News – United Yam

unitedyam July 5, 2026July 5, 2026

New TV series spotlights Church’s response to addiction crisis #Catholic –

On Saturday, July 11, Shalom World TV, a global Catholic network, will release “Unshackled,” a first-of-its-kind 12-episode TV series aimed at promoting hope and healing for people suffering from various addictions — and those who love and treat them — by showcasing stories of addiction and recovery through video-on-demand.

More than a year in production, “Unshackled” gives people with an addiction, addiction specialists, and spiritual leaders a platform to tell their stories. The series also highlights how the Catholic Church has stepped up to respond to the addiction crisis — and how the faithful can get involved. The show was taped last summer at the Shrine of St. Joseph in the Stirling neighborhood of Long Hill Township, N.J., in the Paterson Diocese.

The 12 episodes will be released on the streaming platform at https://shalomworld.org for viewers to watch as they wish. In September, the 30-minute episodes will begin airing individually on the TV network.

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Keaton Douglas, founder and executive director of the iTHIRST initiative, an acronym for “The Healing Initiative: Recovery, Spirituality and Twelve Steps,” hosted and helped develop the program. She founded iTHIRST in the Paterson Diocese of New Jersey.

iTHIRST equips the body of Christ — clergy, religious, and laity — to understand and minister to people who are addicted. It is a ministry of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity at the Shrine. People can be addicted to many things, including drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, sex, or electronic devices.

“‘Unshackled’ gives a global reach to stories that offer people who are addicted hope for healing in three critical ways: in mind, body — and also spiritual, which is the particular goal of iTHIRST,” said Douglas of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Sandyston, N.J. “The series shows that the Church has a role to play in the healing of people who are addicted — having unnatural compulsions that keep us from God, others, and ourselves. There are so many resources. We want people to be aware of them,” she said.

iTHIRST partners with Seton Hall University to offer this Spiritual Companionship training year-round through the school’s Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. More than 1,400 certified iTHIRST Spiritual Companions now minister in 13 nations, including seven African countries, where the program is bringing faith and recovery to traditionally under-resourced communities.

One guest on “Unshackled” is James Manieri of New Jersey, who climbed out of a 15-year drug addiction with treatment. Today, he is a nationally certified peer recovery specialist.

“I was rescued by prayer and determination. I’m grateful to be alive. Today, I have the opportunity to help rescue people who need to be rescued because I’ve been rescued,” Manieri said.

BeaconNJ.org will publish the dates and times when individual episodes of “Unshackled” will air in the fall of 2026 on the ShalomWorld TV network, as they become available.

– On Saturday, July 11, Shalom World TV, a global Catholic network, will release “Unshackled,” a first-of-its-kind 12-episode TV series aimed at promoting hope and healing for people suffering from various addictions — and those who love and treat them — by showcasing stories of addiction and recovery through video-on-demand. More than a year in production, “Unshackled” gives people with an addiction, addiction specialists, and spiritual leaders a platform to tell their stories. The series also highlights how the Catholic Church has stepped up to respond to the addiction crisis — and how the faithful can get involved. The show was

Full text: Letter of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America #Catholic – I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This semiquincentennial marks that defining moment in the history of the United States of America, July 4, 1776, that gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice and democratic self-government.
For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have worked together to carry these principles forward — through sacrifice, service, innovation and civic participation. This anniversary stands as an invitation not only to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey, but also to reflect upon the responsibilities that the sons and daughters of this country bear to one another, and to the generations who will inherit the nation that is being shaped today.
Among the most cherished of these principles is religious freedom — the right of every person to worship according to conscience and to practice their faith openly, without coercion or fear. In marking this anniversary, it is important to recognize that freedom of religion has long been central to the American promise, protecting both individual dignity and the peaceful coexistence of a diverse people.
This same freedom has permitted the Catholic Church to take root and flourish within the United States, to the advantage not only of her own members, but of the entire nation. As faithful sons and daughters of the Church, Catholics are called to imbue every dimension of their existence with the charity of Christ (cf. 2 Cor 5:14), living out the Gospel in the circumstances of daily life. Such a way of living has given rise to the many benefits that the Church has provided over the years to the development of this nation. In particular, I bring to mind her service in areas of education, the preferential care of the poor, healthcare and basic social services, to name a few.
In the Encyclical “Sapientiae Christianae,” my predecessor Pope Leo XIII wrote that “no better citizen is there… than the Christian who is mindful of his duty” (no. 7). In fact, faith — far from standing in opposition to the responsibilities of citizenship — lends new vigor to the pursuit of justice, peace and the common good, bringing to perfection every natural gift bestowed by the Creator. Saint Paul himself encouraged the early Christians to pray for those in positions of authority in order to live a peaceful life in accord with the will of God (cf. 1 Tim 2:2). In this regard, it is in the faithful fulfilment of duty — to God and country — that Catholics are called to continue to serve the nation, as leaven for the growth of a civilization of love (cf. Mt 13:33).
Also among the principles that have guided the development of this country is the God-given dignity of every human life, each person being endowed with an inherent worth that calls for reverence, protection and care. In this spirit, a full understanding of this dignity leads to recognizing the importance of safeguarding human life from its beginning at conception until natural death, and of building a society in which the vulnerable, the suffering and the forgotten are always met with compassion, solidarity and love.
Defending human life also includes welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants, whose hopes, sacrifices and contribution have formed part of the history of this country from its very beginning. In every generation, those who have arrived seeking freedom, opportunity and a place to belong have helped to shape the nation’s character. To receive them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person.
In my recent Encyclical Letter, “Magnifica Humanitas,” I wrote about working together for the common good. “Building a world in which everyone can flourish requires shared responsibility and courage. No one can single-handedly bear the weight of the challenges the world is facing” (no. 13). We need one another, and we need to work together in unity to confront the challenges that the world is facing today.
May this milestone renew the shared commitment to the promise of freedom, justice, opportunity and democracy. May Americans honor the courage and vision of those who came before them by strengthening their communities, respecting their differences and working together toward a more perfect union.
Congratulations on this extraordinary national anniversary. May the spirit of 1776 continue to inspire hope and unity as the United States of America moves into the future. In assuring all of you of my prayers in your renewed efforts to strengthen the nation in the principles that guided its Founding Fathers, I entrust you to the intercession of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of this country, that she will continue to watch over America and protect all who dwell therein.
From the Vatican, June 25, 2026

unitedyam July 4, 2026July 4, 2026

Full text: Letter of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America #Catholic –

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This semiquincentennial marks that defining moment in the history of the United States of America, July 4, 1776, that gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice and democratic self-government.

For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have worked together to carry these principles forward — through sacrifice, service, innovation and civic participation. This anniversary stands as an invitation not only to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey, but also to reflect upon the responsibilities that the sons and daughters of this country bear to one another, and to the generations who will inherit the nation that is being shaped today.

Among the most cherished of these principles is religious freedom — the right of every person to worship according to conscience and to practice their faith openly, without coercion or fear. In marking this anniversary, it is important to recognize that freedom of religion has long been central to the American promise, protecting both individual dignity and the peaceful coexistence of a diverse people.

This same freedom has permitted the Catholic Church to take root and flourish within the United States, to the advantage not only of her own members, but of the entire nation. As faithful sons and daughters of the Church, Catholics are called to imbue every dimension of their existence with the charity of Christ (cf. 2 Cor 5:14), living out the Gospel in the circumstances of daily life. Such a way of living has given rise to the many benefits that the Church has provided over the years to the development of this nation. In particular, I bring to mind her service in areas of education, the preferential care of the poor, healthcare and basic social services, to name a few.

In the Encyclical “Sapientiae Christianae,” my predecessor Pope Leo XIII wrote that “no better citizen is there… than the Christian who is mindful of his duty” (no. 7). In fact, faith — far from standing in opposition to the responsibilities of citizenship — lends new vigor to the pursuit of justice, peace and the common good, bringing to perfection every natural gift bestowed by the Creator. Saint Paul himself encouraged the early Christians to pray for those in positions of authority in order to live a peaceful life in accord with the will of God (cf. 1 Tim 2:2). In this regard, it is in the faithful fulfilment of duty — to God and country — that Catholics are called to continue to serve the nation, as leaven for the growth of a civilization of love (cf. Mt 13:33).

Also among the principles that have guided the development of this country is the God-given dignity of every human life, each person being endowed with an inherent worth that calls for reverence, protection and care. In this spirit, a full understanding of this dignity leads to recognizing the importance of safeguarding human life from its beginning at conception until natural death, and of building a society in which the vulnerable, the suffering and the forgotten are always met with compassion, solidarity and love.

Defending human life also includes welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants, whose hopes, sacrifices and contribution have formed part of the history of this country from its very beginning. In every generation, those who have arrived seeking freedom, opportunity and a place to belong have helped to shape the nation’s character. To receive them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person.

In my recent Encyclical Letter, “Magnifica Humanitas,” I wrote about working together for the common good. “Building a world in which everyone can flourish requires shared responsibility and courage. No one can single-handedly bear the weight of the challenges the world is facing” (no. 13). We need one another, and we need to work together in unity to confront the challenges that the world is facing today.

May this milestone renew the shared commitment to the promise of freedom, justice, opportunity and democracy. May Americans honor the courage and vision of those who came before them by strengthening their communities, respecting their differences and working together toward a more perfect union.

Congratulations on this extraordinary national anniversary. May the spirit of 1776 continue to inspire hope and unity as the United States of America moves into the future. In assuring all of you of my prayers in your renewed efforts to strengthen the nation in the principles that guided its Founding Fathers, I entrust you to the intercession of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of this country, that she will continue to watch over America and protect all who dwell therein.

From the Vatican, June 25, 2026

– I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This semiquincentennial marks that defining moment in the history of the United States of America, July 4, 1776, that gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice and democratic self-government. For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have worked together to carry these principles forward — through sacrifice, service, innovation and civic participation. This anniversary stands as an invitation not only to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey, but also

Full text: Pope Leo’s acceptance address for the 2026 Liberty Medal #Catholic – PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — The following is the address of Pope Leo XIV upon his acceptance of the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia as delivered over livestream from the Vatican on July 3, 2026:
Thank you very much. Dear friends,
I am honored to accept the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center in this year that marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On the eve of this momentous occasion, I offer a warm greeting to all those assembled at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
As a son of this great country, founded by courageous men and women who dreamed of liberty and of a better life for themselves and for their children, I join you in asking God’s blessings upon America’s future, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice and peace.
From our youth, most of us have admired the eloquence of those words, their resounding appeal to the law of nature and to nature’s God as the basis of their assertion that all men and women are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While couched in the language of the Enlightenment, that claim is ultimately grounded in an understanding of the human person inspired by the great biblical vision of man and woman being created in the divine image. It is indeed here that we discover the basis of human dignity; dignity which precedes the establishment of any state, and whose custody constitutes its very purpose.
In these past 250 years, for so many peoples throughout the world, it was the firm resolve to achieve the noble vision of the nation’s founders that made America a byword for freedom, as the country opened its doors to successive waves of immigrants, enabling them and their children to play their part in shaping the future of the nation. It was this same love of freedom that inspired the United States, in the darkest hours of the last century, at the time of the two world wars, to look beyond itself and, at great sacrifice, to champion the cause of freedom beyond its own borders.
As every American knows, however, the path to building a society that would embody those high ideals of liberty and justice for all was not always easy and, in many respects, is still a work in progress. Indeed, the effort to realize this vision is one that must be taken up anew in each generation and in the face of ever new challenges. Today, as we look to the future, this historic anniversary presents us with the opportunity to reflect once again on the nation’s founding principles in the hope that America will remain ever true to the dream that has earned it the title of “land of the free and home of the brave.”
First right enshrined by the nation’s founders was the right to life, for no one who is deprived of life can enjoy liberty or pursue happiness. A country’s vitality is deeply tied to the value it affords to human life in every form and condition, acknowledging the dignity endowed upon every human person by virtue of their very existence. The inherent worth of every human life has led the noble hearts of generations to praise the marvelous works of the Creator (cf. Ps 139:14) and stand in reverence before so precious a gift. Indeed, it is precisely this reverence that we must continue to cultivate — one that sways the hearts of individuals and inspires laws that recognize and safeguard the gift from the moment of conception to natural death. Reverence, too, will aid us in discovering that we are guardians and stewards of those entrusted to our care. In this regard, the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to support, protect and cherish the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable and those whose worth is questioned.
Following the right to life, liberty was and is preeminent among the principles revered by the men and women who have sought within this nation’s borders a new beginning, often equating it with previously undreamed-of hope. Though frequently understood as the ability to act as one would like, authentic freedom runs much deeper. It is founded upon the human person’s capacity to know the truth and adhere to what is good, even at great cost — a sacrifice well known to many who have labored to shape this country. The desire for truth and freedom, as well as the very pursuit of happiness, continues to inspire people of all generations to ask fundamental questions regarding the meaning of life, our ultimate purpose, and indeed about God. And it is proper for magnanimous hearts to endeavor to answer these questions with sincerity. These answers inevitably determine the direction which we seek to give to our lives, and America has long championed the religious freedom necessary to follow responsibly the dictates of conscience in this regard, free from fear and coercion, as enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
It is this freedom that holds sacred the inner sphere of the person, where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart. This same freedom also ensures the right of every person to worship according to one’s own belief, and of individuals, communities and associations to give public expression to their faith. In fact, religious freedom gave rise to the American tradition of allowing for interfaith dialogue and interreligious cooperation in promoting the public good and enriching the debates on the great moral and ethical issues that have faced the nation and shaped the course of its history. It is my hope that this tradition will continue to bear fruit in a public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the views of others, and an ongoing effort to find common ground in promoting the cause of peace and reconciliation, at home and abroad.
The forbearers of this country, men and women of diverse backgrounds, religions and languages, were able to find that common ground and the strength necessary to pursue a better future. The principles that inspired America’s founders, rooted as they are in the truth of the human person, brought them together in a single cause, a common dream. Unity lent strength to that dream, giving rise, under God, to the United States of America. “E pluribus unum” — “Out of many, one.” In order for a nation to flourish, it must be truly united; united not by goals bound to momentary endeavors, but by ideals that do not fade with the passing of time. May the principles we have reflected upon today — a shared human dignity, equality and the rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence — ever be a source of such unity and a guiding light for the present moment and for the years to come.
In accepting this award, I therefore pray that this, the 250th anniversary of the founding of this great nation, may be the occasion of a solemn recommitment to these ideals that have made America a country that values peace and prosperity, a country characterized by generosity and nobility of heart. I commend all of you, as well as the future of the nation, to the One who is himself the source of true freedom and lasting peace, the One whose very name is Peace.
May God bless America!

unitedyam July 4, 2026July 4, 2026

Full text: Pope Leo’s acceptance address for the 2026 Liberty Medal #Catholic –

PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — The following is the address of Pope Leo XIV upon his acceptance of the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia as delivered over livestream from the Vatican on July 3, 2026:

Thank you very much. Dear friends,

I am honored to accept the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center in this year that marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On the eve of this momentous occasion, I offer a warm greeting to all those assembled at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

As a son of this great country, founded by courageous men and women who dreamed of liberty and of a better life for themselves and for their children, I join you in asking God’s blessings upon America’s future, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice and peace.

From our youth, most of us have admired the eloquence of those words, their resounding appeal to the law of nature and to nature’s God as the basis of their assertion that all men and women are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While couched in the language of the Enlightenment, that claim is ultimately grounded in an understanding of the human person inspired by the great biblical vision of man and woman being created in the divine image. It is indeed here that we discover the basis of human dignity; dignity which precedes the establishment of any state, and whose custody constitutes its very purpose.

In these past 250 years, for so many peoples throughout the world, it was the firm resolve to achieve the noble vision of the nation’s founders that made America a byword for freedom, as the country opened its doors to successive waves of immigrants, enabling them and their children to play their part in shaping the future of the nation. It was this same love of freedom that inspired the United States, in the darkest hours of the last century, at the time of the two world wars, to look beyond itself and, at great sacrifice, to champion the cause of freedom beyond its own borders.

As every American knows, however, the path to building a society that would embody those high ideals of liberty and justice for all was not always easy and, in many respects, is still a work in progress. Indeed, the effort to realize this vision is one that must be taken up anew in each generation and in the face of ever new challenges. Today, as we look to the future, this historic anniversary presents us with the opportunity to reflect once again on the nation’s founding principles in the hope that America will remain ever true to the dream that has earned it the title of “land of the free and home of the brave.”

First right enshrined by the nation’s founders was the right to life, for no one who is deprived of life can enjoy liberty or pursue happiness. A country’s vitality is deeply tied to the value it affords to human life in every form and condition, acknowledging the dignity endowed upon every human person by virtue of their very existence. The inherent worth of every human life has led the noble hearts of generations to praise the marvelous works of the Creator (cf. Ps 139:14) and stand in reverence before so precious a gift. Indeed, it is precisely this reverence that we must continue to cultivate — one that sways the hearts of individuals and inspires laws that recognize and safeguard the gift from the moment of conception to natural death. Reverence, too, will aid us in discovering that we are guardians and stewards of those entrusted to our care. In this regard, the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to support, protect and cherish the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable and those whose worth is questioned.

Following the right to life, liberty was and is preeminent among the principles revered by the men and women who have sought within this nation’s borders a new beginning, often equating it with previously undreamed-of hope. Though frequently understood as the ability to act as one would like, authentic freedom runs much deeper. It is founded upon the human person’s capacity to know the truth and adhere to what is good, even at great cost — a sacrifice well known to many who have labored to shape this country. The desire for truth and freedom, as well as the very pursuit of happiness, continues to inspire people of all generations to ask fundamental questions regarding the meaning of life, our ultimate purpose, and indeed about God. And it is proper for magnanimous hearts to endeavor to answer these questions with sincerity. These answers inevitably determine the direction which we seek to give to our lives, and America has long championed the religious freedom necessary to follow responsibly the dictates of conscience in this regard, free from fear and coercion, as enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

It is this freedom that holds sacred the inner sphere of the person, where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart. This same freedom also ensures the right of every person to worship according to one’s own belief, and of individuals, communities and associations to give public expression to their faith. In fact, religious freedom gave rise to the American tradition of allowing for interfaith dialogue and interreligious cooperation in promoting the public good and enriching the debates on the great moral and ethical issues that have faced the nation and shaped the course of its history. It is my hope that this tradition will continue to bear fruit in a public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the views of others, and an ongoing effort to find common ground in promoting the cause of peace and reconciliation, at home and abroad.

The forbearers of this country, men and women of diverse backgrounds, religions and languages, were able to find that common ground and the strength necessary to pursue a better future. The principles that inspired America’s founders, rooted as they are in the truth of the human person, brought them together in a single cause, a common dream. Unity lent strength to that dream, giving rise, under God, to the United States of America. “E pluribus unum” — “Out of many, one.” In order for a nation to flourish, it must be truly united; united not by goals bound to momentary endeavors, but by ideals that do not fade with the passing of time. May the principles we have reflected upon today — a shared human dignity, equality and the rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence — ever be a source of such unity and a guiding light for the present moment and for the years to come.

In accepting this award, I therefore pray that this, the 250th anniversary of the founding of this great nation, may be the occasion of a solemn recommitment to these ideals that have made America a country that values peace and prosperity, a country characterized by generosity and nobility of heart. I commend all of you, as well as the future of the nation, to the One who is himself the source of true freedom and lasting peace, the One whose very name is Peace.

May God bless America!

– PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — The following is the address of Pope Leo XIV upon his acceptance of the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia as delivered over livestream from the Vatican on July 3, 2026: Thank you very much. Dear friends, I am honored to accept the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center in this year that marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On the eve of this momentous occasion, I offer a warm greeting to all

Pope Leo invites Americans to cultivate ‘moral greatness’ as he accepts Liberty Medal #Catholic – PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — Religious liberty “holds sacred the inner sphere of the person where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart,” said Pope Leo XIV, as he accepted a major civic award for upholding freedom of belief on the eve of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The first U.S.-born pope shared his thoughts — which centered religious liberty within a vision of God-given human dignity, and which called the nation back to shared founding ideals — during a July 3 acceptance address for the Liberty Medal, bestowed by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Established in 1988 to mark the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, and hosted by the center since 2006, the Liberty Medal honors both individuals and organizations “who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe.”
The July 3 ceremony took place at the center, a private nonprofit that promotes constitutional education and civic debate, with Pope Leo speaking via livestream from the Vatican. He received a standing ovation from attendees, among them numerous faith and civic leaders.
The medal itself had been presented to the pope in person at the Vatican on April 30 by Vince Stango, the center’s interim president and CEO, center officials and Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, who spoke at the Philadelphia event. Video of the April presentation aired at the July 3 ceremony immediately ahead of the pope’s live remarks.
Pope Leo is only the second religious leader to receive the Liberty Medal, preceded by 2015 recipient the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
“This honor is a fitting recognition of the Holy Father’s long-standing dedication to advancing liberty for all people throughout the world, particularly the gift of religious freedom,” said Archbishop Pérez during the event at the center.
Speaking to those at the ceremony, Pope Leo wore both the medal and his pectoral cross, with an exhibit version of the medal, blessed by the pope in April during the in-person presentation, displayed on the stage ahead of its installation in one of the center’s galleries.
Describing himself as “a son of this great country,” Pope Leo asked in his July 3 address that he joined them in asking “God’s blessings upon America’s future, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice and peace.
“From our youth, most of us have admired the eloquence of those words, their resounding appeal to the law of nature and to nature’s God as the basis of their assertion that all men and women are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the pope said.
Noting that while that phrasing was “couched in the language of the Enlightenment,” the claim “is ultimately grounded in an understanding of the human person inspired by the great biblical vision of man and woman being created in the divine image,” said Pope Leo.
Such God-given human dignity, he said, “precedes the establishment of any state, and whose custody constitutes its very purpose.”
“As every American knows, however, the path to building a society that would embody those high ideals of liberty and justice for all was not always easy and, in many respects, is still a work in progress,” he said. “Indeed, the effort to realize this vision is one that must be taken up anew in each generation and in the face of ever new challenges.”
The nation’s 250th anniversary, he continued, offers “the opportunity to reflect once again on the nation’s founding principles in the hope that America will remain ever true to the dream that has earned it the title of ‘land of the free and home of the brave.’”
The pope enumerated the rights “enshrined by the nation’s founders,” noting that the first was “the right to life” itself.
“A country’s vitality is deeply tied to the value it affords to human life in every form and condition, acknowledging the dignity endowed upon every human person by virtue of their very existence,” he said.
He stressed that “we must continue to cultivate” such “reverence” for life “from the moment of conception to natural death.”
Pope Leo noted that “the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to support, protect and cherish the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable and those whose worth is questioned.”
Along with the right to life, said the pope, “liberty was and is preeminent among the principles revered by the men and women who have sought within this nation’s borders a new beginning, often equating it with previously undreamed-of hope.”
He clarified that “authentic freedom runs much deeper” than “the ability to act as one would like.”
Rather, said Pope Leo, true liberty “is founded upon the human person’s capacity to know the truth and adhere to what is good, even at great cost — a sacrifice well known to many who have labored to shape this country.”
He observed that “America has long championed the religious freedom necessary to follow responsibly the dictates of conscience … free from fear and coercion.”
That freedom “holds sacred the inner sphere of the person where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart,” he said.
In addition, Pope Leo said, “this same freedom also ensures the right of every person to worship according to one’s own belief, and of individuals, communities and associations to give public expression to their faith.”
Religious freedom allows for “interfaith dialogue and interreligious cooperation” toward the “public good” while “enriching the debates on the great moral and ethical issues that have faced the nation and shaped the course of its history” — all part of “the American tradition,” Pope Leo said.
He added, “It is my hope that this tradition will continue to bear fruit in a public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the views of others, and an ongoing effort to find common ground in promoting the cause of peace and reconciliation, at home and abroad.”
America’s founders, “men and women of diverse backgrounds, religions and languages, were able to find that common ground and the strength necessary to pursue a better future,” said the pope. He said such principles, “rooted” in “the truth of the human person,” united the nation’s forebears “in a single cause, a common dream.”
“Unity lent strength to that dream, giving rise, under God, to the United States of America,” said Pope Leo.
He quoted the nation’s motto, “E pluribus unum,” Latin for “Out of many, one.”
The pope highlighted that a nation “must be truly united” in order to flourish — and that such unity cannot be found in “goals bound to momentary endeavors,” but instead “ideals that do not fade with the passing of time.”
“May the principles we have reflected upon today — a shared human dignity, equality and the rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence — ever be a source of such unity and a guiding light for the present moment and for the years to come,” Pope Leo said.
He prayed that the nation’s 250th anniversary would be “the occasion of a solemn recommitment to these ideals that have made America a country that values peace and prosperity, a country characterized by generosity and nobility of heart.”
Concluding his address, Pope Leo said, “I commend all of you, as well as the future of the nation, to the One who is himself the source of true freedom and lasting peace, the One whose very name is Peace. May God bless America!”
– – –
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.

unitedyam July 4, 2026July 5, 2026

Pope Leo invites Americans to cultivate ‘moral greatness’ as he accepts Liberty Medal #Catholic –

PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — Religious liberty “holds sacred the inner sphere of the person where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart,” said Pope Leo XIV, as he accepted a major civic award for upholding freedom of belief on the eve of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The first U.S.-born pope shared his thoughts — which centered religious liberty within a vision of God-given human dignity, and which called the nation back to shared founding ideals — during a July 3 acceptance address for the Liberty Medal, bestowed by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Established in 1988 to mark the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, and hosted by the center since 2006, the Liberty Medal honors both individuals and organizations “who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe.”

The July 3 ceremony took place at the center, a private nonprofit that promotes constitutional education and civic debate, with Pope Leo speaking via livestream from the Vatican. He received a standing ovation from attendees, among them numerous faith and civic leaders.

The medal itself had been presented to the pope in person at the Vatican on April 30 by Vince Stango, the center’s interim president and CEO, center officials and Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, who spoke at the Philadelphia event. Video of the April presentation aired at the July 3 ceremony immediately ahead of the pope’s live remarks.

Pope Leo is only the second religious leader to receive the Liberty Medal, preceded by 2015 recipient the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.

“This honor is a fitting recognition of the Holy Father’s long-standing dedication to advancing liberty for all people throughout the world, particularly the gift of religious freedom,” said Archbishop Pérez during the event at the center.

Speaking to those at the ceremony, Pope Leo wore both the medal and his pectoral cross, with an exhibit version of the medal, blessed by the pope in April during the in-person presentation, displayed on the stage ahead of its installation in one of the center’s galleries.

Describing himself as “a son of this great country,” Pope Leo asked in his July 3 address that he joined them in asking “God’s blessings upon America’s future, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice and peace.

“From our youth, most of us have admired the eloquence of those words, their resounding appeal to the law of nature and to nature’s God as the basis of their assertion that all men and women are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the pope said.

Noting that while that phrasing was “couched in the language of the Enlightenment,” the claim “is ultimately grounded in an understanding of the human person inspired by the great biblical vision of man and woman being created in the divine image,” said Pope Leo.

Such God-given human dignity, he said, “precedes the establishment of any state, and whose custody constitutes its very purpose.”

“As every American knows, however, the path to building a society that would embody those high ideals of liberty and justice for all was not always easy and, in many respects, is still a work in progress,” he said. “Indeed, the effort to realize this vision is one that must be taken up anew in each generation and in the face of ever new challenges.”

The nation’s 250th anniversary, he continued, offers “the opportunity to reflect once again on the nation’s founding principles in the hope that America will remain ever true to the dream that has earned it the title of ‘land of the free and home of the brave.’”

The pope enumerated the rights “enshrined by the nation’s founders,” noting that the first was “the right to life” itself.

“A country’s vitality is deeply tied to the value it affords to human life in every form and condition, acknowledging the dignity endowed upon every human person by virtue of their very existence,” he said.

He stressed that “we must continue to cultivate” such “reverence” for life “from the moment of conception to natural death.”

Pope Leo noted that “the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to support, protect and cherish the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable and those whose worth is questioned.”

Along with the right to life, said the pope, “liberty was and is preeminent among the principles revered by the men and women who have sought within this nation’s borders a new beginning, often equating it with previously undreamed-of hope.”

He clarified that “authentic freedom runs much deeper” than “the ability to act as one would like.”

Rather, said Pope Leo, true liberty “is founded upon the human person’s capacity to know the truth and adhere to what is good, even at great cost — a sacrifice well known to many who have labored to shape this country.”

He observed that “America has long championed the religious freedom necessary to follow responsibly the dictates of conscience … free from fear and coercion.”

That freedom “holds sacred the inner sphere of the person where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart,” he said.

In addition, Pope Leo said, “this same freedom also ensures the right of every person to worship according to one’s own belief, and of individuals, communities and associations to give public expression to their faith.”

Religious freedom allows for “interfaith dialogue and interreligious cooperation” toward the “public good” while “enriching the debates on the great moral and ethical issues that have faced the nation and shaped the course of its history” — all part of “the American tradition,” Pope Leo said.

He added, “It is my hope that this tradition will continue to bear fruit in a public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the views of others, and an ongoing effort to find common ground in promoting the cause of peace and reconciliation, at home and abroad.”

America’s founders, “men and women of diverse backgrounds, religions and languages, were able to find that common ground and the strength necessary to pursue a better future,” said the pope. He said such principles, “rooted” in “the truth of the human person,” united the nation’s forebears “in a single cause, a common dream.”

“Unity lent strength to that dream, giving rise, under God, to the United States of America,” said Pope Leo.

He quoted the nation’s motto, “E pluribus unum,” Latin for “Out of many, one.”

The pope highlighted that a nation “must be truly united” in order to flourish — and that such unity cannot be found in “goals bound to momentary endeavors,” but instead “ideals that do not fade with the passing of time.”

“May the principles we have reflected upon today — a shared human dignity, equality and the rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence — ever be a source of such unity and a guiding light for the present moment and for the years to come,” Pope Leo said.

He prayed that the nation’s 250th anniversary would be “the occasion of a solemn recommitment to these ideals that have made America a country that values peace and prosperity, a country characterized by generosity and nobility of heart.”

Concluding his address, Pope Leo said, “I commend all of you, as well as the future of the nation, to the One who is himself the source of true freedom and lasting peace, the One whose very name is Peace. May God bless America!”

– – –
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.

– PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — Religious liberty “holds sacred the inner sphere of the person where convictions are formed and where conscience can guide the decisions made in the intimacy of the human heart,” said Pope Leo XIV, as he accepted a major civic award for upholding freedom of belief on the eve of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The first U.S.-born pope shared his thoughts — which centered religious liberty within a vision of God-given human dignity, and which called the nation back to shared founding ideals — during a July 3 acceptance address for the Liberty Medal, bestowed by the

unitedyam July 3, 2026July 3, 2026

Friday, July 3Although the Moon is still bright, there’s a short window after darkness falls and before moonrise to sneak in some deep-sky viewing. Let’s get a jump on tomorrow’s celebration of U.S. Independence Day with a look at the Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) in Cygnus, which has reached an altitude of more than 40°Continue reading “The Sky This Week from July 3 to 10: Mars and Uranus meet”

The post The Sky This Week from July 3 to 10: Mars and Uranus meet appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam June 30, 2026June 30, 2026

The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has officially launched the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), a 10-year census of the southern sky that astronomers have anticipated for decades. The announcement came June 30, capping a months-long commissioning process that followed the facility’s handover from construction to operations last October. “It is amazing andContinue reading “Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins its Legacy Survey of Space and Time”

The post Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins its Legacy Survey of Space and Time appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam June 28, 2026June 28, 2026

Retired contractor helps renew Swartswood parish one church project at a time #Catholic –

One day in 2017, Father Abuchi F. Nwosu, then the new pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Parish in Swartswood, N.J., approached Thomas Rivara, a longtime parishioner, with an ambitious plan for the church. The priest said, “I want to change the altar around — totally.”

Father Nwosu wanted the project completed in two weeks, in time for Palm Sunday. Rivara told the pastor that he and his crew, along with other contractors he could call in, could complete the job. But he also said the timeline was “really pushing it.”

Rivara was pushed, perhaps, but he and his workers finished the altar in time for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. A retired building contractor, he has used his construction expertise on many parish projects over the years.

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“I just do it because I feel I have the ability and the talent to do it. If I can, I will. I am helping the Church,” said Rivara, also a part-time farmer at his family’s 114-year-old Rivara Farm in Newton, N.J. “I could not get up and give a sermon because I am not a speaker. But I like doing these things and enjoy seeing the results,” he said.

Rivara, 75, has been a member of OLMC for almost all his life; the church is located in Swartswood, between Hampton and Stillwater townships in New Jersey.

On Oct. 19, 2025, Rivara was one of many faithful of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., to receive the Vivere Christus Est Medal from Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney during a presentation at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. The diocesan award honors individuals, couples, or families from each parish for their service to the Church.

Some of Rivara’s other church projects as OLMC include replacing the ceiling in the church hall, renovating both the men’s and women’s bathrooms, repairing sidewalks, and replacing the rectory windows. He also added a kitchen, installed new flooring, jackhammered the old floor of the parish garage and replaced it, and cleared the property of snow as needed.

“It’s an honor that Father Abuchi calls me and has confidence in me to do these projects that help the church and its ongoing success,” Rivara said.

In addition to his construction talents, Rivara has also served as an usher at 7:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays for the past 30 years. His two grandchildren are altar servers at the same Mass. He also helps with the collection, ensuring that it is properly deposited.

Praising the award recipient, Father Nwosu said, “Thomas Rivara is a dedicated and faithful member of our parish whose quiet service and commitment have made a lasting impact on our community.”

“Thomas is known as the person who can always be counted on whenever repairs are needed around the parish, whether fixing gutters, doors, bathrooms, church pews, or addressing countless other maintenance needs that help keep our church in excellent condition,” Father Nwosu said. “He is a man of deep faith, devotion, and generosity. His love for the Church extends to his family,” the priest said.

– One day in 2017, Father Abuchi F. Nwosu, then the new pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Parish in Swartswood, N.J., approached Thomas Rivara, a longtime parishioner, with an ambitious plan for the church. The priest said, “I want to change the altar around — totally.” Father Nwosu wanted the project completed in two weeks, in time for Palm Sunday. Rivara told the pastor that he and his crew, along with other contractors he could call in, could complete the job. But he also said the timeline was “really pushing it.” Rivara was pushed, perhaps, but he and

unitedyam June 26, 2026June 26, 2026

In November 2025, Airbus grounded approximately 6,000 of its A320 family of aircraft after an international flight suddenly lost altitude, leading to an emergency landing and the hospitalization of 15 passengers. In 2003, during a local Belgian election, a candidate received over 4,000 extra votes on a computerized voting machine — more than was physicallyContinue reading “Our planet’s electronic vulnerability”

The post Our planet’s electronic vulnerability appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam June 24, 2026June 26, 2026

Bishop Sweeney, Communications Office of the Diocese of Paterson awarded by Catholic Media Association #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., once again earned top-tier awards for excellence as a social-media content creator for the third consecutive year and as a podcaster during the Catholic Media Association (CMA) Conference from June 16 to 19 in Atlantic City, N.J. The Communications Office also won other awards for Photographer of the Year and for a quality pro-life video.

The CMA recognizes and celebrates excellence in journalism, communications, and other forms of media.

During the annual national conference, Bishop Sweeney and the Communications Office won third place for Best Social Media Account — Bishop for his Instagram social media account. The award-winning digital content was produced in collaboration with Bishop Sweeney and Cecile Pagliarulo, the diocese’s digital media specialist, who posts the bishop’s messages, creates video reels, and graphics. CMA has recognized the bishop’s account three years in a row with this latest win.

The CMA judges wrote, “The consistency of Bishop Sweeney’s communication with his flock is impressive. His pages have regular, personal, and pastoral posts, engaging the faithful well.”

The bishop’s account can be found on Instagram here.

Bishop Sweeney also won an honorable mention in the Best Podcast category for his long-running podcast, “Beyond the Beacon.” He shares the honor with Jai Agnish, diocesan communications director, and Pagliarulo. In 2024, the bishop won Best Podcast on Social Justice Issues (second place) and Podcaster of the Year (third place) for “Beyond the Beacon.” The podcast features local Church stories, faith reflections, and discussions on national and global Catholic events.

To watch “Beyond the Beacon,” visit the bishop’s YouTube channel.

In other accolades, Joe Gigli, the Communication Department’s photographer since 2001, placed third in the Photographer of the Year category. He has been a consistent recipient of CMA awards across various photographic categories over his 25 years with the diocese. He also provides video content for diocesan social media and other digital platforms.

This is the first year Gigli was nominated for the prestigious Photographer of the Year honor.

In their assessment of Gigli’s work, the CMA judges praised many of the photos submitted for the award.

“Each photograph is strong enough to stand on its own: the peaceful face of a sister in prayer, full of quiet devotion; the sun shining through stained glass, casting jeweled colors across the quiet church, and onto a priest at prayer, as if toughed by something divine; the organist, partially hidden, filling the space with music; and the unfiltered joy of a little boy celebrating,” the judges wrote.

The judges concluded, “The photographer skillfully stirs emotion and draws the viewer into these sacred moments with beauty, reverence, and authenticity.”

In addition, Pagliarulo and Gigli earned an honorable mention in the Best Video: Pro-Life Activities, Diocesan and National News Organizations category for a video of Bishop Sweeney’s monthly prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood in Morristown, N.J.

To enjoy a comprehensive coverage of the Paterson Diocese, visit BeaconNJ.org.

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– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., once again earned top-tier awards for excellence as a social-media content creator for the third consecutive year and as a podcaster during the Catholic Media Association (CMA) Conference from June 16 to 19 in Atlantic City, N.J. The Communications Office also won other awards for Photographer of the Year and for a quality pro-life video. The CMA recognizes and celebrates excellence in journalism, communications, and other forms of media. During the annual national conference, Bishop Sweeney and the Communications Office won third place for Best Social Media Account — Bishop for

unitedyam June 24, 2026June 28, 2026

Faith over finance: Delbarton alum pursues fulfilling priestly vocation #Catholic –

Kevin McCarthy’s career at T. Rowe Price was soaring. Since joining in 2016, the young man had risen to vice president at the Baltimore, Md., office of the global investment management firm. At the time, the firm was managing $1.3 trillion in assets.

Despite his professional success, McCarthy felt his life lacked something essential — something spiritual. Previously, he had lived out his Catholic faith in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., as a parishioner of Holy Family in Florham Park and St. Lawrence the Martyr in Chester. McCarthy is also a 2004 graduate of Delbarton School in Morristown.

“I fell away from my Catholic faith. I wanted to discover what kind of man I was supposed to be. I needed to take Christian life seriously,” McCarthy, now 40, said of his time with T. Rowe Price.

So McCarthy began attending midday Masses during his lunch hours at the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which became his parish. He also structured his workday to attend Eucharistic adoration there and returned to confession.

It took years of discernment for McCarthy, now known as Deacon Kevin McCarthy of the Baltimore Archdiocese, to hear God gradually calling him away from his successful corporate career and toward a more spiritually gratifying life as a priest.

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On May 16, Archbishop William Lori of the Baltimore Archdiocese ordained Deacon McCarthy and 11 other men as transitional deacons in the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. It’s their last step before being ordained priests of the archdiocese next summer.

“My work at T. Rowe Price was intellectually stimulating and kept me busy. Although I was succeeding at my work, the parish is where I felt fulfilled,” Deacon McCarthy said. “During adoration at the basilica in Baltimore, the Lord showed me that I wanted to be close to Jesus. My desire to go to Mass and adoration grew,” he said.

Deacon McCarthy’s diaconal assignment is at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Libertytown, Md. He is a seminarian at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.

“Walking with people as a deacon in every stage of the spiritual life in their joy and in their grief stretches the mind and the heart in ways I never previously imagined possible,” Deacon McCarthy said. “It’s a privilege beyond description — and so is the life of the parish priest,” he said.

Deacon McCarthy’s spiritual journey started at Holy Family in Florham Park, where he received his sacraments and attended religious education. During his high school senior year, he moved with his parents, Kevin and Mary Ellen, and his younger brother, Tom, now married with children, to Chester, where he attended St. Lawrence.

For high school, Deacon McCarthy attended Delbarton School, a Catholic boys’ prep school run by Benedictine monks. He said his freshman Family Life class was enlightening, magnifying his appreciation of “the vast beauty of God’s creation.” He graduated Delbarton in 2004.

Deacon McCarthy fell away from the faith while attending Yale University in New Haven, Conn., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 2008.

After having worked in New York City, Deacon McCarthy moved to Baltimore in 2016. As vice president of T. Rowe Price, he worked with the senior sales leadership team to develop and execute sales and marketing strategies.

Before leaving T. Rowe Price, McCarthy had attended an archdiocesan vocations retreat, where he heard God urge him to apply to the seminary, which he did in 2020. His parents weren’t surprised because he would often talk about his activities at the basilica on their phone calls.

“It will be my privilege to lay down my life for the Lord and his people as a priest,” Deacon McCarthy said. “I look forward to being united with Jesus with the words of consecration at Mass and absolution in confession. This is beyond what any man can hope for on his own. I look forward to it with all my heart,” he said.

– Kevin McCarthy’s career at T. Rowe Price was soaring. Since joining in 2016, the young man had risen to vice president at the Baltimore, Md., office of the global investment management firm. At the time, the firm was managing $1.3 trillion in assets. Despite his professional success, McCarthy felt his life lacked something essential — something spiritual. Previously, he had lived out his Catholic faith in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., as a parishioner of Holy Family in Florham Park and St. Lawrence the Martyr in Chester. McCarthy is also a 2004 graduate of Delbarton School in Morristown. “I fell away

unitedyam June 24, 2026June 24, 2026

Most amateur astronomers live with light pollution. When a free schedule, the New Moon, and the ability to travel to a dark site align, you have a night to remember. But like finding a valuable old coin in your change, such nights are the exception, not the rule. However, there’s no need to consider the restContinue reading “Stargazing under city lights”

The post Stargazing under city lights appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam June 22, 2026June 22, 2026

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.

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“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

unitedyam June 18, 2026June 20, 2026

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

unitedyam June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

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.

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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]

– 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,

unitedyam June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

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.

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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.

unitedyam June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

The wait is almost over. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is just weeks, maybe even just days, away from officially beginning its landmark 10-year sky survey, according to officials at the 248th American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting in Pasadena this week. “A lot of people in the community are waiting for that moment for theContinue reading “Vera C. Rubin Observatory days away from launching decade-long sky survey”

The post Vera C. Rubin Observatory days away from launching decade-long sky survey appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

‘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 June 14, 2026June 14, 2026

‘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

unitedyam June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

Hardyston woman reflects on faith growth during Florence mission #Catholic –

This little piece of advice helped Amanda Montague evangelize the Gospel on a mission trip to Italy this March: Don’t tell anyone you’re a missionary.

In Florence, Italy, Montague, 21, of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Hardyston, N.J., took a subtle approach while spreading the Gospel — in such an unlikely location. She and fellow members of Chi Alpha, a non-denominational Christian college group, gently introduced Jesus into their witness talks to students at local middle schools, high schools and universities.

For Montague, it was a deeply personal mission, which gave her opportunities to speak specifically about her Catholic faith, which gave her the strength to recover from a serious injury that almost sidelined her trip. Back in December, a grief-stricken Montague called on her faith, praying for —and receiving — Jesus’s comfort after her mother, Marcey Lea, died unexpectedly at 51.

“I felt compelled to go on the mission trip to share my testimony. My mother’s death tested my Catholic faith, but it grew stronger. Jesus had my back the whole time,” said Montague, who joined Chi Alpha while a student at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. In May, she graduated there with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “In bad times, Jesus is close to the brokenhearted,” she said.

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Montague took advantage of subtle opportunities to bring up her Catholic faith. When students were divided into groups after the missionaries’ presentations, she asked whether they attended church or celebrated Easter. She also started a conversation when she noticed a young lady wearing a crucifix pendant.

Florence might seem an unusual spot for a Christian mission trip, not an impoverished part of the world in need of assistance, such as Haiti. But Montague said only 20 percent of Italians today are active Catholics.

“Italy needs a huge spiritual renewal. They need Jesus and the Gospel,” said Montague, a native of Wantage, N.J., who studied abroad in Florence last year.

Montague’s spiritual renewal took time. An only child, she received her sacraments at St. Jude’s but didn’t feel connected to her faith. That changed when she went to James Madison.

“I missed church — the community, rituals, and prayers,” said Montague, who joined Catholic Campus Ministry along with Chi Alpha. “I love the Catholic saints. We honor them as role models who pray for us. I love the rhythm of the Catholic Mass — singing songs of praise and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. Through the Church, I have a personal relationship with Christ,” she said.

That relationship grew stronger late last year after Montague drove from Virginia to Morristown to visit her mother, who had been hospitalized in a coma after suffering a heart attack.

While praying in the hospital chapel, Montague and a friend encountered an unknown woman. This woman sat down and prayed with them, held Montague as she sobbed, and proclaimed, “Everything is going to be OK.”

“The woman was an angel — a blessing from the Lord who gave me an extra week with my mother, even if it wasn’t what I wanted to happen,” said Montague, adding that her mother died of another heart attack.

Early this year, Montague raised the $2,500 needed for the trip from St. Jude’s parishioners during a weekend she petitioned them after Masses. Her plans almost ended after she shattered and dislocated her right knee in a skiing accident. Coordinators originally prohibited her from going, but later relented. She hobbled around Florence’s cobblestone streets on crutches.

This month, Montague is moving to South Carolina to start an internship with a non-profit that provides mental health support to military personnel at a military base. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in mental health counseling for veterans and military personnel, with a concentration in Christian counseling.

A few years ago, Montague impressed Father Michael Rodak, St. Jude’s pastor, when she launched a successful coat drive for the poor.

“Amanda has great ambition as a planner and evangelizer. I think that throughout her life, she will continue to lead projects that do good for other people,” Father Rodak said.

– This little piece of advice helped Amanda Montague evangelize the Gospel on a mission trip to Italy this March: Don’t tell anyone you’re a missionary. In Florence, Italy, Montague, 21, of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Hardyston, N.J., took a subtle approach while spreading the Gospel — in such an unlikely location. She and fellow members of Chi Alpha, a non-denominational Christian college group, gently introduced Jesus into their witness talks to students at local middle schools, high schools and universities. For Montague, it was a deeply personal mission, which gave her opportunities to speak specifically about her Catholic

unitedyam June 10, 2026June 14, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26 Years
Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, Paterson Diocese

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

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

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

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

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

unitedyam June 9, 2026June 9, 2026

NASA has ended its attempts to reconnect with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft and begun decommissioning the orbiter, closing the book on a mission that spent over a decade studying how Mars lost its atmosphere. At a June 3 media conference, NASA officials announced that an anomaly review board — which wasContinue reading “NASA fails to reestablish contact, decommissions MAVEN”

The post NASA fails to reestablish contact, decommissions MAVEN appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Why does one side of the Moon have a lot of craters, while the other side does not? Stephen LogesBrooksville, Florida When the first photos of the Moon’s farside were obtained, people usually expressed the difference between the back and the front in terms of “more craters on the back.” It might be better toContinue reading “Why does one side of the Moon have a lot of craters, while the other does not?”

The post Why does one side of the Moon have a lot of craters, while the other does not? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam June 7, 2026June 7, 2026

6 things to know about the Sacred Heart devotion #Catholic –

(OSV News) — As the U.S. bishop prepare to consecrate the United States to Jesus’ Sacred Heart June 11 during their spring meeting in Orlando, Florida, here are six things to know about devotion to the Sacred Heart.

1. The devotion has ancient roots. When the Roman soldier struck the crucified Jesus with his sword, blood and water flowed from his side. That blood and water have long been understood to symbolize an outpouring of God’s grace. Over the centuries, saints and theologians produced writings reflecting on the Sacred Heart, but it remained a personal devotion.

2. The devotion spread due to the visions of a young French nun. Beginning in 1673, Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Visitation order at Paray-le-Monial, France, experienced a series of visions of Jesus over the span of 18 months. In those visions, Jesus displayed his Sacred Heart as a symbol of his love, and he told her to work to universalize devotion to his heart. These visions are the basis for the First Friday devotions and the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus we have today. The image of the Sacred Heart as a wounded heart afire, encircled by a crown of thorns and surmounted by a cross, also came from those revelations. St. Margaret Mary was canonized in 1920.

3. The devotion is rooted in prayer, liturgy and acts of reparation. St. Margaret Mary said Jesus told her that despite loving mankind so much that he gave his life for them, he was being treated with irreverence, coldness and ingratitude. He wanted the world to recognize the love he continually poured out for them symbolized by his Sacred Heart and for mankind to make amends for their ingratitude. Jesus urged St. Margaret Mary to begin a personal devotion to his divine heart by receiving holy Communion every first Friday and spending an hour in prayer the night before, both focused on seeking his pardon and making prayerful reparations for mankind’s desertion of his love.

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4. The devotion includes 12 promises. Jesus shared with St. Margaret Mary 12 promises he pledged to those who developed and shared a devotion to his Sacred Heart. They are: I (Jesus) I will give them the graces necessary for their state of life; I will establish peace in their homes; I will comfort them in all their afflictions; I will be their strength in life and especially in death; I will bless their undertakings; sinners shall find in my heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy; tepid souls shall grow fervent; fervent souls shall quickly advance toward perfection; I will bless every place where an image of my heart is honored; I will give priests the gift of reaching even the most hardened hearts; those who promote this devotion will have their names written in my heart; those who receive Communion on nine consecutive First Fridays will receive the grace of final perseverance.”

5. Jesuits helped the devotion gain official approval. When St. Margaret Mary first attempted to explain the visions, many around her were skeptical. It was St. Claude de la Colombiere, her Jesuit spiritual adviser, who recognized her holiness, fervor and sincerity. However, even when she was believed, as a cloistered nun there was little she could do to foster her visions outside of her order. The devotion was also promoted by the non-Jesuit priest St. John Eudes, a former Oratorian who founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary and Sisters of Charity of the Refuge. Universal approval eventually came from the Vatican in August 1856 during the reign of Pope Pius IX. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII, encouraged by Catholics around the world, consecrated the human race to the Sacred Heart. The Jesuit order officially decreed in 1883 that its members had a particular role in promoting Jesus’ Sacred Heart, and in 1915, it linked this work to the Apostleship of Prayer, now known as the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which is entrusted to the order.

6. The annual feast of the Sacred Heart occurs in June. The solemnity of the Sacred Heart falls on the third Friday following the feast of Pentecost, this year June 12. In one vision, Jesus asked St. Margaret Mary to establish a Church feast day to honor his Sacred Heart. On that day, those faithful to Jesus would attend Mass, receive holy Communion, profess their love and offer reparations for the way he had been insulted by mankind. A solemnity is the highest ranking feast on the Church calendar. The Church also dedicates First Fridays and the month of June to the Sacred Heart.

This story draws from “How Jesus’ visits to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque spread love of his Sacred Heart” by D.D. Emmons and “How to conform to the love of Jesus with the Sacred Heart” by Leonard J. DeLorenzo.

– (OSV News) — As the U.S. bishop prepare to consecrate the United States to Jesus’ Sacred Heart June 11 during their spring meeting in Orlando, Florida, here are six things to know about devotion to the Sacred Heart. 1. The devotion has ancient roots. When the Roman soldier struck the crucified Jesus with his sword, blood and water flowed from his side. That blood and water have long been understood to symbolize an outpouring of God’s grace. Over the centuries, saints and theologians produced writings reflecting on the Sacred Heart, but it remained a personal devotion. 2. The devotion spread

unitedyam June 6, 2026June 6, 2026

Benedictine monk finds priestly inspiration within Paterson Diocese community #Catholic –

In his youth, Benedictine Brother Finnbar McEvoy prayed at Mass with the rest of the congregation for a much-needed increase in priestly and religious vocations. But as he prayed, the boy was actually thinking, “No, I’m not going to be a priest. I’m going to college and live a different life.”

As God would have it, Brother McEvoy, 34, graduated from college — several of them, in fact — on his way to a teaching career. But the path did not end there: this former member of Sussex County parishes of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., is now on track to be ordained as a Benedictine priest next year — a life he could not have imagined earlier.

BENEDICTINE BROTHER FINNBAR MCEVOY

Brother McEvoy, a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Penn., was ordained a transitional deacon — the last step before priesthood — on May 23 in the archabbey’s basilica. Seven men were ordained that morning, either as priests or transitional deacons. Brother McEvoy anticipates being ordained a priest at the archabbey on May 29, 2027.

“As a transitional deacon, I am configuring myself to Christ, the servant. I will do whatever he tells me to do — with alacrity, holding nothing back,” said Brother McEvoy, who has five siblings. “On my last stop before the priesthood, I am embracing the diaconal ministry. I am assisting the priests, including at Mass, and serving my brother Benedictines,” he said.

Brother McEvoy’s faith took root while he was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP) Parish in Branchville, N.J., and later St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Sandyston, N.J. Years after, his vocation blossomed, in part, with the Benedictine monastic community in Morristown, N.J., located within the Paterson Diocese.

In 1991, Brother McEvoy was born as Tim McEvoy in 1991 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to Doreen Anne Binns of Hardyston, N.J., and the late Timothy Patrick McEvoy. The Benedictine-to-be started his early years in New York before moving with his family to Lafayette, N.J. He first attended OLQP, where he received his First Holy Communion.

Later, Brother McEvoy became associated with St. Thomas through Tom Costello, a St. Thomas parishioner and teacher at High Point Regional High School in Wantage, N.J., where the future priest graduated in 2009. Brother McEvoy received his confirmation after completing the parish’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Then, Brother McEvoy went to The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in math and physics in 2013. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as the university council’s grand knight for a year. He is also belongs to Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma and received the President’s Award of Catholic University.

At Catholic University, Brother McEvoy was inspired to discern his vocation by several priests and other male friends, some of whom entered the seminary.

In 2015, Brother McEvoy earned a master’s degree in high school math education from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. From 2013 to 2017, he taught at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Fla. Then, from 2017 to 2019, he taught at Delbarton School, an all-boys Catholic college-prep school run by the Benedictines in Morristown.

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“I connected with the Benedictines because of their greater emphasis on common prayer, work, and community,” said Brother McEvoy, who lives with his fellow monks by the Rule of St. Benedict, which emphasizes mutual obedience, humility, and hospitality.

Brother McEvoy professed simple vows in 2021 as a monk of St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown. He assumed the religious name Brother Finnbar, inspired by a 6th-century Irish monk who founded the city of Cork and was a famous teacher, especially of monks.

In 2022, Brother McEvoy began studies at Saint Vincent Seminary, where he earned a master’s in Catholic philosophical studies, summa cum laude in 2023, the year his father died. After transferring his vows in 2024, he made solemn profession in 2025 as a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey.

Brother McEvoy’s appointments include assistant to the director of vocations and assistant to the prior, starting in 2024. He was named to the Archabbey Formation Committee in 2024. He has tutored Saint Vincent College students in physics and has assisted with retreats through College Campus Ministry and the Archabbey Vocations Office.

Brother McEvoy advises young men discerning a vocation to “talk to someone about it, particularly a priest. It will be a step in the right direction.”

PHOTO GALLERY

– In his youth, Benedictine Brother Finnbar McEvoy prayed at Mass with the rest of the congregation for a much-needed increase in priestly and religious vocations. But as he prayed, the boy was actually thinking, “No, I’m not going to be a priest. I’m going to college and live a different life.” As God would have it, Brother McEvoy, 34, graduated from college — several of them, in fact — on his way to a teaching career. But the path did not end there: this former member of Sussex County parishes of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., is now on track to

unitedyam June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

Beyond The Beacon podcast 113: Bishop Kevin Sweeney shares opportunities to grow in faith #Catholic –

Learn about some “opportunities” to grow in faith individually and through community in the Diocese of Paterson and beyond. Ways to get involved include the Corpus Christi Food Drive, Consecration to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, and priesthood ordination.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director/Beacon Editor Jai Agnish also discuss Pope Leo’s new encyclical on artificial intelligence, “Magnifica Humanitas,” and the upcoming U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops June plenary assembly in Orlando, Fla.

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.

– Learn about some “opportunities” to grow in faith individually and through community in the Diocese of Paterson and beyond. Ways to get involved include the Corpus Christi Food Drive, Consecration to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, and priesthood ordination. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director/Beacon Editor Jai Agnish also discuss Pope Leo’s new encyclical on artificial intelligence, “Magnifica Humanitas,” and the upcoming U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops June plenary assembly in Orlando, Fla. Listen to the episode here, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel. Click here to

unitedyam June 3, 2026June 5, 2026

8 new permanent deacons embark on ministry of service #Catholic –

On May 30, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained eight men of different backgrounds as permanent deacons to embrace lives of love and service to God’s people in the Paterson Diocese, N.J. The bishop urged these men to become instruments of unity in their new ministry to a Church and world in need of it, before ordaining them during a Mass at the Cathe¬dral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J.

During the Mass, steeped in traditions of the Church, Bishop Sweeney ordained Deacon Stephen Deehan of St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley of Washington Township, N.J., Deacon Paul DePinto of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park, N.J., Deacon Timothy P. Dunmyer of St. Jude Parish in Hopatcong, N.J., Deacon James Gillespie of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mountain Lakes, N.J., Deacon Tobi Ippolito of Holy Family Parish in Florham Park, N.J., Deacon Tom Kimble of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., Deacon Gregory Marchesi of St. Therese Parish in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., Deacon Elmer Lopez Maximo of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway, N.J.

In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the new deacons, “In our union with Christ, we have the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit to make unity a reality.”

“Holy Communion can build community. Act as a bridge of unity in the Church and for the Church. When you proclaim and preach the Gospel, you are helping hearers to find their way to heaven,” Bishop Sweeney told the deacons. “We must know God’s people as best we can. Listen to them in a synodal spirit. Be concerned for their lives,” he said.

A permanent deacon is an ordained minister in the Catholic Church. He belongs to the clergy but may also be married and have a secular job. Serving as a permanent member of the hierarchy — not on the way to priesthood — the deacon acts as a “servant” to the bishop and pastor. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, his ministry focuses on liturgy, the word, and charity.

Bishop Sweeney was the main celebrant and homilist for the Mass. He presided over the Rite of Ordination, which took place in the “mother church” of the Paterson Diocese. The concelebrants included the candidates’ pastors and priests from around the diocese.

At the Mass, deacons assisted, while many of the newly ordained deacons’ wives and family participated in the celebration as readers, gift bearers, and servers.

Bishop Sweeney thanked the men for devoting themselves especially in the past five years to prayer, study, and spiritual growth and formation. He recognized their dedication to preparing for their new ministry.

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He then reminded them, “Today, with the gift of ordination, you will begin a profound period of formation of the heart, where the needs of God’s people intersect with your knowledge, patience, generosity of spirit, and so much more,” Bishop Sweeney told the new deacons.

The deacons’ roles include proclaiming the Gospel, preparing and dispensing the Eucharist, and giving instruction in holy doctrine. Deacons also prepare for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and preside over baptisms, marriages, funerals, and public prayer. They carry out charitable acts in the name of the bishop and the pastor.

During the Rite of Ordination, Bishop Sweeney laid hands on each candidate’s head, signifying the conferral of the Holy Spirit and their commission of service. He later handed the Book of the Gospels to the new deacons, instructing them, “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

At the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked everyone who supported and formed the new deacons. He recognized their wives, families, parishes, the diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate, and Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, N.J. He also thanked all those who made the Mass possible.

Deacon Maximo called his ordination on May 30 “one of the most grace-filled and humbling days of my life. He added, “Now a deacon, I feel profoundly grateful and renewed in my desire to serve Christ and his people with humility, joy, holiness, and love.”

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

(Gallery 1 / 61 photos)

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

Gallery 2 / 62 photos)

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

– On May 30, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained eight men of different backgrounds as permanent deacons to embrace lives of love and service to God’s people in the Paterson Diocese, N.J. The bishop urged these men to become instruments of unity in their new ministry to a Church and world in need of it, before ordaining them during a Mass at the Cathe¬dral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. During the Mass, steeped in traditions of the Church, Bishop Sweeney ordained Deacon Stephen Deehan of St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley of Washington Township, N.J., Deacon Paul

unitedyam June 1, 2026June 1, 2026

Occasionally I see references in Astronomy to the speed of something as “supersonic.” I’m having trouble reconciling this term with velocities typically found among astronomical objects. Wouldn’t “relativistic” be closer to the truth? Anything close to sonic speeds in Earth’s atmosphere wouldn’t cover much distance in outer space. Peter IanchiouTucson, Arizona One would certainly thinkContinue reading “What does the term ‘supersonic’ mean in astronomy?”

The post What does the term ‘supersonic’ mean in astronomy? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

N.J. Catholic Conference, school leaders urge support for increased security funding as state reviews proposed budget #Catholic –

With the state’s proposed budget failing to increase much-needed funding to support nonpublic school security, Catholic school leaders and advocates across New Jersey are urging supporters to contact their legislators – particularly those serving on budget committees.
“Faith-based schools continue to operate in an environment where religious institutions are increasingly targeted by acts of hatred, extremism, and instability. Catholic schools cannot ignore that reality, and neither can the state,” said Bonnie Milecki, diocesan assistant superintendent for school development and operations.
“Security funding helps schools strengthen entrances, improve communication systems, coordinate with law enforcement, and prepare responsibly for emergencies,” said Milecki. “At its core, this is about ensuring that every child can learn in a safe environment grounded in faith, stability, and community.”
Earlier this year, Catholic education and diocesan leaders across the Garden State joined the New Jersey Catholic Conference to support increasing funding for nonpublic school security from 5 to 0 per pupil in the state’s next budget, which takes effect July 1. Funding was first awarded in 2016 as part of the Secure Schools for All Children Act and reflected the importance of supporting security at both public and nonpublic schools.
Milecki explained that the current push for increased funding comes amid incidents across the country that highlight the importance of schools enhancing security. “We have seen attacks and threats directed at Catholic schools, Jewish schools and mosques across the country, including recent incidents involving faith communities in places like San Diego,” she said. “New Jersey’s own threat assessments continue to identify faith-based institutions as potential targets.”
While N.J. Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s budget address referenced protecting schoolchildren, her proposed spending plan for the next fiscal year holds funding for nonpublic school security at 5 per pupil – the same level as the past four budget cycles. Past funding has been used largely to make infrastructure improvements like “target hardening.” The focus among schools now includes hiring security guards to protect facilities while students and staff are present.
“Catholic schools are facing the same security realities as every other school in New Jersey, but the costs of keeping students safe continue to rise while funding has remained largely flat,” said Milecki. “Schools are being asked to do more, with more sophisticated security expectations.”
With the proposed budget now in the hands of the State Legislature, advocates encourage Catholics and supporters of nonpublic education to contact their representatives in the State Senate and General Assembly. While legislators expect to hear from lobbyists and advocacy organizations, Milecki – who is also president of the New Jersey Council for American Private Education – emphasized that hearing from the families, educators and community members who they represent carry a lot of weight.
“Parents need to make sure that legislators know that they expect prioritization of the safety and security of their children in Catholic Schools – as they would expect it for any child, in any school,” she said. “For us, this is not political. It is about protecting children, supporting families, and ensuring that Catholic schools can remain safe places to learn, pray, and grow.”
“When constituents share why school safety matters to them personally, it reminds policymakers that these are not abstract budget lines,” she said. “These are real children, real schools and real communities. Catholic schools are deeply rooted in their local communities, and when those communities speak with a united voice, legislators listen.”
The New Jersey Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops, issued an Action Alert on the topic, and offers its Voter Voice System as a way to make it easier to contact one’s legislators.

unitedyam May 31, 2026May 31, 2026

N.J. Catholic Conference, school leaders urge support for increased security funding as state reviews proposed budget #Catholic –

With the state’s proposed budget failing to increase much-needed funding to support nonpublic school security, Catholic school leaders and advocates across New Jersey are urging supporters to contact their legislators – particularly those serving on budget committees.

“Faith-based schools continue to operate in an environment where religious institutions are increasingly targeted by acts of hatred, extremism, and instability. Catholic schools cannot ignore that reality, and neither can the state,” said Bonnie Milecki, diocesan assistant superintendent for school development and operations.

“Security funding helps schools strengthen entrances, improve communication systems, coordinate with law enforcement, and prepare responsibly for emergencies,” said Milecki. “At its core, this is about ensuring that every child can learn in a safe environment grounded in faith, stability, and community.”

Earlier this year, Catholic education and diocesan leaders across the Garden State joined the New Jersey Catholic Conference to support increasing funding for nonpublic school security from $205 to $260 per pupil in the state’s next budget, which takes effect July 1. Funding was first awarded in 2016 as part of the Secure Schools for All Children Act and reflected the importance of supporting security at both public and nonpublic schools.

Milecki explained that the current push for increased funding comes amid incidents across the country that highlight the importance of schools enhancing security. “We have seen attacks and threats directed at Catholic schools, Jewish schools and mosques across the country, including recent incidents involving faith communities in places like San Diego,” she said. “New Jersey’s own threat assessments continue to identify faith-based institutions as potential targets.”

While N.J. Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s budget address referenced protecting schoolchildren, her proposed spending plan for the next fiscal year holds funding for nonpublic school security at $205 per pupil – the same level as the past four budget cycles. Past funding has been used largely to make infrastructure improvements like “target hardening.” The focus among schools now includes hiring security guards to protect facilities while students and staff are present.

“Catholic schools are facing the same security realities as every other school in New Jersey, but the costs of keeping students safe continue to rise while funding has remained largely flat,” said Milecki. “Schools are being asked to do more, with more sophisticated security expectations.”

With the proposed budget now in the hands of the State Legislature, advocates encourage Catholics and supporters of nonpublic education to contact their representatives in the State Senate and General Assembly. While legislators expect to hear from lobbyists and advocacy organizations, Milecki – who is also president of the New Jersey Council for American Private Education – emphasized that hearing from the families, educators and community members who they represent carry a lot of weight.

“Parents need to make sure that legislators know that they expect prioritization of the safety and security of their children in Catholic Schools – as they would expect it for any child, in any school,” she said. “For us, this is not political. It is about protecting children, supporting families, and ensuring that Catholic schools can remain safe places to learn, pray, and grow.”

“When constituents share why school safety matters to them personally, it reminds policymakers that these are not abstract budget lines,” she said. “These are real children, real schools and real communities. Catholic schools are deeply rooted in their local communities, and when those communities speak with a united voice, legislators listen.”

The New Jersey Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops, issued an Action Alert on the topic, and offers its Voter Voice System as a way to make it easier to contact one’s legislators.

– With the state’s proposed budget failing to increase much-needed funding to support nonpublic school security, Catholic school leaders and advocates across New Jersey are urging supporters to contact their legislators – particularly those serving on budget committees. “Faith-based schools continue to operate in an environment where religious institutions are increasingly targeted by acts of hatred, extremism, and instability. Catholic schools cannot ignore that reality, and neither can the state,” said Bonnie Milecki, diocesan assistant superintendent for school development and operations. “Security funding helps schools strengthen entrances, improve communication systems, coordinate with law enforcement, and prepare responsibly for emergencies,” said Milecki.

NJ Catholic Conference among hosts of webinar on human trafficking ahead of World Cup matches in region #Catholic -

As the 2026 World Cup quickly approaches, and with host venues including MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands and in nearby Philadelphia, faith leaders are hosting a special webinar to draw attention to a serious issue that can emerge during large-scale events.
A free webinar, “Human Trafficking and Major Sporting Events,” will feature experts who will share their perspectives on the intersection between human trafficking and events like the World Cup. It is being hosted by the New Jersey Catholic Conference in partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, and will take place June 9 at 6:30 p.m.
“While these events are not in and of themselves responsible for the trafficking, by default these are the things that can come when you bring a big event like this to a certain area,” said James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference. “These are high-tourist events, there are lots of people coming in and out, and there is a lot of down time involved.”
Standing Up for Human Dignity
The fight against human trafficking is deeply entrenched in Catholic social teaching and is part of the work of the USCCB through its Anti-Trafficking Program and its Migration and Refugee Services initiative.
According to the USCCB, the anti-trafficking program “aims to educate on the scourge of human trafficking as an offense against the fundamental dignity of the human person, to advocate for its end, and to provide training and technical assistance to support survivors.” The organization estimates that some 17,000 vulnerable people are trafficked across American borders each year and subsequently forced into slavery.
“Many are fleeing terrible situations in their home countries and come to the United States to find a better life,” according to the USCCB. “Unfortunately, the nightmare often begins when they reach our shores.”
King reinforced the mandate for Catholics to get involved in the issue.
“Trafficking is a direct assault on the dignity of the human person, and the Catholic Church stands at the forefront of these issues that attack that dignity,” he said. “We all have a responsibility to ensure that the gift of life at any stage is not attacked, misused or objectified.”
Tools to Fight Trafficking
The virtual session will include expert insights into the issue of human trafficking and perspectives from law enforcement officials and legislators on current efforts to combat the issue. It will also offer practical ways for individuals and communities to recognize and prevent trafficking. Everyone from clergy and parish leaders to parishioners, and even those who are just interested in learning more, are encouraged to participate.
“We don’t want people to lose focus on the fact that this could possibly be taking place,” said King. “The more awareness we raise on this, the more attention we bring to it, increases the chances that we can stop, prevent or even help people who are the victims of this form of modern-day slavery.”
King was also part of efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking around large-scale events when New Jersey hosted the Super Bowl in 2014. At the time, the state legislature took up a package of bills to expand resources for victims and increase penalties for offenders.
“We want people to understand that this is still going on,” he said, noting that the issue can take the form of labor trafficking, as well as sex trafficking. “We want to bring attention to all of that, and to make sure people have the information to call the appropriate authorities to investigate.”
The webinar will also feature the SOAP Project – “Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution” – a nonprofit organization founded by an advocate and survivor who works to raise awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking and to prevent teens from being victimized. One of its key initiatives is the distribution of millions of bars of soap, hand labeled with a red band bearing the National Human Trafficking Hotline number, to motels to offer victims a discrete way to find out how to seek help.
King noted his hope that the webinar will help attendees learn more about what public officials are doing around the issue.
“Because both states [New Jersey and Pennsylvania] are hosting World Cup matches starting in June, and New Jersey will host the final match,” he said, “we want people to hear what their states have done, and are doing, to combat this issue.”
King also hopes attendees will come away with an understanding of who to call if they believe human trafficking is taking place. He added that organizers seek to eliminate possible hesitancy around reporting a suspicion out of fear that it might be unfounded.
“It’s better to say something and be wrong, than not to say something and it be a form of trafficking,” he said. “If you have a reasonable suspicion, it is better to say something.”
Those interested in joining the free webinar can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i_IKn_d5QBGJGCaRCGG8tg#/registration
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 May 30, 2026May 30, 2026

NJ Catholic Conference among hosts of webinar on human trafficking ahead of World Cup matches in region #Catholic –

As the 2026 World Cup quickly approaches, and with host venues including MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands and in nearby Philadelphia, faith leaders are hosting a special webinar to draw attention to a serious issue that can emerge during large-scale events.

A free webinar, “Human Trafficking and Major Sporting Events,” will feature experts who will share their perspectives on the intersection between human trafficking and events like the World Cup. It is being hosted by the New Jersey Catholic Conference in partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, and will take place June 9 at 6:30 p.m.

“While these events are not in and of themselves responsible for the trafficking, by default these are the things that can come when you bring a big event like this to a certain area,” said James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference. “These are high-tourist events, there are lots of people coming in and out, and there is a lot of down time involved.”

Standing Up for Human Dignity

The fight against human trafficking is deeply entrenched in Catholic social teaching and is part of the work of the USCCB through its Anti-Trafficking Program and its Migration and Refugee Services initiative.

According to the USCCB, the anti-trafficking program “aims to educate on the scourge of human trafficking as an offense against the fundamental dignity of the human person, to advocate for its end, and to provide training and technical assistance to support survivors.” The organization estimates that some 17,000 vulnerable people are trafficked across American borders each year and subsequently forced into slavery.

“Many are fleeing terrible situations in their home countries and come to the United States to find a better life,” according to the USCCB. “Unfortunately, the nightmare often begins when they reach our shores.”

King reinforced the mandate for Catholics to get involved in the issue.

“Trafficking is a direct assault on the dignity of the human person, and the Catholic Church stands at the forefront of these issues that attack that dignity,” he said. “We all have a responsibility to ensure that the gift of life at any stage is not attacked, misused or objectified.”

Tools to Fight Trafficking

The virtual session will include expert insights into the issue of human trafficking and perspectives from law enforcement officials and legislators on current efforts to combat the issue. It will also offer practical ways for individuals and communities to recognize and prevent trafficking. Everyone from clergy and parish leaders to parishioners, and even those who are just interested in learning more, are encouraged to participate.

“We don’t want people to lose focus on the fact that this could possibly be taking place,” said King. “The more awareness we raise on this, the more attention we bring to it, increases the chances that we can stop, prevent or even help people who are the victims of this form of modern-day slavery.”

King was also part of efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking around large-scale events when New Jersey hosted the Super Bowl in 2014. At the time, the state legislature took up a package of bills to expand resources for victims and increase penalties for offenders.

“We want people to understand that this is still going on,” he said, noting that the issue can take the form of labor trafficking, as well as sex trafficking. “We want to bring attention to all of that, and to make sure people have the information to call the appropriate authorities to investigate.”

The webinar will also feature the SOAP Project – “Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution” – a nonprofit organization founded by an advocate and survivor who works to raise awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking and to prevent teens from being victimized. One of its key initiatives is the distribution of millions of bars of soap, hand labeled with a red band bearing the National Human Trafficking Hotline number, to motels to offer victims a discrete way to find out how to seek help.

King noted his hope that the webinar will help attendees learn more about what public officials are doing around the issue.

“Because both states [New Jersey and Pennsylvania] are hosting World Cup matches starting in June, and New Jersey will host the final match,” he said, “we want people to hear what their states have done, and are doing, to combat this issue.”

King also hopes attendees will come away with an understanding of who to call if they believe human trafficking is taking place. He added that organizers seek to eliminate possible hesitancy around reporting a suspicion out of fear that it might be unfounded.

“It’s better to say something and be wrong, than not to say something and it be a form of trafficking,” he said. “If you have a reasonable suspicion, it is better to say something.”

Those interested in joining the free webinar can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i_IKn_d5QBGJGCaRCGG8tg#/registration

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/.

– As the 2026 World Cup quickly approaches, and with host venues including MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands and in nearby Philadelphia, faith leaders are hosting a special webinar to draw attention to a serious issue that can emerge during large-scale events. A free webinar, “Human Trafficking and Major Sporting Events,” will feature experts who will share their perspectives on the intersection between human trafficking and events like the World Cup. It is being hosted by the New Jersey Catholic Conference in partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, and will take place June

unitedyam May 29, 2026May 29, 2026

As winter’s brilliant stars slip toward the western horizon and the constellations of spring climb higher, Northern Hemisphere observers discover a quieter but richly rewarding sky. Spring is celebrated for its galaxies, yet our own Milky Way offers an equally compelling bounty of open and globular clusters. From youthful, loosely packed groups that still sparkleContinue reading “Observe spring’s star clusters”

The post Observe spring’s star clusters appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam May 28, 2026May 28, 2026

13 things to know about Pope Leo’s encyclical on AI #Catholic –

(OSV News) — What does it mean to safeguard our humanity? That question is at the heart of Pope Leo XIV’s much anticipated first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” released May 25. The following are some key things to know about this weighty papal letter.

1. Latin for “Magnificent Humanity,” the title is drawn from the opening words of the text as rendered in Latin, as is customary for papal encyclicals. Those words state, in its English translation, “Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.” Throughout the encyclical, Pope Leo points to “the grandeur of humanity,” with men and women created by God for relationship with him and each other, cooperating in God’s creative work and guided by the Holy Spirit.

2. The document is about 42,000 words long, including footnotes, making it roughly the size of a novella. It spans five chapters sandwiched between a robust introduction and conclusion. The first chapter traces the development of Catholic social doctrine, or social teaching, especially since “Rerum Novarum,” Pope Leo XIII’s seminal 1891 encyclical on the dignity of labor. The second chapter dives into the substance of Catholic social teaching. The third chapter explores the challenges artificial intelligence presents to humanity; the fourth chapter hones in on safeguarding truth, work and freedom; and the fifth chapter focuses on the implications of AI in warfare.

3. From education and jobs to private tech companies and families, “Magnifica Humanitas” is wide-ranging. It touches on the prospect of massive unemployment, the future of education, the protection of human freedom, excessive screen time for young people and technology addiction, data ownership, cryptocurrencies, economic disparities, environmental impacts, transhumanism and posthumanism, and cyberattacks and other forms of warfare. Pope Leo addresses the idea of “moral AI,” and argues that the basis for “alignment of AI with human values” requires “openly discussing the ethical frameworks involved and subjecting them to shared standards of social justice” in a conversation inclusive to all communities.

4. The document includes references to an array of influential thinkers. Beyond Pope Leo’s papal predecessors, the letter points to or quotes Dorothy Day, Maria Montessori, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., J.R.R. Tolkien, Plato, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the American humanist thinker Hannah Arendt, among others. And, of course, Pope Leo weaves in St. Augustine, the patron of Pope Leo’s Augustinian religious order and Pope Leo’s ever-present guide, particularly through the African bishop’s important fifth-century book, “The City of God.”

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5. It uses biblical imagery, imploring people to examine what humanity is building in “the construction site of our time.” The Tower of Babel and the City of God are contrasted throughout the encyclical to illustrate the two possible directions that the era of AI could take: a path of arrogance, artificial sense of self-sufficiency and chaos, or a path towards communion, relationship and God. Pope Leo underlines the critical need for developing a process for discernment to guide the development of AI. “The task of building today must place our relationship with God at its center,” Pope Leo writes.

6. Despite its challenges, AI is not to be inherently feared. “Technology should not be considered, in itself, as a force antagonistic to humanity,” he writes. “Over the centuries, technological development has significantly improved the living conditions of humanity. At the same time, each phase of progress has also revealed the ambiguity of tools that can cause harm when not oriented toward the good.” He speaks directly to AI developers, telling them that “technological innovation can represent human participation in the divine act of creation,” and therefore they “bear a particular ethical and spiritual responsibility, for every design choice reflects a vision of humanity.”

7. Taking time for discernment is critical in our path forward. The encyclical invites people of goodwill into “a shared discernment process for identifying the spiritual and cultural roots of ongoing transformations” as they relate to AI. “We are living through a rapid phase of transition, a ‘change of era,’ in which … most people are watching and waiting, observing from afar and merely hoping for the best,” Pope Leo writes. “For this very reason, crucial questions impose themselves on our conscience and can no longer be avoided: Where are we going? Toward what goal do we wish to orient ourselves? What direction should we choose as people and as a human community?”

8. It explains the principles of Catholic social teaching and why they are important in building a future where humanity flourishes. Pope Leo explains central tenets of Catholic social teaching — the dignity of the person, the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity and justice — as he makes the case for their use as guiding principles for AI. “The Social Doctrine of the Church is a legacy of wisdom, where we find principles for thought, criteria for discernment and judgment, and concrete guidelines for action,” Pope Leo writes. “Founded on Sacred Scripture and Tradition, and in engagement with the sciences, it helps us clearly interpret the challenges of the present and identify appropriate ways for living out a clear Christian witness, with joy and in service to the world. It is not an inert set of concepts, but a living corpus of truth that safeguards and interprets humanity’s vocation to a full and just life.” As AI has exponentially advanced and become part of daily life, people of goodwill must “face the challenges of our time with clarity of thought and responsibility,” he writes.

9. People cannot be reduced to machines, measured for their efficiency and valued for their “optimization.” Artificial intelligence “threatens to normalize an anti-human vision,” Pope Leo writes. “In that vision, the fullness of life is equated with having more, reducing weakness, eliminating uncertainty and exerting total control. When efficiency becomes the ultimate measure of value, human beings are tempted to see themselves as a project to be optimized rather than as persons called to relationship and communion.” Instead, “the quality of a civilization,” he writes, “is measured not by the power of its means, but by the care it is able to offer, by its ability to recognize the other as a face not merely as a function.”

10. Robust ethical consideration should be given to AI’s impact on war. Pope Leo is particularly concerned that AI, “detached from ethics and responsibility, will render decisions about life and death more rapid and impersonal, and will present the use of force as an immediate and viable option.” In calling for the principles of Catholic social teaching to serve as decision-making guidelines, he condemns “the spread of a culture of power characterized by polarization and violence.” Instead, he calls humanity to “the civilization of love,” which is “no naïve utopia, but a demanding project, which consists in translating charity into structures of justice, giving institutional form to fraternity, and regarding others — whether individuals or peoples — as allies necessary for building the common good.” He also gives criteria for using AI in war.

11. “Magnifica Humanitas” is actually all about relationship. Throughout the encyclical, Pope Leo points to humanity’s relationship to God and relationship to each other. In this area, he underscores action over passivity, and urges people to work toward “a willed and chosen solidarity.” He writes, “This is the guiding principle for technological processes: it is not enough for artificial intelligence to make us more efficient or connected; it must also serve to build a universal human family, with shared rights and duties, where digital proximity becomes a real opportunity for encounter and mutual care.”

12. Whatever the future holds, humanity’s meaning is rooted in Jesus Christ. The document’s conclusion includes a compelling reflection on the Incarnation through the “face of the Son of God, the grandeur of humanity that shines a light also on the era of AI.” “No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil. Even when machines excel in efficiency, a human face that asks to be gazed upon remains the center of our history,” Pope Leo writes. “This human face is the fullness toward which history is moving.”

13. The encyclical calls for personal conversion. The pope proposes for the Christian “a sober yet demanding program of Christian life with which we can navigate this epochal change in the light of the Gospel” centered on “contemplating God’s plan,” receiving the Eucharist, “building a world centered on the common good,” and praying in union with Mary. He encourages people to cultivate community and in-person relationships, educate young people to love wisdom, spend time with the poor and lonely, be a voice for justice, defend objective truth, and treat the digital world as “a new continent to be evangelized.” His final reflection centers on the “Magnificat,” Mary’s famous canticle glorifying God, recounted in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Pope Leo writes: “In the humble fidelity of daily life, even the era of AI can become a time in which the Holy Spirit brings about the civilization of love in our lives.”

Maria Wiering is managing editor of OSV News. Contributing to this story were OSV News’ Vatican Editor Courtney Mares and Digital Editor Megan Marley.

– (OSV News) — What does it mean to safeguard our humanity? That question is at the heart of Pope Leo XIV’s much anticipated first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” released May 25. The following are some key things to know about this weighty papal letter. 1. Latin for “Magnificent Humanity,” the title is drawn from the opening words of the text as rendered in Latin, as is customary for papal encyclicals. Those words state, in its English translation, “Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal

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Beyond The Beacon podcast 112 – More than a melody: The unstoppable spirit of Tony Melendez #Catholic –

Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month.

On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director/Beacon Editor Jai Agnish before taking the stage for a concert at Sacred Heart & Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J.

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

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– Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month. On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop

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‘Magnifica Humanitas’: Pope Leo’s AI encyclical warns of temptation to build future excluding God #Catholic –

VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV published his landmark encyclical on artificial intelligence “Magnifica Humanitas” May 25, comparing the attempt to build an AI future that excludes God to the “Tower of Babel” and underlining the need to safeguard human dignity as it is “threatened by new forms of dehumanization.”

“The risk of dehumanization — of building a future that excludes God and reduces the other to a means — is an ancient and ever-new temptation that today takes on a technical guise,” Pope Leo wrote in his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.”

“In the era of artificial intelligence, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human. We must lovingly safeguard the grandeur of humanity bestowed upon us and revealed in its fullness in Christ, the splendor of which no machine can ever replace,” he said.

AI misuse compared to ‘Tower of Babel’

Pope Leo opens the first encyclical of his pontificate by saying that humanity today faces a pivotal choice — “either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.” Using the Biblical Genesis narrative, the pope warns against the “‘Babel syndrome,’ namely the idolatry of profit that sacrifices the weak” and the pretense that everything, “including the mystery of the person,” can be translated into “data and performance.”

“Calling for prudence, rigorous evaluation and even, at times, a slower pace in adopting AI does not mean opposing progress; instead, it is an exercise of responsible care for the human family,” Pope Leo wrote.

From cryptocurrency to the ‘Lord of the Rings’

The lengthy papal document is divided into five chapters and touches on wide ranging issues related to AI, including the prospect of massive unemployment, the future of education, the protection of human freedom, excessive screen time for young people, cryptocurrencies, economic disparities, transhumanism, cyberattacks and the application of Catholic social teaching principles.

Pope Leo dedicated the final chapter of the encyclical to AI in warfare and the need for “rigorous ethical constraints” and proactive peacebuilding “to curb the technological arms race.”

The American pope points to Martin Luther King Jr., St. Teresa of Kolkata, Dorothy Day, St. Maximilian Kolbe and others as examples that “history can also change when individuals truly take the dignity of everyone seriously.”

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In “Magnifica Humanitas,” Latin for “Magnificent Humanity,” the pope calls on Christians not to be “passive spectators” or “mere commentators on what is crumbling,” but to take a proactive role in building the future by cultivating community and in-person relationships, educating young people to love wisdom, spending time with the poor and the lonely, being a voice for justice, defending objective truth, and treating the digital world as “a new continent to be evangelized.”

“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till,” the pope wrote, quoting J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” He added that it is “small and steadfast acts of fidelity that serve as a bulwark against dehumanization.”

‘Slowing things down when everything is accelerating’

In the encyclical, Pope Leo says that the idea of a “more moral AI” is not enough if that morality is only determined by a few.

“What is needed is a more active political involvement that is capable of slowing things down when everything is accelerating, and of protecting the opportunities for communities still to be able to participate and ask questions,” he said.

The pope argues that “we cannot consider AI to be morally neutral” and underlines that ethical discernment cannot be limited to “asking whether we are using a system for good or bad purposes,” but must also “examine how that system is designed and what vision of the human person and society is embedded in the data and models that guide it.”

Pope Leo added that data cannot be left solely in private hands and “should not be treated as something to be sold off or entrusted to a select few,” calling for appropriate regulation and creative thinking to “manage data as a common or shared good.”

Unemployment as a ‘grave evil’ and ‘social calamity’

Pope Leo addresses the looming specter of mass unemployment due to the adoption of AI, saying this would be “a true social calamity that especially requires the State to exercise responsibility.” He cites St. John Paul II’s 1981 encyclical on human work “Laborem Exercens,” noting that his predecessor recognized that unemployment is “a grave evil,” with Pope Leo adding that “exposing many to forced inactivity, a lack of responsibility and the absence of daily tasks and stimuli” could lead to “human and cultural impoverishment.”

“The pursuit of greater profits cannot justify choices that systematically sacrifice jobs, because the human person is an end, not a means, and the economic order must remain subordinate to human dignity and the common good,” Pope Leo said.

“Without bold decisions, the prospect of greater poverty and inequality looms large, which would leave many individuals marginalized, stranded and surrounded by the machines and automated systems that have replaced them,” he added.

God created humans for communion, not efficiency

Pope Leo writes that AI promises efficiency but the “new ways” of working are not necessarily better, describing how “contrary to the advertised benefits of AI, current approaches to technology can paradoxically de-skill workers, subject them to automated surveillance and relegate them to rigid and repetitive tasks.”

“When efficiency becomes the ultimate measure of value, human beings are tempted to see themselves as a project to be optimized rather than as persons called to relationship and communion,” Pope Leo said.

A defense of objective truth

Truth is a major theme in the encyclical by the Augustinian pope. He said that in the face of incessant flows of information, opinions, images and sophisticated algorithms that can influence decisions, it is imperative to “cultivate hearts that love the truth, prefer what is right despite the most appealing content and pursue wisdom rather than immediate results.”

“We must always keep before us the truth about God and humanity, just as Christ has revealed them to us. We must lay aside an individualistic and technical view of humanity,” he said.

Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he added, “Modern man is wrongly convinced that he is the sole author of himself, his life and society. This is a presumption that follows from being selfishly closed in upon himself.”

The pope underlined that “the search for truth is an essential element of democracy,” and that “indifference to the truth leads, slowly but surely, to a descent into totalitarianism.”

He said people must “promote an ecology of communication,” in which public policy establishes norms “so that the decision-making behind content selection and its development becomes more transparent and protects personal data.” On a cultural level, he called for “a strengthening of intermediary organizations, serious journalism and forums for debate,” for families and schools to gain formation in using digital tools, and for universities to strive for the “integration of knowledge.”

“Our first task is neither to demonize nor idolize technological tools, but to utilize them on the basis of a fundamental principle, namely that truth is a common good and not the property of those with power or influence,” he said.

Social control and the ‘digital attention economy’

Pope Leo called for “education in digital sobriety” due to subtle forms of addiction in today’s “digital attention economy,” in which digital platforms that are “designed to capture users’ time and attention” weaken “their inner freedom.”

He warned of the risk of “social control made possible by the massive collection of data and use of algorithmic systems.”

“When every action — movements, purchases, relationships and preferences — leaves a trace, a new form of power emerges, namely the power to profile, predict and influence behavior, often without individuals being fully aware of it,” he said. “If such kinds of data are used to make decisions affecting concrete opportunities — such as access to credit, employment or essential services — there is a risk of undermining freedom and discriminating against the most vulnerable.”

Pope Leo XIII and Catholic social doctrine

Pope Leo XIV places his writing on the age of artificial intelligence within the context of the magisterial tradition of Catholic social doctrine, also known as Catholic social teaching. The first chapter of the encyclical provides an overview of what each pope has contributed to the Church’s social magisterium from Pope Leo XIII to present, highlighting key ideas that are particularly relevant today. The second chapter provides definitions of key principles of Catholic social doctrine from the “common good” to “subsidiarity.” Pope Francis and St. John Paul II are both frequently quoted throughout the encyclical.

Pope Leo XIV signed “Magnifica Humanitas” on May 15, the 135th anniversary of “Rerum Novarum,” Pope Leo XIII’s foundational 1891 social encyclical on labor and capital written during the first Industrial Revolution.

“While new economic and technological networks can generate exclusion, isolation and dependencies, the Church — nourished by the Eucharist — is called to make visible a different paradigm, one that preserves human connections, gives a voice to the invisible and ensures that processes are aimed at respecting people’s dignity,” Pope Leo said.

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

– VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV published his landmark encyclical on artificial intelligence “Magnifica Humanitas” May 25, comparing the attempt to build an AI future that excludes God to the “Tower of Babel” and underlining the need to safeguard human dignity as it is “threatened by new forms of dehumanization.” “The risk of dehumanization — of building a future that excludes God and reduces the other to a means — is an ancient and ever-new temptation that today takes on a technical guise,” Pope Leo wrote in his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in

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