Catholic News

For nearly 30 years, José Ignacio and Claudia Celis built a marriage filled with joys, children, shared projects, and the difficulties inherent in life together. But about six years ago, an unexpected trial arose: Claudia was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at the age of 44.

Since then, José Ignacio has had to learn a new way of loving, one that is deeper and more self-sacrificing, reaffirming his vocation and his desire to reach heaven together with Claudia.

"I am a man eternally in love with his wife, a family man who, before being in love with his wife, is a child of God who has found answers to many questions along the way, precisely through suffering," he recounted in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

Claudia's illness has changed many things in their marriage, but, he affirmed, it has not changed the promise they made on their wedding day.

"Love is a decision. Love is not a feeling. Love is a decision, and you have to decide to love every day," he emphasized.

For him, their story is an opportunity to speak about the beauty of Catholic marriage and a promise that is not conditional on everything going well. It's the story of a husband who, amid exhaustion, pain, and uncertainty, strives to remain by the side of the woman with whom he chose to share his life.

'God blessed us with 30 years of a very happy marriage'

José Ignacio and Claudia, both Mexicans, met on a blind date on Aug. 31, 1997. When he saw her for the first time, José Ignacio said he remembers thinking, "Wow." Over time, they discovered that they shared many interests and, above all, that they enjoyed being together.

They were married on March 20, 1999, at St. Engracia Parish in the Archdiocese of Monterrey in Mexico. Claudia was 24 and José Ignacio was 28. They raised a family with three children: María José, Federico José, and Anaisabel, who are their pride and joy.

They currently live in Houston; they have a 6-month-old grandson and are expecting the arrival of two more grandchildren.

From the time they were dating and throughout their married life, they have lived out a steadfast faith.

"We went to Mass every day from the time we got married," said José Ignacio, noting that they were both aware their journey as a married couple was heading toward a destination far greater than themselves: heaven.

"God blessed us with 30 years of a very happy marriage though not without setbacks, like everyone else," he related.

At the wedding, the priest shared a thought with them that José Ignacio still remembers: "You entered as single individuals; you will leave forever united as one."

They looked at each other and understood that being one was not merely a nice expression.

"We truly are one," they thought.

As the years went by, children, responsibilities, and difficult times came with it.

"Obviously, there were unpleasant moments. But I don't remember them anymore, because I strive to always see her with love and for that love to grow," he said.

The diagnosis that changed their lives

Claudia was 44 years old when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's.

José Ignacio had already begun to notice some confusion, but he attributed it to fatigue. Moreover, the disease was not entirely unfamiliar to the family: Both her mother and her mother-in-law had suffered from it.

It was during a medical consultation that a neurologist noticed signs that led to further evaluations.

The diagnosis was devastating. Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that eventually leads to death.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' website, the disease "slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out even the simplest tasks." Furthermore, "people with Alzheimer's also experience changes in behavior and personality."

It is estimated that more than 6 million people living in the United States, many of whom are 65 or older, have Alzheimer's disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, early-onset Alzheimer's affects 41 out of every 100,000 people between the ages of 30 and 64.

The disease impacts many more people, such as the patient's family members and, above all, the person who takes on the role of caregiver, as is the case with José Ignacio.

Full-time care

Claudia's treatment began shortly after her diagnosis. There is no cure for the disease, but treatment helps slow its progression. Claudia receives infusion therapy at the hospital every two weeks, or sometimes even more frequently.

During the early years, the decline was not very noticeable. However, José Ignacio explained that over the last two years, the disease has become much more apparent, particularly regarding orientation and the performance of simple tasks.

Her memory, he explained, still holds onto many recollections. But other abilities have begun to fade, and with them, the family dynamic has changed as well.

José Ignacio left his job in the financial sector and now devotes himself full time to caring for Claudia.

'Marriage is about making your wife happy'

For José Ignacio, however, there is something that has not changed: the presence of God.

"When you have God in the midst, God dwells among Christian spouses and never leaves them," he maintained.

That is why he views marriage not merely as living together or as a feeling that lasts only as long as circumstances are favorable.

"Marriage is about making your wife happy, and your wife's role is to make you happy. You must dedicate yourself to your wife and choose to love her every day, because you have to nurture that love," he explained.

Illness made the meaning of a promise even clearer to him. "When you get married, you make a promise. It is a promise in sickness and in health, for all the days of my life," he added.

Adversity, he said, is not something couples usually imagine when they marry, yet it is part of life.

"Illness comes along. The last thing on your mind is illness, but the reality of marriage is that the very illness you vowed to face together does arrive. It will happen to one of you or the other, sooner or later."

'God does not send suffering'

José Ignacio rejects the idea that God is the one who sends suffering.

"God does not send suffering. Suffering happens because that is simply how life is. Quite the opposite: God is with you in your suffering; he doesn't like to see you suffer, he weeps with you, and he gives you or tries to give you the joy to move forward and he gives you the strength," he stated.

That conviction is what by his own account enables him to do things every day that he often feels he could not accomplish on his own. Bathing Claudia, dressing her, and assisting her with her daily activities have become part of his life.

"I couldn't take care of Claudia on my own; the pain is overwhelming. Yet God does it — it is not to my own credit. God takes care of Claudia."

There are even seemingly small moments that for him reflect the dignity with which he wishes to continue treating his wife: "I apply her makeup because she needs to leave the house with the dignity of a queen. And it is God who does that through me."

"I couldn't do it alone. Without God, I am nothing," he emphasized.

St. Joseph and a new way of caring

When the illness began, José Ignacio turned especially to St. Joseph.

"St. Joseph, help me care for Claudia. How would you care for the Virgin if she had Alzheimer's? [I want to do it] just like that, exactly the same way. Don't let me fail," he said he always prays.

St. Joseph thus became a model of a husband and caregiver: a man called to protect and serve without seeking the spotlight. Yet, José Ignacio admits it's far from easy.

"I don't want to lie to you by saying I don't get tired, or that I don't feel the urge to run, to just run away; that would be lying to you," he acknowledged.

Loving even when illness changes the other person

One of the most difficult aspects of Alzheimer's is the gradual loss of the reciprocity that characterizes married life.

"I know that perhaps due to the illness itself she sometimes cannot offer the reciprocity one expects, but I look for it in small gestures," he said.

For José Ignacio, love does not vanish when the other person is no longer able to respond in the same way. On the contrary, that is precisely when the marriage vow takes on a new meaning.

"Authentic love bears the mark of permanence, of spending oneself, wearing oneself down, and giving until you can give no more... yet as long as you live, you will be able to give," he maintained.

José Ignacio has also had to learn to take care of himself in order to be able care for his wife. His routine includes professional and spiritual guidance during the week as well as support from friends and family.

However, he points out that there is one priority above all others: "The first priority is the spiritual one. If you don't have it, if you don't hold fast to your spiritual life, to God, you can't do it. We are God's creatures. And without God, we are nothing."

A family also learning to live with Alzheimer's

Claudia's illness affects more than just José Ignacio; it has also changed the lives of their three children.

One of their daughters feels the pain of losing the chance to have her mother present in the way she had envisioned for her own family. Their son wonders if his mother will be able to attend important milestones, such as his graduation. And the youngest daughter has lost the mother with whom she could talk and share her worries.

The illness has taught them that the family, too, needs to stand by and support one another.

'Pain has taught me to try hard to be happy'

Among the things that move José Ignacio the most is the way he looks at Claudia now.

Illness has transformed her face and the way she relates to the world. He speaks of a kind of innocence he perceives in her.

And then he asks himself: "How could you not fall more in love with that every day?"

His answer lies not in denying the pain but in discovering that love can take on new forms. "Pain has taught me to try hard to be happy," he explained.

But he also does it for Claudia. When she sees him sad, he knows his sadness affects her as well. That is why he strives for joy.

José Ignacio often says he is "God's favorite." Not because his life is easy, but because, despite the suffering, he recognizes that he has received the strength to keep loving.

"Because I love her more every day," he said.

And in the most difficult moments, he said he feels they are not alone: "I know that God weeps with me, and sometimes I feel that St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary wipe away our tears."

A promise that lives on

José Ignacio knows that Claudia's Alzheimer's is progressing, but his focus is on something he considers even more important.

"I have to work to earn my place in heaven. She doesn't, but I do. So I say, 'My God, I am increasingly aware that my work here is to earn my place in heaven.' And at the same time, I want to be with her, walking that path."

With each passing day, José Ignacio chooses to love. He chooses to stay. He chooses to care. He chooses to start over. Because, for him, marriage is not about hoping the cross never comes, but rather discovering that when it does, the spouses don't have to shoulder the burden alone.

"It is very painful to walk that Way of the Cross, but what a joy it is to do so with God by your side."

And that is perhaps the lesson he wants to leave to other husbands: that love in marriage does not lose its beauty when dark days arrive. On the contrary, it reveals the depth of the promise made one day before God.

"Love is a decision," José Ignacio often says.

Those who wish to support José Ignacio and Claudia on this journey may do so through prayer and financial assistance. Having left his job to care for his wife, José Ignacio, along with his family, is facing the challenges brought about by the progression of Claudia's Alzheimer's disease.

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.

Full Article

The highly-anticipated beatification of Venerable Fulton Sheen will take place on Sept. 24 in St. Louis. As Catholics prepare for this historic day, EWTN is offering the faithful a plethora of Sheen-focused programming.

Throughout September, EWTN's television, streaming, news, and digital platforms are providing comprehensive coverage leading up to and following the beatification, on-the-ground reporting of events from both Peoria, Illinois, and St. Louis, and special coverage exploring the life and legacy of Sheen.

"Archbishop Fulton Sheen was one of the great evangelists of the 20th century and a pioneer in using the media to proclaim the Gospel," Michael P. Warsaw, chairman and CEO of EWTN, said in a statement.

"His beatification is a historic moment for the Church in the United States and a powerful reminder of the universal call to holiness. EWTN has always understood its mission as a service to the Church, and part of that service is bringing the great moments in the life of the Church to people wherever they may be," he added. "It is a privilege to bring this celebration to audiences across the United States and around the world."

From Sept. 15–23, EWTN will air nightly broadcasts of the nine-day novena of Holy Hours at 8 p.m. ET from the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois.

On Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. ET viewers can watch the anniversary Mass of Sheen's priestly ordination live from the Cathedral of St. Mary in Peoria. On Sept. 23, the solemn vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis will be broadcast live at 6 p.m. ET.

On the day of Sheen's beatification, Sept. 24, EWTN will have live, all-day coverage starting at 9 a.m. ET. The beatification Mass at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis will begin at 2 p.m. ET.

EWTN's live coverage of the beatification Mass will be hosted by Lila Rose, host of "The Lila Rose Show" podcast, which airs on EWTN+; Father Aquinas Guilbeau, OP, vice president of ministry and mission and university chaplain at The Catholic University of America; and Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTN News, who will provide historical context, commentary, analysis, and reaction throughout the celebration.

For EWTN, this day carries significance. Decades before the network was founded, Sheen exemplified the potential of using emerging media to evangelize through his radio broadcasts and television series, "Life Is Worth Living," which brought Catholic teaching into the homes of millions.

"Archbishop Sheen showed what was possible when someone with deep faith was willing to enter a new medium and use it boldly for Christ," said Peter Gagnon, president of EWTN Studios. "Mother Angelica admired Sheen and was inspired by his ability to use television to reach people with the truths of the Catholic faith. In many ways, he helped blaze the trail that she would later follow. It is especially meaningful for EWTN to celebrate his beatification and to introduce his extraordinary legacy to a new generation."

During the live event, EWTN News will also provide reporting before, during, and after the beatification across its television, print, and digital platforms, with feature stories, interviews, analysis, and more.

Mark Irons will serve as EWTN News' broadcast and digital correspondent reporting from St. Louis and Peoria, while Jonah McKeown will provide coverage from St. Louis for EWTNNews.com and the National Catholic Register.

Other EWTN News team members will be stationed in both cities to cover the celebrations, pilgrimages, liturgies, and local communities at the center of the historic events.

From Peoria on Sept. 25, the Mass of thanksgiving will be aired at noon ET, followed by the Divine Liturgy of thanksgiving on Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. ET.

Additional special coverage

In celebration of Sheen, EWTN has featured special programming highlighting Sheen's life, spirituality, ministry, and enduring influence, including: "The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen" (Seasons 1 and 2) running daily throughout September at 6:30 a.m. ET; "Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All" will air on Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. ET; and "A Matter of Faith — Mother's Day with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen" will be available on EWTN.com starting on Sept. 19.

Select "Life Is Worth Living" episodes can be watched online for a limited time at EWTN.com and on the EWTN YouTube Channel from Sept. 19–25.

EWTN Publishing will release "America's Apostle: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen," which is the official commemorative book of the beatification, on Sept. 15 on the EWTN Religious Catalogue.

The faithful can also download multimedia resources and a free eBook titled "In His Presence: Fulton Sheen on Our Time with the Lord," which is available here.

Full Article

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV remembered the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Sunday and renewed his appeal for peace amid conflicts and violence around the world.

Speaking in English after praying the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 13, the pope recalled the 25th anniversary of the attacks, which was observed two days earlier.

"Two days ago marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks in the United States of America. I renew my prayers for those who lost their lives and for those who continue to bear the wounds of that tragic day. At a time when conflict and violence afflict so many of our brothers and sisters, I invite everyone to pray that the Lord will bestow his gift of peace upon the world," he said.

Continuing in Italian, Leo said the memory of the tragedy should prompt a renewed commitment to peace, above all through prayer entrusted to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

The pope then greeted the Romans and pilgrims gathered in the square, including groups from Brazil and other countries, pilgrims who had traveled from Assisi along the Way of St. Francis, and motorcyclists gathered in support of peace and life.

Earlier, in his reflection before the Angelus, Leo focused on the Sunday Gospel and the Christian meaning of forgiveness, recalling that Christ taught forgiveness and bore witness to it even on the cross, when he prayed to the Father for his persecutors.

Reflecting on Peter's question to Jesus about how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, the pope noted that Peter's suggestion of seven times already indicated abundance, since the number seven symbolizes fullness in Scripture. Jesus, however, went further, telling him to forgive "70 times seven" — without limit or measure.

Leo then recalled the parable of the servant whose enormous debt was forgiven by his master but who refused to show the same mercy to a fellow servant who owed him far less.

"All things are given to us by God out of pure love, and none of us can claim to be perfect in responding to such goodness. For this reason, gratuitousness — which is the source of our existence — is also the best rule for our life together," the pope said.

"We experience this every day. Forgiveness is indispensable, and without it, we cannot live in peace."

Without forgiveness, Leo warned, conflicts, accusations, grudges and acts of vengeance eventually arise, destroying relationships, dividing families and unleashing wars.

"Only forgiveness sets us free and restores the light, even where human material and moral poverty has darkened the horizon and made the path uncertain. Forgiveness, like a gentle breeze, sweeps away even the thickest clouds until the sun shines once more," he said.

The pope also pointed to St. Peter's own experience of forgiveness after denying and abandoning Jesus during the Passion. When Peter encountered the risen Christ on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked him only whether he loved him and once again called him to follow.

Leo said that forgiving and healing love confirmed Peter in his mission as the first of the apostles.

Concluding his reflection, the pope asked the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, to help Christians forgive even when taking the first step is difficult, and to spread the healing light of a love that overcomes hatred and disarms resentment.

This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article

The General Chapter of the Clerical Branch of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) is embracing the traditional practice of ember days as a spiritual means of fostering and growing vocations.

Ember days — the Christian periods of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving — take place for three days over the four seasons each year. The next ember days will be Sept. 16, 18, and 19.

"The Church, although it doesn't require it, still encourages it," Father Dave Brokke, SOLT priest and vocations director, told EWTN News.

"Even in terms of the [United States Conference of Catholic Bishops] document on fasting," he explained. "It encourages people to do the ember days, and you can find different canons about it still today."

The document clarifies that "Vigils and Ember Days, as most now know, no longer oblige to fast and abstinence."

"However, the liturgical renewal and the deeper appreciation of the joy of the holy days of the Christian year will, we hope, result in a renewed appreciation as to why our forefathers spoke of 'a fast before a feast,'" the bishops wrote.

While the prayer is not required, the SOLT chapter voted on the addition of ember days to create a more intentional way of asking God for vocations. It passed in 2023 and over the past three years, the community has seen almost as many men enter into formation as it had in the previous 10 years.

Ember days

The phrase "ember days" is an alteration of the Latin phrase "quatuor tempora," meaning "four seasons." Ember days are documented as being celebrated as early as the fifth century and are among the oldest traditions of the Church's liturgical calendar.

Their original purpose was to thank God for the gifts of nature, notably the crops used to make bread and wine for the Eucharist.

"Jesus said: 'Ask the master of the harvest to send laborers into the vineyard.'"

"With the master of the harvest, there's this understanding that we have the need to ask Our Lord for help in providing the grain and the wheat and the grapes," Brokke said.

In total, there are 12 ember days throughout the liturgical year.

"From an early time in the Church," it was established that the ember days "would be a Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday."

The "penitential days" were "Wednesday, because that was the day that Judas betrayed Jesus, Friday because of the Passion, and then Saturday because Our Lord was in the tomb."

"The way that I remember it is 'Lenty, Penty, Crucy, and Lucy,'" Brokke said.

"Lenty" is to indicate the full Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of ember days that follow Ash Wednesday in the springtime, and "Penty" is the ember days after Pentecost in summer. The "Crucy" ember days then follow the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in fall, and "Lucy" is for the days after the memorial of St. Lucy in winter.

"They correspond to the time of both the sowing of the seeds and the reaping of the harvest of the wheat and the grape. So even then it is connected to the elements that is used for the Eucharist," he said.

The Church would "fast and pray not only for a good harvest but also for vocations, for laborers in the vineyard to the priesthood, and they would often ordain men on the Saturdays of ember days," Brokke said.

SOLT witnesses 'lots of good fruit'

Brokke and the General Chapter of the Clerical Branch of the SOLT began looking into embers days as a way of "community fasting and praying for vocations," Brokke said.

"We do have a prayer that we say every day for vocations," which "started from the very foundation of our community," Brokke said.

SOLT is "a community of priests, brothers, sisters, and members who work together to show the relationship of Our Lady with the most Holy Trinity," Brokke said.

The community reflects how "the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct, but not separate. They're united."

"Similarly, the vocations are distinct, but they're not separate. So we strive to live with a united will of charity and our service to areas of deep need," Brokke said.

"We go where a bishop has identified his deepest need and serve as missionaries in the world, trying to bring that communion of the Most Holy Trinity in imitation of Our Lady, who leads us into those relationships because she was mother of the Son and daughter of the Father, spouse of the spirit."

For more vocations, SOLT wanted to add another act "specifically geared towards vocations," in addition to its daily prayer.

"I mentioned the ember days," which would "dedicate at least 12 days a year to fasting and praying and to be more intentional with it," he said. "When we started discussing it, we didn't focus so much on the agricultural aspect but the vocational aspect."

When the idea of incorporating the days of prayer was under discussion, Brokke looked up some of the prayers for ember days.

"We discovered that the prayer that we have prayed every day from our foundation of the community is actually one of the ember day prayers for vocations," he said.

Shortly after the community began the traditional prayer, vocation numbers began to rise.

"The first September doing ember days … one guy showed up from a mission in Honduras at our mission in Belize and expressed his interest in the community. He is now a novice with our community."

"On the Saturday of that first ember days, we had 27 men from Franciscan University show up for the priestly discernment program to learn more about our community. The man who led that is now an aspirant with our community."

"The year that we started, we had seven men in formation. And in three years, we now have 18 men in formation," Brokke said. Before, "we were maybe averaging one or two to enter a year. In that very first year we had nine men."

"We've seen lots of good fruit," he said.

"I know there's a mystical body of Christ and we're all connected. The Lord is going to use it, like he'll use everything, and nothing goes to waste."

Full Article

A vegetable garden and orchard inside the Vatican walls, which historically provided food for the pope's household, is now cultivated using exclusively organic farming techniques.

The private garden covers almost a tenth of an acre of cultivable land inside the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery property, where Pope Benedict XVI lived during his retirement and now reside cloistered Benedictine nuns from the Abbey of St. Scholastica in Victoria, Argentina.

Sometimes known as "the pope's garden," the vegetable plot "has always been a defining feature of the Vatican Gardens because, in fact, the Vatican Gardens were originally created primarily for that purpose — to provide sustenance for the [Apostolic] Palace," Stefano Giampaolo, a forestry expert and head of the Gardens and Environment Service of the Vatican, told EWTN News.

Giampaolo explained that now the plot is more accurately understood as the vegetable garden of the Vatican Gardens — an area that covers roughly half of Vatican City at 57 acres.

The Benedictine nuns at Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, who pray for the pope, eat the fruit and vegetables grown in the garden and use them to make jams and other food preserves. The excess produce is given to a Vatican soup kitchen run by the Missionaries of Charity.

The move to biological farming techniques has been underway for several years, partly in response to Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', Giampaolo said.

The challenges of organic

According to Gilberto Bianchi, the gardener responsible for the orchard and vegetable patch since 2008, the Vatican has a "desire to respect nature" in how it cares for the plants and trees on its land.

But it's far from easy.

"Clearly, running a completely organic vegetable garden presents challenges, partly because insects are aggressive, and we use natural predators in the soil to control them," Bianchi said. "No chemical fertilizers or insecticides are used."

He added that soil drainage and water conservation are also challenges.

"This type of soil drains very well, so to conserve water, we add coconut fiber to retain moisture. And it's watered with a drip irrigation system specifically to target the plants and avoid wasting water," he said.

Part of an organic agriculture also means respecting the seasons, he said. "Right now, the winter crops are being planted, while the summer crops are being harvested."

The end-of-summer harvest includes tomatoes, eggplants, green beans, zucchini, cucumbers, and peppers, while the fall and winter crop has broccoli, spinach, lettuce, and pumpkins.

According to Vatican Media, the garden also includes garlic, basil, and a Peruvian variety of chili peppers known for its intensity. Kiwi plants were also added recently at the request of the Argentinian nuns.

Next to the garden is a small orchard of around 15 citrus trees, some of which are 150 years old.

"At this time, we're planting savoy cabbage," Bianchi said. "In short, whatever is in season. … So whatever is planted is because nature dictates it at that moment. The plants are grown from seed. We don't use lab-grown plants."

A historic collection of gardens

Bianchi, who has worked for more than three decades in the Vatican Gardens, "is the one with the most expertise in this field, and he is now passing that knowledge on to a new gardener," Giampaolo said.

The expert gardener is part of a team of around 35 gardeners and administrators who oversee the Vatican's green spaces and provide the flower arrangements for papal ceremonies.

"People expect to see a single garden, but in reality, as the name suggests, they are the Vatican Gardens — a collection of gardens," Giampaolo said.

The Gardens date to the mid-13th century, when Pope Nicolas III moved the papal residence from the Lateran Palace to the Vatican, had the city state's walls built, and ordered the creation of a lawn, orchard, and "viridarium" — a Roman-style garden with flowerbeds and a fountain.

Today, Giampaolo said, "there are countless different species, both trees and flowers. This is because, over time, the gardens have been enriched by donations and the search for specific botanical material, to the point of becoming a true botanical garden."

"Visitors are often struck by the diversity of the spaces — so many different gardens contained within this small area."

Ultimately, he said, the gardeners hope to one day eliminate all synthetic fertilizers and pesticides from their care of the entire Vatican territory.

"It's a process — the transformation of all the Gardens into organic ones," he said.

Full Article

When it comes to religious tourism in Lebanon, attention often turns to the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, home to the tomb of St. Charbel, or to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.

But Lebanon's spiritual landscape extends far beyond these well-known destinations. Across the country are lesser-known shrines and monasteries that offer visitors opportunities for prayer, quiet reflection, and a deeper encounter with Lebanon's rich Christian heritage. Here are five of them:

Shrine of St. Maria Goretti in Miziara

The Shrine of St. Maria Goretti in Miziara is the first shrine in Lebanon and the Middle East dedicated to the young Italian martyr.

Built in the shape of a rose, the shrine also commemorates Raya Chidiac, a young Lebanese woman whose killing reminded her family of the story of St. Maria Goretti. The site eventually became a shrine centered on a message of faith, forgiveness, and hope.

Mountain of Divine Mercy in Ghosta

High above the coastal town of Jounieh, the Mountain of Divine Mercy in Ghosta overlooks the Bay of Jounieh.

At its center stands a statue of Christ approximately 40 feet tall. The shrine was established through an initiative of the Congregation of Lebanese Maronite Missionaries and also includes smaller shrines dedicated to St. Charbel, St. Rafka, and St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Surrounded by nature and panoramic views, the site offers spaces set aside for prayer and contemplation.

Our Lady of Ilige Monastery in Mayfouq

In Mayfouq, in Lebanon's Byblos District, the Monastery of Our Lady of Ilige preserves centuries of Maronite history.

The monastery served as a residence of the Maronite patriarchs from 1121 to 1440 and is closely associated with the historic icon of Our Lady of Ilige.

The site remains an important reminder of the Maronite Church's centuries-old presence in Mount Lebanon.

Holy Savior Monastery in Joun

In the village of Joun in the Chouf District stands the Holy Savior Monastery, the motherhouse of the Basilian Salvatorian Order. Its origins date to the beginning of the 18th century.

The monastery also houses the remains of Venerable Father Bechara Abou Mrad, making it a destination for pilgrims seeking prayer and spiritual quiet.

Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina in Kfifan

The Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina in Kfifan is closely connected to several prominent figures of Maronite spirituality.

St. Charbel studied philosophy and theology there under St. Nimatullah Al-Hardini, while Blessed Brother Estephan Nehme spent a significant part of his religious life at the monastery.

Today, pilgrims visit Kfifan to pray and to venerate the saints and blesseds associated with the monastery, surrounded by the quiet mountain landscape of Lebanon's Batroun region.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article

The daughter of imprisoned Catholic activist Jimmy Lai has revealed she has received a cancer diagnosis.

"This summer I received a cancer diagnosis and will be undergoing treatment in the UK," Claire Lai said in a statement first reported by the Daily Wire on Sept. 8. "I am optimistic about the outcome but will be unable to travel and attend functions for the duration. I am endlessly grateful for my parents' example of perseverance. Our Christian faith teaches — and my father bears witness — that suffering can be redemptive. Mine is but a fraction of my father's, but I hope to bear it as a grace as well as he has. I deeply wish that dad was here, and pray that he will be released soon. I am so very grateful to everyone who continues to work toward securing his freedom."

Iraq to build largest Marian shrine in the country

Inishke, a Chaldean village overlooking the Sapna Valley, is preparing for a 59-foot-tall monument to Our Lady of the Sapna Valley, planned as the largest Marian shrine in Iraq.

The design brings together Marian devotion and Iraqi heritage. Sculptor Thabit Mikhail has given Mary and the child Jesus Middle Eastern features, while Mary's two braids represent Iraqi mothers and grandmothers, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Sept. 5. The 43-foot-wide base takes inspiration from the spiral form of Samarra's famous minaret and ancient Mesopotamian architecture.

A chapel inside the base and another prayer space near the statue will give pilgrims places for prayer and candle lighting. Funded by donations from people from Inishke around the world, the project has been under development for more than a decade and is expected to become a new destination for religious tourism in northern Iraq.

Canonization cause opens for murdered Northern Ireland priests

The causes of canonization for two priests killed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by members of the British Army in the 1970s has officially been opened.

The Diocese of Down and Connor confirmed that the canonization cause has been opened for Father Hugh Mullan and Father Noel Fitzpatrick, who were shot in two separate instances while administering last rites to parishioners in Corpus Christi Parish in Ballymurphy, according to a report from the Irish Catholic on Sept. 10.

News of their canonization cause comes after an official inquest into the deaths of the two priests and other victims at the hands of the British Army found that the soldiers had "lost control," the report said. Bishop Alan McGuckian said during a Mass for victims' families in May that the finding "restores dignity to the deceased, and it brings a measure of justice to those who grieve."

Christian doctor in Canada fined for refusing to give teen puberty blockers

A Canadian human rights tribunal has ordered family physician Dr. Henry Ajaero to pay $28,100 after he denied a teen puberty blockers at his clinic in March 2021.

Ajaero told the tribunal that "he did not feel comfortable administering" the hormone medication Lupron and that "doing so would go against his religious beliefs" and "because it is outside the scope of his practice," according to a Sept. 9 CBC report.

The tribunal ruled that Alaero's testimonial did not establish sufficient proof that administering the drug was in conflict with his religious belief or professional expertise.

While the tribunal acknowledged Ajaero likely made the decision quickly and in the context of a busy day, it ultimately ruled that "this context is an explanation for Dr. Ajaero's decision, but it does not justify his decision to deny medical services to a vulnerable trans youth because of her gender identity," according to the report.

Saydnaya, Syria, looks beyond its annual Marian celebrations

The feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary once again brought pilgrims from Syria and abroad to Saydnaya, where prayers and the traditional procession with an icon of Mary marked one of the city's most important celebrations. Yet the occasion has also renewed discussion about Saydnaya's future.

Researcher Elias Azar, founder of the Saydnaya Center for Studies and Research, is working on a nonprofit initiative to preserve the city's history while developing religious tourism, environmental projects, traditional agriculture, and local media, ACI MENA reported Sept. 9.

The effort comes after years of war and emigration. Azar estimated that Saydnaya has lost about half of its Christian population since 2011, although it remains a Christian-majority city. Residents are also calling for greater security, which they see as essential to protecting daily life and Saydnaya's place as a major Christian pilgrimage destination in Syria.

Vatican UN Permanent Observer Mission speaks against nuclear testing

Monsignor Robert Murphy, chargé d'affaires of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, called for renewed international commitment to ending nuclear weapons testing in a letter to the president of the U.N. General Assembly.

The Sept. 1 letter came amid a high-level plenary meeting marking International Day Against Nuclear Tests.

"The suffering caused by nuclear testing should have reinforced the common conviction that peace cannot be preserved by developing ever more destructive weapons," Murphy said. "However, today renewed reliance on nuclear deterrence, increasingly aggressive nuclear rhetoric and attempts to question the long-standing international norm against nuclear testing risk undermining this conviction." Murphy further called for an entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

St. Charbel communities in Poland call Catholics back to prayer

The sixth national gathering of St. Charbel communities in Poland focused on a simple question: Can people become so occupied with religious activities that they leave little time for God?

Maronite priest Father Fabio M. Lattouf warned against replacing a personal relationship with God with a search only for inner peace, constant Church activities, or an endless stream of religious content, ACI MENA reported on Sept. 8.

Bishop Andrzej Siemieniewski presented St. Charbel as another way forward, pointing to the Lebanese saint's long hours of silence before the Eucharist as an example of a spiritual life centered on Christ rather than activity.

At Bkerke, 26 couples choose marriage amid Lebanon's difficulties

Twenty-six brides and grooms took part in the 17th collective wedding organized by the Maronite League at Bkerke, continuing an initiative launched in 2009 to help young Lebanese couples establish families despite growing financial pressures.

The collective weddings have so far helped form 404 families, which now include 521 children, ACI MENA reported Sept. 6.

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai told the newlyweds that forming a family in difficult circumstances is an "act of faith in the future" and prayed that their homes would be marked by love, fidelity, forgiveness, faith, and peace.

Full Article

The Archdiocese of Chicago and a group of Catholic religious sisters won a temporary reprieve against Illinois's assisted suicide law this week, with a federal judge ordering the state not to enforce the law against the Catholic objectors while a federal lawsuit continues.

U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama's Sept. 11 order said the state would be blocked from enforcing the suicide law against the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and the Little Sisters of the Poor who had brought the lawsuit.

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich is also a plaintiff in the suit. The order applies only to the sisters and the archdiocese, the judge said; the state is free to enforce the suicide law elsewhere.

The Catholic objectors brought the lawsuit on Sept. 3, arguing that the suicide law infringes on religious liberty by requiring Catholics to participate in helping patients end their own lives. The lawsuit was filed by lawyers with the religious liberty law firm Becket.

On Sept. 11 Cupich said in a statement that the law should be struck down "permanently."

"To be clear, the Church's objection to this statute is not an attempt to impose Catholic teaching on non-Catholics," the archbishop said. Rather, "it is an effort to stop the State from compelling Catholic health care providers to violate their conscience."

Mother Mary Rose Heery, O. Carm., prioress general of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, said the temporary order "brings real peace of mind to our Sisters, our residents, and their families."

"It allows us to continue our vocation of showing Christ's unbounded love to those who need it most—a love that endures in every circumstance and through every hardship," she said.

Catholic health groups join another Illinois lawsuit

Illinois has become a battleground in recent weeks over its suicide law, which Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker signed in December 2025. The measure allows residents with a terminal illness to receive lethal prescriptions from doctors in order to take their own lives before they die naturally.

In August Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki, a Lutheran care home, and four Illinois-based doctors filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing similarly to the Chicago lawsuit that the state suicide law infringes on their religious freedom and their ability to care for their patients.

Later in the month the state agreed to not enforce the law against the plaintiffs while the suit plays out. In the meantime, multiple additional Catholic objectors have joined the Springfield Diocese's lawsuit against the suicide policy.

The Thomas More Society announced on Sept. 11 that five religious health care associations had joined Paprocki's suit, including the Illinois Catholic Health Association and the National Association of Catholic Nurses. A doctor and a nurse also joined the suit.

The Thomas More Society said the plaintiffs "represent 95% of Catholic health institutions in Illinois and more than 13,000 health care professionals nationwide."

Peter Breen, the head of litigation at the legal group, said attorneys were seeking to extend the protection secured by the initial plaintiffs to the "thousands of Catholic and Christian health care professionals" represented in the new filing.

"The First Amendment protects the rights of Catholic and Christian doctors, hospitals, and health care ministries to reject assisted suicide and heal and care for the ill and infirm in accord with their consciences," Breen said.

He argued that the suicide law "flagrantly violates those rights by forcing dedicated healthcare professionals to promote deadly drugs to their patients."

Full Article

The Archdiocese of Chicago will pay out more than $5 million to a small number of abuse victims after a recent settlement, attorneys said this week.

Lawyers with Jeff Anderson & Associates, a law firm that specializes in abuse cases, announced at a press event on Sept. 10 that they had settled with the archdiocese for $5.5 million to be paid out to nine survivors of abuse in the Church.

Attorney Jeff Anderson describe the development as a "tipping point and a turning point" regarding allegations of abuse in the archdiocese. He said the settlements were a matter of both "reckoning" and "accountability."

"It is about the courage of every survivor with whom we and others have had the privilege to work to bring about change, change in the Archdiocese of Chicago and change across the state of Illinois and change across this country," the lawyer said.

The Chicago Archdiocese did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the settlement. But the archdiocese has paid out major settlements to abuse victims numerous times in recent years.

In 2022 leaders settled multiple cases with abuse victims, one totaling $1.2 million and another $1.75 million.

In 2024, meanwhile, the archdiocese settled one abuse case for $950,000.

Multiple settlements by the archdiocese have involved allegations regarding disgraced former priest Daniel McCormack, who pleaded guilty to abusing numerous children years ago and who spent more than a decade in prison on those charges.

In 2025 the archdiocese filed a lawsuit alleging a "racketeering enterprise" against multiple plaintiffs who had reportedly filed fake abuse lawsuits regarding McCormack.

Archdiocesan attorney James Geoly said at the time that the lawsuit was meant to protect "the interests of legitimate victims."

"We do not want [the racketeering lawsuit] to deter any legitimate victim from coming forward. I would encourage anybody who's had a problem with a priest or cleric to do that," he told the archdiocesan news outlet.

Full Article

A 3D animated musical trilogy on St. Francis of Assisi is taking shape in Singapore, with its creators choosing a human-led animation process over AI at a moment when the industry is racing toward it.

Director Benjamin Tanaka, executive producer Gabriel Patrick, and composer Ethan Hsu call the project "The Francis Chronicles." It marks a reunion for Tanaka and Hsu, who first worked together two years ago on "One Church, One People," the official theme song for Pope Francis' visit to Singapore in September 2024 — his last Asia-Pacific apostolic visit before his death seven months later. Patrick, a secondary school friend of Tanaka, joined the project in January 2026.

"It does feel like God's providence — the way our paths crossed and intertwined over the last couple of years. We were each called individually first. Ben and Gabriel were both working on an animated short series about Catholic saints, while I was mulling over a faith-based musical project. When we met up late last year at a separate event, we realized the commonalities in our ideas — that was when the seeds for this project were first planted," recalled Hsu, who is directing the music for the trilogy.

St. Francis, a 13th-century Italian friar from the town of Assisi, has become an enduring symbol of simplicity, peace, and care for creation — echoed in Pope Francis' second encyclical, Laudato Si', "On Care for Our Common Home."

Eight months later, the trio set up Cantiva Studios, a Singapore film production company focused on animated features of cultural and spiritual significance for international audiences, with "The Francis Chronicles" as its flagship project.

With Pope Leo XIV declaring this year the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, the trio felt the time was right to begin the project. "His life has greatly impacted our faiths individually, and what better way to honor him than to use the gifts we have been given in storytelling and music to do just that," Tanaka said from Cantiva Studios' newly established production office, when asked why they decided to go ahead with a musical instead of a straight drama. They chose animation over live action, he added, because they hope to reach families with young children.

Choosing craft over convenience

The decision to animate the film by hand, using traditionally trained artists, was not an easy one. AI models can now produce polished visuals in minutes and promise significant savings in time and cost. Patrick, however — a designer by training — argued that nothing matches what human hands bring to a film: "Nothing still beats human-crafted movies in offering the viewer and the artists behind the making of the film the greatest range and freedom of authentic expression."

After extensive consultation with the Franciscan friars in Singapore, who assisted with research into the saint's life, the trio chose a human-led production process, with artists and animators shaping the film from concept to final frame.

Tanaka, who is making his feature directorial debut with "The Francis Chronicles," added that Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, released in May, helped crystallize the team's decision.

"Pope Leo XIV's timely reminder of ensuring the dignity of human labor really struck a chord with us when we finally made the call on whether to use AI," he said. "We are proud to be making this animated musical in the most human way possible." For the filmmakers, this decision is not a rejection of technology but one that keeps human judgment and artistry at the center of the creative process.

A medieval saint for the modern world

Friar John-Paul Tan of the Custody of St. Anthony sees the timing as significant. "The last decade or so has been a telling sign about the effects of St. Francis and what his life meant then and to our generation today," he said, speaking from the Church of St. Mary of the Angels in Singapore.

He pointed to a remarkable convergence of milestones: the first pope in history to take the name Francis and a series of 800th-anniversary milestones running from the Rule of St. Francis in 2023 through his canonization in 2028. "I think all these milestones culminate to something significant that God is trying to tell us at this moment in history."

Friar Derrick Yap, custos of the Custody of St. Anthony, said he hopes the films will carry that message beyond the Church: "May the eyes of the world be opened to the beauty of creation and come to see it as St. Francis did: Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Fire, and Sister Mother Earth."

From Singapore to the world

For a small domestic film industry, the ambition is unusual. Singapore-made films represent only a fraction of titles screened locally and face a challenging commercial landscape. A homegrown Catholic animated feature would itself be a rarity. "The Francis Chronicles" aims to go further, telling the story as an international trilogy designed for theatrical and streaming audiences beyond Singapore.

To help finance development of the first film, "Francis and the Voice of Creation" — covering his early years and call from God — the trio launched a worldwide Kickstarter campaign on Sept. 8. The funds raised will go toward research, script writing, character designs, and storyboards before animation begins.

The second and third films are planned to carry the story through the founding and growth of the Franciscan movement and St. Francis' final years, when he became the first documented saint in history to receive the stigmata.

Aaron Leong is a film and video producer who has been hired by Cantiva Studios for commercial video work on "The Francis Chronicles."

Full Article