Edition of Thursday, October 1

The Carmel of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus in Gilmore, Quezon City, will celebrate 100 years of contemplative life this November. The centennial events include the opening of a Jubilee Door on Nov. 23 by Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. of Cubao and an anniversary Mass on Nov. 24 presided over by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan.

The community established its foundation in Manila on Nov. 24, 1926, following the arrival of four French Discalced Carmelite nuns from Hue, Vietnam, who founded the first Philippine Carmelite monastery in Jaro, Iloilo, in 1923. The monastery currently consists of 13 professed sisters, one postulant, and two aspirants.

During a homily on the Oct. 1 feast of St. Thérèse, Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao stated that the sisters' hidden life of prayer is an integral part of the Church's mission rather than a withdrawal from it. He noted that the centennial highlights the importance of contemplative life within the Church.

Pope Leo XIV preached during Vespers at Notre Dame Cathedral on September 25. During the service, the Pope described modern society as hyperconnected and loud, noting a lack of depth and meaning in the current era.

He suggested that the simplicity of Christian rites, such as song and liturgy, offers an oasis of peace rather than an escape from reality. The Pope stated that the Christian community is not a closed space meant to protect itself from the present age, but is instead called to engage with a world shaped by both human goodness and suffering.

The Suore Maestre di Santa Dorotea Figlie dei Sacri Cuori will host the Festa Missionaria Dorotea 2026 on Sunday, October 11, in Vicenza. The event includes a day of prayer, fraternity, and missionary testimony held at the Basilica della Madonna di Monte Berico and Casa San Giuseppe on Viale Cialdini.

The gathering coincides with the centenary of World Mission Sunday and serves to share humanitarian projects that support vulnerable populations. All offerings collected during the day will go toward urgent humanitarian projects promoted by the Dorotean missions.

Participants interested in the ethnic lunch must reserve a spot by October 3, 2026, via telephone, SMS, or email. The event is scheduled to conclude around 3:30 p.m.

Priests of the Diocese of Sicuani recently held their monthly retreat to reflect on their service to the people of God. The gathering included Eucharistic Adoration and the practice of Lectio Divina.

During a meeting at the end of the day, the bishop presented pastoral orientations to guide the diocese's evangelization efforts.

The Laudato Si’ Committee of the Patna Province has published a new prayer service titled “Heal the World: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The committee released the service to help individuals and communities connect with ecological spirituality.

The prayer service asks participants to praise God for the beauty of creation and to seek help in protecting the Earth and sharing its resources justly. It addresses environmental concerns such as pollution, waste, deforestation, climate change, and careless consumption. The text notes that rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and extreme weather events show that the planet is under increasing pressure.

Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Pietro Parolin sent birthday greetings to Cardinal Franc Rodé on his feast day.

The Pope offered warm wishes to Cardinal Rodé on the feast of St. Francis on October 4, 2026. In his message, Pope Leo XIV gave an apostolic blessing to the cardinal and his loved ones through the intercession of St. Francis.

Cardinal Parolin also sent greetings to Cardinal Rodé, including a message of prayer for the cardinal and his intentions.

Bishop Michael Kennedy of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle joined Caritas Australia CEO Kirsten Sayers on a visit to Timor-Leste to meet with Church, community, and government leaders. During the trip, the Bishop met with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva.

The visit aimed to strengthen the partnership between Caritas Australia and the people of Timor-Leste. Bishop Kennedy, who serves as a director on the Caritas Australia board, met with farmers, women’s groups, and community leaders participating in Caritas programs. These programs address poverty, food security, climate change, and disaster resilience.

Kirsten Sayers stated that the organization works to support locally led solutions by walking alongside communities that are adapting to climate change and strengthening livelihoods. Bishop Kennedy noted that the local Church serves as a source of hope for people facing various hardships.

The Diocese of East Anglia held a Mass of Remembrance at St Edmund’s Catholic Church in Bungay to pray for babies lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death. The service brought together people from across the diocese to acknowledge the grief of bereaved parents and support families mourning their loss.

During the homily, Fr Simon spoke about the dignity of human life from conception and the pain experienced by families. He encouraged parents to entrust their children to God’s mercy and noted that faith in the resurrection provides hope amidst sorrow. The Mass included readings from Jeremiah and Luke, alongside music from the choir to assist with reflection.

The service coincided with Baby Loss Awareness Week, a national period of remembrance held from 9 to 15 October. The week serves to raise awareness and support those grieving the loss of a child.