dialogue with the SSPX can resume and “paths can be found that make it possible to resolve this problem.”This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam

Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the episcopal ordinations carried out without papal mandate by the Society of St. Pius X “deeply wound” Church unity.

Read More
God on the soccer field: Expressions of faith at the World Cup – #Catholic – The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been more than just a celebration of soccer. Amid the excitement, players, coaches, and fans have made it clear that, for many of them, faith is also part of the game.Mexico, the United States, and Canada are hosting the tournament, which kicked off on June 11 and for the first time in history has brought together 48 national teams for a total of 104 matches. The Virgin of Luján and the Argentinian national teamArgentina, the tournamentʼs defending champion, seeks to repeat the feat achieved at Qatar in 2022 under the protection of the Virgin of Luján. During that World Cup, a video shared by goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez revealed an image of the patroness of Argentina in the locker room at the white-and-blue-uniformed teamʼs training camp.TweetFurthermore, the athletic shoes worn by Lionel Messi, captain and superstar of the Argentinian national team, were blessed at Our Lady of Luján Basilica by Father Lucas García, the shrine’s rector.In a video shared on social media, the priest is seen sprinkling holy water on the footwear while praying that the World Cup becomes a time of unity for all Argentinians.Instagram postCroatia and its faithCroatia, one of the standout teams in recent World Cups, has also consistently borne witness to its faith.Before the World Cup, the players and coaching staff left their training session to attend Mass on the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Mass with the Croatian national team. | Credit: Archdiocese of Rijeka Another significant moment occurred before the team’s first match against England, when EWTN News asked players Kristijan Jakić and Igor Matanović what Catholicism means to the team and if prayer and faith are important to them.“I think faith is very important in my life. When you pray to God, you feel that someone is listening to you, and that gives me a lot of strength,” Matanović said.Jakić added: “We are a Catholic country where faith is the pathway of our lives. I think faith represents the entire national team. Faith is everything in our lives.”St. Michael the Archangel and ScotlandScotland returned to the World Cup this year after a 28-year absence, featuring a generation of established stars alongside the talent of young prospects such as 20-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak, a forward for Bournemouth in the English Premier League.In an interview with the BBC, the player spoke about the central role the Catholic faith plays in his life. He carries a medal of St. Michael the Archangel and prays and reads the Bible before every match.Following Scotlandʼs victory over Haiti in its World Cup debut, cameras captured Doak kneeling on the playing field as he thanked God in prayer.Instagram postMexico at the feet of Our Lady of GuadalupeAt Mexico City Stadium, the site for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, there is a small, restricted-access Catholic chapel that players and coaching staff pass through before taking the field.It’s a simple space featuring just two kneelers and an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, accompanied by a plaque noting that the image was blessed by St. John Paul II in 1999 during his fourth visit to Mexico.A video released during the tournament showed head coach Javier Aguirre and some members of “El Tri” — as the Mexican national team is known — pausing briefly to pray before their match against the Czech Republic on June 24, which they won 3-0.Instagram postFaith also finds expression at the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, where fans can entrust the Mexican National Team before an image of the child Jesus dressed in the teamʼs official uniform, a tradition that seeks not to ask for sporting victories but to place their joys in the hands of Christ. The child Jesus dressed in the three official uniforms of the Mexican national soccer team at the Altar of the Kings in the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral Just steps from the cathedral in Mexico City’s Constitution Square, a Fan Fest has been set up where fans gather to watch the games. There, one can find two nuns from the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament walking through the square, offering “free hugs” to the fans.USAOn June 12, the United States got off to a strong start in the World Cup by defeating Paraguay 4-1. After the match, defender Mark McKenzie led the team in a moment of prayer on the field.Leading up to the tournament, several U.S. players spoke openly about their faith. Standout winger Christian Pulisic is known for leading teammates in a Bible study he calls “Bible Time” and has spoken about the important role that reading Scripture plays in his daily life.TweetThis 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.
Read More

God on the soccer field: Expressions of faith at the World Cup – #Catholic – The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been more than just a celebration of soccer. Amid the excitement, players, coaches, and fans have made it clear that, for many of them, faith is also part of the game.Mexico, the United States, and Canada are hosting the tournament, which kicked off on June 11 and for the first time in history has brought together 48 national teams for a total of 104 matches. The Virgin of Luján and the Argentinian national teamArgentina, the tournamentʼs defending champion, seeks to repeat the feat achieved at Qatar in 2022 under the protection of the Virgin of Luján. During that World Cup, a video shared by goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez revealed an image of the patroness of Argentina in the locker room at the white-and-blue-uniformed teamʼs training camp.TweetFurthermore, the athletic shoes worn by Lionel Messi, captain and superstar of the Argentinian national team, were blessed at Our Lady of Luján Basilica by Father Lucas García, the shrine’s rector.In a video shared on social media, the priest is seen sprinkling holy water on the footwear while praying that the World Cup becomes a time of unity for all Argentinians.Instagram postCroatia and its faithCroatia, one of the standout teams in recent World Cups, has also consistently borne witness to its faith.Before the World Cup, the players and coaching staff left their training session to attend Mass on the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Mass with the Croatian national team. | Credit: Archdiocese of Rijeka Another significant moment occurred before the team’s first match against England, when EWTN News asked players Kristijan Jakić and Igor Matanović what Catholicism means to the team and if prayer and faith are important to them.“I think faith is very important in my life. When you pray to God, you feel that someone is listening to you, and that gives me a lot of strength,” Matanović said.Jakić added: “We are a Catholic country where faith is the pathway of our lives. I think faith represents the entire national team. Faith is everything in our lives.”St. Michael the Archangel and ScotlandScotland returned to the World Cup this year after a 28-year absence, featuring a generation of established stars alongside the talent of young prospects such as 20-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak, a forward for Bournemouth in the English Premier League.In an interview with the BBC, the player spoke about the central role the Catholic faith plays in his life. He carries a medal of St. Michael the Archangel and prays and reads the Bible before every match.Following Scotlandʼs victory over Haiti in its World Cup debut, cameras captured Doak kneeling on the playing field as he thanked God in prayer.Instagram postMexico at the feet of Our Lady of GuadalupeAt Mexico City Stadium, the site for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, there is a small, restricted-access Catholic chapel that players and coaching staff pass through before taking the field.It’s a simple space featuring just two kneelers and an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, accompanied by a plaque noting that the image was blessed by St. John Paul II in 1999 during his fourth visit to Mexico.A video released during the tournament showed head coach Javier Aguirre and some members of “El Tri” — as the Mexican national team is known — pausing briefly to pray before their match against the Czech Republic on June 24, which they won 3-0.Instagram postFaith also finds expression at the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, where fans can entrust the Mexican National Team before an image of the child Jesus dressed in the teamʼs official uniform, a tradition that seeks not to ask for sporting victories but to place their joys in the hands of Christ. The child Jesus dressed in the three official uniforms of the Mexican national soccer team at the Altar of the Kings in the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral Just steps from the cathedral in Mexico City’s Constitution Square, a Fan Fest has been set up where fans gather to watch the games. There, one can find two nuns from the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament walking through the square, offering “free hugs” to the fans.USAOn June 12, the United States got off to a strong start in the World Cup by defeating Paraguay 4-1. After the match, defender Mark McKenzie led the team in a moment of prayer on the field.Leading up to the tournament, several U.S. players spoke openly about their faith. Standout winger Christian Pulisic is known for leading teammates in a Bible study he calls “Bible Time” and has spoken about the important role that reading Scripture plays in his daily life.TweetThis 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.

unitedyam

During the World Cup, various players and teams have expressed faith in God, asking not so much for victory but to put their lives and efforts in his hands.

Read More
Nun arrested by ICE while walking to Sunday Mass in Texas released after lawmakers’ intervention – #Catholic – A Catholic nun was briefly detained by federal immigration officers while walking to church in her religious habit on Sunday, sparking widespread concern among local faith leaders and prompting swift intervention by members of Congress.Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and a registered nurse at South Texas Health System, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on June 28 as she headed to Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, just miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.Parish officials quickly shared news of the arrest on social media, which drew significant attention and led to outreach from lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. Monica de la Cruz and Henry Cuellar, the latter of whom said his office communicated with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and border czar Tom Homan to secure Ugboaja’s immediate release.By Sunday evening, Ugboaja, who volunteers as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows, had been released from custody and returned home.U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told EWTN News that he was told at first that she could not be released until Monday because of staffing issues but that Homan made her earlier release happen.“[Homan] said he’d take care of it. I want to thank the DHS secretary and Homan for helping her get released” on Sunday, Cuellar said. The congressman said he now knows why Ugboaja was initially detained but is not at liberty to speak about it. “This is not the way they should have picked her up,” he emphasized. “If ICE had any questions, there would have been more appropriate ways to deal with her situation.”Cuellar said the image of a nun in full habit walking to church on a Sunday morning “lowers a curtain of fear in the community … We should not have people being picked up on the streets in America. That’s not America.”  “If there’s fear, it should be focused on criminals,” the Democratic congressman said. “Those are the ones who should fear ICE.”Brenda Riojas, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, told EWTN News in a statement the diocese was “grateful also for the quick response of local representatives who reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to get Sister Leticia released from custody.”She noted the diocese is still gathering information about the circumstances regarding Ugboaja’s detainment by ICE.In the statement, Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville said the nun “is a well-known source of goodness and hope in our community, and I am grateful she has been released.”He said there remain “many questions” about her arrest. “For now, it is clear that Homeland Security enforcement protocols that make it possible for a religious sister, or anyone, to be detained and handcuffed while peacefully walking to church on a Sunday morning are wildly disturbing and need to be reformed.”The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States, started a petition addressed to Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, calling for an immediate investigation into why the nun was detained.“This incident highlights the concerns that advocates, faith leaders, and community organizations have raised for months about unlawful enforcement practices and the lack of oversight,” the petition reads.The incident comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has included operations near houses of worship.An ICE spokesperson told EWTN News in July 2025 that while the agency is “not subject to previous restrictions on immigration operations at sensitive locations, to include schools, churches, and courthouses,” it nevertheless “does not indiscriminately take enforcement actions at these locations.”“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests aliens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws,” the spokesperson noted, adding: “All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention, and, if found removable by final order, removed from the United States.”In January, the Department of Homeland Security removed places of worship from its sensitive locations list, allowing ICE agents to carry out immigration enforcement procedures.Following a lawsuit from a group of 27 religious organizations, ICE was temporarily blocked in March 2025 from carrying out deportations in places of worship. However, one month later, a federal judge found the organizations did not have legal standing, thereby allowing operations to continue.Bishops in South Texas have reported increased anxiety among parishioners, with some opting to attend Mass virtually or requesting assistance with errands to avoid leaving their homes.Bishops in other parts of the country have issued dispensations from Mass attendance for those who fear deportation.San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller told EWTN News in January that instead of dispensing the Mass obligation, he wants to “reach out to those who are hidden.” “That’s our work. We will go and find them in their homes, bring catechists and Communion to their homes,” he said.Reached for comment, ICE referred EWTN News to the Homeland Security department, which did not respond by the time of publication.This story was updated at 3:13 p.m. ET on July 1, 2026, with the quotes from Rep. Cuellar.
Read More

Nun arrested by ICE while walking to Sunday Mass in Texas released after lawmakers’ intervention – #Catholic – A Catholic nun was briefly detained by federal immigration officers while walking to church in her religious habit on Sunday, sparking widespread concern among local faith leaders and prompting swift intervention by members of Congress.Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and a registered nurse at South Texas Health System, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on June 28 as she headed to Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, just miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.Parish officials quickly shared news of the arrest on social media, which drew significant attention and led to outreach from lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. Monica de la Cruz and Henry Cuellar, the latter of whom said his office communicated with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and border czar Tom Homan to secure Ugboaja’s immediate release.By Sunday evening, Ugboaja, who volunteers as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows, had been released from custody and returned home.U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told EWTN News that he was told at first that she could not be released until Monday because of staffing issues but that Homan made her earlier release happen.“[Homan] said he’d take care of it. I want to thank the DHS secretary and Homan for helping her get released” on Sunday, Cuellar said. The congressman said he now knows why Ugboaja was initially detained but is not at liberty to speak about it. “This is not the way they should have picked her up,” he emphasized. “If ICE had any questions, there would have been more appropriate ways to deal with her situation.”Cuellar said the image of a nun in full habit walking to church on a Sunday morning “lowers a curtain of fear in the community … We should not have people being picked up on the streets in America. That’s not America.”  “If there’s fear, it should be focused on criminals,” the Democratic congressman said. “Those are the ones who should fear ICE.”Brenda Riojas, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, told EWTN News in a statement the diocese was “grateful also for the quick response of local representatives who reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to get Sister Leticia released from custody.”She noted the diocese is still gathering information about the circumstances regarding Ugboaja’s detainment by ICE.In the statement, Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville said the nun “is a well-known source of goodness and hope in our community, and I am grateful she has been released.”He said there remain “many questions” about her arrest. “For now, it is clear that Homeland Security enforcement protocols that make it possible for a religious sister, or anyone, to be detained and handcuffed while peacefully walking to church on a Sunday morning are wildly disturbing and need to be reformed.”The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States, started a petition addressed to Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, calling for an immediate investigation into why the nun was detained.“This incident highlights the concerns that advocates, faith leaders, and community organizations have raised for months about unlawful enforcement practices and the lack of oversight,” the petition reads.The incident comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has included operations near houses of worship.An ICE spokesperson told EWTN News in July 2025 that while the agency is “not subject to previous restrictions on immigration operations at sensitive locations, to include schools, churches, and courthouses,” it nevertheless “does not indiscriminately take enforcement actions at these locations.”“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests aliens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws,” the spokesperson noted, adding: “All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention, and, if found removable by final order, removed from the United States.”In January, the Department of Homeland Security removed places of worship from its sensitive locations list, allowing ICE agents to carry out immigration enforcement procedures.Following a lawsuit from a group of 27 religious organizations, ICE was temporarily blocked in March 2025 from carrying out deportations in places of worship. However, one month later, a federal judge found the organizations did not have legal standing, thereby allowing operations to continue.Bishops in South Texas have reported increased anxiety among parishioners, with some opting to attend Mass virtually or requesting assistance with errands to avoid leaving their homes.Bishops in other parts of the country have issued dispensations from Mass attendance for those who fear deportation.San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller told EWTN News in January that instead of dispensing the Mass obligation, he wants to “reach out to those who are hidden.” “That’s our work. We will go and find them in their homes, bring catechists and Communion to their homes,” he said.Reached for comment, ICE referred EWTN News to the Homeland Security department, which did not respond by the time of publication.This story was updated at 3:13 p.m. ET on July 1, 2026, with the quotes from Rep. Cuellar.

unitedyam

The incident comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has included operations near houses of worship.

Read More
Nicaraguan police arrest 80-year-old bishop being treated at a medical clinic – #Catholic – Abelardo Mata, the bishop emeritus of Estelí, Nicaragua, who recently turned 80, was detained for several hours on June 29 by the dictatorships’s police one day after he had celebrated a Mass in which he called for prayers for the persecuted Church in the country.Around midday on Monday, the prelate was taken into police custody from the clinic to the Investigations Center at the Evaristo Vásquez Sánchez Police Complex, headquarters of the Directorate of Judicial Assistance known as “El Nuevo Chipote,” according to reports by Arnulfo Peralta Solís, a Nicaraguan journalist based in the United States.El Nuevo Chipote is where political dissidents have been imprisoned and allegedly tortured.Peralta further stated that on that same day, Mata returned to his home in the town of Tisma. The journalist had spoken with the bishop on May 18 during the latterʼs first public appearance in years as he congratulated an Indigenous Nicaraguan doctor working in Denver.According to the newspaper La Prensa, Mata arrived in Estelí on Thursday, June 25, and his detention took place following a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, June 28, at the Calvary’s Cross church, where the bishop “asked for prayers for the persecuted Church and prayed for exiled priests, including Bishop Rolando Álvarez and Father Frutos Constantino Valle Salmerón.”According to the Nicaraguan newspaper, Mata is reportedly barred by authorities from traveling to Estelí and celebrating Mass there.The Nicaraguan media Mosaico CSI reported that the prelate had visited a clinic in Estelí for a checkup, as he uses a pacemaker.Álvarez, who serves as apostolic administrator of Estelí since Mata resigned in 2021, currently lives in Rome. He was exiled there in January 2024 after serving about 11 months of a 26-year prison sentence, not counting the approximately seven months he was held under house arrest prior. The prelate was a consistent critic of the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo.Valle, who is over 80 years old, holds the position of “administrator ad omnia” for Estelí, meaning he can carry out all ordinary functions of pastoral governance except those reserved to a bishop. Valle is currently living at the Our Lady of Fatima Seminary and is under house arrest, prohibited from leaving the seminary.“Bishop Emeritus Juan Abelardo Mata has been a bishop close to the people who has spoken the truth, actions that the Sandinista dictatorship does not tolerate,” researcher Martha Patricia Molina stated on June 30 in comments to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.Molina, the author of the report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church,” which has documented thousands of attacks by the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship against Catholics since 2018, noted that “in Nicaragua, anyone who dares to voice an opinion, however obvious it may seem, ends up offending the dictatorship and that’s why they keep the prelates under surveillance.”“They are constantly threatened with imprisonment or exile, and while not all cases become public, several priests are enduring this same constant harassment without reporting it publicly, because the dictatorship reacts more harshly when they do,” Molina explained.In April, a priest in Nicaragua speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons gave an interview to ACI Prensa to denounce the harassment he faces on a daily basis.Every Sunday, the police arrive to photograph him. He is required to report every time he leaves his parish, every religious service, and every movement outside his territory. If he speaks about a social issue during his homily, he risks one of two things: imprisonment or exile.Mata is ‘courageous, beloved, and credible voice in Nicaragua’“Bishop Mata has been a strong, courageous voice that has always spoken truth to power, and that truth and light are unsettling. He is a beloved and credible voice in Nicaragua,” Arturo McFields, Nicaragua’s former ambassador to the Organization of American States, told ACI Prensa.“The dictatorship tends to want to normalize what is happening in the country, and what has happened to Bishop Mata shows us that there is nothing normal in Nicaragua,” he said. “There is a spiteful, dangerous, criminal, and satanic dictatorship, and this must be denounced because it is the only way to put a stop to these actions, especially against any voice that dares to question the regime.”McFields also charged that the dictatorship “harbors a deep-seated grudge against Bishop Mata and is intent on ‘settling scores.’”Bishop Báez condemns attack on Mata“I am deeply outraged by and absolutely condemn the act of aggression committed by the regime’s police against my brother Juan Abelardo Mata, bishop emeritus of Estelí,” ​​Bishop Silvio Báez, auxiliary bishop of Managua, currently in exile in Miami, wrote on X.“These cowardly actions only demonstrate the weakness and irrationality of a criminal dictatorship,” the prelate stated on June 30.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.
Read More

Nicaraguan police arrest 80-year-old bishop being treated at a medical clinic – #Catholic – Abelardo Mata, the bishop emeritus of Estelí, Nicaragua, who recently turned 80, was detained for several hours on June 29 by the dictatorships’s police one day after he had celebrated a Mass in which he called for prayers for the persecuted Church in the country.Around midday on Monday, the prelate was taken into police custody from the clinic to the Investigations Center at the Evaristo Vásquez Sánchez Police Complex, headquarters of the Directorate of Judicial Assistance known as “El Nuevo Chipote,” according to reports by Arnulfo Peralta Solís, a Nicaraguan journalist based in the United States.El Nuevo Chipote is where political dissidents have been imprisoned and allegedly tortured.Peralta further stated that on that same day, Mata returned to his home in the town of Tisma. The journalist had spoken with the bishop on May 18 during the latterʼs first public appearance in years as he congratulated an Indigenous Nicaraguan doctor working in Denver.According to the newspaper La Prensa, Mata arrived in Estelí on Thursday, June 25, and his detention took place following a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, June 28, at the Calvary’s Cross church, where the bishop “asked for prayers for the persecuted Church and prayed for exiled priests, including Bishop Rolando Álvarez and Father Frutos Constantino Valle Salmerón.”According to the Nicaraguan newspaper, Mata is reportedly barred by authorities from traveling to Estelí and celebrating Mass there.The Nicaraguan media Mosaico CSI reported that the prelate had visited a clinic in Estelí for a checkup, as he uses a pacemaker.Álvarez, who serves as apostolic administrator of Estelí since Mata resigned in 2021, currently lives in Rome. He was exiled there in January 2024 after serving about 11 months of a 26-year prison sentence, not counting the approximately seven months he was held under house arrest prior. The prelate was a consistent critic of the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo.Valle, who is over 80 years old, holds the position of “administrator ad omnia” for Estelí, meaning he can carry out all ordinary functions of pastoral governance except those reserved to a bishop. Valle is currently living at the Our Lady of Fatima Seminary and is under house arrest, prohibited from leaving the seminary.“Bishop Emeritus Juan Abelardo Mata has been a bishop close to the people who has spoken the truth, actions that the Sandinista dictatorship does not tolerate,” researcher Martha Patricia Molina stated on June 30 in comments to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.Molina, the author of the report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church,” which has documented thousands of attacks by the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship against Catholics since 2018, noted that “in Nicaragua, anyone who dares to voice an opinion, however obvious it may seem, ends up offending the dictatorship and that’s why they keep the prelates under surveillance.”“They are constantly threatened with imprisonment or exile, and while not all cases become public, several priests are enduring this same constant harassment without reporting it publicly, because the dictatorship reacts more harshly when they do,” Molina explained.In April, a priest in Nicaragua speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons gave an interview to ACI Prensa to denounce the harassment he faces on a daily basis.Every Sunday, the police arrive to photograph him. He is required to report every time he leaves his parish, every religious service, and every movement outside his territory. If he speaks about a social issue during his homily, he risks one of two things: imprisonment or exile.Mata is ‘courageous, beloved, and credible voice in Nicaragua’“Bishop Mata has been a strong, courageous voice that has always spoken truth to power, and that truth and light are unsettling. He is a beloved and credible voice in Nicaragua,” Arturo McFields, Nicaragua’s former ambassador to the Organization of American States, told ACI Prensa.“The dictatorship tends to want to normalize what is happening in the country, and what has happened to Bishop Mata shows us that there is nothing normal in Nicaragua,” he said. “There is a spiteful, dangerous, criminal, and satanic dictatorship, and this must be denounced because it is the only way to put a stop to these actions, especially against any voice that dares to question the regime.”McFields also charged that the dictatorship “harbors a deep-seated grudge against Bishop Mata and is intent on ‘settling scores.’”Bishop Báez condemns attack on Mata“I am deeply outraged by and absolutely condemn the act of aggression committed by the regime’s police against my brother Juan Abelardo Mata, bishop emeritus of Estelí,” ​​Bishop Silvio Báez, auxiliary bishop of Managua, currently in exile in Miami, wrote on X.“These cowardly actions only demonstrate the weakness and irrationality of a criminal dictatorship,” the prelate stated on June 30.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.

unitedyam

In retaliation for asking for prayers for the persecuted Church at a Mass he celebrated, the bishop was held for several hours by police, part of an ongoing campaign of harassment of clergy.

Read More
Aid official: ‘The world fell apart’ as coastal Venezuela awaits assistance – #Catholic – Several coastal states in Venezuela remain without foreign assistance as thousands of people — including children who have lost their families — are homeless or missing after two earthquakes last week.“The world fell apart in less than two minutes,” Claudia Gonzales, an external relations manager for World Vision Venezuela, told “EWTN News Nightly” on June 30. “And yesterday our government says that we already have confirmed 1,700 people that died during the earthquakes.”According to Gonzales, who lives just outside of Caracas, more than 60,000 people remain missing and 50,000 are homeless following a pair of 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.In her own city of Guarenas, she said, “we have more than 500 families that are sleeping in the streets, looking for help and looking for comfort.”“We have people on the ground with concrete under them, and we donʼt know if they are still alive,” she said.According to Gonzales, the most affected area is the coastal state of La Guaira, north of Caracas. She noted that several other northern states, including Carabobo, Falcón, Aragua, and Miranda, have not received aid.“We have a lot of children that have not only [lost] their houses,” she said. “We have children that have lost their entire family, their neighbors.”While Gonzales expressed gratitude for the influx of foreign aid and support, she emphasized that large parts of the population are still waiting for help.“The international help came,” she said. “But the thing is, La Guaira is big; that is not enough.”“The size of this tragedy, we’re talking about 80% of the buildings in La Guaira collapsed,” she said. “You know, itʼs just something that we never thought could happen in our country.”Catholic responseThe Catholic Church in Venezuela has mobilized alongside international Catholic nonprofits such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas International, and Catholic Charities to provide support for earthquake victims.CRS has been working in partnership with Caritas to provide food, shelter, and emergency healthcare to earthquake victims, according to CRS’ website.Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Miami announced a relief fund for earthquake victims on June 26, with Archbishop Thomas Wenski calling for “our Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill across South Florida to stand in solidarity with the communities that will be hard hit” and “to please be generous in providing assistance.”
Read More

Aid official: ‘The world fell apart’ as coastal Venezuela awaits assistance – #Catholic – Several coastal states in Venezuela remain without foreign assistance as thousands of people — including children who have lost their families — are homeless or missing after two earthquakes last week.“The world fell apart in less than two minutes,” Claudia Gonzales, an external relations manager for World Vision Venezuela, told “EWTN News Nightly” on June 30. “And yesterday our government says that we already have confirmed 1,700 people that died during the earthquakes.”According to Gonzales, who lives just outside of Caracas, more than 60,000 people remain missing and 50,000 are homeless following a pair of 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.In her own city of Guarenas, she said, “we have more than 500 families that are sleeping in the streets, looking for help and looking for comfort.”“We have people on the ground with concrete under them, and we donʼt know if they are still alive,” she said.According to Gonzales, the most affected area is the coastal state of La Guaira, north of Caracas. She noted that several other northern states, including Carabobo, Falcón, Aragua, and Miranda, have not received aid.“We have a lot of children that have not only [lost] their houses,” she said. “We have children that have lost their entire family, their neighbors.”While Gonzales expressed gratitude for the influx of foreign aid and support, she emphasized that large parts of the population are still waiting for help.“The international help came,” she said. “But the thing is, La Guaira is big; that is not enough.”“The size of this tragedy, we’re talking about 80% of the buildings in La Guaira collapsed,” she said. “You know, itʼs just something that we never thought could happen in our country.”Catholic responseThe Catholic Church in Venezuela has mobilized alongside international Catholic nonprofits such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas International, and Catholic Charities to provide support for earthquake victims.CRS has been working in partnership with Caritas to provide food, shelter, and emergency healthcare to earthquake victims, according to CRS’ website.Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Miami announced a relief fund for earthquake victims on June 26, with Archbishop Thomas Wenski calling for “our Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill across South Florida to stand in solidarity with the communities that will be hard hit” and “to please be generous in providing assistance.”

unitedyam

Claudia Gonzales, a World Vision Venezuela manager, said the quakes left children without families and thousands of people missing or homeless, with at least 1,700 confirmed deaths.

Read More
A New Mexico mountain with Christ at the top is the latest battleground in U.S. immigration debate - #Catholic - Deacon Jim Winder, the chancellor of the Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico, says the diocese, which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border, is “not against border security.” “We’ve been accused of that, and it’s not correct,” he told EWTN News. In 2021 the diocese allowed federal immigration officials to build an access road and place motion sensors on diocesan-owned land that runs alongside Mexico, an arrangement the diocese renewed in 2023. “They’ve had that ever since,” Winder said. “We think that’s adequate. I don’t think any people can get through there with that system.” The U.S. federal government, however, is attempting to seize that land outright from the diocese and build a much more substantial border wall there. It is so determined to do so that it seeks to seize the land through eminent domain. Las Cruces is fighting the government’s attempt in court, putting the diocese at the forefront of the current U.S. immigration debate.Quite literally at the apex of the dispute is Mount Cristo Rey, a small mountain with a nearly-century-old statue of Jesus Christ atop it that has been a pilgrimage site for decades. The diocese says the government’s proposed border security at the base of the mountain would negatively affect pilgrims coming to the site. A towering statue of Christ the King sits atop Mount Cristo Rey in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, June 28, 2026. The mountain has become the site of a dispute between the diocese and the U.S. federal government over the seizure of land for a border wall. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jim Winder The Trump administration’s immigration policy has come under fire from numerous elements of the U.S. Catholic Church over the past 18 months, including the U.S. bishops and multiple dioceses that have witnessed enhanced immigration enforcement. Various Church leaders have urged the administration to balance its border security efforts with more mercy and discretion.Winder stressed that the diocese is supportive of immigration security. But, he said, “we see the border wall as more of a political tool — something that the administration wants to do to show that they’re tough on immigration.” Winder said the disputed stretch of land near El Paso, Texas, is not ideal for illegal immigration. Mount Cristo Rey, he said, is “really rough. It’s not super tall but it’s rough. To try to go over the mountain to get in the United States — it’s a pretty effective barrier in and of itself.”“It’s nice flat ground on either side of it, for hundreds of miles,” he said. “[The government] patrols it. They’ve got vehicles parked there. I don’t think it’s a real high-volume place,” he observed, for illegal immigration crossings.Statue of Christ arose from priest’s visionAmid the ongoing court battle, Las Cruces Bishop Peter Baldacchino held a Mass atop Mount Cristo Rey on June 28, drawing hundreds of faithful to the sun-baked top of the mountain with Christ towering over them. Bishop Peter Baldacchino celebrates Mass atop Mount Cristo Rey in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 28, 2026. The mountain has become the site of a dispute between the diocese and the federal government over the seizure of land for a border wall. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jim Winder Mount Cristo Rey sits near the now-vanished town of Smeltertown within what Winder called a “unique” tip of land in New Mexico, one that is surrounded both by the state of Texas and the nation of Mexico. Both El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, are roughly southeast of the mountain. An informational website says the towering statue of Christ took shape from 1933, when local priest Father Lourdes Costa “[looked] out the back window of his residence in the community of Smeltertown [and] envisioned erecting a monument at the summit of this glorious mountain.” The 29-foot-tall limestone statue was dedicated in 1940. It has since become a regular pilgrimage site, with the faithful hiking up the short summit to the base of the monument. Winder said the decision to hold the Mass on June 28 was “completely apolitical.”“It wasn’t meant as a protest,” he said. “It was a Mass. It was meant for prayer, to bring people together, to practice unity, to pray for the Church, and to pray for government leaders.”The response to the Mass was “very good,” the deacon said. “It was very hot. It’s not a great time to climb mountains in southern New Mexico. But about 400 people showed up and made the climb. They came from all over. Some from El Paso, some from our diocese, some from Albuquerque and beyond.” Pilgrims hike to the top of Mount Cristo Rey for Mass in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 28, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jim Winder The mountain has served as a significant site for local Catholic worship for nearly a century, Winder said. He compared the geography of the area to the “Four Corners” monument where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico all meet. “This is a place where there’s this unity of two nations and two states,” he said. “There’s a symbolism of that unity in Christ the King standing above it. But it’s also a pilgrimage site.” “It’s just a special place,” he said. “It’s very powerful. It’s a magnificent place to have Mass.” Bishop Peter Baldacchino hikes to the top of Mount Cristo Rey for Mass in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, June 28, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jim Winder The diocese was dealt a blow in June when a federal district court said the government could put down a six-figure deposit on the land as a pretext to obtaining it. The dispute is still ongoing, Winder said, with another hearing anticipated in late July. The diocese has filed numerous motions against the government’s effort, he said. He described the proposed border wall as more of a political symbol than a really practical measure, one that would mar the sacredness of the site.“If you go to the mountain and hike to the top, you’ll see a 30-foot-tall image of Christ the King,” he said. “And if the government builds this wall, and you turn your head slightly [from Christ], you’ll see a 30-foot ‘Keep Out’ sign below.” “It’s an affront,” he said.
Read More

A New Mexico mountain with Christ at the top is the latest battleground in U.S. immigration debate – #Catholic – Deacon Jim Winder, the chancellor of the Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico, says the diocese, which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border, is “not against border security.” “We’ve been accused of that, and it’s not correct,” he told EWTN News. In 2021 the diocese allowed federal immigration officials to build an access road and place motion sensors on diocesan-owned land that runs alongside Mexico, an arrangement the diocese renewed in 2023. “They’ve had that ever since,” Winder said. “We think that’s adequate. I don’t think any people can get through there with that system.” The U.S. federal government, however, is attempting to seize that land outright from the diocese and build a much more substantial border wall there. It is so determined to do so that it seeks to seize the land through eminent domain. Las Cruces is fighting the government’s attempt in court, putting the diocese at the forefront of the current U.S. immigration debate.Quite literally at the apex of the dispute is Mount Cristo Rey, a small mountain with a nearly-century-old statue of Jesus Christ atop it that has been a pilgrimage site for decades. The diocese says the government’s proposed border security at the base of the mountain would negatively affect pilgrims coming to the site. A towering statue of Christ the King sits atop Mount Cristo Rey in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, June 28, 2026. The mountain has become the site of a dispute between the diocese and the U.S. federal government over the seizure of land for a border wall. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jim Winder The Trump administration’s immigration policy has come under fire from numerous elements of the U.S. Catholic Church over the past 18 months, including the U.S. bishops and multiple dioceses that have witnessed enhanced immigration enforcement. Various Church leaders have urged the administration to balance its border security efforts with more mercy and discretion.Winder stressed that the diocese is supportive of immigration security. But, he said, “we see the border wall as more of a political tool — something that the administration wants to do to show that they’re tough on immigration.” Winder said the disputed stretch of land near El Paso, Texas, is not ideal for illegal immigration. Mount Cristo Rey, he said, is “really rough. It’s not super tall but it’s rough. To try to go over the mountain to get in the United States — it’s a pretty effective barrier in and of itself.”“It’s nice flat ground on either side of it, for hundreds of miles,” he said. “[The government] patrols it. They’ve got vehicles parked there. I don’t think it’s a real high-volume place,” he observed, for illegal immigration crossings.Statue of Christ arose from priest’s visionAmid the ongoing court battle, Las Cruces Bishop Peter Baldacchino held a Mass atop Mount Cristo Rey on June 28, drawing hundreds of faithful to the sun-baked top of the mountain with Christ towering over them. Bishop Peter Baldacchino celebrates Mass atop Mount Cristo Rey in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 28, 2026. The mountain has become the site of a dispute between the diocese and the federal government over the seizure of land for a border wall. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jim Winder Mount Cristo Rey sits near the now-vanished town of Smeltertown within what Winder called a “unique” tip of land in New Mexico, one that is surrounded both by the state of Texas and the nation of Mexico. Both El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, are roughly southeast of the mountain. An informational website says the towering statue of Christ took shape from 1933, when local priest Father Lourdes Costa “[looked] out the back window of his residence in the community of Smeltertown [and] envisioned erecting a monument at the summit of this glorious mountain.” The 29-foot-tall limestone statue was dedicated in 1940. It has since become a regular pilgrimage site, with the faithful hiking up the short summit to the base of the monument. Winder said the decision to hold the Mass on June 28 was “completely apolitical.”“It wasn’t meant as a protest,” he said. “It was a Mass. It was meant for prayer, to bring people together, to practice unity, to pray for the Church, and to pray for government leaders.”The response to the Mass was “very good,” the deacon said. “It was very hot. It’s not a great time to climb mountains in southern New Mexico. But about 400 people showed up and made the climb. They came from all over. Some from El Paso, some from our diocese, some from Albuquerque and beyond.” Pilgrims hike to the top of Mount Cristo Rey for Mass in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 28, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jim Winder The mountain has served as a significant site for local Catholic worship for nearly a century, Winder said. He compared the geography of the area to the “Four Corners” monument where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico all meet. “This is a place where there’s this unity of two nations and two states,” he said. “There’s a symbolism of that unity in Christ the King standing above it. But it’s also a pilgrimage site.” “It’s just a special place,” he said. “It’s very powerful. It’s a magnificent place to have Mass.” Bishop Peter Baldacchino hikes to the top of Mount Cristo Rey for Mass in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, June 28, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jim Winder The diocese was dealt a blow in June when a federal district court said the government could put down a six-figure deposit on the land as a pretext to obtaining it. The dispute is still ongoing, Winder said, with another hearing anticipated in late July. The diocese has filed numerous motions against the government’s effort, he said. He described the proposed border wall as more of a political symbol than a really practical measure, one that would mar the sacredness of the site.“If you go to the mountain and hike to the top, you’ll see a 30-foot-tall image of Christ the King,” he said. “And if the government builds this wall, and you turn your head slightly [from Christ], you’ll see a 30-foot ‘Keep Out’ sign below.” “It’s an affront,” he said.

unitedyam

Mount Cristo Rey in the Diocese of Las Cruces stands over a disputed patch of borderland that the U.S. government is attempting to seize from the Catholic Church.

Read More
President-elect De la Espriella of Colombia visits Catholic shrines to pray for the nation – #Catholic – Colombia president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced on June 26 that he has begun visiting various Catholic shrines to entrust the country “to God’s protection.”On X, de la Espriella described his tour as “a journey of thanksgiving,” calling it “the pilgrimage of hope for the miracle homeland.”He noted that during the first stage, he visited the shrine of El Morro, where he consecrated his life, his service, and the entire country “to the protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary.”De la Espriella said he traveled to La Guajira to visit the cathedral shrine of Our Lady of the Remedies, where he prayed for healthcare workers and the sick, as well as the minor basilica of the Lord of Miracles in Sucre, where he prayed “for Colombia’s security, for peace, for our security forces, and for the protection of every Colombian family.”Instagram post“I concluded this first day at the shrine to St. Peter Claver in Cartagena, giving thanks to God and praying that we never lose sight of the most vulnerable, so that justice, solidarity, and dignity may reach every corner of the nation,” he wrote.De la Espriella, who won the presidency representing the Defenders of the Homeland party, said he would continue “traveling this path with the conviction that, when a people places its destiny in God’s hands, it always finds hope.”On the night of June 14, De la Espriella concluded his campaign for the June 20 runoff election in the city of Buga, where during the day he visited the Lord of Miracles shrine.However, to avoid any political misinterpretation, the Redemptorist missionary community that administers the basilica clarified in a statement that the shrine did not endorse any candidate and that the visit was personal in nature, “motivated by his prayer and devotion, just like that of any other pilgrim or member of the faithful who comes to entrust themselves to the Lord of Miracles.”De la Espriella, who has said that the death of a loved one from COVID-19 led him to embrace the Catholic faith, has also engaged with Christians of other denominations.On April 15, he attended a gathering at the Tabernacle of Faith evangelical congregation in Bogotá, where the then-candidate signed the “Commitment to Life and Family” promoted by the United for Life platform.De la Espriella will be inaugurated president of Colombia on Aug. 7 for the 2026–2030 term, succeeding Gustavo Petro, who will conclude his tenure as the countryʼs first leftist president.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.
Read More

President-elect De la Espriella of Colombia visits Catholic shrines to pray for the nation – #Catholic – Colombia president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced on June 26 that he has begun visiting various Catholic shrines to entrust the country “to God’s protection.”On X, de la Espriella described his tour as “a journey of thanksgiving,” calling it “the pilgrimage of hope for the miracle homeland.”He noted that during the first stage, he visited the shrine of El Morro, where he consecrated his life, his service, and the entire country “to the protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary.”De la Espriella said he traveled to La Guajira to visit the cathedral shrine of Our Lady of the Remedies, where he prayed for healthcare workers and the sick, as well as the minor basilica of the Lord of Miracles in Sucre, where he prayed “for Colombia’s security, for peace, for our security forces, and for the protection of every Colombian family.”Instagram post“I concluded this first day at the shrine to St. Peter Claver in Cartagena, giving thanks to God and praying that we never lose sight of the most vulnerable, so that justice, solidarity, and dignity may reach every corner of the nation,” he wrote.De la Espriella, who won the presidency representing the Defenders of the Homeland party, said he would continue “traveling this path with the conviction that, when a people places its destiny in God’s hands, it always finds hope.”On the night of June 14, De la Espriella concluded his campaign for the June 20 runoff election in the city of Buga, where during the day he visited the Lord of Miracles shrine.However, to avoid any political misinterpretation, the Redemptorist missionary community that administers the basilica clarified in a statement that the shrine did not endorse any candidate and that the visit was personal in nature, “motivated by his prayer and devotion, just like that of any other pilgrim or member of the faithful who comes to entrust themselves to the Lord of Miracles.”De la Espriella, who has said that the death of a loved one from COVID-19 led him to embrace the Catholic faith, has also engaged with Christians of other denominations.On April 15, he attended a gathering at the Tabernacle of Faith evangelical congregation in Bogotá, where the then-candidate signed the “Commitment to Life and Family” promoted by the United for Life platform.De la Espriella will be inaugurated president of Colombia on Aug. 7 for the 2026–2030 term, succeeding Gustavo Petro, who will conclude his tenure as the countryʼs first leftist president.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.

unitedyam

Abelardo De la Espriella visited the shrines of El Moro, Our Lady of the Remedies, and St. Peter Claver, and the Lord of Miracles minor basilica in a thanksgiving tour after winning the presidency.

Read More
Catholic Church, U.S. government drive relief efforts in Venezuela – #Catholic – Local parishes and Catholic nonprofits have mobilized across Venezuela to support earthquake victims, working alongside the U.S. government as it continues to expand disaster assistance. Father Edgar Magallanes, SJ, national director of Jesuit Refugee Service Venezuela, told “EWTN News Nightly” on June 29 that the situation in Venezuela is “getting bad,” as efforts are split between “rescue on one side and affected populations on the other side.”This comes as the State Department announced June 29 that U.S. funding for relief efforts in Venezuela has increased to more than $300 million. The State Department said: “All U.S. humanitarian funding has been directed to a range of trusted international and nongovernmental partners,” including Catholic Relief Services.Magallanes said ground zero in Venezuela is facing a “difficult situation” as “the number of deceased people generated a smell, a difficult smell, and all people are using masks like the time of COVID-19.”“People in some areas feel invisible to the government, to the aid efforts,” he said. “But we’re working on it.”Magallanes said JRS is operating under the emergency protocol established by the Conference of Provincials of Latin America, which includes activating an immediate response team, connecting with first responders, and coordinating aid distribution through centers run by the Society of Jesus in Caracas.“So, we are caring for our affected collaborators, teachers, and their families, as well as participants of our programs, and we are helping with humanitarian aid,” he said. “We are coordinating efforts as well to assess damages and needs with national and international NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] and with the United Nations.”Victims displaced by the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that occurred in Venezuela on June 24 have also been taking shelter at Catholic churches and parish halls in the nation’s capital as part of support initiatives coordinated by Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo of Caracas, according to a local missionary, Brother Deiby Fuenmayor, MSC.Fuenmayor told Agenzia Fides, the Pontifical Mission Societies information service, that “many people are sleeping outdoors, in parks, because their homes are uninhabitable” and that the Church is working to collect nonperishable food items, drinking water, and mattresses for redistribution.“Even though we are in a working-class neighborhood, people are very generous,” he said.
Read More

Catholic Church, U.S. government drive relief efforts in Venezuela – #Catholic – Local parishes and Catholic nonprofits have mobilized across Venezuela to support earthquake victims, working alongside the U.S. government as it continues to expand disaster assistance. Father Edgar Magallanes, SJ, national director of Jesuit Refugee Service Venezuela, told “EWTN News Nightly” on June 29 that the situation in Venezuela is “getting bad,” as efforts are split between “rescue on one side and affected populations on the other side.”This comes as the State Department announced June 29 that U.S. funding for relief efforts in Venezuela has increased to more than $300 million. The State Department said: “All U.S. humanitarian funding has been directed to a range of trusted international and nongovernmental partners,” including Catholic Relief Services.Magallanes said ground zero in Venezuela is facing a “difficult situation” as “the number of deceased people generated a smell, a difficult smell, and all people are using masks like the time of COVID-19.”“People in some areas feel invisible to the government, to the aid efforts,” he said. “But we’re working on it.”Magallanes said JRS is operating under the emergency protocol established by the Conference of Provincials of Latin America, which includes activating an immediate response team, connecting with first responders, and coordinating aid distribution through centers run by the Society of Jesus in Caracas.“So, we are caring for our affected collaborators, teachers, and their families, as well as participants of our programs, and we are helping with humanitarian aid,” he said. “We are coordinating efforts as well to assess damages and needs with national and international NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] and with the United Nations.”Victims displaced by the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that occurred in Venezuela on June 24 have also been taking shelter at Catholic churches and parish halls in the nation’s capital as part of support initiatives coordinated by Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo of Caracas, according to a local missionary, Brother Deiby Fuenmayor, MSC.Fuenmayor told Agenzia Fides, the Pontifical Mission Societies information service, that “many people are sleeping outdoors, in parks, because their homes are uninhabitable” and that the Church is working to collect nonperishable food items, drinking water, and mattresses for redistribution.“Even though we are in a working-class neighborhood, people are very generous,” he said.

unitedyam

“People in some areas feel invisible to the government, to the aid efforts,” Father Edgar Magallanes, SJ, national director of Jesuit Relief Services Venezuela, said. “But we’re working on it.”

Read More
Supreme Court to review parents’ challenge to law regarding notification of gender transitions – #Catholic – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a lawsuit from parents who are challenging a Washington state law that prevents youth shelters from immediately notifying parents when minors who run away from home are seeking gender transitions.Under the law, adopted in 2023, shelters that house runaway youth cannot immediately tell parents when a child is “seeking or receiving” gender transition medical services. It allows the state to refer the child for “behavioral health services” but does not change parental consent laws generally required for hormone therapy or surgeries.The law directs shelters to notify the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families when housing a runaway child who is seeking gender transition services and “offer services designed to resolve the conflict” between the child and the parents before the parents will be notified and before the department works toward family reunification.The legal challenge comes from parents whose children exhibit gender dysphoria. Lower courts ruled the parents did not have standing to sue because their children are not currently in a youth shelter, but the Supreme Court has agreed to review that decision.In the lawsuit, five sets of parents express concern their child may run away and seek gender transition services. The parents argue the law violates their 14th Amendment right to direct the upbringing of their children. The Supreme Court has affirmed this right as protected under the amendment for more than a century.“This statute allows shelters and homes to keep children at locations without their parents’ knowledge and refer those children for health interventions without their parents’ knowledge or approval,” it states. “It does not require children to be returned on any particular timetable or under any particular conditions.”It also argues that the law restricts some of the parents’ First Amendment rights to the free exercise of religion, including at least one set of parents who are practicing Catholics.The original lawsuit cites the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Those plaintiffs … adhere to the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church when it teaches, ‘By creating the human being man and woman, God gives personal dignity to the one and the other. Each of them, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity’” (No. 2293).The parents are joined in the lawsuit by two advocacy groups: International Partners for Ethical Care and Advocates Protecting Children.A spokesman for International Partners for Ethical Care told EWTN News the organization is “heartened that the Supreme Court will finally hear a case that addresses the rights of all parents to protect their children from harmful medical interventions.”“We hope this case will not be cast as a religious liberties issue but as a safeguarding issue for parents and children of any or no faith,” the spokesperson said. “Parents should not have to live in fear of the state taking custody of their children if they disagree with a deceptive ideology and dangerous treatments.”Mike Faulk, deputy communications director for Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, told EWTN News the lower courts found that the families did not show how they were “likely to be injured by the law” and “we will be prepared to successfully defend it at the Supreme Court.”“This law was passed to give runaway youth and their families access to reunification and behavioral health services,” he said. “The law makes clear that the Department of Children, Youth, and Families must make good faith attempts to contact families with a goal of reunification.”The law has received opposition from the Washington Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops of the state’s three dioceses. It criticized the bill when it was being considered in a 2023 newsletter, saying the social teachings of the Catholic Church affirm “the family is the most central social institution, and it must be supported and strengthened.”“[This bill] undermines families,” the statement added. “In line with the bishops’ legislative priorities to protect children and families and respect life, the [conference] opposes [the bill].”
Read More

Supreme Court to review parents’ challenge to law regarding notification of gender transitions – #Catholic – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a lawsuit from parents who are challenging a Washington state law that prevents youth shelters from immediately notifying parents when minors who run away from home are seeking gender transitions.Under the law, adopted in 2023, shelters that house runaway youth cannot immediately tell parents when a child is “seeking or receiving” gender transition medical services. It allows the state to refer the child for “behavioral health services” but does not change parental consent laws generally required for hormone therapy or surgeries.The law directs shelters to notify the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families when housing a runaway child who is seeking gender transition services and “offer services designed to resolve the conflict” between the child and the parents before the parents will be notified and before the department works toward family reunification.The legal challenge comes from parents whose children exhibit gender dysphoria. Lower courts ruled the parents did not have standing to sue because their children are not currently in a youth shelter, but the Supreme Court has agreed to review that decision.In the lawsuit, five sets of parents express concern their child may run away and seek gender transition services. The parents argue the law violates their 14th Amendment right to direct the upbringing of their children. The Supreme Court has affirmed this right as protected under the amendment for more than a century.“This statute allows shelters and homes to keep children at locations without their parents’ knowledge and refer those children for health interventions without their parents’ knowledge or approval,” it states. “It does not require children to be returned on any particular timetable or under any particular conditions.”It also argues that the law restricts some of the parents’ First Amendment rights to the free exercise of religion, including at least one set of parents who are practicing Catholics.The original lawsuit cites the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Those plaintiffs … adhere to the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church when it teaches, ‘By creating the human being man and woman, God gives personal dignity to the one and the other. Each of them, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity’” (No. 2293).The parents are joined in the lawsuit by two advocacy groups: International Partners for Ethical Care and Advocates Protecting Children.A spokesman for International Partners for Ethical Care told EWTN News the organization is “heartened that the Supreme Court will finally hear a case that addresses the rights of all parents to protect their children from harmful medical interventions.”“We hope this case will not be cast as a religious liberties issue but as a safeguarding issue for parents and children of any or no faith,” the spokesperson said. “Parents should not have to live in fear of the state taking custody of their children if they disagree with a deceptive ideology and dangerous treatments.”Mike Faulk, deputy communications director for Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, told EWTN News the lower courts found that the families did not show how they were “likely to be injured by the law” and “we will be prepared to successfully defend it at the Supreme Court.”“This law was passed to give runaway youth and their families access to reunification and behavioral health services,” he said. “The law makes clear that the Department of Children, Youth, and Families must make good faith attempts to contact families with a goal of reunification.”The law has received opposition from the Washington Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops of the state’s three dioceses. It criticized the bill when it was being considered in a 2023 newsletter, saying the social teachings of the Catholic Church affirm “the family is the most central social institution, and it must be supported and strengthened.”“[This bill] undermines families,” the statement added. “In line with the bishops’ legislative priorities to protect children and families and respect life, the [conference] opposes [the bill].”

unitedyam

The parents argue that their right to direct the upbringing of their children is in jeopardy. The state continues to defend the law.

Read More
Catholic peace group to honor victims of nuclear weapons with lantern ceremonies – #Catholic – A Catholic group is honoring victims of nuclear weapons by helping to organize lantern floating ceremonies throughout the world.Pax Christi International, a Catholic peace movement, is working with the Hiroshima Coventry Club (Touro Project) to organize the “Lanterns for Peace: from Hiroshima to the World” campaign around the world.“Inspired by the lantern ceremonies held each year in Hiroshima, the campaign invites communities around the world to organize local commemorative events using traditional lanterns as symbols of remembrance, peace, hope, and nuclear disarmament,” the Lanterns for Peace June 15 announcement read.The lantern ceremonies will mark the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and Nagasaki on Aug. 9 in 1945.“In an increasingly fragile world, where the nuclear threat has once again become a tangible reality, this commemoration is not only a moment of mourning, but a genuine call to conscience,” the statement continued.The lanterns represent remembrance for lives lost, “hope for reconciliation and peace,” and “a collective commitment to abolish nuclear weapons,” according to the statement.Lanterns for Peace is working with local groups to honor the anniversaries. “Each participating city or community is encouraged to adapt the ceremony to its own local context while remaining united through shared symbols, messages, and commitments,” according to a booklet the group issued.The booklet contains more details about the event along with instructions on how to build a lantern.Each event includes a lantern floating ceremony, where safe and permitted, a moment of silence or prayer, and the reading of survivors’ testimonies.
Read More

Catholic peace group to honor victims of nuclear weapons with lantern ceremonies – #Catholic – A Catholic group is honoring victims of nuclear weapons by helping to organize lantern floating ceremonies throughout the world.Pax Christi International, a Catholic peace movement, is working with the Hiroshima Coventry Club (Touro Project) to organize the “Lanterns for Peace: from Hiroshima to the World” campaign around the world.“Inspired by the lantern ceremonies held each year in Hiroshima, the campaign invites communities around the world to organize local commemorative events using traditional lanterns as symbols of remembrance, peace, hope, and nuclear disarmament,” the Lanterns for Peace June 15 announcement read.The lantern ceremonies will mark the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and Nagasaki on Aug. 9 in 1945.“In an increasingly fragile world, where the nuclear threat has once again become a tangible reality, this commemoration is not only a moment of mourning, but a genuine call to conscience,” the statement continued.The lanterns represent remembrance for lives lost, “hope for reconciliation and peace,” and “a collective commitment to abolish nuclear weapons,” according to the statement.Lanterns for Peace is working with local groups to honor the anniversaries. “Each participating city or community is encouraged to adapt the ceremony to its own local context while remaining united through shared symbols, messages, and commitments,” according to a booklet the group issued.The booklet contains more details about the event along with instructions on how to build a lantern.Each event includes a lantern floating ceremony, where safe and permitted, a moment of silence or prayer, and the reading of survivors’ testimonies.

unitedyam

The group is encouraging communities around the world to honor victims of nuclear weapons through lantern float ceremonies this summer.

Read More
Pope Leo XIV dismisses schismatic Spanish priest – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV has decreed the dismissal from the clerical state of Francisco José Vegara Cerezo, who served as a priest of the Spanish Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante, following a canonical process that was initiated due to his repeated public rejection of the authority of Pope Francis and, subsequently, of Leo XIV himself.The case dates back to 2023, when a dialogue with Vegara Cerezo began following the publication of a 20-page manifesto in which he labeled Pope Francis a “heretic” and questioned the validity of his election.The now laicized priest also criticized texts such as the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, by the late Argentine pontiff, and the declaration Fiducia Supplicans, from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.In 2024, Vegara Cerezo’s obstinacy led his bishop, José Ignacio Munilla, to remove him from any office or position within the diocese.Munilla admonished Vegara Cerezo in February 2024 and April 2025, urging him to alter the “stance expressed publicly and notoriously through various media outlets,” according to a statement issued by the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante on June 25, 2026.In September 2025, Bishop Munilla issued a new decree prohibiting Vegara Cerezo from making public statements in the media — a measure Vegara decided to appeal to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy.Following this, and after another article by Vegara Cerezo, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith asked him to retract from his offense of schism. Upon his failure to provide a satisfactory response, on April 30 Pope Leo decreed that he be dismissed from the clerical state — a decision that was communicated to him on June 20.In his statement on the matter, Bishop Munilla asked for prayers for Francisco José Vegara Cerezo and recalled the words spoken by Pope Leo XIV on June 11 in the Canary Islands, during a meeting with Spanish bishops, priests, religious, and seminarians: “When you encounter difficulties, lift your gaze and ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to live united in faith, hope, and charity.”What is schism?Canon 751 of the Code of Canon Law defines schism as “the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” The penalty for this canonical offense is usually excommunication, although in this instance the penalty was less severe: dismissal from the clerical state.What does it mean for a priest to be dismissed from the clerical state?A priest remains a priest forever; however, if he is sanctioned with dismissal or expulsion from the clerical state, he loses all the rights associated with that state. Consequently, he is no longer bound by celibacy and is prohibited from celebrating Mass, administering sacraments, or presenting himself as a priest.There is only one exception: if a person is in danger of death and the priest who has been dismissed from the clerical state is present, Canon 976 establishes that he may validly administer the sacraments, as the salvation of souls takes precedence over the grave penalty imposed upon the priest.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.
Read More

Pope Leo XIV dismisses schismatic Spanish priest – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV has decreed the dismissal from the clerical state of Francisco José Vegara Cerezo, who served as a priest of the Spanish Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante, following a canonical process that was initiated due to his repeated public rejection of the authority of Pope Francis and, subsequently, of Leo XIV himself.The case dates back to 2023, when a dialogue with Vegara Cerezo began following the publication of a 20-page manifesto in which he labeled Pope Francis a “heretic” and questioned the validity of his election.The now laicized priest also criticized texts such as the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, by the late Argentine pontiff, and the declaration Fiducia Supplicans, from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.In 2024, Vegara Cerezo’s obstinacy led his bishop, José Ignacio Munilla, to remove him from any office or position within the diocese.Munilla admonished Vegara Cerezo in February 2024 and April 2025, urging him to alter the “stance expressed publicly and notoriously through various media outlets,” according to a statement issued by the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante on June 25, 2026.In September 2025, Bishop Munilla issued a new decree prohibiting Vegara Cerezo from making public statements in the media — a measure Vegara decided to appeal to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy.Following this, and after another article by Vegara Cerezo, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith asked him to retract from his offense of schism. Upon his failure to provide a satisfactory response, on April 30 Pope Leo decreed that he be dismissed from the clerical state — a decision that was communicated to him on June 20.In his statement on the matter, Bishop Munilla asked for prayers for Francisco José Vegara Cerezo and recalled the words spoken by Pope Leo XIV on June 11 in the Canary Islands, during a meeting with Spanish bishops, priests, religious, and seminarians: “When you encounter difficulties, lift your gaze and ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to live united in faith, hope, and charity.”What is schism?Canon 751 of the Code of Canon Law defines schism as “the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” The penalty for this canonical offense is usually excommunication, although in this instance the penalty was less severe: dismissal from the clerical state.What does it mean for a priest to be dismissed from the clerical state?A priest remains a priest forever; however, if he is sanctioned with dismissal or expulsion from the clerical state, he loses all the rights associated with that state. Consequently, he is no longer bound by celibacy and is prohibited from celebrating Mass, administering sacraments, or presenting himself as a priest.There is only one exception: if a person is in danger of death and the priest who has been dismissed from the clerical state is present, Canon 976 establishes that he may validly administer the sacraments, as the salvation of souls takes precedence over the grave penalty imposed upon the priest.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.

unitedyam

In 2024, the priest’s obstinacy had previously led his bishop, José Ignacio Munilla, to remove him from any office or position within the diocese.

Read More
One lucky duck, one big mission: how Catholic Charities’ duck regatta helps families in need – #Catholic – Every fourth of July, thousands of rubber ducks make their way down an oversized water slide as part of the annual Wabash Valley Rubber Duck Regatta hosted by Catholic Charities of Terre Haute in Indiana. The event has become a popular tradition and a successful way to raise money for people in need.  The regatta started in 2018 when the advisory council for Catholic Charities Terre Haute was looking for a new way to engage with the local community, specifically through a fundraising event. One of the council members was familiar with the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank Duck Regatta and suggested they reach out to find out how the event is done.Realizing they could take advantage of the town’s natural resource, the Wabash River, the council members decided to move forward. The duck regatta is now held every fourth of July alongside the town’s Independence Day celebrations, which include a concert, fireworks, and now, the duck regatta.“The first couple of years I was so surprised because I thought ‘Well, maybe because people are coming to the concert we might get a few people spill over and come and watch the race,’ but no, we had a lot of people that actually came to watch the race that I think then fed into staying for the concert. So I think itʼs been a little bit of give and take for both,” Jennifer Tames, assistant agency director for Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, told EWTN News in an interview. The dumpster is filled and ready to release the duck down the water slide. | Credit: Courtesy of Catholic Charities Terre Haute Tames explained that “duck season” began on May 21 — the day when people can start “adopting” rubber ducks for the race. The ducks are available for and can be found at 20 different locations in the area. Then one lucky duck is chosen at the end of the race and whoever that duck belongs to wins ,000.While the race used to be held in the Wabash River, it is now done in a man-made, large waterslide due to safety concerns from the unpredictability in water levels. Despite this change, the community continues to show strong support for the event.“The community has really gotten behind the event and they enjoy it. The kids love coming to watch the race itself even though weʼre no longer on the river,” Tames said.She shared that roughly ,000 is raised from the regatta each year and all proceeds go directly to the work Catholic Charities does in the area.Catholic Charities Terre Haute has four “service lines”: nourishing the body, providing safe shelter, offering quality youth programs, and providing the spirit of Christmas — all supporting children, adults, families, and seniors.Through the Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank, the equivalent of 3.8 million meals are provided throughout the year to seven counties in West Central Indiana.The Ryves Youth Center runs year round and provides tutoring, mentoring, counseling, and recreational activities such as field trips and a summer camp. Additionally, there is a full-time preschool program that runs year-round and all children who participate in any of the programs at the youth center are provided with meals.The Bethany House Emergency Shelter houses single women, married couples, and families. The staff works as case managers to help understand what led the individual or the family to homelessness and help them to set goals to be able to work to become self-sufficient again.Lastly, the Christmas Store in Terre Haute provides hygiene products, clothing, toys and household items to those needing help with their Christmas. Thanks to retail partners, local community groups, and individual donations the shelves of the Christmas Store remain filled with new gifts year round. Waddles, the mascot for the duck regatta, greets attendees. | Credit: Courtesy of Catholic Charities Terre Haute “I donʼt think anybody gets into nonprofit work for the wealth,” Tames said. “We all get in it because we believe in what we do and we believe in the change that we can make in our community and the change that we can make in a single life.”She added, “Even though in my role Iʼm not necessarily working with each of our neighbors every day, I can go home and know that the work that I do in raising funds for Catholic Charities, in raising awareness about Catholic Charities and the programs that we operate, is making a meaningful difference in somebody elseʼs life. You don’t get that everywhere.”Tames shared that when it comes to the duck regatta, their hope “would be to increase the number of ducks…so that we can put more of those funds into the resources that we provide every year.”
Read More

One lucky duck, one big mission: how Catholic Charities’ duck regatta helps families in need – #Catholic – Every fourth of July, thousands of rubber ducks make their way down an oversized water slide as part of the annual Wabash Valley Rubber Duck Regatta hosted by Catholic Charities of Terre Haute in Indiana. The event has become a popular tradition and a successful way to raise money for people in need.  The regatta started in 2018 when the advisory council for Catholic Charities Terre Haute was looking for a new way to engage with the local community, specifically through a fundraising event. One of the council members was familiar with the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank Duck Regatta and suggested they reach out to find out how the event is done.Realizing they could take advantage of the town’s natural resource, the Wabash River, the council members decided to move forward. The duck regatta is now held every fourth of July alongside the town’s Independence Day celebrations, which include a concert, fireworks, and now, the duck regatta.“The first couple of years I was so surprised because I thought ‘Well, maybe because people are coming to the concert we might get a few people spill over and come and watch the race,’ but no, we had a lot of people that actually came to watch the race that I think then fed into staying for the concert. So I think itʼs been a little bit of give and take for both,” Jennifer Tames, assistant agency director for Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, told EWTN News in an interview. The dumpster is filled and ready to release the duck down the water slide. | Credit: Courtesy of Catholic Charities Terre Haute Tames explained that “duck season” began on May 21 — the day when people can start “adopting” rubber ducks for the race. The ducks are available for $5 and can be found at 20 different locations in the area. Then one lucky duck is chosen at the end of the race and whoever that duck belongs to wins $10,000.While the race used to be held in the Wabash River, it is now done in a man-made, large waterslide due to safety concerns from the unpredictability in water levels. Despite this change, the community continues to show strong support for the event.“The community has really gotten behind the event and they enjoy it. The kids love coming to watch the race itself even though weʼre no longer on the river,” Tames said.She shared that roughly $45,000 is raised from the regatta each year and all proceeds go directly to the work Catholic Charities does in the area.Catholic Charities Terre Haute has four “service lines”: nourishing the body, providing safe shelter, offering quality youth programs, and providing the spirit of Christmas — all supporting children, adults, families, and seniors.Through the Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank, the equivalent of 3.8 million meals are provided throughout the year to seven counties in West Central Indiana.The Ryves Youth Center runs year round and provides tutoring, mentoring, counseling, and recreational activities such as field trips and a summer camp. Additionally, there is a full-time preschool program that runs year-round and all children who participate in any of the programs at the youth center are provided with meals.The Bethany House Emergency Shelter houses single women, married couples, and families. The staff works as case managers to help understand what led the individual or the family to homelessness and help them to set goals to be able to work to become self-sufficient again.Lastly, the Christmas Store in Terre Haute provides hygiene products, clothing, toys and household items to those needing help with their Christmas. Thanks to retail partners, local community groups, and individual donations the shelves of the Christmas Store remain filled with new gifts year round. Waddles, the mascot for the duck regatta, greets attendees. | Credit: Courtesy of Catholic Charities Terre Haute “I donʼt think anybody gets into nonprofit work for the wealth,” Tames said. “We all get in it because we believe in what we do and we believe in the change that we can make in our community and the change that we can make in a single life.”She added, “Even though in my role Iʼm not necessarily working with each of our neighbors every day, I can go home and know that the work that I do in raising funds for Catholic Charities, in raising awareness about Catholic Charities and the programs that we operate, is making a meaningful difference in somebody elseʼs life. You don’t get that everywhere.”Tames shared that when it comes to the duck regatta, their hope “would be to increase the number of ducks…so that we can put more of those funds into the resources that we provide every year.”

unitedyam

The Wabash Valley Rubber Duck Regatta started in 2018 when the advisory council for Catholic Charities Terre Haute was looking for a new way to engage with the local community.

Read More
Father Flanagan's mission continues at Boys Town more than a century after its founding - #Catholic - More than 100 years after its founding, Boys Town continues to advance Venerable Father Edward J. Flanagan’s mission of caring for the vulnerable and underserved, reaching more than 2 million children and families every year.The Irish-born priest is revered for his revolutionary approach to caring for homeless children in the 20th century, leading him to be declared “Venerable” by Pope Leo XIV in March, 2026.Following the advancement of Flanagan’s canonization cause, Thomas Lynch, who serves as the historian and director of community programs for Boys Town, told EWTN News that the priest’s life serves as an example of “how children can be treated and how to treat your fellow man too.”“Venerable Father Flanagan was born and raised in Ireland in a very devout Catholic family, and he had a great devotion to helping people from the examples of his mother and father,” Lynch said. Flanagan family portrait taken in 1908. Photo courtesy of Boys Town. He was born in County Galway in 1886, and moved to America in 1904. His journey through seminary was put on hold due to poor health, but he was eventually ordained in 1912. Father Edward J. Flanagan arriving to Ellis Island in 1904. Photo courtesy of Boys Town. While the priest is known for rescuing homeless children and housing them at Father Flanaganʼs Boys Home, his work went beyond aiding children at the village now known as Boys Town.Flanagan had “special ideas and concepts in child care…that were so radical,” but it came “from his concepts of being a Catholic priest of love and dignity for the individual,” Lynch said. “It changed the way children were treated around the world.”Flanagan was “a great champion for civil rights,” Lynch said. “He traveled across America advocating equality regardless of a personʼs race or religion. He felt that [was] one of the greatest stains in America — any type of religious or racial discrimination.”“Many people donʼt realize he went out of his way to help Japanese Americans during World War II. During the internment, he helped around 200 to 300 of them leave the camps and begin new lives, and he brought a number of them to live in the village of Boys Town.”Creating Boys Town ‘with love’ “When Father Flanagan created Boys Town in 1917, unfortunately, in America, there were no child care programs existing that were standard across the country,” Lynch said. “There were reform schools,” but they were “terrible places.”In the schools, “children would commit suicide because the guards would be so violent,” he said. Many of the children were also in orphanages, but “when you became a teenager, you were expelled.”To combat the issue, Flanagan “came forward and said: ‘Theyʼre going to live with me. Theyʼre going to have love, education, a spiritual life, and be taught a trade. Itʼll be done. No corporal punishment. No verbal abuse. Theyʼll live as a family.’”To start Boys Town, Flanagan used “the borrowed $90 he had,” Lynch said. “He had no money and no one really believed in him except for a few people in the city of Omaha.”“But he always said: 'God would provide.’” Father Edward J. Flanagan and boys at the German-American Home in South Omaha, which served as Flanaganʼs Home for Boys from 1918 to 1921. Photo courtesy of Boys Town. At Boys Town, “he created one of the first intentionally integrated communities in America…and he did it all with love,” he said. “He referenced love almost every day, in every sermon, and in every prayer.”Flanagan’s success caught the attention of people across the globe, leading his life and legacy to be immortalized in the 1938 movie “Boys Town,” starring Spencer Tracy, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of the priest. Father Edward J. Flanagan with Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy who were actors in the 1938 movie “Boys Town.” Photo courtesy of Boys Town. Flanagan’s work was also esteemed by multiple presidents and leaders. “President Franklin Roosevelt said America needed 49 more Father Flanaganʼs, one for every state and territory, because his ideas were so far forward and proving successful,” Lynch said.In 1947, Flanagan was even invited by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was leading the allied occupation of Japan, to review the child welfare conditions in Japan and Korea. Father Edward J. Flanagan speaking to children with the priest of Nagasaki Oura Church in Japan. Photo courtesy of Boys Town. After the trip, Flanagan culminated a report, “Children of Defeat,” which included findings on the devastating conditions of children left homeless and abandoned by World War II across Asia. He presented it to President Harry Truman at the White House on July 11, 1947.
Read More

Father Flanagan’s mission continues at Boys Town more than a century after its founding – #Catholic – More than 100 years after its founding, Boys Town continues to advance Venerable Father Edward J. Flanagan’s mission of caring for the vulnerable and underserved, reaching more than 2 million children and families every year.The Irish-born priest is revered for his revolutionary approach to caring for homeless children in the 20th century, leading him to be declared “Venerable” by Pope Leo XIV in March, 2026.Following the advancement of Flanagan’s canonization cause, Thomas Lynch, who serves as the historian and director of community programs for Boys Town, told EWTN News that the priest’s life serves as an example of “how children can be treated and how to treat your fellow man too.”“Venerable Father Flanagan was born and raised in Ireland in a very devout Catholic family, and he had a great devotion to helping people from the examples of his mother and father,” Lynch said. Flanagan family portrait taken in 1908. Photo courtesy of Boys Town. He was born in County Galway in 1886, and moved to America in 1904. His journey through seminary was put on hold due to poor health, but he was eventually ordained in 1912. Father Edward J. Flanagan arriving to Ellis Island in 1904. Photo courtesy of Boys Town. While the priest is known for rescuing homeless children and housing them at Father Flanaganʼs Boys Home, his work went beyond aiding children at the village now known as Boys Town.Flanagan had “special ideas and concepts in child care…that were so radical,” but it came “from his concepts of being a Catholic priest of love and dignity for the individual,” Lynch said. “It changed the way children were treated around the world.”Flanagan was “a great champion for civil rights,” Lynch said. “He traveled across America advocating equality regardless of a personʼs race or religion. He felt that [was] one of the greatest stains in America — any type of religious or racial discrimination.”“Many people donʼt realize he went out of his way to help Japanese Americans during World War II. During the internment, he helped around 200 to 300 of them leave the camps and begin new lives, and he brought a number of them to live in the village of Boys Town.”Creating Boys Town ‘with love’ “When Father Flanagan created Boys Town in 1917, unfortunately, in America, there were no child care programs existing that were standard across the country,” Lynch said. “There were reform schools,” but they were “terrible places.”In the schools, “children would commit suicide because the guards would be so violent,” he said. Many of the children were also in orphanages, but “when you became a teenager, you were expelled.”To combat the issue, Flanagan “came forward and said: ‘Theyʼre going to live with me. Theyʼre going to have love, education, a spiritual life, and be taught a trade. Itʼll be done. No corporal punishment. No verbal abuse. Theyʼll live as a family.’”To start Boys Town, Flanagan used “the borrowed $90 he had,” Lynch said. “He had no money and no one really believed in him except for a few people in the city of Omaha.”“But he always said: 'God would provide.’” Father Edward J. Flanagan and boys at the German-American Home in South Omaha, which served as Flanaganʼs Home for Boys from 1918 to 1921. Photo courtesy of Boys Town. At Boys Town, “he created one of the first intentionally integrated communities in America…and he did it all with love,” he said. “He referenced love almost every day, in every sermon, and in every prayer.”Flanagan’s success caught the attention of people across the globe, leading his life and legacy to be immortalized in the 1938 movie “Boys Town,” starring Spencer Tracy, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of the priest. Father Edward J. Flanagan with Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy who were actors in the 1938 movie “Boys Town.” Photo courtesy of Boys Town. Flanagan’s work was also esteemed by multiple presidents and leaders. “President Franklin Roosevelt said America needed 49 more Father Flanaganʼs, one for every state and territory, because his ideas were so far forward and proving successful,” Lynch said.In 1947, Flanagan was even invited by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was leading the allied occupation of Japan, to review the child welfare conditions in Japan and Korea. Father Edward J. Flanagan speaking to children with the priest of Nagasaki Oura Church in Japan. Photo courtesy of Boys Town. After the trip, Flanagan culminated a report, “Children of Defeat,” which included findings on the devastating conditions of children left homeless and abandoned by World War II across Asia. He presented it to President Harry Truman at the White House on July 11, 1947.

unitedyam

Father Flanagan “took the Catholic tenets of love, inclusion, and acceptance and he brought that to the care of children in America, when really no one had even thought of it before.”

Read More
Pope Leo XIV closes consistory with appeal to help world find God’s paths to peace – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV on June 27 thanked the College of Cardinals for their work during their two-day extraordinary consistory, highlighting their reflections on war, poverty, and social fragmentation as well as deeper wounds such as loneliness and loss of meaning.The pope said in his closing address that he was “particularly struck by the way [the cardinals] spoke about young people,” especially in their suffering that can at times lead “to the extreme despair of taking their own lives.”“You have recognized one of the deepest wounds of our time,” he said, “yet you have also been able to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit [in their] search for authenticity, for genuine relationships, and for meaning.”Addressing another of the world’s wounds — war — Leo XIV reiterated themes from his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas , warning that war stems from a broader “culture of power” affecting politics, economics, and even religion.“War is born within us,” he said, but it is “precisely in the heart that peace is also decided.” It is in that same heart, he said, where Christ “continues to meet us, speak to us, and to convert us,” and he called for renewed commitment to dialogue, multilateral cooperation, and nonviolent responses rooted in the Gospel.Although the cardinals discussed “just war,” the pope did not specifically mention the tradition in his address, noting instead the theme of self-defense in light of “profound transformations” in contemporary conflicts. Reflection on this topic needs to be “further developed,” he said, “with necessary theological and pastoral rigor.”Issuing a global appeal, Leo XIV declared: “God desires peace for every nation and every people,” urging the Church to help the world reject violence and rediscover the Lord’s paths of reconciliation.Pope Leo also underscored the importance of the family, the Church’s social doctrine, and the formation of consciences, while reaffirming the role of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue in promoting peace.He urged the cardinals to deepen the Church’s synodal path as a “spiritual style” rooted in listening, discernment, and fidelity to the Gospel. Synodality, he said, is not primarily about structures or decision-making, but about safeguarding the Church’s mission through shared discernment. “The question is not ‘who decides,’” he said, “but how we together safeguard the gift entrusted to the Church.”Leo XIV encouraged the cardinals to promote active participation across local Churches, saying that authentic synodality arises from encounter and openness to the Holy Spirit. He likened this two-day gathering — which had a distinctly synodal format of working group discussions — to the Gospel account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in which Christ renews hope and clarifies mission.Referring to a meeting of bishops in October to mark the 10th anniversary of Amoris Laetitia, the pope said the gathering will be part of the implementation of the Synod on Synodality — a chance to “foster spaces where the People of God can listen to one another, pray, discern and walk together.”The pope closed by entrusting the fruits of the consistory to the intercession of Our Lady. “May she teach us to preserve unity in diversity and to serve the Gospel of peace with humility, courage, and hope,” he said.He reiterated that these extraordinary consistories will take place annually, and said he will be announcing next year’s meeting at the end of the year.Vatican synthesisAs the consistory took place behind closed doors, it was not possible to know exactly what the cardinals discussed during the two-day meeting. Instead, media had to rely on syntheses provided by the Holy See Press Office which omitted some key interventions such as Cardinal Gerhard Müller’s call on the Vatican to issue a formal response to the Society of St. Pius X’s latest challenge to Rome, as reported on Saturday by Il Giornale’s Nico Spuntoni. The syntheses also did not cover any topics raised in the free discussion at the end of the consistory. The Vatican did, however, provide full texts of four cardinals’ reflections.Opening Friday afternoon’s session on “The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love” was Cardinal Victor Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who reflected on the theme and Chapter V of Magnifica Humanitas.Drawing on the social encyclical, he argued that a deep cultural shift had been enabling the outbreak and normalization of new wars, often sustained by AI-driven media and political manipulation.Magnifica Humanitas, he said, marked a significant development by declaring “just war” theory outdated in practice. It insisted instead on a far stricter understanding of legitimate defense and condemning pre-emptive and disproportionate warfare as incompatible with Catholic teaching and the Second Vatican Council’s Gaudium et Spes and its rejection of indiscriminate destruction. As examples, he highlighted military interventions in Gaza and southern Lebanon.Relativism, cynicism, “spiteful verbal attacks by political leaders,” and geopolitical inconsistency favored violent powers, the cardinal said, adding that the Church’s social doctrine was the answer. Alluding to a consistent life ethic, he said the teaching is coherent in its defense of life, migrants, peace, and the vulnerable, and that it is capable of resisting the culture of power and fostering a culture of fraternity and the common good.The Vatican reported that in their working groups during the session, presided over by Filipino Cardinal Siongco David, the cardinals similarly voiced concern about a pervasive “culture of power” marked by polarization, normalization of war, and diminished sensitivity to violence. In response, they stressed the Church’s urgent duty to witness credibly to peace through a transformed language of encounter, rooted in listening, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and through visible Christian unity.They also urged dialogue with other religions, especially Islam, and engagement with international institutions. The Vatican said “numerous groups” called for moving beyond classical “just war” frameworks toward proportionate self-defense, while reaffirming the Gospel as the true source of peace. The Vatican said strong support was expressed for Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical and his moral leadership, alongside renewed reflection on the Petrine ministry as a safeguard of the Church’s independence and a sign of unity.Building the common goodSaturday morning’s session shifted focus to “Building for the Common Good,” examining the deep fractures affecting societies, families, and individuals. Cardinal Stephen Brislin of Johannesburg presented Magnifica Humanitas as a theologically coherent vision of human “building” in an age of technological power, reading the whole encyclical through the opening contrast between Babel’s self-enclosed self-sufficiency and Jerusalem’s God-oriented rebuilding.He noted that the introduction offered a “grammar of building” structured around desire, limitation, shared responsibility, and discernment, asking whether technological expansion, including AI, actually produced more just relationships and institutions attentive to the person. In his reading, the conclusion showed how this grammar found its fulfilment in the theological virtues: faith reading history in the light of God’s merciful plan, charity rooted in the Eucharist grounding synodal communion, and hope directing concrete responsibility toward a “civilization of love,” all sustained by prayer exemplified in Mary’s contemplative gaze.In the Vatican-summarized discussions that followed, presided by Tanzanian Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, the cardinals highlighted the anthropological crisis underlying these divisions, including loss of meaning, identity, and relationships, exacerbated by extreme individualism and emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence.AI was discussed not only technologically but as a force reshaping human self-understanding, raising concerns about dignity, limitation, and the reduction of persons to data. The common good was presented as both elusive and essential, requiring a rediscovery of solidarity grounded in faith and expressed through concrete care for the poor.The Vatican said the Church’s social doctrine and the formation of responsible political leaders were seen as vital responses to systemic inequality and fragmentation. Across interventions, the Gospel emerged as the antidote to division, calling the Church to embody a “Samaritan” presence, foster belonging, and promote synodality as a lived practice of listening and shared responsibility.Final sessionThe final session of the consistory turned to the practical implementation of synodality, emphasizing spiritual elements and institutional challenges. In his reflection, Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod Secretariat, described the Synod on Synodality as a profound experience “in the Spirit” and declared that it had already awakened in the Church a broad desire for participation, mutual listening, and shared discernment among bishops, clergy, religious, and laity.He asserted that the current implementation phase was not a matter of mechanically applying decisions but of receiving, testing, and integrating synodal insights into the ordinary life of local Churches, culminating in the 2028 ecclesial assembly. That phase, he said, depended on bishops as primary stewards of the synodal journey, adding that they needed to hold together synodality and collegiality as complementary expressions of one communion ordered to mission in a world marked by war, inequality, migration, and technological upheaval.In their discussions that followed, presided by Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, the Vatican said the cardinals agreed on the need to integrate the “ascetical and historical” dimensions of synodality while ensuring that its processes do not become overly burdensome or distract from the Church’s evangelical mission.Particular attention was given to priestly formation, with calls for a vision of the priesthood that is dynamic, attractive, and authentically evangelical without reinforcing clericalism.Discussion also clarified the complementary roles of hierarchy and laity in discerning the voice of “the Spirit,” highlighting synodality as a shared but differentiated responsibility within the People of God. The contribution of Eastern Catholic Churches, with their longstanding synodal traditions, was said to be especially valuable.The Vatican synthesis noted that cardinals discussed “the risk that the complexity of the consultation process might weigh down the Church at a time when she is called to bear witness.”
Read More

Pope Leo XIV closes consistory with appeal to help world find God’s paths to peace – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV on June 27 thanked the College of Cardinals for their work during their two-day extraordinary consistory, highlighting their reflections on war, poverty, and social fragmentation as well as deeper wounds such as loneliness and loss of meaning.The pope said in his closing address that he was “particularly struck by the way [the cardinals] spoke about young people,” especially in their suffering that can at times lead “to the extreme despair of taking their own lives.”“You have recognized one of the deepest wounds of our time,” he said, “yet you have also been able to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit [in their] search for authenticity, for genuine relationships, and for meaning.”Addressing another of the world’s wounds — war — Leo XIV reiterated themes from his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas , warning that war stems from a broader “culture of power” affecting politics, economics, and even religion.“War is born within us,” he said, but it is “precisely in the heart that peace is also decided.” It is in that same heart, he said, where Christ “continues to meet us, speak to us, and to convert us,” and he called for renewed commitment to dialogue, multilateral cooperation, and nonviolent responses rooted in the Gospel.Although the cardinals discussed “just war,” the pope did not specifically mention the tradition in his address, noting instead the theme of self-defense in light of “profound transformations” in contemporary conflicts. Reflection on this topic needs to be “further developed,” he said, “with necessary theological and pastoral rigor.”Issuing a global appeal, Leo XIV declared: “God desires peace for every nation and every people,” urging the Church to help the world reject violence and rediscover the Lord’s paths of reconciliation.Pope Leo also underscored the importance of the family, the Church’s social doctrine, and the formation of consciences, while reaffirming the role of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue in promoting peace.He urged the cardinals to deepen the Church’s synodal path as a “spiritual style” rooted in listening, discernment, and fidelity to the Gospel. Synodality, he said, is not primarily about structures or decision-making, but about safeguarding the Church’s mission through shared discernment. “The question is not ‘who decides,’” he said, “but how we together safeguard the gift entrusted to the Church.”Leo XIV encouraged the cardinals to promote active participation across local Churches, saying that authentic synodality arises from encounter and openness to the Holy Spirit. He likened this two-day gathering — which had a distinctly synodal format of working group discussions — to the Gospel account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in which Christ renews hope and clarifies mission.Referring to a meeting of bishops in October to mark the 10th anniversary of Amoris Laetitia, the pope said the gathering will be part of the implementation of the Synod on Synodality — a chance to “foster spaces where the People of God can listen to one another, pray, discern and walk together.”The pope closed by entrusting the fruits of the consistory to the intercession of Our Lady. “May she teach us to preserve unity in diversity and to serve the Gospel of peace with humility, courage, and hope,” he said.He reiterated that these extraordinary consistories will take place annually, and said he will be announcing next year’s meeting at the end of the year.Vatican synthesisAs the consistory took place behind closed doors, it was not possible to know exactly what the cardinals discussed during the two-day meeting. Instead, media had to rely on syntheses provided by the Holy See Press Office which omitted some key interventions such as Cardinal Gerhard Müller’s call on the Vatican to issue a formal response to the Society of St. Pius X’s latest challenge to Rome, as reported on Saturday by Il Giornale’s Nico Spuntoni. The syntheses also did not cover any topics raised in the free discussion at the end of the consistory. The Vatican did, however, provide full texts of four cardinals’ reflections.Opening Friday afternoon’s session on “The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love” was Cardinal Victor Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who reflected on the theme and Chapter V of Magnifica Humanitas.Drawing on the social encyclical, he argued that a deep cultural shift had been enabling the outbreak and normalization of new wars, often sustained by AI-driven media and political manipulation.Magnifica Humanitas, he said, marked a significant development by declaring “just war” theory outdated in practice. It insisted instead on a far stricter understanding of legitimate defense and condemning pre-emptive and disproportionate warfare as incompatible with Catholic teaching and the Second Vatican Council’s Gaudium et Spes and its rejection of indiscriminate destruction. As examples, he highlighted military interventions in Gaza and southern Lebanon.Relativism, cynicism, “spiteful verbal attacks by political leaders,” and geopolitical inconsistency favored violent powers, the cardinal said, adding that the Church’s social doctrine was the answer. Alluding to a consistent life ethic, he said the teaching is coherent in its defense of life, migrants, peace, and the vulnerable, and that it is capable of resisting the culture of power and fostering a culture of fraternity and the common good.The Vatican reported that in their working groups during the session, presided over by Filipino Cardinal Siongco David, the cardinals similarly voiced concern about a pervasive “culture of power” marked by polarization, normalization of war, and diminished sensitivity to violence. In response, they stressed the Church’s urgent duty to witness credibly to peace through a transformed language of encounter, rooted in listening, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and through visible Christian unity.They also urged dialogue with other religions, especially Islam, and engagement with international institutions. The Vatican said “numerous groups” called for moving beyond classical “just war” frameworks toward proportionate self-defense, while reaffirming the Gospel as the true source of peace. The Vatican said strong support was expressed for Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical and his moral leadership, alongside renewed reflection on the Petrine ministry as a safeguard of the Church’s independence and a sign of unity.Building the common goodSaturday morning’s session shifted focus to “Building for the Common Good,” examining the deep fractures affecting societies, families, and individuals. Cardinal Stephen Brislin of Johannesburg presented Magnifica Humanitas as a theologically coherent vision of human “building” in an age of technological power, reading the whole encyclical through the opening contrast between Babel’s self-enclosed self-sufficiency and Jerusalem’s God-oriented rebuilding.He noted that the introduction offered a “grammar of building” structured around desire, limitation, shared responsibility, and discernment, asking whether technological expansion, including AI, actually produced more just relationships and institutions attentive to the person. In his reading, the conclusion showed how this grammar found its fulfilment in the theological virtues: faith reading history in the light of God’s merciful plan, charity rooted in the Eucharist grounding synodal communion, and hope directing concrete responsibility toward a “civilization of love,” all sustained by prayer exemplified in Mary’s contemplative gaze.In the Vatican-summarized discussions that followed, presided by Tanzanian Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, the cardinals highlighted the anthropological crisis underlying these divisions, including loss of meaning, identity, and relationships, exacerbated by extreme individualism and emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence.AI was discussed not only technologically but as a force reshaping human self-understanding, raising concerns about dignity, limitation, and the reduction of persons to data. The common good was presented as both elusive and essential, requiring a rediscovery of solidarity grounded in faith and expressed through concrete care for the poor.The Vatican said the Church’s social doctrine and the formation of responsible political leaders were seen as vital responses to systemic inequality and fragmentation. Across interventions, the Gospel emerged as the antidote to division, calling the Church to embody a “Samaritan” presence, foster belonging, and promote synodality as a lived practice of listening and shared responsibility.Final sessionThe final session of the consistory turned to the practical implementation of synodality, emphasizing spiritual elements and institutional challenges. In his reflection, Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod Secretariat, described the Synod on Synodality as a profound experience “in the Spirit” and declared that it had already awakened in the Church a broad desire for participation, mutual listening, and shared discernment among bishops, clergy, religious, and laity.He asserted that the current implementation phase was not a matter of mechanically applying decisions but of receiving, testing, and integrating synodal insights into the ordinary life of local Churches, culminating in the 2028 ecclesial assembly. That phase, he said, depended on bishops as primary stewards of the synodal journey, adding that they needed to hold together synodality and collegiality as complementary expressions of one communion ordered to mission in a world marked by war, inequality, migration, and technological upheaval.In their discussions that followed, presided by Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, the Vatican said the cardinals agreed on the need to integrate the “ascetical and historical” dimensions of synodality while ensuring that its processes do not become overly burdensome or distract from the Church’s evangelical mission.Particular attention was given to priestly formation, with calls for a vision of the priesthood that is dynamic, attractive, and authentically evangelical without reinforcing clericalism.Discussion also clarified the complementary roles of hierarchy and laity in discerning the voice of “the Spirit,” highlighting synodality as a shared but differentiated responsibility within the People of God. The contribution of Eastern Catholic Churches, with their longstanding synodal traditions, was said to be especially valuable.The Vatican synthesis noted that cardinals discussed “the risk that the complexity of the consultation process might weigh down the Church at a time when she is called to bear witness.”

unitedyam

The pope thanked the College of Cardinals for their work during a two-day extraordinary consistory, highlighting their reflections on war, poverty, and social fragmentation.

Read More
Catholic Charities sues Michigan in federal court, says state targeted charity over Catholic beliefs – #Catholic – A federal lawsuit filed in U.S. district court this week claims leaders in the state of Michigan targeted a Catholic charity for following the teachings of the Catholic Church. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, alleges that state Attorney General Dana Nessel, state Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel, and other government officials engaged in a “pattern of religious targeting” against the charity in order to pressure it to “abandon its beliefs.” Unknown block type “cdn77.asset”, specify a component for it in the `components.types` optionThe suit says government officials met with the charity in March 2026 and “raised concerns” about the organization’s core values, including the requirement that staff sign a pledge related to matters on abortion and adoption, among other issues. After that meeting, a state-contracted insurance distributor “adopted a brand-new policy specifically targeting Catholic Charities’ religious beliefs and practices.” Part of the new policy included a disclosure requirement regarding “service limitations” related in part to abortion and gay marriage, the suit says.The state health department subsequently discontinued its designation of the charity’s Cristo Rey Community Center as a women’s specialty service provider, the suit says, with the government stipulating that the charity must make “policy and procedural changes” in order to have that designation reinstated. The suit says the government has “completely ignored” the charity’s efforts to obtain clarification about the alleged policy violations. The state-contracted insurance facilitator, meanwhile, has stopped referring clients to the charity for women’s services, according to the filing. The decisions by the state government violates religious discrimination protections in the U.S. Constitution, the lawsuit says, while women in the region have been “left without access to the faith-based, relationship-centered treatment that Catholic Charities’ ministry uniquely provides.”The suit, which was filed by attorneys with the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, asks the court to reverse the state government’s decisions and further prevent it from withholding federal grant funding from the charity. The state attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the suit. But this is not the first time the state government has tangled with a Catholic charity. In 2019 St. Vincent Catholic Charities filed a suit against the state over its requirement that adoption agencies must match children with same-sex couples in order to receive state funding.The charity ultimately won a settlement with the government in 2022 allowing it to continue its adoption services without violating its Catholic identity.
Read More

Catholic Charities sues Michigan in federal court, says state targeted charity over Catholic beliefs – #Catholic – A federal lawsuit filed in U.S. district court this week claims leaders in the state of Michigan targeted a Catholic charity for following the teachings of the Catholic Church. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, alleges that state Attorney General Dana Nessel, state Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel, and other government officials engaged in a “pattern of religious targeting” against the charity in order to pressure it to “abandon its beliefs.” Unknown block type “cdn77.asset”, specify a component for it in the `components.types` optionThe suit says government officials met with the charity in March 2026 and “raised concerns” about the organization’s core values, including the requirement that staff sign a pledge related to matters on abortion and adoption, among other issues. After that meeting, a state-contracted insurance distributor “adopted a brand-new policy specifically targeting Catholic Charities’ religious beliefs and practices.” Part of the new policy included a disclosure requirement regarding “service limitations” related in part to abortion and gay marriage, the suit says.The state health department subsequently discontinued its designation of the charity’s Cristo Rey Community Center as a women’s specialty service provider, the suit says, with the government stipulating that the charity must make “policy and procedural changes” in order to have that designation reinstated. The suit says the government has “completely ignored” the charity’s efforts to obtain clarification about the alleged policy violations. The state-contracted insurance facilitator, meanwhile, has stopped referring clients to the charity for women’s services, according to the filing. The decisions by the state government violates religious discrimination protections in the U.S. Constitution, the lawsuit says, while women in the region have been “left without access to the faith-based, relationship-centered treatment that Catholic Charities’ ministry uniquely provides.”The suit, which was filed by attorneys with the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, asks the court to reverse the state government’s decisions and further prevent it from withholding federal grant funding from the charity. The state attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the suit. But this is not the first time the state government has tangled with a Catholic charity. In 2019 St. Vincent Catholic Charities filed a suit against the state over its requirement that adoption agencies must match children with same-sex couples in order to receive state funding.The charity ultimately won a settlement with the government in 2022 allowing it to continue its adoption services without violating its Catholic identity.

unitedyam

The state “singled out and punished” the Catholic ministry because it operates in accordance with the Church, the lawsuit claims.

Read More
‘It’s coming fast’: Arlington Diocese sits at center of ‘Data Center Alley’ – #Catholic – Data centers continue popping up across the country to fuel the growth of artificial intelligence in everyday life, and the Catholic Diocese of Arlington is home to the densest concentration of these facilities in the world, known as “Data Center Alley.”“Itʼs absolutely in people’s minds to be thinking how to pastor and shepherd the flock,” Anna Knier, coordinator for the office of the peace and justice commission for the diocese, told Mark Irons on “EWTN News In Depth” on June 26."Itʼs coming fast and quickly, and itʼs kind of [like] weʼre building the plane as we fly a little bit in terms of all sorts of considerations, including infrastructure,” Knier said.The hub, dubbed “Data Center Alley,” is located in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., just west of the city. There are more than 300 data centers in Northern Virginia and more than 100 in development.Data centers have become a focal point of the broader AI debate. They often receive government tax subsidies while employing few people compared to other facilities that often get similar incentives, like factories. Data centers also consume an enormous amount of energy. According to a report by the Electric Power Research Institute, about 4-5% of national energy is consumed by data centers, but that will increase to between 9-17% by 2030. Virginia is the only state in which more than 20% of energy is consumed by data centers, but that could increase to 39-57% by 2030.In Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, the Holy Father warned about a “tendency to overlook the environmental impact” of AI, mostly caused by the energy and water consumption of data centers.Leo discussed broader concerns about AI development as well, such as preserving the dignity of work, building up human solidarity, and not concentrating power in the hands of a few, but instead ensuring all people benefit from the innovation."We need to be with those who are on the margins,” Knier said.
Read More

‘It’s coming fast’: Arlington Diocese sits at center of ‘Data Center Alley’ – #Catholic – Data centers continue popping up across the country to fuel the growth of artificial intelligence in everyday life, and the Catholic Diocese of Arlington is home to the densest concentration of these facilities in the world, known as “Data Center Alley.”“Itʼs absolutely in people’s minds to be thinking how to pastor and shepherd the flock,” Anna Knier, coordinator for the office of the peace and justice commission for the diocese, told Mark Irons on “EWTN News In Depth” on June 26."Itʼs coming fast and quickly, and itʼs kind of [like] weʼre building the plane as we fly a little bit in terms of all sorts of considerations, including infrastructure,” Knier said.The hub, dubbed “Data Center Alley,” is located in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., just west of the city. There are more than 300 data centers in Northern Virginia and more than 100 in development.Data centers have become a focal point of the broader AI debate. They often receive government tax subsidies while employing few people compared to other facilities that often get similar incentives, like factories. Data centers also consume an enormous amount of energy. According to a report by the Electric Power Research Institute, about 4-5% of national energy is consumed by data centers, but that will increase to between 9-17% by 2030. Virginia is the only state in which more than 20% of energy is consumed by data centers, but that could increase to 39-57% by 2030.In Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, the Holy Father warned about a “tendency to overlook the environmental impact” of AI, mostly caused by the energy and water consumption of data centers.Leo discussed broader concerns about AI development as well, such as preserving the dignity of work, building up human solidarity, and not concentrating power in the hands of a few, but instead ensuring all people benefit from the innovation."We need to be with those who are on the margins,” Knier said.

unitedyam

EWTN News In Depth’s Mark Irons reports on “Data Center Alley” in the Diocese of Arlington in light of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

Read More
Cardinal Müller calls SSPX consecrations schismatic, defends the Latin Mass – #Catholic – Cardinal Gerhard Müller has called the Society of St. Pius X’s planned consecration of four bishops without papal mandate a schismatic act, while stressing that the dispute turns on authority, not the Traditional Latin Mass, which he affirmed remains valid.In an interview with EWTN News In Depth, the former prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said episcopal ordinations carried out “without the pope are absolutely impossible, against the will of God,” marking those who carry them out as “not Catholic or anti-Catholic.” That judgment, he stressed, rests on “objective criteria,” not “subjective judgments.”The Society plans to consecrate four priests, including American Father Michael Goldade, on July 1 at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, echoing Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s 1988 consecrations. Without a papal mandate the consecrations would be valid but illicit, carrying an automatic “latae sententiae” excommunication.Müller likened the society to the Donatists, the schism St. Augustine fought in North Africa.“They should learn from the way of the Donatists,” he said, adding that St. Pius X, the society’s patron, “will pray against these people who abuse his name.” Pope Leo XIV, he noted, is himself an Augustinian.The German prelate, a longtime professor of dogmatic theology, called devotion to traditional liturgy and the rejection of papal authority “two absolutely different questions,” and faulted bishops who forbid the TLM as “authoritarian.”Asked what faithful drawn to SSPX Masses should do if a schism follows, Müller said they “shouldn’t go, and cannot participate in the Masses of schismatic priests and bishops.”The Vatican’s current doctrine chief, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, warned on May 13 that the consecrations would be “a schismatic act.”The SSPX rejects the charge, holding that such consecrations do not by themselves break communion; on June 24 it sent Pope Leo and the College of Cardinals a “Declaration of Catholic Faith.” Superior General Father Davide Pagliarani has cited a “state of necessity,” noting only two aging SSPX bishops remain to ordain its priests.Müller also discussed the June 26–27 consistory, which he said he expected to take up atheism and artificial intelligence, and renewed his criticism of “synodality,” which he said had been “abused” to push ideas against Church teaching on the priesthood and marriage.
Read More

Cardinal Müller calls SSPX consecrations schismatic, defends the Latin Mass – #Catholic – Cardinal Gerhard Müller has called the Society of St. Pius X’s planned consecration of four bishops without papal mandate a schismatic act, while stressing that the dispute turns on authority, not the Traditional Latin Mass, which he affirmed remains valid.In an interview with EWTN News In Depth, the former prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said episcopal ordinations carried out “without the pope are absolutely impossible, against the will of God,” marking those who carry them out as “not Catholic or anti-Catholic.” That judgment, he stressed, rests on “objective criteria,” not “subjective judgments.”The Society plans to consecrate four priests, including American Father Michael Goldade, on July 1 at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, echoing Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s 1988 consecrations. Without a papal mandate the consecrations would be valid but illicit, carrying an automatic “latae sententiae” excommunication.Müller likened the society to the Donatists, the schism St. Augustine fought in North Africa.“They should learn from the way of the Donatists,” he said, adding that St. Pius X, the society’s patron, “will pray against these people who abuse his name.” Pope Leo XIV, he noted, is himself an Augustinian.The German prelate, a longtime professor of dogmatic theology, called devotion to traditional liturgy and the rejection of papal authority “two absolutely different questions,” and faulted bishops who forbid the TLM as “authoritarian.”Asked what faithful drawn to SSPX Masses should do if a schism follows, Müller said they “shouldn’t go, and cannot participate in the Masses of schismatic priests and bishops.”The Vatican’s current doctrine chief, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, warned on May 13 that the consecrations would be “a schismatic act.”The SSPX rejects the charge, holding that such consecrations do not by themselves break communion; on June 24 it sent Pope Leo and the College of Cardinals a “Declaration of Catholic Faith.” Superior General Father Davide Pagliarani has cited a “state of necessity,” noting only two aging SSPX bishops remain to ordain its priests.Müller also discussed the June 26–27 consistory, which he said he expected to take up atheism and artificial intelligence, and renewed his criticism of “synodality,” which he said had been “abused” to push ideas against Church teaching on the priesthood and marriage.

unitedyam

The former Vatican doctrine chief likened the Society of St. Pius X to the ancient Donatist schism, days before its planned July 1 episcopal consecrations at Écône.

Read More
Catholic women’s leadership forum tells young women: ‘You are a gift’ – #Catholic – The 2026 GIVEN Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Forum, taking place in Washington, D.C., this week, exists to help women understand their gifts and how to share them with the world.The five-day gathering is hosted by the GIVEN Institute – a nonprofit organization dedicated to activating the gifts of Catholic young adult women for the Church and the world through faith formation and leadership.The forum, taking place June 24-28, features keynotes, leadership training, mentorship, adoration, prayer, and Mass. The GIVEN Institute features keynotes, leadership training, mentorship, adoration, prayer, and Mass in Washington, D.C. June 24-26, 2026. | Credit: Tessa Gervasini/EWTN News “We hope women will take away an understanding, on a much deeper level, that they are a gift. They are a beloved daughter of God,” executive director of GIVEN, Jennifer Cole-Schaefer, told EWTN News.Women have “been given gifts that are specific to them, and God has a plan to use those gifts,” she said. “Itʼs all about receiving this idea that we are a gift, realizing what our gifts are, and responding in a way that only we can respond with our particular gifts.”The forum welcomes Catholic women, ages 21-35, who have been accepted into the institute’s leadership program, as well as mentors, volunteers, exhibitors, and sponsors.Acceptance into the program includes participation in GIVEN’s forum, followed by a year of accompaniment with a trained mentor. Participants cultivate a personalized “action plan” designed to serve the Church and their community.The “formation starts well before we get to the forum, but the forum is a really pivotal in-person experience,” Cole-Schaefer said.“Itʼs after the forum that the real work begins – when women start to actualize their action plans, and they donʼt do that alone. They do that through mentoring,” she said. “So we have a whole army of women with some life experience whoʼve stepped forward and been trained as mentors to walk with our young women as they discern all the steps,” Cole-Schaefer said.Cole-Schaefer said she hopes that after the forum, women walk “away inspired and ready to change the world in whatever way God is calling them to.”2026 forum kicks offThis yearʼs forum welcomes a variety of presentations and keynotes, including talks from Sr. Bethany Madonna, SV, a Sister of Life, and Dr. Mary Healy, a professor of scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and the editor of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.The event is also featuring numerous panels on finding one’s vocation and mission. Panelists include GIVEN alumni who attest to the formation they received through the forum.President and COO of EWTN News, Montse Alvarado, will speak on June 27 about how young women respond with their gifts. GIVEN will also bestow Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV with its Fiat Award, which honors women whose lives embody the response of Our Lady through faithful leadership, service, and love.Sr. Mary Madeline Todd, OP presented the keynote address on June 26. The Dominican Sister of the Congregation of St. Cecilia told attendees that God reveals “you are the gift” and “you are the love.”Todd told her listeners that contemporary culture tells women they were made for “comfort,” “convenience,” or “control,” but, she emphasized, “you and I were made for communion.” “Every gift weʼve been given is to call others into the relationship with the Lord they were made for. Itʼs to realize our relationship with the Lord, to grow in it, to let that love that fills us up” so we can then “pour it out onto the world,” she said. “My sisters, whatever gift he gives you, receive it. Whatever struggle you face, do not get discouraged. Heʼs working in it,” she said.“Your story is a way heʼs bringing beauty into the world. But know that no matter what comes and goes with your gifts, the gift is him. His friendship, his presence, his love, is the gift heʼll never take away,” Todd said.
Read More

Catholic women’s leadership forum tells young women: ‘You are a gift’ – #Catholic – The 2026 GIVEN Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Forum, taking place in Washington, D.C., this week, exists to help women understand their gifts and how to share them with the world.The five-day gathering is hosted by the GIVEN Institute – a nonprofit organization dedicated to activating the gifts of Catholic young adult women for the Church and the world through faith formation and leadership.The forum, taking place June 24-28, features keynotes, leadership training, mentorship, adoration, prayer, and Mass. The GIVEN Institute features keynotes, leadership training, mentorship, adoration, prayer, and Mass in Washington, D.C. June 24-26, 2026. | Credit: Tessa Gervasini/EWTN News “We hope women will take away an understanding, on a much deeper level, that they are a gift. They are a beloved daughter of God,” executive director of GIVEN, Jennifer Cole-Schaefer, told EWTN News.Women have “been given gifts that are specific to them, and God has a plan to use those gifts,” she said. “Itʼs all about receiving this idea that we are a gift, realizing what our gifts are, and responding in a way that only we can respond with our particular gifts.”The forum welcomes Catholic women, ages 21-35, who have been accepted into the institute’s leadership program, as well as mentors, volunteers, exhibitors, and sponsors.Acceptance into the program includes participation in GIVEN’s forum, followed by a year of accompaniment with a trained mentor. Participants cultivate a personalized “action plan” designed to serve the Church and their community.The “formation starts well before we get to the forum, but the forum is a really pivotal in-person experience,” Cole-Schaefer said.“Itʼs after the forum that the real work begins – when women start to actualize their action plans, and they donʼt do that alone. They do that through mentoring,” she said. “So we have a whole army of women with some life experience whoʼve stepped forward and been trained as mentors to walk with our young women as they discern all the steps,” Cole-Schaefer said.Cole-Schaefer said she hopes that after the forum, women walk “away inspired and ready to change the world in whatever way God is calling them to.”2026 forum kicks offThis yearʼs forum welcomes a variety of presentations and keynotes, including talks from Sr. Bethany Madonna, SV, a Sister of Life, and Dr. Mary Healy, a professor of scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and the editor of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.The event is also featuring numerous panels on finding one’s vocation and mission. Panelists include GIVEN alumni who attest to the formation they received through the forum.President and COO of EWTN News, Montse Alvarado, will speak on June 27 about how young women respond with their gifts. GIVEN will also bestow Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV with its Fiat Award, which honors women whose lives embody the response of Our Lady through faithful leadership, service, and love.Sr. Mary Madeline Todd, OP presented the keynote address on June 26. The Dominican Sister of the Congregation of St. Cecilia told attendees that God reveals “you are the gift” and “you are the love.”Todd told her listeners that contemporary culture tells women they were made for “comfort,” “convenience,” or “control,” but, she emphasized, “you and I were made for communion.” “Every gift weʼve been given is to call others into the relationship with the Lord they were made for. Itʼs to realize our relationship with the Lord, to grow in it, to let that love that fills us up” so we can then “pour it out onto the world,” she said. “My sisters, whatever gift he gives you, receive it. Whatever struggle you face, do not get discouraged. Heʼs working in it,” she said.“Your story is a way heʼs bringing beauty into the world. But know that no matter what comes and goes with your gifts, the gift is him. His friendship, his presence, his love, is the gift heʼll never take away,” Todd said.

unitedyam

GIVEN will bestow Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV with its Fiat Award, which honors women whose lives embody the response of Our Lady through faithful leadership, service, and love.

Read More
Supreme Court rules in favor of Trump’s asylum policies that bishops opposed – #Catholic – The U.S. Supreme Court on June 25 ruled in favor of President Donald Trump’s restrictive asylum policies that faced strong opposition from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and some other Catholic advocacy groups.One ruling allows the Department of Homeland Security to end “temporary protected status” for Haitians and Syrians, who can now be deported. The other allows the government to turn away asylum seekers at the southern border by limiting the number of claims they will process each day.Both cases were decided 6-3. All of the justices who sided with the majority were appointed by Republican presidents and each dissenting justice was appointed by Democratic presidents.Anna Gallagher, the executive director of Catholic Legal Immigration Network, said in a statement to EWTN News that both decisions are “devastating for our clients, and for those of us who accompany vulnerable immigrants through the legal system.”“As Catholics, we believe in a God who weeps for our suffering, who is concerned for the fall of the sparrow, for the least of these,” she said. “And so we, too, weep for our clients whose asylum rights are restricted or who fear return to immediate life-threatening conditions because of this court decision.” “We walk with them as legal advocates, seeing the injustice of our laws play out firsthand. We know that today is a dark day for many people we have come to know and care for — including legal residents of this country, beloved members of our community.”Protections for Haitians, Syrians goneThe Supreme Court decision in Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot, which were consolidated into one case, ensures that the government’s decision to terminate temporary protected status for Haitians and Syrians will be in effect. The ruling strips them of legal protections for work authorization and prevention from deportation.Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion, said that the law itself generally gives the government broad discretion in determining whether to approve, extend, or terminate protected status for a given country. The ruling found that all non-constitutional claims are not subject to judicial review.Haitians protected under the protected status argued that the policy terminations discriminated against people based on race. In its ruling the Supreme Court stated that both the protected designations and the terminations come from a racially diverse collection of countries.“They claim that TPS has not been terminated for any predominantly white nation, and they therefore infer that the reason for the termination of the TPS designation for Haiti was having a predominantly nonwhite population,” the opinion stated. The plaintiffs’ “definition of a predominantly non-white nation is broad, apparently encompassing major European countries,” the ruling said.“It may be that only the termination of a TPS designation for a Nordic or Germanic country would be sufficient in their judgment to show that the Secretary’s unbroken record of TPS terminations was race-neutral,” the decision added.Justice Elena Kagan, in her dissenting opinion, said she believes the court erred in ruling that all non-constitutional claims are barred from judicial review, arguing that the court should be able to determine whether the secretary followed the proper procedures in deciding to terminate protected status.She also argued that Trump’s comments show that race played a role in the decision to end the Haitian protected status designation.“The majority briefly replies that [his] remarks are not ‘overtly racial,’ … but it is hard to know what that means,” Kagan wrote. “Haitians are Black. …The references — of filth, disease, and primitiveness — are shot through with racial stereotypes and tropes.”Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow in law and policy at the Center for Immigration Studies and a former immigration judge, told “EWTN News Nightly” on June 25 that the ruling essentially solidifies that “no one has the ability to sue when the government decides it’s going to terminate TPS status.”He said the protected status is meant to provide temporary legal status for someone escaping a danger in their country. He said some protected designations “have been in place … for more than a quarter of a century,” even for “events that occurred decades ago” and are no longer impacting the country.The U.S. bishops had urged the government to extend protected status, including for Haitians, who are a majority Catholic community.“We are deeply concerned about the plight of our Haitian brothers and sisters living in the United States,” Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chair of the bishops’ committee on migration, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chair of the committee on international justice and peace, said in a joint statement in February.“There is simply no realistic opportunity for the safe and orderly return of people to Haiti at this time,” they said.Asylum seekers at the borderThe decision in Mullin v. Al Otro Lado dealt with the “metering” policy that started under former President Barack Obama and is being enforced by Trump, which the court ruled is a lawful policy.Under the policy, the government can limit the number of asylum claims it chooses to process in a day and can turn people away from entry into the country when they approach the southern border.The case centered on an asylum seeker’s right to apply for asylum when he or she “arrives in the United States.” The ruling, also authored by Alito, states that the right only applies when the person has already entered the country and it does not give legal protections for someone who is seeking entry into the country but has not yet been allowed in.“We begin by considering what the phrase ‘arrives in the United States’ means when used in everyday speech,” the ruling states. “That meaning is clear. A person arrives in a geographic location only when he enters it.”The ruling states that if Congress wanted to extend that right to anyone who approaches the border or seeks entry into the country, it would have written the law to clearly state that.Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissent, arguing that the ruling allows the executive branch to “circumvent … mandatory procedures by having U. S. immigration officers stand at the border and physically block noncitizens from setting a foot onto U. S. soil.”“Words … must be read in context and with attention to how they fit into the statute as a whole,” Sotomayor wrote. “The majority ignores the statutory context and history, not to mention the longstanding position of the Executive Branch, all of which show that any noncitizen arriving at our doorstep and seeking admission must be inspected and allowed to apply for asylum, regardless of whether her foot has crossed the threshold,” she said.Arthur told “EWTN News Nightly” that the decision essentially “narrows the ability of people who havenʼt actually entered the country … to apply for asylum.”“You’re not subject to United States law … until you’ve actually crossed into this country,” he said.The U.S. bishops petitioned the Supreme Court to rule against the policy and require the government to process all asylum claims.“The turnback policy is not just a flawed piece of statutory interpretation but an historical aberration — one that, during the period it was enforced, left vulnerable asylum seekers stranded in encampments on the border while lawfully trying to seek asylum at a port of entry,” the bishops wrote.The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the most significant immigration case before it, Trump v. Barbara, which will decide the extent of birthright citizenship in the United States.This story was updated at 1:50 p.m. ET on June 25, 2026 with further analysis and expert comment.
Read More

Supreme Court rules in favor of Trump’s asylum policies that bishops opposed – #Catholic – The U.S. Supreme Court on June 25 ruled in favor of President Donald Trump’s restrictive asylum policies that faced strong opposition from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and some other Catholic advocacy groups.One ruling allows the Department of Homeland Security to end “temporary protected status” for Haitians and Syrians, who can now be deported. The other allows the government to turn away asylum seekers at the southern border by limiting the number of claims they will process each day.Both cases were decided 6-3. All of the justices who sided with the majority were appointed by Republican presidents and each dissenting justice was appointed by Democratic presidents.Anna Gallagher, the executive director of Catholic Legal Immigration Network, said in a statement to EWTN News that both decisions are “devastating for our clients, and for those of us who accompany vulnerable immigrants through the legal system.”“As Catholics, we believe in a God who weeps for our suffering, who is concerned for the fall of the sparrow, for the least of these,” she said. “And so we, too, weep for our clients whose asylum rights are restricted or who fear return to immediate life-threatening conditions because of this court decision.” “We walk with them as legal advocates, seeing the injustice of our laws play out firsthand. We know that today is a dark day for many people we have come to know and care for — including legal residents of this country, beloved members of our community.”Protections for Haitians, Syrians goneThe Supreme Court decision in Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot, which were consolidated into one case, ensures that the government’s decision to terminate temporary protected status for Haitians and Syrians will be in effect. The ruling strips them of legal protections for work authorization and prevention from deportation.Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion, said that the law itself generally gives the government broad discretion in determining whether to approve, extend, or terminate protected status for a given country. The ruling found that all non-constitutional claims are not subject to judicial review.Haitians protected under the protected status argued that the policy terminations discriminated against people based on race. In its ruling the Supreme Court stated that both the protected designations and the terminations come from a racially diverse collection of countries.“They claim that TPS has not been terminated for any predominantly white nation, and they therefore infer that the reason for the termination of the TPS designation for Haiti was having a predominantly nonwhite population,” the opinion stated. The plaintiffs’ “definition of a predominantly non-white nation is broad, apparently encompassing major European countries,” the ruling said.“It may be that only the termination of a TPS designation for a Nordic or Germanic country would be sufficient in their judgment to show that the Secretary’s unbroken record of TPS terminations was race-neutral,” the decision added.Justice Elena Kagan, in her dissenting opinion, said she believes the court erred in ruling that all non-constitutional claims are barred from judicial review, arguing that the court should be able to determine whether the secretary followed the proper procedures in deciding to terminate protected status.She also argued that Trump’s comments show that race played a role in the decision to end the Haitian protected status designation.“The majority briefly replies that [his] remarks are not ‘overtly racial,’ … but it is hard to know what that means,” Kagan wrote. “Haitians are Black. …The references — of filth, disease, and primitiveness — are shot through with racial stereotypes and tropes.”Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow in law and policy at the Center for Immigration Studies and a former immigration judge, told “EWTN News Nightly” on June 25 that the ruling essentially solidifies that “no one has the ability to sue when the government decides it’s going to terminate TPS status.”He said the protected status is meant to provide temporary legal status for someone escaping a danger in their country. He said some protected designations “have been in place … for more than a quarter of a century,” even for “events that occurred decades ago” and are no longer impacting the country.The U.S. bishops had urged the government to extend protected status, including for Haitians, who are a majority Catholic community.“We are deeply concerned about the plight of our Haitian brothers and sisters living in the United States,” Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chair of the bishops’ committee on migration, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chair of the committee on international justice and peace, said in a joint statement in February.“There is simply no realistic opportunity for the safe and orderly return of people to Haiti at this time,” they said.Asylum seekers at the borderThe decision in Mullin v. Al Otro Lado dealt with the “metering” policy that started under former President Barack Obama and is being enforced by Trump, which the court ruled is a lawful policy.Under the policy, the government can limit the number of asylum claims it chooses to process in a day and can turn people away from entry into the country when they approach the southern border.The case centered on an asylum seeker’s right to apply for asylum when he or she “arrives in the United States.” The ruling, also authored by Alito, states that the right only applies when the person has already entered the country and it does not give legal protections for someone who is seeking entry into the country but has not yet been allowed in.“We begin by considering what the phrase ‘arrives in the United States’ means when used in everyday speech,” the ruling states. “That meaning is clear. A person arrives in a geographic location only when he enters it.”The ruling states that if Congress wanted to extend that right to anyone who approaches the border or seeks entry into the country, it would have written the law to clearly state that.Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissent, arguing that the ruling allows the executive branch to “circumvent … mandatory procedures by having U. S. immigration officers stand at the border and physically block noncitizens from setting a foot onto U. S. soil.”“Words … must be read in context and with attention to how they fit into the statute as a whole,” Sotomayor wrote. “The majority ignores the statutory context and history, not to mention the longstanding position of the Executive Branch, all of which show that any noncitizen arriving at our doorstep and seeking admission must be inspected and allowed to apply for asylum, regardless of whether her foot has crossed the threshold,” she said.Arthur told “EWTN News Nightly” that the decision essentially “narrows the ability of people who havenʼt actually entered the country … to apply for asylum.”“You’re not subject to United States law … until you’ve actually crossed into this country,” he said.The U.S. bishops petitioned the Supreme Court to rule against the policy and require the government to process all asylum claims.“The turnback policy is not just a flawed piece of statutory interpretation but an historical aberration — one that, during the period it was enforced, left vulnerable asylum seekers stranded in encampments on the border while lawfully trying to seek asylum at a port of entry,” the bishops wrote.The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the most significant immigration case before it, Trump v. Barbara, which will decide the extent of birthright citizenship in the United States.This story was updated at 1:50 p.m. ET on June 25, 2026 with further analysis and expert comment.

unitedyam

The policies allow the government to limit the number of asylum claims they process and terminate the temporary protected status of Haitians and Syrians.

Read More
Franciscan University professors urge SSPX to desist from schism – #Catholic – More than 20 professors at the Franciscan University of Steubenville are calling on the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) to not proceed with its planned consecration of bishops on July 1.“We write not as adversaries, but as fellow Christians who love the Church, which is built on Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and who, like you, long for the salvation of souls,” the professors wrote in an open letter to the SSPX, noting that if the group moves forward with the illicit consecrations, “it would cement and deepen the already existing separation between the Society and the See of Peter.”“Whatever legitimate questions or grievances may exist, they are no excuse to create a schism,” the letter’s signatories assert. The letter is signed by 26  faculty and staff, with university professors of theology constituting the majority of the signatories.  “The treasures of Catholic Tradition do not belong outside communion with Peter; they belong at the heart of the Church,” the letter continues. “A new episcopal ordination outside the ecclesial hierarchy without the Apostolic mandate would create a new wound in the Body of Christ and place the gifts that God has entrusted to the Society, which belong to the Church and are ordered towards unity with her (Lumen Gentium 8), outside of her maternal embrace.”“Please don’t do this,” the letter said. “Please don’t create this wound! Please, re-enter into dialogue with the Holy See and into full communion with the Church.”The letter comes after the SSPX announced it plans to consecrate four new bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, prompting Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican to warn that doing do without a papal mandate would constitute “a schismatic act” and carry the penalty of excommunication.“We have invited them, and I am still considering making another appeal, to say: ‘Do not do this. Let us try to live communion in the Church.’ But it is their choice. They must understand what it means for them and for the Church,” the pope said, responding to journalists’ questions outside Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo on June 16.Courage International priest says Pride Month events ‘inappropriate’ at Catholic collegesCourage International Associate Director Father Colin Blatchford has spoken out against Catholic colleges holding Pride Month events.In an interview with the Cardinal Newman Society, Blatchford said “it causes scandal” when a Catholic college encourages students to participate in events celebrating Pride Month in June.Courage International is a Catholic apostolate that ministers to individuals experiencing same-sex attraction and gender confusion.“When a Catholic college picks and chooses the theological or philosophical teachings of the Church that it will abide, it undermines that process,” Blatchford said. “Indeed, it hollows it out and provides merely an empty emotional shell where there should be a full abiding relationship with God.”“The anthropological underpinnings of ‘Pride Month’ include a dualistic view of the person and radical autonomy,” he said. “Each of the last four popes has spoken about the necessity of recognizing the dignity of the human person and that no one thing here on this earth can sufficiently define who we are, beyond ‘beloved child of God.’”Blatchford encouraged Catholic colleges to remember three things when encountering individuals with same-sex attraction: “First, communicate that they are loved. Second, let them know that even if it does not seem so now, God has a unique plan for their life. And finally, ask if they would be willing to share their story.”“We don’t have to agree on everything or approve of every action, but we walk together towards God. We are a group of imperfect people striving to grow closer to God, by means of His grace,” he said.
Read More

Franciscan University professors urge SSPX to desist from schism – #Catholic – More than 20 professors at the Franciscan University of Steubenville are calling on the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) to not proceed with its planned consecration of bishops on July 1.“We write not as adversaries, but as fellow Christians who love the Church, which is built on Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and who, like you, long for the salvation of souls,” the professors wrote in an open letter to the SSPX, noting that if the group moves forward with the illicit consecrations, “it would cement and deepen the already existing separation between the Society and the See of Peter.”“Whatever legitimate questions or grievances may exist, they are no excuse to create a schism,” the letter’s signatories assert. The letter is signed by 26  faculty and staff, with university professors of theology constituting the majority of the signatories.  “The treasures of Catholic Tradition do not belong outside communion with Peter; they belong at the heart of the Church,” the letter continues. “A new episcopal ordination outside the ecclesial hierarchy without the Apostolic mandate would create a new wound in the Body of Christ and place the gifts that God has entrusted to the Society, which belong to the Church and are ordered towards unity with her (Lumen Gentium 8), outside of her maternal embrace.”“Please don’t do this,” the letter said. “Please don’t create this wound! Please, re-enter into dialogue with the Holy See and into full communion with the Church.”The letter comes after the SSPX announced it plans to consecrate four new bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, prompting Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican to warn that doing do without a papal mandate would constitute “a schismatic act” and carry the penalty of excommunication.“We have invited them, and I am still considering making another appeal, to say: ‘Do not do this. Let us try to live communion in the Church.’ But it is their choice. They must understand what it means for them and for the Church,” the pope said, responding to journalists’ questions outside Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo on June 16.Courage International priest says Pride Month events ‘inappropriate’ at Catholic collegesCourage International Associate Director Father Colin Blatchford has spoken out against Catholic colleges holding Pride Month events.In an interview with the Cardinal Newman Society, Blatchford said “it causes scandal” when a Catholic college encourages students to participate in events celebrating Pride Month in June.Courage International is a Catholic apostolate that ministers to individuals experiencing same-sex attraction and gender confusion.“When a Catholic college picks and chooses the theological or philosophical teachings of the Church that it will abide, it undermines that process,” Blatchford said. “Indeed, it hollows it out and provides merely an empty emotional shell where there should be a full abiding relationship with God.”“The anthropological underpinnings of ‘Pride Month’ include a dualistic view of the person and radical autonomy,” he said. “Each of the last four popes has spoken about the necessity of recognizing the dignity of the human person and that no one thing here on this earth can sufficiently define who we are, beyond ‘beloved child of God.’”Blatchford encouraged Catholic colleges to remember three things when encountering individuals with same-sex attraction: “First, communicate that they are loved. Second, let them know that even if it does not seem so now, God has a unique plan for their life. And finally, ask if they would be willing to share their story.”“We don’t have to agree on everything or approve of every action, but we walk together towards God. We are a group of imperfect people striving to grow closer to God, by means of His grace,” he said.

unitedyam

Franciscan University professors call on SSPX to scrap consecration of bishops and a Courage International priest offers Catholic schools guidance on “Pride Month,” in this week’s education roundup.

Read More
Owensboro Bishop ends only Traditional Latin Mass in western Kentucky – #Catholic – The only weekly celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in western Kentucky will come to an end this weekend, following an order from Diocese of Owensboro Bishop William Medley, who says he is enforcing Pope Francis’ 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.Immaculate Conception Parish in Earlington — the oldest Catholic church in Hopkins County, established in 1886 — has offered the TLM for nearly a decade, and will have its final Mass in the extraordinary form at 12:30 p.m. CT on June 28.It is the only parish offering the TLM in the diocese, which covers the 32 westernmost counties in Kentucky. The closest options available will be east in the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; north in the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana; and south in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee.Penny Giardinella, administrative assistant for the small parish, told EWTN News the church is “pretty full” during the TLM, as it is during all Sunday Masses. She said a large portion of TLM worshipers travel from outside parish lines to attend.On May 18, the bishop sent a letter to the parish priest, Father David Kennedy, instructing him to halt all celebrations of the TLM after June 30. Although he initially secured a dispensation for the parish to continue its weekly celebration amid the 2021 Vatican restrictions, Medley did not seek an extension into the latter half of 2026.The issue, Medley said in his letter, is that he lacked standing to seek an extension because the parish did not submit a report to the bishop, which the Holy See required for an extension to be granted. The bishop said this requirement was based on his 2023 correspondence with the Holy See.The report, he wrote, needed to provide the TLM attendance and explain what steps were taken to lead the faithful toward the Novus Ordo Mass — the ordinary form of the liturgy adopted in 1969 by the Catholic Church in reforms following the Second Vatican Council.“As I am unable to demonstrate that this condition has been met, I have no standing to request an extension of the Holy See,” Medley wrote.Medley said the parish can instead celebrate the novus ordo Mass in accordance with the 1969 reforms in the Latin language and ad orientem, with the priest facing toward the tabernacle and away from the people.“I know in some dioceses, the faithful who have shown a preference for the Mass celebrated in Latin have accepted the Novus Ordo Mass celebrated in the Latin language,” Medley said.The bishop added that he postponed halting the Mass upon the death of Francis to see whether Pope Leo XIV would alter the restrictions. Because Leo has not — and because the January Consistory of the College of Cardinals explicitly opted not to review Traditionis Custodes — the bishop said he “felt obligated to act in accord with the direction of the Holy See.”“For the faithful who may object to this directive, you may certainly refer them to me, but please make clear that I am acting in accord with my promise to the pope, the Bishop of Rome,” Medley said. “I am grateful for your ministry to this small and unique community. And I assure you of my prayers for them and for you and I kindly ask that you all pray for me.”Rachel Hall, director of communications for the diocese, told EWTN News that “the parish will transition to the scheduled details in the correspondence” after June 30.“As the parish navigates this transition with their faithful pastor Father Kennedy, the diocese asks for prayers to the Holy Spirit in guidance, with unity and peace,” she said.Leo has not taken any official steps to amend Francis’s TLM restrictions, but has offered a conciliatory tone toward those attached to the older form of the liturgy.In March, Leo described liturgical divisions as a “painful wound” in a communication with French bishops, and encouraged solutions that allow “the generous inclusion” of Catholics who choose to worship at the TLM “in respect for the directions desired by the Second Vatican Council in matters of liturgy.”Last year, Leo approved Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke’s celebration of the TLM at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Read More

Owensboro Bishop ends only Traditional Latin Mass in western Kentucky – #Catholic – The only weekly celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in western Kentucky will come to an end this weekend, following an order from Diocese of Owensboro Bishop William Medley, who says he is enforcing Pope Francis’ 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.Immaculate Conception Parish in Earlington — the oldest Catholic church in Hopkins County, established in 1886 — has offered the TLM for nearly a decade, and will have its final Mass in the extraordinary form at 12:30 p.m. CT on June 28.It is the only parish offering the TLM in the diocese, which covers the 32 westernmost counties in Kentucky. The closest options available will be east in the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; north in the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana; and south in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee.Penny Giardinella, administrative assistant for the small parish, told EWTN News the church is “pretty full” during the TLM, as it is during all Sunday Masses. She said a large portion of TLM worshipers travel from outside parish lines to attend.On May 18, the bishop sent a letter to the parish priest, Father David Kennedy, instructing him to halt all celebrations of the TLM after June 30. Although he initially secured a dispensation for the parish to continue its weekly celebration amid the 2021 Vatican restrictions, Medley did not seek an extension into the latter half of 2026.The issue, Medley said in his letter, is that he lacked standing to seek an extension because the parish did not submit a report to the bishop, which the Holy See required for an extension to be granted. The bishop said this requirement was based on his 2023 correspondence with the Holy See.The report, he wrote, needed to provide the TLM attendance and explain what steps were taken to lead the faithful toward the Novus Ordo Mass — the ordinary form of the liturgy adopted in 1969 by the Catholic Church in reforms following the Second Vatican Council.“As I am unable to demonstrate that this condition has been met, I have no standing to request an extension of the Holy See,” Medley wrote.Medley said the parish can instead celebrate the novus ordo Mass in accordance with the 1969 reforms in the Latin language and ad orientem, with the priest facing toward the tabernacle and away from the people.“I know in some dioceses, the faithful who have shown a preference for the Mass celebrated in Latin have accepted the Novus Ordo Mass celebrated in the Latin language,” Medley said.The bishop added that he postponed halting the Mass upon the death of Francis to see whether Pope Leo XIV would alter the restrictions. Because Leo has not — and because the January Consistory of the College of Cardinals explicitly opted not to review Traditionis Custodes — the bishop said he “felt obligated to act in accord with the direction of the Holy See.”“For the faithful who may object to this directive, you may certainly refer them to me, but please make clear that I am acting in accord with my promise to the pope, the Bishop of Rome,” Medley said. “I am grateful for your ministry to this small and unique community. And I assure you of my prayers for them and for you and I kindly ask that you all pray for me.”Rachel Hall, director of communications for the diocese, told EWTN News that “the parish will transition to the scheduled details in the correspondence” after June 30.“As the parish navigates this transition with their faithful pastor Father Kennedy, the diocese asks for prayers to the Holy Spirit in guidance, with unity and peace,” she said.Leo has not taken any official steps to amend Francis’s TLM restrictions, but has offered a conciliatory tone toward those attached to the older form of the liturgy.In March, Leo described liturgical divisions as a “painful wound” in a communication with French bishops, and encouraged solutions that allow “the generous inclusion” of Catholics who choose to worship at the TLM “in respect for the directions desired by the Second Vatican Council in matters of liturgy.”Last year, Leo approved Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke’s celebration of the TLM at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

unitedyam

Bishop William Medley is halting the Traditional Latin Mass option in the diocese, but will allow the parish to offer the Novus Ordo Mass in Latin and ad orientem.

Read More
Padre Pio statue appears to weep blood in Italian parish – #Catholic – Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) parish in the small Italian town of Casalba has found itself in the media spotlight after a statue of St. Padre Pio appeared to show a tear of blood trickling down its face.The discovery was made in April, when a parishioner noticed an unusual detail on the face of the saint from Pietrelcina: A reddish tear, resembling blood, appeared to be falling from its left eye.The news quickly reached the parish priest, Father Girolamo Capuano, who went to the church to verify what had happened and attempt, without success, to clean off the stain. The statue of Padre Pio, which has stood at the entrance of this Italian church for two decades, has been removed for examination in order to determine the origin of the phenomenon.Speaking to Mediaset Italia’s program Mattino Cinque, Capuano urged prudence and emphasized that bringing the matter to public attention to clarify the facts “does not stem from any desire for popularity.”Furthermore, he insisted that such “signs” are “given to all so that they may be shared with prudence, love, and discernment,” while also stating that they should be made known “because many people begin a journey of faith” through them.The Italian priest, who verified via security cameras that no one had tampered with the statue, reiterated that in his view, it is “an authentic sign that comes from God,” although he asked people to wait for the necessary verification.“What convinces me the most is that we have a camera monitoring the statue day and night for more than 10 years. I have personally reviewed all the footage from April 1st to the 30th. The tear appeared on the 18th, or at least that was when we saw it. No one approached the statue, either by day or by night, to do anything to it. That reinforces my personal conviction and my faith in Padre Pio,” he said.The priest noted several striking elements: “The statue is made of fiberglass, and the reddish color of the tear raises questions. Furthermore, the path of the tear is so perfect that not even a painter like Michelangelo could reproduce something like it.”Regardless of the investigationʼs findings, which must determine whether the stain contains hemoglobin or another substance, Capuano insists that “they cannot take our faith away from us.”In 2015, a reported case of an image of the Virgin Mary weeping circulated in the same town, although investigations concluded that the phenomenon was caused by rainwater seepage.In accordance with the Vatican’s Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena, the bishop of the Diocese of Capua, Pietro Lagnese, will lead the preliminary investigation before submitting the findings to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF).According to these norms, published by the Vatican in 2024, it is up to diocesan bishop to examine cases in dialogue with his corresponding bishops’ conference and under the supervision of the DDF.Once the facts have been investigated, the bishop must send the results to the dicastery, which analyzes both the material received and the procedure followed by the prelate. Until the DDF issues a definitive judgment, the bishop “will refrain from any public declaration regarding the authenticity or supernaturality of these phenomena.” 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.
Read More

Padre Pio statue appears to weep blood in Italian parish – #Catholic – Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) parish in the small Italian town of Casalba has found itself in the media spotlight after a statue of St. Padre Pio appeared to show a tear of blood trickling down its face.The discovery was made in April, when a parishioner noticed an unusual detail on the face of the saint from Pietrelcina: A reddish tear, resembling blood, appeared to be falling from its left eye.The news quickly reached the parish priest, Father Girolamo Capuano, who went to the church to verify what had happened and attempt, without success, to clean off the stain. The statue of Padre Pio, which has stood at the entrance of this Italian church for two decades, has been removed for examination in order to determine the origin of the phenomenon.Speaking to Mediaset Italia’s program Mattino Cinque, Capuano urged prudence and emphasized that bringing the matter to public attention to clarify the facts “does not stem from any desire for popularity.”Furthermore, he insisted that such “signs” are “given to all so that they may be shared with prudence, love, and discernment,” while also stating that they should be made known “because many people begin a journey of faith” through them.The Italian priest, who verified via security cameras that no one had tampered with the statue, reiterated that in his view, it is “an authentic sign that comes from God,” although he asked people to wait for the necessary verification.“What convinces me the most is that we have a camera monitoring the statue day and night for more than 10 years. I have personally reviewed all the footage from April 1st to the 30th. The tear appeared on the 18th, or at least that was when we saw it. No one approached the statue, either by day or by night, to do anything to it. That reinforces my personal conviction and my faith in Padre Pio,” he said.The priest noted several striking elements: “The statue is made of fiberglass, and the reddish color of the tear raises questions. Furthermore, the path of the tear is so perfect that not even a painter like Michelangelo could reproduce something like it.”Regardless of the investigationʼs findings, which must determine whether the stain contains hemoglobin or another substance, Capuano insists that “they cannot take our faith away from us.”In 2015, a reported case of an image of the Virgin Mary weeping circulated in the same town, although investigations concluded that the phenomenon was caused by rainwater seepage.In accordance with the Vatican’s Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena, the bishop of the Diocese of Capua, Pietro Lagnese, will lead the preliminary investigation before submitting the findings to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF).According to these norms, published by the Vatican in 2024, it is up to diocesan bishop to examine cases in dialogue with his corresponding bishops’ conference and under the supervision of the DDF.Once the facts have been investigated, the bishop must send the results to the dicastery, which analyzes both the material received and the procedure followed by the prelate. Until the DDF issues a definitive judgment, the bishop “will refrain from any public declaration regarding the authenticity or supernaturality of these phenomena.” 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.

unitedyam

A statue of Padre Pio in Italy has allegedly shed a tear of blood. The parish priest believes the phenomenon to be real, but the Church must investigate and verify.

Read More
Bishop Baldacchino to climb Mount Cristo Rey as the government moves to seize diocesan land – #Catholic – Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, New Mexico, will climb Mount Cristo Rey and celebrate Mass at the mountain’s peak as the government moves to seize the diocesan land for border fencing.The Diocese of Las Cruces “is currently the subject of an application by the United States government to exercise eminent domain over diocesan land situated on Mount Cristo Rey,” Baldacchino wrote in a letter.Mount Cristo Rey is a prominent mountain in Sunland Park, New Mexico, overlooking the Texas and Mexico borders. The mountain is home to a 29-foot-tall statue of Christ and a shrine.“At this site, Christ the King, with open arms, rises above two countries,” Baldacchino said. “Since the sites’ founding nearly a century ago, many have come together in devotion and journeyed to the top of this mountain seeking Him and offering prayers of thanksgiving and hope.”As the dispute remains ongoing, Baldacchino and Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso are inviting the faithful “to join in prayer and pilgrimage” by climbing the mountain and celebrating Mass on June 28. Bishop Peter Baldacchino celebrates Mass on Holy Thursday after lifting the diocesan ban on public Masses when the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the U.S. in 2020. | Credit: Photo courtesy of David McNamara/Diocese of Las Cruces “Our government is within its rights to secure its border, however, our Diocese is defending itself against the means by which the government now seeks to do so,” Baldacchino said.The government is trying to seize the diocesan property “to construct, install, operate, and maintain…structures designed to help secure the United States/Mexico border within the state of New Mexico,” according to a civil action filed by the federal government in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.The Diocese of Las Cruces had asked a district court to block the deposit of the funds while it fights the governmentʼs attempts, but on June 15, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Gonzales ruled the government could deposit the 3,071 to “allow for the safekeeping of funds pending resolution” of the dispute. This is not a matter of politics, but a matter of preserving and defending a sanctuary and devotion which has brought many people in our community to God.” Peter BaldacchinoBishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico “This is not a matter of politics, but a matter of preserving and defending a sanctuary and devotion which has brought many people in our community to God,” he said. “The spiritual value of this site cannot be compromised by politics or financial gain.”“I look forward to being with you all on June 28, 2026, as we pray for the Dioceses of Las Cruces and El Paso, and for our government and its leaders,” Baldacchino wrote.
Read More

Bishop Baldacchino to climb Mount Cristo Rey as the government moves to seize diocesan land – #Catholic – Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, New Mexico, will climb Mount Cristo Rey and celebrate Mass at the mountain’s peak as the government moves to seize the diocesan land for border fencing.The Diocese of Las Cruces “is currently the subject of an application by the United States government to exercise eminent domain over diocesan land situated on Mount Cristo Rey,” Baldacchino wrote in a letter.Mount Cristo Rey is a prominent mountain in Sunland Park, New Mexico, overlooking the Texas and Mexico borders. The mountain is home to a 29-foot-tall statue of Christ and a shrine.“At this site, Christ the King, with open arms, rises above two countries,” Baldacchino said. “Since the sites’ founding nearly a century ago, many have come together in devotion and journeyed to the top of this mountain seeking Him and offering prayers of thanksgiving and hope.”As the dispute remains ongoing, Baldacchino and Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso are inviting the faithful “to join in prayer and pilgrimage” by climbing the mountain and celebrating Mass on June 28. Bishop Peter Baldacchino celebrates Mass on Holy Thursday after lifting the diocesan ban on public Masses when the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the U.S. in 2020. | Credit: Photo courtesy of David McNamara/Diocese of Las Cruces “Our government is within its rights to secure its border, however, our Diocese is defending itself against the means by which the government now seeks to do so,” Baldacchino said.The government is trying to seize the diocesan property “to construct, install, operate, and maintain…structures designed to help secure the United States/Mexico border within the state of New Mexico,” according to a civil action filed by the federal government in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.The Diocese of Las Cruces had asked a district court to block the deposit of the funds while it fights the governmentʼs attempts, but on June 15, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Gonzales ruled the government could deposit the $183,071 to “allow for the safekeeping of funds pending resolution” of the dispute. This is not a matter of politics, but a matter of preserving and defending a sanctuary and devotion which has brought many people in our community to God.” Peter BaldacchinoBishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico “This is not a matter of politics, but a matter of preserving and defending a sanctuary and devotion which has brought many people in our community to God,” he said. “The spiritual value of this site cannot be compromised by politics or financial gain.”“I look forward to being with you all on June 28, 2026, as we pray for the Dioceses of Las Cruces and El Paso, and for our government and its leaders,” Baldacchino wrote.

unitedyam

The federal government is seeking to seize land from the Las Cruces Diocese for 1.5 miles of border wall, a move the diocese says would desecrate a sacred site and impede religious practice.

Read More
African bishops lead ‘Peace University’ effort to train future leaders in terror-plagued region – #Catholic – Catholic bishops from West Africa are leading an international effort to develop the Sahel Peace University — a prospective higher education institution to train future leaders in addressing the scourge of terrorism and violence in the region.The proposed university is borne out of the broader Sahel Peace Initiative, an interfaith advocacy organization working toward peacebuilding in the region. The Sahel is the region sitting directly below the Sahara desert, representing the northernmost part of Sub-Saharan Africa.According to a concept proposal provided to EWTN News, the initiative is led by the Catholic bishops conferences in Burkina Faso and Niger. Christians are the minority in both countries, representing slightly more than one-fourth of Burkina Faso and about 1% of Niger. Traditional African religions also represent a minority, while Islam is the most practiced religion.“While we will envision solutions like buildings and programs, the goal is to foster a robust population engaged in problem solving and developing a sustainable peace in the Sahel,” the proposal states.Although led by Catholics, the bishops also partner with Muslim clerics and leaders of traditional African faith communities. The proposal notes the university will be grounded in Catholic social teaching, and open to everyone, and expressed a commitment to work with interfaith partners, especially the Muslim community.“The [university] will serve as a regional hub for peacebuilding, governance research, trauma healing, and community resilience, equipping leaders and communities to address the Sahel’s most urgent challenges,” it adds.The bishops hope to headquarter the university in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. It will be African- and Catholic-led, but the bishops are looking for international support, including from the United States.“While the physical requirements include buildings and materials, these are merely tools for the emerging leaders to cultivate a new group of younger and empowered people of all faiths working collaboratively towards the shared goal of lasting peace,” it states.Burkina Faso bishops seek solidarityBishops from Burkina Faso have met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome and have offered information to the U.S. State Department in a recent trip to the United States, hoping to spread awareness about problems in the Sahel and to garner more support for their peace efforts.Two of the bishops — Archbishop Laurent Dabire, archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso, and Bishop Alexandre Bazie, auxiliary bishop of Koudougou and head of the Burkina Faso-Niger bishops’ delegation — spoke with EWTN News about the situation on the ground and efforts to gain support for the university.The bishops spoke in French through a translator, Father Barthelemy Bazemo.Dabire said he told Leo the bishops have been trying to raise awareness about problems in the region for a long time. He said people globally are aware of the conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza, but often Africa and the Sahel are overlooked.President Donald Trump coordinated with the Nigerian government to strike terrorists in Nigeria — a country in the Sahel, east of Burkina Faso — amid rampant violence, killings, and terrorism that has disproportionately targeted Christians, but also victimized many Muslims and followers of traditional African religions.Bazie said the U.S. has coordinated with Burkina Faso on separate issues, such as health initiatives, but the terrorism problem has not drawn as much attention from the administration when compared to Nigeria.He said the violence in Burkina Faso is not one-sided against Christians, but that terrorists target both churches and mosques, and both Christian and Muslim clerics. He warned the people of Burkina Faso, however, cannot afford to wait until the situation reaches the level of Nigeria.According to a 2025 report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) about the Sahel countries, Burkina Faso has “one of the world’s highest rates of civilian attacks and fatalities from insurgent violence.”It cites actions from violent insurgent groups, including a February 2024 attack by the Islamic State – Sahel Province that killed 12 worshipers at a Catholic Church in Essakane. There was another attack that month on a mosque that killed dozens of people, along with numerous attacks on villages by bandits and insurgents. These attacks have targeted both Christians and Muslims.In addition to murders, attacks have included kidnappings of priests, religious sisters, imams, and other Christian and Muslim civilians.“As a result of brutal killings — thousands [have been] killed — there [are] many [in the] community being impacted [and] it takes education,” Bazie said. “It takes several years of training to get people into the [right] mindset, even if we have different solutions.”Bazie noted that the Church has been working to improve the region through construction of schools and hospitals and other forms of economic development, but that additional support from outside partners can help the region further.“With limited resources, [we’re] trying to do [our] best,” he said. “But now coming here is to ask for support in what’s already being done.”
Read More

African bishops lead ‘Peace University’ effort to train future leaders in terror-plagued region – #Catholic – Catholic bishops from West Africa are leading an international effort to develop the Sahel Peace University — a prospective higher education institution to train future leaders in addressing the scourge of terrorism and violence in the region.The proposed university is borne out of the broader Sahel Peace Initiative, an interfaith advocacy organization working toward peacebuilding in the region. The Sahel is the region sitting directly below the Sahara desert, representing the northernmost part of Sub-Saharan Africa.According to a concept proposal provided to EWTN News, the initiative is led by the Catholic bishops conferences in Burkina Faso and Niger. Christians are the minority in both countries, representing slightly more than one-fourth of Burkina Faso and about 1% of Niger. Traditional African religions also represent a minority, while Islam is the most practiced religion.“While we will envision solutions like buildings and programs, the goal is to foster a robust population engaged in problem solving and developing a sustainable peace in the Sahel,” the proposal states.Although led by Catholics, the bishops also partner with Muslim clerics and leaders of traditional African faith communities. The proposal notes the university will be grounded in Catholic social teaching, and open to everyone, and expressed a commitment to work with interfaith partners, especially the Muslim community.“The [university] will serve as a regional hub for peacebuilding, governance research, trauma healing, and community resilience, equipping leaders and communities to address the Sahel’s most urgent challenges,” it adds.The bishops hope to headquarter the university in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. It will be African- and Catholic-led, but the bishops are looking for international support, including from the United States.“While the physical requirements include buildings and materials, these are merely tools for the emerging leaders to cultivate a new group of younger and empowered people of all faiths working collaboratively towards the shared goal of lasting peace,” it states.Burkina Faso bishops seek solidarityBishops from Burkina Faso have met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome and have offered information to the U.S. State Department in a recent trip to the United States, hoping to spread awareness about problems in the Sahel and to garner more support for their peace efforts.Two of the bishops — Archbishop Laurent Dabire, archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso, and Bishop Alexandre Bazie, auxiliary bishop of Koudougou and head of the Burkina Faso-Niger bishops’ delegation — spoke with EWTN News about the situation on the ground and efforts to gain support for the university.The bishops spoke in French through a translator, Father Barthelemy Bazemo.Dabire said he told Leo the bishops have been trying to raise awareness about problems in the region for a long time. He said people globally are aware of the conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza, but often Africa and the Sahel are overlooked.President Donald Trump coordinated with the Nigerian government to strike terrorists in Nigeria — a country in the Sahel, east of Burkina Faso — amid rampant violence, killings, and terrorism that has disproportionately targeted Christians, but also victimized many Muslims and followers of traditional African religions.Bazie said the U.S. has coordinated with Burkina Faso on separate issues, such as health initiatives, but the terrorism problem has not drawn as much attention from the administration when compared to Nigeria.He said the violence in Burkina Faso is not one-sided against Christians, but that terrorists target both churches and mosques, and both Christian and Muslim clerics. He warned the people of Burkina Faso, however, cannot afford to wait until the situation reaches the level of Nigeria.According to a 2025 report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) about the Sahel countries, Burkina Faso has “one of the world’s highest rates of civilian attacks and fatalities from insurgent violence.”It cites actions from violent insurgent groups, including a February 2024 attack by the Islamic State – Sahel Province that killed 12 worshipers at a Catholic Church in Essakane. There was another attack that month on a mosque that killed dozens of people, along with numerous attacks on villages by bandits and insurgents. These attacks have targeted both Christians and Muslims.In addition to murders, attacks have included kidnappings of priests, religious sisters, imams, and other Christian and Muslim civilians.“As a result of brutal killings — thousands [have been] killed — there [are] many [in the] community being impacted [and] it takes education,” Bazie said. “It takes several years of training to get people into the [right] mindset, even if we have different solutions.”Bazie noted that the Church has been working to improve the region through construction of schools and hospitals and other forms of economic development, but that additional support from outside partners can help the region further.“With limited resources, [we’re] trying to do [our] best,” he said. “But now coming here is to ask for support in what’s already being done.”

unitedyam

Two bishops from Burkina Faso spoke about efforts to gain international support for the university, which they said they hope can be part of the solution to the terrorism and violence.

Read More
Catholic group asks Pope Leo to clarify Church's stance on Israel - #Catholic - Catholic Voices for Israel is asking Pope Leo XIV to clarify the Church’s position on Zionism and the modern state of Israel.In an open letter addressed to Pope Leo on June 22, the group’s co-founders André Villeneuve and Father Antoine Lévy, OP, are asking the Holy Father to answer the question, “Should Catholics interpret the creation and enduring existence of the State of Israel as a sign of God’s providence — or should they not?” Sacred Heart Major Seminary professor André Villeneuve is co-founder of Catholic Voices for Israel | Credit: Courtesy of André Villeneuve While the pair note that “the Church’s reticence to pronounce on the theological meaning of the State of Israel has served a real purpose,” they proceed to express concerns over “a number of Catholic commentators” who they contend “have interpreted this silence as a formal dismissal of the very possibility of ascribing any theological resonance to the founding of the State of Israel and to its enduring existence.”“The Church’s silence regarding Israel’s right to exist — the reluctance to go beyond mere political recognition, on a par with that extended to the still inchoate State of Palestine (2013) — gives ground to all those Catholic voices that wish to lend this campaign of denigration the authority of the Church’s own name,” the letter manifests.Villeneuve and Lévy argue that “the ‘theological silence’ that has prevailed until now would risk doing more harm to the Church’s witness than the prudence it was meant to preserve.”‘For Zion’s Sake’Villeneuve and Lévy’s letter to Pope Leo comes as part of an effort by Catholic Voices for Israel to make “a biblically grounded, theologically informed case for Catholic solidarity with Israel.” In its founding statement, “For Zion’s Sake: A Catholic Appeal in Support of Israel,” the recently formed Catholic Voices for Israel (CVFI) calls for Catholic Zionism to be understood as “supporting the Jewish people’s right to self‑determination in their ancient, biblical homeland; acknowledging God’s love for Zion and his promise of the land in Scripture; recognizing that these promises were never revoked in the New Testament; and remaining open to seeing the work of divine providence in Israel’s return to the land — a possibility the Church has not foreclosed.”Since launching CVFI last month, “For Zion’s Sake” has garnered 165 signatories, including prominent names such as Gavin DʼCosta of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and Jennifer Bryson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.Addressing the question of his motivation for helping to spearhead the initiative, Villeneuve, an associate professor of Old Testament and biblical languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, told EWTN News that Catholic antisemitism has “become much more prevalent” since Oct. 7, 2023 on two levels: the political level and the theological and biblical level.“All the prophets consistently reaffirm Godʼs covenant with Israel and his promises that he will return them back to their land. So why arenʼt Catholics taking that seriously?” Villeneuve said. “As if this is just an evangelical, dispensationalist-type of idea, when Scripture is really quite clear about it? These promises and prophecies are never abolished in the New Testament.”One of the four “Guiding Principles” in CVFI’s Charter asserts the importance of the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the modern State of Israel, quoting Pope Benedict XVI who said in a 2018 letter to Rabbi Arie Folger that "it is not difficult, I believe, to see in the creation of the State of Israel the fidelity of God to Israel is revealed in a mysterious way.”While Villeneuve and the Charter both make the case for a Catholic Zionism and recognition of biblical significance for the modern state of Israel, other Catholic public intellectuals argue that the lack of official teaching leaves room for Catholics to disagree or form alternate opinions.Indeed, in the same 2018 letter to Rabbi Folger, Benedict XVI says “the state of Israel cannot be seen to theologically represent fulfillment of the Land promise, but rather as a secular state which of course has religious foundations.”Outside perspectives on the effort“The Charter is strongest when it grounds itself in truths the Church has clearly affirmed,” Simone Rizkallah, manager of Jewish-Christian Partnerships at the Tikvah Fund, told EWTN News. Simone Rizkallah is manager of Jewish-Christian Partnerships at the Tikvah Fund. | Credit: Courtesy of The Given Institute “Where the Charter moves beyond settled doctrine is in its attempt to reflect on the theological significance of the modern State of Israel,” she said, explaining that the Catholic Church has never taught that the modern State of Israel was biblically prophesied, nor rejected the idea that “the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland might bear theological significance in light of Godʼs enduring fidelity to the Jewish people.”“On these questions there remains room for legitimate theological exploration and debate among Catholics,” Rizkallah, who is not a signatory to the Charter, said.In addition, Rizkallah pointed to the perspective of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in his framing of the issue: “[Pizzaballa] put his finger on an important aspect of the discussion when he observed: "While Europeans primarily view Israel as a state, for Jews it is much more than that.”“Too often Catholics discuss Israel exclusively as a political entity without adequately appreciating the religious, historical, and covenantal significance that the Land of Israel holds within the Jewish self-understanding,” she said. “Recognizing that reality does not require agreement with every policy of the Israeli government, but it does require taking Jewish self-understanding seriously.”Rizkallah, who is also a founding member of the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism, said she welcomed the charter’s rejection of dispensationalism, dual-covenant theology, political absolutism, and the notion that Israel should be exempt from moral scrutiny. She further praised the document’s acknowledgement of the dignity and concerns of Palestinians and local Christians.“One reason I believe this conversation is so important is that, despite the tremendous progress in Catholic-Jewish relations since Nostra Aetate, there are signs that certain anti-Jewish attitudes are reappearing within parts of Catholic discourse,” she said. “I do not mean that large numbers of Catholics are racial antisemites, nor do I mean that the Churchʼs official teaching has changed. On the contrary, the Churchʼs teaching on the Jewish people remains one of the great achievements of the post-conciliar era.”“The challenge facing Catholics today is not only to reject overt antisemitism, but also to ensure that our theological, political, and moral judgments are shaped by what the Church actually teaches about the Jewish people,” Rizkallah pointed out.A ‘work of God’For his part, David Moss, longtime president of the Association of Hebrew Catholics in the U.S., praised CVFI’s initiative.
Read More

Catholic group asks Pope Leo to clarify Church’s stance on Israel – #Catholic – Catholic Voices for Israel is asking Pope Leo XIV to clarify the Church’s position on Zionism and the modern state of Israel.In an open letter addressed to Pope Leo on June 22, the group’s co-founders André Villeneuve and Father Antoine Lévy, OP, are asking the Holy Father to answer the question, “Should Catholics interpret the creation and enduring existence of the State of Israel as a sign of God’s providence — or should they not?” Sacred Heart Major Seminary professor André Villeneuve is co-founder of Catholic Voices for Israel | Credit: Courtesy of André Villeneuve While the pair note that “the Church’s reticence to pronounce on the theological meaning of the State of Israel has served a real purpose,” they proceed to express concerns over “a number of Catholic commentators” who they contend “have interpreted this silence as a formal dismissal of the very possibility of ascribing any theological resonance to the founding of the State of Israel and to its enduring existence.”“The Church’s silence regarding Israel’s right to exist — the reluctance to go beyond mere political recognition, on a par with that extended to the still inchoate State of Palestine (2013) — gives ground to all those Catholic voices that wish to lend this campaign of denigration the authority of the Church’s own name,” the letter manifests.Villeneuve and Lévy argue that “the ‘theological silence’ that has prevailed until now would risk doing more harm to the Church’s witness than the prudence it was meant to preserve.”‘For Zion’s Sake’Villeneuve and Lévy’s letter to Pope Leo comes as part of an effort by Catholic Voices for Israel to make “a biblically grounded, theologically informed case for Catholic solidarity with Israel.” In its founding statement, “For Zion’s Sake: A Catholic Appeal in Support of Israel,” the recently formed Catholic Voices for Israel (CVFI) calls for Catholic Zionism to be understood as “supporting the Jewish people’s right to self‑determination in their ancient, biblical homeland; acknowledging God’s love for Zion and his promise of the land in Scripture; recognizing that these promises were never revoked in the New Testament; and remaining open to seeing the work of divine providence in Israel’s return to the land — a possibility the Church has not foreclosed.”Since launching CVFI last month, “For Zion’s Sake” has garnered 165 signatories, including prominent names such as Gavin DʼCosta of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and Jennifer Bryson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.Addressing the question of his motivation for helping to spearhead the initiative, Villeneuve, an associate professor of Old Testament and biblical languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, told EWTN News that Catholic antisemitism has “become much more prevalent” since Oct. 7, 2023 on two levels: the political level and the theological and biblical level.“All the prophets consistently reaffirm Godʼs covenant with Israel and his promises that he will return them back to their land. So why arenʼt Catholics taking that seriously?” Villeneuve said. “As if this is just an evangelical, dispensationalist-type of idea, when Scripture is really quite clear about it? These promises and prophecies are never abolished in the New Testament.”One of the four “Guiding Principles” in CVFI’s Charter asserts the importance of the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the modern State of Israel, quoting Pope Benedict XVI who said in a 2018 letter to Rabbi Arie Folger that "it is not difficult, I believe, to see in the creation of the State of Israel the fidelity of God to Israel is revealed in a mysterious way.”While Villeneuve and the Charter both make the case for a Catholic Zionism and recognition of biblical significance for the modern state of Israel, other Catholic public intellectuals argue that the lack of official teaching leaves room for Catholics to disagree or form alternate opinions.Indeed, in the same 2018 letter to Rabbi Folger, Benedict XVI says “the state of Israel cannot be seen to theologically represent fulfillment of the Land promise, but rather as a secular state which of course has religious foundations.”Outside perspectives on the effort“The Charter is strongest when it grounds itself in truths the Church has clearly affirmed,” Simone Rizkallah, manager of Jewish-Christian Partnerships at the Tikvah Fund, told EWTN News. Simone Rizkallah is manager of Jewish-Christian Partnerships at the Tikvah Fund. | Credit: Courtesy of The Given Institute “Where the Charter moves beyond settled doctrine is in its attempt to reflect on the theological significance of the modern State of Israel,” she said, explaining that the Catholic Church has never taught that the modern State of Israel was biblically prophesied, nor rejected the idea that “the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland might bear theological significance in light of Godʼs enduring fidelity to the Jewish people.”“On these questions there remains room for legitimate theological exploration and debate among Catholics,” Rizkallah, who is not a signatory to the Charter, said.In addition, Rizkallah pointed to the perspective of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in his framing of the issue: “[Pizzaballa] put his finger on an important aspect of the discussion when he observed: "While Europeans primarily view Israel as a state, for Jews it is much more than that.”“Too often Catholics discuss Israel exclusively as a political entity without adequately appreciating the religious, historical, and covenantal significance that the Land of Israel holds within the Jewish self-understanding,” she said. “Recognizing that reality does not require agreement with every policy of the Israeli government, but it does require taking Jewish self-understanding seriously.”Rizkallah, who is also a founding member of the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism, said she welcomed the charter’s rejection of dispensationalism, dual-covenant theology, political absolutism, and the notion that Israel should be exempt from moral scrutiny. She further praised the document’s acknowledgement of the dignity and concerns of Palestinians and local Christians.“One reason I believe this conversation is so important is that, despite the tremendous progress in Catholic-Jewish relations since Nostra Aetate, there are signs that certain anti-Jewish attitudes are reappearing within parts of Catholic discourse,” she said. “I do not mean that large numbers of Catholics are racial antisemites, nor do I mean that the Churchʼs official teaching has changed. On the contrary, the Churchʼs teaching on the Jewish people remains one of the great achievements of the post-conciliar era.”“The challenge facing Catholics today is not only to reject overt antisemitism, but also to ensure that our theological, political, and moral judgments are shaped by what the Church actually teaches about the Jewish people,” Rizkallah pointed out.A ‘work of God’For his part, David Moss, longtime president of the Association of Hebrew Catholics in the U.S., praised CVFI’s initiative.

unitedyam

“Should Catholics interpret the creation and enduring existence of the State of Israel as a sign of God’s providence — or should they not?” Catholic Voices for Israel asks Pope Leo in an open letter.

Read More
EWTN wins more than 75 awards at 2026 Catholic Media Awards – #Catholic – The EWTN Global Catholic Network received widespread recognition at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, including 30 first-place awards across its many divisions: EWTN Digital, EWTN Studios, EWTN Publishing, and EWTN News.EWTN’s top awards reflected the network’s comprehensive coverage of major events in the life of the Catholic Church around the world, including reporting on the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Leo XIV, and the lives of persecuted Christians.The awards were announced at the conclusion of the 2026 Catholic Media Conference, held June 16–19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.The awards recognize outstanding work produced in 2025 across EWTN’s  multimedia platforms; from social media and video production to book and newspaper publishing, photography, advertising, and English and Spanish language journalism — showcasing the network’s continued innovation, creativity, and commitment to excellence in service of the Church.“These honors reflect the extraordinary dedication of our teams across television, radio, digital, print, and news media, who work every day to create opportunities for people around the world to encounter Jesus Christ and His Church,” said Michael Warsaw, chairman of the board and CEO of EWTN. “As the media landscape continues to evolve, EWTN remains committed to meeting audiences wherever they are, through both traditional and emerging platforms, ensuring that the truth of the Gospel and the Real Presence of Christ are accessible to the faithful and to those who may be encountering Him for the first time,” Warsaw added.EWTN’s papal photographer, Daniel Ibáñez, was named Photographer of the Year. In awarding the distinction, CMA’s judges noted that in the work of Ibáñez “each photo is thoughtfully framed and immediately connects with the audience.” Meanwhile, EWTN Digital’s Debbie Cowden was named Social Media Professional of the Year for her “strong, innovative, and enterprising content.” The EWTN News special report in English and in Spanish, “Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?,” won first place in the category of Best Video — Hot Topic — Pope Francis. Judges called the report “one of the strongest entries in this year’s awards” and “a must watch.” EWTN News’ live coverage of the election of Pope Leo XIV, “Living the Moment After the Habemus Papam, from St. Peter’s Square,” received the top award in the category of Best Use of Live Video in Social Media. The network’s coverage of the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), which featured Pope Leo XIV’s historic first digital encounter with young U.S. Catholics, earned two first-place awards, for Best Multimedia Package — News and Best Social Media Campaign — General Interest.From EWTN Publishing, “Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope” by Dr. Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTN News, received second place recognition.At the prestigious Gabriel Awards, which includes competition with both secular and religious media, EWTN Studios’ romantic-comedy streaming series “James the Less” won first place for Best Video for Digital Media for its second season. The show previously won best video for its first season in 2024.EWTN News also secured first place in Single News Story for the documentary  “Christians Fight To Survive: ISIS in Iraq,” which has garnered over a million views on YouTube alone.The National Catholic Register earned 17 total awards, including 10 first-place honors, and once again received the top distinction as Best Catholic Newspaper, the sixth such recognition in the last decade. The publication also won first place for its reporting on the Jubilee Year and on emerging Catholic population hubs across the United States. The National Catholic Register won Best Newspaper for the sixth time in the last decade at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 19, 2026. | Credit: Ken Oliver-Méndez/EWTN News The network achieved an exceptional sweep in Best Video — Feature (Radio, TV and Film Company), taking first, second, third and honorable mention for its videos “From Mohammed to Jesus: The Nikki Kingsley Story,” “John Paul II: Twenty Years Later,” “Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Navajo Nation,” and “Mother Angelica Witness to Providence Award: Doug Keck.”Similarly, EWTN News captured first, second, and third place in two categories, Best Video — Personality Profile and Best Video — Pro-life Activities (Radio, TV and Film Company). The winning personality profile videos included “Judge Frank Caprio on His Fight Against Terminal Cancer & His Catholic Faith,” “Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?,” and “North Pole in New Jersey? This Man Has Been Santa for 60 Years.”The best-in-class pro-life videos were for EWTN’s “Canada: Preserving the Life of a Nation,” “Flash Mob Against Euthanasia,” and “National Celebrate Life Rally.”The EWTN News Spanish-language service, ACI Prensa, also took home numerous recognitions with 10 awards, including four first place wins.“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by our peers for excellence in Catholic journalism and storytelling,” said Montse Alvarado, president and COO of EWTN News. “The past year marked a defining moment not only for EWTN News but for the global Church, as we helped audiences navigate the historic passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.”“Those extraordinary events challenged us to innovate, deepen our coverage, and create new ways of reaching people with meaningful, faith-filled content at a moment when the world was watching,” she said. Now in its 45th year, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. The network’s 11 global TV channels and numerous regional channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 160 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 600 domestic and international AM and FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the most visited Catholic websites in the U.S.; EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division; and EWTN News, its global, multilingual news service.Unknown block type “cdn77.asset”, specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Read More

EWTN wins more than 75 awards at 2026 Catholic Media Awards – #Catholic – The EWTN Global Catholic Network received widespread recognition at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, including 30 first-place awards across its many divisions: EWTN Digital, EWTN Studios, EWTN Publishing, and EWTN News.EWTN’s top awards reflected the network’s comprehensive coverage of major events in the life of the Catholic Church around the world, including reporting on the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Leo XIV, and the lives of persecuted Christians.The awards were announced at the conclusion of the 2026 Catholic Media Conference, held June 16–19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.The awards recognize outstanding work produced in 2025 across EWTN’s  multimedia platforms; from social media and video production to book and newspaper publishing, photography, advertising, and English and Spanish language journalism — showcasing the network’s continued innovation, creativity, and commitment to excellence in service of the Church.“These honors reflect the extraordinary dedication of our teams across television, radio, digital, print, and news media, who work every day to create opportunities for people around the world to encounter Jesus Christ and His Church,” said Michael Warsaw, chairman of the board and CEO of EWTN. “As the media landscape continues to evolve, EWTN remains committed to meeting audiences wherever they are, through both traditional and emerging platforms, ensuring that the truth of the Gospel and the Real Presence of Christ are accessible to the faithful and to those who may be encountering Him for the first time,” Warsaw added.EWTN’s papal photographer, Daniel Ibáñez, was named Photographer of the Year. In awarding the distinction, CMA’s judges noted that in the work of Ibáñez “each photo is thoughtfully framed and immediately connects with the audience.” Meanwhile, EWTN Digital’s Debbie Cowden was named Social Media Professional of the Year for her “strong, innovative, and enterprising content.” The EWTN News special report in English and in Spanish, “Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?,” won first place in the category of Best Video — Hot Topic — Pope Francis. Judges called the report “one of the strongest entries in this year’s awards” and “a must watch.” EWTN News’ live coverage of the election of Pope Leo XIV, “Living the Moment After the Habemus Papam, from St. Peter’s Square,” received the top award in the category of Best Use of Live Video in Social Media. The network’s coverage of the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), which featured Pope Leo XIV’s historic first digital encounter with young U.S. Catholics, earned two first-place awards, for Best Multimedia Package — News and Best Social Media Campaign — General Interest.From EWTN Publishing, “Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope” by Dr. Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTN News, received second place recognition.At the prestigious Gabriel Awards, which includes competition with both secular and religious media, EWTN Studios’ romantic-comedy streaming series “James the Less” won first place for Best Video for Digital Media for its second season. The show previously won best video for its first season in 2024.EWTN News also secured first place in Single News Story for the documentary  “Christians Fight To Survive: ISIS in Iraq,” which has garnered over a million views on YouTube alone.The National Catholic Register earned 17 total awards, including 10 first-place honors, and once again received the top distinction as Best Catholic Newspaper, the sixth such recognition in the last decade. The publication also won first place for its reporting on the Jubilee Year and on emerging Catholic population hubs across the United States. The National Catholic Register won Best Newspaper for the sixth time in the last decade at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 19, 2026. | Credit: Ken Oliver-Méndez/EWTN News The network achieved an exceptional sweep in Best Video — Feature (Radio, TV and Film Company), taking first, second, third and honorable mention for its videos “From Mohammed to Jesus: The Nikki Kingsley Story,” “John Paul II: Twenty Years Later,” “Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Navajo Nation,” and “Mother Angelica Witness to Providence Award: Doug Keck.”Similarly, EWTN News captured first, second, and third place in two categories, Best Video — Personality Profile and Best Video — Pro-life Activities (Radio, TV and Film Company). The winning personality profile videos included “Judge Frank Caprio on His Fight Against Terminal Cancer & His Catholic Faith,” “Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?,” and “North Pole in New Jersey? This Man Has Been Santa for 60 Years.”The best-in-class pro-life videos were for EWTN’s “Canada: Preserving the Life of a Nation,” “Flash Mob Against Euthanasia,” and “National Celebrate Life Rally.”The EWTN News Spanish-language service, ACI Prensa, also took home numerous recognitions with 10 awards, including four first place wins.“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by our peers for excellence in Catholic journalism and storytelling,” said Montse Alvarado, president and COO of EWTN News. “The past year marked a defining moment not only for EWTN News but for the global Church, as we helped audiences navigate the historic passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.”“Those extraordinary events challenged us to innovate, deepen our coverage, and create new ways of reaching people with meaningful, faith-filled content at a moment when the world was watching,” she said. Now in its 45th year, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. The network’s 11 global TV channels and numerous regional channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 160 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 600 domestic and international AM and FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the most visited Catholic websites in the U.S.; EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division; and EWTN News, its global, multilingual news service.Unknown block type “cdn77.asset”, specify a component for it in the `components.types` option

unitedyam

The awards were announced at the conclusion of the 2026 Catholic Media Conference, held June 16–19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Read More
Cardinal Pizzaballa and Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem visit the Gaza Strip – #Catholic – Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilus III, Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, All Palestine, and Jordan, undertook a visit to the Gaza Strip on June 22, as announced by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.The visit of the two heads of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in the Holy Land expressed, according to the statement, the “pastoral responsibility” of their respective Churches toward the Christian communities of Gaza but also “toward the whole population” of this territory, “where families continue to endure grave humanitarian suffering, fear, loss and uncertainty.”The patriarchs were accompanied on their visit by Josef D. Blotz, grand hospitaller of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as by representatives of Malteser International, the orderʼs humanitarian agency. Their presence “reflects the enduring commitment of faith-based humanitarian services to healthcare, relief work, and the protection of human dignity in Gaza,” the statement noted. Cardinal Pizzaballa in the Gaza Strip. | Credit: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Furthermore, the statement said the presence of both religious leaders “carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer, in a ministry of consolation, mercy and steadfast Christian witness rooted in the Gospel and in the sacred vocation of the Holy City.”During their time in Gaza, the leaders visited the cityʼs only Catholic church, the Latin rite parish dedicated to the Holy Family where, according to Vatican News, Theophilos III and Pizzaballa were welcomed with applause from the faithful and joyful cheers from the children.After an initial greeting and a prayer led by the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, Pizzaballa expressed his joy at being able to look into the eyes not only of the parishioners and those living in the vicinity of the church, but also of all the inhabitants of that suffering city.The situation, the cardinal said, is difficult but the presence of Church representatives demonstrates their concern for Gaza, which remains a priority.In addition, they held meetings with the clergy, religious communities, and “local Christian families and people affected by the continuing humanitarian crisis,” according to the statement. Josef D. Blotz, grand hospitaller of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, was also present. | Credit: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Through these encounters, they "seek to offer spiritual strength, comfort, and hope in the midst of deep suffering," they said. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem emphasized that the presence of Theophilos III and Pizzaballa "carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer.”This is the third such visit in the past year; Pizzaballa previously visited the Strip in July and December 2025.The humanitarian work of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza has recently been recognized. On June 12, in the presence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, they were awarded the Antonio Feltrinelli International Prize by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei — one of Italyʼs most prestigious scientific and humanitarian awards. Iyad Twal, patriarchal vicar for Jordan, accepted the prize on behalf of Pizzaballa.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Read More

Cardinal Pizzaballa and Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem visit the Gaza Strip – #Catholic – Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilus III, Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, All Palestine, and Jordan, undertook a visit to the Gaza Strip on June 22, as announced by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.The visit of the two heads of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in the Holy Land expressed, according to the statement, the “pastoral responsibility” of their respective Churches toward the Christian communities of Gaza but also “toward the whole population” of this territory, “where families continue to endure grave humanitarian suffering, fear, loss and uncertainty.”The patriarchs were accompanied on their visit by Josef D. Blotz, grand hospitaller of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as by representatives of Malteser International, the orderʼs humanitarian agency. Their presence “reflects the enduring commitment of faith-based humanitarian services to healthcare, relief work, and the protection of human dignity in Gaza,” the statement noted. Cardinal Pizzaballa in the Gaza Strip. | Credit: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Furthermore, the statement said the presence of both religious leaders “carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer, in a ministry of consolation, mercy and steadfast Christian witness rooted in the Gospel and in the sacred vocation of the Holy City.”During their time in Gaza, the leaders visited the cityʼs only Catholic church, the Latin rite parish dedicated to the Holy Family where, according to Vatican News, Theophilos III and Pizzaballa were welcomed with applause from the faithful and joyful cheers from the children.After an initial greeting and a prayer led by the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, Pizzaballa expressed his joy at being able to look into the eyes not only of the parishioners and those living in the vicinity of the church, but also of all the inhabitants of that suffering city.The situation, the cardinal said, is difficult but the presence of Church representatives demonstrates their concern for Gaza, which remains a priority.In addition, they held meetings with the clergy, religious communities, and “local Christian families and people affected by the continuing humanitarian crisis,” according to the statement. Josef D. Blotz, grand hospitaller of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, was also present. | Credit: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Through these encounters, they "seek to offer spiritual strength, comfort, and hope in the midst of deep suffering," they said. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem emphasized that the presence of Theophilos III and Pizzaballa "carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer.”This is the third such visit in the past year; Pizzaballa previously visited the Strip in July and December 2025.The humanitarian work of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza has recently been recognized. On June 12, in the presence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, they were awarded the Antonio Feltrinelli International Prize by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei — one of Italyʼs most prestigious scientific and humanitarian awards. Iyad Twal, patriarchal vicar for Jordan, accepted the prize on behalf of Pizzaballa.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam

The two patriarchs, accompanied by Josef D. Blotz of the Order of Malta, made a pastoral and humanitarian visit to Gaza to show that their concern for the area remains a priority.

Read More

A Marriage Blessing Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, June 23, 2026 – #Prayer – We thank you, O God, for the Love You have implanted in our hearts. May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feeling, and concerned for each other’s needs and wishes. Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings. Increase our faith and trust in You and may Your Prudence guide our life and love. Bless our Marriage O God, with Peace and Happiness, and make our love fruitful for Your glory and our Joy both here and in eternity.

unitedyam

We thank you, O God,
for the Love You have implanted in our hearts.
May it always inspire us to be kind in our words,
considerate of feeling,
and concerned for each other’s needs and wishes.
Help us to be understanding and forgiving
of human weaknesses and failings.
Increase our faith and trust in You
and may Your Prudence guide our life and love.
Bless our Marriage O God,
with Peace and Happiness,
and make our love fruitful for Your glory
and our Joy both here and in eternity.

Read More
Bishop Burbidge approves FSSP Latin Mass chaplaincy in Arlington, Virginia diocese – #Catholic – Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia approved a chaplaincy to serve Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in accordance with the Missale Romanum of 1962.The “Chaplaincy of Our Lady of Victory,” announced June 19, will be officially established on July 1. According to the diocesan announcement, the chaplaincy is being formed “to serve the needs of those who attend Mass and receive other sacraments in the Extraordinary Form.”The chaplaincy will be administered by two priests from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) appointed from Front Royal, Virginia, about 70 miles west of Washington, D.C.: Father Jonathan Romanoski and Father John Audino.“As a Chaplaincy, rather than a parish, this agreement allows for Fr. Romanoski and Fr. Audino to live the fraternity that is part of the FSSP charism and to serve primarily in Front Royal while periodically assisting elsewhere in the diocese,” the diocesan statement read.According to the diocese, the chaplaincy formalizes an arrangement that had already been in place, as an FSSP priest has been assisting Arlington clergy. It does not add more locations for the TLM.Access to baptism, confirmation, and matrimony in the traditional form remain available only to those “who have a particular pastoral connection to the community and who participate regularly in this form of the liturgy with the consent of the local pastor and the local ordinary,” in line with the current rules, according to the diocese.“The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is grateful to His Excellency, Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, for establishing the Chaplaincy of Our Lady of Victory to serve the needs of those who attend the traditional form of the Latin Liturgy beginning on July 1, 2026,” Father Daniel Powers, the provincial secretary of FSSP’s North American Province, said in a statement to EWTN News.“We are looking forward to working in the Diocese of Arlington and serving the faithful there,” he said.Noah Peters, a board member and the president emeritus of The Arlington Latin Mass Society (ALMS), expressed “sincere appreciation” to the bishop on behalf of the society for entrusting a chaplaincy to the two priests.“ALMS believes that this is an enormously positive step that will help ensure access to the traditional sacraments: baptisms, matrimony, confirmation, and the rites for the sick,” he told EWTN News. “We pray for Bishop Burbidge, the FSSP priests, and all the faithful, and we pray that this chaplaincy will be the seed from which broader access to the treasures of Traditional Catholicism grows.”Arlington, like many dioceses globally, faced Latin Mass restrictions over the past few years, in line with the rules set in Pope Francis’s 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which limited access to the older form of the Mass. However, the pontiff granted FSSP, which will administer the chaplaincy in the diocese, an exemption from those rules.FSSP was founded in 1988 by priests who broke away from the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), when then-Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who led SSPX, defied the Holy See by appointing bishops without papal approval and faced excommunication. FSSP was founded to maintain those liturgical traditions while remaining loyal to the papacy.In Arlington — where the TLM remains popular, especially among young adults — Burbidge secured dispensations approved by the Holy See for three parishes and five non-parish church locations when Traditionis Custodes went into effect. These were temporary dispensations, but have been extended and remain in place.This is still a reduction in locations for the diocese, which had 21 locations that offered the TLM prior to the motu proprio. Some Arlington locations also saw an influx of worshipers from the neighboring Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., which limited access to three locations — one in the city itself and two in Maryland.In March, Pope Leo XIV described divisions surrounding liturgical unity as “a painful wound” in the church.In his communication with French bishops, Leo encouraged concrete solutions, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that allow for “the generous inclusion” of Catholics attached to the TLM “in respect for the directions desired by the Second Vatican Council in matters of liturgy.”Leo has not issued far-reaching documents related to the TLM, nor has he changed any of the rules established under Francis. He did, however, approve Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke’s celebration of the TLM last year at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Read More

Bishop Burbidge approves FSSP Latin Mass chaplaincy in Arlington, Virginia diocese – #Catholic – Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia approved a chaplaincy to serve Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in accordance with the Missale Romanum of 1962.The “Chaplaincy of Our Lady of Victory,” announced June 19, will be officially established on July 1. According to the diocesan announcement, the chaplaincy is being formed “to serve the needs of those who attend Mass and receive other sacraments in the Extraordinary Form.”The chaplaincy will be administered by two priests from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) appointed from Front Royal, Virginia, about 70 miles west of Washington, D.C.: Father Jonathan Romanoski and Father John Audino.“As a Chaplaincy, rather than a parish, this agreement allows for Fr. Romanoski and Fr. Audino to live the fraternity that is part of the FSSP charism and to serve primarily in Front Royal while periodically assisting elsewhere in the diocese,” the diocesan statement read.According to the diocese, the chaplaincy formalizes an arrangement that had already been in place, as an FSSP priest has been assisting Arlington clergy. It does not add more locations for the TLM.Access to baptism, confirmation, and matrimony in the traditional form remain available only to those “who have a particular pastoral connection to the community and who participate regularly in this form of the liturgy with the consent of the local pastor and the local ordinary,” in line with the current rules, according to the diocese.“The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is grateful to His Excellency, Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, for establishing the Chaplaincy of Our Lady of Victory to serve the needs of those who attend the traditional form of the Latin Liturgy beginning on July 1, 2026,” Father Daniel Powers, the provincial secretary of FSSP’s North American Province, said in a statement to EWTN News.“We are looking forward to working in the Diocese of Arlington and serving the faithful there,” he said.Noah Peters, a board member and the president emeritus of The Arlington Latin Mass Society (ALMS), expressed “sincere appreciation” to the bishop on behalf of the society for entrusting a chaplaincy to the two priests.“ALMS believes that this is an enormously positive step that will help ensure access to the traditional sacraments: baptisms, matrimony, confirmation, and the rites for the sick,” he told EWTN News. “We pray for Bishop Burbidge, the FSSP priests, and all the faithful, and we pray that this chaplaincy will be the seed from which broader access to the treasures of Traditional Catholicism grows.”Arlington, like many dioceses globally, faced Latin Mass restrictions over the past few years, in line with the rules set in Pope Francis’s 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which limited access to the older form of the Mass. However, the pontiff granted FSSP, which will administer the chaplaincy in the diocese, an exemption from those rules.FSSP was founded in 1988 by priests who broke away from the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), when then-Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who led SSPX, defied the Holy See by appointing bishops without papal approval and faced excommunication. FSSP was founded to maintain those liturgical traditions while remaining loyal to the papacy.In Arlington — where the TLM remains popular, especially among young adults — Burbidge secured dispensations approved by the Holy See for three parishes and five non-parish church locations when Traditionis Custodes went into effect. These were temporary dispensations, but have been extended and remain in place.This is still a reduction in locations for the diocese, which had 21 locations that offered the TLM prior to the motu proprio. Some Arlington locations also saw an influx of worshipers from the neighboring Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., which limited access to three locations — one in the city itself and two in Maryland.In March, Pope Leo XIV described divisions surrounding liturgical unity as “a painful wound” in the church.In his communication with French bishops, Leo encouraged concrete solutions, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that allow for “the generous inclusion” of Catholics attached to the TLM “in respect for the directions desired by the Second Vatican Council in matters of liturgy.”Leo has not issued far-reaching documents related to the TLM, nor has he changed any of the rules established under Francis. He did, however, approve Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke’s celebration of the TLM last year at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

unitedyam

The chaplaincy is being formed to help serve those attached to the Traditional Latin Mass, but does not change any policies, according to the diocese.

Read More
Older Posts