Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and others across the nation are offering material and spiritual aid to those impacted by the devastating July 4 flash floods in the Texas Hill Country.
Three people were confirmed dead and 10 injured, including the parish’s pastor Father Gabriel Romanelli, July 17 when what initial reports said was an Israeli strike on Holy Family Parish, Gaza Strip’s only Catholic parish. Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire, dialogue and peace in the region in a telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. On July 18, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem entered the Gaza Strip to visit the church communities at Holy Family Parish and St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church.
In Ireland, workers have begun a full-scale excavation at a site near a former Catholic-run mother-and-baby home where up to 800 infants are believed to be buried. Previous media coverage falsely claimed the children were “dumped” in a septic tank and denied baptism — claims later retracted.
Devotion to Mary is a significant factor in discerning and sustaining the call to priestly and religious life, according to a new study released July 16 by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.
The Church of England is weighing plans to exhume and enshrine the head of St. Thomas More, the patron saint of statesmen and politicians, in time for the 500th anniversary of his 1535 martyrdom under King Henry VIII, founder of the Anglican church.
Catholic scouts have several new honors to aim for, including a Pope Leo XIV patch, announced July 13 by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.
Kidnapped Nigerian priest Father Alphonsus Afina, who previously served in Alaska, has contacted his home diocese, but remains missing after being captured by Boko Haram. In Nigeria’s Edo state, gunmen stormed Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary July 10, killing a security officer and abducting three seminarians.
In Washington, a top Republican on the House Committee on Homeland Security on July 16 appeared to walk back a previous statement that Catholic entities are among the nongovernmental organizations subject to a probe about their work with migrants.
Near the anniversary of his sudden and early death from a heat stroke on a hot, steamy Chicago street July 9, 1897, supporters of Venerable Augustus Tolton gathered in South Bend to pray, discuss and recommit to promoting his cause for sainthood at the third National Convocation of the Tolton Ambassadors Corps.
As part of his summer break, Pope Leo XIV visited members of the Italian Carabinieri in Castel Gandolfo and the Poor Clares in nearby Albano Laziale. He also met with U.S. visitors on an ecumenical pilgrimage, celebrated Mass at the Church of St. Thomas of Villanova, and gave a video message at an Italian charity soccer match between politicians and singers. In his Sunday Angelus message, Pope Leo said serving life by caring for others is “the supreme law” that comes before all of society’s rules.
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