The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee says the homes will include "affordable rents" to seniors at risk of homelessness.
The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida, is preparing to debut an intimate village of micro-homes priced for seniors at risk of homelessness.
The diocese's "Trinity Village," located just a few blocks from Pensacola Bay on the Florida Panhandle, will offer the "tiny homes" at "affordable rents to individuals experiencing housing insecurity."
The "target population" for the small parcel of homes is senior citizens, the diocese says, pointing out that the senior demographic is "one of the more vulnerable segments of the population" regarding housing costs.
Groundbreaking for the project took place in September 2024. The site of the village was previously a vacant lot; the parcel is located directly behind the diocesan pastoral center.
Pensacola-Tallahassee Bishop William Wack (center) poses with other leaders at the site of Trinity Village in Pensacola, Florida, in September 2024. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Construction of the homes took place throughout 2025. The roughly 300-square-foot houses include a sleeping area, kitchen, living room, dining room and a bathroom, as well as on-site laundry.
Houses in Trinity Village in Pensacola stand under construction in July 2025. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Deacon Ray Aguado, the executive director of the Trinity House project, told EWTN News that the Pensacola population has increased "significantly" in recent years, while housing stock has not kept pace.
"Rents in the area have increased and, in some cases, have more than doubled in the past 12-24 months," he said. "Many citizens, especially seniors, make sacrifices in order to cover their higher cost of housing."
"These sacrifices include foregoing health care, cutting back on buying healthy foods, or missing meals altogether," he noted.
"Trinity Village will offer these tiny homes at affordable rents to these seniors," he said. "Trinity Village will also offer case management and mentoring services to support residents in their personal growth and ensure they maintain sound physical and financial health."
Rent is expected to run $500 for the homes, with that price including utilities.
At the outset of the project, Pensacola-Tallahassee Bishop William Wack described the project as a "wonderful way for this community to come together" and support a vulnerable population.
"This is what we do as a Church. We don't just come together to pray, though that is an important part of what we do," he said. "We come together [also] to build up the kingdom, to serve our brothers and sisters."
Both war-torn countries will receive essential medications, and Ukraine will receive other needed items, including food and clothing.
In recent days, the new papal almoner, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, confirmed that Pope Leo XIV sent humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Ukraine, two countries suffering from war. The prelate, who is charged with overseeing the pope's charitable works, stated that "charity is the Gospel lived out."
"The Dicastery for the Service of Charity serves as the conduit for the pope's aid. In recent days, we dispatched a trailer to Ukraine containing medicines, food products, hygiene supplies, and clothing. We also sent 15,000 essential medicines to Lebanon," the Spanish archbishop stated in a message posted on X.
As reported by Vatican News, the shipment to Ukraine took place on April 25, the same day of the papal almoner's visit, and departed from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic basilica of Santa Sofia in Rome.
That shipment "marks the 150th truck to depart from our basilica," explained the church's rector, Father Marco Semehen, who highlighted the collaboration of the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Pharmaceutical Bank Foundation.
The shipments include several pallets of medicines, primarily antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, intended both for hospitals and for distribution among the local population through Ukrainian volunteer networks.
Semehen emphasized that the aid was gathered with particular consideration for the most vulnerable. "We have collected everything that could be useful, taking into account in particular the needs of the most fragile — the sick and the children," he explained, noting that "for them, donations consisted primarily of medicines, family care packages, hygiene supplies, thermal blankets, food, and a great deal of clothing of excellent quality."
The rector also highlighted the continuity of the pope's assistance to the Ukrainian people over time.
"For Ukraine, this continuity of aid arriving from the Vatican means a great deal," he affirmed, while noting that "with the prolongation of the war, we have observed a decline in attention toward the needs of the population."
'The Church is not merely theory or doctrine'
"The Church is not merely theory or doctrine; it is also practice: It is the Gospel lived out, a testimony of charity," he stated, adding that witnessing such generous participation "is a source of great joy." In this regard, he underscored that "charity is the fitting response of Christians in the face of the spread of hatred in the world."
The papal almoner also issued an appeal for peace: "The cry 'Peace, peace, peace!' must enter the minds and hearts of all. We still have a long way to go, and we need a true conversion."
The pope's assistance also extended to Lebanon. As reported by Vatican media this week, the Office of Papal Charities organized the humanitarian aid shipment to the country, sending 15,000 essential medicines, which will be distributed through the apostolic nunciature in Beirut.
The medications include antibiotics, diabetes and blood pressure medications, anti-inflammatories, multivitamin supplements, and other drugs for the most common acute and chronic conditions.
Marín highlighted the importance of cooperation in responding effectively to humanitarian emergencies. "Our dicastery is engaged in charitable work at the international level as well, operating through nunciatures and local churches," he explained, underscoring the need to build networks and raise awareness to shed light on "the terrible reality of war, the needs it creates, and how we can collaborate in concrete ways to help those who are suffering."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be beatified in St. Louis on Sept. 24.
The official schedule of events for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen has been announced by the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois.
"I am filled with deep gratitude and great joy as we announce the schedule of events surrounding the long-awaited Mass of beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen," Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria said in a press release. "This is a momentous occasion not only for our diocese but for the Church in the United States and throughout the world."
Events kick off on Sept. 20 with an anniversary Mass of Sheen's ordination at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Peoria.
From Sept. 23–24, events will be taking place in St. Louis. Vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis will take place on Sept. 23 followed by the beatification Mass at The Dome at America's Center on Sept. 24. Before the beatification Mass, the faithful will be able to take part in adoration and confession. After the Mass, a relic of Sheen will be available for veneration.
The website for the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation states that the choice for holding the beatification in St. Louis "was driven by the desire to include the largest number of people possible."
While the largest venue in Peoria would only hold 15,000 people, The Dome at America's Center — which hosted a papal visit from Pope John Paul II in 1999 — has a capacity of 100,000. St. Louis is also within a reasonable driving distance from Peoria, taking roughly two and a half hours.
Events will then head back to Peoria with Masses of thanksgiving, parish talks, and an award gala taking place on Sept. 25. The celebration concludes with a Byzantine-rite Mass of thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St. Mary on Sept. 26.
The faithful are also encouraged to take part in a nine-day novena beginning on Sept. 15.
Tylka explained that all of the events have been "thoughtfully planned as part of a pilgrimage to help us enter more deeply into the spiritual richness of this occasion and to encounter the Lord in a meaningful way."
He added: "The beatification Mass itself will be the central moment of this sacred time, but it is surrounded by opportunities for formation, fellowship, and prayer that we hope will touch hearts and inspire renewed faith. The events that follow the beatification Mass in Peoria, including Masses of Thanksgiving and presentations, will allow us to continue reflecting on the gift of Archbishop Sheen and how his witness calls us forward as missionary disciples."
"I am truly grateful for the many individuals and teams who have worked tirelessly to prepare for this moment, and I look forward with great anticipation to welcoming pilgrims from near and far," Tylka said. "My hope is that through this beatification, many will come to know more deeply the love of Jesus Christ, be renewed in their faith, and be inspired to live as joyful witnesses of the Gospel in their own lives."
"Callers thank me for just being willing to listen and empathize. I really feel good after those calls," Julie Abbott said.
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) has named Julie Abbott its 2026 volunteer of the year for her work as "a good and faithful servant."
Abbott has spent more than 15 years and nearly 5,000 hours answering the Relief & Hope emergency services hotline and accompanying callers, many of whom are at their lowest and most vulnerable points.
The Catholic Charities Maine hotline provides immediate support for individuals and families experiencing crises. Abbott helps with a number of challenges related to finances, mental health, job loss, car repairs, housing, hunger, or any other situation callers may find themselves in.
"When my years of home schooling my children ended, I searched for places where I could feel useful and talk freely about Jesus," Abbot said in a press release. "I often came home feeling depressed about the need around me and how little I was able to help."
"Callers thank me for just being willing to listen and empathize. I really feel good after those calls. And I appreciate working with people who put their faith into action every day at work," she said.
"Catholic Charities is such a nice, friendly, godly place to work. I don't feel I do enough to have earned this award. I am flabbergasted to have received it," she said.
The award also acknowledges Abbott's work in developing a large database of resources covering Maine's 16 counties. Due to its success, the state's 2-1-1 operators, who provide residents with local health and human services information, have even been known to call her for guidance on how to refer their own callers to the appropriate services.
"Julie Abbott's service to Catholic Charities Maine shows that sometimes, the quietest contributions can make the greatest impact," said Kerry Alys Robinson, CCUSA president and CEO.
"Julie's gift of presence and attention allow struggling neighbors to retain their dignity even in their most distressing and vulnerable moments. She is truly a good and faithful servant to those in need," Robinson said.
The award has been given annually since 1998 and is bestowed on an individual "who embodies the mission of CCUSA to provide critical services to those in need, advocate for justice in social structures, and call the entire Church and other people of goodwill to do the same," according to CCUSA.
More than 200,000 people volunteer at Catholic Charities agencies around the country each year, and agencies nominate their most deserving volunteers for the honor. Abbott was also a 2021 Volunteer of the Year finalist for her work.
Abbott will receive the award at CCUSA's 2026 annual gathering in Richmond, Virginia, later this year.
The five saints chosen for the international youth gathering reflect the event's spiritual themes of truth, love, and peace.
The Local Organizing Committee for World Youth Day Seoul 2027 has officially announced the patron saints who will spiritually accompany the next major international gathering of young Catholics, which will take place in the South Korean capital Aug. 3–8, 2027.
According to a statement from organizers, the five patron saints of WYD Seoul 2027 are St. John Paul II, founder of World Youth Day; St. Andrew Kim Taegon and his companion martyrs; St. Frances Xavier Cabrini; St. Josephine Bakhita; and St. Carlo Acutis.
St. John Paul II (1920–2005) is remembered for centering much of his pastoral teaching on young people, the family, and the defense of the dignity of human life. St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846), the first Korean Catholic priest, together with his companion martyrs, represents a powerful witness of faith and courage, sealed by martyrdom at a young age.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917) was a tireless missionary, known especially for her work on behalf of migrants and the poor. St. Josephine Bakhita (1869–1947), a former slave who became a religious sister, is a witness of hope, freedom, and faith transformed through suffering. St. Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), meanwhile, embodies the witness of holiness in the digital age and remains a model of evangelization for young people today.
As is customary for each World Youth Day, the patron saints are presented as models and guides of faith for young people through the witness of their lives and spirituality. For WYD Seoul 2027, the choices were made in light of the event's major spiritual themes: truth, love, and peace.
The selection process began at the end of 2024 and included a nationwide survey of young people, youth ministry leaders, and formators. Following that consultation, the Local Organizing Committee reviewed the candidates and made the final selection.
After the announcement, a group of young volunteers spent two months studying the lives and spirituality of the five patron saints. Through prayer, dialogue, and shared reflection, they prepared a special prayer and a representative symbol for each saint to express the particular witness they offer to new generations.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, emphasized the importance of the selection, saying the patron saints "play a fundamental role in the preparation of each World Youth Day." He said these models of holiness invite young people to reflect on God's call and encourage them to respond with generosity and courage in following Christ.
"May the witness of these patron saints inspire young people throughout the world, especially in contexts marked by difficulty and persecution," Farrell said.
Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung of Seoul, president of the Local Organizing Committee, noted that the chosen saints represent different continents and generations.
"Each one of them offers a concrete path for living the faith amid the realities that young people face today," Chung said, expressing his hope that participants will form a deep spiritual bond with the saints during the journey of preparation for WYD.
The Local Organizing Committee will continue presenting the lives and spirituality of the patron saints through the official WYD Seoul 2027 website and social media channels, while also developing new content and formation programs.
Along with the announcement, the committee also launched an interactive section titled "Meet Your Patron Saint!" Inspired by personality tests and digital quizzes, the feature asks young people a series of questions to help them discover which of the five saints most closely resembles their own personality. The goal is to help young people encounter the saints not only as historical figures but also as companions who can illuminate the questions and hopes of today.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
The April 25 March for Life in Mexico City was marked by a strong presence of young people, a generation that has vowed to not give up the fight in face of the majority of states legalizing abortion.
Chants of "Yes to life, no to abortion!", "Life is a victory!", and "We are the pro-life generation!" rang out this past weekend in the streets of downtown Mexico City, where young people turned out for the March for Life.
The event took place the day after the anniversary of the law passed on April 24, 2007, when the capital city's government legalized abortion on demand for up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
According to the Mexico City Secretariat of Public Health, nearly 300,000 abortions were performed in the country's capital between 2007 and 2025.
The 2007 decision paved the way for similar laws in other states, such that 24 out of 31 states across the country currently have loosened restrictions on abortion.
Participants hold signs at the March for Life in Mexico on April 25, 2026. | Credit: Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico
To demonstrate against these regulations, groups of friends, families, young people mobilized by parishes, and other participants began gathering early at the Monument to the Revolution. From there, the contingent set off toward the Mexico City Legislature in a march that, according to organizers, drew a crowd of more than 2,000 people.
Throughout the route, young people set the pace with drums, chants, and slogans. Many wore blue handkerchiefs and T-shirts bearing pro-life messages and held signs in defense of motherhood and the unborn.
A woman speaks at the March for Life in Mexico on April 25, 2026. | Credit: Pasos por la Vida
Among those in attendance was 22-year-old Macarena Muñoz, who told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that she came to demonstrate that there are still "pro-life young people here in Mexico and in all the states who want to see these laws changed, and who do not want abortion to be decriminalized."
She said it is important to show society that there are young people who understand that "to defend any other right such as women's rights, one must first defend the intrinsic value: the value of life."
Other states begin to permit abortion
Although the first decriminalization of abortion in Mexico took place in 2007 in the capital, the most significant gain for laws allowing abortion occurred during the six-year term of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which began in 2018, when the political party MORENA secured a majority in various state legislatures and pushed for laws allowing abortion in 12 states.
Subsequently, with the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum, also a MORENA party member, on Oct. 1, 2024, and backed by support from her party in the state legislatures, new laws permitting abortion were passed in Jalisco, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Mexico, Chiapas, Nayarit, Chihuahua, Campeche, Yucatán, and Tabasco states.
The march brought together people from various regions of the country. According to the organizers, participants came from at least 20 cities.
Participants walk in the March for Life in Mexico on April 25, 2026. | Credit: Pasos por la Vida
One of them was Regina Hinojosa, 24, who traveled from Puebla. Speaking with ACI Prensa, she lamented that during the time abortion has been legal in Mexico City and other states, "there hasn't been anything that could be positive for women."
She maintained that above any other agenda, Mexican women "deserve more laws in favor of their well-being and that of their babies."
Juan Pablo Perea, 21, a native of Michoacán, also participated. In an interview with ACI Prensa, he stated that he had traveled with the intention of reminding others that "it falls to us young people to fight for this because we are no longer merely the future of the country but its present; and if we do nothing at this time, no one else will."
Although he acknowledged that this is a "struggle that, regrettably, currently seems to be losing ground," he encouraged other young people to get involved, pointing out that "without life, there is no future."
Young people don't want these deadly laws
Some pro-life legislators also participated in the march, such as Juliana Rosario Hernández Quintanar of the National Action Party, a Querétaro state representative who has championed legislative initiatives such as declaring March 25 the "Day of Life."
Hernández told ACI Prensa that more laws are needed to protect vulnerable persons including the unborn and therefore called upon her colleagues not to give up, for "there is no better cause than fighting for life, because life is the future, life is hope, and today in Mexico, we have a great demand for life [to be protected]."
Furthermore, she expressed the view that Mexico bears a "great debt" in this regard, assuring that as politicians, "we are here to defend these causes, the ones that truly matter and the ones that will allow us to make a lasting difference."
Youth at the forefront
Another attendee was Rodrigo Baños, 20, who issued a call to other young people to participate with "attitude and determination" in the defense of human rights, particularly those of women and the unborn.
The young man also told ACI Prensa that, following the example of previous generations, "now it is our turn, this is our moment to go out and fight" for the right to life. He encouraged his contemporaries, reminding them: "We are young; we have nothing to lose. We must give it our all."
"Every life has a purpose, let [its heart] beat!" reads a banner at the March for Life in Mexico on April 25, 2026. | Credit: Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico
At the close of the event , a manifesto was read from the stage ending on the same note, with a message addressed to Mexican youth and to "those who sought to convince us to give up."
"We refuse; we are a generation that does not grow accustomed, that does not sell out, that does not remain silent, that does not surrender. We will not give up. We will not tire of defending the truth. We will not stop loving Mexico."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
The pontiff addressed "new problems" facing Catholic-Anglican dialogue in his meeting with Archbishop Sarah Mullally, the first woman to serve as spiritual head of the Anglican Communion.
Pope Leo XIV met with the archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, at the Vatican on Monday. Mullally's first official visit to Rome as the spiritual leader of the Church of England comes amid strained ecumenical relations and division among Anglicans.
Mullally's delegation for her April 25–28 visit included representatives from the Anglican Communion and the recently appointed Catholic archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth.
A more difficult path to full communion
In his address to Mullally and her delegation on April 27, Leo said ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion has recently become more challenging.
"While much progress has been made on some historically divisive issues, new problems have arisen in recent decades, rendering the pathway to full communion more difficult to discern," Leo said. "I know that the Anglican Communion is also facing many of these same questions at this time. Nevertheless, we must not allow these continuing challenges to prevent us from using every possible opportunity to proclaim Christ to the world together."
The pope added that it would be "a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear."
Beyond Catholic-Anglican dialogue, Mullally's election has further caused significant theological and ecumenical divides within the Anglican Communion, particularly regarding the ordination of women and sexuality.
Pope Leo has affirmed the Catholic Church's teaching on a male-only priesthood. In the Anglican Communion, notable splits have arisen over the ordination of Mullally as a female bishop, particularly among the Global Anglican Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON) and other conservative branches of Anglicanism. In March, GAFCON announced its break with the See of Canterbury.
Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally pray the Liturgy of the Hours together in the Urban VIII Chapel of the Apostolic Palace on April 27, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
After their meeting, the pope and the archbishop recited daytime prayer, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, together in the Chapel of Urban VIII in the Apostolic Palace.
In her address to the pontiff, Mullally thanked him for the opportunity to pray together and encouraged mutual hospitality despite differences.
"In our ecumenical journey, I believe the Holy Spirit is inviting us into a deeper practice of hospitality, not simply as welcome, but as a form of ministry," Mullally said. "As I begin this ministry, I hope to be a shepherd who loves and cares for the Church, who encourages hospitality despite our differences, who speaks prophetically into our present reality, and who proclaims Christian hope with the confidence that the Gospel of Jesus Christ remains good news for our world today."
Over the weekend, Mullally also visited the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Peter's Basilica. On Monday evening, she will preside over choral evensong at the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, during which she will commission Bishop Anthony Ball as the archbishop of Canterbury's official representative to the Holy See.
A new document issued by the Paraguayan Bishops' Conference describes how catechesis can go beyond imparting knowledge to becoming a means of personal transformation in Christ and living the faith.
With the aim of demonstrating how initiation into Christian life impacts the renewal of the Church, the Paraguayan Bishops' Conference presented the publication "Stories of Light: The Journey and Witness of Christian Initiation in Paraguay."
In the document, by the conference's National Coordination of Catechesis, catechesis is viewed not merely as a process of formation but as an experience that "transforms hearts and lives, leading to renewed commitment to the Gospel."
The document is addressed specifically to bishops, priests, catechists, and pastoral workers, and seeks to serve as a "source of inspiration and encouragement" to foster in them a greater appreciation of catechesis as a driving force for evangelization.
The publication notes that catechesis "is not merely intellectual knowledge but an experience of grace that transforms the heart and one's entire existence, making the believer a participant in Trinitarian life."
It also emphasizes the need to move beyond the prevailing view of catechesis as simply preparation for the sacraments, proposing a paradigm shift wherein it becomes a communal, missionary, and experiential undertaking. Within this framework, the document emphasizes that Christian initiation functions by "integrating the catechized person into the community," thereby fostering commitment to the family, society, and the Church.
The participation of families is important in catechesis; parents, godparents, and entire communities should become actively involved.
Among the document's most valuable contributions are the testimonies of young people, families, and catechists, who bear witness to the spiritual growth they experienced.
"My whole life changed and my family's as well. Now I feel fulfilled doing so much for others," said a participant who through this process found a new opportunity for life and service.
Formation should lead to the practice of the works of mercy. Accompanying suffering families means "touching the suffering body of Christ, integrating the social and spiritual dimensions into the catechetical process," the text points out.
Christian initiation, according to the document, "is a response to the cultural shifts and relativism affecting young people and families," promoting integration and fostering a faith that is both lived and shared.
Finally, the document proposes Christian initiation as a journey of pastoral renewal that fosters an "ecclesial renewal ... aimed at a new vocational impetus and a new missionary awakening of parish communities."
"Stories of Light" is thus presented as a pastoral tool that seeks to offer a model of a "Church that goes out," one centered on encounter with Christ, on the transformative dimension of catechesis, and on living out the faith in community.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, condemned violence, and Bishop David Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio said the issue of gun violence must be addressed.
U.S. bishops said violence is never the answer after a shooter breached the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C. and injured a Secret Service agent on April 25.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement, "We are grateful the lives of the President, those who protect him, and everyone in attendance last night were spared from serious harm. Let us all pray for our elected leaders and public officials that they may receive God's blessings. Because human life is a precious gift, there is no room for violence of any kind in our society."
Attendees heard gunshots shortly after the White House Correspondents' Dinner began at the Washington Hilton hotel. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several cabinet members were evacuated by federal agents. Trump said in a press conference at the White House following the shooting that a lone suspect was taken into police custody and one federal agent was hospitalized after being hit in his bulletproof vest.
Bishop David Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio said the issue of gun violence requires attention.
Bonnar said in a statement, "The United States is built on freedom and respect for all. There is no room for violence that endangers the life of any human being. Moreover, the issue of gun violence must be addressed. Violence is never the answer. We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down. We pray for peace in moments of disagreement and discord. As we celebrate our 250th birthday may we live as a nation under God with liberty and justice for all."
We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down.
Bishop David Bonnar
Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio
Since 2025, the United States has seen a marked escalation in political violence, including assassination attempts and lethal attacks linked to ideological extremism, threats against elected officials, and armed incidents surrounding political events.
High-profile political actor Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator, was assassinated in Utah in September 2025. In Minnesota, Rep. Melissa Hortman, the top Democratic leader of the state House of Representatives, was assassinated in her home in June 2025, and her husband was killed in the same attack. Hortman, who had served as Minnesota House speaker, was a Roman Catholic catechist.
Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, posted on X on April 26, "I'm grateful that the President and his entourage are unhurt after this latest attack. May I raise my voice against the viciousness and tribalism that are so prevalent on the internet and that contribute mightily to the violence we see in our political culture. Can we please remember that it is possible to disagree with a politician's ideas without demonizing and de-humanizing him? Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, and that includes our ideological opponents."
On World Vocations Day, EWTN News pays tribute to a woman called the "caregiver of vocations" in a place where Catholics are a minority.
MYMENSINGH, Bangladesh — In a country where Catholic vocations often emerge from modest rural communities, the quiet influence of lay Catholics can be decisive. For decades, Lobdine Chisim, a lay teacher and catechist from Mariamnagar Parish in Bangladesh's Diocese of Mymensingh, has been one such influence — helping shape a generation of priests and religious sisters through personal sacrifice, faithful accompaniment, and maternal care.
Chisim, 65, received the papal honor "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" in 2025 in recognition of her lifelong service to the Church. The award highlighted a vocation lived not in vows or ordination but in persistent support of Catholics discerning consecrated life.
Mariamnagar Parish, founded in 1937 by American Holy Cross missionaries, has produced at least eight priests and seven religious sisters over the years. According to clergy and religious from the parish, Chisim has played a role — both direct or indirect — in nearly all of those vocations.
Lobdine Chisim at her home in Mariamnagar Parish on April 24, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Lobdine Chisim
A member of the parish, Chisim teaches at the local Catholic school and serves as a catechist. Known for her fidelity to Church teaching and firm moral guidance, she has long accompanied young people considering the priesthood or religious life, often stepping into roles usually filled by parents or formal formation staff.
Though never officially assigned to a seminary or formation house, Chisim has acted quietly and become what local clergy call a "caregiver of vocations," introducing boys and girls to seminaries and religious congregations, helping them navigate formation, and supporting them materially when poverty threatened to derail their calling.
Chisim, the mother of one child, personally financed the seminary education of her younger brother — now Father Joseph Chisim. Beyond her family, she has continued to follow the progress of seminarians and candidates, remaining in contact with them through letters, visits, and phone calls, particularly during moments of doubt or crisis.
Father Sanchaya Ignatius Chisim (no relation to Lobdine Chisim), rector of St. Paul's Minor Seminary in Jalchatra, Tangail, credits the influence of the laywoman as decisive in his own discernment. Speaking to EWTN News, he said she first inspired him while teaching catechism classes during his school years.
"She encouraged me to enter the seminary and continued to guide me after I joined," he said. "She gave me advice and counseling, and many times helped me financially while I was a seminarian."
During vacations home from the seminary, Father Chisim recalled, she would regularly check on him. "She protected me like a mother and warned me against temptation. She played an important role in my becoming a priest, and I am grateful to her."
Religious sisters from Mariamnagar Parish offer similar testimony.
Sister Mary Hima of the Associates of Mary, Queen of Apostles, now headmistress of St. Lawrence School in Dhaka, said she first encountered Chisim as a child in catechism classes.
"She inspired us to become sisters even then," Hima told EWTN News. "When I later entered the formation house, she was very happy and continued to motivate me, saying that as a sister I would be able to serve very well."
Hima said Chisim's support did not end after first profession. During a difficult period in her early religious life, when she felt unable to confide in her community or family, she turned to Chisim for guidance.
"She gave me honest advice and counseling, which helped me continue my religious life with strength," Hima said, adding that she remains deeply grateful.
Beyond individual discernment, Chisim has become a respected figure throughout her village. She regularly leads evening prayers and is known for encouraging priests, sisters, and laypeople to live faithfully and ethically.
Lobdine Chisim speaks during a ceremony honoring her with the papal award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice on Jan. 11, 2025, in Mymensingh. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Lobdine Chisim
Speaking to EWTN News, Chisim said her motivation comes from a simple conviction about the life of the Church.
"Priests and sisters provide wonderful service. They keep the Church alive," she said. "That is why we need many of them."
She explained that she offers financial assistance only to those pursuing religious vocations, not for marriage. "Many families live below the poverty line," she said. "Some boys and girls lose enthusiasm because they cannot afford books, exam fees, or school costs. I help them as much as I can."
Although she does not consider herself wealthy, Chisim said she finds peace in supporting vocations. "I spend less on the world so that I can help them," she said.
Her role has even extended to assisting diocesan leadership. She recalled being asked by Bishop Ponen Paul Kubi, CSC, of Mymensingh to counsel seminarians struggling with hesitation shortly before ordination.
"I talk to them and encourage them to return to the seminary," she said. "Many have continued and are now serving the Church beautifully."
For those who know her, Chisim's life stands as a testimony to the often-unseen power of lay witness — a vocation of fidelity that, quietly and persistently, has helped sustain the Church in Bangladesh.
