Catholic New York

Cardinal Spellman High School president Dan O’Keefe, above left, receives highfives from students as he jogs past. His 101-mile run around the school track in the Bronx Sept. 23 and 24 raised funds for Spellman’s athletics and activities program.

Spellman President’s 101-Mile Run Inspires Students to Follow His Lead

Richard Salonia was jogging around the track at Cardinal Spellman High School with school president Dan O’Keefe and asked why he was running 101 miles to raise money for the school’s athletics and activities program. more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 10/4/22

Residents in Pawleys Island, S.C. walk past the partially destroyed Pawleys Pier Oct. 1 after Hurricane Ian swept through the area.

Florida Continues With Rescue Efforts as Hurricane Ian Heads North

As authorities in Florida continued rescue efforts, Catholic parishes and dioceses in the U.S. moved rapidly to collect aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, and U.S. President Joe Biden said it could take years to rebuild what was destroyed. more

By RHINA GUIDOS | 10/3/22

Catholic Leaders Preview Supreme Court Docket

The Supreme Court begins its new term Oct. 3, jumping right back into the fray with cases that take on affirmative action, voting, immigration, the environment and freedom of speech. more

By CAROL ZIMMERMANN | 10/2/22

Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 2. The pope begged Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine and condemned Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions. He also called upon Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be open to serious peace proposals.

Pope Tells Putin: Stop the War

With “rivers of blood and tears” still flowing in Ukraine and with the increasing threat of the use of nuclear weapons, Pope Francis begged Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Stop this spiral of violence and death.” more

By CINDY WOODEN | 10/2/22

Flies cover a malnourished child’s face at a camp for internally displaced people outside Baradere, Somalia, March 13. In a Sept. 29 message to Qu Dongyu, general director of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Pope Francis said the international community can no longer ignore the cries of the poor and the hungry who fall victim to food loss and waste.

Food Cannot Be Used as ‘Bargaining Chip,’ Pope says

The international community can no longer ignore the cries of the poor and the hungry who fall victim to food loss and waste, Pope Francis said. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 10/1/22

Pope Francis greets a young woman during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sept. 28.

Jesus Is the Best, Most Faithful Friend a Person Can Have, Pope Says

Jesus never abandons, coerces or blackmails anyone when they stray; rather, He patiently waits and is “our greatest and most faithful friend,” Pope Francis said. more

By CAROL GLATZ | 9/30/22

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, arrives to address the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in Manhattan Sept. 24.

Cardinal Parolin Calls Putin’s Nuclear Threat ‘Repugnant’

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warnings that he would consider using nuclear weapons is a “repugnant threat” that shows the urgency of moving to eliminate nuclear weapons from arsenals around the world, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. more

9/29/22

Pope Francis greets journalists aboard his flight from Rome to Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan Sept. 13. Pope Francis’ theme for the 2023 World Communication Day will be “Speak With the Heart: ‘Veritatem Facientes in Caritate’ (‘Speaking Truth in Love’),” the Vatican announced Sept. 29.

Vatican Announces Theme for World Communications Day

Pope Francis’ theme for the next World Communications Day is a call for a peaceful dialogue that allows for uncomfortable truths to be spoken of without resorting to contentious and hostile debate, the Vatican announced. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 9/29/22

Damaged boats in Fort Myers, Fla. are seen Sept. 29 after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction.

Hurricane Ian Leaves Catastrophe in Florida, Millions Without Power

It’s too early to tell the extent of the damage in the Catholic dioceses of Venice and St. Petersburg in Florida following a direct hit Sept. 28 by Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful hurricanes the state has seen. more

By RHINA GUIDOS | 9/29/22

Pope Francis Set to Be First Pontiff to Visit Bahrain

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis intends to visit the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain Nov. 3-6. more

By CAROL GLATZ | 9/28/22

Pope Francis meets with members of the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family at the Vatican Sept. 26. They were in Rome for their general chapter.

Seek Silence Amid Noisy World, Pope Tells Capuchin Sisters

The humility of silence can help Christians sift through the loud and divisive noise in the world in order to listen to and discern God’s will, Pope Francis told a group of Capuchin sisters. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 9/27/22

A Russian soldier stands guard at a polling station in Ukraine’s Donetsk region Sept. 23. At the end of voting Sept. 27, Russia is expected to announce that the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson voted to join Russia.

Ukraine Religious Leaders Call for Return of POWS, Criticize ‘Referendums’

Religious leaders in Ukraine called for the safe return of prisoners of war, civilian hostages and all those who were forcibly taken to Russia. more

9/27/22

Tourists visit Cathedral Beach at low tide in Ribadeo, Spain, Sept. 25.

Dialogue, Sustainability Should Be a Forefront of Tourism

While tourism was severely affected by Covid-19, the pandemic may also present an opportunity to revitalize and renew the sector, said Cardinal Michael Czerny. more

9/27/22

Military personnel stand near the ocean in Arida, Lebanon, near the Syrian border, Sept. 23 following the sinking of a migrant boat off the Syrian coast.

Cardinal Rai Denounces Migrant ‘Boats of Death’ Launching from Lebanon

Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai denounced the launching of “boats of death” from Lebanon following the drowning of nearly 100 migrants who had attempted to flee the crisis-stricken country. more

By DOREEN ABI RAAD | 9/26/22

Church Says No to Processions After Police Surround Parish in Nicaragua

Police in Nicaragua have thwarted the celebration of feast day processions for patron saints in a city considered iconic for the ruling Sandinista regime, which continues increasing its repression of the Catholic Church. more

By DAVID AGREN | 9/26/22

Pope Names Prefect, Secretary for Dicastery of Culture and Education

Pope Francis has named Portuguese Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça to be prefect of the new Dicastery for Culture and Education and has named Italian Msgr. Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi to be secretary of the dicastery. more

By CINDY WOODEN | 9/26/22

Pope Francis speaks as he celebrates the closing Mass of Italy’s National Eucharistic Congress at the municipal stadium in Matera, Italy, Sept. 25.

Welcome, Support, Accompany All Migrants, Pope Says

Marking the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis called on everyone to work together to build a more inclusive and fraternal future. more

By CAROL GLATZ | 9/26/22

Marriage Prep Faux Pas

Last month I highlighted some important topics that engaged couples should discuss before getting married. For example, the priest, deacon or parish specialist who is preparing them to receive the … more

By FATHER BOB PAGLIARI, C.Ss.R., Ph.D. | 9/26/22

Sister Anne Gallo, C.S.JB.

Sister Anne Gallo, C.S.JB., who served on Staten Island for 37 years, died Sept. 12 at Providence Rest Nursing Home in the Bronx. She was 88. Sister Anne served on Staten Island in the … more

9/23/22

Father Urbano Rodrigues

Father Urbano Rodrigues, parochial vicar of St. Lucy’s parish in the Bronx since 2017, died Sept. 9. He was 55. A Parish Requiem Mass was offered Sept. 18, with Cardinal Dolan as celebrant. … more

9/23/22