Catholic News

While various leading U.S. prelates have taken the position that the U.S. war with Iran fails to meet the Church's classic just war criteria, opinion on the matter is not unanimous.

In recent days, one of the country's most prominent bishops in the public arena, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, contended that it's not even the role of the Church's leaders to make a final determination about whether a particular war is just or not.

"The role of the Church," Barron wrote in an X post on April 20, "is to call for peace and to urge that any conflict be strictly circumscribed by the moral constraints of the just war criteria," which is outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2309).

However, he continued, "it is not the role of the Church to evaluate whether a particular war is just or unjust." To buttress his argument, Barron cited the catechism's explicit "just war" doctrine teaching (No. 2309) that "the evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good."

"So, is the war in question truly the last resort?" Barron asked, referencing just war criteria. "Is there really a balance between the good to be attained and the destruction caused by the war? Are combatants and noncombatants being properly distinguished in the waging of the conflict? Do the belligerents have right intention? Is there a reasonable hope of success? The posing of those questions — indeed the insistence upon their moral relevance — belongs rightly to the Church, but the answering of them belongs to the civil authorities," he concluded.

Meanwhile, other clergy with significant public influence, such as Archdiocese of New York priest Father Gerald Murray, a former U.S. Navy chaplain, hold outright that the U.S. military action against Iran does qualify as a just war.

In an extensive appraisal of the situation in the light of just war teaching, Murray wrote in The Free Press that "the justice of the United States attack on Iran is confirmed by the Iranian regime's admissions."

Murray cited U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff, who revealed that in the days just prior to the outbreak of the war "both Iranian negotiators said to us [Witkoff and fellow U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner] directly with, you know, no shame, that they controlled 460 kilograms of 60% [enriched uranium] and they're aware that that could make 11 nuclear bombs, and that was the beginning of their negotiating stance." The Iranian negotiators told their U.S. counterparts, Witkoff continued, that "they had the inalienable right to enrich all their nuclear fuel that they possessed."

"A nuclear-armed Iran with ballistic missiles is an imminent threat to the United States, Israel, and many other countries," Murray said.

"The advanced state of uranium enrichment meant that the United States and Israel faced an imminent threat. The clear intent of the Iranian regime to build nuclear weapons has not changed. Given that, it was just for the United States and Israel to attack Iran in order to eliminate the nuclear threat," Murray affirmed, calling the joint military action "an act of protection, rather than aggression, under just war theory."

Murray also pointed out that the negotiations that preceded the attack on Iran "show the length to which the United States was willing to go to avoid war — evidence that the strike was a last resort."

Furthermore, he noted that when Witkoff and Kushner told the Iranian negotiators that the United States would provide non-weapons-grade uranium to Iran for 10 years if it stopped pursuing nuclear weapons, they were rebuffed by the Iranians.

"They rejected that, which told us at that very moment that they had no notion of doing anything other than retaining enrichment for the purpose of weaponizing," Witkoff recounted.

"I do believe this is a just war precisely because of the nature of the threat that a nuclear-armed Iran poses to the United States, Israel, and its allies," Murray said in a separate interview. "The just war criteria, in my opinion, does not require that we first absorb a nuclear attack before we can actually then respond to try to destroy their nuclear weapons."

The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February but have been in a ceasefire since April 8, which President Donald Trump extended indefinitely amid negotiations. No side has agreed to long-term peace.

Pope Leo XIV criticized the war and urged peace while Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the attack "does not seem to meet the conditions" of just war. 

On April 23, Leo doubled down on his opposition to war, saying he encourages "the continuation of dialogue for peace" amid the ceasefire negotiations. 

"As a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war, and I would like to encourage everyone to make every effort to seek responses that come from a culture of peace and not of hatred," the Holy Father said.

Tyler Arnold contributed to this report.

Full Article

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, published an extensive pastoral letter in which he offered a profound reflection on the mission of the Church in the Holy Land amid war, emphasizing that the city of Jerusalem "is not a spoil of war" but rather a heritage of humanity.

The document, titled "They Returned to Jerusalem with Great Joy," addressed the impact of the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, and proposed a spiritual, pastoral, and communal path for Christians living in the region.

Jerusalem, 'heart of the world'

In one of the most forceful passages of the letter, the cardinal stated that "the heart of the world is in Jerusalem." He noted that millions of pilgrims arrive in the holy city every year and that their recent absence due to the war underscores its universal significance.

"Jerusalem belongs to no one exclusively; it belongs to everyone," he wrote, warning that events in the city affect "billions of believers" and pointing out that the international community has a duty to safeguard "Jerusalem's universal mission."

Pizzaballa denounced the "dehumanization of the other" and growing social fragmentation in which entire communities retreat into themselves.

He also warned of the loss of meaning of concepts such as "dialogue," "justice," or "human rights," which today seem hollow in the face of violence.

The mission of Jerusalem: 'To heal the nations'

In light of this landscape, the patriarch proposed a vision inspired by the Bible, specifically the Book of Revelation, in which Jerusalem appears as an open city, called to welcome and reconcile.

Within this framework, he said the vocation of the holy city is "therapeutic," to heal the world.

The cardinal insisted that Christians living there are not a neutral party to the conflict but rather living members of their societies, whether Arab, Israeli, Jordanian, or foreign, called to be "salt, light, and leaven" from within.

Rejecting violence and choosing life

The cardinal also said that living according to the Gospel entails a concrete choice: to reject the logic of violence, falsehood, and exclusion.

However, he clarified that this rejection is not a condemnation of individuals but rather of the systems of sin that deny human dignity. "The city with open doors does not expel but clearly defines what is incompatible with its very existence," he noted.

Concrete proposals for pastoral life

In the final section of the letter, the patriarch offered practical guidelines for Christian communities, highlighting the centrality of prayer and liturgy, the role of families as "domestic churches," and the importance of schools as a place for coexistence and formation.

"Prayer is not a means. It is a moment of love and encounter with God," he affirmed, emphasizing that it is "the heart, the breath. It is what keeps our community alive."

The prelate also highlighted the key role of education: Schools must be "true workshops of a new humanity," where people learn to coexist and engage in dialogue.

Likewise, the patriarch underscored the value of social works — hospitals, Caritas centers — as places where the encounter between people of different religions is already being lived out and highlighted the role of young people, families, priests, and religious men and women as protagonists of hope.

He also emphasized the urgency of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, not only at the institutional level but also in daily life, and the need to educate for peace and respect.

A call to hope

The patriarch urged against succumbing to skepticism or despair despite ongoing violence. "The question is not how to escape the conflict but how to live within it as believers," he pointed out.

Finally, evoking the Gospel of St. Luke, he invited the faithful to "return to Jerusalem with joy" — not a naive joy but a paschal one, founded on the certainty that "light conquers darkness and love disarms hatred."

The cardinal concluded by entrusting this journey to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and reminding the faithful that, even amid war, the Church is called to be a living sign of hope.

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

MANILA, Philippines — Sister Eva Fidela Maamo, a Catholic nun and surgeon known across the Philippines as the "Healing Nun" for her decades of free medical care to the poor, has died at age 85.

She died on April 14, according to Our Lady of Peace Hospital, which announced her passing the following day.

In the 1970s, Sister Eva performed surgery on an Indigenous woman using a bamboo table and coconut water to keep the patient alive in Lake Sebu, southern Philippines. The urgent action was necessary because reaching the nearest hospital required hours on foot and crossing multiple rivers.

Her life of service and sacrifice made a deep impact on people, particularly the poor who most availed themselves of the nun's medical and pastoral care.

"I remember her vividly during my years as an intern and resident at Manila Doctors Hospital, attending to her patients," said Dr. Anthony Leachon, a physician.

"Her quiet strength, her devotion to the sick and the poor, and her example of servant leadership shaped not only the lives of those she treated but also the young physicians who learned under her guidance," he added.

Sister Eva was born on Sept. 17, 1940, in Liloan, Southern Leyte. She studied at the Velez College of Medicine in Cebu, central Philippines, and practiced at her family's clinic in Liloan for a while.

Later, she entered the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres to be a nun and missionary in 1974, serving as a physician in Lake Sebu and later in other parts of the country.

Health as a right

One of her steadfast beliefs was that health is a right for all, not a privilege for a few.

Being a surgeon, she did not limit herself to an operating room. She visited public hospitals, communities, and places with very limited access to health care.

Sister Eva's role went beyond that of a physician who is meant to treat illnesses; she made sure to work for people's dignity — interacting with patients where they lived, seeing their existential realities.

"In this way, she showed the human face of healing and care while witnessing God's mercy," Maria Martineze, a volunteer, told EWTN News.

The nun's quiet and consistent commitment tried to abridge the existing gap — need and access to health but also working for inclusion and people's right to access health, Martineze explained.

'Barefoot doctors'

She trained "barefoot doctors" — men and women skilled to treat common illnesses and provide basic care in remote and rural areas where accessing health care has always remained a challenge.

According to Sister Eva, the "barefoot doctors" are not physicians, but they are skilled at treating common diseases.

Sister Eva trained 17 barefoot doctors in Lake Sebu in 1974. Over the years, she expanded the initiative across the country, training 274 barefoot doctors from 110 Indigenous communities.

Care for Indigenous peoples

Sister Eva had a distinctive character — going to the peripheries — as a missionary and a doctor. In her heart, she had special love for Indigenous peoples and geographically and socially isolated communities in the country, including the T'boli, Aeta, and Manobo.

She trained them in basic medical skills like CPR, physical exams, and minor surgery, empowering them to become health providers for their tribes.

One of the Indigenous peoples, the Aeta, displaced by the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, was cared for by the nun.

The nun worked with them for years, capacitating the leaders and community, strengthening their dignity, resilience, and physical well-being.

With her efforts, as many as 146 families with 500 persons were able to resettle. Some eventually converted to Catholicism.

"She spent her life in healing and service with compassion and love for Indigenous people," Lourdes Balinta, an Aeta teacher, told EWTN News.

Hospital for affordable health care

The Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission was established in 1984 by Sister Eva and American Jesuit Father James Reuter to address the needs of the poor.

Additionally, in 1992, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, Parañaque, Metro Manila, was built to provide the poor with affordable access to quality health care, including feeding and livelihood programs for the poor in Metro Manila and other areas.

"Through her foundation and hospital, she brought healing, dignity, and hope to countless marginalized communities across the Philippines, offering free medical care, shelter, and livelihood opportunities," a message from Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation said.

"Small in stature but immense in spirit, Sister Eva's life stands as a powerful witness to Gospel compassion lived out in action," it added.

Sister Eva's life was marked by extraordinary compassion and service to the poor, embodying the Christian spirit of selfless love and dedication, Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas of Maasin said.

Her tireless work as a healer and advocate for the marginalized was a profound witness to her faith in Christ and love for humanity, he added. The remarkable legacy she leaves behind — her ministry and compassion — touched countless lives.

"May her example keep motivating us to live lives of service and faithfulness to God's mission," the prelate said.

Accolades

In 1997, Sister Eva received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often considered Asia's Nobel Prize, for her dedicated service to the poor communities through medicine.

In 1992, she received the Mother Teresa Award of the Philippines. In 2006, the nun was recognized as a Lasallian Star of Faith awardee, recognizing her decades of dedicated service as a nun and surgeon whose life epitomized faith in service.

True spirit of service

Though Sister Eva has passed, her legacy remains in the hearts of people.

"She was a hardworking, humble, and caring woman of God — a physician-leader whose hands healed and whose heart uplifted countless lives," Leachon said. "Multi-awarded yet always grounded, she embodied the true spirit of service."

"Her life reminds us that medicine is not only science but also love in action," he added. "May her memory continue to inspire generations of healers and advocates. Her light endures in the lives she touched."

Full Article

The Vatican has released a new document titled "Integral Ecology in the Life of the Family" aimed at promoting the care of creation and human life within the family, warning against the advancement of certain ideologies that encourage abortion and sterilization as means to control population growth.

The document, issued April 27, notes that there is currently "a tendency to perceive population growth as the primary threat to humanity" and deplores the policies of certain governments that "spread abortion" and promote "the adoption of sterilization practices in poor countries, thereby imposing 'strong birth control measures.'"

The volume draws upon the magisterium of the last four pontiffs. The earliest document to which it refers is Gaudium et Spes from the Second Vatican Council, promulgated by St. Paul VI on Dec. 7, 1965. It incorporates contributions from St. John Paul II, who laid decisive foundations in the areas of the family and the Church's social doctrine — particularly in Familiaris Consortio (1981) and Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987)  — and the 2009 encyclical Caritas in Veritate by Pope Benedict XVI.

It also incorporates the teachings of Francis, who, in Evangelii Gaudium (2013), calls for a Church that "goes out" centered on proclaiming the Gospel and close to the human peripheries. This pastoral approach is applied to family life in Amoris Laetitia (2016), wherein the importance of discernment and accompaniment is underscored.

Attempts to erase sexual differences

The document refers to "a countless number of children never being born, children who were denied the right to the primary gift of creation, the gift of life itself," the Vatican laments. It adds that this phenomenon also occurs "when society is disrupted by attempts to erase sexual differences, because it no longer knows how to deal" with them.

In light of this reality, the document calls for focusing attention on other factors it deems truly harmful such as extreme consumerism, pollution, the throwaway culture, and the desire to exercise absolute power over the human body through its manipulation, facilitated by recent technological advances.

These dangerous trends emerge when "the right to life and to a natural death are not respected; when human conception, gestation, and birth are done artificially; or when human embryos are sacrificed for research" as well as when governments "promote abortion, at times encouraging the adoption of sterilization practices in impoverished nations," and impose "strict birth control measures."

The importance of sex education

The text further underscores that the comprehensive education of children by their parents must also include formation in love and sexuality. "This subject is currently the object of much debate, which often creates conflicts between schools and families when determining what should be taught."

The Vatican insists that people "must not forget that learning to accept one's own body, to care for it and to respect its meanings, is essential for a true human ecology," since "the acceptance of one's own body as a gift from God is necessary to welcome and accept the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home."

In practical terms, the document encourages families to assume the responsibility of educating their members, engaging in age-appropriate conversations "regarding the need to protect human life in the face of abortion, surrogacy, and euthanasia; the need to care for family members facing difficulties; and the beauty, dignity, and meaning of human sexuality."

It also suggests becoming involved with local schools, promoting ecological improvements both in facilities and in educational content as well as initiatives such as school gardens and the study of botany.

Integral ecology in family life

The document was jointly prepared by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life. As its authors explain, it is the fruit of a collaborative effort involving theologians, consultants, and married couples.

It offers insights and practical advice for confronting current environmental challenges and fostering the integral development of every individual.

The second part, the core of the document, is structured around seven themes inspired by Laudato Si': listening to the cry of the earth, listening to the cry of the poor and the vulnerable, adopting and promoting an ecological economy, fostering sustainable lifestyles, advancing integral ecology in education, strengthening ecological spirituality within the family, and promoting the participation of families in community life.

Each chapter is structured into four sections: an explanation of the topic, concrete implications, questions for reflection and discussion, and proposed actions. Among these, it poses questions such as: "Has our family experienced situations in which natural resources have been used ... in a way that creates or exacerbates social tensions or inequality?" or "Have we attempted to measure, in any way, the level of our consumption within our family and our home?"

Avoid waste and use public transportation

The text also includes concrete recommendations, such as teaching children to "respect and care for animals," "avoid wasting food or electricity," use "public transport more frequently," explore "low-cost options for insulating their home against cold and heat," and the proper sorting of household waste.

Finally, the document invites participation in projects committed "to assistance and solidarity, paying special attention to vulnerable population groups, such as members of Indigenous communities, refugees, migrants, at-risk children, families experiencing difficulties or bereavement, and illiterate individuals."

It also raises questions regarding the educational role of parents and the tensions they face when imparting values ??of moderation in a culture marked by consumerism and social pressure.

"Parents who attempt to instill values ??such as moderation and a modest lifestyle may be perceived as authoritarian figures — or as individuals who are oblivious to marketing and peer pressure. How can such parents be supported in navigating these challenges?" the text asks.

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

Prosecutors in Maryland may not reveal the names of individuals who allegedly hid or failed to report Church abuse, the state Supreme Court said April 27.

As part of its investigation into alleged abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the state attorney general's office had sought to make public the details of a grand jury report, including the identities of individuals who have not been charged with a crime but who allegedly failed to stop abuse from occurring.

A lower court granted the attorney general's request to publish the information, with an appellate court partly upholding that decision. Yet in its April 27 ruling, the Maryland Supreme Court reversed those decisions, holding that the attorney general's office did not "meet [the] burden" of justifying the release of the identities.

"Many grand jury investigations obtain damaging information and allegations about uncharged individuals that the public might benefit from learning," the high court acknowledged.

But "one of the primary purposes of grand jury secrecy is to protect uncharged persons from public disgrace in the absence of a criminal charge and a forum in which to seek vindication," it said.

"A court may not order disclosure of secret grand jury material, over the objection of an uncharged individual, for the purpose of holding that person accountable in the court of public opinion," the justices said.

The court noted that the attorney general's office had argued that the "intensity of public interest" in the case could justify revealing the identities.

Yet "the interests promoted by grand jury secrecy do not increase or decrease based on how much the public wants to learn the information contained in grand jury materials," the court said.

The decision comes amid ongoing court proceedings in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which filed for bankruptcy in September 2023 ahead of a wave of sex abuse claims filed against it under the Maryland Child Victims Act.

Earlier this month, the archdiocesan insurer Hartford Insurance Group proposed contributing $100 million to a settlement for abuse victims. The archdiocese in 2024 sued multiple insurers over what it claimed was a failure to pay abuse claims for which the insurers were contractually obligated.

In 2024 Archbishop William Lori attended two court-ordered "listening sessions" with alleged victims of sexual abuse, with the prelate describing himself as "deeply moved by their very powerful testimony."

Full Article

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.

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.

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."

Full Article

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.

Full Article

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."

Full Article

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.

Full Article

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.

Full Article