Catholic

Cambodia’s Buddhist leaders honor Catholic bishop for decades of cooperation #Catholic Cambodia’s Buddhist leadership has conferred a high honorary title on the Catholic bishop of Phnom Penh, recognizing decades of cooperation between Buddhist and Christian communities in a country where the Catholic Church remains a small minority.Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, received the title “Akka Mahāupāsakabuddhasāsanūpatthambhakr,” roughly translated as “Elder Great Lay Supporter and Upholder of the Buddha’s Dispensation,” during a ceremony on June 13, 2026, at Wat Botum Vatey in the Cambodian capital. Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler meets with Venerable Khim Sorn, third deputy supreme patriarch of Cambodiaʼs Mohanikaya Buddhist order, during a ceremony at Wat Botum Vatey in Phnom Penh on June 13, 2026. | Credit: Ly Sovanna/Catholic National Office for Social Communications in Cambodia The title was conferred by Supreme Patriarch Nun Nget of Cambodia’s Mohanikaya Buddhist order and presented at a ceremony presided over by Venerable Khim Sorn, the order’s third deputy supreme patriarch.The honor builds on a distinction Schmitthaeusler received in 2022, when Cambodia’s Buddhist leadership named him a “Maha Upasaka,” recognizing his support for Buddhist communities and his role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between Cambodia’s Buddhist majority and its small Catholic minority.At the time, Buddhist leaders cited joint development projects, educational initiatives, and efforts to strengthen social cohesion. The new title represents a higher level of recognition from the country’s Buddhist establishment.Speaking at the ceremony, Khim Sorn pointed to Cambodia’s constitutional framework, which recognizes Buddhism as the state religion while protecting religious freedom.He said the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia clearly stipulates that Buddhism is the state religion, but “it also guarantees complete freedom of religious belief without coercion” and promotes religious harmony, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect among the different religions.Buddhist leaders said the recognition reflected Schmitthaeusler’s long involvement in educational, humanitarian, and community-development initiatives carried out in cooperation with Buddhist institutions.For Schmitthaeusler, the award marked another chapter in a relationship that began more than two decades ago. “This is a profoundly meaningful event for me as a Catholic bishop,” he said.The French-born missionary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society traced that relationship to his years as a parish priest in Takeo province, where Catholics and Buddhists worked together on local development projects.Among them was the construction of a road linking a Catholic community and a nearby pagoda, an initiative he said helped lay the groundwork for deeper cooperation.Over the years, that collaboration expanded into education and social services. Schmitthaeusler noted that he supported the establishment of a primary school at Wat Ang Montrey, where students study Pali, Sanskrit, and other academic subjects.The prelate also highlighted joint humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and assistance provided to displaced families during recent tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border.“Receiving the status of Akka Mahāupāsakabuddhasāsanūpatthambhakr today is a moment of profound recognition of how the Catholic Church and Buddhism walk hand-in-hand for the common good of our people and our country,” he said. Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler poses with community members outside Wat Botum Vatey in Phnom Penh on June 13, 2026, after receiving a high honorary title from Cambodiaʼs Buddhist leadership in recognition of his work promoting Buddhist-Christian cooperation. | Credit: Ly Sovanna/Catholic National Office for Social Communications in Cambodia Schmitthaeusler also cited recent dialogue initiatives involving Buddhist and Christian leaders from Cambodia and across Asia focused on peacebuilding and reconciliation.“We know that when Cambodia is full of peace, it radiates a positive influence to the rest of the world,” he said. “This is a powerful signal: when religions journey together, the world will witness true peace,” he added.A small Church rebuilt after the Khmer RougeTheravada Buddhism is practiced by the vast majority of Cambodia’s roughly 18 million people. The Catholic Church numbers about 20,000 faithful across one apostolic vicariate and two apostolic prefectures.The Catholic Church was nearly wiped out during the Khmer Rouge era, when religious communities were persecuted and most church buildings were destroyed.Since public religious life resumed in the early 1990s, the Catholic Church has gradually rebuilt through education, health care, social services, and pastoral ministry, becoming a small but visible presence in Cambodian society.
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Cambodia’s Buddhist leaders honor Catholic bishop for decades of cooperation #Catholic Cambodia’s Buddhist leadership has conferred a high honorary title on the Catholic bishop of Phnom Penh, recognizing decades of cooperation between Buddhist and Christian communities in a country where the Catholic Church remains a small minority.Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, received the title “Akka Mahāupāsakabuddhasāsanūpatthambhakr,” roughly translated as “Elder Great Lay Supporter and Upholder of the Buddha’s Dispensation,” during a ceremony on June 13, 2026, at Wat Botum Vatey in the Cambodian capital. Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler meets with Venerable Khim Sorn, third deputy supreme patriarch of Cambodiaʼs Mohanikaya Buddhist order, during a ceremony at Wat Botum Vatey in Phnom Penh on June 13, 2026. | Credit: Ly Sovanna/Catholic National Office for Social Communications in Cambodia The title was conferred by Supreme Patriarch Nun Nget of Cambodia’s Mohanikaya Buddhist order and presented at a ceremony presided over by Venerable Khim Sorn, the order’s third deputy supreme patriarch.The honor builds on a distinction Schmitthaeusler received in 2022, when Cambodia’s Buddhist leadership named him a “Maha Upasaka,” recognizing his support for Buddhist communities and his role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between Cambodia’s Buddhist majority and its small Catholic minority.At the time, Buddhist leaders cited joint development projects, educational initiatives, and efforts to strengthen social cohesion. The new title represents a higher level of recognition from the country’s Buddhist establishment.Speaking at the ceremony, Khim Sorn pointed to Cambodia’s constitutional framework, which recognizes Buddhism as the state religion while protecting religious freedom.He said the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia clearly stipulates that Buddhism is the state religion, but “it also guarantees complete freedom of religious belief without coercion” and promotes religious harmony, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect among the different religions.Buddhist leaders said the recognition reflected Schmitthaeusler’s long involvement in educational, humanitarian, and community-development initiatives carried out in cooperation with Buddhist institutions.For Schmitthaeusler, the award marked another chapter in a relationship that began more than two decades ago. “This is a profoundly meaningful event for me as a Catholic bishop,” he said.The French-born missionary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society traced that relationship to his years as a parish priest in Takeo province, where Catholics and Buddhists worked together on local development projects.Among them was the construction of a road linking a Catholic community and a nearby pagoda, an initiative he said helped lay the groundwork for deeper cooperation.Over the years, that collaboration expanded into education and social services. Schmitthaeusler noted that he supported the establishment of a primary school at Wat Ang Montrey, where students study Pali, Sanskrit, and other academic subjects.The prelate also highlighted joint humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and assistance provided to displaced families during recent tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border.“Receiving the status of Akka Mahāupāsakabuddhasāsanūpatthambhakr today is a moment of profound recognition of how the Catholic Church and Buddhism walk hand-in-hand for the common good of our people and our country,” he said. Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler poses with community members outside Wat Botum Vatey in Phnom Penh on June 13, 2026, after receiving a high honorary title from Cambodiaʼs Buddhist leadership in recognition of his work promoting Buddhist-Christian cooperation. | Credit: Ly Sovanna/Catholic National Office for Social Communications in Cambodia Schmitthaeusler also cited recent dialogue initiatives involving Buddhist and Christian leaders from Cambodia and across Asia focused on peacebuilding and reconciliation.“We know that when Cambodia is full of peace, it radiates a positive influence to the rest of the world,” he said. “This is a powerful signal: when religions journey together, the world will witness true peace,” he added.A small Church rebuilt after the Khmer RougeTheravada Buddhism is practiced by the vast majority of Cambodia’s roughly 18 million people. The Catholic Church numbers about 20,000 faithful across one apostolic vicariate and two apostolic prefectures.The Catholic Church was nearly wiped out during the Khmer Rouge era, when religious communities were persecuted and most church buildings were destroyed.Since public religious life resumed in the early 1990s, the Catholic Church has gradually rebuilt through education, health care, social services, and pastoral ministry, becoming a small but visible presence in Cambodian society.

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The recognition for Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler is a rare gesture from the Buddhist establishment of a country where Catholics number barely 20,000.

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UK bishops welcome child safety but cautious on social media ban for under 16 #Catholic Catholic bishops across the United Kingdom say they need to see more legislative detail before supporting government proposals to ban social media for youth under 16. On June 15, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Liz Kendall announced to the House of Commons that the government "will ban social media companies providing their services to under 16s.”Kendall said that the UK would be following the same model as Australia, which was the first country in the world to ban social media for youth under 16. The UK ban is due to come into effect early next year.In an email response to EWTN News on June 17 regarding whether bishops of England and Wales support the proposed ban, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference for England and Wales said: “Until the government publishes further details it’s hard to give a yes or no answer.” But Bishop John Arnold, the lead bishop for communications for the conference, “is very keen to ensure that the safety and protection of the dignity of young people online is a central concern for all,” the statement said.In a separate email to EWTN News, Bishop Arnold wrote that the “safety of children and young people in the digital world is paramount. Young people face many pressures today, which are often exacerbated by unrealistic and harmful material which they have accessed online.”“When it comes to the responsible and appropriate use of technology, the protection of children and young people is a shared responsibility among parents, schools, government and society,” he said.“I urge all people to work together to protect and place the dignity of the human person, especially children, the young and vulnerable, at the center of technological and legislative developments,” the bishop said.The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, meanwhile, said it would “prefer not to comment directly on the specific policy issue, but rather give a considered response to the noble principles behind online safety measures.” “The bishops support the introduction of any new measures which increase online safety for children and young people,” the conference said."We have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are protected from harmful and age-inappropriate content, and from online environments that can negatively affect their wellbeing, relationships and healthy development,” the statement continued.The UK governmentʼs proposal includes banning youth usage of platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and X. They do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the ban.Livestreamers and strangers being able to contact children will also be restricted for those under‑16 on other online services like gaming.“Who should take responsibility?”Edwin Fawcett, a Catholic psychotherapist based in England and Wales, is also unsure about the benefits and drawbacks of the proposal.“At this point the toll taken on mental and emotional health by social media, especially for developing brains, is virtually undisputed. Who should take responsibility for young peopleʼs formation and education?” he told EWTN News. “The Churchʼs wise answer: parents. Yet in a busy, driven and fragmented society the tsunami of digital hyper-reality is almost impossible to avoid or withstand,” he said.Fawcett argued that there is “a pandemic of relational wounds and deficits in the real world” which “has set the stage for widespread mental health issues, which are being activated and worsened by addictive online behavior — behavior chosen in an attempt to anesthetize the same wounds.”He continued: “Whether the ban is designed to support the rights and responsibilities of the family is hard to say. But letʼs pray that a deep renewal of family life, communities and culture will begin filling the void which social media has falsely promised to do — a void which may now be exposed by the incoming ban.”Lucy Marsh, a spokeswoman for the Family Education Trust — a secular research body which supports traditional family values — said that the ban has not been sufficiently “thought through.”“Children should not have unsupervised access to social media, but the government’s rushed plan to ban under-16s from using certain platforms is the wrong way to go about it,” she told EWTN News.“Rather than educating parents on how to restrict their child’s access to the internet and raising awareness about why young children should not have smartphones, the government is trying to introduce digital ID via the back door. This means using facial recognition and biometrics which involve giving even more information to tech companies. In the name of protecting children, those children will be under even more surveillance.”The government “should focus on ensuring tech companies make phones for children which cannot access social media apps, including WhatsApp, which is used by predatory adults to share pornography and groom children,” she said.
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UK bishops welcome child safety but cautious on social media ban for under 16 #Catholic Catholic bishops across the United Kingdom say they need to see more legislative detail before supporting government proposals to ban social media for youth under 16. On June 15, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Liz Kendall announced to the House of Commons that the government "will ban social media companies providing their services to under 16s.”Kendall said that the UK would be following the same model as Australia, which was the first country in the world to ban social media for youth under 16. The UK ban is due to come into effect early next year.In an email response to EWTN News on June 17 regarding whether bishops of England and Wales support the proposed ban, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference for England and Wales said: “Until the government publishes further details it’s hard to give a yes or no answer.” But Bishop John Arnold, the lead bishop for communications for the conference, “is very keen to ensure that the safety and protection of the dignity of young people online is a central concern for all,” the statement said.In a separate email to EWTN News, Bishop Arnold wrote that the “safety of children and young people in the digital world is paramount. Young people face many pressures today, which are often exacerbated by unrealistic and harmful material which they have accessed online.”“When it comes to the responsible and appropriate use of technology, the protection of children and young people is a shared responsibility among parents, schools, government and society,” he said.“I urge all people to work together to protect and place the dignity of the human person, especially children, the young and vulnerable, at the center of technological and legislative developments,” the bishop said.The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, meanwhile, said it would “prefer not to comment directly on the specific policy issue, but rather give a considered response to the noble principles behind online safety measures.” “The bishops support the introduction of any new measures which increase online safety for children and young people,” the conference said."We have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are protected from harmful and age-inappropriate content, and from online environments that can negatively affect their wellbeing, relationships and healthy development,” the statement continued.The UK governmentʼs proposal includes banning youth usage of platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and X. They do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the ban.Livestreamers and strangers being able to contact children will also be restricted for those under‑16 on other online services like gaming.“Who should take responsibility?”Edwin Fawcett, a Catholic psychotherapist based in England and Wales, is also unsure about the benefits and drawbacks of the proposal.“At this point the toll taken on mental and emotional health by social media, especially for developing brains, is virtually undisputed. Who should take responsibility for young peopleʼs formation and education?” he told EWTN News. “The Churchʼs wise answer: parents. Yet in a busy, driven and fragmented society the tsunami of digital hyper-reality is almost impossible to avoid or withstand,” he said.Fawcett argued that there is “a pandemic of relational wounds and deficits in the real world” which “has set the stage for widespread mental health issues, which are being activated and worsened by addictive online behavior — behavior chosen in an attempt to anesthetize the same wounds.”He continued: “Whether the ban is designed to support the rights and responsibilities of the family is hard to say. But letʼs pray that a deep renewal of family life, communities and culture will begin filling the void which social media has falsely promised to do — a void which may now be exposed by the incoming ban.”Lucy Marsh, a spokeswoman for the Family Education Trust — a secular research body which supports traditional family values — said that the ban has not been sufficiently “thought through.”“Children should not have unsupervised access to social media, but the government’s rushed plan to ban under-16s from using certain platforms is the wrong way to go about it,” she told EWTN News.“Rather than educating parents on how to restrict their child’s access to the internet and raising awareness about why young children should not have smartphones, the government is trying to introduce digital ID via the back door. This means using facial recognition and biometrics which involve giving even more information to tech companies. In the name of protecting children, those children will be under even more surveillance.”The government “should focus on ensuring tech companies make phones for children which cannot access social media apps, including WhatsApp, which is used by predatory adults to share pornography and groom children,” she said.

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Bishops across the UK and other Catholic leaders say they want more information before endorsing a proposal to ban social media for youth under 16.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 23 June 2026 – A reading from the Second Book of Kings  19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36 Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah with this message:  “Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all other countries: they doomed them!  Will you, then, be saved?’”Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then he went up to the temple of the LORD, and spreading it out before him, he prayed in the LORD’s presence: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen! Open your eyes, O LORD, and see! Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire; they destroyed them because they were not gods, but the work of human hands, wood and stone. Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.”Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria: I have listened! This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:“‘She despises you, laughs you to scorn, the virgin daughter Zion! Behind you she wags her head, daughter Jerusalem.“‘For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and from Mount Zion, survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.’“Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it, nor come before it with a shield, nor cast up siege-works against it. He shall return by the same way he came, without entering the city, says the LORD. I will shield and save this city for my own sake, and for the sake of my servant David.’”That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp, and went back home to Nineveh.From the Gospel according to Matthew 7:6, 12-14 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”At first glance, this image can make us think: if God is the Father of love and mercy, who always stands with open arms to welcome us, why does Jesus say that the gate of salvation is narrow? Certainly, the Lord does not want to discourage us. Rather, his words are meant primarily to challenge the presumption of those people who think they are already saved, who perform religious acts and feel that is all that is needed. They have not realized that it is not enough to perform religious acts unless they change hearts. The Lord does not want worship detached from life. He is not pleased with sacrifices and prayers, unless they lead to greater love for others and justice for our brothers and sisters. (…) Our faith is authentic when it embraces our whole life, when it becomes a criterion for our decisions, when it makes us women and men committed to doing what is right and who take risks out of love, even as Jesus did. He did not choose the easy path of success or power; instead, in order to save us, he loved us to the point of walking through the “narrow gate” of the Cross. Jesus is the true measure of our faith; he is the gate through which we must pass in order to be saved (cf. Jn 10:9) by experiencing his love and by working, in our daily lives, to promote justice and peace. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 24 August 2025)

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A reading from the Second Book of Kings 
19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36

Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah
with this message: 
“Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah:
‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you
by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over
to the king of Assyria.
You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done
to all other countries: they doomed them! 
Will you, then, be saved?’”Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;
then he went up to the temple of the LORD,
and spreading it out before him,
he prayed in the LORD’s presence:
“O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim!
You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!
Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations
and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire;
they destroyed them because they were not gods,
but the work of human hands, wood and stone.
Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man,
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, O LORD, are God.”Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah:
“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria:
I have listened!
This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:“‘She despises you, laughs you to scorn,
the virgin daughter Zion!
Behind you she wags her head,
daughter Jerusalem.“‘For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant,
and from Mount Zion, survivors.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.’“Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
‘He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it,
nor come before it with a shield,
nor cast up siege-works against it.
He shall return by the same way he came,
without entering the city, says the LORD.
I will shield and save this city for my own sake,
and for the sake of my servant David.’”That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down
one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.
So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp,
and went back home to Nineveh.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
7:6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.“Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.”

At first glance, this image can make us think: if God is the Father of love and mercy, who always stands with open arms to welcome us, why does Jesus say that the gate of salvation is narrow? Certainly, the Lord does not want to discourage us. Rather, his words are meant primarily to challenge the presumption of those people who think they are already saved, who perform religious acts and feel that is all that is needed. They have not realized that it is not enough to perform religious acts unless they change hearts. The Lord does not want worship detached from life. He is not pleased with sacrifices and prayers, unless they lead to greater love for others and justice for our brothers and sisters. (…)

Our faith is authentic when it embraces our whole life, when it becomes a criterion for our decisions, when it makes us women and men committed to doing what is right and who take risks out of love, even as Jesus did. He did not choose the easy path of success or power; instead, in order to save us, he loved us to the point of walking through the “narrow gate” of the Cross. Jesus is the true measure of our faith; he is the gate through which we must pass in order to be saved (cf. Jn 10:9) by experiencing his love and by working, in our daily lives, to promote justice and peace. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 24 August 2025)

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Catholic award recipient strengthens faith and service in Mountain Lakes #Catholic – Since she was a little girl, Barbara Bailey loved to sing in church. “I was lucky because our church had a really good music director,” said Bailey, who grew up in the Reformed Church and is a convert to Catholicism. Today, Bailey plays piano and cantors at her parish, St. Catherine of Siena in Mountain Lakes, N.J. Bailey called music “a way to learn and a way to pray. It is fun and uplifting.” Bailey is active in several ministries at St. Catherine’s, including co-leading the daytime Scripture study, singing in the St. Therese rosary prayer group, and serving as a parish trustee and member of the finance committee. Last fall, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., recognized Bailey’s service, awarding her the Vivere Christus Est Award, which is presented annually by the bishop to members of the diocese for their service to the Church through their local parishes. Faith was important to Bailey and her late husband, James Patrick, a Catholic, from the beginning of their marriage. Over time, Bailey became more interested in Catholicism. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “I really had the strong desire to receive communion and learn more about it,” said Bailey, who decided to convert to Catholicism in her 30s. She attended the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) with Father Thomas Mangieri, a former parochial vicar of St. Catherine’s, and friends on the ministry’s team. “I’ve been building on that ever since,” Bailey said. The late Sister Bernadette Weller of the Society of Sisters of the Church, who ministered at St. Catherine’s for many years, supported Bailey on her journey of growth in the Church. “Sister Bernadette was the first person who taught me that Vatican II was a direction for lay people, that their mission is to become holy. I think that is a pretty lofty goal, but it’s our responsibility to do what we can,” Bailey said. Bailey encourages others to share their gifts and get involved in their parishes. Through Sister Weller, a founder of the Society of the Sisters of the Church, Bailey became an associate of the order and is still active today. Bailey draws strength from saints such as St. Michael and St. Therese the Little Flower. She is also inspired by stories of holy Catholics, such as American-born Jesuit Father Walter Cizek, who was held captive in Russia for more than 20 years in Siberian labor camps, including in solitary confinement. A former pharmaceutical company employee and mother of two grown daughters, Bailey said that, as the years go by, her faith has become more important to her. “I do not know how people could do anything without knowing that there’s hope and you can trust in God. It has really been very key throughout my whole life to try to follow that,” Bailey said.  
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Catholic award recipient strengthens faith and service in Mountain Lakes #Catholic – Since she was a little girl, Barbara Bailey loved to sing in church. “I was lucky because our church had a really good music director,” said Bailey, who grew up in the Reformed Church and is a convert to Catholicism. Today, Bailey plays piano and cantors at her parish, St. Catherine of Siena in Mountain Lakes, N.J. Bailey called music “a way to learn and a way to pray. It is fun and uplifting.” Bailey is active in several ministries at St. Catherine’s, including co-leading the daytime Scripture study, singing in the St. Therese rosary prayer group, and serving as a parish trustee and member of the finance committee. Last fall, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., recognized Bailey’s service, awarding her the Vivere Christus Est Award, which is presented annually by the bishop to members of the diocese for their service to the Church through their local parishes. Faith was important to Bailey and her late husband, James Patrick, a Catholic, from the beginning of their marriage. Over time, Bailey became more interested in Catholicism. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “I really had the strong desire to receive communion and learn more about it,” said Bailey, who decided to convert to Catholicism in her 30s. She attended the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) with Father Thomas Mangieri, a former parochial vicar of St. Catherine’s, and friends on the ministry’s team. “I’ve been building on that ever since,” Bailey said. The late Sister Bernadette Weller of the Society of Sisters of the Church, who ministered at St. Catherine’s for many years, supported Bailey on her journey of growth in the Church. “Sister Bernadette was the first person who taught me that Vatican II was a direction for lay people, that their mission is to become holy. I think that is a pretty lofty goal, but it’s our responsibility to do what we can,” Bailey said. Bailey encourages others to share their gifts and get involved in their parishes. Through Sister Weller, a founder of the Society of the Sisters of the Church, Bailey became an associate of the order and is still active today. Bailey draws strength from saints such as St. Michael and St. Therese the Little Flower. She is also inspired by stories of holy Catholics, such as American-born Jesuit Father Walter Cizek, who was held captive in Russia for more than 20 years in Siberian labor camps, including in solitary confinement. A former pharmaceutical company employee and mother of two grown daughters, Bailey said that, as the years go by, her faith has become more important to her. “I do not know how people could do anything without knowing that there’s hope and you can trust in God. It has really been very key throughout my whole life to try to follow that,” Bailey said.  

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Catholic award recipient strengthens faith and service in Mountain Lakes #Catholic –

Since she was a little girl, Barbara Bailey loved to sing in church.

“I was lucky because our church had a really good music director,” said Bailey, who grew up in the Reformed Church and is a convert to Catholicism. Today, Bailey plays piano and cantors at her parish, St. Catherine of Siena in Mountain Lakes, N.J. Bailey called music “a way to learn and a way to pray. It is fun and uplifting.”

Bailey is active in several ministries at St. Catherine’s, including co-leading the daytime Scripture study, singing in the St. Therese rosary prayer group, and serving as a parish trustee and member of the finance committee.

Last fall, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., recognized Bailey’s service, awarding her the Vivere Christus Est Award, which is presented annually by the bishop to members of the diocese for their service to the Church through their local parishes.

Faith was important to Bailey and her late husband, James Patrick, a Catholic, from the beginning of their marriage. Over time, Bailey became more interested in Catholicism.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

“I really had the strong desire to receive communion and learn more about it,” said Bailey, who decided to convert to Catholicism in her 30s. She attended the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) with Father Thomas Mangieri, a former parochial vicar of St. Catherine’s, and friends on the ministry’s team. “I’ve been building on that ever since,” Bailey said.

The late Sister Bernadette Weller of the Society of Sisters of the Church, who ministered at St. Catherine’s for many years, supported Bailey on her journey of growth in the Church.

“Sister Bernadette was the first person who taught me that Vatican II was a direction for lay people, that their mission is to become holy. I think that is a pretty lofty goal, but it’s our responsibility to do what we can,” Bailey said.

Bailey encourages others to share their gifts and get involved in their parishes.

Through Sister Weller, a founder of the Society of the Sisters of the Church, Bailey became an associate of the order and is still active today.

Bailey draws strength from saints such as St. Michael and St. Therese the Little Flower. She is also inspired by stories of holy Catholics, such as American-born Jesuit Father Walter Cizek, who was held captive in Russia for more than 20 years in Siberian labor camps, including in solitary confinement.

A former pharmaceutical company employee and mother of two grown daughters, Bailey said that, as the years go by, her faith has become more important to her.

“I do not know how people could do anything without knowing that there’s hope and you can trust in God. It has really been very key throughout my whole life to try to follow that,” Bailey said.

 

– Since she was a little girl, Barbara Bailey loved to sing in church. “I was lucky because our church had a really good music director,” said Bailey, who grew up in the Reformed Church and is a convert to Catholicism. Today, Bailey plays piano and cantors at her parish, St. Catherine of Siena in Mountain Lakes, N.J. Bailey called music “a way to learn and a way to pray. It is fun and uplifting.” Bailey is active in several ministries at St. Catherine’s, including co-leading the daytime Scripture study, singing in the St. Therese rosary prayer group, and serving as

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Pope Leo XIV to UN: To combat hunger, focus on humanity #Catholic Pope Leo XIV called on the United Nations (U.N.) to prioritize people in combating world hunger and said feeding the hungry is an essential part of peacemaking.The pontiff visited the headquarters of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome on Monday. In his remarks, Leo emphasized the seriousness of world hunger, explaining that it often fuels other social challenges, particularly migration.“More than merely a humanitarian concern, hunger erodes social cohesion, heightens the risk of conflict, and fuels forced migration,” Leo said. “In effect, conflicts are ‘fed’ more readily than people are nourished. This reality reflects not only operational shortcomings but also a fundamental imbalance in political and moral priorities.”The pope also stressed the importance of multilateral collaboration, stating that each state shares co-responsibility to “recognize the inherent God-given dignity of every person.” He also encouraged secular governments to be open to collaborating with the Catholic Church to assist the most vulnerable, recognizing their fundamental human right to adequate food.“Access to adequate food is a fundamental human right grounded in the dignity of every person,” Leo remarked.“The Catholic Church — through parishes, dioceses, Caritas agencies, and other faith-based initiatives — often reaches vulnerable populations in areas inaccessible to international actors. I therefore encourage the World Food Programme and its partners to continue supporting these efforts.”The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization was established in 1945 in response to widespread hunger and food insecurity worldwide following World War II. In his address, Leo XIV praised the progress of the organization’s mission while warning the U.N. about the dangers of a bureaucracy that slows the delivery of food assistance to disadvantaged populations.“Implementing this appeal [to fight hunger] effectively requires reducing unnecessary bureaucracy so that transparency and accountability serve people rather than impede assistance,” the pope said.
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Pope Leo XIV to UN: To combat hunger, focus on humanity #Catholic Pope Leo XIV called on the United Nations (U.N.) to prioritize people in combating world hunger and said feeding the hungry is an essential part of peacemaking.The pontiff visited the headquarters of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome on Monday. In his remarks, Leo emphasized the seriousness of world hunger, explaining that it often fuels other social challenges, particularly migration.“More than merely a humanitarian concern, hunger erodes social cohesion, heightens the risk of conflict, and fuels forced migration,” Leo said. “In effect, conflicts are ‘fed’ more readily than people are nourished. This reality reflects not only operational shortcomings but also a fundamental imbalance in political and moral priorities.”The pope also stressed the importance of multilateral collaboration, stating that each state shares co-responsibility to “recognize the inherent God-given dignity of every person.” He also encouraged secular governments to be open to collaborating with the Catholic Church to assist the most vulnerable, recognizing their fundamental human right to adequate food.“Access to adequate food is a fundamental human right grounded in the dignity of every person,” Leo remarked.“The Catholic Church — through parishes, dioceses, Caritas agencies, and other faith-based initiatives — often reaches vulnerable populations in areas inaccessible to international actors. I therefore encourage the World Food Programme and its partners to continue supporting these efforts.”The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization was established in 1945 in response to widespread hunger and food insecurity worldwide following World War II. In his address, Leo XIV praised the progress of the organization’s mission while warning the U.N. about the dangers of a bureaucracy that slows the delivery of food assistance to disadvantaged populations.“Implementing this appeal [to fight hunger] effectively requires reducing unnecessary bureaucracy so that transparency and accountability serve people rather than impede assistance,” the pope said.

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The pontiff visited the headquarters of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome on June 22.

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‘Chant GPT’: How Catholics are responding to AI-generated Gregorian chant #Catholic In the early morning and late at night, monks still rise to sing the divine office, their voices low and hoarse from sleep. With every breath they are keeping alive a centuries-old tradition in monasteries around the world.But in a small corner of the internet, and on music providers like Spotify, another form of chant has taken hold. The text is often a hodgepodge of Latin-sounding words; a mechanical simulation not sung by human voices but generated by artificial intelligence (AI).How should Catholics navigate the new phenomenon of AI-generated chant, or, in the term hymnist Alan Hommerding coined, “Chant GPT”?What is Gregorian chant?Chant isn’t something that is consumed, like social media or food. Instead, it is a way to worship and pray, according to Catholic theologians and musicians.“Chant is not meant to be performed for artistic consumption but meant to attune our hearts to the Lord over the course of time,” Father Phillip Alcon Ganir, a Jesuit priest who teaches sacred music classes at Boston College, told EWTN News. Father Phillip Alcon Ganir, a Jesuit priest who researches and teaches about music, catechetics, and liturgy at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry, encourages Catholics to “develop a more nuanced appreciation” of Gregorian chant by engaging more deeply with it. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Phillip Alcon Ganir Composer and liturgist Father Ricky Manalo, a Paulist priest, agreed, adding: “Gregorian chant is not merely an aesthetic; it is part of the Church’s living tradition of sung prayer, as much as Gospel music is a living tradition for many African American Catholics, or pentatonic melodies are a living tradition for many East Asian Catholics.”“Its beauty is tied not only to its sound but to its liturgical, scriptural, and cultural roots,” he said.Named for St. Gregory the Great, Gregorian chant is a “musical synthesis” of Roman and Gallican chant, according to Father Basil Nixen, a monk of the Abbey of San Benedetto in Monte, Norcia, Italy, where the monks chant daily together. These chanted psalms continue to be prayed as part of the Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours — a daily practice for Catholic priests, religious, and laypeople. The Monks of Norcia. | Credit: Christopher McLallen, courtesy of Benedicta, de Montfort Music “Many might assume that Gregorian chant is really a product of the medieval or dark ages from Western Christianity,” noted Giorgio Navarini, founder and director of the Catholic chant group Floriani Sacred Music. “However, Gregorian chant derives its existence from the Hebrew Temple. Sung psalmody, lamentations, and hymns were a significant part of the Hebraic liturgical life in both the synagogue and Temple.”In the Middle Ages came the “unprecedented notation” of the chant, which helped Gregorian chant spread, Nixen explained.“The sacred melodies of the chant were written by men and women inspired by the Holy Spirit, and every time we sing them, we allow the Holy Spirit to possess our hearts too so as to enter more fully into communion with God in prayer,” Nixen said.“Through the Divine Office the voice of Christ praying to his Father mingles with our own, allowing us to unite our voice with his and to participate in his priestly intercession for the salvation of the world,” Nixen said.How do we pray through Gregorian chant?Because Gregorian chant is more than just an aesthetic, questions about Gregorian chant are, at their root, questions about the connection between prayer and song.“Christian worship involves the whole human being — body and soul,” Nixen said. “Chanting is fundamental for Christian worship precisely for this purpose, because it allows us to pray not only with our minds but also with our bodies, our heart, our sentiments.”“Worship is the natural expression of the highest love, the love which most engages and engrosses us, which is why we owe it to God alone, whom we must love with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength — i.e., with body, heart, mind, and soul,” Nixen said. “And we do this most perfectly when we sing.” The Benedictine Monks of Norcia give their lives to pray for the world. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Monks of Norcia Music, Navarini said, is “an art form that directly reflects the inner workings of the soul, unlike other art forms, which gives it a unique power of being united to prayer.”“Chant has the power to raise the soul to the divine,” Navarini said. “It is unlike any music in this world and truly provides a doorway and glimpse into the life to come.”Can machines pray?Human chant is meant to be just that — human, in every imperfection, hoarse voice, or flat note.“Even with AI aside, one of the dangers of chant recordings is that singers often aim to present pristine, errorless, and sublime sounds — which are good and holy in and of themselves,” Ganir said. “But such perfection is not often reflective of a life that worships regularly with chant.”The monks who chant daily in monasteries often sing with “tired” voices, Ganir observed. The monks of Norcia chant the Divine Office seven times during the day and once during the night. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Monks of Norcia “Sung prayer early in the morning or in the evening is often a different, usually 'tired,’ sound than prayers chanted during the day,” Ganir said.This isn’t a bad thing; in fact, it’s part of the deeper meaning behind chant.“Prayer is meant to span and intersect through all of life,” Ganir continued. “And music, especially our chant tradition, can be such a worthy and life-giving companion.”“AI-generated sacred-sounding music may have a place as a tool for study, preparation, or even private reflection, but it should not replace the living voice of the Church, the trained pastoral musician, the human composer, or the sung participation of the assembly,” Manalo said. Father Ricky Manalo, a distinguished liturgical composer who also gives lectures on artificial intelligence, defines liturgical music as “sung prayer” that “belongs to the embodied worship of a community gathered before God.” | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Ricky Manalo “AI can generate chant-like sounds or contemporary songs, but it cannot replace the faith, breath, body, and communal participation during a liturgy,” Manalo continued.“Sacred music requires theological depth, pastoral sensitivity, scriptural grounding, ritual awareness, and a sense of the actual community that will sing or hear it,” Manalo said.“Every true prayer is an authentic and personal encounter of trust between a creature with its Creator, a recognition of our dependence on the one who is infinitely good,” Father Ezra Sullivan, a Dominican priest and director of the Spirituality Institute at the Angelicum, told EWTN News.“There is an old saying: ‘You cannot give what you do not have,’” Sullivan continued. “Because an algorithm does not have a knowledge and love of God, no person to have a relationship with him, it cannot make prayers or music that authentically express the raising up of the soul to the hands of our loving Father — even if it makes imitations that are somewhat pleasing, the soul would be missing.”“One of the reasons why we like to know the biography of composers or authors is because when we read their works or listen to their music, we can commune with them across the ages and join our souls with theirs in coming closer to God,” Sullivan continued. “Artificial intelligence might be able to fool us into thinking that it facilitates these horizontal and vertical relationships, and thatʼs precisely how it can be dangerous in the spiritual realm.” Giorgio Navarini, right, sings with his chant group Floriani Sacred Music, a group founded to bring about a revival of Catholic sacred chant. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Floriani Sacred Music In Pope Leoʼs recent encyclical letter, Magnifica Humanitas, the Holy Father wrote: “No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil.”“Gregorian chant is what the soul sings to God; it is what a bride sings to her Divine Bridegroom,” Nixen said. “If an AI-generated thing can love and get married, then it can sing chant. If it can get baptized, then it can sing chant. But if it cannot love, get married, get baptized, or be united to God, then it cannot chant.”
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‘Chant GPT’: How Catholics are responding to AI-generated Gregorian chant #Catholic In the early morning and late at night, monks still rise to sing the divine office, their voices low and hoarse from sleep. With every breath they are keeping alive a centuries-old tradition in monasteries around the world.But in a small corner of the internet, and on music providers like Spotify, another form of chant has taken hold. The text is often a hodgepodge of Latin-sounding words; a mechanical simulation not sung by human voices but generated by artificial intelligence (AI).How should Catholics navigate the new phenomenon of AI-generated chant, or, in the term hymnist Alan Hommerding coined, “Chant GPT”?What is Gregorian chant?Chant isn’t something that is consumed, like social media or food. Instead, it is a way to worship and pray, according to Catholic theologians and musicians.“Chant is not meant to be performed for artistic consumption but meant to attune our hearts to the Lord over the course of time,” Father Phillip Alcon Ganir, a Jesuit priest who teaches sacred music classes at Boston College, told EWTN News. Father Phillip Alcon Ganir, a Jesuit priest who researches and teaches about music, catechetics, and liturgy at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry, encourages Catholics to “develop a more nuanced appreciation” of Gregorian chant by engaging more deeply with it. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Phillip Alcon Ganir Composer and liturgist Father Ricky Manalo, a Paulist priest, agreed, adding: “Gregorian chant is not merely an aesthetic; it is part of the Church’s living tradition of sung prayer, as much as Gospel music is a living tradition for many African American Catholics, or pentatonic melodies are a living tradition for many East Asian Catholics.”“Its beauty is tied not only to its sound but to its liturgical, scriptural, and cultural roots,” he said.Named for St. Gregory the Great, Gregorian chant is a “musical synthesis” of Roman and Gallican chant, according to Father Basil Nixen, a monk of the Abbey of San Benedetto in Monte, Norcia, Italy, where the monks chant daily together. These chanted psalms continue to be prayed as part of the Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours — a daily practice for Catholic priests, religious, and laypeople. The Monks of Norcia. | Credit: Christopher McLallen, courtesy of Benedicta, de Montfort Music “Many might assume that Gregorian chant is really a product of the medieval or dark ages from Western Christianity,” noted Giorgio Navarini, founder and director of the Catholic chant group Floriani Sacred Music. “However, Gregorian chant derives its existence from the Hebrew Temple. Sung psalmody, lamentations, and hymns were a significant part of the Hebraic liturgical life in both the synagogue and Temple.”In the Middle Ages came the “unprecedented notation” of the chant, which helped Gregorian chant spread, Nixen explained.“The sacred melodies of the chant were written by men and women inspired by the Holy Spirit, and every time we sing them, we allow the Holy Spirit to possess our hearts too so as to enter more fully into communion with God in prayer,” Nixen said.“Through the Divine Office the voice of Christ praying to his Father mingles with our own, allowing us to unite our voice with his and to participate in his priestly intercession for the salvation of the world,” Nixen said.How do we pray through Gregorian chant?Because Gregorian chant is more than just an aesthetic, questions about Gregorian chant are, at their root, questions about the connection between prayer and song.“Christian worship involves the whole human being — body and soul,” Nixen said. “Chanting is fundamental for Christian worship precisely for this purpose, because it allows us to pray not only with our minds but also with our bodies, our heart, our sentiments.”“Worship is the natural expression of the highest love, the love which most engages and engrosses us, which is why we owe it to God alone, whom we must love with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength — i.e., with body, heart, mind, and soul,” Nixen said. “And we do this most perfectly when we sing.” The Benedictine Monks of Norcia give their lives to pray for the world. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Monks of Norcia Music, Navarini said, is “an art form that directly reflects the inner workings of the soul, unlike other art forms, which gives it a unique power of being united to prayer.”“Chant has the power to raise the soul to the divine,” Navarini said. “It is unlike any music in this world and truly provides a doorway and glimpse into the life to come.”Can machines pray?Human chant is meant to be just that — human, in every imperfection, hoarse voice, or flat note.“Even with AI aside, one of the dangers of chant recordings is that singers often aim to present pristine, errorless, and sublime sounds — which are good and holy in and of themselves,” Ganir said. “But such perfection is not often reflective of a life that worships regularly with chant.”The monks who chant daily in monasteries often sing with “tired” voices, Ganir observed. The monks of Norcia chant the Divine Office seven times during the day and once during the night. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Monks of Norcia “Sung prayer early in the morning or in the evening is often a different, usually 'tired,’ sound than prayers chanted during the day,” Ganir said.This isn’t a bad thing; in fact, it’s part of the deeper meaning behind chant.“Prayer is meant to span and intersect through all of life,” Ganir continued. “And music, especially our chant tradition, can be such a worthy and life-giving companion.”“AI-generated sacred-sounding music may have a place as a tool for study, preparation, or even private reflection, but it should not replace the living voice of the Church, the trained pastoral musician, the human composer, or the sung participation of the assembly,” Manalo said. Father Ricky Manalo, a distinguished liturgical composer who also gives lectures on artificial intelligence, defines liturgical music as “sung prayer” that “belongs to the embodied worship of a community gathered before God.” | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Ricky Manalo “AI can generate chant-like sounds or contemporary songs, but it cannot replace the faith, breath, body, and communal participation during a liturgy,” Manalo continued.“Sacred music requires theological depth, pastoral sensitivity, scriptural grounding, ritual awareness, and a sense of the actual community that will sing or hear it,” Manalo said.“Every true prayer is an authentic and personal encounter of trust between a creature with its Creator, a recognition of our dependence on the one who is infinitely good,” Father Ezra Sullivan, a Dominican priest and director of the Spirituality Institute at the Angelicum, told EWTN News.“There is an old saying: ‘You cannot give what you do not have,’” Sullivan continued. “Because an algorithm does not have a knowledge and love of God, no person to have a relationship with him, it cannot make prayers or music that authentically express the raising up of the soul to the hands of our loving Father — even if it makes imitations that are somewhat pleasing, the soul would be missing.”“One of the reasons why we like to know the biography of composers or authors is because when we read their works or listen to their music, we can commune with them across the ages and join our souls with theirs in coming closer to God,” Sullivan continued. “Artificial intelligence might be able to fool us into thinking that it facilitates these horizontal and vertical relationships, and thatʼs precisely how it can be dangerous in the spiritual realm.” Giorgio Navarini, right, sings with his chant group Floriani Sacred Music, a group founded to bring about a revival of Catholic sacred chant. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Floriani Sacred Music In Pope Leoʼs recent encyclical letter, Magnifica Humanitas, the Holy Father wrote: “No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil.”“Gregorian chant is what the soul sings to God; it is what a bride sings to her Divine Bridegroom,” Nixen said. “If an AI-generated thing can love and get married, then it can sing chant. If it can get baptized, then it can sing chant. But if it cannot love, get married, get baptized, or be united to God, then it cannot chant.”

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As AI encroaches on sacred music, Catholics still hold true to Gregorian chant, a historical form of sacred music that is still alive today.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 22 June 2026 – A reading from the Second Book of Kings 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18 Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, occupied the whole land and attacked Samaria, which he besieged for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel the king of Assyria took Samaria, and deported the children of Israel to Assyria, setting them in Halah, at the Habor, a river of Gozan, and the cities of the Medes. This came about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD, their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt, from under the domination of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and because they venerated other gods. They followed the rites of the nations whom the Lord had cleared out of the way of the children of Israel and the kings of Israel whom they set up. And though the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and seer, “Give up your evil ways and keep my commandments and statutes, in accordance with the entire law which I enjoined on your fathers and which I sent you by my servants the prophets,” they did not listen, but were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who had not believed in the LORD, their God. They rejected his statutes, the covenant which he had made with their fathers, and the warnings which he had given them, till, in his great anger against Israel, the LORD put them away out of his sight. Only the tribe of Judah was left.From the Gospel according to Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”The risk we run, the Lord says, is that we concentrate on looking at the speck in our brother’s eye without noticing the log that is in our own [eye] (cf. Lk 6:41). In other words, being very attentive to the faults of others, even those as small as a speck, serenely overlooking our own, according them little weight. What Jesus says is true: we always find reasons for blaming others and justifying ourselves. And very often we complain about things that are wrong in society, in the Church, in the world, without first questioning ourselves and without making an effort to change, first of all ourselves. (…) If instead we acknowledge our own mistakes and our own flaws, the door of mercy opens up to us. And after looking within ourselves, Jesus invites us to look at others as he does — this is the secret, to look at others as he does — who does not look at evil first but at goodness. God looks at us in this way: he does not see irredeemable errors in us, but rather he sees children who make mistakes. It is a change in outlook: he does not focus on the mistakes, but on the children who make mistakes. God always distinguishes the person from his errors. He always saves the person. He always believes in the person and is always ready to forgive errors. We know that God always forgives. And he invites us to do likewise: not to look for evil in others, but the good. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 27 February 2022)

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A reading from the Second Book of Kings
17:5-8, 13-15a, 18

Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, occupied the whole land
and attacked Samaria, which he besieged for three years.
In the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel
the king of Assyria took Samaria,
and deported the children of Israel to Assyria,
setting them in Halah, at the Habor, a river of Gozan,
and the cities of the Medes.

This came about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD,
their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt,
from under the domination of Pharaoh, king of Egypt,
and because they venerated other gods.
They followed the rites of the nations
whom the Lord had cleared out of the way of the children of Israel
and the kings of Israel whom they set up.

And though the LORD warned Israel and Judah
by every prophet and seer,
“Give up your evil ways and keep my commandments and statutes,
in accordance with the entire law which I enjoined on your fathers
and which I sent you by my servants the prophets,”
they did not listen, but were as stiff-necked as their fathers,
who had not believed in the LORD, their God.
They rejected his statutes,
the covenant which he had made with their fathers,
and the warnings which he had given them, till,
in his great anger against Israel,
the LORD put them away out of his sight.
Only the tribe of Judah was left.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
7:1-5

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’
while the wooden beam is in your eye?
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

The risk we run, the Lord says, is that we concentrate on looking at the speck in our brother’s eye without noticing the log that is in our own [eye] (cf. Lk 6:41). In other words, being very attentive to the faults of others, even those as small as a speck, serenely overlooking our own, according them little weight. What Jesus says is true: we always find reasons for blaming others and justifying ourselves. And very often we complain about things that are wrong in society, in the Church, in the world, without first questioning ourselves and without making an effort to change, first of all ourselves. (…)

If instead we acknowledge our own mistakes and our own flaws, the door of mercy opens up to us. And after looking within ourselves, Jesus invites us to look at others as he does — this is the secret, to look at others as he does — who does not look at evil first but at goodness. God looks at us in this way: he does not see irredeemable errors in us, but rather he sees children who make mistakes. It is a change in outlook: he does not focus on the mistakes, but on the children who make mistakes. God always distinguishes the person from his errors. He always saves the person. He always believes in the person and is always ready to forgive errors. We know that God always forgives. And he invites us to do likewise: not to look for evil in others, but the good. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 27 February 2022)

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Cleveland father and son live out sacrificial faith after mother’s near-death illness #Catholic In a time when the meaning of masculinity is often misunderstood and undervalued, Joe Soltis and his 15-year-old son, Jake, are a father/son pair from Cleveland, Ohio, who have made service to others the focus of their lives.After his mother’s serious illness, Jake, almost entirely by himself, built her a sauna and exercise room in the family’s basement in order to help her recover. Joe, the CEO of a marketing company, serves on the board of an ecumenical project that unites Catholics and Protestants called Prayer At The Heart, with the aim of igniting “a great spiritual awakening out of a national movement of unified, humble, desperate prayer, unity and evangelism.”The pair spoke with EWTN News about how their Catholic faith inspires them to be men who make it their mission to love as Jesus loves, and about how they hope to inspire others to do the same.‘There’s a good chance Mom won’t be coming home’In 2020, Joe’s wife and Jake’s mom, Becky, almost died after multiple medical issues led doctors to estimate she had only a 10% chance of survival. Joe said she was diagnosed with lupus, Lyme disease, a burst gall bladder, sepsis, and pancreatitis.“We weren’t allowed to see her in the hospital because it was during Covid,” said Joe, the father of five boys and one daughter, who had to tell his kids “there’s a good chance Mom won’t be coming home.” The Soltis family. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Soltis family After weeks in the hospital, Becky began to recover, Joe said, and “by the grace of God, she pulled through.”“Out of that hardship, I have found a woman who is incredibly holy,” Joe said of his wife, who, though mostly recovered, still suffers ongoing symptoms from lupus. “She is an incredible mom and an incredible wife. I couldn’t ask for anyone better. She is a blessing to all of us.”Joe said that time “brought our family tremendously closer together.” A plan to ‘mobilize Christians’As Becky recovered from her health crisis, Joe watched the race riots that erupted all over the country that summer, leading him to conclude that “there are evil forces” at work leading to such division between Americans.“That’s not what Christ wants,” he said, and he wondered whether such division was “manufactured and intentional.” He read Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, which he called “diabolically brilliant.”On July 4, 2020, between his work, family, and other responsibilities, Joe “happened to be free to sit down and think.” He felt inspired to write out a plan that would address how to “mobilize Christians” in a “Catholic, Christian, biblical manner.” Becky helped him fine tune the plan, which Joe then sent to various Christian leaders. Tom Phillips, vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, called him back and put him in touch with Doug Small, a Pentecostal leader with a similar vision who also lives in Ohio. Together, the men came up with Prayer at the Heart, an evangelistic endeavor with the goal of “one million Christians praying for one million friends to know Christ.”Of the ecumenical nature of their ministry, he said there is “great unity among” the team. “We can all unite around Christ.”  “Each congregation-denomination-ministry would brand the effort calling their constituents to prayer, evangelism-mission in their own way,” reads the website, on which Christians can sign up to pray for unbelievers. “The early apostles didn’t just stay in their church and pray,” Joe said. “They went out and evangelized. It’s time for Christians to get out of their homes and churches and bring Jesus to people.”The ministry’s strategy also involves other practical initiatives, such as the organization of local gatherings and outdoor prayer meetings, as well as a prayer request line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.In addition, the ministry is organizing neighborhood prayer walks, weekly groups of Christians praying for coworkers, and a new missionary and mentorship program to train young adults in prayer and evangelism.“There’s no person or political party that’s going to save us. The only thing that’s going to save us is the love of Jesus Christ and the love of others,” Joe said.A message to fathers: ‘Love your wife’This Father’s Day, Joe has encouraging words for fathers: “Love your wife and kids the way Christ loved the Church.” “Sacrifice, be willing to lay your life down. Strive to love like Christ, knowing you will sometimes fall short,” he said. “Go to church every Sunday. Your kids wonʼt know faith is important if you don’t show it. Pray every day with your kids.”“Every night we say the Seven Sorrows of Mary, the St. Michael prayer, and the Angel of God prayer,” he said. “Then we say what we’re thankful for, and this is what we’d like God to help us with.”The Soltis’ also say a rosary once a week as a family, as well as in the car on long trips. “If your family is going through a difficult time, strongly follow the lead of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and consecrate your family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” Joe said.“One of the promises of that consecration is peace within your family. Ours didn’t have peace for a while but it does now, thank the Lord.”‘If I start, God will help me and guide me through it’Jake told EWTN News that “my dad and mom have always shown what love is. It’s a choice, You choose to love others, to love your enemy. Love is a choice and not an emotional feeling.”When he decided to build the sauna and exercise room for his mother in the family’s basement, he said he had “no idea what I was getting into.”Before beginning the basement renovation, Jake said he only “knew how to build a sub par table.” During the work, he said he “was just inspired. I just wanted to help my mom.” Becky Soltis and her son, Jake, in their basement, where Jake built a sauna and exercise room to aid in his motherʼs recovery. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Soltis family Joe said his son “put a lot of pressure on himself because his mom’s health was at stake.” Becky had a grand mal seizure in 2025, which Joe called “scary.”“I have based the majority of my life on the saying ‘I will figure it out,’” Jake said. "I know that if I start something, and use the gifts I was given from God, I will be able to figure it out. I’m not wasting my ability, and I trust that if I start, God will help me and guide me through it.”His father said Jake “looked at two Google images” before starting the project. “He has the knack and ability to do this stuff. He would come home from school and work for thousands of hours.” “The only thing I did was I loaded the stuff in the back of the Chevy Tahoe at the hardware store. Every now and then I helped him out,” Joe laughed.“As an 8th grader, he took an unfinished basement, and now we have a fitness center, sauna, theater room, and theyʼre beautiful! They look professional. He did it all himself, for his mother,” Joe said proudly.
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Cleveland father and son live out sacrificial faith after mother’s near-death illness #Catholic In a time when the meaning of masculinity is often misunderstood and undervalued, Joe Soltis and his 15-year-old son, Jake, are a father/son pair from Cleveland, Ohio, who have made service to others the focus of their lives.After his mother’s serious illness, Jake, almost entirely by himself, built her a sauna and exercise room in the family’s basement in order to help her recover. Joe, the CEO of a marketing company, serves on the board of an ecumenical project that unites Catholics and Protestants called Prayer At The Heart, with the aim of igniting “a great spiritual awakening out of a national movement of unified, humble, desperate prayer, unity and evangelism.”The pair spoke with EWTN News about how their Catholic faith inspires them to be men who make it their mission to love as Jesus loves, and about how they hope to inspire others to do the same.‘There’s a good chance Mom won’t be coming home’In 2020, Joe’s wife and Jake’s mom, Becky, almost died after multiple medical issues led doctors to estimate she had only a 10% chance of survival. Joe said she was diagnosed with lupus, Lyme disease, a burst gall bladder, sepsis, and pancreatitis.“We weren’t allowed to see her in the hospital because it was during Covid,” said Joe, the father of five boys and one daughter, who had to tell his kids “there’s a good chance Mom won’t be coming home.” The Soltis family. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Soltis family After weeks in the hospital, Becky began to recover, Joe said, and “by the grace of God, she pulled through.”“Out of that hardship, I have found a woman who is incredibly holy,” Joe said of his wife, who, though mostly recovered, still suffers ongoing symptoms from lupus. “She is an incredible mom and an incredible wife. I couldn’t ask for anyone better. She is a blessing to all of us.”Joe said that time “brought our family tremendously closer together.” A plan to ‘mobilize Christians’As Becky recovered from her health crisis, Joe watched the race riots that erupted all over the country that summer, leading him to conclude that “there are evil forces” at work leading to such division between Americans.“That’s not what Christ wants,” he said, and he wondered whether such division was “manufactured and intentional.” He read Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, which he called “diabolically brilliant.”On July 4, 2020, between his work, family, and other responsibilities, Joe “happened to be free to sit down and think.” He felt inspired to write out a plan that would address how to “mobilize Christians” in a “Catholic, Christian, biblical manner.” Becky helped him fine tune the plan, which Joe then sent to various Christian leaders. Tom Phillips, vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, called him back and put him in touch with Doug Small, a Pentecostal leader with a similar vision who also lives in Ohio. Together, the men came up with Prayer at the Heart, an evangelistic endeavor with the goal of “one million Christians praying for one million friends to know Christ.”Of the ecumenical nature of their ministry, he said there is “great unity among” the team. “We can all unite around Christ.”  “Each congregation-denomination-ministry would brand the effort calling their constituents to prayer, evangelism-mission in their own way,” reads the website, on which Christians can sign up to pray for unbelievers. “The early apostles didn’t just stay in their church and pray,” Joe said. “They went out and evangelized. It’s time for Christians to get out of their homes and churches and bring Jesus to people.”The ministry’s strategy also involves other practical initiatives, such as the organization of local gatherings and outdoor prayer meetings, as well as a prayer request line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.In addition, the ministry is organizing neighborhood prayer walks, weekly groups of Christians praying for coworkers, and a new missionary and mentorship program to train young adults in prayer and evangelism.“There’s no person or political party that’s going to save us. The only thing that’s going to save us is the love of Jesus Christ and the love of others,” Joe said.A message to fathers: ‘Love your wife’This Father’s Day, Joe has encouraging words for fathers: “Love your wife and kids the way Christ loved the Church.” “Sacrifice, be willing to lay your life down. Strive to love like Christ, knowing you will sometimes fall short,” he said. “Go to church every Sunday. Your kids wonʼt know faith is important if you don’t show it. Pray every day with your kids.”“Every night we say the Seven Sorrows of Mary, the St. Michael prayer, and the Angel of God prayer,” he said. “Then we say what we’re thankful for, and this is what we’d like God to help us with.”The Soltis’ also say a rosary once a week as a family, as well as in the car on long trips. “If your family is going through a difficult time, strongly follow the lead of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and consecrate your family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” Joe said.“One of the promises of that consecration is peace within your family. Ours didn’t have peace for a while but it does now, thank the Lord.”‘If I start, God will help me and guide me through it’Jake told EWTN News that “my dad and mom have always shown what love is. It’s a choice, You choose to love others, to love your enemy. Love is a choice and not an emotional feeling.”When he decided to build the sauna and exercise room for his mother in the family’s basement, he said he had “no idea what I was getting into.”Before beginning the basement renovation, Jake said he only “knew how to build a sub par table.” During the work, he said he “was just inspired. I just wanted to help my mom.” Becky Soltis and her son, Jake, in their basement, where Jake built a sauna and exercise room to aid in his motherʼs recovery. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Soltis family Joe said his son “put a lot of pressure on himself because his mom’s health was at stake.” Becky had a grand mal seizure in 2025, which Joe called “scary.”“I have based the majority of my life on the saying ‘I will figure it out,’” Jake said. "I know that if I start something, and use the gifts I was given from God, I will be able to figure it out. I’m not wasting my ability, and I trust that if I start, God will help me and guide me through it.”His father said Jake “looked at two Google images” before starting the project. “He has the knack and ability to do this stuff. He would come home from school and work for thousands of hours.” “The only thing I did was I loaded the stuff in the back of the Chevy Tahoe at the hardware store. Every now and then I helped him out,” Joe laughed.“As an 8th grader, he took an unfinished basement, and now we have a fitness center, sauna, theater room, and theyʼre beautiful! They look professional. He did it all himself, for his mother,” Joe said proudly.

unitedyam

The pair spoke with EWTN News about how their faith inspires them to be men who make it their mission to love as Jesus loves, and about how they hope to inspire others to do the same.

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‘The Church needs her sons’: Catholic podcast hosts call men to embrace fatherhood and faith #Catholic Samuel Blair and Jason Angelette are two of the five hosts of “The Point Man Podcast,” a podcast for Catholic men. Together, alongside Chris Price, Clint Capdepon, and Drew Pearson, they are fathers and husbands who share their knowledge and experience about navigating life today as Catholic men and as leaders of their families.Blair, a father of four, and Angelette, a widowed father of five, explained that the podcast is aimed at fathers and focuses on how masculinity and the sacramental life can be integrated. Describing themselves as a “mic’d up men’s group,” they try to foster a community to help men realize they’re not alone and encourage one another in their walk with the Lord.Ahead of Father’s Day, EWTN News spoke to the two men about how masculinity is perceived in today’s culture, what authentic masculinity looks like, and why fatherhood is such an important vocation in the life of the Church.(Editorʼs note: This interview was edited for clarity and length.)EWTN News: “Toxic masculinity” is a term used a lot in todayʼs culture. How would you each define authentic Catholic masculinity?Angelette: Jesus Christ. Thatʼs authentic masculinity. Jesus Christ fully reveals man to himself in his most high calling … the more that we model, imitate, and walk in the footsteps of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will radiate a loving walk with our brothers and sisters in Christ in showing what real masculinity looks like.He tells the story of the prodigal son, which is the greatest short story ever told of what happens when, in the face of a father who is humiliated by his son, his son abandoned him, took the money, squandered the inheritance, and just left this complete stain on the family name, and how does he respond to it? Or when you see the compassion and the mercy that he shows the woman who is literally caught in the very act of adultery. Or you see when he embraces Peter after heʼs denied him three times and he gives him three chances to redeem himself and to show that mercy and that kindness and that humility and that gentleness.The heart of a man is a heart that has been set on fire by the Lord Jesus and he loves with gentleness and humility, not weakness in a sense of [being passive], but meekness in the sense of responding to the will of the Father.Blair: At the end of the day, when we die, the Lord doesnʼt ask us, “All right, well let me see your bank account, let me see the titles.” Itʼs “How well did you love?” And you cannot love if you donʼt receive love, which is to Jasonʼs point, he said it very succinctly, is Jesus Christ — he is the way, the truth, and life. So, modeling our lives after him and in that offering not only our wife, our children, our community, stability, offering our strength, warmth, validation because weʼve received that validation and love from the Father.Angelette: Toxic masculinity is men who are fighting the wrong fight. Men who have embraced the wrong identity, men who have abused the gifts and talents that theyʼve been given for themselves and not for others and for the kingdom. Samuel Blair, Jason Angelette, Chris Price, Clint Capdepon, and Drew Pearson film an episode of “The Point Man Podcast.” | Credit: Studio 7 at The Reminding Why is fatherhood such an important vocation in the life of the Church?Angelette: John Paul II, who wrote a play — he wrote five plays — and his last one was called “Radiation of Fatherhood.” And I feel like part of the gift of fatherhood is to radiate the fatherhood of God into the world and to our children.That is this beautiful gift that weʼve been given to participate in this way that God wants to reveal himself through us. Heʼs allowing us to participate — and not act like him, but to love like him, to love with a love like his.So as men, as husbands, as fathers, thereʼs this ability that through this masculine heart, this male heart, through this fatherhood, that we can love and reveal the love of God, the love of the father into the world.Satan hates that. I mean, the thing that destroys families is when fathers have abandoned their post and they leave. Look at the statistics of what happens when a father is not embracing his responsibility as the first herald of the faith, to lead their family in faith, and how hard it is for the faith to be passed on to the next generation.For Fatherʼs Day, what message would you like to share with fathers?Blair: Fathers, know that you’re unconditionally loved by God the Father and that the prodigal son points to that. And whether youʼre the younger son or the older son, he has this great inheritance for his boys, his sons.Not only should we enter into a relationship with Jesus for our own sake but for our wives, for our children, and ultimately the Church. The Church needs her sons fully engaged. Gone are the days you can just be on the sidelines.Angelette: You hear all the time that God loves you and unless youʼre drawing near to the Father, that just sounds like words. So, just avail yourself to really draw into prayer, to the sacraments, to connect with other men in Christ to not walk this road alone.If you want your heart on fire, draw near to the Sacred Heart and let his fire, let the heart of Christ, ignite your heart to the love that weʼre called to so we can truly love our families, truly love our children, and love our wives, and be the man that we know in our heart we want to be and that weʼre being called to be.
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‘The Church needs her sons’: Catholic podcast hosts call men to embrace fatherhood and faith #Catholic Samuel Blair and Jason Angelette are two of the five hosts of “The Point Man Podcast,” a podcast for Catholic men. Together, alongside Chris Price, Clint Capdepon, and Drew Pearson, they are fathers and husbands who share their knowledge and experience about navigating life today as Catholic men and as leaders of their families.Blair, a father of four, and Angelette, a widowed father of five, explained that the podcast is aimed at fathers and focuses on how masculinity and the sacramental life can be integrated. Describing themselves as a “mic’d up men’s group,” they try to foster a community to help men realize they’re not alone and encourage one another in their walk with the Lord.Ahead of Father’s Day, EWTN News spoke to the two men about how masculinity is perceived in today’s culture, what authentic masculinity looks like, and why fatherhood is such an important vocation in the life of the Church.(Editorʼs note: This interview was edited for clarity and length.)EWTN News: “Toxic masculinity” is a term used a lot in todayʼs culture. How would you each define authentic Catholic masculinity?Angelette: Jesus Christ. Thatʼs authentic masculinity. Jesus Christ fully reveals man to himself in his most high calling … the more that we model, imitate, and walk in the footsteps of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will radiate a loving walk with our brothers and sisters in Christ in showing what real masculinity looks like.He tells the story of the prodigal son, which is the greatest short story ever told of what happens when, in the face of a father who is humiliated by his son, his son abandoned him, took the money, squandered the inheritance, and just left this complete stain on the family name, and how does he respond to it? Or when you see the compassion and the mercy that he shows the woman who is literally caught in the very act of adultery. Or you see when he embraces Peter after heʼs denied him three times and he gives him three chances to redeem himself and to show that mercy and that kindness and that humility and that gentleness.The heart of a man is a heart that has been set on fire by the Lord Jesus and he loves with gentleness and humility, not weakness in a sense of [being passive], but meekness in the sense of responding to the will of the Father.Blair: At the end of the day, when we die, the Lord doesnʼt ask us, “All right, well let me see your bank account, let me see the titles.” Itʼs “How well did you love?” And you cannot love if you donʼt receive love, which is to Jasonʼs point, he said it very succinctly, is Jesus Christ — he is the way, the truth, and life. So, modeling our lives after him and in that offering not only our wife, our children, our community, stability, offering our strength, warmth, validation because weʼve received that validation and love from the Father.Angelette: Toxic masculinity is men who are fighting the wrong fight. Men who have embraced the wrong identity, men who have abused the gifts and talents that theyʼve been given for themselves and not for others and for the kingdom. Samuel Blair, Jason Angelette, Chris Price, Clint Capdepon, and Drew Pearson film an episode of “The Point Man Podcast.” | Credit: Studio 7 at The Reminding Why is fatherhood such an important vocation in the life of the Church?Angelette: John Paul II, who wrote a play — he wrote five plays — and his last one was called “Radiation of Fatherhood.” And I feel like part of the gift of fatherhood is to radiate the fatherhood of God into the world and to our children.That is this beautiful gift that weʼve been given to participate in this way that God wants to reveal himself through us. Heʼs allowing us to participate — and not act like him, but to love like him, to love with a love like his.So as men, as husbands, as fathers, thereʼs this ability that through this masculine heart, this male heart, through this fatherhood, that we can love and reveal the love of God, the love of the father into the world.Satan hates that. I mean, the thing that destroys families is when fathers have abandoned their post and they leave. Look at the statistics of what happens when a father is not embracing his responsibility as the first herald of the faith, to lead their family in faith, and how hard it is for the faith to be passed on to the next generation.For Fatherʼs Day, what message would you like to share with fathers?Blair: Fathers, know that you’re unconditionally loved by God the Father and that the prodigal son points to that. And whether youʼre the younger son or the older son, he has this great inheritance for his boys, his sons.Not only should we enter into a relationship with Jesus for our own sake but for our wives, for our children, and ultimately the Church. The Church needs her sons fully engaged. Gone are the days you can just be on the sidelines.Angelette: You hear all the time that God loves you and unless youʼre drawing near to the Father, that just sounds like words. So, just avail yourself to really draw into prayer, to the sacraments, to connect with other men in Christ to not walk this road alone.If you want your heart on fire, draw near to the Sacred Heart and let his fire, let the heart of Christ, ignite your heart to the love that weʼre called to so we can truly love our families, truly love our children, and love our wives, and be the man that we know in our heart we want to be and that weʼre being called to be.

unitedyam

Samuel Blair and Jason Angelette are fathers and husbands who share their knowledge and experiences on navigating life as Catholic men and leaders of their families on “The Point Man Podcast.”

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Diocese celebrates U.S. consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus #Catholic - Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the Paterson Diocese, N.J., in celebrating the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a bilingual Mass at Sacred Heart/Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Dover, N.J., on June 12, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration took place nationally on June 11, the vigil of the feast day, when all the bishops of the country, including Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson, N.J., gathered in Orlando, Fla., for their semi-annual meeting. This act marked a time of renewal and reflection before the July 4 celebration of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. Parishes and individuals across the country were encouraged to join the bishops in consecrating our nation to the Sacred Heart in June. For Catholics, it has been a time of renewal — strengthening their loving relationship with Jesus — and reflection — appreciating Catholic contributions to the country’s history. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Also observing the national consecration locally on June 12 were Sacred Heart Church in Rockaway, N.J., which held a holy hour and Mass, and Sacred Heart Church in Clifton, N.J., which offered English and Spanish Masses. The Masses at the three churches included the Act of Consecration. Other parishes in the diocese offered Mass and opportunities for the Act of Consecration in celebration of the national consecration. Concelebrating the June 12 Mass with Bishop Sweeney in Dover were Father Leonardo Lopez, pastor of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary; Father Cerilo Javinez, parochial vicar of the Dover parish and temporary administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway; Edgar O. Rivera, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary; Father Nicholas Bozza, pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Chester, N.J.; Father Jorge Castano, parochial vicar of St. Lawrence; and Father Carmen Buono, retired diocesan priest and part-time chaplain for Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J. Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Worship Office, served as master of ceremonies. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  
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Diocese celebrates U.S. consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the Paterson Diocese, N.J., in celebrating the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a bilingual Mass at Sacred Heart/Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Dover, N.J., on June 12, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration took place nationally on June 11, the vigil of the feast day, when all the bishops of the country, including Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson, N.J., gathered in Orlando, Fla., for their semi-annual meeting. This act marked a time of renewal and reflection before the July 4 celebration of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. Parishes and individuals across the country were encouraged to join the bishops in consecrating our nation to the Sacred Heart in June. For Catholics, it has been a time of renewal — strengthening their loving relationship with Jesus — and reflection — appreciating Catholic contributions to the country’s history. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Also observing the national consecration locally on June 12 were Sacred Heart Church in Rockaway, N.J., which held a holy hour and Mass, and Sacred Heart Church in Clifton, N.J., which offered English and Spanish Masses. The Masses at the three churches included the Act of Consecration. Other parishes in the diocese offered Mass and opportunities for the Act of Consecration in celebration of the national consecration. Concelebrating the June 12 Mass with Bishop Sweeney in Dover were Father Leonardo Lopez, pastor of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary; Father Cerilo Javinez, parochial vicar of the Dover parish and temporary administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway; Edgar O. Rivera, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary; Father Nicholas Bozza, pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Chester, N.J.; Father Jorge Castano, parochial vicar of St. Lawrence; and Father Carmen Buono, retired diocesan priest and part-time chaplain for Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J. Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Worship Office, served as master of ceremonies. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  

unitedyam

Diocese celebrates U.S. consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the Paterson Diocese, N.J., in celebrating the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a bilingual Mass at Sacred Heart/Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Dover, N.J., on June 12, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The consecration took place nationally on June 11, the vigil of the feast day, when all the bishops of the country, including Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson, N.J., gathered in Orlando, Fla., for their semi-annual meeting. This act marked a time of renewal and reflection before the July 4 celebration of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary.

Parishes and individuals across the country were encouraged to join the bishops in consecrating our nation to the Sacred Heart in June. For Catholics, it has been a time of renewal — strengthening their loving relationship with Jesus — and reflection — appreciating Catholic contributions to the country’s history.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Also observing the national consecration locally on June 12 were Sacred Heart Church in Rockaway, N.J., which held a holy hour and Mass, and Sacred Heart Church in Clifton, N.J., which offered English and Spanish Masses. The Masses at the three churches included the Act of Consecration.

Other parishes in the diocese offered Mass and opportunities for the Act of Consecration in celebration of the national consecration.

Concelebrating the June 12 Mass with Bishop Sweeney in Dover were Father Leonardo Lopez, pastor of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary; Father Cerilo Javinez, parochial vicar of the Dover parish and temporary administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway; Edgar O. Rivera, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart/Holy Rosary; Father Nicholas Bozza, pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Chester, N.J.; Father Jorge Castano, parochial vicar of St. Lawrence; and Father Carmen Buono, retired diocesan priest and part-time chaplain for Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J. Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Worship Office, served as master of ceremonies.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the Paterson Diocese, N.J., in celebrating the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a bilingual Mass at Sacred Heart/Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Dover, N.J., on June 12, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration took place nationally on June 11, the vigil of the feast day, when all the bishops of the country, including Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson, N.J., gathered in Orlando, Fla., for their semi-annual meeting. This act marked a time of renewal and reflection before the

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 21 June 2026 – A reading from the Book of Jeremiah 20:10-13 Jeremiah said: "I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!’ All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. ‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.’ But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. Sing to the LORD, praise the LORD, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!"   A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 5:12-15 Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned— for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come. But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many.From the Gospel according to Matthew 10:26-33 Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."In this Sunday’s Gospel (cf. Mt 10:26-33) the invitation that Jesus addresses to His disciples resonates: to have no fear, to be strong and confident in the face of life’s challenges, as he forewarns them of the adversities that await them. Today’s passage is part of the missionary discourse, with which the Teacher prepares the Apostles for their first experience of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Jesus persistently exhorts them to “have no fear”. Fear is one of the most terrible enemies of our Christian life. Jesus exhorts: “have no fear”, “fear not”. And Jesus describes three tangible situations that they will find themselves facing. (…) They are like three temptations: to sugar-coat the Gospel, to water it down; second: persecution; and third: the feeling that God has left us alone. Even Jesus suffered this trial in the Garden of Olives and on the Cross: “Father, why have you forsaken me?”, Jesus asks. At times one feels this spiritual barrenness; we must not fear it. The Father takes care of us, because our value is great in His eyes. What matters is frankness, the courage of our witness, our witness of faith: “recognizing Jesus before men” and going forth doing good. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 21 June 2020)

unitedyam

A reading from the Book of Jeremiah
20:10-13

Jeremiah said:
"I hear the whisperings of many:
‘Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!’
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.’
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
for he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!"

 

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans
5:12-15

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.

But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
10:26-33

Jesus said to the Twelve:
"Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father."

In this Sunday’s Gospel (cf. Mt 10:26-33) the invitation that Jesus addresses to His disciples resonates: to have no fear, to be strong and confident in the face of life’s challenges, as he forewarns them of the adversities that await them. Today’s passage is part of the missionary discourse, with which the Teacher prepares the Apostles for their first experience of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Jesus persistently exhorts them to “have no fear”. Fear is one of the most terrible enemies of our Christian life. Jesus exhorts: “have no fear”, “fear not”. And Jesus describes three tangible situations that they will find themselves facing. (…)

They are like three temptations: to sugar-coat the Gospel, to water it down; second: persecution; and third: the feeling that God has left us alone. Even Jesus suffered this trial in the Garden of Olives and on the Cross: “Father, why have you forsaken me?”, Jesus asks. At times one feels this spiritual barrenness; we must not fear it. The Father takes care of us, because our value is great in His eyes. What matters is frankness, the courage of our witness, our witness of faith: “recognizing Jesus before men” and going forth doing good. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 21 June 2020)

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5 powerful moments of faith at the 2026 FIFA World Cup #Catholic The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on June 11 — making history as the first World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.The FIFA World Cup is one of the most-watched sporting events with roughly 5 billion people tuning in to the tournament that brings together soccer’s best athletes from around the world.Despite only being a little over a week into the soccer tournament, the name of Jesus has already been made known many times from several of the athletes and teams as they compete on this global stage.Here are five powerful moments of faith we’ve seen at the World Cup so far:1. Croatian team shares the importance of their Catholic faithAhead of Croatia’s first match against England, two members of the team took part in a press conference where they discussed the role their Catholic faith plays in their lives.EWTN News correspondent Mark Irons was in attendance and asked Kristijan Jakić and Igor Matanović what Catholicism means to the team and if prayer and faith is important to them in their own lives.“I think faith is very important in my life. When you pray to God, it’s like a feeling that someone is listening to you, and that gives me a lot of strength,” Matanović said.Jakić added: “We are a country in which we are Catholics and in which faith means the path in our lives. I think faith represents the entire national team. Faith simply means everything in our lives.”Instagram post2. Players from Curaçao and Germany join in prayer after competing against one anotherThe national team from the country of Curaçao — which is a Caribbean island with a population of 150,000 — made history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. By qualifying, the island nation set a Guinness World Record as the smallest country by population to ever reach the global menʼs tournament.Despite losing to Germany in their first match 7-1, the players and coaches were visibly emotional realizing the achievement the team had accomplished. In a moment of gratitude, several of the athletes joined on the pitch for a moment of prayer. They were then joined by German players Jonathan Tah and Felix Nmecha — both outspoken Christians.In a postgame interview, Nmecha said: “During the game, we are opponents, but after the game we are all Christians and we are brothers… In our faith, we all believe that Jesus is glorified through the game and that’s why we came together and simply prayed together.”Instagram post3. Lionel Messi thanks God after making historyArgentina went up against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Kansas, where over 69,000 fans watched history unfold at the feet of the famous Argentinian player Lionel Messi.During the 3-0 victory against Algeria, Messi recorded the first FIFA World Cup hat trick — when a single player scores three goals during one game — of his career. Additionally, Messi made history by tying former German soccer player Miroslav Klose’s record for most men’s World Cup goals scored at 16.After the game, Messi, a devout Catholic, said: “I can’t ask for more than what I received. As I’ve said many times, thank God that he has given me so much and everything that comes now is a blessing.”Instagram post4. Team USA shares a moment of prayer after historic win against ParaguayOn June 12, the men from the United States started their World Cup journey on a positive note with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay. After the game, defender Mark McKenzie led the team in a moment of prayer on the field.Leading into the tournament, several of the U.S. players were vocal about their faith. Star winger Christian Pulisic is known for leading several of his teammates in a Bible study he calls “Bible Time” and has discussed the important role reading Scripture plays in his daily life.Goalkeeper Matt Freese recently spoke to Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast and discussed how his faith and career are intertwined.“Godʼs given me so many opportunities within this game and within my career. I still have a role to play in that. I still have to do my part and take that opportunity and do something with it,” Freese said.He also shared that he’s a listener of Father Mike Schmitz’s “Bible in a Year” podcast.“Right now I’m listening to ‘Bible in a Year’ by Father Mike Schmitz. It’s been fantastic and it kind of makes me able to — even when I’m on the road or even if itʼs a busy stretch — make sure I’m spending some time every day, hopefully every day, [with Scripture],” he said.Instagram post5. Felix Nmecha honors Jesus in post-goal celebrationGerman midfielder Felix Nmecha honored Jesus by making a powerful gesture after scoring the first goal in Germany’s 7-1 victory against Curaçao on June 14.After scoring the goal, Nmecha knelt down on one knee and made the gesture of taking off a crown from his head, placed it on the ground, and then pointed up to the sky. This “crown down” gesture, as it has been called, symbolizes that every gift, every victory, and every moment of glory belongs to Christ.In a postgame interview, Nmecha said: “It was an incredible blessing to score my first goal for Germany and for it to be so fast. All the glory I give to God, because he is the one who has given me this talent and the opportunity to be here living this dream.”Instagram post
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5 powerful moments of faith at the 2026 FIFA World Cup #Catholic The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on June 11 — making history as the first World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.The FIFA World Cup is one of the most-watched sporting events with roughly 5 billion people tuning in to the tournament that brings together soccer’s best athletes from around the world.Despite only being a little over a week into the soccer tournament, the name of Jesus has already been made known many times from several of the athletes and teams as they compete on this global stage.Here are five powerful moments of faith we’ve seen at the World Cup so far:1. Croatian team shares the importance of their Catholic faithAhead of Croatia’s first match against England, two members of the team took part in a press conference where they discussed the role their Catholic faith plays in their lives.EWTN News correspondent Mark Irons was in attendance and asked Kristijan Jakić and Igor Matanović what Catholicism means to the team and if prayer and faith is important to them in their own lives.“I think faith is very important in my life. When you pray to God, it’s like a feeling that someone is listening to you, and that gives me a lot of strength,” Matanović said.Jakić added: “We are a country in which we are Catholics and in which faith means the path in our lives. I think faith represents the entire national team. Faith simply means everything in our lives.”Instagram post2. Players from Curaçao and Germany join in prayer after competing against one anotherThe national team from the country of Curaçao — which is a Caribbean island with a population of 150,000 — made history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. By qualifying, the island nation set a Guinness World Record as the smallest country by population to ever reach the global menʼs tournament.Despite losing to Germany in their first match 7-1, the players and coaches were visibly emotional realizing the achievement the team had accomplished. In a moment of gratitude, several of the athletes joined on the pitch for a moment of prayer. They were then joined by German players Jonathan Tah and Felix Nmecha — both outspoken Christians.In a postgame interview, Nmecha said: “During the game, we are opponents, but after the game we are all Christians and we are brothers… In our faith, we all believe that Jesus is glorified through the game and that’s why we came together and simply prayed together.”Instagram post3. Lionel Messi thanks God after making historyArgentina went up against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Kansas, where over 69,000 fans watched history unfold at the feet of the famous Argentinian player Lionel Messi.During the 3-0 victory against Algeria, Messi recorded the first FIFA World Cup hat trick — when a single player scores three goals during one game — of his career. Additionally, Messi made history by tying former German soccer player Miroslav Klose’s record for most men’s World Cup goals scored at 16.After the game, Messi, a devout Catholic, said: “I can’t ask for more than what I received. As I’ve said many times, thank God that he has given me so much and everything that comes now is a blessing.”Instagram post4. Team USA shares a moment of prayer after historic win against ParaguayOn June 12, the men from the United States started their World Cup journey on a positive note with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay. After the game, defender Mark McKenzie led the team in a moment of prayer on the field.Leading into the tournament, several of the U.S. players were vocal about their faith. Star winger Christian Pulisic is known for leading several of his teammates in a Bible study he calls “Bible Time” and has discussed the important role reading Scripture plays in his daily life.Goalkeeper Matt Freese recently spoke to Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast and discussed how his faith and career are intertwined.“Godʼs given me so many opportunities within this game and within my career. I still have a role to play in that. I still have to do my part and take that opportunity and do something with it,” Freese said.He also shared that he’s a listener of Father Mike Schmitz’s “Bible in a Year” podcast.“Right now I’m listening to ‘Bible in a Year’ by Father Mike Schmitz. It’s been fantastic and it kind of makes me able to — even when I’m on the road or even if itʼs a busy stretch — make sure I’m spending some time every day, hopefully every day, [with Scripture],” he said.Instagram post5. Felix Nmecha honors Jesus in post-goal celebrationGerman midfielder Felix Nmecha honored Jesus by making a powerful gesture after scoring the first goal in Germany’s 7-1 victory against Curaçao on June 14.After scoring the goal, Nmecha knelt down on one knee and made the gesture of taking off a crown from his head, placed it on the ground, and then pointed up to the sky. This “crown down” gesture, as it has been called, symbolizes that every gift, every victory, and every moment of glory belongs to Christ.In a postgame interview, Nmecha said: “It was an incredible blessing to score my first goal for Germany and for it to be so fast. All the glory I give to God, because he is the one who has given me this talent and the opportunity to be here living this dream.”Instagram post

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Christian athletes are making the name of Jesus known at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Here are five powerful moments of faith at the international tournament so far.

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Funding cuts force Catholic charity to scale back Rohingya aid in Bangladesh #Catholic Caritas Bangladesh has been forced to scale back its relief work for Rohingya refugees in the city of Coxʼs Bazar as funding from foreign donors declines, its emergency response director said.“Our biggest challenge now is funding,” said Liton Luis Gomes, project director of Caritas Bangladeshʼs Emergency Response Program.“We only received 60% of the funds we planned for this fiscal year; we didnʼt get the remaining 40%,” Gomes told EWTN News by phone. “Thatʼs why we had to reduce the quantity while maintaining the quality of our services.”The cuts have fallen hardest on shelter and hygiene work. “If we used to be able to repair 500 houses, now it has decreased by 50%. If someone asks for a hygiene kit like soap, we canʼt give it urgently,” Gomes said.A shrinking budgetThe decline in donor support has been steep. Caritas Bangladesh reported receiving about 916 million taka ($7.4 million) for its Rohingya response in 2017–18. Support fell to about 468 million taka ($3.8 million) in 2020 and about 417 million taka ($3.4 million) in 2024. It rose to about 531 million taka ($4.3 million) in 2025 before falling again to about 427 million taka ($3.5 million) so far in 2026, the agency said.Even so, Gomes said, the charity is maintaining the services that do not require money. “We are doing things like training volunteers for the crisis period, raising awareness about disaster relief,” he said.Caritas Bangladesh has worked in the camps since the 2017 exodus, providing shelter, water and sanitation, child protection, and education. Between 2017 and 2024, its shelter and settlement program reached an average of 38,335 households a year, the charity said, through transitional shelter assistance, repairs, tarpaulin distribution, and monsoon support. It runs 12 learning centers and two youth and adolescent centers in the camps, teaching children under the Myanmar curriculum.Lives in the campsThe charityʼs work is felt in individual lives. Mohammad Arshad, 23, who lives in Camp 19, has volunteered in the shelter program of Caritas Bangladeshʼs Emergency Response Program since 2018. He had studied up to class nine in Myanmar and helped his father run a grocery shop before the family was forced to flee. With no stable income and eight people to support, including his aging parents, his wife, his young son, and two younger siblings, he had lain awake wondering how he would provide.“The job was more than just a source of income; it gave me a sense of purpose. I learned how to organize workers, coordinate with engineers, and develop technical skills,” Arshad told EWTN News.“This opportunity had not only helped me; it supports my family but also [has] given me hope for a better future. As I watched my son sleep peacefully at night, [I] whispered silent thanks, to Caritas Bangladesh, to the people who had trusted me, to the strength that kept me going,” Arshad added.Momtaz Begum, a vulnerable woman who received income-generating support through Caritas, described a similar turnaround. “My husbandʼs addiction left us in debt, and after he abandoned us, I struggled to provide for my family by raising poultry and growing vegetables. The COVID-19 pandemic made things worse, leaving us without food or income. When our home was destroyed in the rain, I moved to my fatherʼs house, where I faced mistreatment from relatives,” she told EWTN News.On Jan. 18, 2022, Begum received 25,000 taka (about $200) from Caritas Bangladesh to start an income-generating activity. She used the money to expand her cloth business. “Earlier, I had to share profits with a shopkeeper, but now I buy cloth independently and keep all the profit. This has increased my daily earnings to 400-500 taka [about $3 to $4], allowing me to save … money,” Begum told EWTN News.A stateless peopleRohingya refugees have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since the 1970s. In the 1990s, more than 250,000 sheltered in Coxʼs Bazar, though all but 20,000 were repatriated after a campaign that began in the early 2000s. The influx resumed in 2015, and by 2017 an estimated 300,000 Rohingya were in Bangladesh. About 537,000 more fled across the border to Coxʼs Bazar in August 2017 as violence intensified in Myanmarʼs Rakhine state, prompting the United Nations to call the situation “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” By December 2023, 971,904 Rohingya were living in 33 camps in the Coxʼs Bazar district. Pope Francis met a group of Rohingya refugees during his apostolic visit to Bangladesh in 2017.Looking ahead, Caritas Bangladesh said it aims to build stronger links between the refugees it assists and local businesses, and to deepen cooperation with government and aid agencies, even within a tighter budget.
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Funding cuts force Catholic charity to scale back Rohingya aid in Bangladesh #Catholic Caritas Bangladesh has been forced to scale back its relief work for Rohingya refugees in the city of Coxʼs Bazar as funding from foreign donors declines, its emergency response director said.“Our biggest challenge now is funding,” said Liton Luis Gomes, project director of Caritas Bangladeshʼs Emergency Response Program.“We only received 60% of the funds we planned for this fiscal year; we didnʼt get the remaining 40%,” Gomes told EWTN News by phone. “Thatʼs why we had to reduce the quantity while maintaining the quality of our services.”The cuts have fallen hardest on shelter and hygiene work. “If we used to be able to repair 500 houses, now it has decreased by 50%. If someone asks for a hygiene kit like soap, we canʼt give it urgently,” Gomes said.A shrinking budgetThe decline in donor support has been steep. Caritas Bangladesh reported receiving about 916 million taka ($7.4 million) for its Rohingya response in 2017–18. Support fell to about 468 million taka ($3.8 million) in 2020 and about 417 million taka ($3.4 million) in 2024. It rose to about 531 million taka ($4.3 million) in 2025 before falling again to about 427 million taka ($3.5 million) so far in 2026, the agency said.Even so, Gomes said, the charity is maintaining the services that do not require money. “We are doing things like training volunteers for the crisis period, raising awareness about disaster relief,” he said.Caritas Bangladesh has worked in the camps since the 2017 exodus, providing shelter, water and sanitation, child protection, and education. Between 2017 and 2024, its shelter and settlement program reached an average of 38,335 households a year, the charity said, through transitional shelter assistance, repairs, tarpaulin distribution, and monsoon support. It runs 12 learning centers and two youth and adolescent centers in the camps, teaching children under the Myanmar curriculum.Lives in the campsThe charityʼs work is felt in individual lives. Mohammad Arshad, 23, who lives in Camp 19, has volunteered in the shelter program of Caritas Bangladeshʼs Emergency Response Program since 2018. He had studied up to class nine in Myanmar and helped his father run a grocery shop before the family was forced to flee. With no stable income and eight people to support, including his aging parents, his wife, his young son, and two younger siblings, he had lain awake wondering how he would provide.“The job was more than just a source of income; it gave me a sense of purpose. I learned how to organize workers, coordinate with engineers, and develop technical skills,” Arshad told EWTN News.“This opportunity had not only helped me; it supports my family but also [has] given me hope for a better future. As I watched my son sleep peacefully at night, [I] whispered silent thanks, to Caritas Bangladesh, to the people who had trusted me, to the strength that kept me going,” Arshad added.Momtaz Begum, a vulnerable woman who received income-generating support through Caritas, described a similar turnaround. “My husbandʼs addiction left us in debt, and after he abandoned us, I struggled to provide for my family by raising poultry and growing vegetables. The COVID-19 pandemic made things worse, leaving us without food or income. When our home was destroyed in the rain, I moved to my fatherʼs house, where I faced mistreatment from relatives,” she told EWTN News.On Jan. 18, 2022, Begum received 25,000 taka (about $200) from Caritas Bangladesh to start an income-generating activity. She used the money to expand her cloth business. “Earlier, I had to share profits with a shopkeeper, but now I buy cloth independently and keep all the profit. This has increased my daily earnings to 400-500 taka [about $3 to $4], allowing me to save … money,” Begum told EWTN News.A stateless peopleRohingya refugees have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since the 1970s. In the 1990s, more than 250,000 sheltered in Coxʼs Bazar, though all but 20,000 were repatriated after a campaign that began in the early 2000s. The influx resumed in 2015, and by 2017 an estimated 300,000 Rohingya were in Bangladesh. About 537,000 more fled across the border to Coxʼs Bazar in August 2017 as violence intensified in Myanmarʼs Rakhine state, prompting the United Nations to call the situation “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” By December 2023, 971,904 Rohingya were living in 33 camps in the Coxʼs Bazar district. Pope Francis met a group of Rohingya refugees during his apostolic visit to Bangladesh in 2017.Looking ahead, Caritas Bangladesh said it aims to build stronger links between the refugees it assists and local businesses, and to deepen cooperation with government and aid agencies, even within a tighter budget.

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As foreign donations dwindle, the Catholic Church’s relief agency in Bangladesh is repairing fewer shelters and rationing hygiene supplies for Rohingya refugees who depend on it.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 20 June 2026 – A reading from the Second Book of Chronicles 24:17-25 After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash, and the king then listened to them. They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings. Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: "God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the LORD’s commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.’" But they conspired against him, and at the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the LORD’s temple. Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, and slew his son. And as Zechariah was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge." At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. Though the Aramean force came with few men, the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash. After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.From the Gospel according to Matthew 4:24-34 Jesus said to his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."In the face of the situations of so many people, near and far, who live in wretchedness, Jesus’ discourse might appear hardly realistic, if not evasive. In fact, the Lord wants to make people understand clearly that it is impossible to serve two masters: God and mammon [riches]. Whoever believes in God, the Father full of love for his children, puts first the search for his Kingdom and his will. And this is precisely the opposite of fatalism or ingenuous irenics. Faith in Providence does not in fact dispense us from the difficult struggle for a dignified life but frees us from the yearning for things and from fear of the future. It is clear that although Jesus’ teaching remains ever true and applicable for all it is practised in different ways according to the different vocations: a Franciscan friar will be able to follow it more radically while a father of a family must bear in mind his proper duties to his wife and children. In every case, however, Christians are distinguished by their absolute trust in the heavenly Father, as was Jesus. It was precisely Christ’s relationship with God the Father that gave meaning to the whole of his life, to his words, to his acts of salvation until his Passion, death and Resurrection. Jesus showed us what it means to live with our feet firmly planted on the ground, attentive to the concrete situations of our neighbour yet at the same time keeping our heart in Heaven, immersed in God’s mercy. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 27 February 2011)

unitedyam

A reading from the Second Book of Chronicles
24:17-25

After the death of Jehoiada,
the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash,
and the king then listened to them.
They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers,
and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols;
and because of this crime of theirs,
wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem.
Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD,
the people would not listen to their warnings.
Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah,
son of Jehoiada the priest.
He took his stand above the people and said to them:
"God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the LORD’s commands,
so that you cannot prosper?
Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.’"
But they conspired against him,
and at the king’s order they stoned him to death
in the court of the LORD’s temple.
Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him
by Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, and slew his son.
And as Zechariah was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge."

At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash.
They invaded Judah and Jerusalem,
did away with all the princes of the people,
and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.
Though the Aramean force came with few men,
the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power,
because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers.
So punishment was meted out to Joash.
After the Arameans had departed from him,
leaving him in grievous suffering,
his servants conspired against him
because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest.
He was buried in the City of David,
but not in the tombs of the kings.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
4:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:
"No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

In the face of the situations of so many people, near and far, who live in wretchedness, Jesus’ discourse might appear hardly realistic, if not evasive. In fact, the Lord wants to make people understand clearly that it is impossible to serve two masters: God and mammon [riches]. Whoever believes in God, the Father full of love for his children, puts first the search for his Kingdom and his will. And this is precisely the opposite of fatalism or ingenuous irenics. Faith in Providence does not in fact dispense us from the difficult struggle for a dignified life but frees us from the yearning for things and from fear of the future.

It is clear that although Jesus’ teaching remains ever true and applicable for all it is practised in different ways according to the different vocations: a Franciscan friar will be able to follow it more radically while a father of a family must bear in mind his proper duties to his wife and children. In every case, however, Christians are distinguished by their absolute trust in the heavenly Father, as was Jesus. It was precisely Christ’s relationship with God the Father that gave meaning to the whole of his life, to his words, to his acts of salvation until his Passion, death and Resurrection. Jesus showed us what it means to live with our feet firmly planted on the ground, attentive to the concrete situations of our neighbour yet at the same time keeping our heart in Heaven, immersed in God’s mercy. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 27 February 2011)

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Pope Leo XIV: Synodality can help us avoid being another Tower of Babel #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Friday highlighted the role of synodality in promoting the common good and avoiding new divisions.In his private audience with the participants of the Borgo Dialogues at the Vatican on June 19, Leo praised their work as a commitment to the “ecological, social, and economic transformation of the world.” He also described their work as grounded in the Church’s vision to promote global unity.“Your dialogues have been structured on the Catholic Church’s vision of synodality, listening from the ground up while fostering global unity,” Leo said.In his remarks, the pope drew extensively on his recent encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas. He urged leaders to resist the temptation to prioritize profits over a civilization of love.“In the face of the temptation to build the ‘Tower of Babel,’ which represents the idolatry of profit at the expense of the most vulnerable and enhances the risk of dehumanization, we are called to contribute to the construction of the New Jerusalem, the civilization of love, in which love is the only guiding principle of economic, political, and cultural life.”The Borgo Dialogues were held June 17–19 at the Borgo Laudato Si’, part of the Pontifical Villa Gardens in Castel Gandolfo. Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, the meetings brought together leaders from academia, culture, and business to focus on global ecological challenges and related topics.
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Pope Leo XIV: Synodality can help us avoid being another Tower of Babel #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Friday highlighted the role of synodality in promoting the common good and avoiding new divisions.In his private audience with the participants of the Borgo Dialogues at the Vatican on June 19, Leo praised their work as a commitment to the “ecological, social, and economic transformation of the world.” He also described their work as grounded in the Church’s vision to promote global unity.“Your dialogues have been structured on the Catholic Church’s vision of synodality, listening from the ground up while fostering global unity,” Leo said.In his remarks, the pope drew extensively on his recent encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas. He urged leaders to resist the temptation to prioritize profits over a civilization of love.“In the face of the temptation to build the ‘Tower of Babel,’ which represents the idolatry of profit at the expense of the most vulnerable and enhances the risk of dehumanization, we are called to contribute to the construction of the New Jerusalem, the civilization of love, in which love is the only guiding principle of economic, political, and cultural life.”The Borgo Dialogues were held June 17–19 at the Borgo Laudato Si’, part of the Pontifical Villa Gardens in Castel Gandolfo. Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, the meetings brought together leaders from academia, culture, and business to focus on global ecological challenges and related topics.

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The pontiff addressed participants of the Borgo Dialogues at the Vatican on June 19.

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4 Venezuelans form new community of hermits where Christianity began in Spain #Catholic Since last May, the Diocese of Guadix in Spain has been home to a new community of hermits — four Venezuelan men who have settled at the site of the martyrdom of St. Torquatus.St. Torquatus, beheaded in the first century, was one of the seven reputed disciples of the apostle James, known as the apostolic men, who were the first to preach Christianity in Spain.Carlos Andrés, Óscar Eduardo, Osmar Moisés, and Emilio José have taken up residence at Face Retama, a desert area within the Granada Geopark and the location of the hermitage of St. Torquatus, the patron saint of the Diocese of Guadix.The four Venezuelans have formed a community known as the Hermits of Sts. Torquatus, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, receiving their habits in early May.According to the Diocese of Guadix, this diocesan foundation was established through the efforts of Bishop Francisco Jesús Orozco, who wants to ensure that the diocese “keep[s] the memory of the place alive and pray[s] for the Church proclaimed by St. Torquatus in the first century and that endures to this day.”In recent years, the hermitage of Face Retama has been restored and designated a diocesan shrine, with plans for regular Masses and pilgrimages.The four new hermits have been preparing for their arrival for three years and, prior to establishing the community, underwent a period of acclimatization to the location.“They arrive guided by and inspired by the charism of the Congregation of Martha and Mary, which already has two communities of women religious in the diocese, one in Castril and the other in the city of Guadix,” the diocese explained.The ceremony consecrating the four men as hermits held at the Guadix Cathedral was attended by numerous religious sisters from this community, including its founder, Mother Ángela, and the superior general, Mother Rutilia.Signs of their commitment as hermitsSeveral signs of the new communityʼs eremitic life were present during the celebration: a white tablecloth, recalling the table Martha prepared for Jesus, the purity of Lazarus’s resurrection, and the Eucharist they will celebrate daily; a cross with its nails, a symbol of the self-offering of the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, “seeking nothing other than to unite with the sufferings of Christ in order to share in his glory”; and a staff, a water gourd, and sandals, reminding that “the hermit through his seclusion upholds the mission of the Church through prayer.”During the homily, Orozco reminded the newly consecrated men of their new commitments: “In the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, you will be the beating heart of our diocese, interceding ceaselessly for the needs of the Church and, very especially, for the needs of our Holy Father, the pope.”He also reminded them that their new way of life “is not a flight from the world. It is much more; it is personal intimacy with Christ.”“In the desert of Face Retama you will never be alone. Where a Christian or where a hermit lives, he gives himself, suffers, makes sacrifices, and lives in fidelity to prayer and contemplation; there the entire Church is with him. That is the desert, that is your vocation,” he continued.“In you, dear hermits, we place our rich history of 21 centuries of faith; may Face Retama, through your fidelity, be heaven on Earth,” the bishop told them.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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4 Venezuelans form new community of hermits where Christianity began in Spain #Catholic Since last May, the Diocese of Guadix in Spain has been home to a new community of hermits — four Venezuelan men who have settled at the site of the martyrdom of St. Torquatus.St. Torquatus, beheaded in the first century, was one of the seven reputed disciples of the apostle James, known as the apostolic men, who were the first to preach Christianity in Spain.Carlos Andrés, Óscar Eduardo, Osmar Moisés, and Emilio José have taken up residence at Face Retama, a desert area within the Granada Geopark and the location of the hermitage of St. Torquatus, the patron saint of the Diocese of Guadix.The four Venezuelans have formed a community known as the Hermits of Sts. Torquatus, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, receiving their habits in early May.According to the Diocese of Guadix, this diocesan foundation was established through the efforts of Bishop Francisco Jesús Orozco, who wants to ensure that the diocese “keep[s] the memory of the place alive and pray[s] for the Church proclaimed by St. Torquatus in the first century and that endures to this day.”In recent years, the hermitage of Face Retama has been restored and designated a diocesan shrine, with plans for regular Masses and pilgrimages.The four new hermits have been preparing for their arrival for three years and, prior to establishing the community, underwent a period of acclimatization to the location.“They arrive guided by and inspired by the charism of the Congregation of Martha and Mary, which already has two communities of women religious in the diocese, one in Castril and the other in the city of Guadix,” the diocese explained.The ceremony consecrating the four men as hermits held at the Guadix Cathedral was attended by numerous religious sisters from this community, including its founder, Mother Ángela, and the superior general, Mother Rutilia.Signs of their commitment as hermitsSeveral signs of the new communityʼs eremitic life were present during the celebration: a white tablecloth, recalling the table Martha prepared for Jesus, the purity of Lazarus’s resurrection, and the Eucharist they will celebrate daily; a cross with its nails, a symbol of the self-offering of the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, “seeking nothing other than to unite with the sufferings of Christ in order to share in his glory”; and a staff, a water gourd, and sandals, reminding that “the hermit through his seclusion upholds the mission of the Church through prayer.”During the homily, Orozco reminded the newly consecrated men of their new commitments: “In the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, you will be the beating heart of our diocese, interceding ceaselessly for the needs of the Church and, very especially, for the needs of our Holy Father, the pope.”He also reminded them that their new way of life “is not a flight from the world. It is much more; it is personal intimacy with Christ.”“In the desert of Face Retama you will never be alone. Where a Christian or where a hermit lives, he gives himself, suffers, makes sacrifices, and lives in fidelity to prayer and contemplation; there the entire Church is with him. That is the desert, that is your vocation,” he continued.“In you, dear hermits, we place our rich history of 21 centuries of faith; may Face Retama, through your fidelity, be heaven on Earth,” the bishop told them.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The hermits have taken up residence in the historic hermitage of St. Torquatus to pray for the needs of the pope and the Church.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 19 June 2026 – A reading from the Second Book of Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die. For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled the land. But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards. He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD, exacted from them a sworn commitment, and then showed them the king’s son. The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath and those going off duty that week, came to Jehoiada the priest. He gave the captains King David’s spears and shields, which were in the temple of the LORD. And the guards, with drawn weapons, lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure, surrounding the altar and the temple on the king’s behalf. Then Jehoiada led out the king’s son and put the crown and the insignia upon him. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!” Athaliah heard the noise made by the people, and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD. When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, and the captains and trumpeters near him, with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, she tore her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!” Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains in command of the force: “Bring her outside through the ranks. If anyone follows her,” he added, “let him die by the sword.” He had given orders that she should not be slain in the temple of the LORD. She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace, where she was put to death. Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party and the king and the people as the other, by which they would be the LORD’s people; and another covenant, between the king and the people. Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and demolished it. They shattered its altars and images completely, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. Jehoiada appointed a detachment for the temple of the LORD. All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the royal palace.From the Gospel according to Matthew 6:19-23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”The Evangelist Matthew invites us to reflect on the importance of the heart, quoting this beautiful phrase of Jesus: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6:21). It is therefore in the heart that true treasure is kept, not in earthly safes, not in large financial investments, which today more than ever before are out of control and unjustly concentrated at the bloody price of millions of human lives and the devastation of God’s creation. It is important to reflect on these aspects, because in the numerous commitments we continually face, there is an increasing risk of dispersion, sometimes of despair, of meaninglessness, even in apparently successful people. Instead, interpreting life in the light of Easter, looking at it with the Risen Jesus, means finding access to the essence of the human person, to our heart: cor inquietum. With this adjective “restless”, Saint Augustine helps us understand the human being’s yearning for fulfilment. The full sentence refers to the beginning of the Confessions, where Augustine writes: “Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (I, 1,1). Restlessness is the sign that our heart does not move by chance, in a disordered way, without a purpose or a destination, but is oriented towards its ultimate destination, the “return home”. The authentic approach of the heart does not consist in possessing the goods of this world, but in achieving what can fill it completely; namely, the love of God, or rather, God who is Love. (Pope Leo XIV, General Audience, 17 December 2025)

unitedyam

A reading from the Second Book of Kings
11:1-4, 9-18, 20

When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah,
saw that her son was dead,
she began to kill off the whole royal family.
But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah,
took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse,
from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain.
She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die.
For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD,
while Athaliah ruled the land.

But in the seventh year,
Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians
and of the guards.
He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD,
exacted from them a sworn commitment,
and then showed them the king’s son.

The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded.
Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath
and those going off duty that week,
came to Jehoiada the priest.
He gave the captains King David’s spears and shields,
which were in the temple of the LORD.
And the guards, with drawn weapons,
lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure,
surrounding the altar and the temple on the king’s behalf.
Then Jehoiada led out the king’s son
and put the crown and the insignia upon him.
They proclaimed him king and anointed him,
clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!”

Athaliah heard the noise made by the people,
and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD.
When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom,
and the captains and trumpeters near him,
with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets,
she tore her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!”
Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains
in command of the force:
“Bring her outside through the ranks.
If anyone follows her,” he added, “let him die by the sword.”
He had given orders that she
should not be slain in the temple of the LORD.
She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace,
where she was put to death.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party
and the king and the people as the other,
by which they would be the LORD’s people;
and another covenant, between the king and the people.
Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal
and demolished it.
They shattered its altars and images completely,
and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars.
Jehoiada appointed a detachment for the temple of the LORD.
All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet,
now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword
at the royal palace.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye.
If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.
And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

The Evangelist Matthew invites us to reflect on the importance of the heart, quoting this beautiful phrase of Jesus: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6:21). It is therefore in the heart that true treasure is kept, not in earthly safes, not in large financial investments, which today more than ever before are out of control and unjustly concentrated at the bloody price of millions of human lives and the devastation of God’s creation.

It is important to reflect on these aspects, because in the numerous commitments we continually face, there is an increasing risk of dispersion, sometimes of despair, of meaninglessness, even in apparently successful people. Instead, interpreting life in the light of Easter, looking at it with the Risen Jesus, means finding access to the essence of the human person, to our heart: cor inquietum. With this adjective “restless”, Saint Augustine helps us understand the human being’s yearning for fulfilment. The full sentence refers to the beginning of the Confessions, where Augustine writes: “Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (I, 1,1).

Restlessness is the sign that our heart does not move by chance, in a disordered way, without a purpose or a destination, but is oriented towards its ultimate destination, the “return home”. The authentic approach of the heart does not consist in possessing the goods of this world, but in achieving what can fill it completely; namely, the love of God, or rather, God who is Love. (Pope Leo XIV, General Audience, 17 December 2025)

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Bishops mark ‘sobering anniversary’ of Canada euthanasia law, call faithful to action #Catholic – The Catholic bishops of Canada asked the Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill “to voice renewed concern” about the country’s Medical Assistance in Dying law, now in place for a decade. In June 2016, Parliament passed federal legislation, Bill C-14, allowing “medical assistance in dying,” also known as MAiD. On June 17, David Johnston, then Canada’s governor general, gave “royal assent” to the measure, which permits eligible adults, under specified conditions, to access legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide across Canada. In calling for renewed concern “as we mark this sobering anniversary,” the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Standing Committee for Family and Life also urged all “to remain steadfast in opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide, to pray for the conversion of hearts and minds away from this practice, and to be present to persons who are sick and vulnerable.” “We reject complacency with the status quo on euthanasia in Canada,” the bishops said in a June 10 statement. “Formed by the Gospel, we are called to draw near to those who suffer: not to ignore, trivialize, or abandon them in their pain or despair, but to accompany them with compassion, practical care, and hope (cf. Lk 10:30-37). Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. They continued, “We actively seek opportunities for effective, collaborative strategies to provide concrete and compassionate support to those living with serious physical or mental illness, those with disabilities, and those nearing the end of life, as well as their families and caregivers.” Under the law, eligible adults can request a medical professional to directly administer a lethal substance (euthanasia), or provide lethal drugs for self-administration (assisted suicide). They currently must meet several criteria including being at least 18 years old and mentally competent; being eligible for publicly funded Canadian health services; having a serious, incurable illness, disease or disability; and being in an advanced state of irreversible decline and experiencing intolerable physical or psychological suffering. They also must confirm their request is voluntary and not the result of external pressure or influence. Individuals who suffer solely from a mental illness will become eligible for MAiD March 17, 2027. An earlier date for their eligibility was delayed, and in the meantime, Bill C-218 has been introduced to stop the expansion of the law to individuals with a mental illness. “Canada now has ‘the world’s largest and fastest-growing euthanasia program,’” the bishops said in their statement. Citing the government’s “Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, 2024,” they said the percentage of MAiD deaths is increasing annually and accounted for 5.1% of all deaths in 2024, or 16,499 Canadians. A November 2025 update to the report said there have been 76,475 deaths under MAiD since its 2016 legalization. “Grave concern is warranted regarding the continued expansion of the eligibility criteria for ‘MAID,’ which puts increasing numbers of Canadians at risk,” they said. “In 2016, only individuals whose death was ‘reasonably foreseeable’ were eligible for ‘MAID’ with so-called ‘safeguards” in place,’” the bishops said. “Subsequent legislation in 2021, however, considerably broadened the criteria, expanding access to include those whose death is not ‘reasonably foreseeable,’ but whose condition is ‘grievous and irremediable.’” “True compassion does not answer suffering with death, but accompanies those who suffer with hope, presence, palliative care, and relief of pain,” the bishops said. The Catholic faith “teaches that we must strive for proportionate treatment options that neither unduly prolong nor intentionally hasten death, but instead offer life-affirming and compassionate care,” they said. They prayed for “all those whose lives have been lost to ‘MAID” and also “for their loved ones, many of whom continue to carry grief, confusion, regret, or unanswered questions.” In remembering all those who continue to suffer — the sick, those with disabilities, the elderly, those living with mental illness, those near the end of life, and “all who experience loneliness, fear or despair” — Canadian bishops renewed their call to “give witness at the side of the sick person and to become a ‘healing community.’” The bishops thanked “the many dioceses, eparchies, parishes, organizations, healthcare workers, families, and volunteers who, over the past 10 years, have promoted Christian hope in the face of illness and death and have resisted ‘MAID’ with courage and compassion.” “Their witness reminds us that defending life is not only a public teaching,” they said, “but also a daily work of presence: visiting the sick, supporting caregivers, accompanying those in despair, advocating for the vulnerable, and helping build communities where no one feels they must face suffering alone.” They ended their statement with a prayer: “In communion with our Lord, the Great Physician, let us offer together a prayer of hope, compassion, and vision towards the promise of everlasting love and life: Loving God, rock of strength for those who trust in you; comforter of those who call on you. Hear the cry of those who suffer from sickness or weakness, and embrace them in your loving arms. Give them peace, and strengthen them with the vision of your kingdom. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”  
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Bishops mark ‘sobering anniversary’ of Canada euthanasia law, call faithful to action #Catholic – The Catholic bishops of Canada asked the Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill “to voice renewed concern” about the country’s Medical Assistance in Dying law, now in place for a decade. In June 2016, Parliament passed federal legislation, Bill C-14, allowing “medical assistance in dying,” also known as MAiD. On June 17, David Johnston, then Canada’s governor general, gave “royal assent” to the measure, which permits eligible adults, under specified conditions, to access legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide across Canada. In calling for renewed concern “as we mark this sobering anniversary,” the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Standing Committee for Family and Life also urged all “to remain steadfast in opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide, to pray for the conversion of hearts and minds away from this practice, and to be present to persons who are sick and vulnerable.” “We reject complacency with the status quo on euthanasia in Canada,” the bishops said in a June 10 statement. “Formed by the Gospel, we are called to draw near to those who suffer: not to ignore, trivialize, or abandon them in their pain or despair, but to accompany them with compassion, practical care, and hope (cf. Lk 10:30-37). Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. They continued, “We actively seek opportunities for effective, collaborative strategies to provide concrete and compassionate support to those living with serious physical or mental illness, those with disabilities, and those nearing the end of life, as well as their families and caregivers.” Under the law, eligible adults can request a medical professional to directly administer a lethal substance (euthanasia), or provide lethal drugs for self-administration (assisted suicide). They currently must meet several criteria including being at least 18 years old and mentally competent; being eligible for publicly funded Canadian health services; having a serious, incurable illness, disease or disability; and being in an advanced state of irreversible decline and experiencing intolerable physical or psychological suffering. They also must confirm their request is voluntary and not the result of external pressure or influence. Individuals who suffer solely from a mental illness will become eligible for MAiD March 17, 2027. An earlier date for their eligibility was delayed, and in the meantime, Bill C-218 has been introduced to stop the expansion of the law to individuals with a mental illness. “Canada now has ‘the world’s largest and fastest-growing euthanasia program,’” the bishops said in their statement. Citing the government’s “Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, 2024,” they said the percentage of MAiD deaths is increasing annually and accounted for 5.1% of all deaths in 2024, or 16,499 Canadians. A November 2025 update to the report said there have been 76,475 deaths under MAiD since its 2016 legalization. “Grave concern is warranted regarding the continued expansion of the eligibility criteria for ‘MAID,’ which puts increasing numbers of Canadians at risk,” they said. “In 2016, only individuals whose death was ‘reasonably foreseeable’ were eligible for ‘MAID’ with so-called ‘safeguards” in place,’” the bishops said. “Subsequent legislation in 2021, however, considerably broadened the criteria, expanding access to include those whose death is not ‘reasonably foreseeable,’ but whose condition is ‘grievous and irremediable.’” “True compassion does not answer suffering with death, but accompanies those who suffer with hope, presence, palliative care, and relief of pain,” the bishops said. The Catholic faith “teaches that we must strive for proportionate treatment options that neither unduly prolong nor intentionally hasten death, but instead offer life-affirming and compassionate care,” they said. They prayed for “all those whose lives have been lost to ‘MAID” and also “for their loved ones, many of whom continue to carry grief, confusion, regret, or unanswered questions.” In remembering all those who continue to suffer — the sick, those with disabilities, the elderly, those living with mental illness, those near the end of life, and “all who experience loneliness, fear or despair” — Canadian bishops renewed their call to “give witness at the side of the sick person and to become a ‘healing community.’” The bishops thanked “the many dioceses, eparchies, parishes, organizations, healthcare workers, families, and volunteers who, over the past 10 years, have promoted Christian hope in the face of illness and death and have resisted ‘MAID’ with courage and compassion.” “Their witness reminds us that defending life is not only a public teaching,” they said, “but also a daily work of presence: visiting the sick, supporting caregivers, accompanying those in despair, advocating for the vulnerable, and helping build communities where no one feels they must face suffering alone.” They ended their statement with a prayer: “In communion with our Lord, the Great Physician, let us offer together a prayer of hope, compassion, and vision towards the promise of everlasting love and life: Loving God, rock of strength for those who trust in you; comforter of those who call on you. Hear the cry of those who suffer from sickness or weakness, and embrace them in your loving arms. Give them peace, and strengthen them with the vision of your kingdom. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”  

unitedyam

Bishops mark ‘sobering anniversary’ of Canada euthanasia law, call faithful to action #Catholic –

The Catholic bishops of Canada asked the Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill “to voice renewed concern” about the country’s Medical Assistance in Dying law, now in place for a decade.

In June 2016, Parliament passed federal legislation, Bill C-14, allowing “medical assistance in dying,” also known as MAiD. On June 17, David Johnston, then Canada’s governor general, gave “royal assent” to the measure, which permits eligible adults, under specified conditions, to access legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide across Canada.

In calling for renewed concern “as we mark this sobering anniversary,” the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Standing Committee for Family and Life also urged all “to remain steadfast in opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide, to pray for the conversion of hearts and minds away from this practice, and to be present to persons who are sick and vulnerable.”

“We reject complacency with the status quo on euthanasia in Canada,” the bishops said in a June 10 statement. “Formed by the Gospel, we are called to draw near to those who suffer: not to ignore, trivialize, or abandon them in their pain or despair, but to accompany them with compassion, practical care, and hope (cf. Lk 10:30-37).

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

They continued, “We actively seek opportunities for effective, collaborative strategies to provide concrete and compassionate support to those living with serious physical or mental illness, those with disabilities, and those nearing the end of life, as well as their families and caregivers.”

Under the law, eligible adults can request a medical professional to directly administer a lethal substance (euthanasia), or provide lethal drugs for self-administration (assisted suicide).

They currently must meet several criteria including being at least 18 years old and mentally competent; being eligible for publicly funded Canadian health services; having a serious, incurable illness, disease or disability; and being in an advanced state of irreversible decline and experiencing intolerable physical or psychological suffering. They also must confirm their request is voluntary and not the result of external pressure or influence.

Individuals who suffer solely from a mental illness will become eligible for MAiD March 17, 2027. An earlier date for their eligibility was delayed, and in the meantime, Bill C-218 has been introduced to stop the expansion of the law to individuals with a mental illness.

“Canada now has ‘the world’s largest and fastest-growing euthanasia program,’” the bishops said in their statement.

Citing the government’s “Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, 2024,” they said the percentage of MAiD deaths is increasing annually and accounted for 5.1% of all deaths in 2024, or 16,499 Canadians. A November 2025 update to the report said there have been 76,475 deaths under MAiD since its 2016 legalization.

“Grave concern is warranted regarding the continued expansion of the eligibility criteria for ‘MAID,’ which puts increasing numbers of Canadians at risk,” they said.

“In 2016, only individuals whose death was ‘reasonably foreseeable’ were eligible for ‘MAID’ with so-called ‘safeguards” in place,’” the bishops said. “Subsequent legislation in 2021, however, considerably broadened the criteria, expanding access to include those whose death is not ‘reasonably foreseeable,’ but whose condition is ‘grievous and irremediable.’”

“True compassion does not answer suffering with death, but accompanies those who suffer with hope, presence, palliative care, and relief of pain,” the bishops said.

The Catholic faith “teaches that we must strive for proportionate treatment options that neither unduly prolong nor intentionally hasten death, but instead offer life-affirming and compassionate care,” they said.

They prayed for “all those whose lives have been lost to ‘MAID” and also “for their loved ones, many of whom continue to carry grief, confusion, regret, or unanswered questions.”

In remembering all those who continue to suffer — the sick, those with disabilities, the elderly, those living with mental illness, those near the end of life, and “all who experience loneliness, fear or despair” — Canadian bishops renewed their call to “give witness at the side of the sick person and to become a ‘healing community.’”

The bishops thanked “the many dioceses, eparchies, parishes, organizations, healthcare workers, families, and volunteers who, over the past 10 years, have promoted Christian hope in the face of illness and death and have resisted ‘MAID’ with courage and compassion.”

“Their witness reminds us that defending life is not only a public teaching,” they said, “but also a daily work of presence: visiting the sick, supporting caregivers, accompanying those in despair, advocating for the vulnerable, and helping build communities where no one feels they must face suffering alone.”

They ended their statement with a prayer: “In communion with our Lord, the Great Physician, let us offer together a prayer of hope, compassion, and vision towards the promise of everlasting love and life: Loving God, rock of strength for those who trust in you; comforter of those who call on you. Hear the cry of those who suffer from sickness or weakness, and embrace them in your loving arms. Give them peace, and strengthen them with the vision of your kingdom. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

 

– The Catholic bishops of Canada asked the Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill “to voice renewed concern” about the country’s Medical Assistance in Dying law, now in place for a decade. In June 2016, Parliament passed federal legislation, Bill C-14, allowing “medical assistance in dying,” also known as MAiD. On June 17, David Johnston, then Canada’s governor general, gave “royal assent” to the measure, which permits eligible adults, under specified conditions, to access legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide across Canada. In calling for renewed concern “as we mark this sobering anniversary,” the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Standing Committee

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Pope says Church ‘must move forward’ if SSPX proceeds with illicit ordinations #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV said that although he is considering a final appeal to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, the choice to splinter from the Catholic Church falls on them. Speaking to journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo June 16, the pope was asked about his feelings regarding plans by the traditionalist society, commonly known as SSPX, to proceed with the consecration of new bishops without a papal mandate. The pope said that while he is “considering making another appeal to say: ‘Do not do this, let us try to live in communion within the Church,’” the decision to proceed “is their choice.” “Certainly, division among Christians is always a painful point. But they refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of the Church, starting with several points from the Second Vatican Council,” Pope Leo said. “If they make that choice, I am sorry, but we must move forward,” he added. In February, Father Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the SSPX, announced the society would proceed with the consecration of new bishops July 1, following a breakdown in communication with the Vatican after requests for an audience with Pope Leo went unanswered. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. After announcing their intention to proceed with the consecrations, Father Pagliarani was invited to meet with Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who offered to continue dialogue with the SSPX, but only if the society suspended its decision to consecrate new bishops. After meeting with SSPX council members, Father Pagliarani sent a letter to the cardinal saying that while he welcomed continued dialogue, he could not accept the conditions, noting that the society and the Holy See remained divided over the Vatican II and post-conciliar reforms. In a May 13 statement, Cardinal Fernández said that without the “requisite pontifical mandate,” the consecrations would be considered “a schismatic act” and that “formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and entails the excommunication established under Church law.” U.S.-Iran agreement Pope Leo also expressed his optimism about the recent deal to end the war in Iran that is expected to be signed June 19 in Switzerland. “Thank God, there is at least this memorandum that it seems they will officially sign this Friday, so they are saying,” the pope said about the tentative agreement between the United States and Iran. According to a draft of the memorandum published June 17 by Bloomberg News, the agreement outlined a framework for an immediate end to the conflict, mandating an end to all hostilities, including in Lebanon, and the restoration of shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz. It also dictates 0 billion from the United States and its partners to be used “for the rehabilitation and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” and an end to sanctions on the country. For its part, Iran will commit to “never produce nuclear weapons.” The pope expressed his hope that the agreement “will truly be a solution to the war, that the war is truly finished and that we can move forward for the good of all.” “Eliminating nuclear weapons, yes, that as well; seeking the good of all peoples, and seeking how to resolve problems also at the economic and social level that have been created during this time,” he said. Vacation, future travels Asked about his recent June 6-12 visit to Spain, Pope Leo told journalists that “the enthusiastic response from so many people” was “something very beautiful.” “Every moment was very well prepared, it must be said, by the bishops with so many lay people and so many volunteers in all the places who worked to prepare everything. It has been wonderful. From what I’ve seen, the people were very happy, and I am certainly happy to be able to celebrate the faith,” the pope said. Regarding his summer vacation, the pope said that while he expects “a bit of rest,” there will also be “a lot of reading, reflection, and preparation for what comes next.” “There is always work too, but peacefully,” he said. Among the most anticipated events after the summer is the pope’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France. In a June 9 statement, the French bishops’ conference released additional details on the upcoming papal trip, which includes stops in Paris, Metz and Lourdes. When asked about other trips after France, Pope Leo said he was “looking into others.” Although the Vatican has yet to announce any other trips, Peruvian President José María Balcázar told journalists outside a polling station in Chiclayo, the pope’s former diocese, that Pope Leo is expected to arrive in Peru Nov. 10, the Peruvian news site RPP reported June 7. Regarding a possible 2027 visit to Mexico, Pope Leo told journalists that he hoped it would be much sooner. “We will see about that, but hopefully not too much time passes,” he said. Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico City said in January that he had invited the pope to visit Mexico, “which he had originally extended a few days after the conclave.” “In response, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude and stated his desire and interest in being in our country soon to entrust his pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe,” the statement read. Mexico City is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is on the site of Mary’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 1531. Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist.  
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Pope says Church ‘must move forward’ if SSPX proceeds with illicit ordinations #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV said that although he is considering a final appeal to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, the choice to splinter from the Catholic Church falls on them. Speaking to journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo June 16, the pope was asked about his feelings regarding plans by the traditionalist society, commonly known as SSPX, to proceed with the consecration of new bishops without a papal mandate. The pope said that while he is “considering making another appeal to say: ‘Do not do this, let us try to live in communion within the Church,’” the decision to proceed “is their choice.” “Certainly, division among Christians is always a painful point. But they refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of the Church, starting with several points from the Second Vatican Council,” Pope Leo said. “If they make that choice, I am sorry, but we must move forward,” he added. In February, Father Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the SSPX, announced the society would proceed with the consecration of new bishops July 1, following a breakdown in communication with the Vatican after requests for an audience with Pope Leo went unanswered. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. After announcing their intention to proceed with the consecrations, Father Pagliarani was invited to meet with Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who offered to continue dialogue with the SSPX, but only if the society suspended its decision to consecrate new bishops. After meeting with SSPX council members, Father Pagliarani sent a letter to the cardinal saying that while he welcomed continued dialogue, he could not accept the conditions, noting that the society and the Holy See remained divided over the Vatican II and post-conciliar reforms. In a May 13 statement, Cardinal Fernández said that without the “requisite pontifical mandate,” the consecrations would be considered “a schismatic act” and that “formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and entails the excommunication established under Church law.” U.S.-Iran agreement Pope Leo also expressed his optimism about the recent deal to end the war in Iran that is expected to be signed June 19 in Switzerland. “Thank God, there is at least this memorandum that it seems they will officially sign this Friday, so they are saying,” the pope said about the tentative agreement between the United States and Iran. According to a draft of the memorandum published June 17 by Bloomberg News, the agreement outlined a framework for an immediate end to the conflict, mandating an end to all hostilities, including in Lebanon, and the restoration of shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz. It also dictates $300 billion from the United States and its partners to be used “for the rehabilitation and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” and an end to sanctions on the country. For its part, Iran will commit to “never produce nuclear weapons.” The pope expressed his hope that the agreement “will truly be a solution to the war, that the war is truly finished and that we can move forward for the good of all.” “Eliminating nuclear weapons, yes, that as well; seeking the good of all peoples, and seeking how to resolve problems also at the economic and social level that have been created during this time,” he said. Vacation, future travels Asked about his recent June 6-12 visit to Spain, Pope Leo told journalists that “the enthusiastic response from so many people” was “something very beautiful.” “Every moment was very well prepared, it must be said, by the bishops with so many lay people and so many volunteers in all the places who worked to prepare everything. It has been wonderful. From what I’ve seen, the people were very happy, and I am certainly happy to be able to celebrate the faith,” the pope said. Regarding his summer vacation, the pope said that while he expects “a bit of rest,” there will also be “a lot of reading, reflection, and preparation for what comes next.” “There is always work too, but peacefully,” he said. Among the most anticipated events after the summer is the pope’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France. In a June 9 statement, the French bishops’ conference released additional details on the upcoming papal trip, which includes stops in Paris, Metz and Lourdes. When asked about other trips after France, Pope Leo said he was “looking into others.” Although the Vatican has yet to announce any other trips, Peruvian President José María Balcázar told journalists outside a polling station in Chiclayo, the pope’s former diocese, that Pope Leo is expected to arrive in Peru Nov. 10, the Peruvian news site RPP reported June 7. Regarding a possible 2027 visit to Mexico, Pope Leo told journalists that he hoped it would be much sooner. “We will see about that, but hopefully not too much time passes,” he said. Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico City said in January that he had invited the pope to visit Mexico, “which he had originally extended a few days after the conclave.” “In response, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude and stated his desire and interest in being in our country soon to entrust his pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe,” the statement read. Mexico City is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is on the site of Mary’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 1531. Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist.  

unitedyam

Pope says Church ‘must move forward’ if SSPX proceeds with illicit ordinations #Catholic –

Pope Leo XIV said that although he is considering a final appeal to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, the choice to splinter from the Catholic Church falls on them.

Speaking to journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo June 16, the pope was asked about his feelings regarding plans by the traditionalist society, commonly known as SSPX, to proceed with the consecration of new bishops without a papal mandate.

The pope said that while he is “considering making another appeal to say: ‘Do not do this, let us try to live in communion within the Church,’” the decision to proceed “is their choice.”

“Certainly, division among Christians is always a painful point. But they refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of the Church, starting with several points from the Second Vatican Council,” Pope Leo said.

“If they make that choice, I am sorry, but we must move forward,” he added.

In February, Father Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the SSPX, announced the society would proceed with the consecration of new bishops July 1, following a breakdown in communication with the Vatican after requests for an audience with Pope Leo went unanswered.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

After announcing their intention to proceed with the consecrations, Father Pagliarani was invited to meet with Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who offered to continue dialogue with the SSPX, but only if the society suspended its decision to consecrate new bishops.

After meeting with SSPX council members, Father Pagliarani sent a letter to the cardinal saying that while he welcomed continued dialogue, he could not accept the conditions, noting that the society and the Holy See remained divided over the Vatican II and post-conciliar reforms.

In a May 13 statement, Cardinal Fernández said that without the “requisite pontifical mandate,” the consecrations would be considered “a schismatic act” and that “formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and entails the excommunication established under Church law.”

U.S.-Iran agreement

Pope Leo also expressed his optimism about the recent deal to end the war in Iran that is expected to be signed June 19 in Switzerland.

“Thank God, there is at least this memorandum that it seems they will officially sign this Friday, so they are saying,” the pope said about the tentative agreement between the United States and Iran.

According to a draft of the memorandum published June 17 by Bloomberg News, the agreement outlined a framework for an immediate end to the conflict, mandating an end to all hostilities, including in Lebanon, and the restoration of shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz.

It also dictates $300 billion from the United States and its partners to be used “for the rehabilitation and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” and an end to sanctions on the country. For its part, Iran will commit to “never produce nuclear weapons.”

The pope expressed his hope that the agreement “will truly be a solution to the war, that the war is truly finished and that we can move forward for the good of all.”

“Eliminating nuclear weapons, yes, that as well; seeking the good of all peoples, and seeking how to resolve problems also at the economic and social level that have been created during this time,” he said.

Vacation, future travels

Asked about his recent June 6-12 visit to Spain, Pope Leo told journalists that “the enthusiastic response from so many people” was “something very beautiful.”

“Every moment was very well prepared, it must be said, by the bishops with so many lay people and so many volunteers in all the places who worked to prepare everything. It has been wonderful. From what I’ve seen, the people were very happy, and I am certainly happy to be able to celebrate the faith,” the pope said.

Regarding his summer vacation, the pope said that while he expects “a bit of rest,” there will also be “a lot of reading, reflection, and preparation for what comes next.”

“There is always work too, but peacefully,” he said.

Among the most anticipated events after the summer is the pope’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France. In a June 9 statement, the French bishops’ conference released additional details on the upcoming papal trip, which includes stops in Paris, Metz and Lourdes.

When asked about other trips after France, Pope Leo said he was “looking into others.”

Although the Vatican has yet to announce any other trips, Peruvian President José María Balcázar told journalists outside a polling station in Chiclayo, the pope’s former diocese, that Pope Leo is expected to arrive in Peru Nov. 10, the Peruvian news site RPP reported June 7.

Regarding a possible 2027 visit to Mexico, Pope Leo told journalists that he hoped it would be much sooner.

“We will see about that, but hopefully not too much time passes,” he said.

Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico City said in January that he had invited the pope to visit Mexico, “which he had originally extended a few days after the conclave.”

“In response, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude and stated his desire and interest in being in our country soon to entrust his pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe,” the statement read.

Mexico City is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is on the site of Mary’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 1531.

Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist.

 

– Pope Leo XIV said that although he is considering a final appeal to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, the choice to splinter from the Catholic Church falls on them. Speaking to journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo June 16, the pope was asked about his feelings regarding plans by the traditionalist society, commonly known as SSPX, to proceed with the consecration of new bishops without a papal mandate. The pope said that while he is “considering making another appeal to say: ‘Do not do this, let us try to live in communion within the Church,’” the decision

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‘Faith in action’: Over 5,000 volunteers in San Diego pack 2 million meals for those in need #Catholic – “Never did I ever think that it would be this big.” Deacon Jim Scull was referring to the Million Meal Event, which he and a small team of deacons from the Diocese of San Diego launched five years ago. At the inaugural event, volunteers packed 1 million nutritious meals to distribute to impoverished families across the border in Tijuana and in Africa. The deacons held the fifth edition of the Million Meal Event over the June 13-14 weekend, again returning to the expansive grounds of Cathedral Catholic High School. This year, around 5,100 volunteers doubled the number of meals they packed — to 2 million. The event is a project of the diocese’s permanent deacons to serve the most vulnerable. They recruit volunteers at their parishes and raise funds to cover the event’s costs, which this year totaled about 0,000. They collaborate with a Christ-centered nonprofit organization, Kids Around the World, which buys the bulk ingredients and distributes a portion of the meals overseas to the communities they serve. This year’s Million Meal Event was the largest of the nearly 200 packing events the agency will support in 2026, said its CEO, Jeff Rosene. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Two years ago, the deacons joined forces with Catholic Charities, also part of the Diocese of San Diego, to strengthen their event. Catholic Charities works with many parishes to serve needy families in their communities through its Emergency Food Distribution Network+. Under the leadership of San Diego’s Bishop Michael M. Pham, Catholic Charities set out to pack an additional 1 million meals this year to provide for hungry families across the diocese, which runs the length of California’s border with Mexico. Of the remaining million meals, 500,000 meals will again be destined for an urban center that serves needy families in Tijuana, Casa de los Pobres, operated by Franciscan sisters. And the other 500,000 meals will be transported to Ecuador, where Kids Around the World serves 4,000 poor children in its feeding and discipleship program. “You are not only packing meals today but you’re also feeding people in both San Diego and Imperial counties,” Catholic Charities’ CEO, Appaswamy “Vino” Pajanor, told the volunteers during the morning shift June 13. “Who is my neighbor?” Pajanor asked them. “It’s my neighbor next door as well as my neighbor who I don’t know.” The volunteers — about 34% more than last year — came from 78 of the diocese’s parishes and from schools and other organizations. They cheerfully arrived in groups and families, some pushing strollers, as if they were going to an outdoor celebration. Participants ranged in age from around 8 to 80-plus. They packed meals over two 2.5-hour shifts on Saturday and one on Sunday afternoon, working in assembly lines under large tents shading them from the hot sun. Many volunteers worked alongside people they knew, while others quickly introduced themselves and got to work. They measured ingredients that went into each packet — red lentils, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins and minerals — and to seal and label each one. Then they placed the packets in boxes, which in turn were stacked for easy transportation. A DJ played popular tunes during the packing shifts, with volunteers dancing along. Periodically, a deacon or another organizer would announce a new milestone — “We just packed another 200,000 meals!” — to widespread cheering. Many volunteers were veterans of the event, while others were newcomers. “It’s an amazing day for the community,” said Nicole Winfield, from St. James Academy, as she worked at a table alongside her children. “My kids enjoy it every year. It kicks off their summertime. To do something for others is our faith in action,” she told The Southern Cross, San Diego’s diocesan news outlet. This was the first time for Briana Powell, a young adult member of The Immaculata Parish. She was part of a group of about 50 volunteers from the parish who turned out for the Saturday morning shift, all sporting bright blue T-shirts. She said she learned about the event one Sunday after Mass, when she stopped by a booth, and signed up on the spot. “I wanted to give back to the community,” said Powell. “And to be a part of something great.” Catholic Charities’ CEO, Pajanor, said he was sharing the Million Meal Event with the other Catholic Charities agencies across the country to show the impact the project can have in parishes, the diocese’s home region and globally. At the packing tables, the deacons and priests worked alongside their parishioners. Newly ordained Deacon Joseph Parker, from Resurrection Parish in Escondido, was one of them. “Today we’re helping to feed those who are in most need,” the deacon said. “We’re here to be able to serve. This is the body of Christ. We’re all called to serve any way we can.” Between shifts on Saturday, Jesuit Father Eduardo Samaniego, who directs the diocese’s Office for the Permanent Diaconate, reflected on the challenges of starting and growing the event during its five-year existence. By 2024, volunteer interest had been so high that the deacons set out to pack 1.5 million meals, but accomplishing that goal turned out harder than expected. Last year they reverted to the original 1 million meal goal. “Who would have thought we would get it up to 2 million?” he asked. He noted the number of children and young people who participated in the event. “The kids grow up enjoying it,” he said. “And eventually, you teach them why we do it.” He pointed to a large banner that greeted volunteers entering the school grounds on their way to the packing tables, bearing the Gospel passage in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me food.” “We’re doing this for Jesus,” he said. Aida Bustos, director of media for the San Diego Diocese, is editor of The Southern Cross, the diocesan news outlet. This article was published in The Southern Cross and distributed in partnership with OSV News.  
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‘Faith in action’: Over 5,000 volunteers in San Diego pack 2 million meals for those in need #Catholic – “Never did I ever think that it would be this big.” Deacon Jim Scull was referring to the Million Meal Event, which he and a small team of deacons from the Diocese of San Diego launched five years ago. At the inaugural event, volunteers packed 1 million nutritious meals to distribute to impoverished families across the border in Tijuana and in Africa. The deacons held the fifth edition of the Million Meal Event over the June 13-14 weekend, again returning to the expansive grounds of Cathedral Catholic High School. This year, around 5,100 volunteers doubled the number of meals they packed — to 2 million. The event is a project of the diocese’s permanent deacons to serve the most vulnerable. They recruit volunteers at their parishes and raise funds to cover the event’s costs, which this year totaled about $600,000. They collaborate with a Christ-centered nonprofit organization, Kids Around the World, which buys the bulk ingredients and distributes a portion of the meals overseas to the communities they serve. This year’s Million Meal Event was the largest of the nearly 200 packing events the agency will support in 2026, said its CEO, Jeff Rosene. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Two years ago, the deacons joined forces with Catholic Charities, also part of the Diocese of San Diego, to strengthen their event. Catholic Charities works with many parishes to serve needy families in their communities through its Emergency Food Distribution Network+. Under the leadership of San Diego’s Bishop Michael M. Pham, Catholic Charities set out to pack an additional 1 million meals this year to provide for hungry families across the diocese, which runs the length of California’s border with Mexico. Of the remaining million meals, 500,000 meals will again be destined for an urban center that serves needy families in Tijuana, Casa de los Pobres, operated by Franciscan sisters. And the other 500,000 meals will be transported to Ecuador, where Kids Around the World serves 4,000 poor children in its feeding and discipleship program. “You are not only packing meals today but you’re also feeding people in both San Diego and Imperial counties,” Catholic Charities’ CEO, Appaswamy “Vino” Pajanor, told the volunteers during the morning shift June 13. “Who is my neighbor?” Pajanor asked them. “It’s my neighbor next door as well as my neighbor who I don’t know.” The volunteers — about 34% more than last year — came from 78 of the diocese’s parishes and from schools and other organizations. They cheerfully arrived in groups and families, some pushing strollers, as if they were going to an outdoor celebration. Participants ranged in age from around 8 to 80-plus. They packed meals over two 2.5-hour shifts on Saturday and one on Sunday afternoon, working in assembly lines under large tents shading them from the hot sun. Many volunteers worked alongside people they knew, while others quickly introduced themselves and got to work. They measured ingredients that went into each packet — red lentils, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins and minerals — and to seal and label each one. Then they placed the packets in boxes, which in turn were stacked for easy transportation. A DJ played popular tunes during the packing shifts, with volunteers dancing along. Periodically, a deacon or another organizer would announce a new milestone — “We just packed another 200,000 meals!” — to widespread cheering. Many volunteers were veterans of the event, while others were newcomers. “It’s an amazing day for the community,” said Nicole Winfield, from St. James Academy, as she worked at a table alongside her children. “My kids enjoy it every year. It kicks off their summertime. To do something for others is our faith in action,” she told The Southern Cross, San Diego’s diocesan news outlet. This was the first time for Briana Powell, a young adult member of The Immaculata Parish. She was part of a group of about 50 volunteers from the parish who turned out for the Saturday morning shift, all sporting bright blue T-shirts. She said she learned about the event one Sunday after Mass, when she stopped by a booth, and signed up on the spot. “I wanted to give back to the community,” said Powell. “And to be a part of something great.” Catholic Charities’ CEO, Pajanor, said he was sharing the Million Meal Event with the other Catholic Charities agencies across the country to show the impact the project can have in parishes, the diocese’s home region and globally. At the packing tables, the deacons and priests worked alongside their parishioners. Newly ordained Deacon Joseph Parker, from Resurrection Parish in Escondido, was one of them. “Today we’re helping to feed those who are in most need,” the deacon said. “We’re here to be able to serve. This is the body of Christ. We’re all called to serve any way we can.” Between shifts on Saturday, Jesuit Father Eduardo Samaniego, who directs the diocese’s Office for the Permanent Diaconate, reflected on the challenges of starting and growing the event during its five-year existence. By 2024, volunteer interest had been so high that the deacons set out to pack 1.5 million meals, but accomplishing that goal turned out harder than expected. Last year they reverted to the original 1 million meal goal. “Who would have thought we would get it up to 2 million?” he asked. He noted the number of children and young people who participated in the event. “The kids grow up enjoying it,” he said. “And eventually, you teach them why we do it.” He pointed to a large banner that greeted volunteers entering the school grounds on their way to the packing tables, bearing the Gospel passage in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me food.” “We’re doing this for Jesus,” he said. Aida Bustos, director of media for the San Diego Diocese, is editor of The Southern Cross, the diocesan news outlet. This article was published in The Southern Cross and distributed in partnership with OSV News.  

unitedyam

‘Faith in action’: Over 5,000 volunteers in San Diego pack 2 million meals for those in need #Catholic –

“Never did I ever think that it would be this big.”

Deacon Jim Scull was referring to the Million Meal Event, which he and a small team of deacons from the Diocese of San Diego launched five years ago. At the inaugural event, volunteers packed 1 million nutritious meals to distribute to impoverished families across the border in Tijuana and in Africa.

The deacons held the fifth edition of the Million Meal Event over the June 13-14 weekend, again returning to the expansive grounds of Cathedral Catholic High School. This year, around 5,100 volunteers doubled the number of meals they packed — to 2 million.

The event is a project of the diocese’s permanent deacons to serve the most vulnerable. They recruit volunteers at their parishes and raise funds to cover the event’s costs, which this year totaled about $600,000.

They collaborate with a Christ-centered nonprofit organization, Kids Around the World, which buys the bulk ingredients and distributes a portion of the meals overseas to the communities they serve. This year’s Million Meal Event was the largest of the nearly 200 packing events the agency will support in 2026, said its CEO, Jeff Rosene.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Two years ago, the deacons joined forces with Catholic Charities, also part of the Diocese of San Diego, to strengthen their event.

Catholic Charities works with many parishes to serve needy families in their communities through its Emergency Food Distribution Network+. Under the leadership of San Diego’s Bishop Michael M. Pham, Catholic Charities set out to pack an additional 1 million meals this year to provide for hungry families across the diocese, which runs the length of California’s border with Mexico.

Of the remaining million meals, 500,000 meals will again be destined for an urban center that serves needy families in Tijuana, Casa de los Pobres, operated by Franciscan sisters. And the other 500,000 meals will be transported to Ecuador, where Kids Around the World serves 4,000 poor children in its feeding and discipleship program.

“You are not only packing meals today but you’re also feeding people in both San Diego and Imperial counties,” Catholic Charities’ CEO, Appaswamy “Vino” Pajanor, told the volunteers during the morning shift June 13.

“Who is my neighbor?” Pajanor asked them. “It’s my neighbor next door as well as my neighbor who I don’t know.”

The volunteers — about 34% more than last year — came from 78 of the diocese’s parishes and from schools and other organizations. They cheerfully arrived in groups and families, some pushing strollers, as if they were going to an outdoor celebration. Participants ranged in age from around 8 to 80-plus.

They packed meals over two 2.5-hour shifts on Saturday and one on Sunday afternoon, working in assembly lines under large tents shading them from the hot sun. Many volunteers worked alongside people they knew, while others quickly introduced themselves and got to work.

They measured ingredients that went into each packet — red lentils, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins and minerals — and to seal and label each one. Then they placed the packets in boxes, which in turn were stacked for easy transportation.

A DJ played popular tunes during the packing shifts, with volunteers dancing along. Periodically, a deacon or another organizer would announce a new milestone — “We just packed another 200,000 meals!” — to widespread cheering.

Many volunteers were veterans of the event, while others were newcomers.

“It’s an amazing day for the community,” said Nicole Winfield, from St. James Academy, as she worked at a table alongside her children. “My kids enjoy it every year. It kicks off their summertime. To do something for others is our faith in action,” she told The Southern Cross, San Diego’s diocesan news outlet.

This was the first time for Briana Powell, a young adult member of The Immaculata Parish. She was part of a group of about 50 volunteers from the parish who turned out for the Saturday morning shift, all sporting bright blue T-shirts.

She said she learned about the event one Sunday after Mass, when she stopped by a booth, and signed up on the spot.

“I wanted to give back to the community,” said Powell. “And to be a part of something great.”

Catholic Charities’ CEO, Pajanor, said he was sharing the Million Meal Event with the other Catholic Charities agencies across the country to show the impact the project can have in parishes, the diocese’s home region and globally.

At the packing tables, the deacons and priests worked alongside their parishioners. Newly ordained Deacon Joseph Parker, from Resurrection Parish in Escondido, was one of them.

“Today we’re helping to feed those who are in most need,” the deacon said. “We’re here to be able to serve. This is the body of Christ. We’re all called to serve any way we can.”

Between shifts on Saturday, Jesuit Father Eduardo Samaniego, who directs the diocese’s Office for the Permanent Diaconate, reflected on the challenges of starting and growing the event during its five-year existence.

By 2024, volunteer interest had been so high that the deacons set out to pack 1.5 million meals, but accomplishing that goal turned out harder than expected. Last year they reverted to the original 1 million meal goal.

“Who would have thought we would get it up to 2 million?” he asked.

He noted the number of children and young people who participated in the event.

“The kids grow up enjoying it,” he said. “And eventually, you teach them why we do it.”

He pointed to a large banner that greeted volunteers entering the school grounds on their way to the packing tables, bearing the Gospel passage in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me food.”

“We’re doing this for Jesus,” he said.

Aida Bustos, director of media for the San Diego Diocese, is editor of The Southern Cross, the diocesan news outlet. This article was published in The Southern Cross and distributed in partnership with OSV News.

 

– “Never did I ever think that it would be this big.” Deacon Jim Scull was referring to the Million Meal Event, which he and a small team of deacons from the Diocese of San Diego launched five years ago. At the inaugural event, volunteers packed 1 million nutritious meals to distribute to impoverished families across the border in Tijuana and in Africa. The deacons held the fifth edition of the Million Meal Event over the June 13-14 weekend, again returning to the expansive grounds of Cathedral Catholic High School. This year, around 5,100 volunteers doubled the number of meals they

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El Papa reflexiona sobre su viaje a España y afirma que el fenómeno migratorio exige que los cristianos relean el Evangelio #Catholic – Al reflexionar sobre su viaje de una semana a España, el Papa León XIV dijo que una “una clave de interpretación general” provino de las Islas Canarias, donde la migración reveló tanto los desafíos que enfrenta Europa como lo que él describió como un camino cristiano hacia una “civilización del amor”. En su audiencia general semanal del 17 de junio, el Papa señaló que el papel del archipiélago como puerta de entrada para miles de migrantes procedentes de África ofrecía una visión integral de un tema complejo que también desafía a los cristianos a releer el Evangelio en el mundo actual. Señaló que el fenómeno migratorio es “complejo y que requiere planes de acción orgánicos y concertados”, pero también desafía a los cristianos a “releer el Evangelio en el mundo de hoy intercambiándonos los dones de nuestras respectivas culturas y, en especial, los frutos que produce en ellas la fecundidad del mensaje de Cristo”. “Este camino no es fácil; requiere buena voluntad y la ayuda de Dios, pero es el camino que conduce a la civilización del amor”, dijo en la Plaza de San Pedro. Para suscribirse a nuestro boletín electrónico semanal, haga click aquí. El Papa abordó el tema de la migración en repetidas ocasiones durante los últimos días de su viaje apostólico, con las declaraciones más contundentes de su pontificado al respecto. “Una conciencia humana, y más aún una conciencia cristiana, no puede permanecer indiferente ante las víctimas de los naufragios y de la falta de ayuda”, dijo el 12 de junio durante un encuentro en Tenerife con organizaciones que ayudan a integrar a los migrantes. El día anterior, desde el Puerto de Arguineguín, en Gran Canaria, advirtió contra la indiferencia ante las muertes de los migrantes. “No podemos acostumbrarnos a contar muertos”, dijo. “La dignidad humana no tiene pasaporte ni pierde valor al cruzar una frontera”. A pesar de bromear con los periodistas durante el vuelo a España diciendo que tal vez más gente estuviera interesada en los conciertos de Bad Bunny que se realizaban en Madrid esa misma semana, el Papa se encontró con multitudes enormes en todo el país. Más de 1,2 millones de personas asistieron a una misa en la Plaza de Cibeles de Madrid, y otras 500.000 se reunieron para una vigilia de oración juvenil en la Plaza de Lima. “He podido notar con alegría cómo la gente, de todas las edades y condiciones, esperaba la visita del Papa: en todas partes he encontrado multitudes que me han dado la bienvenida con gran cariño. Este hecho no era algo que se pudiera dar por sentado, y merece una reflexión”, expresó durante su audiencia semanal. A lo largo del viaje, el Papa León señaló que la misión del papado es promover la comunión, el diálogo y la unidad a través de la diversidad, temas que destacó en sus discursos por toda España. Al reflexionar sobre la entusiasta acogida que recibió, dijo: “Considero que manifiesta la necesidad generalizada de reencontrarse unidos sobre un fundamento verdadero y profundo, no ideológico ni de interés parcial”. Lo que la gente busca, dijo, en última instancia solo se puede encontrar en Cristo, cuyo Evangelio responde a la búsqueda de la verdad y a la sed de justicia de la humanidad. El también Papa destacó su visita a la Basílica de la Sagrada Familia de Barcelona, donde celebró la Misa y bendijo la recién terminada Torre de Jesucristo, lo que convirtió a la basílica en la iglesia más alta del mundo. “Este encuentro de lo antiguo y lo moderno, de la tradición católica y la cultura contemporánea, me ha hecho percibir directamente el carácter propio de Europa, su riqueza inestimable, como realidad actual, no superada”, dijo a la multitud en la Plaza de San Pedro. “Se trata de un patrimonio que hay que custodiar con cuidado, para poder invertirlo en el hoy global con sus desafíos históricos: la paz, la ecología integral, el desarrollo equitativo y sostenible, el respeto a la dignidad humana”. El Papa también reflexionó durante su audiencia semanal sobre sus encuentros con jóvenes, sobrevivientes de abusos y presos, y señaló que la sociedad moderna a menudo deja a las personas en busca de esperanza y sentido. “Es importante tomar conciencia de cómo la salud mental se ve cada vez más amenazada en el contexto de sociedades que se consideran avanzadas”, dijo el 9 de junio en el Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys de Barcelona. “Es una señal de que hay algo profundamente erróneo en una cierta idea de crecimiento que somete a las personas a presiones, expectativas y tensiones que comprometen equilibrios fundamentales”. Durante su visita a España, también rechazó los intentos de “espiritualizar el dolor, reconduciéndolo superficialmente a la ‘voluntad de Dios’ o a algún misterioso proyecto suyo, porque esto corre el riesgo de minimizar ese sufrimiento, de silenciarlo, de herir a las personas”. “Dios no quiere el sufrimiento, lo lleva con nosotros y nos invita a confiar en Él de modo perseverante”, dijo, porque “con Dios, la vida renace siempre”. El lema del viaje fue “Alzad la mirada”, tomado del relato evangélico en el que Jesús enseña a sus discípulos a mirar más allá de sus circunstancias y a reconocer en los demás el deseo de vida, verdad y plenitud. El Papa León afirmó haber sido testigo de ese anhelo por toda España. “Hoy quisiera compartir con ustedes esta invitación: ¡alcemos la mirada! Aprendamos de Jesús a mirar al prójimo, la gente, el mundo, ‘con los ojos de Dios’, es decir, con amor, respeto y compasión”, dijo el 17 de junio.  
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El Papa reflexiona sobre su viaje a España y afirma que el fenómeno migratorio exige que los cristianos relean el Evangelio #Catholic – Al reflexionar sobre su viaje de una semana a España, el Papa León XIV dijo que una “una clave de interpretación general” provino de las Islas Canarias, donde la migración reveló tanto los desafíos que enfrenta Europa como lo que él describió como un camino cristiano hacia una “civilización del amor”. En su audiencia general semanal del 17 de junio, el Papa señaló que el papel del archipiélago como puerta de entrada para miles de migrantes procedentes de África ofrecía una visión integral de un tema complejo que también desafía a los cristianos a releer el Evangelio en el mundo actual. Señaló que el fenómeno migratorio es “complejo y que requiere planes de acción orgánicos y concertados”, pero también desafía a los cristianos a “releer el Evangelio en el mundo de hoy intercambiándonos los dones de nuestras respectivas culturas y, en especial, los frutos que produce en ellas la fecundidad del mensaje de Cristo”. “Este camino no es fácil; requiere buena voluntad y la ayuda de Dios, pero es el camino que conduce a la civilización del amor”, dijo en la Plaza de San Pedro. Para suscribirse a nuestro boletín electrónico semanal, haga click aquí. El Papa abordó el tema de la migración en repetidas ocasiones durante los últimos días de su viaje apostólico, con las declaraciones más contundentes de su pontificado al respecto. “Una conciencia humana, y más aún una conciencia cristiana, no puede permanecer indiferente ante las víctimas de los naufragios y de la falta de ayuda”, dijo el 12 de junio durante un encuentro en Tenerife con organizaciones que ayudan a integrar a los migrantes. El día anterior, desde el Puerto de Arguineguín, en Gran Canaria, advirtió contra la indiferencia ante las muertes de los migrantes. “No podemos acostumbrarnos a contar muertos”, dijo. “La dignidad humana no tiene pasaporte ni pierde valor al cruzar una frontera”. A pesar de bromear con los periodistas durante el vuelo a España diciendo que tal vez más gente estuviera interesada en los conciertos de Bad Bunny que se realizaban en Madrid esa misma semana, el Papa se encontró con multitudes enormes en todo el país. Más de 1,2 millones de personas asistieron a una misa en la Plaza de Cibeles de Madrid, y otras 500.000 se reunieron para una vigilia de oración juvenil en la Plaza de Lima. “He podido notar con alegría cómo la gente, de todas las edades y condiciones, esperaba la visita del Papa: en todas partes he encontrado multitudes que me han dado la bienvenida con gran cariño. Este hecho no era algo que se pudiera dar por sentado, y merece una reflexión”, expresó durante su audiencia semanal. A lo largo del viaje, el Papa León señaló que la misión del papado es promover la comunión, el diálogo y la unidad a través de la diversidad, temas que destacó en sus discursos por toda España. Al reflexionar sobre la entusiasta acogida que recibió, dijo: “Considero que manifiesta la necesidad generalizada de reencontrarse unidos sobre un fundamento verdadero y profundo, no ideológico ni de interés parcial”. Lo que la gente busca, dijo, en última instancia solo se puede encontrar en Cristo, cuyo Evangelio responde a la búsqueda de la verdad y a la sed de justicia de la humanidad. El también Papa destacó su visita a la Basílica de la Sagrada Familia de Barcelona, donde celebró la Misa y bendijo la recién terminada Torre de Jesucristo, lo que convirtió a la basílica en la iglesia más alta del mundo. “Este encuentro de lo antiguo y lo moderno, de la tradición católica y la cultura contemporánea, me ha hecho percibir directamente el carácter propio de Europa, su riqueza inestimable, como realidad actual, no superada”, dijo a la multitud en la Plaza de San Pedro. “Se trata de un patrimonio que hay que custodiar con cuidado, para poder invertirlo en el hoy global con sus desafíos históricos: la paz, la ecología integral, el desarrollo equitativo y sostenible, el respeto a la dignidad humana”. El Papa también reflexionó durante su audiencia semanal sobre sus encuentros con jóvenes, sobrevivientes de abusos y presos, y señaló que la sociedad moderna a menudo deja a las personas en busca de esperanza y sentido. “Es importante tomar conciencia de cómo la salud mental se ve cada vez más amenazada en el contexto de sociedades que se consideran avanzadas”, dijo el 9 de junio en el Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys de Barcelona. “Es una señal de que hay algo profundamente erróneo en una cierta idea de crecimiento que somete a las personas a presiones, expectativas y tensiones que comprometen equilibrios fundamentales”. Durante su visita a España, también rechazó los intentos de “espiritualizar el dolor, reconduciéndolo superficialmente a la ‘voluntad de Dios’ o a algún misterioso proyecto suyo, porque esto corre el riesgo de minimizar ese sufrimiento, de silenciarlo, de herir a las personas”. “Dios no quiere el sufrimiento, lo lleva con nosotros y nos invita a confiar en Él de modo perseverante”, dijo, porque “con Dios, la vida renace siempre”. El lema del viaje fue “Alzad la mirada”, tomado del relato evangélico en el que Jesús enseña a sus discípulos a mirar más allá de sus circunstancias y a reconocer en los demás el deseo de vida, verdad y plenitud. El Papa León afirmó haber sido testigo de ese anhelo por toda España. “Hoy quisiera compartir con ustedes esta invitación: ¡alcemos la mirada! Aprendamos de Jesús a mirar al prójimo, la gente, el mundo, ‘con los ojos de Dios’, es decir, con amor, respeto y compasión”, dijo el 17 de junio.  

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El Papa reflexiona sobre su viaje a España y afirma que el fenómeno migratorio exige que los cristianos relean el Evangelio #Catholic –

Al reflexionar sobre su viaje de una semana a España, el Papa León XIV dijo que una “una clave de interpretación general” provino de las Islas Canarias, donde la migración reveló tanto los desafíos que enfrenta Europa como lo que él describió como un camino cristiano hacia una “civilización del amor”.

En su audiencia general semanal del 17 de junio, el Papa señaló que el papel del archipiélago como puerta de entrada para miles de migrantes procedentes de África ofrecía una visión integral de un tema complejo que también desafía a los cristianos a releer el Evangelio en el mundo actual.

Señaló que el fenómeno migratorio es “complejo y que requiere planes de acción orgánicos y concertados”, pero también desafía a los cristianos a “releer el Evangelio en el mundo de hoy intercambiándonos los dones de nuestras respectivas culturas y, en especial, los frutos que produce en ellas la fecundidad del mensaje de Cristo”.

“Este camino no es fácil; requiere buena voluntad y la ayuda de Dios, pero es el camino que conduce a la civilización del amor”, dijo en la Plaza de San Pedro.

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

El Papa abordó el tema de la migración en repetidas ocasiones durante los últimos días de su viaje apostólico, con las declaraciones más contundentes de su pontificado al respecto.

“Una conciencia humana, y más aún una conciencia cristiana, no puede permanecer indiferente ante las víctimas de los naufragios y de la falta de ayuda”, dijo el 12 de junio durante un encuentro en Tenerife con organizaciones que ayudan a integrar a los migrantes.

El día anterior, desde el Puerto de Arguineguín, en Gran Canaria, advirtió contra la indiferencia ante las muertes de los migrantes.

“No podemos acostumbrarnos a contar muertos”, dijo. “La dignidad humana no tiene pasaporte ni pierde valor al cruzar una frontera”.

A pesar de bromear con los periodistas durante el vuelo a España diciendo que tal vez más gente estuviera interesada en los conciertos de Bad Bunny que se realizaban en Madrid esa misma semana, el Papa se encontró con multitudes enormes en todo el país. Más de 1,2 millones de personas asistieron a una misa en la Plaza de Cibeles de Madrid, y otras 500.000 se reunieron para una vigilia de oración juvenil en la Plaza de Lima.

“He podido notar con alegría cómo la gente, de todas las edades y condiciones, esperaba la visita del Papa: en todas partes he encontrado multitudes que me han dado la bienvenida con gran cariño. Este hecho no era algo que se pudiera dar por sentado, y merece una reflexión”, expresó durante su audiencia semanal.

A lo largo del viaje, el Papa León señaló que la misión del papado es promover la comunión, el diálogo y la unidad a través de la diversidad, temas que destacó en sus discursos por toda España.

Al reflexionar sobre la entusiasta acogida que recibió, dijo: “Considero que manifiesta la necesidad generalizada de reencontrarse unidos sobre un fundamento verdadero y profundo, no ideológico ni de interés parcial”. Lo que la gente busca, dijo, en última instancia solo se puede encontrar en Cristo, cuyo Evangelio responde a la búsqueda de la verdad y a la sed de justicia de la humanidad.

El también Papa destacó su visita a la Basílica de la Sagrada Familia de Barcelona, donde celebró la Misa y bendijo la recién terminada Torre de Jesucristo, lo que convirtió a la basílica en la iglesia más alta del mundo.

“Este encuentro de lo antiguo y lo moderno, de la tradición católica y la cultura contemporánea, me ha hecho percibir directamente el carácter propio de Europa, su riqueza inestimable, como realidad actual, no superada”, dijo a la multitud en la Plaza de San Pedro.

“Se trata de un patrimonio que hay que custodiar con cuidado, para poder invertirlo en el hoy global con sus desafíos históricos: la paz, la ecología integral, el desarrollo equitativo y sostenible, el respeto a la dignidad humana”.

El Papa también reflexionó durante su audiencia semanal sobre sus encuentros con jóvenes, sobrevivientes de abusos y presos, y señaló que la sociedad moderna a menudo deja a las personas en busca de esperanza y sentido.

“Es importante tomar conciencia de cómo la salud mental se ve cada vez más amenazada en el contexto de sociedades que se consideran avanzadas”, dijo el 9 de junio en el Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys de Barcelona. “Es una señal de que hay algo profundamente erróneo en una cierta idea de crecimiento que somete a las personas a presiones, expectativas y tensiones que comprometen equilibrios fundamentales”.

Durante su visita a España, también rechazó los intentos de “espiritualizar el dolor, reconduciéndolo superficialmente a la ‘voluntad de Dios’ o a algún misterioso proyecto suyo, porque esto corre el riesgo de minimizar ese sufrimiento, de silenciarlo, de herir a las personas”.

“Dios no quiere el sufrimiento, lo lleva con nosotros y nos invita a confiar en Él de modo perseverante”, dijo, porque “con Dios, la vida renace siempre”.

El lema del viaje fue “Alzad la mirada”, tomado del relato evangélico en el que Jesús enseña a sus discípulos a mirar más allá de sus circunstancias y a reconocer en los demás el deseo de vida, verdad y plenitud. El Papa León afirmó haber sido testigo de ese anhelo por toda España.

“Hoy quisiera compartir con ustedes esta invitación: ¡alcemos la mirada! Aprendamos de Jesús a mirar al prójimo, la gente, el mundo, ‘con los ojos de Dios’, es decir, con amor, respeto y compasión”, dijo el 17 de junio.

 

– Al reflexionar sobre su viaje de una semana a España, el Papa León XIV dijo que una “una clave de interpretación general” provino de las Islas Canarias, donde la migración reveló tanto los desafíos que enfrenta Europa como lo que él describió como un camino cristiano hacia una “civilización del amor”. En su audiencia general semanal del 17 de junio, el Papa señaló que el papel del archipiélago como puerta de entrada para miles de migrantes procedentes de África ofrecía una visión integral de un tema complejo que también desafía a los cristianos a releer el Evangelio en el mundo

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Beyond The Beacon podcast 114: Ways the Eucharist is transforming the lives of these pilgrims #Catholic – When the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) journeyed through the Diocese of Paterson earlier this week, three of the young pilgrims on the journey — known as “Perpetual Pilgrims” — joined the podcast. Paterson is one of 18 participating dioceses holding special Masses, processions, talks, and more centered around the Eucharist. Zach Dotson, Mary Carmen Zakrajsek, and Raymond Martinez II are guests with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. Also joining for a segment is Father Cesar Jaramillo, the local NEP coordinator for the Diocese of Paterson, and Father Casey Cole, O.F.M., a social media influencer who gave a reflection to students earlier in the day. Co-hosting is Communications Director Jai Agnish. The episode was recorded at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany, N.J. Listen to the episode here, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Beyond The Beacon podcast 114: Ways the Eucharist is transforming the lives of these pilgrims #Catholic – When the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) journeyed through the Diocese of Paterson earlier this week, three of the young pilgrims on the journey — known as “Perpetual Pilgrims” — joined the podcast. Paterson is one of 18 participating dioceses holding special Masses, processions, talks, and more centered around the Eucharist. Zach Dotson, Mary Carmen Zakrajsek, and Raymond Martinez II are guests with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. Also joining for a segment is Father Cesar Jaramillo, the local NEP coordinator for the Diocese of Paterson, and Father Casey Cole, O.F.M., a social media influencer who gave a reflection to students earlier in the day. Co-hosting is Communications Director Jai Agnish. The episode was recorded at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany, N.J. Listen to the episode here, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Beyond The Beacon podcast 114: Ways the Eucharist is transforming the lives of these pilgrims #Catholic –

When the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) journeyed through the Diocese of Paterson earlier this week, three of the young pilgrims on the journey — known as “Perpetual Pilgrims” — joined the podcast. Paterson is one of 18 participating dioceses holding special Masses, processions, talks, and more centered around the Eucharist.

Zach Dotson, Mary Carmen Zakrajsek, and Raymond Martinez II are guests with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. Also joining for a segment is Father Cesar Jaramillo, the local NEP coordinator for the Diocese of Paterson, and Father Casey Cole, O.F.M., a social media influencer who gave a reflection to students earlier in the day. Co-hosting is Communications Director Jai Agnish. The episode was recorded at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany, N.J.

Listen to the episode here, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– When the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) journeyed through the Diocese of Paterson earlier this week, three of the young pilgrims on the journey — known as “Perpetual Pilgrims” — joined the podcast. Paterson is one of 18 participating dioceses holding special Masses, processions, talks, and more centered around the Eucharist. Zach Dotson, Mary Carmen Zakrajsek, and Raymond Martinez II are guests with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. Also joining for a segment is Father Cesar Jaramillo, the local NEP coordinator for the Diocese of Paterson, and Father Casey Cole, O.F.M., a social media influencer who gave a reflection to students

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Pope Leo XIV declares American religious founder Mary Teresa Tallon venerable #Catholic Pope Leo XIV has declared American religious sister Mary Teresa Tallon venerable.The pontiff signed a decree on Thursday recognizing the heroic virtue of the foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate in New York. He also recognized the heroic virtue of several others, bringing them closer to sainthood. Just before signing the decree, he met with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.Mary Teresa Tallon: Making every soul countTallon was born on May 6, 1867, in Hanover, New York, as the daughter of Irish immigrants.In 1887, at the age of 19, Tallon joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross, despite her family’s disapproval. She remained part of the congregation for the next 33 years, teaching in Catholic schools in South Bend, Indiana.During this time, Tallon was inspired to establish a new congregation dedicated to contemplation and to preaching the Gospel to the neglected. In 1920, she left the Sisters of the Holy Cross and, on Aug. 15, established the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate (PVMI). She gave it the motto “Make every soul count.”Considered a gifted scholar, Tallon authored a report documenting the first decade of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in New York for the National Catechetical Congress in 1936.Tallon died on Feb. 10, 1954, after a prolonged illness. In 2013, she was declared a servant of God in recognition of her holiness.Others declared venerablePope Leo XIV on June 18 also moved several other servants of God along the path to sainthood.Two Italians were declared venerable: Maria Agnese Tribbioli, a religious sister who founded the Pie Operaie di San Giuseppe congregation, and Maria Petra Giordano, a Dominican nun.Others included Spanish nun Clara Andreu y Malferit and Belgian missionary Júlio Maria de Lombaerde.Leo also recognized the martyrdom of Juan Torres Torres and 19 companions, all Catholic priests, for having been killed “in odium fidei” (“in hatred of the faith”) in Spain during the Spanish Civil War.
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Pope Leo XIV declares American religious founder Mary Teresa Tallon venerable #Catholic Pope Leo XIV has declared American religious sister Mary Teresa Tallon venerable.The pontiff signed a decree on Thursday recognizing the heroic virtue of the foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate in New York. He also recognized the heroic virtue of several others, bringing them closer to sainthood. Just before signing the decree, he met with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.Mary Teresa Tallon: Making every soul countTallon was born on May 6, 1867, in Hanover, New York, as the daughter of Irish immigrants.In 1887, at the age of 19, Tallon joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross, despite her family’s disapproval. She remained part of the congregation for the next 33 years, teaching in Catholic schools in South Bend, Indiana.During this time, Tallon was inspired to establish a new congregation dedicated to contemplation and to preaching the Gospel to the neglected. In 1920, she left the Sisters of the Holy Cross and, on Aug. 15, established the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate (PVMI). She gave it the motto “Make every soul count.”Considered a gifted scholar, Tallon authored a report documenting the first decade of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in New York for the National Catechetical Congress in 1936.Tallon died on Feb. 10, 1954, after a prolonged illness. In 2013, she was declared a servant of God in recognition of her holiness.Others declared venerablePope Leo XIV on June 18 also moved several other servants of God along the path to sainthood.Two Italians were declared venerable: Maria Agnese Tribbioli, a religious sister who founded the Pie Operaie di San Giuseppe congregation, and Maria Petra Giordano, a Dominican nun.Others included Spanish nun Clara Andreu y Malferit and Belgian missionary Júlio Maria de Lombaerde.Leo also recognized the martyrdom of Juan Torres Torres and 19 companions, all Catholic priests, for having been killed “in odium fidei” (“in hatred of the faith”) in Spain during the Spanish Civil War.

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On June 18, the pope issued a decree recognizing the heroic virtue of the foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate in New York, among several others.

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Pope Leo XIV urges universities to promote peace in a divided world #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Thursday highlighted the role of universities in an increasingly polarized world, describing them as “privileged places for dialogue.”During a private audience at the Vatican with the board of governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on June 18, Leo said the universities can be promoters of peace at a time “often characterized by violence and pointed rhetoric.”“While not always easy, universities must constantly work to ensure that opportunities for meaningful encounters remain available,” Leo said in his remarks. “In an atmosphere where respectful dialogue is possible, everyone can grow in knowledge through learning from the points of view and living testimonies of others, even those with whom they might disagree.”The pope also highlighted the role of the university amid a rise in armed conflicts worldwide. Citing his message for the 59th World Day of Peace in January, Leo encouraged higher education leaders to work for peace within and beyond their academic communities, even if peace seemed impossible.“Rather than believing peace to be impossible and beyond our reach, we must seek to promote it in our communities and to welcome and recognize it in our own lives,” Leo said. “I pray that through forming artisans of peace, the university community may continue to be a beacon of hope and unity in a world that is increasingly divided.”
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Pope Leo XIV urges universities to promote peace in a divided world #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Thursday highlighted the role of universities in an increasingly polarized world, describing them as “privileged places for dialogue.”During a private audience at the Vatican with the board of governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on June 18, Leo said the universities can be promoters of peace at a time “often characterized by violence and pointed rhetoric.”“While not always easy, universities must constantly work to ensure that opportunities for meaningful encounters remain available,” Leo said in his remarks. “In an atmosphere where respectful dialogue is possible, everyone can grow in knowledge through learning from the points of view and living testimonies of others, even those with whom they might disagree.”The pope also highlighted the role of the university amid a rise in armed conflicts worldwide. Citing his message for the 59th World Day of Peace in January, Leo encouraged higher education leaders to work for peace within and beyond their academic communities, even if peace seemed impossible.“Rather than believing peace to be impossible and beyond our reach, we must seek to promote it in our communities and to welcome and recognize it in our own lives,” Leo said. “I pray that through forming artisans of peace, the university community may continue to be a beacon of hope and unity in a world that is increasingly divided.”

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The pontiff met with the board of governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on June 18.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 18 June 2026 – A reading from the Book of Sirach 48:1-14 Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You brought a dead man back to life from the nether world, by the will of the LORD. You sent kings down to destruction, and easily broke their power into pieces. You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness. You heard threats at Sinai, at Horeb avenging judgments. You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor. You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob. Blessed is he who shall have seen you  And who falls asleep in your friendship. For we live only in our life, but after death our name will not be such. O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind! Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit, wrought many marvels by his mere word. During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will. Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back into life. In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds.From the Gospel according to Matthew 6:7-15 Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”Today’s Gospel presents Jesus teaching his disciples the Our Father (…). This is the prayer that unites all Christians. (…) The Catechism of the Catholic Church expresses this very well: “Thus the Lord’s Prayer reveals us to ourselves at the same time that it reveals the Father to us” (ibid., 2783). Indeed, how true this is, for the more we pray with confidence to our heavenly Father, the more we discover that we are beloved children and the more we come to know the greatness of his love (…). The Lord always listens to us when we pray to him. If he sometimes responds in ways or at times that are difficult to understand, it is because he acts with wisdom and providence, which are beyond our understanding. Even in these moments, then, let us not cease to pray — and pray with confidence — for in him we will always find light and strength. When we recite the Our Father, in addition to celebrating the grace of being children of God, we also express our commitment to responding to this gift by loving one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. (…). We cannot pray to God as “Father” and then be harsh and insensitive towards others. Instead, it is important to let ourselves be transformed by his goodness, his patience, his mercy, so that his face may be reflected in ours as in a mirror. (Pope Leo XVI, Angelus, 27 luglio 2025)

unitedyam

A reading from the Book of Sirach
48:1-14

Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You brought a dead man back to life
from the nether world, by the will of the LORD.
You sent kings down to destruction,
and easily broke their power into pieces.
You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness.
You heard threats at Sinai,
at Horeb avenging judgments.
You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance,
and a prophet as your successor.
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you 
And who falls asleep in your friendship.
For we live only in our life,
but after death our name will not be such.
O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind!
Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit,
wrought many marvels by his mere word.
During his lifetime he feared no one,
nor was any man able to intimidate his will.
Nothing was beyond his power;
beneath him flesh was brought back into life.
In life he performed wonders,
and after death, marvelous deeds.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

‘Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’

“If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Today’s Gospel presents Jesus teaching his disciples the Our Father (…). This is the prayer that unites all Christians. (…) The Catechism of the Catholic Church expresses this very well: “Thus the Lord’s Prayer reveals us to ourselves at the same time that it reveals the Father to us” (ibid., 2783). Indeed, how true this is, for the more we pray with confidence to our heavenly Father, the more we discover that we are beloved children and the more we come to know the greatness of his love (…).

The Lord always listens to us when we pray to him. If he sometimes responds in ways or at times that are difficult to understand, it is because he acts with wisdom and providence, which are beyond our understanding. Even in these moments, then, let us not cease to pray — and pray with confidence — for in him we will always find light and strength.

When we recite the Our Father, in addition to celebrating the grace of being children of God, we also express our commitment to responding to this gift by loving one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. (…). We cannot pray to God as “Father” and then be harsh and insensitive towards others. Instead, it is important to let ourselves be transformed by his goodness, his patience, his mercy, so that his face may be reflected in ours as in a mirror. (Pope Leo XVI, Angelus, 27 luglio 2025)

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2 newly ordained men thankful for gift of priesthood #Catholic - Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the morning of June 13 as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two seminarians as the newest priests of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the two men that Jesus calls them to “have a missionary spirit in care for those who are most in need.” The newest priests are Father Lucas Sebastian Mateo Folan, a member of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., and Father Jender Arley Medina Palencia, who was born and raised in Colombia. He served St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., as a temporary deacon before priesthood. Before the ordination, Father Folan and Father Medina both told BeaconNJ.org that they were “excited” to begin their ministries as priests. The men especially looked forward to consecrating the Eucharist and hearing confessions, and both thanked God for the beautiful “gift of the priesthood.” Bishop Sweeney, that sunny Saturday, celebrated the English and Spanish ordination Mass, rooted in early Church tradition, at St. John’s, the mother church of the diocese. [Read a detailed description of the Rite of Ordination in the story below.] Priests of the diocese and beyond concelebrated, while deacons and seminarians assisted. A broad spectrum of well-wishers — including family, friends, priests, parishioners, and diocesan faithful — attended the ordination to support the new priests. The Diocesan Choir and musicians, led by Preston Dibble, diocesan music minister and choir director, performed worship music for the Mass, which was livestreamed for family and loved ones unable to attend. “Before Christ’s pierced heart, give yourselves entirely to me so that you may love his people with the same love that he loves them,” Bishop Sweeney told the men in his homily. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. This love is our pledge as priests. If we surrender and offer ourselves completely, nothing of us will be lost,” he said. Father Medina celebrated his first Mass as a priest the next day, June 14, at St. Margaret’s in Morristown. His younger sister, Liz, traveled from their native Colombia with her boyfriend for the Masses. Other family and friends watched on a livestream. Father Medina’s first assignment as a priest will be as a parochial vicar of the cathedral. Father Folan celebrated his first Mass at Notre Dame the next day, in the presence of family and loved ones. In the fall, he will travel to Rome to complete a licentiate in sacred theology, with a focus on fundamental and dogmatic theology, at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Before that, Father Folan will serve at Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J. Also in his homily, Bishop Sweeney reminded the two men to “be true priests of the New Testament, in order to preach the Gospel. Shepherd God’s people, and celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation of the sacraments, especially in the Lord’s sacrifice,” he said. At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the families of the new priests and their parishes and seminaries, which had representatives present, for nurturing their vocations. He urged the faithful at the liturgy to continue praying for the priests. Immediately following the recessional at the end of the Mass, the new priests returned to the front of St. John’s altar to give their first blessing as priests to family members and well-wishers. At the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney told the new priests, “May God, who founded the Church and guides her still, protect you constantly with his grace that you may faithfully discharge the duties of the priesthood.” “May he make you servants and a witness and witnesses in the world to divine charity and truth and faithful ministers of reconciliation,” Bishop Sweeney continued. “May he make you two shepherds to provide the living bread and word of life to the faithful so that they may continue to grow in the unity of the one body of Christ,” he said. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Ordination liturgy steeped in rich traditions of the early Church The two newest priests for the Paterson Diocese received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and were ordained Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., in an ordination liturgy steeped in ceremony and in the rich traditions of the Church. First, the men were called forward by name. Msgr. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., requested that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordain the candidates. With that, the bishop announced that he had chosen the candidates for the priesthood, and the congregation greeted the announcement with enthusiastic applause. Then the priest candidates were asked if they were willing to discharge the Office of Priesthood, to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously, to preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, to consecrate their lives to God, and to grow closer to Christ. They knelt before the bishop, placing their hands between his, promising obedience to him and his successors. During the Litany of Saints, the candidates prostrated themselves before the altar and the bishop as a sign of humility and their total reliance on God’s grace. They received the strength of the Holy Spirit as the bishop imposed hands on them in silence. Then, the assembled priests were invited to lay hands on the seven men, part of the ancient sign of ordination. In the Prayer of Consecration, Bishop Sweeney implored God’s help so the priesthood may continue in the Church. He prayed that the dignity of the priesthood be granted to the candidates. Priests vested the newly ordained with a stole and chasuble. Then the bishop anointed the new priests’ palms with Sacred Chrism as a sign that they now share in Christ’s mission. Bishop Sweeney accepted the Offertory gifts and then, in turn, handed them to the newly ordained. The new priests and many other diocesan priests were concelebrants at the Mass. Later, the new priests exchanged the sign of peace with Bishop Sweeney and the concelebrating priests as a sign of welcome into the presbyterate. At the end of the Mass, the new priests gave their first blessing to the Bishop. Then, in front of the altar after Mass, they gave blessings to their family members and friends who had come from near and far to show their support on their ordination day. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  
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2 newly ordained men thankful for gift of priesthood #Catholic – Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the morning of June 13 as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two seminarians as the newest priests of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the two men that Jesus calls them to “have a missionary spirit in care for those who are most in need.” The newest priests are Father Lucas Sebastian Mateo Folan, a member of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., and Father Jender Arley Medina Palencia, who was born and raised in Colombia. He served St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., as a temporary deacon before priesthood. Before the ordination, Father Folan and Father Medina both told BeaconNJ.org that they were “excited” to begin their ministries as priests. The men especially looked forward to consecrating the Eucharist and hearing confessions, and both thanked God for the beautiful “gift of the priesthood.” Bishop Sweeney, that sunny Saturday, celebrated the English and Spanish ordination Mass, rooted in early Church tradition, at St. John’s, the mother church of the diocese. [Read a detailed description of the Rite of Ordination in the story below.] Priests of the diocese and beyond concelebrated, while deacons and seminarians assisted. A broad spectrum of well-wishers — including family, friends, priests, parishioners, and diocesan faithful — attended the ordination to support the new priests. The Diocesan Choir and musicians, led by Preston Dibble, diocesan music minister and choir director, performed worship music for the Mass, which was livestreamed for family and loved ones unable to attend. “Before Christ’s pierced heart, give yourselves entirely to me so that you may love his people with the same love that he loves them,” Bishop Sweeney told the men in his homily. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. This love is our pledge as priests. If we surrender and offer ourselves completely, nothing of us will be lost,” he said. Father Medina celebrated his first Mass as a priest the next day, June 14, at St. Margaret’s in Morristown. His younger sister, Liz, traveled from their native Colombia with her boyfriend for the Masses. Other family and friends watched on a livestream. Father Medina’s first assignment as a priest will be as a parochial vicar of the cathedral. Father Folan celebrated his first Mass at Notre Dame the next day, in the presence of family and loved ones. In the fall, he will travel to Rome to complete a licentiate in sacred theology, with a focus on fundamental and dogmatic theology, at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Before that, Father Folan will serve at Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J. Also in his homily, Bishop Sweeney reminded the two men to “be true priests of the New Testament, in order to preach the Gospel. Shepherd God’s people, and celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation of the sacraments, especially in the Lord’s sacrifice,” he said. At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the families of the new priests and their parishes and seminaries, which had representatives present, for nurturing their vocations. He urged the faithful at the liturgy to continue praying for the priests. Immediately following the recessional at the end of the Mass, the new priests returned to the front of St. John’s altar to give their first blessing as priests to family members and well-wishers. At the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney told the new priests, “May God, who founded the Church and guides her still, protect you constantly with his grace that you may faithfully discharge the duties of the priesthood.” “May he make you servants and a witness and witnesses in the world to divine charity and truth and faithful ministers of reconciliation,” Bishop Sweeney continued. “May he make you two shepherds to provide the living bread and word of life to the faithful so that they may continue to grow in the unity of the one body of Christ,” he said. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Ordination liturgy steeped in rich traditions of the early Church The two newest priests for the Paterson Diocese received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and were ordained Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., in an ordination liturgy steeped in ceremony and in the rich traditions of the Church. First, the men were called forward by name. Msgr. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., requested that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordain the candidates. With that, the bishop announced that he had chosen the candidates for the priesthood, and the congregation greeted the announcement with enthusiastic applause. Then the priest candidates were asked if they were willing to discharge the Office of Priesthood, to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously, to preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, to consecrate their lives to God, and to grow closer to Christ. They knelt before the bishop, placing their hands between his, promising obedience to him and his successors. During the Litany of Saints, the candidates prostrated themselves before the altar and the bishop as a sign of humility and their total reliance on God’s grace. They received the strength of the Holy Spirit as the bishop imposed hands on them in silence. Then, the assembled priests were invited to lay hands on the seven men, part of the ancient sign of ordination. In the Prayer of Consecration, Bishop Sweeney implored God’s help so the priesthood may continue in the Church. He prayed that the dignity of the priesthood be granted to the candidates. Priests vested the newly ordained with a stole and chasuble. Then the bishop anointed the new priests’ palms with Sacred Chrism as a sign that they now share in Christ’s mission. Bishop Sweeney accepted the Offertory gifts and then, in turn, handed them to the newly ordained. The new priests and many other diocesan priests were concelebrants at the Mass. Later, the new priests exchanged the sign of peace with Bishop Sweeney and the concelebrating priests as a sign of welcome into the presbyterate. At the end of the Mass, the new priests gave their first blessing to the Bishop. Then, in front of the altar after Mass, they gave blessings to their family members and friends who had come from near and far to show their support on their ordination day. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  

unitedyam

2 newly ordained men thankful for gift of priesthood #Catholic –

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the morning of June 13 as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two seminarians as the newest priests of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the two men that Jesus calls them to “have a missionary spirit in care for those who are most in need.”

The newest priests are Father Lucas Sebastian Mateo Folan, a member of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., and Father Jender Arley Medina Palencia, who was born and raised in Colombia. He served St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., as a temporary deacon before priesthood.

Before the ordination, Father Folan and Father Medina both told BeaconNJ.org that they were “excited” to begin their ministries as priests. The men especially looked forward to consecrating the Eucharist and hearing confessions, and both thanked God for the beautiful “gift of the priesthood.”

Bishop Sweeney, that sunny Saturday, celebrated the English and Spanish ordination Mass, rooted in early Church tradition, at St. John’s, the mother church of the diocese. [Read a detailed description of the Rite of Ordination in the story below.] Priests of the diocese and beyond concelebrated, while deacons and seminarians assisted.

A broad spectrum of well-wishers — including family, friends, priests, parishioners, and diocesan faithful — attended the ordination to support the new priests. The Diocesan Choir and musicians, led by Preston Dibble, diocesan music minister and choir director, performed worship music for the Mass, which was livestreamed for family and loved ones unable to attend.

“Before Christ’s pierced heart, give yourselves entirely to me so that you may love his people with the same love that he loves them,” Bishop Sweeney told the men in his homily. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. This love is our pledge as priests. If we surrender and offer ourselves completely, nothing of us will be lost,” he said.

Father Medina celebrated his first Mass as a priest the next day, June 14, at St. Margaret’s in Morristown. His younger sister, Liz, traveled from their native Colombia with her boyfriend for the Masses. Other family and friends watched on a livestream. Father Medina’s first assignment as a priest will be as a parochial vicar of the cathedral.

Father Folan celebrated his first Mass at Notre Dame the next day, in the presence of family and loved ones. In the fall, he will travel to Rome to complete a licentiate in sacred theology, with a focus on fundamental and dogmatic theology, at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Before that, Father Folan will serve at Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J.

Also in his homily, Bishop Sweeney reminded the two men to “be true priests of the New Testament, in order to preach the Gospel. Shepherd God’s people, and celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation of the sacraments, especially in the Lord’s sacrifice,” he said.

At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the families of the new priests and their parishes and seminaries, which had representatives present, for nurturing their vocations. He urged the faithful at the liturgy to continue praying for the priests.

Immediately following the recessional at the end of the Mass, the new priests returned to the front of St. John’s altar to give their first blessing as priests to family members and well-wishers.

At the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney told the new priests, “May God, who founded the Church and guides her still, protect you constantly with his grace that you may faithfully discharge the duties of the priesthood.”

“May he make you servants and a witness and witnesses in the world to divine charity and truth and faithful ministers of reconciliation,” Bishop Sweeney continued. “May he make you two shepherds to provide the living bread and word of life to the faithful so that they may continue to grow in the unity of the one body of Christ,” he said.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Ordination liturgy steeped in rich traditions of the early Church

The two newest priests for the Paterson Diocese received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and were ordained Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., in an ordination liturgy steeped in ceremony and in the rich traditions of the Church.

First, the men were called forward by name. Msgr. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., requested that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordain the candidates. With that, the bishop announced that he had chosen the candidates for the priesthood, and the congregation greeted the announcement with enthusiastic applause.

Then the priest candidates were asked if they were willing to discharge the Office of Priesthood, to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously, to preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, to consecrate their lives to God, and to grow closer to Christ. They knelt before the bishop, placing their hands between his, promising obedience to him and his successors.

During the Litany of Saints, the candidates prostrated themselves before the altar and the bishop as a sign of humility and their total reliance on God’s grace. They received the strength of the Holy Spirit as the bishop imposed hands on them in silence. Then, the assembled priests were invited to lay hands on the seven men, part of the ancient sign of ordination.

In the Prayer of Consecration, Bishop Sweeney implored God’s help so the priesthood may continue in the Church. He prayed that the dignity of the priesthood be granted to the candidates. Priests vested the newly ordained with a stole and chasuble. Then the bishop anointed the new priests’ palms with Sacred Chrism as a sign that they now share in Christ’s mission.

Bishop Sweeney accepted the Offertory gifts and then, in turn, handed them to the newly ordained. The new priests and many other diocesan priests were concelebrants at the Mass. Later, the new priests exchanged the sign of peace with Bishop Sweeney and the concelebrating priests as a sign of welcome into the presbyterate.

At the end of the Mass, the new priests gave their first blessing to the Bishop. Then, in front of the altar after Mass, they gave blessings to their family members and friends who had come from near and far to show their support on their ordination day.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

– Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the morning of June 13 as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two seminarians as the newest priests of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the two men that Jesus calls them to “have a missionary spirit in care for those who are most in need.” The newest priests are Father Lucas Sebastian Mateo Folan, a member of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., and Father Jender Arley Medina Palencia,

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Diocesan stops energize Catholics along National Eucharistic Pilgrimage route #Catholic – More than 1,700 faithful happily joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for a 3.2-mile Eucharistic procession through the streets of Passaic in the late afternoon of June 14. Even though crowds along the route had gathered to watch FIFA World Cup broadcasts on outdoor screens, many of them paused to honor Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) on June 14 and 15 in Passaic and Paterson, N.J. The event inspired thousands of faithful, near and far, to renew their love for Jesus in the Eucharist. Guided by the theme “One Nation Under God,” the 18-stop pilgrimage up the Eastern Seaboard this summer is a nationwide call to national renewal, unity, and mission. That call is rooted in the Eucharist, in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday. The NEP also highlights immigrants’ contributions to the country. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Luis Martinez, 18, a youth-group member at St. Therese Parish in Paterson, was stirred when, at each parish, the faithful knelt outside, waiting and praying for the arriving pilgrims, and then joined the procession. “This was a great opportunity. I didn’t want to miss it,” said Martinez, adding that the pilgrims sang hymns in Spanish and English and prayed the rosary, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Speaking about the Eucharist, Martinez said, “I go to daily Mass if I can. I wants to be present to Jesus. I don’t know what he wants with me yet, but I know he’s working on my heart.” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson led the well-attended events on the local pilgrimage. He and several guest speakers encouraged the faithful to allow Jesus in the Eucharist to call them to a sense of mission: sharing his love with others. The NEP began in St. Augustine, Fla., where the first Catholic Mass in the United States was held on Memorial Day. From there, it moved up the East Coast to New England and will visit Philadelphia, Penn., the nation’s birthplace, for the 250th anniversary celebrations. The journey ends on July 5. These pilgrimages occur between National Eucharistic Congresses. A group of young-adult Perpetual Pilgrims and media missionaries are traveling by van through most of the original 13 colonies on the St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Route. The route is named after the first American citizen canonized as a saint. Special guests on the pilgrimage will be three priests with strong social media presence: Father Rafael Capo, Father Heriberto Garcia, and Franciscan Father Casey Cole. The procession started at the Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary in Passaic passed by several churches, and ended at Boverini Stadium for the opening Mass. It’s considered one of NEP’s largest processions so far. A Knights of Columbus honor guard accompanied Bishop Sweeney as he walked under a processional canopy, holding the monstrance that contained the Blessed Sacrament. Pilgrims were moved by the overwhelming devotion displayed throughout the procession. “The crowd grew at every corner,” one pilgrim reflected. “The entire community sang and prayed with their whole breath. Looking at the monstrance, I thought: ‘Behold this Heart which loves so much, and now receives the love of all these people gathered here,’” according to Our Sunday Visitor. Among the faithful waiting for the pilgrims to arrive at Boverini Stadium on June 14 was Lizette Canari of Passaic. She considers receiving the Eucharist at Mass each week a “beautiful moment” that nourishes her soul — and has comforted her in dark times. Canari, a catechist at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, called the pilgrimage a “beautiful occasion.” “The pilgrimage celebrates the 250th birthday of the country and the Eucharist, which is a wonderful thing,” said Canari, who attended the opening Mass for the pilgrimage with her husband and two daughters She told BeaconNJ.com, “Through the Eucharist, Jesus has pulled me out of the darkness, like when I was grieving after my father died.” Then, Bishop Sweeney celebrated an outside opening Mass at Boverini Stadium — another first for the diocese. Among the celebrants were three auxiliary bishops from the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J. Father Capó delivered a homily in English, while Father Garcia spoke in Spanish. “We have been gathered around the Eucharistic Lord to be sent out on a mission into the world from our parishes,” Father Capó told worshippers in his homily. At the end of the Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the pilgrimage volunteers and organizers, including Father Cesar Jaramillo, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J. The bishop also said, “We love and pray for our community and our one nation under God.” He led the large congregation in singing “God Bless America.” Afterwards, Malgorzata Tyszko, a Holy Rosary parishioner and mother of Father Krzysztof Tyszko, parochial vicar of Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., called the liturgy “special — something that doesn’t happen every day.” Reflecting on the Eucharist, Tyszko said, “Some days are easier and others are challenge. The Eucharist gives me the strength to fight through each day with God.” The first day of the pilgrimage, June 14, began with Eucharistic adoration, followed by witness talks by Father Capó in English at the Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary and by Father García in Spanish at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Nicholas Parish. The priests focused on how lives are transformed when influenced by the Eucharist. “Let the Eucharist influence your mission until it becomes your way of life — until you stop keeping Christ to yourself and share him with the world,” Father Capó said in his talk. That pilgrimage experience continued on Monday, June 15. In the morning, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney met with a gathering of Catholic middle-school and high-school students of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J. There Bishop Sweeney led Eucharistic adoration and a Eucharistic procession. Franciscan Father Casey Cole delivered a talk, “Influenced by the Eucharist.” Later that afternoon, a Eucharistic procession took place in Paterson, starting at Father English Food Pantry of diocesan Catholic Charities and ending at Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the mother church of the diocese. After the procession, Bishop Sweeney celebrated a closing Mass for the NEP visit at the cathedral. In his homily, Franciscan Father Casey Cole said that God invites us to participate in his salvific will — his desire for the salvation of all humanity — and that God can make the impossible possible. Father Jaramillo called the diocesan NEP stops “a moment of profound grace for all who participated and reminded everyone that a true Pastoral de Conjunto, or Coordinated Pastoral Ministry, is possible if our hearts are centered in Christ.” “Only then can we truly appreciate each other’s gifts and talents and realize we all have a role to play in building up God’s Kingdom here in our local Church,” Father Jaramillo said.  
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Diocesan stops energize Catholics along National Eucharistic Pilgrimage route #Catholic – More than 1,700 faithful happily joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for a 3.2-mile Eucharistic procession through the streets of Passaic in the late afternoon of June 14. Even though crowds along the route had gathered to watch FIFA World Cup broadcasts on outdoor screens, many of them paused to honor Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) on June 14 and 15 in Passaic and Paterson, N.J. The event inspired thousands of faithful, near and far, to renew their love for Jesus in the Eucharist. Guided by the theme “One Nation Under God,” the 18-stop pilgrimage up the Eastern Seaboard this summer is a nationwide call to national renewal, unity, and mission. That call is rooted in the Eucharist, in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday. The NEP also highlights immigrants’ contributions to the country. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Luis Martinez, 18, a youth-group member at St. Therese Parish in Paterson, was stirred when, at each parish, the faithful knelt outside, waiting and praying for the arriving pilgrims, and then joined the procession. “This was a great opportunity. I didn’t want to miss it,” said Martinez, adding that the pilgrims sang hymns in Spanish and English and prayed the rosary, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Speaking about the Eucharist, Martinez said, “I go to daily Mass if I can. I wants to be present to Jesus. I don’t know what he wants with me yet, but I know he’s working on my heart.” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson led the well-attended events on the local pilgrimage. He and several guest speakers encouraged the faithful to allow Jesus in the Eucharist to call them to a sense of mission: sharing his love with others. The NEP began in St. Augustine, Fla., where the first Catholic Mass in the United States was held on Memorial Day. From there, it moved up the East Coast to New England and will visit Philadelphia, Penn., the nation’s birthplace, for the 250th anniversary celebrations. The journey ends on July 5. These pilgrimages occur between National Eucharistic Congresses. A group of young-adult Perpetual Pilgrims and media missionaries are traveling by van through most of the original 13 colonies on the St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Route. The route is named after the first American citizen canonized as a saint. Special guests on the pilgrimage will be three priests with strong social media presence: Father Rafael Capo, Father Heriberto Garcia, and Franciscan Father Casey Cole. The procession started at the Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary in Passaic passed by several churches, and ended at Boverini Stadium for the opening Mass. It’s considered one of NEP’s largest processions so far. A Knights of Columbus honor guard accompanied Bishop Sweeney as he walked under a processional canopy, holding the monstrance that contained the Blessed Sacrament. Pilgrims were moved by the overwhelming devotion displayed throughout the procession. “The crowd grew at every corner,” one pilgrim reflected. “The entire community sang and prayed with their whole breath. Looking at the monstrance, I thought: ‘Behold this Heart which loves so much, and now receives the love of all these people gathered here,’” according to Our Sunday Visitor. Among the faithful waiting for the pilgrims to arrive at Boverini Stadium on June 14 was Lizette Canari of Passaic. She considers receiving the Eucharist at Mass each week a “beautiful moment” that nourishes her soul — and has comforted her in dark times. Canari, a catechist at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, called the pilgrimage a “beautiful occasion.” “The pilgrimage celebrates the 250th birthday of the country and the Eucharist, which is a wonderful thing,” said Canari, who attended the opening Mass for the pilgrimage with her husband and two daughters She told BeaconNJ.com, “Through the Eucharist, Jesus has pulled me out of the darkness, like when I was grieving after my father died.” Then, Bishop Sweeney celebrated an outside opening Mass at Boverini Stadium — another first for the diocese. Among the celebrants were three auxiliary bishops from the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J. Father Capó delivered a homily in English, while Father Garcia spoke in Spanish. “We have been gathered around the Eucharistic Lord to be sent out on a mission into the world from our parishes,” Father Capó told worshippers in his homily. At the end of the Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the pilgrimage volunteers and organizers, including Father Cesar Jaramillo, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J. The bishop also said, “We love and pray for our community and our one nation under God.” He led the large congregation in singing “God Bless America.” Afterwards, Malgorzata Tyszko, a Holy Rosary parishioner and mother of Father Krzysztof Tyszko, parochial vicar of Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., called the liturgy “special — something that doesn’t happen every day.” Reflecting on the Eucharist, Tyszko said, “Some days are easier and others are challenge. The Eucharist gives me the strength to fight through each day with God.” The first day of the pilgrimage, June 14, began with Eucharistic adoration, followed by witness talks by Father Capó in English at the Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary and by Father García in Spanish at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Nicholas Parish. The priests focused on how lives are transformed when influenced by the Eucharist. “Let the Eucharist influence your mission until it becomes your way of life — until you stop keeping Christ to yourself and share him with the world,” Father Capó said in his talk. That pilgrimage experience continued on Monday, June 15. In the morning, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney met with a gathering of Catholic middle-school and high-school students of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J. There Bishop Sweeney led Eucharistic adoration and a Eucharistic procession. Franciscan Father Casey Cole delivered a talk, “Influenced by the Eucharist.” Later that afternoon, a Eucharistic procession took place in Paterson, starting at Father English Food Pantry of diocesan Catholic Charities and ending at Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the mother church of the diocese. After the procession, Bishop Sweeney celebrated a closing Mass for the NEP visit at the cathedral. In his homily, Franciscan Father Casey Cole said that God invites us to participate in his salvific will — his desire for the salvation of all humanity — and that God can make the impossible possible. Father Jaramillo called the diocesan NEP stops “a moment of profound grace for all who participated and reminded everyone that a true Pastoral de Conjunto, or Coordinated Pastoral Ministry, is possible if our hearts are centered in Christ.” “Only then can we truly appreciate each other’s gifts and talents and realize we all have a role to play in building up God’s Kingdom here in our local Church,” Father Jaramillo said.  

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Diocesan stops energize Catholics along National Eucharistic Pilgrimage route #Catholic –

More than 1,700 faithful happily joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for a 3.2-mile Eucharistic procession through the streets of Passaic in the late afternoon of June 14. Even though crowds along the route had gathered to watch FIFA World Cup broadcasts on outdoor screens, many of them paused to honor Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.

This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) on June 14 and 15 in Passaic and Paterson, N.J. The event inspired thousands of faithful, near and far, to renew their love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

Guided by the theme “One Nation Under God,” the 18-stop pilgrimage up the Eastern Seaboard this summer is a nationwide call to national renewal, unity, and mission. That call is rooted in the Eucharist, in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday. The NEP also highlights immigrants’ contributions to the country.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Luis Martinez, 18, a youth-group member at St. Therese Parish in Paterson, was stirred when, at each parish, the faithful knelt outside, waiting and praying for the arriving pilgrims, and then joined the procession.

“This was a great opportunity. I didn’t want to miss it,” said Martinez, adding that the pilgrims sang hymns in Spanish and English and prayed the rosary, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Speaking about the Eucharist, Martinez said, “I go to daily Mass if I can. I wants to be present to Jesus. I don’t know what he wants with me yet, but I know he’s working on my heart.”

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson led the well-attended events on the local pilgrimage. He and several guest speakers encouraged the faithful to allow Jesus in the Eucharist to call them to a sense of mission: sharing his love with others.

The NEP began in St. Augustine, Fla., where the first Catholic Mass in the United States was held on Memorial Day. From there, it moved up the East Coast to New England and will visit Philadelphia, Penn., the nation’s birthplace, for the 250th anniversary celebrations. The journey ends on July 5. These pilgrimages occur between National Eucharistic Congresses.

A group of young-adult Perpetual Pilgrims and media missionaries are traveling by van through most of the original 13 colonies on the St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Route. The route is named after the first American citizen canonized as a saint. Special guests on the pilgrimage will be three priests with strong social media presence: Father Rafael Capo, Father Heriberto Garcia, and Franciscan Father Casey Cole.

The procession started at the Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary in Passaic passed by several churches, and ended at Boverini Stadium for the opening Mass. It’s considered one of NEP’s largest processions so far.

A Knights of Columbus honor guard accompanied Bishop Sweeney as he walked under a processional canopy, holding the monstrance that contained the Blessed Sacrament.

Pilgrims were moved by the overwhelming devotion displayed throughout the procession.

“The crowd grew at every corner,” one pilgrim reflected. “The entire community sang and prayed with their whole breath. Looking at the monstrance, I thought: ‘Behold this Heart which loves so much, and now receives the love of all these people gathered here,’” according to Our Sunday Visitor.

Among the faithful waiting for the pilgrims to arrive at Boverini Stadium on June 14 was Lizette Canari of Passaic. She considers receiving the Eucharist at Mass each week a “beautiful moment” that nourishes her soul — and has comforted her in dark times.

Canari, a catechist at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, called the pilgrimage a “beautiful occasion.”

“The pilgrimage celebrates the 250th birthday of the country and the Eucharist, which is a wonderful thing,” said Canari, who attended the opening Mass for the pilgrimage with her husband and two daughters She told BeaconNJ.com, “Through the Eucharist, Jesus has pulled me out of the darkness, like when I was grieving after my father died.”

Then, Bishop Sweeney celebrated an outside opening Mass at Boverini Stadium — another first for the diocese. Among the celebrants were three auxiliary bishops from the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J. Father Capó delivered a homily in English, while Father Garcia spoke in Spanish.

“We have been gathered around the Eucharistic Lord to be sent out on a mission into the world from our parishes,” Father Capó told worshippers in his homily.

At the end of the Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the pilgrimage volunteers and organizers, including Father Cesar Jaramillo, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J. The bishop also said, “We love and pray for our community and our one nation under God.” He led the large congregation in singing “God Bless America.”

Afterwards, Malgorzata Tyszko, a Holy Rosary parishioner and mother of Father Krzysztof Tyszko, parochial vicar of Assumption Parish in Morristown, N.J., called the liturgy “special — something that doesn’t happen every day.”

Reflecting on the Eucharist, Tyszko said, “Some days are easier and others are challenge. The Eucharist gives me the strength to fight through each day with God.”

The first day of the pilgrimage, June 14, began with Eucharistic adoration, followed by witness talks by Father Capó in English at the Diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II/Holy Rosary and by Father García in Spanish at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Nicholas Parish. The priests focused on how lives are transformed when influenced by the Eucharist.

“Let the Eucharist influence your mission until it becomes your way of life — until you stop keeping Christ to yourself and share him with the world,” Father Capó said in his talk.

That pilgrimage experience continued on Monday, June 15. In the morning, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney met with a gathering of Catholic middle-school and high-school students of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J. There Bishop Sweeney led Eucharistic adoration and a Eucharistic procession. Franciscan Father Casey Cole delivered a talk, “Influenced by the Eucharist.”

Later that afternoon, a Eucharistic procession took place in Paterson, starting at Father English Food Pantry of diocesan Catholic Charities and ending at Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the mother church of the diocese.

After the procession, Bishop Sweeney celebrated a closing Mass for the NEP visit at the cathedral. In his homily, Franciscan Father Casey Cole said that God invites us to participate in his salvific will — his desire for the salvation of all humanity — and that God can make the impossible possible.

Father Jaramillo called the diocesan NEP stops “a moment of profound grace for all who participated and reminded everyone that a true Pastoral de Conjunto, or Coordinated Pastoral Ministry, is possible if our hearts are centered in Christ.”

“Only then can we truly appreciate each other’s gifts and talents and realize we all have a role to play in building up God’s Kingdom here in our local Church,” Father Jaramillo said.

 

– More than 1,700 faithful happily joined Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for a 3.2-mile Eucharistic procession through the streets of Passaic in the late afternoon of June 14. Even though crowds along the route had gathered to watch FIFA World Cup broadcasts on outdoor screens, many of them paused to honor Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) on June 14 and 15 in Passaic and Paterson, N.J. The event inspired thousands of faithful, near and far, to renew their love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

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Mass concludes powerful local National Eucharistic Pilgrimage stops #Catholic - Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a closing Mass for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage visit to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the evening of June 15. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on June 14 and 15 in Passaic and Paterson, N.J. Before the Mass, a Eucharistic procession took place in Paterson, starting at Catholic Charities Father English Food Pantry and ending at Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the mother church of the diocese. In his homily, Franciscan Father Casey Cole, one of three priests with strong social media presences who is participating in the national pilgrimage, said that God invites us to participate in his salvific will — his desire for the salvation of all humanity — and that God can make the impossible possible. BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Mass concludes powerful local National Eucharistic Pilgrimage stops #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a closing Mass for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage visit to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the evening of June 15. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on June 14 and 15 in Passaic and Paterson, N.J. Before the Mass, a Eucharistic procession took place in Paterson, starting at Catholic Charities Father English Food Pantry and ending at Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the mother church of the diocese. In his homily, Franciscan Father Casey Cole, one of three priests with strong social media presences who is participating in the national pilgrimage, said that God invites us to participate in his salvific will — his desire for the salvation of all humanity — and that God can make the impossible possible. BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Mass concludes powerful local National Eucharistic Pilgrimage stops #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a closing Mass for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage visit to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the evening of June 15. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on June 14 and 15 in Passaic and Paterson, N.J. Before the Mass, a Eucharistic procession took place in Paterson, starting at Catholic Charities Father English Food Pantry and ending at Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the mother church of the diocese. In his homily, Franciscan Father Casey Cole, one of three priests with strong social media presences who is participating in the national pilgrimage, said that God invites us to participate in his salvific will — his desire for the salvation of all humanity — and that God can make the impossible possible.

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

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated a closing Mass for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage visit to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the evening of June 15. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on June 14 and 15 in Passaic and Paterson, N.J. Before the Mass, a Eucharistic procession took place in Paterson, starting at Catholic Charities Father English Food Pantry and ending at Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the mother church of the diocese. In his homily, Franciscan Father

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Students learn Eucharistic influence during meaningful pilgrimage stop experience #Catholic - On the morning of June 15, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney met with a gathering of Catholic middle-school and high-school students of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. At St. Peter’s, Bishop Sweeney led a Eucharistic procession with the students. Franciscan Father Casey Cole, one of three priests on the national pilgrimage with strong social media presence, delivered a talk to the students, “Influenced by the Eucharist.” BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Students learn Eucharistic influence during meaningful pilgrimage stop experience #Catholic – On the morning of June 15, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney met with a gathering of Catholic middle-school and high-school students of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. At St. Peter’s, Bishop Sweeney led a Eucharistic procession with the students. Franciscan Father Casey Cole, one of three priests on the national pilgrimage with strong social media presence, delivered a talk to the students, “Influenced by the Eucharist.” BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

unitedyam

Students learn Eucharistic influence during meaningful pilgrimage stop experience #Catholic –

On the morning of June 15, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney met with a gathering of Catholic middle-school and high-school students of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. At St. Peter’s, Bishop Sweeney led a Eucharistic procession with the students. Franciscan Father Casey Cole, one of three priests on the national pilgrimage with strong social media presence, delivered a talk to the students, “Influenced by the Eucharist.”

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

– On the morning of June 15, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney met with a gathering of Catholic middle-school and high-school students of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J. This week, the Paterson Diocese hosted a historic first: stops on the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. At St. Peter’s, Bishop Sweeney led a Eucharistic procession with the students. Franciscan Father Casey Cole, one of three priests on the national pilgrimage with strong social media presence, delivered a talk to the students, “Influenced by the Eucharist.” BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI Click here to subscribe to our

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Pope Leo XIV: Spain is an example of unity despite differences #Catholic Pope Leo XIV dedicated his general audience on June 17 to reflecting on his apostolic journey to Spain the previous week, during which he visited Madrid, Barcelona, ​​and the Canary Islands.In his remarks, the pope praised Spainʼs "very rich Catholic tradition" and highlighted the countryʼs “joyful expression of their faith" as well as the affection shown to him by the people.“In the case of Spain, I was able to observe with joy how much people of every age and situation were looking forward to the pope’s visit: Everywhere I found multitudes who welcomed me with great warmth,” Leo remarked, acknowledging that this was not something to be taken for granted.Safeguarding encounter between Catholic tradition, contemporary cultureReferring to the events in Madrid and Barcelona during his trip to Spain, the pope also described his trip as an “encounter of ancient and modern, Catholic tradition and contemporary culture,” allowing him to experience “the very character of Europe, its inestimable wealth, as a living reality, not a thing of the past.”Leo also said that Europeʼs cultural heritage must be preserved to address ongoing challenges.“It is a heritage to be safeguarded with care, so that it may be invested in today’s global world with its momentous challenges: peace, integral ecology, equitable and sustainable development, and respect for human dignity,” Leo said.Care for migrantsReferring to the final stage of the journey at the Canary Islands, where Leo met a large number of African migrants, the pope acknowledged that the migration phenomenon “is complex and requires organic and coordinated action plans.”The pontiff noted, however, that this reality also offers an interpretation that “opens up a different, broader perspective,” allowing Catholics to understand how “to reread the Gospel in today’s world, exchanging with each other the gifts of our respective cultures, and in particular the results produced in them by the fruitfulness of Christ’s message.”Among these results, he highlighted “dialogue between people and between peoples, the encounter in a spirit of fraternity, which enables us to discover and appreciate one another’s values.” He cautioned that this path is not easy and that asking for God’s help is essential to achieving a “civilization of love.”Praise for U.S.-Iran peace dealLeo concluded his remarks by expressing his satisfaction with the peace agreement between the United States and Iran, to be signed on June 19, which will bring an end to prolonged hostilities.He also renewed his appeal for peace in Ukraine, acknowledging with concern the casualties suffered in the Russo-Ukrainian war. He invited all to “ask the Lord to open pathways to dialogue, to extinguish hatred, and to make a just and lasting peace possible.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Pope Leo XIV: Spain is an example of unity despite differences #Catholic Pope Leo XIV dedicated his general audience on June 17 to reflecting on his apostolic journey to Spain the previous week, during which he visited Madrid, Barcelona, ​​and the Canary Islands.In his remarks, the pope praised Spainʼs "very rich Catholic tradition" and highlighted the countryʼs “joyful expression of their faith" as well as the affection shown to him by the people.“In the case of Spain, I was able to observe with joy how much people of every age and situation were looking forward to the pope’s visit: Everywhere I found multitudes who welcomed me with great warmth,” Leo remarked, acknowledging that this was not something to be taken for granted.Safeguarding encounter between Catholic tradition, contemporary cultureReferring to the events in Madrid and Barcelona during his trip to Spain, the pope also described his trip as an “encounter of ancient and modern, Catholic tradition and contemporary culture,” allowing him to experience “the very character of Europe, its inestimable wealth, as a living reality, not a thing of the past.”Leo also said that Europeʼs cultural heritage must be preserved to address ongoing challenges.“It is a heritage to be safeguarded with care, so that it may be invested in today’s global world with its momentous challenges: peace, integral ecology, equitable and sustainable development, and respect for human dignity,” Leo said.Care for migrantsReferring to the final stage of the journey at the Canary Islands, where Leo met a large number of African migrants, the pope acknowledged that the migration phenomenon “is complex and requires organic and coordinated action plans.”The pontiff noted, however, that this reality also offers an interpretation that “opens up a different, broader perspective,” allowing Catholics to understand how “to reread the Gospel in today’s world, exchanging with each other the gifts of our respective cultures, and in particular the results produced in them by the fruitfulness of Christ’s message.”Among these results, he highlighted “dialogue between people and between peoples, the encounter in a spirit of fraternity, which enables us to discover and appreciate one another’s values.” He cautioned that this path is not easy and that asking for God’s help is essential to achieving a “civilization of love.”Praise for U.S.-Iran peace dealLeo concluded his remarks by expressing his satisfaction with the peace agreement between the United States and Iran, to be signed on June 19, which will bring an end to prolonged hostilities.He also renewed his appeal for peace in Ukraine, acknowledging with concern the casualties suffered in the Russo-Ukrainian war. He invited all to “ask the Lord to open pathways to dialogue, to extinguish hatred, and to make a just and lasting peace possible.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The pontiff reflected on his recent apostolic journey to Spain during his general audience on June 17.

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Pope Leo XIV prays for parents who have suffered the loss of a baby #Catholic Pope Leo XIV assured his prayers “for all parents who suffer the loss of a child, especially a baby,” on the occasion of the upcoming Day for Life, which will be celebrated in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland this coming Sunday, June 21.In a message signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope said he is praying that these parents “find consolation and peace in the knowledge of God’s love for them” and for the child they have lost. “This divine love gives meaning to the life of every person and, far from ending with death, invites us to a new fullness in eternity,” the pontiff affirmed.According to a statement from the Irish Bishops’ Conference, Pope Leo XIV also sent his best wishes and prayers to all those participating in this day of prayer, which is centered on “wonder at the full humanity of the child in the mother’s womb” as well as the efforts made to support mothers and fathers who have suffered the loss of a baby.He also urged parents to find the support they need in the Church community, “especially in a life nourished by prayer and the sacraments.”‘Wonder at the child in the mother’s womb’Organized under the title “Wonder at the Child in the Mother’s Womb,” the Day for Life, which always falls on Father’s Day, recalls that every human being is endowed with infinite dignity from the very moment of conception, “simply by existing, by having been wanted, created, and loved by God,” as the pope recalled in his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.The Bishops’ Conferences of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland recalled in their statement that fatherhood “is a vocation full of joys and hopes, but also of sorrows and concerns.”The bishops wished to specially acknowledge the pain of parents who have lost a child before birth or during infancy and to offer them a message of hope and consolation: that of fullness in eternity.The Church wants to be especially close to these parents, according to the bishops, who emphasized the need for spiritual and pastoral accompaniment as parents face physical and psychological consequences, as well as the feeling of powerlessness in not knowing how to support their family or how to express their own grief. The bishops also recalled that “God has created, wanted, and deeply loved from all eternity every child, including those who lose their lives before birth or shortly afterward.”The prelates emphasized that the word of God “reveals the sacred humanity of the unborn child” and that parents therefore understand how precious and unique the child they have lost is: “They know that no other child will ever be able to replace him,” they affirmed.From this perspective, the bishops denounced the inconsistency of describing life in the mother’s womb as a mere cluster of cells. “How can that life be someone so loved and valuable to their parents and, at the same time, be considered something worthless and disposable?” they asked.The prelates insisted that science is clear in stating that life begins at the moment of fertilization. “The more we learn from science, the more we understand the Church’s teaching on the unique value of the unborn child,” they highlighted.They further recalled that every human being is not only a body “but also an immortal soul, with a unique and eternal relationship with God, our Creator,” which is why the unborn child “deserves full protection under the law.”They emphasized that the Church “has always rejected voluntary abortion” and committed themselves to “work and pray so that our society values the life of every child,” especially in the earliest stages of human existence.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Pope Leo XIV prays for parents who have suffered the loss of a baby #Catholic Pope Leo XIV assured his prayers “for all parents who suffer the loss of a child, especially a baby,” on the occasion of the upcoming Day for Life, which will be celebrated in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland this coming Sunday, June 21.In a message signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope said he is praying that these parents “find consolation and peace in the knowledge of God’s love for them” and for the child they have lost. “This divine love gives meaning to the life of every person and, far from ending with death, invites us to a new fullness in eternity,” the pontiff affirmed.According to a statement from the Irish Bishops’ Conference, Pope Leo XIV also sent his best wishes and prayers to all those participating in this day of prayer, which is centered on “wonder at the full humanity of the child in the mother’s womb” as well as the efforts made to support mothers and fathers who have suffered the loss of a baby.He also urged parents to find the support they need in the Church community, “especially in a life nourished by prayer and the sacraments.”‘Wonder at the child in the mother’s womb’Organized under the title “Wonder at the Child in the Mother’s Womb,” the Day for Life, which always falls on Father’s Day, recalls that every human being is endowed with infinite dignity from the very moment of conception, “simply by existing, by having been wanted, created, and loved by God,” as the pope recalled in his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.The Bishops’ Conferences of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland recalled in their statement that fatherhood “is a vocation full of joys and hopes, but also of sorrows and concerns.”The bishops wished to specially acknowledge the pain of parents who have lost a child before birth or during infancy and to offer them a message of hope and consolation: that of fullness in eternity.The Church wants to be especially close to these parents, according to the bishops, who emphasized the need for spiritual and pastoral accompaniment as parents face physical and psychological consequences, as well as the feeling of powerlessness in not knowing how to support their family or how to express their own grief. The bishops also recalled that “God has created, wanted, and deeply loved from all eternity every child, including those who lose their lives before birth or shortly afterward.”The prelates emphasized that the word of God “reveals the sacred humanity of the unborn child” and that parents therefore understand how precious and unique the child they have lost is: “They know that no other child will ever be able to replace him,” they affirmed.From this perspective, the bishops denounced the inconsistency of describing life in the mother’s womb as a mere cluster of cells. “How can that life be someone so loved and valuable to their parents and, at the same time, be considered something worthless and disposable?” they asked.The prelates insisted that science is clear in stating that life begins at the moment of fertilization. “The more we learn from science, the more we understand the Church’s teaching on the unique value of the unborn child,” they highlighted.They further recalled that every human being is not only a body “but also an immortal soul, with a unique and eternal relationship with God, our Creator,” which is why the unborn child “deserves full protection under the law.”They emphasized that the Church “has always rejected voluntary abortion” and committed themselves to “work and pray so that our society values the life of every child,” especially in the earliest stages of human existence.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

God’s “divine love gives meaning to the life of every person and, far from ending with death, invites us to a new fullness in eternity,” the pope said.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 17 June 2026 – A reading from the Second Book of Kings 2:1, 6-14 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied. And so the two went on together. Fifty of the guild prophets followed and when the two stopped at the Jordan, they stood facing them at a distance. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” “You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, “My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two. Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan. Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah, Elisha struck the water in his turn and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.From the Gospel according to Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."“When you pray”, says Jesus, “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt 6:6). First of all, the Lord calls us to enter this hidden place of the heart, patiently delving into it; he invites us to make an inner immersion that demands a journey of emptying and divesting ourselves. Once we have entered, he asks us to close the door to bad thoughts in order to safeguard a pure, humble and meek heart, through vigilance and spiritual combat. Only then can we abandon ourselves with confidence to intimate dialogue with the Father, who dwells and sees in secret, and in secret fills us with his gifts. (…) This vocation to worship and inner prayer, proper to every believer, in an exemplary way, in order to be witnesses in the Church to the beauty of the contemplative life. It is not an escape from the world, but a regeneration of the heart, so that it may be capable of listening, a source of the creative and fruitful action of the charity that God inspires in us. This call to interiority and silence, to live in contact with oneself, with one’s neighbour, with creation and with God, is needed today more than ever, in a world increasingly alienated by the media and technology. From intimate friendship with the Lord, in fact, the joy of living, the wonder of faith and the taste for ecclesial communion are reborn. (Pope Leo XIV, Address to Italian Hermits, 11 October 2025)

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A reading from the Second Book of Kings
2:1, 6-14

When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,
he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;
the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live,
I will not leave you,” Elisha replied.
And so the two went on together.
Fifty of the guild prophets followed and
when the two stopped at the Jordan,
they stood facing them at a distance.
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up
and struck the water, which divided,
and both crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,
“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”
Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied.
“Still, if you see me taken up from you,
your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”
As they walked on conversing,
a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,
“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”
But when he could no longer see him,
Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.

Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,
and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,
Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,
“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

“When you pray”, says Jesus, “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt 6:6). First of all, the Lord calls us to enter this hidden place of the heart, patiently delving into it; he invites us to make an inner immersion that demands a journey of emptying and divesting ourselves. Once we have entered, he asks us to close the door to bad thoughts in order to safeguard a pure, humble and meek heart, through vigilance and spiritual combat. Only then can we abandon ourselves with confidence to intimate dialogue with the Father, who dwells and sees in secret, and in secret fills us with his gifts. (…) This vocation to worship and inner prayer, proper to every believer, in an exemplary way, in order to be witnesses in the Church to the beauty of the contemplative life. It is not an escape from the world, but a regeneration of the heart, so that it may be capable of listening, a source of the creative and fruitful action of the charity that God inspires in us. This call to interiority and silence, to live in contact with oneself, with one’s neighbour, with creation and with God, is needed today more than ever, in a world increasingly alienated by the media and technology. From intimate friendship with the Lord, in fact, the joy of living, the wonder of faith and the taste for ecclesial communion are reborn. (Pope Leo XIV, Address to Italian Hermits, 11 October 2025)

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A beautiful Gospel for a beautiful weekend! #Catholic – “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt. 9:36-38) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY This past Saturday, June 13, during my homily at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood, I mentioned that the original date on our Diocesan Calendar for priesthood ordinations in 2026 was Saturday, May 30. This past fall, as we were looking ahead, we realized that, for a few reasons, it would be better to move the priesthood ordinations to Saturday, June 13 (and schedule the ordination of eight men as permanent deacons on May 30). In the homily, I mentioned that I had spoken to the two men who would be ordained priests, Father Lucas Folan and Father Jender Medina, to let them know the date of the ordination and telling them that I hoped they had or would have a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, as they would, God willing, be ordained priests on the Feast of St. Anthony. At that time, I had not realized that, in 2026, St. Anthony would “share” his Feast Day with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the day after we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrated on Friday, June 12. In his encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis emphasized the close relationship that the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary share, “Thanks to the abundant graces streaming from the open side of Christ, in different ways the Church, the Virgin Mary, and all believers become themselves streams of living water.” It is a grace for our newly ordained and all of us who pray for them to remember this special association that their ordination has with the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart. In recent months, although it would mean that we would have a very busy few days/weekend, I had been happy to realize that, from Thursday, June 11 through Monday, June 15, we would share in: (on Thursday, June 11) the bishops of the United States consecration of our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of our independence; (on Friday, June 12) the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, priesthood ordinations on Saturday, June 13, and the presence of the National Eucharistic Procession in our diocese on Sunday and Monday, June 14 and 15 – a “full weekend,” to put it mildly. Like most priests or deacons and many lay people, I usually try to look at the Readings for an upcoming Sunday on the Monday or Tuesday before. Due to travel (to Florida for the USCCB meeting) and some other responsibilities, I did not have a chance to look at the Readings for Sunday, June 14 (the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time) until Friday, June 12, as I was returning from Florida. At the same time, I was putting the “finishing touches” on my homily for the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood. When I read the Gospel for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mt. 9:36 – 10:8, I was amazed by the connections. As I quoted above, in verse 36 of Chapter 9, Matthew’s gospel offers us a “glimpse” of our Lord’s Sacred Heart: “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them…” As He speaks to His disciples, in v. 37-38, we can hear Jesus telling us that, “…The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few…” and then asking or instructing us to pray (for Vocations), “…so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” As Matthew tells us, at the beginning of Chapter 10, Jesus then “summoned his twelve disciples”. In verses 2 – 4, we are told the names of the 12 apostles. Hearing the names of the 12 apostles can be an opportunity for us to remember that we believe that Jesus, from our baptism, calls us each “by name.” The gift and blessing of the ordination of two new priests is also a reminder of the ways in which parents, families, priests (and bishops), consecrated religious, parishioners, catechists, youth ministers, and others can be instruments of grace by praying, inviting and encouraging youth and young adults to be open to “hearing” and responding to God’s call, especially if the Lord may be calling someone to priesthood or consecrated religious life. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. As we heard at the conclusion of Sunday’s Gospel, after Jesus “called” the disciples, He then sent them out: “… As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt. 10: 6-8). In the homily at the Ordination Mass, I shared some of Pope Leo XIV’s words, from a homily he gave on April 26, when he ordained 10 new priests for the Diocese of Rome. After reflecting on the way in which a vocation, “… comes to us in a deeply personal encounter with the person of the Son…”, Pope Leo spoke to the men about to be ordained about being “sent”: In the communities where you will be sent, the risen One is already present, and many have already followed him commendably. You will recognize his wounds and distinguish his voice. You will encounter people who will direct you towards him. These communities will also help you to become saints! For your part, help them to walk together, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, so that they may become places — gardens — of life that rise anew and share themselves with others…” Homily of Pope Leo XIV I write these words on Monday morning, June 15, after having participated last night in the National Eucharist Pilgrimage. There was a procession through the streets of Passaic, leading to a beautiful Mass in Boverini Stadium. More than 1,000 people participated. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. I look forward to another Eucharistic procession in Paterson this evening, followed by Mass in our cathedral. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is just one of countless ways that we do what Jesus asks us to do as he sends us out to His people, the sheep of His flock, “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ” P.S. It truly was a beautiful (long) weekend. For some of us, something else took place on the weekend that made it even more enjoyable – (in case you had not heard) on Saturday evening, the New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 56 years! Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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A beautiful Gospel for a beautiful weekend! #Catholic – “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt. 9:36-38) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY This past Saturday, June 13, during my homily at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood, I mentioned that the original date on our Diocesan Calendar for priesthood ordinations in 2026 was Saturday, May 30. This past fall, as we were looking ahead, we realized that, for a few reasons, it would be better to move the priesthood ordinations to Saturday, June 13 (and schedule the ordination of eight men as permanent deacons on May 30). In the homily, I mentioned that I had spoken to the two men who would be ordained priests, Father Lucas Folan and Father Jender Medina, to let them know the date of the ordination and telling them that I hoped they had or would have a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, as they would, God willing, be ordained priests on the Feast of St. Anthony. At that time, I had not realized that, in 2026, St. Anthony would “share” his Feast Day with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the day after we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrated on Friday, June 12. In his encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis emphasized the close relationship that the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary share, “Thanks to the abundant graces streaming from the open side of Christ, in different ways the Church, the Virgin Mary, and all believers become themselves streams of living water.” It is a grace for our newly ordained and all of us who pray for them to remember this special association that their ordination has with the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart. In recent months, although it would mean that we would have a very busy few days/weekend, I had been happy to realize that, from Thursday, June 11 through Monday, June 15, we would share in: (on Thursday, June 11) the bishops of the United States consecration of our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of our independence; (on Friday, June 12) the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, priesthood ordinations on Saturday, June 13, and the presence of the National Eucharistic Procession in our diocese on Sunday and Monday, June 14 and 15 – a “full weekend,” to put it mildly. Like most priests or deacons and many lay people, I usually try to look at the Readings for an upcoming Sunday on the Monday or Tuesday before. Due to travel (to Florida for the USCCB meeting) and some other responsibilities, I did not have a chance to look at the Readings for Sunday, June 14 (the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time) until Friday, June 12, as I was returning from Florida. At the same time, I was putting the “finishing touches” on my homily for the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood. When I read the Gospel for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mt. 9:36 – 10:8, I was amazed by the connections. As I quoted above, in verse 36 of Chapter 9, Matthew’s gospel offers us a “glimpse” of our Lord’s Sacred Heart: “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them…” As He speaks to His disciples, in v. 37-38, we can hear Jesus telling us that, “…The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few…” and then asking or instructing us to pray (for Vocations), “…so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” As Matthew tells us, at the beginning of Chapter 10, Jesus then “summoned his twelve disciples”. In verses 2 – 4, we are told the names of the 12 apostles. Hearing the names of the 12 apostles can be an opportunity for us to remember that we believe that Jesus, from our baptism, calls us each “by name.” The gift and blessing of the ordination of two new priests is also a reminder of the ways in which parents, families, priests (and bishops), consecrated religious, parishioners, catechists, youth ministers, and others can be instruments of grace by praying, inviting and encouraging youth and young adults to be open to “hearing” and responding to God’s call, especially if the Lord may be calling someone to priesthood or consecrated religious life. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. As we heard at the conclusion of Sunday’s Gospel, after Jesus “called” the disciples, He then sent them out: “… As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt. 10: 6-8). In the homily at the Ordination Mass, I shared some of Pope Leo XIV’s words, from a homily he gave on April 26, when he ordained 10 new priests for the Diocese of Rome. After reflecting on the way in which a vocation, “… comes to us in a deeply personal encounter with the person of the Son…”, Pope Leo spoke to the men about to be ordained about being “sent”: In the communities where you will be sent, the risen One is already present, and many have already followed him commendably. You will recognize his wounds and distinguish his voice. You will encounter people who will direct you towards him. These communities will also help you to become saints! For your part, help them to walk together, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, so that they may become places — gardens — of life that rise anew and share themselves with others…” Homily of Pope Leo XIV I write these words on Monday morning, June 15, after having participated last night in the National Eucharist Pilgrimage. There was a procession through the streets of Passaic, leading to a beautiful Mass in Boverini Stadium. More than 1,000 people participated. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. I look forward to another Eucharistic procession in Paterson this evening, followed by Mass in our cathedral. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is just one of countless ways that we do what Jesus asks us to do as he sends us out to His people, the sheep of His flock, “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ” P.S. It truly was a beautiful (long) weekend. For some of us, something else took place on the weekend that made it even more enjoyable – (in case you had not heard) on Saturday evening, the New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 56 years! Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

unitedyam

A beautiful Gospel for a beautiful weekend! #Catholic –

“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

(Mt. 9:36-38)

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

This past Saturday, June 13, during my homily at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood, I mentioned that the original date on our Diocesan Calendar for priesthood ordinations in 2026 was Saturday, May 30. This past fall, as we were looking ahead, we realized that, for a few reasons, it would be better to move the priesthood ordinations to Saturday, June 13 (and schedule the ordination of eight men as permanent deacons on May 30).

In the homily, I mentioned that I had spoken to the two men who would be ordained priests, Father Lucas Folan and Father Jender Medina, to let them know the date of the ordination and telling them that I hoped they had or would have a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, as they would, God willing, be ordained priests on the Feast of St. Anthony. At that time, I had not realized that, in 2026, St. Anthony would “share” his Feast Day with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the day after we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrated on Friday, June 12.

In his encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis emphasized the close relationship that the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary share, “Thanks to the abundant graces streaming from the open side of Christ, in different ways the Church, the Virgin Mary, and all believers become themselves streams of living water.” It is a grace for our newly ordained and all of us who pray for them to remember this special association that their ordination has with the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart.

In recent months, although it would mean that we would have a very busy few days/weekend, I had been happy to realize that, from Thursday, June 11 through Monday, June 15, we would share in: (on Thursday, June 11) the bishops of the United States consecration of our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of our independence; (on Friday, June 12) the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, priesthood ordinations on Saturday, June 13, and the presence of the National Eucharistic Procession in our diocese on Sunday and Monday, June 14 and 15 – a “full weekend,” to put it mildly.

Like most priests or deacons and many lay people, I usually try to look at the Readings for an upcoming Sunday on the Monday or Tuesday before. Due to travel (to Florida for the USCCB meeting) and some other responsibilities, I did not have a chance to look at the Readings for Sunday, June 14 (the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time) until Friday, June 12, as I was returning from Florida. At the same time, I was putting the “finishing touches” on my homily for the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood. When I read the Gospel for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mt. 9:36 – 10:8, I was amazed by the connections.

As I quoted above, in verse 36 of Chapter 9, Matthew’s gospel offers us a “glimpse” of our Lord’s Sacred Heart: “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them…” As He speaks to His disciples, in v. 37-38, we can hear Jesus telling us that, “…The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few…” and then asking or instructing us to pray (for Vocations), “…so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

As Matthew tells us, at the beginning of Chapter 10, Jesus then “summoned his twelve disciples”. In verses 2 – 4, we are told the names of the 12 apostles. Hearing the names of the 12 apostles can be an opportunity for us to remember that we believe that Jesus, from our baptism, calls us each “by name.” The gift and blessing of the ordination of two new priests is also a reminder of the ways in which parents, families, priests (and bishops), consecrated religious, parishioners, catechists, youth ministers, and others can be instruments of grace by praying, inviting and encouraging youth and young adults to be open to “hearing” and responding to God’s call, especially if the Lord may be calling someone to priesthood or consecrated religious life. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.

As we heard at the conclusion of Sunday’s Gospel, after Jesus “called” the disciples, He then sent them out: “… As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt. 10: 6-8).

In the homily at the Ordination Mass, I shared some of Pope Leo XIV’s words, from a homily he gave on April 26, when he ordained 10 new priests for the Diocese of Rome. After reflecting on the way in which a vocation, “… comes to us in a deeply personal encounter with the person of the Son…”, Pope Leo spoke to the men about to be ordained about being “sent”:

In the communities where you will be sent, the risen One is already present, and many have already followed him commendably. You will recognize his wounds and distinguish his voice. You will encounter people who will direct you towards him. These communities will also help you to become saints! For your part, help them to walk together, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, so that they may become places — gardens — of life that rise anew and share themselves with others…”

Homily of Pope Leo XIV

I write these words on Monday morning, June 15, after having participated last night in the National Eucharist Pilgrimage. There was a procession through the streets of Passaic, leading to a beautiful Mass in Boverini Stadium. More than 1,000 people participated. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. I look forward to another Eucharistic procession in Paterson this evening, followed by Mass in our cathedral. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is just one of countless ways that we do what Jesus asks us to do as he sends us out to His people, the sheep of His flock, “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ”

P.S. It truly was a beautiful (long) weekend. For some of us, something else took place on the weekend that made it even more enjoyable – (in case you had not heard) on Saturday evening, the New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 56 years!

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– “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt. 9:36-38) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY This past Saturday, June 13, during my homily at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood, I mentioned that the original date on our Diocesan Calendar for priesthood ordinations in 2026 was Saturday, May 30. This past fall, as we were

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Church bells in Mexico to toll for peace and in memory of victims of violence #Catholic Catholic church bells in Mexico will be rung on June 20 “as a call to build peace” and in memory of victims of violence in the country, marking the fourth anniversary of the murders of Jesuit priests Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar.In a statement released on June 14, the National Dialogue for Peace called for placing a “white ribbon or small flag” on the doors of homes, schools, and workplaces on June 20 to make “visible the commitment to peace, dialogue, reconciliation, or hope.”The group also called for “ringing church bells on June 20 at 3 p.m. as a call to all sectors of society to build peace and to renew our commitment to forming the community that Mexico needs today.”Campos Morales and Mora Salazar were killed on June 20, 2022, inside their parish church in the town of Cerocahui in the Mexican state of Chihuahua while attempting to protect a man who was being pursued by a criminal. The organization also asked Mexicans to “place photographs of missing persons at church altars during the celebrations on Sunday, June 21,” as well as to “offer a special prayer for families searching [for their loved ones] and invite adolescents and young people to present the offerings as a sign of a Church that recognizes their place and accompanies them in building hope.”The National Dialogue for Peace was started following the murder of the Jesuits as an initiative of the Catholic Church in Mexico formed by the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, the Bishops’ Commission for the Laity, the Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Mexico, and the Society of Jesus in Mexico.In its statement, the National Dialogue for Peace stated that on June 20, “we remember the murdered religious leaders, the thousands of missing persons, the families living amid violence, the merchants suffering extortion, and the forests illegally logged.”“It’s a day to remember the suffering that we are standing against throughout Mexico and to call upon all sectors of society to redouble their efforts to sow peace. Amid the pain this country is experiencing, Jesus continues to call us to build peace,” the statement explained.Reflecting on the efforts made since 2022, the organization noted that “over these four years, we have learned that the great challenge is to build a responsible and participatory community capable of deciding its own destiny.”While “violence isolates people and stifles social participation, paving the way for the imposition of criminal projects and ideas,” the National Dialogue for Peace said, noting that “the process of building peace entails reaching out to others to heal, participate, and form one’s own judgment.”“Building peace today entails healing the wound caused by the forced disappearance of loved ones, having concern for abandoned youth, and envisioning the institutional framework Mexico needs. That wound is healed through truth, political will, and reparation for the harm done,” the National Dialogue for Peace stated.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Church bells in Mexico to toll for peace and in memory of victims of violence #Catholic Catholic church bells in Mexico will be rung on June 20 “as a call to build peace” and in memory of victims of violence in the country, marking the fourth anniversary of the murders of Jesuit priests Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar.In a statement released on June 14, the National Dialogue for Peace called for placing a “white ribbon or small flag” on the doors of homes, schools, and workplaces on June 20 to make “visible the commitment to peace, dialogue, reconciliation, or hope.”The group also called for “ringing church bells on June 20 at 3 p.m. as a call to all sectors of society to build peace and to renew our commitment to forming the community that Mexico needs today.”Campos Morales and Mora Salazar were killed on June 20, 2022, inside their parish church in the town of Cerocahui in the Mexican state of Chihuahua while attempting to protect a man who was being pursued by a criminal. The organization also asked Mexicans to “place photographs of missing persons at church altars during the celebrations on Sunday, June 21,” as well as to “offer a special prayer for families searching [for their loved ones] and invite adolescents and young people to present the offerings as a sign of a Church that recognizes their place and accompanies them in building hope.”The National Dialogue for Peace was started following the murder of the Jesuits as an initiative of the Catholic Church in Mexico formed by the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, the Bishops’ Commission for the Laity, the Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Mexico, and the Society of Jesus in Mexico.In its statement, the National Dialogue for Peace stated that on June 20, “we remember the murdered religious leaders, the thousands of missing persons, the families living amid violence, the merchants suffering extortion, and the forests illegally logged.”“It’s a day to remember the suffering that we are standing against throughout Mexico and to call upon all sectors of society to redouble their efforts to sow peace. Amid the pain this country is experiencing, Jesus continues to call us to build peace,” the statement explained.Reflecting on the efforts made since 2022, the organization noted that “over these four years, we have learned that the great challenge is to build a responsible and participatory community capable of deciding its own destiny.”While “violence isolates people and stifles social participation, paving the way for the imposition of criminal projects and ideas,” the National Dialogue for Peace said, noting that “the process of building peace entails reaching out to others to heal, participate, and form one’s own judgment.”“Building peace today entails healing the wound caused by the forced disappearance of loved ones, having concern for abandoned youth, and envisioning the institutional framework Mexico needs. That wound is healed through truth, political will, and reparation for the harm done,” the National Dialogue for Peace stated.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The National Dialogue for Peace, a Church-led organization in Mexico, is calling a day of remembrance for the victims of violence.

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Ukraine advocate says cathedral bombing reflects broader campaign against Christianity #Catholic Russia’s “true goal” is “a war on Christianity in Ukraine,” Steven Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project, told “EWTN News Nightly” after the bombing of the 11th-century Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.“This is certainly deliberate,” Moore said, noting that Russia has destroyed 750 churches in Ukraine and killed as many as 80 pastors and priests.The Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, caught fire June 14 after Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones into several Ukrainian cities, which killed four people and injured 28 others, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Tweet“This is one of Russia’s most serious crimes against Christian culture to date,” Ukraine’s leader said about the damaged to the Eastern Orthodox cathedral, historically tied to the monastic life of the Lavra.‘Putin is not making mistakes’Russia’s Ministry of Defense issued a statement on June 15 claiming that the cathedral “was hit by a missile from an American Patriotic air defense system” and that “one possible reason for the malfunction of this system could be that Western countries had supplied the Kyiv regime with missiles that had expired.”“The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation do not plan or conduct strikes against civilian infrastructure facilities,” the Kremlin said.“The Kremlin is talking about it being an accident,” Moore said. “But there’s a lot of accidents — every week there’s an accidental church bombing.”“Putin is not making mistakes,” Moore said.“Putin is not going to stop this until someone makes him stop,” Moore said, describing efforts to bring the war to an end as “a lot of talk.”Combating Russian propaganda Moore is visiting Washington, D.C., from Kyiv and said he has plans to advocate on Capitol Hill and launch several films, including one on Ukrainian children who have been trafficked into Russia. Moore is set to meet with Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, on June 16.Moore told EWTN News in a separate interview that he plans to “focus primarily on Republicans because Republicans are in charge, and the Russians spend billion annually on propaganda worldwide. Much of that goes into the conservative ecosphere.”“The Russians target these conservative believers with misinformation,” he said, citing online figures such as Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson. “So weʼre trying to push back on that, and weʼre pushing back on Capitol Hill.”The role of the international communityForeign leaders took to social media to condemn the strikes, including French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who said the strike on the Dormition Cathedral is the equivalent of bombing Notre-Dame in Paris.Tweet“The French are really good at talking,” Moore said. “But I have yet to see a Leclerc tank in Donbas,” he said, speaking of French-made battle tanks.“On an average day in April, the French bought enough petroleum products, liquid natural gas, primarily from Russia, to pay for about 220 Shahed drones every day,” he said about Iranian-made munitions, noting that Russia sends about 600 drones every time they attack Ukraine.“A lot of this is paid for by European purchases of Russian fossil fuel,” Moore said. “So, you know, while I always like to hear what the French have to say, I would like to see them stop fueling the Russian war machine. And I would like to see them do more, send more aid to Ukraine.”Ultimately, Moore called for the international community to cut off all financial ties with Russia. “Nothing else works because Putin only understands strength.”
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Ukraine advocate says cathedral bombing reflects broader campaign against Christianity #Catholic Russia’s “true goal” is “a war on Christianity in Ukraine,” Steven Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project, told “EWTN News Nightly” after the bombing of the 11th-century Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.“This is certainly deliberate,” Moore said, noting that Russia has destroyed 750 churches in Ukraine and killed as many as 80 pastors and priests.The Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, caught fire June 14 after Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones into several Ukrainian cities, which killed four people and injured 28 others, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Tweet“This is one of Russia’s most serious crimes against Christian culture to date,” Ukraine’s leader said about the damaged to the Eastern Orthodox cathedral, historically tied to the monastic life of the Lavra.‘Putin is not making mistakes’Russia’s Ministry of Defense issued a statement on June 15 claiming that the cathedral “was hit by a missile from an American Patriotic air defense system” and that “one possible reason for the malfunction of this system could be that Western countries had supplied the Kyiv regime with missiles that had expired.”“The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation do not plan or conduct strikes against civilian infrastructure facilities,” the Kremlin said.“The Kremlin is talking about it being an accident,” Moore said. “But there’s a lot of accidents — every week there’s an accidental church bombing.”“Putin is not making mistakes,” Moore said.“Putin is not going to stop this until someone makes him stop,” Moore said, describing efforts to bring the war to an end as “a lot of talk.”Combating Russian propaganda Moore is visiting Washington, D.C., from Kyiv and said he has plans to advocate on Capitol Hill and launch several films, including one on Ukrainian children who have been trafficked into Russia. Moore is set to meet with Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, on June 16.Moore told EWTN News in a separate interview that he plans to “focus primarily on Republicans because Republicans are in charge, and the Russians spend $2 billion annually on propaganda worldwide. Much of that goes into the conservative ecosphere.”“The Russians target these conservative believers with misinformation,” he said, citing online figures such as Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson. “So weʼre trying to push back on that, and weʼre pushing back on Capitol Hill.”The role of the international communityForeign leaders took to social media to condemn the strikes, including French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who said the strike on the Dormition Cathedral is the equivalent of bombing Notre-Dame in Paris.Tweet“The French are really good at talking,” Moore said. “But I have yet to see a Leclerc tank in Donbas,” he said, speaking of French-made battle tanks.“On an average day in April, the French bought enough petroleum products, liquid natural gas, primarily from Russia, to pay for about 220 Shahed drones every day,” he said about Iranian-made munitions, noting that Russia sends about 600 drones every time they attack Ukraine.“A lot of this is paid for by European purchases of Russian fossil fuel,” Moore said. “So, you know, while I always like to hear what the French have to say, I would like to see them stop fueling the Russian war machine. And I would like to see them do more, send more aid to Ukraine.”Ultimately, Moore called for the international community to cut off all financial ties with Russia. “Nothing else works because Putin only understands strength.”

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“This is certainly deliberate,” Ukraine Freedom Project Founder Steven Moore said of the attack on the historic 11th-century Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 16 June 2026 – A reading from the First Book of Kings 21:17-29 After the death of Naboth the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite: "Start down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He will be in the vineyard of Naboth, of which he has come to take possession. This is what you shall tell him, ‘The LORD says: After murdering, do you also take possession? For this, the LORD says: In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, the dogs shall lick up your blood, too.’" Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me out, my enemy?" "Yes," he answered. "Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the LORD’s sight, I am bringing evil upon you: I will destroy you and will cut off every male in Ahab’s line, whether slave or freeman, in Israel. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, and like that of Baasha, son of Ahijah, because of how you have provoked me by leading Israel into sin." (Against Jezebel, too, the LORD declared, "The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.") "When one of Ahab’s line dies in the city, dogs will devour him; when one of them dies in the field, the birds of the sky will devour him." Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evil in the sight of the LORD as did Ahab, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He became completely abominable by following idols, just as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD drove out before the children of Israel. When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh. He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued. Then the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me? Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time. I will bring the evil upon his house during the reign of his son."From the Gospel according to Matthew 5:43-38 Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). But who could become perfect? Our perfection is living humbly as children of God, doing his will in practice. St Cyprian wrote: “that the godly discipline might respond to God, the Father, that in the honour and praise of living, God may be glorified in man (De zelo et livore [On jealousy and envy], 15: CCL 3a, 83). How can we imitate Jesus? He said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven” (Mt 5:44-45). Anyone who welcomes the Lord into his life and loves him with all his heart is capable of a new beginning. He succeeds in doing God’s will: to bring about a new form of existence enlivened by love and destined for eternity. (…) A medieval author wrote: “When the whole of man’s being is, so to speak, mingled with God’s love, the splendour of his soul is also reflected in his external aspect” (John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, XXX: PG 88, 1157 B), in the totality of life. “Love is an excellent thing”, we read in the book the Imitation of Christ. “It makes every difficulty easy, and bears all wrongs with equanimity…. Love tends upward; it will not be held down by anything low… love is born of God and cannot rest except in God” (III, V, 3). (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 20 February 2011)

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A reading from the First Book of Kings
21:17-29

After the death of Naboth the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite:
"Start down to meet Ahab, king of Israel,
who rules in Samaria.
He will be in the vineyard of Naboth,
of which he has come to take possession.
This is what you shall tell him,
‘The LORD says: After murdering, do you also take possession?
For this, the LORD says:
In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth,
the dogs shall lick up your blood, too.’"
Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me out, my enemy?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the LORD’s sight,
I am bringing evil upon you: I will destroy you
and will cut off every male in Ahab’s line,
whether slave or freeman, in Israel.
I will make your house like that of Jeroboam, son of Nebat,
and like that of Baasha, son of Ahijah,
because of how you have provoked me by leading Israel into sin."
(Against Jezebel, too, the LORD declared,
"The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.")
"When one of Ahab’s line dies in the city,
dogs will devour him;
when one of them dies in the field,
the birds of the sky will devour him."
Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evil
in the sight of the LORD as did Ahab,
urged on by his wife Jezebel.
He became completely abominable by following idols,
just as the Amorites had done,
whom the LORD drove out before the children of Israel.

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments
and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh.
He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued.
Then the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite,
"Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me?
Since he has humbled himself before me,
I will not bring the evil in his time.
I will bring the evil upon his house during the reign of his son."

From the Gospel according to Matthew
5:43-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).

But who could become perfect? Our perfection is living humbly as children of God, doing his will in practice. St Cyprian wrote: “that the godly discipline might respond to God, the Father, that in the honour and praise of living, God may be glorified in man (De zelo et livore [On jealousy and envy], 15: CCL 3a, 83).

How can we imitate Jesus? He said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven” (Mt 5:44-45). Anyone who welcomes the Lord into his life and loves him with all his heart is capable of a new beginning. He succeeds in doing God’s will: to bring about a new form of existence enlivened by love and destined for eternity. (…)

A medieval author wrote: “When the whole of man’s being is, so to speak, mingled with God’s love, the splendour of his soul is also reflected in his external aspect” (John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, XXX: PG 88, 1157 B), in the totality of life. “Love is an excellent thing”, we read in the book the Imitation of Christ. “It makes every difficulty easy, and bears all wrongs with equanimity…. Love tends upward; it will not be held down by anything low… love is born of God and cannot rest except in God” (III, V, 3). (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 20 February 2011)

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More than academics: What families are really seeking in education today #Catholic – In conversations with parents today, one theme comes up again and again. Yes, they care about academics. Yes, they want their children to succeed. But increasingly, families are asking a deeper question: Who is helping my child become a saint? It is a question that sits at the heart of Catholic education — and one that we encounter every day in both the school and parish communities we serve. At a time when so much of the educational landscape is focused on outcomes that can be measured — test scores, rankings, college placements — Catholic education continues to hold fast to a broader vision: the formation of the whole child. That formation is rooted in something very concrete: a relationship with Jesus Christ, who calls each of us to live with purpose, compassion, and integrity. This formation is not abstract. It takes shape in daily habits, relationships, and experiences. It is present in classrooms where faith and reason are not separate, but integrated – where students are invited to see the world through the lens of the Gospel.  It is nurtured in parish life, where students encounter the rhythms of prayer, sacrament, and service and come to know not just about God, but God’s presence in their lives. It is strengthened in a community where families, educators, and clergy walk together with a shared purpose. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For many families, this is what sets Catholic education apart. They are not simply looking for the “best” school in a conventional sense. They are looking for a place where their children will be guided — not only intellectually, but morally and spiritually. A place where success is not defined solely by achievement, but by character. A place where their children are known, loved, and called to grow in the example of Christ. This is especially true in the earliest years of education. In early childhood, the foundation is laid not just for academic learning, but for identity, belonging, and confidence. Children begin to understand how they relate to others, how they navigate challenges, and how they see themselves in the world. When that foundation is rooted in faith — and in the love and example of Jesus — it carries forward in powerful ways. Students who experience this kind of formation are often marked by a sense of purpose that extends beyond themselves. They come to see their gifts not simply as tools for personal advancement, but as opportunities to serve others, just as Christ calls us to do. This is the enduring promise of Catholic education. It is not a rejection of academic excellence — far from it. Rather, it is a commitment to ensuring that excellence is grounded in something deeper. That knowledge is paired with wisdom. That achievement is accompanied by humility. That success is understood in the context of a life of faith. In a world that can often feel uncertain and fragmented, this kind of formation matters. It is why, even today, families continue to seek out Catholic schools — not only for what their children will learn, but for who they will become. Leanne Gonzalez is principal of All Saints Academy and Father Nico Quintos is pastor of St. Ann Parish, both in Parsippany, N.J.  
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More than academics: What families are really seeking in education today #Catholic – In conversations with parents today, one theme comes up again and again. Yes, they care about academics. Yes, they want their children to succeed. But increasingly, families are asking a deeper question: Who is helping my child become a saint? It is a question that sits at the heart of Catholic education — and one that we encounter every day in both the school and parish communities we serve. At a time when so much of the educational landscape is focused on outcomes that can be measured — test scores, rankings, college placements — Catholic education continues to hold fast to a broader vision: the formation of the whole child. That formation is rooted in something very concrete: a relationship with Jesus Christ, who calls each of us to live with purpose, compassion, and integrity. This formation is not abstract. It takes shape in daily habits, relationships, and experiences. It is present in classrooms where faith and reason are not separate, but integrated – where students are invited to see the world through the lens of the Gospel.  It is nurtured in parish life, where students encounter the rhythms of prayer, sacrament, and service and come to know not just about God, but God’s presence in their lives. It is strengthened in a community where families, educators, and clergy walk together with a shared purpose. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For many families, this is what sets Catholic education apart. They are not simply looking for the “best” school in a conventional sense. They are looking for a place where their children will be guided — not only intellectually, but morally and spiritually. A place where success is not defined solely by achievement, but by character. A place where their children are known, loved, and called to grow in the example of Christ. This is especially true in the earliest years of education. In early childhood, the foundation is laid not just for academic learning, but for identity, belonging, and confidence. Children begin to understand how they relate to others, how they navigate challenges, and how they see themselves in the world. When that foundation is rooted in faith — and in the love and example of Jesus — it carries forward in powerful ways. Students who experience this kind of formation are often marked by a sense of purpose that extends beyond themselves. They come to see their gifts not simply as tools for personal advancement, but as opportunities to serve others, just as Christ calls us to do. This is the enduring promise of Catholic education. It is not a rejection of academic excellence — far from it. Rather, it is a commitment to ensuring that excellence is grounded in something deeper. That knowledge is paired with wisdom. That achievement is accompanied by humility. That success is understood in the context of a life of faith. In a world that can often feel uncertain and fragmented, this kind of formation matters. It is why, even today, families continue to seek out Catholic schools — not only for what their children will learn, but for who they will become. Leanne Gonzalez is principal of All Saints Academy and Father Nico Quintos is pastor of St. Ann Parish, both in Parsippany, N.J.  

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More than academics: What families are really seeking in education today #Catholic –

In conversations with parents today, one theme comes up again and again.

Yes, they care about academics. Yes, they want their children to succeed. But increasingly, families are asking a deeper question:

Who is helping my child become a saint?

It is a question that sits at the heart of Catholic education — and one that we encounter every day in both the school and parish communities we serve.

At a time when so much of the educational landscape is focused on outcomes that can be measured — test scores, rankings, college placements — Catholic education continues to hold fast to a broader vision: the formation of the whole child.

That formation is rooted in something very concrete: a relationship with Jesus Christ, who calls each of us to live with purpose, compassion, and integrity.

This formation is not abstract. It takes shape in daily habits, relationships, and experiences. It is present in classrooms where faith and reason are not separate, but integrated – where students are invited to see the world through the lens of the Gospel.  It is nurtured in parish life, where students encounter the rhythms of prayer, sacrament, and service and come to know not just about God, but God’s presence in their lives. It is strengthened in a community where families, educators, and clergy walk together with a shared purpose.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

For many families, this is what sets Catholic education apart.

They are not simply looking for the “best” school in a conventional sense. They are looking for a place where their children will be guided — not only intellectually, but morally and spiritually. A place where success is not defined solely by achievement, but by character. A place where their children are known, loved, and called to grow in the example of Christ.

This is especially true in the earliest years of education.

In early childhood, the foundation is laid not just for academic learning, but for identity, belonging, and confidence. Children begin to understand how they relate to others, how they navigate challenges, and how they see themselves in the world.

When that foundation is rooted in faith — and in the love and example of Jesus — it carries forward in powerful ways.

Students who experience this kind of formation are often marked by a sense of purpose that extends beyond themselves. They come to see their gifts not simply as tools for personal advancement, but as opportunities to serve others, just as Christ calls us to do.

This is the enduring promise of Catholic education.

It is not a rejection of academic excellence — far from it. Rather, it is a commitment to ensuring that excellence is grounded in something deeper. That knowledge is paired with wisdom. That achievement is accompanied by humility. That success is understood in the context of a life of faith.

In a world that can often feel uncertain and fragmented, this kind of formation matters.

It is why, even today, families continue to seek out Catholic schools — not only for what their children will learn, but for who they will become.

Leanne Gonzalez is principal of All Saints Academy and Father Nico Quintos is pastor of St. Ann Parish, both in Parsippany, N.J.

 

– In conversations with parents today, one theme comes up again and again. Yes, they care about academics. Yes, they want their children to succeed. But increasingly, families are asking a deeper question: Who is helping my child become a saint? It is a question that sits at the heart of Catholic education — and one that we encounter every day in both the school and parish communities we serve. At a time when so much of the educational landscape is focused on outcomes that can be measured — test scores, rankings, college placements — Catholic education continues to hold fast

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Making history: St. Paul Inside the Walls honors archivist #Catholic - On June 6, Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, Ph.D., a retired priest with 53 years actively serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and respected Church historian, delighted in receiving the 2026 Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Evangelization Award from St. Paul Inside the Walls Catholic Center for Evangelization in Madison, N.J. Msgr. Kupke received the award for his fruitful years in the priesthood and evangelization. That Friday evening, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presented Msgr. Kupke received the award during St. Paul’s Fifth Annual Garden Party, its largest annual fundraiser, which was held on the center’s front lawn. Msgr. Kupke has been the diocesan archivist since 1976 and is the co-host of “Coffee with Kupke,” a popular podcast that delves into the history of Catholicism in the Church of Paterson. He hosts the podcast with his friend, Father Paul Manning, diocesan vicar for evangelization and education. Msgr. Kupke is an adjunct professor of Church history at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J. He has also taught many courses at St. Paul’s, notably helping form candidates for the permanent diaconate. He also authored the book, “Living Stones: A History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Over the years, Msgr. Kupke has held numerous pastoral assignments. Most recently, he served as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., from 2011 until his retirement last year. During the Garden Party, Father Manning also welcomed Father Pawel Tomczyk back to St. Paul’s. For years, Father Tomczyk has assisted St. Paul’s evangelization efforts. Father Tomczyk, who has served as pastoral formation director and assistant moral theology professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, will assume Father Manning’s role as diocesan vicar for evangelization while living at St. Paul’s, effective July 1. On that date, Father Manning will become pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Mendham, N.J., while continuing as vicar for education. Father Manning will celebrate his final Mass at St. Paul’s, the young adult Mass, on Sunday, June 21, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception. Founded by Bishop Serratelli, St. Paul’s is a leader, catalyst, and model for the new evangelization. Through both traditional and innovative programs, the center has inspired people of all ages, beliefs, cultures, perspectives, and professions to fully experience the Catholic faith. The Garden Party celebrated St. Paul’s lasting impact and growth around the diocese and beyond. The event’s attendees included staff from St. Paul’s, members of the Young Adult Ministry, benefactors, and friends and family of community members. The event included a dinner. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  
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Making history: St. Paul Inside the Walls honors archivist #Catholic – On June 6, Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, Ph.D., a retired priest with 53 years actively serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and respected Church historian, delighted in receiving the 2026 Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Evangelization Award from St. Paul Inside the Walls Catholic Center for Evangelization in Madison, N.J. Msgr. Kupke received the award for his fruitful years in the priesthood and evangelization. That Friday evening, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presented Msgr. Kupke received the award during St. Paul’s Fifth Annual Garden Party, its largest annual fundraiser, which was held on the center’s front lawn. Msgr. Kupke has been the diocesan archivist since 1976 and is the co-host of “Coffee with Kupke,” a popular podcast that delves into the history of Catholicism in the Church of Paterson. He hosts the podcast with his friend, Father Paul Manning, diocesan vicar for evangelization and education. Msgr. Kupke is an adjunct professor of Church history at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J. He has also taught many courses at St. Paul’s, notably helping form candidates for the permanent diaconate. He also authored the book, “Living Stones: A History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Over the years, Msgr. Kupke has held numerous pastoral assignments. Most recently, he served as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., from 2011 until his retirement last year. During the Garden Party, Father Manning also welcomed Father Pawel Tomczyk back to St. Paul’s. For years, Father Tomczyk has assisted St. Paul’s evangelization efforts. Father Tomczyk, who has served as pastoral formation director and assistant moral theology professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, will assume Father Manning’s role as diocesan vicar for evangelization while living at St. Paul’s, effective July 1. On that date, Father Manning will become pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Mendham, N.J., while continuing as vicar for education. Father Manning will celebrate his final Mass at St. Paul’s, the young adult Mass, on Sunday, June 21, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception. Founded by Bishop Serratelli, St. Paul’s is a leader, catalyst, and model for the new evangelization. Through both traditional and innovative programs, the center has inspired people of all ages, beliefs, cultures, perspectives, and professions to fully experience the Catholic faith. The Garden Party celebrated St. Paul’s lasting impact and growth around the diocese and beyond. The event’s attendees included staff from St. Paul’s, members of the Young Adult Ministry, benefactors, and friends and family of community members. The event included a dinner. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  

unitedyam

Making history: St. Paul Inside the Walls honors archivist #Catholic –

On June 6, Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, Ph.D., a retired priest with 53 years actively serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and respected Church historian, delighted in receiving the 2026 Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Evangelization Award from St. Paul Inside the Walls Catholic Center for Evangelization in Madison, N.J. Msgr. Kupke received the award for his fruitful years in the priesthood and evangelization.

That Friday evening, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presented Msgr. Kupke received the award during St. Paul’s Fifth Annual Garden Party, its largest annual fundraiser, which was held on the center’s front lawn. Msgr. Kupke has been the diocesan archivist since 1976 and is the co-host of “Coffee with Kupke,” a popular podcast that delves into the history of Catholicism in the Church of Paterson. He hosts the podcast with his friend, Father Paul Manning, diocesan vicar for evangelization and education.

Msgr. Kupke is an adjunct professor of Church history at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J. He has also taught many courses at St. Paul’s, notably helping form candidates for the permanent diaconate. He also authored the book, “Living Stones: A History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson.”

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Over the years, Msgr. Kupke has held numerous pastoral assignments. Most recently, he served as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., from 2011 until his retirement last year.

During the Garden Party, Father Manning also welcomed Father Pawel Tomczyk back to St. Paul’s. For years, Father Tomczyk has assisted St. Paul’s evangelization efforts.

Father Tomczyk, who has served as pastoral formation director and assistant moral theology professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, will assume Father Manning’s role as diocesan vicar for evangelization while living at St. Paul’s, effective July 1.

On that date, Father Manning will become pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Mendham, N.J., while continuing as vicar for education. Father Manning will celebrate his final Mass at St. Paul’s, the young adult Mass, on Sunday, June 21, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception.

Founded by Bishop Serratelli, St. Paul’s is a leader, catalyst, and model for the new evangelization. Through both traditional and innovative programs, the center has inspired people of all ages, beliefs, cultures, perspectives, and professions to fully experience the Catholic faith. The Garden Party celebrated St. Paul’s lasting impact and growth around the diocese and beyond.

The event’s attendees included staff from St. Paul’s, members of the Young Adult Ministry, benefactors, and friends and family of community members. The event included a dinner.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

– On June 6, Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke, Ph.D., a retired priest with 53 years actively serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and respected Church historian, delighted in receiving the 2026 Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Evangelization Award from St. Paul Inside the Walls Catholic Center for Evangelization in Madison, N.J. Msgr. Kupke received the award for his fruitful years in the priesthood and evangelization. That Friday evening, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presented Msgr. Kupke received the award during St. Paul’s Fifth Annual Garden Party, its largest annual fundraiser, which was held on the center’s front lawn. Msgr. Kupke has been the diocesan

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Morristown pastor thanks God for 10 years of priesthood #Catholic - Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., on June 6 to celebrate the 10th ordination anniversary of its pastor, Father Duberney Villamizar, during a Mass the bishop celebrated in the church. The pastor also serves as diocesan vicar for Hispanic Affairs — the first such position established in the diocese. In his homily, Father Villamizar thanked God, the Blessed Mother, Bishop Sweeney, Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, the parishes he has served and all the people he met who supported him during his first 10 years of priesthood. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Father Villamizar was born on July 16, 1990, in La Esmeralda, Arauquita-Arauca, Colombia, and studied in Colombia and the United States. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Serratelli on May 28, 2016. Since his priestly ordination, Father Villamizar has served as parochial vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, N.J., and then of Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross parishes in Wayne, N.J. He currently serves as pastor of St. Margaret’s. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  
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Morristown pastor thanks God for 10 years of priesthood #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., on June 6 to celebrate the 10th ordination anniversary of its pastor, Father Duberney Villamizar, during a Mass the bishop celebrated in the church. The pastor also serves as diocesan vicar for Hispanic Affairs — the first such position established in the diocese. In his homily, Father Villamizar thanked God, the Blessed Mother, Bishop Sweeney, Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, the parishes he has served and all the people he met who supported him during his first 10 years of priesthood. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Father Villamizar was born on July 16, 1990, in La Esmeralda, Arauquita-Arauca, Colombia, and studied in Colombia and the United States. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Serratelli on May 28, 2016. Since his priestly ordination, Father Villamizar has served as parochial vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, N.J., and then of Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross parishes in Wayne, N.J. He currently serves as pastor of St. Margaret’s. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  

unitedyam

Morristown pastor thanks God for 10 years of priesthood #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., on June 6 to celebrate the 10th ordination anniversary of its pastor, Father Duberney Villamizar, during a Mass the bishop celebrated in the church. The pastor also serves as diocesan vicar for Hispanic Affairs — the first such position established in the diocese.

In his homily, Father Villamizar thanked God, the Blessed Mother, Bishop Sweeney, Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, the parishes he has served and all the people he met who supported him during his first 10 years of priesthood.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Father Villamizar was born on July 16, 1990, in La Esmeralda, Arauquita-Arauca, Colombia, and studied in Colombia and the United States. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Serratelli on May 28, 2016.

Since his priestly ordination, Father Villamizar has served as parochial vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic, N.J., and then of Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross parishes in Wayne, N.J. He currently serves as pastor of St. Margaret’s.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., on June 6 to celebrate the 10th ordination anniversary of its pastor, Father Duberney Villamizar, during a Mass the bishop celebrated in the church. The pastor also serves as diocesan vicar for Hispanic Affairs — the first such position established in the diocese. In his homily, Father Villamizar thanked God, the Blessed Mother, Bishop Sweeney, Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, the parishes he has served and all the people he met who supported him during his first 10 years of priesthood. Click here to subscribe to our

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Pope Leo XIV: Catholics and Jews must work together to fight antisemtism #Catholic Pope Leo XIV affirmed on June 15 the shared heritage of Jews and Catholics, emphasizing that they must be united against antisemitism and in serving those in need.In an address at the Vatican to representatives of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, the pontiff praised their organization as “an instrument of global Jewish philanthropy, providing essential humanitarian aid and social services to vulnerable populations.” He also drew parallels between their work and the Catholic Churchʼs commitment to human development.“These efforts reflect a clear recognition of human dignity and fraternity, resonating with the Church’s own commitment to integral human development and the call to love our neighbor,” Leo said in his remarks.The pope also reflected on the progress of Catholic-Jewish dialogue since the 1965 publication of Nostra Aetate, a declaration from the Second Vatican Council that condemned all forms of antisemitism. Reaffirming the Churchʼs stance against antisemitism, Leo emphasized the need for Catholics and Jews to work together to combat all forms of discrimination."[Nostra Aetate] affirmed, among other things, the truth that we belong to one human family,“ Leo said. ”Recognizing the inherent dignity of all men and women, Nostra Aetate took a firm stand against antisemitism and declared that the Church rejects all forms of discrimination or harassment because of race, color, condition of life, or religion. In a world still wounded by division and conflict, it called us to move beyond past misunderstandings toward collaboration for the common good."
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Pope Leo XIV: Catholics and Jews must work together to fight antisemtism #Catholic Pope Leo XIV affirmed on June 15 the shared heritage of Jews and Catholics, emphasizing that they must be united against antisemitism and in serving those in need.In an address at the Vatican to representatives of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, the pontiff praised their organization as “an instrument of global Jewish philanthropy, providing essential humanitarian aid and social services to vulnerable populations.” He also drew parallels between their work and the Catholic Churchʼs commitment to human development.“These efforts reflect a clear recognition of human dignity and fraternity, resonating with the Church’s own commitment to integral human development and the call to love our neighbor,” Leo said in his remarks.The pope also reflected on the progress of Catholic-Jewish dialogue since the 1965 publication of Nostra Aetate, a declaration from the Second Vatican Council that condemned all forms of antisemitism. Reaffirming the Churchʼs stance against antisemitism, Leo emphasized the need for Catholics and Jews to work together to combat all forms of discrimination."[Nostra Aetate] affirmed, among other things, the truth that we belong to one human family,“ Leo said. ”Recognizing the inherent dignity of all men and women, Nostra Aetate took a firm stand against antisemitism and declared that the Church rejects all forms of discrimination or harassment because of race, color, condition of life, or religion. In a world still wounded by division and conflict, it called us to move beyond past misunderstandings toward collaboration for the common good."

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The pontiff addressed representatives of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York on June 15.

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Czech court clears archbishop persecuted by communist regime #Catholic The district court in Olomouc, Czech Republic, has rehabilitated Josef Karel Matocha, the city’s former archbishop, recognizing his internment under the communist regime as unlawful more than six decades after his death.The court’s decision, based on the Judicial Rehabilitation Act, confirms that the prelate was a victim of unlawful deprivation of liberty in the 1950s by the communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia. He was not formally convicted, yet he was forced to remain in the archbishop’s palace under surveillance by the State Security, and this was recognized as imprisonment.The current archbishop of Olomouc, Josef Nuzík, said he is “very happy that after so many years we have managed to complete this procedural step and achieve justice” in civil law as well.Matocha is “constantly present in our palace and in the hearts of believers,” and guests “are often moved when they realize that these beautiful spaces were his prison,” said Nuzík, who is also president of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. U.S. bishop joins Slovaks honoring blessed bishop tortured by communists The rehabilitation is an important sign “also for the entire society,” he added, one that shows “the heroism and suffering of people who did not let themselves be broken must not be forgotten.”Ladislav Müller filed the initial motion for rehabilitation at the request of Jan Kratochvil, director of the Museum of Czech, Slovak, and Ruthenian Exile of the 20th Century in Brno.Decades of isolationMatocha, who held doctorates in philosophy and theology, was appointed archbishop of Olomouc by Pope Pius XII in 1948. He was deeply dedicated in his pastoral visits, initiated the beatification process of Archbishop Antonín Stojan, and secretly ordained František Tomášek as a bishop, who later became a cardinal and archbishop of Prague, according to the Archdiocese of Olomouc.After his internment in 1950, he could not read newspapers or listen to the radio, and visits to the garden were permitted only sporadically. The isolation lasted until his death from a heart attack in 1961, which was also due to the denial of medical care. In 1999, then-Czech President Václav Havel posthumously awarded Matocha the first class of the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk for outstanding services to democracy and human rights.The press office of the Archdiocese of Olomouc told EWTN News that no special event regarding Matocha is planned at present, but it noted that a rehabilitation process is underway for Cardinal Štěpán Trochta. Trochta also suffered internment as the bishop of Litoměřice, but “we consider him ours,” the press office said, because he was born within the Archdiocese of Olomouc.A wider reckoningThe unjust treatment of two other churchmen by the communist regime in Czechoslovakia has recently been recognized. Cardinal Josef Beran, the former archbishop of Prague, who was interned in several locations, was rehabilitated in February, the District Court of Prague confirmed to EWTN News. In 2024, the regional court in Hradec Králové rehabilitated the priest Josef Toufar, who was illegally arrested and tortured to death.
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Czech court clears archbishop persecuted by communist regime #Catholic The district court in Olomouc, Czech Republic, has rehabilitated Josef Karel Matocha, the city’s former archbishop, recognizing his internment under the communist regime as unlawful more than six decades after his death.The court’s decision, based on the Judicial Rehabilitation Act, confirms that the prelate was a victim of unlawful deprivation of liberty in the 1950s by the communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia. He was not formally convicted, yet he was forced to remain in the archbishop’s palace under surveillance by the State Security, and this was recognized as imprisonment.The current archbishop of Olomouc, Josef Nuzík, said he is “very happy that after so many years we have managed to complete this procedural step and achieve justice” in civil law as well.Matocha is “constantly present in our palace and in the hearts of believers,” and guests “are often moved when they realize that these beautiful spaces were his prison,” said Nuzík, who is also president of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. U.S. bishop joins Slovaks honoring blessed bishop tortured by communists The rehabilitation is an important sign “also for the entire society,” he added, one that shows “the heroism and suffering of people who did not let themselves be broken must not be forgotten.”Ladislav Müller filed the initial motion for rehabilitation at the request of Jan Kratochvil, director of the Museum of Czech, Slovak, and Ruthenian Exile of the 20th Century in Brno.Decades of isolationMatocha, who held doctorates in philosophy and theology, was appointed archbishop of Olomouc by Pope Pius XII in 1948. He was deeply dedicated in his pastoral visits, initiated the beatification process of Archbishop Antonín Stojan, and secretly ordained František Tomášek as a bishop, who later became a cardinal and archbishop of Prague, according to the Archdiocese of Olomouc.After his internment in 1950, he could not read newspapers or listen to the radio, and visits to the garden were permitted only sporadically. The isolation lasted until his death from a heart attack in 1961, which was also due to the denial of medical care. In 1999, then-Czech President Václav Havel posthumously awarded Matocha the first class of the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk for outstanding services to democracy and human rights.The press office of the Archdiocese of Olomouc told EWTN News that no special event regarding Matocha is planned at present, but it noted that a rehabilitation process is underway for Cardinal Štěpán Trochta. Trochta also suffered internment as the bishop of Litoměřice, but “we consider him ours,” the press office said, because he was born within the Archdiocese of Olomouc.A wider reckoningThe unjust treatment of two other churchmen by the communist regime in Czechoslovakia has recently been recognized. Cardinal Josef Beran, the former archbishop of Prague, who was interned in several locations, was rehabilitated in February, the District Court of Prague confirmed to EWTN News. In 2024, the regional court in Hradec Králové rehabilitated the priest Josef Toufar, who was illegally arrested and tortured to death.

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More than six decades after Archbishop Josef Karel Matocha died under communist internment, a Czech court has formally recognized his imprisonment as unlawful.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 15 June 2026 – A reading from the First Book of Kings 21:1-16 Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden, since it is close by, next to my house. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or, if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.” Naboth answered him, “The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral heritage.” Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him: “I will not give you my ancestral heritage.” Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat. His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so angry that you will not eat?” He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or, if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’ But he refused to let me have his vineyard.” His wife Jezebel said to him, “A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed! Get up.  Eat and be cheerful. I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.” So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and, having sealed them with his seal, sent them to the elders and to the nobles who lived in the same city with Naboth. This is what she wrote in the letters: “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. Next, get two scoundrels to face him and accuse him of having cursed God and king. Then take him out and stone him to death.” His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city— did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing, through the letters she had sent them. They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people. Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation, “Naboth has cursed God and king.” And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death. Then they sent the information to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned to death. When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Go on, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you, because Naboth is not alive, but dead.” On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.From the Gospel according to Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."Jesus quotes the ancient law: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Mt 5:38; Ex 21:24). We know what that law meant: when someone takes something from you, you are to take the same thing from him. This law of retaliation was actually a sign of progress, since it prevented excessive retaliation. If someone harms you, then you can repay him or her in the same degree; you cannot do something worse. Ending the matter there, in a fair exchange, was a step forward. But Jesus goes far beyond this: “But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil” (Mt 5:39). But how, Lord? If someone thinks badly of me, if someone hurts me, why can I not repay him with the same currency? “No”, says Jesus. Nonviolence. No act of violence. We might think that Jesus’ teaching is a part of a plan; in the end, the wicked will desist. But that is not why Jesus asks us to love even those who do us harm. What, then, is the reason? It is that the Father, our Father, continues to love everyone, even when his love is not reciprocated. (…) If we want to be disciples of Christ, if we want to call ourselves Christians, this is the only way; there is no other. Having been loved by God, we are called to love in return; having been forgiven, we are called to forgive; having been touched by love, we are called to love without waiting for others to love first; having been saved graciously, we are called to seek no benefit from the good we do. (Pope Francis, Homily, 23 February 2020)

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A reading from the First Book of Kings
21:1-16

Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel
next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden,
since it is close by, next to my house.
I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or,
if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.”
Naboth answered him, “The LORD forbid
that I should give you my ancestral heritage.”
Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer
Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him:
“I will not give you my ancestral heritage.”
Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat.

His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him,
“Why are you so angry that you will not eat?”
He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite
and said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or,
if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’
But he refused to let me have his vineyard.”
His wife Jezebel said to him,
“A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed!
Get up. 
Eat and be cheerful.
I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and,
having sealed them with his seal,
sent them to the elders and to the nobles
who lived in the same city with Naboth.
This is what she wrote in the letters:
“Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.
Next, get two scoundrels to face him
and accuse him of having cursed God and king.
Then take him out and stone him to death.”
His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city—
did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing,
through the letters she had sent them.
They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people.
Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation,
“Naboth has cursed God and king.”
And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death.
Then they sent the information to Jezebel
that Naboth had been stoned to death.

When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death,
she said to Ahab,
“Go on, take possession of the vineyard
of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you,
because Naboth is not alive, but dead.”
On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way
down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
to take possession of it.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."

Jesus quotes the ancient law: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Mt 5:38; Ex 21:24). We know what that law meant: when someone takes something from you, you are to take the same thing from him. This law of retaliation was actually a sign of progress, since it prevented excessive retaliation. If someone harms you, then you can repay him or her in the same degree; you cannot do something worse. Ending the matter there, in a fair exchange, was a step forward. But Jesus goes far beyond this: “But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil” (Mt 5:39). But how, Lord? If someone thinks badly of me, if someone hurts me, why can I not repay him with the same currency? “No”, says Jesus. Nonviolence. No act of violence.

We might think that Jesus’ teaching is a part of a plan; in the end, the wicked will desist. But that is not why Jesus asks us to love even those who do us harm. What, then, is the reason? It is that the Father, our Father, continues to love everyone, even when his love is not reciprocated. (…) If we want to be disciples of Christ, if we want to call ourselves Christians, this is the only way; there is no other. Having been loved by God, we are called to love in return; having been forgiven, we are called to forgive; having been touched by love, we are called to love without waiting for others to love first; having been saved graciously, we are called to seek no benefit from the good we do. (Pope Francis, Homily, 23 February 2020)

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Pope Leo XIV says evil crumbles when the Gospel is lived out #Catholic VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that when the Gospel is proclaimed and lived out, evil gives way before the power of the risen Christ.Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace for the June 14 Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the pope reflected on the day’s Gospel from Matthew, saying it “brings us a great gift, for it draws all who hear it into Jesus’ gaze.”“It is a story that bears witness to the attentiveness of this gaze, as well as telling us what the Lord sees,” Pope Leo said, citing the passage in which Christ, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless.”“Having become our brother, the Son of God looks at the people, he looks at humanity: he sees the oppression that burdens and the violence that causes strength to fade,” the pope said.Christ, he continued, also sees the wounds of the contemporary world.“He sees the wounds of war and the emptiness of consumerism. He sees faces reduced to masks, families torn apart by evil, and young people misled by false ideals,” Pope Leo said. “Jesus sees and loves. He loves and suffers for and with us: his compassion expresses not only fraternal closeness, but his desire to redeem.”Before humanity’s wounds, the pope said, Christ remains near and sends “workers into the field of the world.”“What is their task?” he asked. “They must offer God’s comfort to those who suffer by bringing charity where there is misery, hope where there is affliction, faith where there is distrust.”The pope noted that the Gospel names the first 12 “workers,” the disciples made apostles, missionaries, and preachers.“The Good News that spans the centuries is the same, always young, fresh, and liberating: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven has come near!’” he said. “Yes, it is near because in Jesus Christ, God draws near to every man and woman, to every people and nation.”Pope Leo added that the Gospel is not merely announced but also lived.“When this Gospel is proclaimed and lived out, evil crumbles like a disease that passes away, like a night giving way to dawn, like death conquered by the risen One,” he said.The pope said the Church is called to continue the mission of the apostles, remembering Jesus’ words: “You received without payment; give without payment.”“Dear friends, the task of evangelization springs from God’s gift, which in Christ becomes forgiveness for the world, service to the least and the poor, and a commitment to justice,” he said.After the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo recalled his recent apostolic journey to Spain.“First of all, I express my gratitude to the Lord for the Apostolic Journey he has allowed me to undertake in Spain,” he said. “I also thank the Spanish people who have welcomed me with great enthusiasm and devotion.”“I am especially grateful to His Majesty the King; I affectionately thank the Bishops, all the communities I visited and the entire Church in Spain,” the pope added. “Que Dios bendiga siempre a España!”Pope Leo also remembered several newly beatified martyrs: the diocesan priests Václav Drbola and Jan Bula of Moravia, and Jan Šwierc and eight companions, Polish Salesian priests.“All were beatified as martyrs, as victims of the persecution by totalitarian regimes because of their fidelity to Christ,” he said.The pope also recalled that Nazareno Lanciotti, “a Roman missionary priest,” had been beatified Saturday in Mato Grosso, Brazil.“He too was a martyr, for he defended the poorest in the name of the Gospel,” Pope Leo said. “May the example and intercession of these courageous witnesses sustain the mission of priests and of the entire Church.”The pope concluded by expressing his closeness to the people of the Philippines, “struck a few days ago by a powerful earthquake.”“I pray for the deceased and their families, for the wounded and for all those suffering because of this disaster,” he said.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.
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Pope Leo XIV says evil crumbles when the Gospel is lived out #Catholic VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that when the Gospel is proclaimed and lived out, evil gives way before the power of the risen Christ.Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace for the June 14 Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the pope reflected on the day’s Gospel from Matthew, saying it “brings us a great gift, for it draws all who hear it into Jesus’ gaze.”“It is a story that bears witness to the attentiveness of this gaze, as well as telling us what the Lord sees,” Pope Leo said, citing the passage in which Christ, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless.”“Having become our brother, the Son of God looks at the people, he looks at humanity: he sees the oppression that burdens and the violence that causes strength to fade,” the pope said.Christ, he continued, also sees the wounds of the contemporary world.“He sees the wounds of war and the emptiness of consumerism. He sees faces reduced to masks, families torn apart by evil, and young people misled by false ideals,” Pope Leo said. “Jesus sees and loves. He loves and suffers for and with us: his compassion expresses not only fraternal closeness, but his desire to redeem.”Before humanity’s wounds, the pope said, Christ remains near and sends “workers into the field of the world.”“What is their task?” he asked. “They must offer God’s comfort to those who suffer by bringing charity where there is misery, hope where there is affliction, faith where there is distrust.”The pope noted that the Gospel names the first 12 “workers,” the disciples made apostles, missionaries, and preachers.“The Good News that spans the centuries is the same, always young, fresh, and liberating: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven has come near!’” he said. “Yes, it is near because in Jesus Christ, God draws near to every man and woman, to every people and nation.”Pope Leo added that the Gospel is not merely announced but also lived.“When this Gospel is proclaimed and lived out, evil crumbles like a disease that passes away, like a night giving way to dawn, like death conquered by the risen One,” he said.The pope said the Church is called to continue the mission of the apostles, remembering Jesus’ words: “You received without payment; give without payment.”“Dear friends, the task of evangelization springs from God’s gift, which in Christ becomes forgiveness for the world, service to the least and the poor, and a commitment to justice,” he said.After the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo recalled his recent apostolic journey to Spain.“First of all, I express my gratitude to the Lord for the Apostolic Journey he has allowed me to undertake in Spain,” he said. “I also thank the Spanish people who have welcomed me with great enthusiasm and devotion.”“I am especially grateful to His Majesty the King; I affectionately thank the Bishops, all the communities I visited and the entire Church in Spain,” the pope added. “Que Dios bendiga siempre a España!”Pope Leo also remembered several newly beatified martyrs: the diocesan priests Václav Drbola and Jan Bula of Moravia, and Jan Šwierc and eight companions, Polish Salesian priests.“All were beatified as martyrs, as victims of the persecution by totalitarian regimes because of their fidelity to Christ,” he said.The pope also recalled that Nazareno Lanciotti, “a Roman missionary priest,” had been beatified Saturday in Mato Grosso, Brazil.“He too was a martyr, for he defended the poorest in the name of the Gospel,” Pope Leo said. “May the example and intercession of these courageous witnesses sustain the mission of priests and of the entire Church.”The pope concluded by expressing his closeness to the people of the Philippines, “struck a few days ago by a powerful earthquake.”“I pray for the deceased and their families, for the wounded and for all those suffering because of this disaster,” he said.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

At the Angelus, the pontiff said Christ sees the wounds of war, broken families, and young people misled by false ideals.

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‘Super Bowl on steroids’: Webinar highlights trafficking around World Cup #Catholic – While “all eyes are on us” in the coming weeks with FIFA World Cup activity, the issue of human trafficking will persist even after visitors have returned home, said Detective Sgt. Ehtasham “Izzy” Chaudhry of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. “We are not going to stop when FIFA is over, we are going to continue,” he said. “Even though right now we are being hyper vigilant, we will and we have to continue combatting human trafficking.” The World Cup begins June 11, and matches are being hosted in the region, beginning with Brazil v. Morocco June 11 in East Rutherford, and Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador June 14 in Philadelphia. The July 19 final will also be in East Rutherford. In preparation, on June 9 the New Jersey Catholic Conference, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference hosted a webinar, “Human Trafficking and Major Sporting Events.” It featured faith leaders, law enforcement representatives, an elected official and an advocate working to fight sexual and labor exploitation. Kathleen Friess, program and training coordinator for the Human Trafficking Unit in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Justice, emphasized that “anyone can be a lifesaver,” when it comes to human trafficking. Friess coordinates training for agencies across New Jersey, including law enforcement as well as prosecutors, paramedics, code enforcement officials, the faith community, casinos, and any other organizations that might encounter human trafficking victims. She noted the particular concerns around labor exploitation surrounding the World Cup matches and the fanfare they will bring with them. “These events are expected to bring more than 1 million visitors to the region,” she said. “Although we have the experience of preparing for the Super Bowl, someone said this is the Super Bowl on steroids. We cannot fathom the type of impact this is going to have, in many ways.” She noted that outreach efforts have also included posting flyers raising awareness and sharing information about resources in every restroom stall at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium to try to reach those in need. Catholic Social Teaching Felicitas Brugo Onetti, anti-trafficking education and outreach coordinator with USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, told webinar participants, “Large-scale sporting events bring influxes of visitors, temporary workers and cash flow, which can increase vulnerabilities to human trafficking. “Trafficking does not occur because of the event itself, but events can intensify existing trafficking patterns already present in host communities,” she said. “Risk factors include increased demand for commercial sex, informal labor markets, crowded transportation hubs and limited community awareness.” Onetti emphasized that fighting human trafficking and the commitment to end slavery in all forms are deeply entrenched in Catholic social teaching. She also noted the estimated 49.6 million people who – at any time – live in conditions of slavery and human trafficking globally. Part of Chaudhry’s work involves leading his office’s Interfaith Advisory Council, and he emphasized the key role that faith leaders and communities can play in raising awareness about trafficking. “The Catholic Church is the largest faith-based community here in the State of New Jersey,” he said. “I truly believe that faith leaders are community leaders and have a lot of influence in the community. They are able to get out messages that are important.” Identifying victims Theresa Flores, a social worker and a human trafficking survivor, launched the SOAP Project – “Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution” – after she, at the age of 40, realized that she had been a victim herself as a teenager. She emphasized that victims can be anywhere and may be hard to identify. “I also went to church, I also went to school,” she said of the two-year period when she was being trafficked. Flores said a waitress at a hotel restaurant noticed she was in distress and asked her if she was alright – and ended up saving her. Today, her organization works to raise awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking, in part through distributing soap in packages labeled with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number to hotels and motels to offer victims a discrete way to find out how to seek help. Her organization recently received a boost from students at Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, who labeled some 2,000 bars of soaps that will be distributed to shore motels in the days and weeks to come. “We do this around big sporting events a lot of times, because we know demand for sex for sale is going to quadruple during that event,” she said, noting that her organization has worked in the host cities for 15 Super Bowls. “If traffickers are going to be there, and bring victims, we want to be there, too.” Friess joined others on the webinar in encouraging anyone who suspects they have observed a form of human trafficking to contact authorities – even if they cannot prove what is happening. “You are never going to be 100 percent sure,” she said. “The people who claim to be experts can never be 100 percent sure at the get go. It takes time.” Tips or leads regarding possible human trafficking can be shared by calling (855) End-NJ-HT. You can also access Department of Labor resources at www.NJ.gov/labor/worldcup, and resources for victims by contacting Covenant House New Jersey at (862) 240-2453. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by visiting https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.
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‘Super Bowl on steroids’: Webinar highlights trafficking around World Cup #Catholic – While “all eyes are on us” in the coming weeks with FIFA World Cup activity, the issue of human trafficking will persist even after visitors have returned home, said Detective Sgt. Ehtasham “Izzy” Chaudhry of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. “We are not going to stop when FIFA is over, we are going to continue,” he said. “Even though right now we are being hyper vigilant, we will and we have to continue combatting human trafficking.” The World Cup begins June 11, and matches are being hosted in the region, beginning with Brazil v. Morocco June 11 in East Rutherford, and Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador June 14 in Philadelphia. The July 19 final will also be in East Rutherford. In preparation, on June 9 the New Jersey Catholic Conference, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference hosted a webinar, “Human Trafficking and Major Sporting Events.” It featured faith leaders, law enforcement representatives, an elected official and an advocate working to fight sexual and labor exploitation. Kathleen Friess, program and training coordinator for the Human Trafficking Unit in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Justice, emphasized that “anyone can be a lifesaver,” when it comes to human trafficking. Friess coordinates training for agencies across New Jersey, including law enforcement as well as prosecutors, paramedics, code enforcement officials, the faith community, casinos, and any other organizations that might encounter human trafficking victims. She noted the particular concerns around labor exploitation surrounding the World Cup matches and the fanfare they will bring with them. “These events are expected to bring more than 1 million visitors to the region,” she said. “Although we have the experience of preparing for the Super Bowl, someone said this is the Super Bowl on steroids. We cannot fathom the type of impact this is going to have, in many ways.” She noted that outreach efforts have also included posting flyers raising awareness and sharing information about resources in every restroom stall at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium to try to reach those in need. Catholic Social Teaching Felicitas Brugo Onetti, anti-trafficking education and outreach coordinator with USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, told webinar participants, “Large-scale sporting events bring influxes of visitors, temporary workers and cash flow, which can increase vulnerabilities to human trafficking. “Trafficking does not occur because of the event itself, but events can intensify existing trafficking patterns already present in host communities,” she said. “Risk factors include increased demand for commercial sex, informal labor markets, crowded transportation hubs and limited community awareness.” Onetti emphasized that fighting human trafficking and the commitment to end slavery in all forms are deeply entrenched in Catholic social teaching. She also noted the estimated 49.6 million people who – at any time – live in conditions of slavery and human trafficking globally. Part of Chaudhry’s work involves leading his office’s Interfaith Advisory Council, and he emphasized the key role that faith leaders and communities can play in raising awareness about trafficking. “The Catholic Church is the largest faith-based community here in the State of New Jersey,” he said. “I truly believe that faith leaders are community leaders and have a lot of influence in the community. They are able to get out messages that are important.” Identifying victims Theresa Flores, a social worker and a human trafficking survivor, launched the SOAP Project – “Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution” – after she, at the age of 40, realized that she had been a victim herself as a teenager. She emphasized that victims can be anywhere and may be hard to identify. “I also went to church, I also went to school,” she said of the two-year period when she was being trafficked. Flores said a waitress at a hotel restaurant noticed she was in distress and asked her if she was alright – and ended up saving her. Today, her organization works to raise awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking, in part through distributing soap in packages labeled with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number to hotels and motels to offer victims a discrete way to find out how to seek help. Her organization recently received a boost from students at Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, who labeled some 2,000 bars of soaps that will be distributed to shore motels in the days and weeks to come. “We do this around big sporting events a lot of times, because we know demand for sex for sale is going to quadruple during that event,” she said, noting that her organization has worked in the host cities for 15 Super Bowls. “If traffickers are going to be there, and bring victims, we want to be there, too.” Friess joined others on the webinar in encouraging anyone who suspects they have observed a form of human trafficking to contact authorities – even if they cannot prove what is happening. “You are never going to be 100 percent sure,” she said. “The people who claim to be experts can never be 100 percent sure at the get go. It takes time.” Tips or leads regarding possible human trafficking can be shared by calling (855) End-NJ-HT. You can also access Department of Labor resources at www.NJ.gov/labor/worldcup, and resources for victims by contacting Covenant House New Jersey at (862) 240-2453. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by visiting https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.

unitedyam

‘Super Bowl on steroids’: Webinar highlights trafficking around World Cup #Catholic –

While “all eyes are on us” in the coming weeks with FIFA World Cup activity, the issue of human trafficking will persist even after visitors have returned home, said Detective Sgt. Ehtasham “Izzy” Chaudhry of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

“We are not going to stop when FIFA is over, we are going to continue,” he said. “Even though right now we are being hyper vigilant, we will and we have to continue combatting human trafficking.”

The World Cup begins June 11, and matches are being hosted in the region, beginning with Brazil v. Morocco June 11 in East Rutherford, and Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador June 14 in Philadelphia. The July 19 final will also be in East Rutherford.

In preparation, on June 9 the New Jersey Catholic Conference, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference hosted a webinar, “Human Trafficking and Major Sporting Events.” It featured faith leaders, law enforcement representatives, an elected official and an advocate working to fight sexual and labor exploitation.

Kathleen Friess, program and training coordinator for the Human Trafficking Unit in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Justice, emphasized that “anyone can be a lifesaver,” when it comes to human trafficking.

Friess coordinates training for agencies across New Jersey, including law enforcement as well as prosecutors, paramedics, code enforcement officials, the faith community, casinos, and any other organizations that might encounter human trafficking victims. She noted the particular concerns around labor exploitation surrounding the World Cup matches and the fanfare they will bring with them.

“These events are expected to bring more than 1 million visitors to the region,” she said. “Although we have the experience of preparing for the Super Bowl, someone said this is the Super Bowl on steroids. We cannot fathom the type of impact this is going to have, in many ways.”

She noted that outreach efforts have also included posting flyers raising awareness and sharing information about resources in every restroom stall at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium to try to reach those in need.

Catholic Social Teaching

Felicitas Brugo Onetti, anti-trafficking education and outreach coordinator with USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, told webinar participants, “Large-scale sporting events bring influxes of visitors, temporary workers and cash flow, which can increase vulnerabilities to human trafficking.

“Trafficking does not occur because of the event itself, but events can intensify existing trafficking patterns already present in host communities,” she said. “Risk factors include increased demand for commercial sex, informal labor markets, crowded transportation hubs and limited community awareness.”

Onetti emphasized that fighting human trafficking and the commitment to end slavery in all forms are deeply entrenched in Catholic social teaching. She also noted the estimated 49.6 million people who – at any time – live in conditions of slavery and human trafficking globally.

Part of Chaudhry’s work involves leading his office’s Interfaith Advisory Council, and he emphasized the key role that faith leaders and communities can play in raising awareness about trafficking.

“The Catholic Church is the largest faith-based community here in the State of New Jersey,” he said. “I truly believe that faith leaders are community leaders and have a lot of influence in the community. They are able to get out messages that are important.”

Identifying victims

Theresa Flores, a social worker and a human trafficking survivor, launched the SOAP Project – “Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution” – after she, at the age of 40, realized that she had been a victim herself as a teenager. She emphasized that victims can be anywhere and may be hard to identify.

“I also went to church, I also went to school,” she said of the two-year period when she was being trafficked. Flores said a waitress at a hotel restaurant noticed she was in distress and asked her if she was alright – and ended up saving her.

Today, her organization works to raise awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking, in part through distributing soap in packages labeled with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number to hotels and motels to offer victims a discrete way to find out how to seek help. Her organization recently received a boost from students at Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, who labeled some 2,000 bars of soaps that will be distributed to shore motels in the days and weeks to come.

“We do this around big sporting events a lot of times, because we know demand for sex for sale is going to quadruple during that event,” she said, noting that her organization has worked in the host cities for 15 Super Bowls. “If traffickers are going to be there, and bring victims, we want to be there, too.”

Friess joined others on the webinar in encouraging anyone who suspects they have observed a form of human trafficking to contact authorities – even if they cannot prove what is happening.

“You are never going to be 100 percent sure,” she said. “The people who claim to be experts can never be 100 percent sure at the get go. It takes time.”

Tips or leads regarding possible human trafficking can be shared by calling (855) End-NJ-HT. You can also access Department of Labor resources at www.NJ.gov/labor/worldcup, and resources for victims by contacting Covenant House New Jersey at (862) 240-2453.

If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by visiting https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.

– While “all eyes are on us” in the coming weeks with FIFA World Cup activity, the issue of human trafficking will persist even after visitors have returned home, said Detective Sgt. Ehtasham “Izzy” Chaudhry of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. “We are not going to stop when FIFA is over, we are going to continue,” he said. “Even though right now we are being hyper vigilant, we will and we have to continue combatting human trafficking.” The World Cup begins June 11, and matches are being hosted in the region, beginning with Brazil v. Morocco June

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Michigan diocese celebrates new priests after ordinations moved out of cathedral #Catholic ANN ARBOR, Michigan — Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan, ordained four men to the priesthood on June 6 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing after the crowd was too big for St. Mary’s Cathedral, the mother church of the diocese. In the packed church, Boyea told the ordinands: “You have been spending years being with Jesus. He’s calling you as he called those 12 so many centuries ago. Today, as you are consecrated by the Church for a sacred ministry, consecrate yourselves to drink the cup which the Lord gives and take in the word which the Spirit is providing. Though weak vessels that we are, we will not let that prevent us from following the calling we have received.”Now 75 and due to retire from his duties in Lansing, Boyea has ordained 45 priests during his 18 years of leadership of the diocese in Michigan’s capital. The diocese, one of seven Latin-rite dioceses in Michigan, is currently sponsoring 29 seminarians, and last year’s ordination class was the largest in nearly 50 years.Fathers Joshua Bauer, Jacob Derry, Ryan Ferrigan, and Peter Randolph, ordained by Boyea, all attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary of the Detroit Archdiocese. Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan, washes the feet of one of the four men he ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 2026, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson Before their ordination, the men were interviewed on video, displaying the chalices they will use as priests.Ferrigan, 28, said his antique sacred vessel had been left behind at the now-shuttered St. Michael Parish church in Flint, Michigan, established more than 170 years ago. Inscribed on its base are the words of an anonymous donor: “In reparation from a friend of the Sacred Heart.”“You know, it’s a paradox because this chalice has a long history, and I don’t know who the priests are who used it in the past,” he said. “They offered the Holy Sacrifice using this vessel for over 100 years, and I get to continue faithfully offering the Mass and praying for the salvation of the world every day.”In his thanksgiving address to the congregation, Ferrigan said of his priesthood: “It’s all about the glory of God and the salvation of souls!”In an interview with EWTN News, the new priest said: “In being ordained, the palpable joy they could see in me was there because in ordination, I am seeing the purpose for which God created me coming to fruition. I have become what the Lord created me to be.”“The day of my ordination was the best day of my life. Lots of friends and family were there to support me. The Lord has blessed me and is very good to me. I’m still adjusting and realizing that I’m really a priest now and have the privilege of offering the Mass every day. This is my commission and what the Lord wants me to do for his praise and the salvation of the world. It is still sinking in,” he told EWTN News. From left to right: Fathers Peter Randolph, Ryan Ferrigan, Jacob Derry, and Joshua Bauer at their ordaination on June 6, 2026, in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson Ferrigan celebrated his first solo Mass that same day at St. Martha Parish in Okemos, near Lansing. He was able to distribute the Eucharist for the first time in both instances to his mother. He will serve at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, which is close to the University of Michigan campus and known for its music and solemn liturgies.“I’m excited to be going there, and I expect to serve about three years at St. Thomas,” he said, adding: “I’m excited about learning to be a parish priest and diving into ministry. This is how the Lord wants me to feed his sheep.”Randolph, 27, reflected in the video about his journey to the altar, which has included profound loss. “The emphasis of this chalice upon the humanity of Christ and about receiving the chalice, and then living it out to the fullest extent, both in pain and suffering, and full self-abandonment and full self-emptying and glory, means a lot to me, because my [18-year-old] brother Xavier died less than a year ago. And the Lord has really promised me that he’s going to meet me in the place of my pain,” he said, adding: “He’s not going to leave me alone. But it’s going to come in my very broken humanity. In my humanity that is now broken in a particular way in grief.” Peter Randolph prepares for his ordination to the priesthood on June 6, 2026, in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson Randolph’s father and grandfather serve as deacons in the Lansing Diocese. At the July 2025 funeral for Xavier, hundreds of friends and parishioners of the close-knit Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor were on hand to support the Randolph family with the same solidarity shown at Randolph’s ordination. He has been assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Michigan, which is known for its healing services and charismatic liturgies.As Boyea consecrated Randolph, the newly ordained young man openly sobbed in the presence of his many friends and family members. “I want every day of my priesthood and every time that I offer Mass in this chalice, to be able to say, like, ‘Accipiam calicem,’ right, I accept the chalice,” Randolph vowed. Paraphrasing Matthew 26:42, Randolph said: “Father, I accept this chalice, and I will drink it to the dregs with your Son.”
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Michigan diocese celebrates new priests after ordinations moved out of cathedral #Catholic ANN ARBOR, Michigan — Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan, ordained four men to the priesthood on June 6 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing after the crowd was too big for St. Mary’s Cathedral, the mother church of the diocese. In the packed church, Boyea told the ordinands: “You have been spending years being with Jesus. He’s calling you as he called those 12 so many centuries ago. Today, as you are consecrated by the Church for a sacred ministry, consecrate yourselves to drink the cup which the Lord gives and take in the word which the Spirit is providing. Though weak vessels that we are, we will not let that prevent us from following the calling we have received.”Now 75 and due to retire from his duties in Lansing, Boyea has ordained 45 priests during his 18 years of leadership of the diocese in Michigan’s capital. The diocese, one of seven Latin-rite dioceses in Michigan, is currently sponsoring 29 seminarians, and last year’s ordination class was the largest in nearly 50 years.Fathers Joshua Bauer, Jacob Derry, Ryan Ferrigan, and Peter Randolph, ordained by Boyea, all attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary of the Detroit Archdiocese. Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan, washes the feet of one of the four men he ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 2026, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson Before their ordination, the men were interviewed on video, displaying the chalices they will use as priests.Ferrigan, 28, said his antique sacred vessel had been left behind at the now-shuttered St. Michael Parish church in Flint, Michigan, established more than 170 years ago. Inscribed on its base are the words of an anonymous donor: “In reparation from a friend of the Sacred Heart.”“You know, it’s a paradox because this chalice has a long history, and I don’t know who the priests are who used it in the past,” he said. “They offered the Holy Sacrifice using this vessel for over 100 years, and I get to continue faithfully offering the Mass and praying for the salvation of the world every day.”In his thanksgiving address to the congregation, Ferrigan said of his priesthood: “It’s all about the glory of God and the salvation of souls!”In an interview with EWTN News, the new priest said: “In being ordained, the palpable joy they could see in me was there because in ordination, I am seeing the purpose for which God created me coming to fruition. I have become what the Lord created me to be.”“The day of my ordination was the best day of my life. Lots of friends and family were there to support me. The Lord has blessed me and is very good to me. I’m still adjusting and realizing that I’m really a priest now and have the privilege of offering the Mass every day. This is my commission and what the Lord wants me to do for his praise and the salvation of the world. It is still sinking in,” he told EWTN News. From left to right: Fathers Peter Randolph, Ryan Ferrigan, Jacob Derry, and Joshua Bauer at their ordaination on June 6, 2026, in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson Ferrigan celebrated his first solo Mass that same day at St. Martha Parish in Okemos, near Lansing. He was able to distribute the Eucharist for the first time in both instances to his mother. He will serve at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, which is close to the University of Michigan campus and known for its music and solemn liturgies.“I’m excited to be going there, and I expect to serve about three years at St. Thomas,” he said, adding: “I’m excited about learning to be a parish priest and diving into ministry. This is how the Lord wants me to feed his sheep.”Randolph, 27, reflected in the video about his journey to the altar, which has included profound loss. “The emphasis of this chalice upon the humanity of Christ and about receiving the chalice, and then living it out to the fullest extent, both in pain and suffering, and full self-abandonment and full self-emptying and glory, means a lot to me, because my [18-year-old] brother Xavier died less than a year ago. And the Lord has really promised me that he’s going to meet me in the place of my pain,” he said, adding: “He’s not going to leave me alone. But it’s going to come in my very broken humanity. In my humanity that is now broken in a particular way in grief.” Peter Randolph prepares for his ordination to the priesthood on June 6, 2026, in East Lansing, Michigan. | Credit: Valerie Hendrickson Randolph’s father and grandfather serve as deacons in the Lansing Diocese. At the July 2025 funeral for Xavier, hundreds of friends and parishioners of the close-knit Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor were on hand to support the Randolph family with the same solidarity shown at Randolph’s ordination. He has been assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Michigan, which is known for its healing services and charismatic liturgies.As Boyea consecrated Randolph, the newly ordained young man openly sobbed in the presence of his many friends and family members. “I want every day of my priesthood and every time that I offer Mass in this chalice, to be able to say, like, ‘Accipiam calicem,’ right, I accept the chalice,” Randolph vowed. Paraphrasing Matthew 26:42, Randolph said: “Father, I accept this chalice, and I will drink it to the dregs with your Son.”

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Bishop Earl Boyea ordained four new priests at a local Lansing parish, urging them to “drink the cup which the Lord gives” as they begin their ministry.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 14 June 2026 – A reading from the Book of Exodus 19:2-6a In those days, the Israelites came to the desert of Sinai and pitched camp. While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain, Moses went up the mountain to God. Then the LORD called to him and said, “Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob; tell the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself.  Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.”   A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 5:6-11 Brothers and sisters: Christ, while we were still helpless,  yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.From the Gospel according to Matthew 9:36—10:8 At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them  because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (v. 2). On the one hand, God, like a sower, has generously gone out into the world, throughout history, and sowed in people’s hearts a desire for the infinite, for a fulfilled life and for salvation that sets us free. The harvest, then, is plentiful. The Kingdom of God grows like a seed in the ground, and the women and men of today, even when seemingly overwhelmed by so many other things, still yearn for a greater truth; they search for a fuller meaning for their lives, desire justice, and carry within themselves a longing for eternal life. On the other hand, however, there are few laborers to go out into the field sown by the Lord; few who are able to distinguish, with the eyes of Jesus, the good grain that is ripe for harvesting (…). To do this, we do not need too many theoretical ideas about pastoral plans. Instead, we need to pray to the Lord of the harvest. Priority must be given, then, to our relationship with the Lord and to cultivating our dialogue with him. In this way, he will make us his laborers and send us into the field of the world to bear witness to his Kingdom. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 6 July 2025)

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A reading from the Book of Exodus
19:2-6a

In those days, the Israelites came to the desert of Sinai and pitched camp.
While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain,
Moses went up the mountain to God.
Then the LORD called to him and said,
“Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob;
tell the Israelites:
You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians
and how I bore you up on eagle wings
and brought you here to myself. 
Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant,
you shall be my special possession,
dearer to me than all other people,
though all the earth is mine.
You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.”

 

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans
5:6-11

Brothers and sisters:
Christ, while we were still helpless, 
yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.
Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.
Not only that,
but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
9:36—10:8

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them 
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Then he summoned his twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits
to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the twelve apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (v. 2).

On the one hand, God, like a sower, has generously gone out into the world, throughout history, and sowed in people’s hearts a desire for the infinite, for a fulfilled life and for salvation that sets us free. The harvest, then, is plentiful. The Kingdom of God grows like a seed in the ground, and the women and men of today, even when seemingly overwhelmed by so many other things, still yearn for a greater truth; they search for a fuller meaning for their lives, desire justice, and carry within themselves a longing for eternal life.

On the other hand, however, there are few laborers to go out into the field sown by the Lord; few who are able to distinguish, with the eyes of Jesus, the good grain that is ripe for harvesting (…).

To do this, we do not need too many theoretical ideas about pastoral plans. Instead, we need to pray to the Lord of the harvest. Priority must be given, then, to our relationship with the Lord and to cultivating our dialogue with him. In this way, he will make us his laborers and send us into the field of the world to bear witness to his Kingdom. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 6 July 2025)

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Catholics reaffirm human life’s value at Morristown procession, Mass #Catholic - Faithful of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., proclaimed in English and Spanish, “Jesus Protects and Saves the Unborn,” as they walked the streets of Morristown in prayer on June 6 during the Monthly Mass and Procession for Life with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, also in Morristown. Participants reasserted their commitment to the dignity of all human life, from birth to natural death. Before the procession, Bishop Sweeney celebrated Mass at St. Margaret’s. Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor of St. Margaret’s, concelebrated, and Deacon Tim Holden of the parish assisted. Afterward, Bishop Sweeney led the faithful in a rosary procession down Speedwell Avenue to Planned Parenthood, where they prayed in front of the facility for an end to abortion. Many carried signs with pro-life messages in English and Spanish, such as “Jesus Protects and Saves the Unborn.” The marchers then returned to St. Margaret’s, where they prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. Everyone is welcome to join the Mass and Procession for Life with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, which takes place on the first Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. at St. Margaret’s. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Catholics reaffirm human life’s value at Morristown procession, Mass #Catholic – Faithful of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., proclaimed in English and Spanish, “Jesus Protects and Saves the Unborn,” as they walked the streets of Morristown in prayer on June 6 during the Monthly Mass and Procession for Life with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, also in Morristown. Participants reasserted their commitment to the dignity of all human life, from birth to natural death. Before the procession, Bishop Sweeney celebrated Mass at St. Margaret’s. Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor of St. Margaret’s, concelebrated, and Deacon Tim Holden of the parish assisted. Afterward, Bishop Sweeney led the faithful in a rosary procession down Speedwell Avenue to Planned Parenthood, where they prayed in front of the facility for an end to abortion. Many carried signs with pro-life messages in English and Spanish, such as “Jesus Protects and Saves the Unborn.” The marchers then returned to St. Margaret’s, where they prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. Everyone is welcome to join the Mass and Procession for Life with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, which takes place on the first Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. at St. Margaret’s. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Catholics reaffirm human life’s value at Morristown procession, Mass #Catholic –

Faithful of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., proclaimed in English and Spanish, “Jesus Protects and Saves the Unborn,” as they walked the streets of Morristown in prayer on June 6 during the Monthly Mass and Procession for Life with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, also in Morristown. Participants reasserted their commitment to the dignity of all human life, from birth to natural death.

Before the procession, Bishop Sweeney celebrated Mass at St. Margaret’s. Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor of St. Margaret’s, concelebrated, and Deacon Tim Holden of the parish assisted.

Afterward, Bishop Sweeney led the faithful in a rosary procession down Speedwell Avenue to Planned Parenthood, where they prayed in front of the facility for an end to abortion.

Many carried signs with pro-life messages in English and Spanish, such as “Jesus Protects and Saves the Unborn.” The marchers then returned to St. Margaret’s, where they prayed before the Blessed Sacrament.

Everyone is welcome to join the Mass and Procession for Life with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, which takes place on the first Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. at St. Margaret’s.

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

– Faithful of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., proclaimed in English and Spanish, “Jesus Protects and Saves the Unborn,” as they walked the streets of Morristown in prayer on June 6 during the Monthly Mass and Procession for Life with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, also in Morristown. Participants reasserted their commitment to the dignity of all human life, from birth to natural death. Before the procession, Bishop Sweeney celebrated Mass at St. Margaret’s. Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor of St. Margaret’s, concelebrated, and Deacon Tim Holden of the parish assisted. Afterward, Bishop Sweeney led the faithful in

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Pro-life advocates defend unborn babies with Down syndrome after YouTuber goes public with abortion #Catholic Pro-life advocates defend unborn babies with Down syndromePro-life advocates are defending unborn children with Down syndrome after a YouTuber told the world that he and his wife aborted their child who had been diagnosed with the condition.YouTube creator Jesse Ridgway went viral for posting about how he and his wife decided to abort their unborn baby after they learned the child would likely have Down syndrome. Advocates on X reacted by sharing posts celebrating the worth of individuals with the medical diagnosis."Down syndrome shouldn’t mean a death sentence,” Live Action Founder and President Lila Rose said.SBA Pro-Life America posted in response to Ridgway’s post: “This is so sad and awful. We CANʼT stand silently by.”“Research shows 99% of people with Down syndrome are happy with their lives, and their families love them,” the pro-life group continued. “Families deserve truthful information & support. People with Down syndrome deserve to live. They should never be targets for discrimination, inside the womb or out. Period.”“Babies with Down syndrome arenʼt a ‘glitch.’ Theyʼre a blessing.” Live Action posted. “Yet 67-80% of these beautiful babies are killed for their disability before they are born."Study: Women aren’t informed on emotional, physical impact of abortionWomen want information on abortion symptoms and the emotional impacts associated with the procedure, but they often aren’t given it, according to a recent peer-reviewed study.The study by scholars associated with the Charlotte Lozier Institute found women experience significant informed consent gaps when they are given abortion drugs.The researchers found that three in 10 women report experiencing unexpected levels of pain and bleeding.“Because they didn’t know what was ‘normal,’ many women turned to the internet for information about abortion side effects like excessive pain and bleeding, help processing difficult emotions, and urgent reassurance during the abortion process,” the study read.Tessa Cox, senior research associate at the institute and one of the authors of the study emphasized the risks associated with this lack of medical information-sharing. “The stakes are too high for informed consent to be treated as a formality,” Cox said in a statement.Fourteen attorneys general call for clean water protections from abortion drugsFourteen attorneys general called on the federal government to track water pollution from abortion pills this week.The attorneys general asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to track pollution from the drugs dumped into the U.S. water supply. They argued that “loosened regulations” have “increased the number of chemical abortions occurring in the home,” resulting in “tons of chemically tainted medical waste being flushed into American waterways.”Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins, who spearheaded the movement, called the request “commonsense.”“Because of negligent FDA policy and the failure to enforce the Comstock Act, more than 50 tons of chemically tainted blood, placenta tissue, and human remains go into our waterways every year. With infertility on the rise, we need to know: what is the extent of the damage?” Hawkins said in a statement shared with EWTN News.The letter was signed by attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.Head of Knights of Columbus awarded for ‘building up a culture of life’The Sisters of Life, a religious organization centered around affirming the life of every human being, gave an award to the head of the Knights of Columbus, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, for his life-affirming work.Kelly received the John Cardinal O’Connor Award on on June 5 at the annual Friends of the Sisters of Life Gala in Rye, New York.“His Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor was a towering pillar of the pro-life movement,” Kelly said in a press release. “With an unshakable resolve, he dedicated so much of his ministry as bishop to proclaiming the sanctity of every human life, made in the image and likeness of God.”“Speaking for the Knights, we will keep doing everything we can to support the Sisters of Life, and to protect vulnerable mothers and their children,” Kelly said. "As we prepare for the work ahead, we take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus Christ will continue to guide us.”Alabama attorney general launches legal challenge against abortion drug companiesAlabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued cease-and-desist letters to six companies that have been allegedly illegally distributing abortion drugs.According to a June 9 press release, the companies were providing chemical abortion drugs in Alabama, where abortion is illegal.“These companies are not only breaking the law, they are deceiving Alabama consumers about the very real dangers of these drugs,” said Marshall in a statement. “That stops now.”The letters were sent to abortion drug providers across the United States, as well as one company based in the United Arab Emirates. Several companies were based in California or New York, which have “shield laws” designed to protect abortion companies.
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Pro-life advocates defend unborn babies with Down syndrome after YouTuber goes public with abortion #Catholic Pro-life advocates defend unborn babies with Down syndromePro-life advocates are defending unborn children with Down syndrome after a YouTuber told the world that he and his wife aborted their child who had been diagnosed with the condition.YouTube creator Jesse Ridgway went viral for posting about how he and his wife decided to abort their unborn baby after they learned the child would likely have Down syndrome. Advocates on X reacted by sharing posts celebrating the worth of individuals with the medical diagnosis."Down syndrome shouldn’t mean a death sentence,” Live Action Founder and President Lila Rose said.SBA Pro-Life America posted in response to Ridgway’s post: “This is so sad and awful. We CANʼT stand silently by.”“Research shows 99% of people with Down syndrome are happy with their lives, and their families love them,” the pro-life group continued. “Families deserve truthful information & support. People with Down syndrome deserve to live. They should never be targets for discrimination, inside the womb or out. Period.”“Babies with Down syndrome arenʼt a ‘glitch.’ Theyʼre a blessing.” Live Action posted. “Yet 67-80% of these beautiful babies are killed for their disability before they are born."Study: Women aren’t informed on emotional, physical impact of abortionWomen want information on abortion symptoms and the emotional impacts associated with the procedure, but they often aren’t given it, according to a recent peer-reviewed study.The study by scholars associated with the Charlotte Lozier Institute found women experience significant informed consent gaps when they are given abortion drugs.The researchers found that three in 10 women report experiencing unexpected levels of pain and bleeding.“Because they didn’t know what was ‘normal,’ many women turned to the internet for information about abortion side effects like excessive pain and bleeding, help processing difficult emotions, and urgent reassurance during the abortion process,” the study read.Tessa Cox, senior research associate at the institute and one of the authors of the study emphasized the risks associated with this lack of medical information-sharing. “The stakes are too high for informed consent to be treated as a formality,” Cox said in a statement.Fourteen attorneys general call for clean water protections from abortion drugsFourteen attorneys general called on the federal government to track water pollution from abortion pills this week.The attorneys general asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to track pollution from the drugs dumped into the U.S. water supply. They argued that “loosened regulations” have “increased the number of chemical abortions occurring in the home,” resulting in “tons of chemically tainted medical waste being flushed into American waterways.”Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins, who spearheaded the movement, called the request “commonsense.”“Because of negligent FDA policy and the failure to enforce the Comstock Act, more than 50 tons of chemically tainted blood, placenta tissue, and human remains go into our waterways every year. With infertility on the rise, we need to know: what is the extent of the damage?” Hawkins said in a statement shared with EWTN News.The letter was signed by attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.Head of Knights of Columbus awarded for ‘building up a culture of life’The Sisters of Life, a religious organization centered around affirming the life of every human being, gave an award to the head of the Knights of Columbus, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, for his life-affirming work.Kelly received the John Cardinal O’Connor Award on on June 5 at the annual Friends of the Sisters of Life Gala in Rye, New York.“His Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor was a towering pillar of the pro-life movement,” Kelly said in a press release. “With an unshakable resolve, he dedicated so much of his ministry as bishop to proclaiming the sanctity of every human life, made in the image and likeness of God.”“Speaking for the Knights, we will keep doing everything we can to support the Sisters of Life, and to protect vulnerable mothers and their children,” Kelly said. "As we prepare for the work ahead, we take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus Christ will continue to guide us.”Alabama attorney general launches legal challenge against abortion drug companiesAlabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued cease-and-desist letters to six companies that have been allegedly illegally distributing abortion drugs.According to a June 9 press release, the companies were providing chemical abortion drugs in Alabama, where abortion is illegal.“These companies are not only breaking the law, they are deceiving Alabama consumers about the very real dangers of these drugs,” said Marshall in a statement. “That stops now.”The letters were sent to abortion drug providers across the United States, as well as one company based in the United Arab Emirates. Several companies were based in California or New York, which have “shield laws” designed to protect abortion companies.

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Pro-life and abortion-related news you may have missed this week.

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Irish bishops call for calm in Belfast following racially motivated civil unrest #Catholic Following its summer 2026 general meeting, the Irish Bishops’ Conference voiced its deep concern about the attack on human life and the wider violence and social disorder that has taken place in Belfast and across Northern Ireland this past week.The civil unrest followed a brutal knife attack in Belfast carried out by a Sudanese national. Footage of the incident has been widely circulated globally and on social media. Bishop Alan McGuckian, SJ, of Down and Connor said: “My thoughts and prayers are firstly with Stephen Ogilvie, who sustained life-changing devastating injuries in a brutal and horrific attack.”Referring to the rioting, intimidation, and vandalism toward immigrant people that followed, he said: “So many newcomers make an outstanding contribution to our communities, including our parishes. They are our friends. Shame on all those who have sought to mobilize, agitate, weaponize, and politicize the fear and concerns of others over the last few days. All of us have a responsibility to de-escalate societal tension rather than stoke the flames of racism.”Lebanese priest says ‘situation drastically deteriorating’ for ChristiansFather Youssef Semaan, parish priest of Kfour, Nabatieh District, in Lebanon, said the situation for Christians remaining in the country is continuing to worsen.“Every week is more dangerous than the last. The situation has become unbearable,” Semaan said, according to a press release from Aid to the Church in Need on Thursday. The priest, who was forced to leave Kfour due to safety reasons, said he has managed to return on two occasions. He said many Christians have been faced with the difficult decision to “stay and risk their lives or abandon our land without any guarantee that we will ever get our houses or our goods back.” In Kfour, the Christian population has dropped from 120 to around 12, ACN noted. “We still have hope,” Semaan said. “But hope itself is not enough. It has to be based on solid foundations that allow us to rebuild and go on living. We are human after all.”Zimbabwe bishops consecrate nation to Mary, a ‘model of courage’ in difficult timesMembers of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) have consecrated the Southern African nation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, entrusting the country to her maternal protection and presenting her as a model of faith, hope, courage, and love amid ongoing challenges.The consecration took place during a Mass marking the conclusion of the bishops’ 2026 plenary assembly at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Harare on June 10, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Thursday. In his homily, ZCBC president Bishop Raymond Tapiwa Mupandasekwa said the bishops identified Mary as a fitting patroness for Zimbabwe, saying: “The act of surrender to God is indeed an imitation of this Holy Virgin. She is the woman who not only shows her total surrender to God in faith, but she is also a woman of great hope. At the foot of the cross she stands. A great sign of courage in a very difficult moment.”Legislation threatening the seal of confession in France failsA provision in a bill proposed to the French National Assembly that would have compelled priests to violate the seal of confession to report instances of abuse against minors has failed.The bill, aimed at preventing and combating violence in schools in the wake of a sex abuse scandal at a Catholic boarding school in southern France, was adopted on June 1 without the proposed clause that would have removed exemptions for priests from mandatory reporting of information regarding sexual abuse heard during the sacrament of confession. The French Bishops’ Conference expressed “grave concern” ahead of a debate on the bill, noting several articles in the bill that “call into question several fundamental freedoms,” including the right to secrecy under the seal of confession.Christians in Tyre face new wave of uncertaintyThe Christian community in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre is watching recent developments with growing concern after the area was included in an Israeli evacuation warning for the first time, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Thursday.Church leaders fear that any military escalation could have lasting consequences for one of Lebanon’s oldest Christian communities, which has already endured years of economic hardship and emigration. Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Georges Iskandar called for urgent efforts to protect civilians and preserve the city’s historic and religious character, warning that further instability could accelerate the decline of the local Christian presence.Victims of clergy abuse in Australia clash with diocese over memorialA group representing victim survivors of clergy abuse has announced its agreement with the Diocese of Ballarat in Australia to build a memorial for victims “null and void” after an alleged communication breakdown with the diocese.“Throughout the memorial process, we have sought to engage with Church representatives in a respectful, transparent, and constructive manner. We have acted in good faith and demonstrated a genuine willingness to work collaboratively towards memorials at both sites: St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Alipius Old Boys School,” the Ballarat and District Survivors Memorial Committee said in a June 6 Facebook post. “Regrettably, we do not believe the same level of transparency and good faith has been demonstrated by the Church during these negotiations.”British National Trust reopens 420-year-old Catholic lodgeLyveden, a three-story Tudor lodge in Northamptonshire, England, known for its Catholic symbolism, has been reopened following conservation work.“Weʼre very excited to open Lyveden Lodge after 18 months and welcome visitors back inside this remarkable building,” Matthew Glasgow, senior building surveyor, said in a BBC News report on Friday. “While further conservation work will be needed in the coming years, the completed repairs mean visitors can once again enjoy this extraordinary unfinished vision of Sir Thomas Tresham.” Conservationists conducted repairs to the lodge’s stonework, replaced timber, and restored its Elizabethan garden. Constructed in the 16th century by Sir Thomas Tresham, a practicing Catholic who faced persecution for refusing to attend Anglican church services during the late 1500s and early 1600s, Lyveden is built in the shape of a Greek cross and features references to Christian numerology, according to the National Trust’s website.Rebaptisms raise questions in Syria’s Maronite communityReports that several Maronites in the Latakia countryside of Syria joined Protestant groups and underwent “rebaptism” have sparked discussion within the local Church about the challenges facing parish life in the region.The situation came to light in the village of Ain Halaqim, where community members pointed to years of pastoral difficulties, including the absence of a resident priest and limited opportunities for ongoing catechesis, ACI MENA reported Friday. Rather than focusing solely on the individuals who left, many local voices are asking broader questions about how the Church can better accompany the faithful, especially in communities affected by economic struggles and migration.
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Irish bishops call for calm in Belfast following racially motivated civil unrest #Catholic Following its summer 2026 general meeting, the Irish Bishops’ Conference voiced its deep concern about the attack on human life and the wider violence and social disorder that has taken place in Belfast and across Northern Ireland this past week.The civil unrest followed a brutal knife attack in Belfast carried out by a Sudanese national. Footage of the incident has been widely circulated globally and on social media. Bishop Alan McGuckian, SJ, of Down and Connor said: “My thoughts and prayers are firstly with Stephen Ogilvie, who sustained life-changing devastating injuries in a brutal and horrific attack.”Referring to the rioting, intimidation, and vandalism toward immigrant people that followed, he said: “So many newcomers make an outstanding contribution to our communities, including our parishes. They are our friends. Shame on all those who have sought to mobilize, agitate, weaponize, and politicize the fear and concerns of others over the last few days. All of us have a responsibility to de-escalate societal tension rather than stoke the flames of racism.”Lebanese priest says ‘situation drastically deteriorating’ for ChristiansFather Youssef Semaan, parish priest of Kfour, Nabatieh District, in Lebanon, said the situation for Christians remaining in the country is continuing to worsen.“Every week is more dangerous than the last. The situation has become unbearable,” Semaan said, according to a press release from Aid to the Church in Need on Thursday. The priest, who was forced to leave Kfour due to safety reasons, said he has managed to return on two occasions. He said many Christians have been faced with the difficult decision to “stay and risk their lives or abandon our land without any guarantee that we will ever get our houses or our goods back.” In Kfour, the Christian population has dropped from 120 to around 12, ACN noted. “We still have hope,” Semaan said. “But hope itself is not enough. It has to be based on solid foundations that allow us to rebuild and go on living. We are human after all.”Zimbabwe bishops consecrate nation to Mary, a ‘model of courage’ in difficult timesMembers of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) have consecrated the Southern African nation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, entrusting the country to her maternal protection and presenting her as a model of faith, hope, courage, and love amid ongoing challenges.The consecration took place during a Mass marking the conclusion of the bishops’ 2026 plenary assembly at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Harare on June 10, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Thursday. In his homily, ZCBC president Bishop Raymond Tapiwa Mupandasekwa said the bishops identified Mary as a fitting patroness for Zimbabwe, saying: “The act of surrender to God is indeed an imitation of this Holy Virgin. She is the woman who not only shows her total surrender to God in faith, but she is also a woman of great hope. At the foot of the cross she stands. A great sign of courage in a very difficult moment.”Legislation threatening the seal of confession in France failsA provision in a bill proposed to the French National Assembly that would have compelled priests to violate the seal of confession to report instances of abuse against minors has failed.The bill, aimed at preventing and combating violence in schools in the wake of a sex abuse scandal at a Catholic boarding school in southern France, was adopted on June 1 without the proposed clause that would have removed exemptions for priests from mandatory reporting of information regarding sexual abuse heard during the sacrament of confession. The French Bishops’ Conference expressed “grave concern” ahead of a debate on the bill, noting several articles in the bill that “call into question several fundamental freedoms,” including the right to secrecy under the seal of confession.Christians in Tyre face new wave of uncertaintyThe Christian community in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre is watching recent developments with growing concern after the area was included in an Israeli evacuation warning for the first time, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Thursday.Church leaders fear that any military escalation could have lasting consequences for one of Lebanon’s oldest Christian communities, which has already endured years of economic hardship and emigration. Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Georges Iskandar called for urgent efforts to protect civilians and preserve the city’s historic and religious character, warning that further instability could accelerate the decline of the local Christian presence.Victims of clergy abuse in Australia clash with diocese over memorialA group representing victim survivors of clergy abuse has announced its agreement with the Diocese of Ballarat in Australia to build a memorial for victims “null and void” after an alleged communication breakdown with the diocese.“Throughout the memorial process, we have sought to engage with Church representatives in a respectful, transparent, and constructive manner. We have acted in good faith and demonstrated a genuine willingness to work collaboratively towards memorials at both sites: St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Alipius Old Boys School,” the Ballarat and District Survivors Memorial Committee said in a June 6 Facebook post. “Regrettably, we do not believe the same level of transparency and good faith has been demonstrated by the Church during these negotiations.”British National Trust reopens 420-year-old Catholic lodgeLyveden, a three-story Tudor lodge in Northamptonshire, England, known for its Catholic symbolism, has been reopened following conservation work.“Weʼre very excited to open Lyveden Lodge after 18 months and welcome visitors back inside this remarkable building,” Matthew Glasgow, senior building surveyor, said in a BBC News report on Friday. “While further conservation work will be needed in the coming years, the completed repairs mean visitors can once again enjoy this extraordinary unfinished vision of Sir Thomas Tresham.” Conservationists conducted repairs to the lodge’s stonework, replaced timber, and restored its Elizabethan garden. Constructed in the 16th century by Sir Thomas Tresham, a practicing Catholic who faced persecution for refusing to attend Anglican church services during the late 1500s and early 1600s, Lyveden is built in the shape of a Greek cross and features references to Christian numerology, according to the National Trust’s website.Rebaptisms raise questions in Syria’s Maronite communityReports that several Maronites in the Latakia countryside of Syria joined Protestant groups and underwent “rebaptism” have sparked discussion within the local Church about the challenges facing parish life in the region.The situation came to light in the village of Ain Halaqim, where community members pointed to years of pastoral difficulties, including the absence of a resident priest and limited opportunities for ongoing catechesis, ACI MENA reported Friday. Rather than focusing solely on the individuals who left, many local voices are asking broader questions about how the Church can better accompany the faithful, especially in communities affected by economic struggles and migration.

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Bishops in Northern Ireland call for peace, abuse victims in Australia clash with diocese, anti-Catholic legislation in France fails, Zimbabwe, and more in this week’s Catholic world news roundup.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 13 June 2026 – A reading from the First Book of Kings 19:19-21 Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you." Elijah answered, "Go back!  Have I done anything to you?" Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.From the Gospel according to Luke (2,41-51) Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.If we want the world to change, then first our hearts must change.  For this to happen, let us allow Our Lady to take us by the hand.  Let us gaze upon her Immaculate Heart in which God dwelt, “our tainted nature’s solitary boast”.  Mary is “full of grace” (v. 28), and thus free from sin.  In her, there is no trace of evil and hence, with her, God was able to begin a new story of salvation and peace.  There, in her, history took a turn.  God changed history by knocking at the door of Mary’s heart. (…) We turn to our Mother, reposing all our fears and pain in her heart and abandoning ourselves to her.  It means placing in that pure and undefiled heart, where God is mirrored, the inestimable goods of fraternity and peace, all that we have and are, so that she, the Mother whom the Lord has given us, may protect us and watch over us. (Pope Francis, Homily, 25 March 2022)

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A reading from the First Book of Kings
19:19-21

Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,
as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;
he was following the twelfth.
Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
"Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,
and I will follow you."
Elijah answered, "Go back! 
Have I done anything to you?"
Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,
and gave it to his people to eat.
Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

From the Gospel according to Luke
(2,41-51)

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

If we want the world to change, then first our hearts must change.  For this to happen, let us allow Our Lady to take us by the hand.  Let us gaze upon her Immaculate Heart in which God dwelt, “our tainted nature’s solitary boast”.  Mary is “full of grace” (v. 28), and thus free from sin.  In her, there is no trace of evil and hence, with her, God was able to begin a new story of salvation and peace.  There, in her, history took a turn.  God changed history by knocking at the door of Mary’s heart. (…)

We turn to our Mother, reposing all our fears and pain in her heart and abandoning ourselves to her.  It means placing in that pure and undefiled heart, where God is mirrored, the inestimable goods of fraternity and peace, all that we have and are, so that she, the Mother whom the Lord has given us, may protect us and watch over us. (Pope Francis, Homily, 25 March 2022)

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