Catholic news today

The Archdiocese of Bukavu clarified that a video of Archbishop François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo circulating on social media is not a recent reaction to the deadly fires that killed 27 schoolchildren on September 10. The Archdiocese issued a statement on Friday, September 18, explaining that the footage is more than three years old and was shared out of context.

In the original interview, Archbishop Maroy discussed how families move from rural areas to Bukavu without secure employment or safety plans. The Archdiocese noted that the Archbishop has not made a public comment specifically addressing the recent fires in the Buholo-Kasha and Chimpunda neighborhoods, but is instead in deep reflection regarding the tragedies in the city.

Leaders of the Association of Catholic Scouts of Angola (AECA) are encouraging young people to use the internet and new technologies responsibly to aid their personal development. During the first AECA podcast held at the association headquarters in Luanda on September 17, National Coordinator Gilberto Gil Lopes said the scout movement must keep pace with technological changes while helping youth distinguish between helpful content and harmful material.

Lopes stated that scout leaders have a responsibility to guide young people in making the best use of digital platforms. He argued against focusing only on the negative aspects of the internet, noting that digital technology has increased access to education, information, and various services. He pointed out that while people once relied on libraries for knowledge, the internet now allows users to study, read books, and follow events remotely.

Lebanese faithful will walk from Byblos to the shrine of St. Charbel in Annaya on September 26 to pray for Christians living in the southern border villages. Organizer Anthony Jarjour, a native of Rmeich, said the walk intends to unite prayers for those remaining in towns such as Rmeich, Ain Ebel, and Debel.

Jarjour told ACI MENA that the walk serves as an act of solidarity for families who stay in these villages despite the dangers of war. He noted that some people are unaware that these residents continue to safeguard the country's borders simply by remaining on their land, and he expressed a feeling that the state has abandoned them.

Because of road closures, Jarjour will begin a separate journey on Tuesday, September 22, starting from Tyre. He plans to walk approximately 93 miles to reach Annaya by Saturday to join the conclusion of the pilgrimage. Last year, Jarjour organized a 112 mile walk from Rmeich to Annaya to pray for those killed in traffic accidents.

Fr. Jan J. Stefanów, the Secretary-General of the Catholic Biblical Federation, told the African Church to use the Word of God to address hunger, poverty, conflict, and injustice. Speaking on September 17 during the Third International Biblical Symposium at the Catholic University of Angola in Luanda, the Polish missionary priest said the Church's mission to proclaim Scripture must include the daily realities of the people.

Fr. Stefanów, a member of the Society of the Divine Word, said people experience hunger for more than just food, noting a need for peace, justice, dignity, and meaning. He argued that the mission cannot focus only on spiritual needs while ignoring material and social conditions.

The priest noted that Scripture requires the Church to take both physical and spiritual hunger seriously. He cited the Prophet Amos and Gospel accounts of Jesus showing compassion to crowds to illustrate that the text presents a comprehensive view of human needs.

Pia Società Figlie di S. Paolo published the Paoline Online 86 edition covering July to September 2026.

Bishop John Berinyuy Tatah is calling for action to stop the killing of women and girls in Cameroon following a surge in deadly violence. The auxiliary bishop of the Bamenda archdiocese noted that such violence causes wounds that can last for generations and affects families through deep suffering and bereavement.

At least 72 women were killed in the country between January 1 and April 4 this year, including eight women killed during a single ten-day period last month. Marie Therese Abena Ondoua, the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, stated that these reports include serial predation, intimate partner violence, and cases involving suspicious circumstances that authorities are investigating.

Recent incidents include the August 22 death of 34-year-old Modestine in Douala, who was allegedly killed by her husband with a butcher's knife in front of their two children. In the capital city of Yaoundé, police discovered the body of 44-year-old Beguel Crescence Merline in a hotel room on August 26 with stab wounds.

Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres urged devotees to connect their devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia with environmental stewardship after low water levels in the Naga River delayed the annual fluvial procession on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The Archbishop told Radyo Veritas that devotion should involve more than venerating the image of the patroness. He stated that followers should use their hands to care for and develop what God has entrusted to humanity. Alarcon linked this message to the Church's Season of Creation observed in September, describing Mary as a mother to the Church and to nature. He said true devotion requires a deepened sensitivity to God, others, nature, and oneself.

Local authorities estimated that more than a million devotees attended the religious event. The procession, which honors Our Lady of Peñafrancia and El Divino Rostro, began around 9 p.m. due to the dry river conditions.

Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. will preside over a Mass at Cubao Cathedral in Quezon City on Monday to remember the victims of Martial Law. The Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP) invited the public to attend the 10 a.m. service.

The CMSP stated that the Mass serves to bring the experiences of those who suffered during that period of history before the Lord. The group said the liturgy will include prayers for people working toward justice, truth, reconciliation, human dignity, and lasting peace.

The gathering marks the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by Ferdinand Marcos Sr. through Proclamation 1081 on September 21, 1972. The CMSP noted that remembering this period is necessary to preserve historical truth and promote peace.

Three Togolese sisters pronounced their perpetual vows during a celebration at the church of the Sacri Cuori in Vicenza on September 6.

Sisters Christine Mawoulawe Ogoulou, Jeannette Essotome Wiyao, and Virginie Afi Kotobissa committed their lives to God as members of the Suore Maestre di Santa Dorotea Figlie dei Sacri Cuori. The religious community marked the occasion with rites including the signing of documents on the altar and the giving of rings.

The community noted that the ceremony included songs and dances. They requested prayers for the three women as they begin their permanent service.

David G. Bonagura, Jr. argues that being Catholic is a difficult commitment rather than an easy one. Writing for The Catholic Thing, he suggests that modern marketing often promotes easy ways to pray or participate in the faith, which contradicts the actual demands of following Jesus Christ.

Bonagura notes that true Catholic life requires consistent actions that can be challenging, such as attending Mass every Sunday regardless of weather or travel, maintaining a regular prayer life, and following the commandments. He points out that living out the command to love others includes loving difficult people, such as obnoxious neighbors or reckless drivers.

He concludes that following Christ involves self-denial and carrying a daily cross, noting that the Gospel warns followers may face hatred because of their faith.

Annaliese, a 21-year-old Catholic college student, is using latte art to share her faith through her Instagram account, the.coffee.collect. The barista uses espresso and milk foam to create sacred imagery, such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to connect with others and give glory to God.

The account features barista life and coffee culture alongside a Catholic witness. In one video posted for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Annaliese used the art to reflect on the love of God. She has worked as a barista for over 3 years and views coffee as an ordinary tool that can be used to show God's greatness.

The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are working with local partners to provide relief to families affected by catastrophic flooding in Nepal. According to a report from the congregation, the sisters are distributing shelter, bedding, clothing, hygiene supplies, and other necessities to those impacted by the disaster.

Sister Jackulin Jesu, president of the congregation, and Sister Oliva Kujur, who has assisted in delivering relief, shared reflections on the situation. The flooding has also impacted communities in Bihar, India, where sisters and other responders are assisting families and clinics affected by downstream floodwaters.

Donations to the Nepal Flood Aid 2026 fund will support the sisters and their partners in meeting immediate needs and assisting with long term recovery efforts.

Pope Francis has announced the start of a diocesan investigation into the life, virtues, and reputation for holiness of Father Luigi Di Liegro. The investigation, which marks the first phase of the beatification and canonization process, will be conducted by the Diocese of Rome.

The retired auxiliary bishop of Rome, Bishop Di Tora, expressed joy over the announcement, noting Di Liegro's legacy of service to those on the margins of society. Di Liegro previously directed Caritas Rome starting in 1997.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., joined 145 diocesan priests from September 15 to 17 for the 2026 Convocation of Priests in Avalon. The gathering focused on priestly well-being, fraternity, and mission renewal.

Father Patrick McDevitt, president and CEO of St. Luke Institute, served as the keynote speaker and gave presentations on maintaining mental, physical, and spiritual health. During a Mass on September 16, Bishop O’Connell told the priests that their ministry must be rooted in charity and selfless love rather than just efficiency or competence.

Several priests noted the importance of personal health for effective ministry. Father Stephen Sansevere, pastor of St. James Parish in Pennington, St. George Parish in Titusville, and St. Alphonsus Parish in Hopewell, stated that priests must be well to help others. Father Mark Kreder, pastor of St. Justin the Martyr Parish in Toms River, added that self-care allows priests to better serve their people.

Mariachiara Giorda, a professor of the history of religions at Roma Tre University, addressed the Religions and Peace conference in Subiaco. The event was organized by the Tavolo Sublacense della Pace e della Nonviolenza in collaboration with Roma Tre University, the local municipality, and the international ShaRP network.

Giorda argued that every religious tradition in human history has produced both rhetoric and practices of war and peace within the same contexts. She stated that attempting to rank religions by how peaceful or violent they are is a mistake. Instead, she noted that no religion is exempt from a complex relationship with both conflict and peace.

Giorda suggested that it is more important to distinguish between wars actually motivated by religion and conflicts where religion is merely used as a justification. She explained that religions are deeply intertwined with politics, culture, society, and the economy, making it an error to view religion as separate from the real world.

The upcoming beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen highlights his life as an example of faith, obedience, and love for the poor, according to OSV News. The Church recognizes Sheen as a man of heroic virtue as he approaches this formal recognition.

Sheen maintained a deep personal commitment to Jesus Christ through daily prayer. Upon his ordination, he promised to observe this daily practice, which informed his preaching and writings. OSV News reports that this devotion to prayer and study provided the spiritual foundation for his ministry.

The bishop has several scheduled appearances from September 20 to September 26.

On Sunday, September 20, the bishop will celebrate the annual Saint Padre Pio Mass at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Vineland. He will attend the Mass of the Holy Spirit at Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill on Monday, September 21, at 10:30 a.m.

Later in the week, the bishop will participate in the National Migration Week Evening of Prayer at Saint Thomas More Church in Cherry Hill on Thursday, September 24, at 6:30 p.m. He will conclude the week on Saturday, September 26, by celebrating a Mass for the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation in Mantua.

Former Anglican bishop Monsignor Michael Nazir-Ali warned that Christians in Pakistan may face a backlash following a controversy involving an award from the Anglican Church. The issue arose after the Church of Pakistan's Moderator, Bishop Azad Marshall, selected Islamic cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi to receive the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation 2026.

Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally presented the award to Ashrafi in London on Sept. 11. However, media scrutiny followed the resurfacing of past comments made by Ashrafi, which included praise for Osama bin Laden and suicide bombers, as well as support for Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Lambeth Palace announced it would withdraw the award on Sept. 17.

Nazir-Ali, who was formerly the Anglican bishop of Rochester, told Crux that church leaders in Pakistan fear the decision to rescind the award could be viewed as a dishonor to Islam and the country. He noted that this situation could damage relationships and create repercussions for the Christian community in Pakistan.

A new mobile application called Introibo helps Catholics following the traditional Roman Rite establish and maintain a daily prayer rhythm. Developed by Holden Cole and published by Lampstand, the app is available for free on iOS and Android without a subscription.

The app serves as a prayer companion by offering features such as the Shape of Prayer, which outlines a daily prayer structure for the traditional rite. Its Proprium Missae feature functions like a hand missal by providing the specific chants, readings, and prayers assigned to the current liturgical day, including the Introit, Collect, Epistle, and Gospel. The app supports the 1962 Roman Missal as its core spirituality, though it also includes the 1955 and pre-1955 versions of the Mass.

While the app includes a bilingual display option, the parallel columns may appear crowded during longer passages. Users intending to read only one language may find the layout more spacious.