Author: Eric Deabill

SCRANTON – Catholic women from across northeastern and north central Pennsylvania and beyond are invited to gather at Marywood University for the highly anticipated 2026 Catholic Women’s Conference on June 5 and 6, 2026.

With the powerful theme “Courageous Faith,” this year’s event promises to be an inspiring and transformative experience for every woman in attendance.

From moving talks to spiritual enrichment, the Catholic Women’s Conference is an exciting event designed to fortify your faith, and help you suit up in your armor of truth and grab your shield of strength.

Courageous faith is more than just belief – it’s action.

It is the kind of belief that pushes forward even when fear, doubt, or uncertainty threaten to stop you.

It is about trusting deeply in what you know to be true, even when there’s no guarantee of success.

This faith shows up in your life when you stand firm in your values, when you choose to act in accordance with your beliefs and not just hold them inwardly. It’s a faith that lives boldly, stepping forward despite opposition, and refusing to compromise on truth.

At the Catholic Women’s Conference, courageous faith will come alive through inspirational talks, prayer, and community.

It will be a reminder that faith isn’t just something you have – it’s something you live.
The conference is a day of friendship, fun and faith!

The day will begin with the celebration of Mass with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

In addition, there will be opportunities for Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration, offering moments of deep reflection and spiritual renewal.

The conference will also feature uplifting music, a marketplace for faith-centered products and lunch, creating a full day of connection and enrichment.

Throughout the day, a series of dynamic keynote speakers will each tackle aspects of courageous faith.

Father Dan Reehil, Pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena Church in the Nashville-area, will open the conference with a talk on Spiritual Battle.

He will address the ongoing, unseen battle between good and evil that shapes every part of our lives.

He will explore the struggle between truth and deception, faith and doubt, and call all believers to take a stand for God’s values in an often chaotic world. His insights will challenge participants to reflect on their daily choices and the importance of standing firm in faith.

Francesca LaRosa will follow his presentation, blending music, scripture and reflections to inspire attendees to embody courageous faith in their lives.

LaRosa began her musical journey at the age of nine, playing at Mass with her father. By the end of high school, she had composed and recorded two albums for the Holy Liturgy.

Francesca pursued music education at Ball State University, excelling in vocal competitions and deepening her call to serve God through music.

She launched the instrumental piano channel ‘Keys of Peace,’ featured on Hallow.

With her husband David, a music producer and videographer, she created a YouTube channel to share her word-for-word Psalm settings in English and Spanish which quickly gained international recognition.

Her work has been featured on Sirius XM’s ‘The Catholic Channel,’ including ‘The Busted Halo Show’ and Gus Lloyd’s ‘Seize the Day’ show and over 10 million Youtube views. Francesca was honored with the Best New Singer award at the first annual Catholic Music Awards in Rome.

In the afternoon, Sue Brinkmann will continue the conversation with her session on Spiritual Battles in Daily Life.

Using scripture and real-life applications, Sue will help women recognize the spiritual battles they face every day. She will teach participants how to engage with these challenges with faith, discernment, and prayer, offering practical tools to navigate the struggles of life.

Her session will empower women to put on the full armor of God and walk in victory.

The conference hostess will be Mary Clare Hallman, Diocesan Secretary for Parish Life. Co-Chairs of the event are Mary Carroll Donahoe and Deborah Kennedy.

A special evening option is available Friday, June 5, for those who wish to dive deeper into the spiritual battles we face. There will be a special evening session with Father Dan Reehil and Sue Brinkmann at the Marian Chapel in the Swartz Center of Spiritual Life on the Marywood University campus.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2026

Dinner and Talk with Fr. Dan Reehil and Susan Brinkmann $50

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2026

Saturday Full Day Conference $75

ACCOMMODATIONS Friday night dormitory rooms include sheets and towels
Double and Single Room $100 per person

For Tickets visit: www.cwcnepa.com
Or Make your check payable to: The Diocese of Scranton
Mail to: Refresh Your Faith Conference
P.O. Box 14
Chinchilla, PA 18410

(OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV issued decrees advancing the sainthood causes of five candidates, including a Dutch nun who served in St. Louis in the early 20th century.

During a meeting April 27, with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the pope signed a decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Carmelite Sister Teresia of the Most Holy Trinity, born Teresa Ysseldijk, who died from an illness just a little over six years after arriving in the United States.

Born in the Netherlands in 1897, she entered the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus at age 19 and professed her vows in 1919. Eager to join her missionary sisters, the young nun traveled that same year to the United States.

However, she fell ill and was diagnosed with severe kidney disease. Despite her illness, she continued to serve at her convent in St. Charles, Missouri. According to her congregation’s website, Sister Teresia “wanted to serve God in the order, working in silent union with Him.”

“When work was no longer possible, she bore her pain silently, hidden from the world,” the congregation said. She died March 10, 1926 at age 28.

The other decrees approved by Pope Leo recognized:

— The martyrdom of Spanish Father Emanuele Berenguer Clusella, Montfort Brother of St. Gabriel Estanislao Ortega García and 48 companions, killed “in hatred of the faith” in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War.

— The offering of life of Spanish missionary Pedro Manual Salado, a lay member of the “Hogar de Nazaret” association, who died in 2012 in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, when he collapsed after rescuing seven children drowning at sea.

— The heroic virtues of Mother Maria Eletta di Gesù, an Italian Discalced Carmelite, who was born in Terni, Italy, in 1605 and died in Prague in what is now known as the Czech Republic in 1663.

— The heroic virtues of Italian Sister Maria Raffaela De Giovanna, founder of the Congregation of the Tertiary Minim Sisters of Saint Francis of Paola. She was born in Genova in 1870 and died there in 1933.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – King Charles III appealed to the Christian faith and invoked “shared values” between the United Kingdom and the United States as he called for peace around the globe during an address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress April 28.

“Mr. Speaker,” Charles said, directing his comments to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., “for many here, and for myself, the Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us, not only personally, but together as members of our community.”

“Having devoted a large part of my life to interfaith relationships and greater understanding, it is that faith in the triumph of light over darkness which I have found confirmed countless times. Through it I am inspired by the profound respect that develops as people of different faiths grow in their understanding of each other,” he said.

“It is why it is my hope — my prayer — that in these turbulent times, working together and with our international partners, we can stem the beating of plowshares into swords,” he continued.

Noting that Christians are still celebrating the season of Easter, which he called “the season that most strengthens my hope,” the king said, “I believe with all my heart that the essence of our two nations is a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen neutral understanding and to value all people of all faiths and of none.”

Charles’ comments came amid combat operations in Iran initiated by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 that have been criticized by world leaders, including Pope Leo XIV and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In defense of U.S. combat operations, the Trump administration has argued the Iranian regime presented grave nuclear threats.

During his speech in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain, Charles noted a certain irony in “my five-times great-grandfather, the third King George” as a central figure in that story, quipping, “Please rest assured I’m not here as part of some cunning rearguard action.”

U.S.-British alliance, he said, has been an “indispensable partnership” that should continue to be built upon.

Charles gave the speech on the second day of a four-day state visit with Queen Camilla to the U.S. to mark the nation’s semiquincentennial, with stops in Washington, New York and Virginia. The king said they plan to pay their respects “to the victims, the families and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss” on Sept. 11, 2001, while in New York.

“We stood with you then, and we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten,” he said.

Citing the international cooperation after that attack, when Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty was invoked for the first time in the common defense of the U.S. as a NATO member, “we answered the call together, as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder through two World Wars, the Cold War, Afghanistan and moments that have defined our shared security.”

“Today, Mr. Speaker, that same unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace,” he said.

The plea comes as Trump and some Republicans have grown critical of U.S. support for Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s invasion.

Elsewhere in his comments, Charles said that “from the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”

“I pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth and across the world, and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward looking,” he said.

Charles also condemned political violence after a gunman’s attempted assault April 25 on the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, members of the Cabinet and lawmakers were in attendance.

“Let me say with unshakeable resolve: Such acts of violence will never succeed,” he said.

(OSV News) – Organizers in Seoul, South Korea, announced five patron saints for World Youth Day 2027 that reflect the themes of truth, peace and love that are at the heart of the youth gathering.

The five saints selected by the WYD Organizing Committee include: St. John Paul II, who founded the World Youth Day celebration; St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean Catholic priest, and companions who were martyred; St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron saint of immigrants; St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of victims of human trafficking and modern slavery; and St. Carlo Acutis, the millennial saint known for his use of technology to evangelize.

According to the Asian Catholic news site Licas News, organizers said the lives of the patron saints reflected on issues relevant today, including persecution, migration and social struggle, making them appropriate guides for the global event.

The process of choosing the event’s patron saints began in late 2024, including a survey of young people, youth ministers and pastoral workers, followed by deliberations by the organizing committee, Licas News reported.

Volunteers also studied the lives and spirituality of the saints chosen to prepare prayers and their respective symbolic representations. Among the symbols chosen were a crozier for St. John Paul II and a computer for St. Carlo Acutis.

Commenting on the announcement, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, said the patron saints “play a fundamental role in the preparation” of every WYD.

“They invite young people, formators, and pastors to reflect on the gift of God’s call, on our baptismal, priestly, religious, and marital vocations, encouraging us to respond to it with generosity and courage in following Christ, who has conquered the world, as the theme of the upcoming WYD reminds us,” he said, according to Licas News.

Cardinal Farrell expressed his hope that the lives and witness of the five patron saints “inspire young people around the world, especially in contexts marked by difficulties and persecution, to see that holiness is not a distant ideal, to fix their gaze on Christ and to respond generously to His call.”

Korean Archbishop Peter Soon-Taick Chung of Seoul, president of the WYD organizing committee, noted that each saint “offers a concrete path for living out the faith amidst the realities that young people face today.”

“I hope that young people will discover in these saints examples for their own lives and, through the journey of preparation for World Youth Day, forge a deep spiritual bond with them,” he said.

The official website for World Youth Day 2027 was updated with biographical information on each saint. Organizers also launched an interactive site, titled “Meet Your Patron Saint,” where users can take a short quiz to match with one of the five saints.

(OSV News) – Following a gunman’s attempted assault on the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, forcing the evacuation of the president, first lady and members of the Cabinet, the head of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference denounced the violence and called for all to resort to prayer.

“We are grateful the lives of the President, those who protect him, and everyone in attendance last night were spared from serious harm,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement April 26.

“Let us all pray for our elected leaders and public officials that they may receive God’s blessings,” he said. “Because human life is a precious gift, there is no room for violence of any kind in our society.”

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several Cabinet members were whisked out of the annual dinner with the White House press corps April 25, after a man rushed toward the main ballroom where the event was held and briefly exchanged gunfire with law enforcement.

According to The Associated Press, witnesses at the Washington Hilton heard about five to eight gunshots. Law enforcement told AP the suspect opened fire before Secret Service agents subdued him. One Secret Service officer was hospitalized after the alleged gunman shot at his bullet-proof vest but was released the next morning, according to the agency.

Attendees — largely hundreds of journalists who cover the White House — took shelter under tables, with some providing moment-by-moment updates to their various outlets amid the confusion.

More details emerged in two evening press briefings held shortly after the ballroom had been cleared, with Trump speaking to reporters at the White House, flanked by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and FBI Director Kash Patel.

During the briefing, Trump said the Secret Service officer injured in the attack had been shot from a very close distance.

A separate briefing was subsequently held at the hotel, where Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, Jeffrey Carroll, interim police chief of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department, and federal law enforcement updated the media.

Bowser and Carroll said the suspect appeared to be a lone actor, with Carroll noting the individual had charged a Secret Service checkpoint outside the ballroom, “armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives,” before being “intercepted” by Secret Service agents.

Carroll also confirmed that “law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the individual,” although the suspect “was not struck.”

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, who was in attendance at the dinner, told media during the briefing that the suspect had so far been charged with two counts — using a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

The suspect was scheduled to be arraigned in federal District Court on April 27, and Pirro said there will be “many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation.”

Media reports have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a video game developer and teacher from the Los Angeles suburb of Torrence, California, who recently won a “teacher of the month” award.

After being evacuated, Trump posted on his platform Truth Social that “the shooter has been apprehended,” and that he had “recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON.'”

He commended the Secret Service and law enforcement for acting “quickly and bravely.”

Trump and the White House Correspondents’ Association had initially wanted to continue with the program, but deferred to law enforcement’s judgement to cancel the event and evacuate. The event is expected to be rescheduled within 30 days.

Tom Bateman, a State Department correspondent for BBC News, reported that one Secret Service agent described the ballroom as a “crime scene” while ordering attendees to vacate it.

The White House Correspondents’ Association was founded in 1914, with its first dinner hosted in 1921. The association, which counts close to 900 members from almost 300 outlets, works to ensure robust journalistic coverage of the White House.

Shortly after the incident, Bishop David J. Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio, released a statement deploring the attack and calling for prayer.

“The United States is built on freedom and respect for all. There is no room for violence that
endangers the life of any human being,” said Bishop Bonnar.

“Moreover,” he said, “the issue of gun violence must be addressed. Violence is never the answer.”

Bishop Bonnar added, “We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down. We pray for peace in moments of disagreement and discord.”

“As we celebrate our 250th birthday may we live as a nation under God with liberty and justice for all,” said Bishop Bonnar, who concluded with a prayer of petition: “For the healing of divisions in our country, that we might always strive to be one nation, under God, and that hatred and violence will be cast out from every heart in our land and throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord.”

Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, a member of the Trump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission, posted a message on the X social media platform April 26, expressing his gratitude that the president and his entourage were unhurt.

“May I raise my voice against the viciousness and tribalism that are so prevalent on the internet and that contribute mightily to the violence we see in our political culture,” he said. “Can we please remember that it is possible to disagree with a politician’s ideas without demonizing and de-humanizing him? Jesus commended us to love our enemies, and that includes our ideological opponents.”

Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia told OSV News, “It is deeply disturbing that the culture and expression of violence continues to spread in our culture, country, and globally.”

He said the attack “only contributes to an anxiety that is ascendant” in the nation.

“We Eastern Catholics — who endure in Ukraine, in the Middle East, in India and elsewhere political violence — strongly condemn what happened in Washington,” and “call all people to a personal and communal stance of peace,” said the archbishop.

“Pope Leo, by his personal example of serenity and moral clarity, and by his prophetic words, has given us a contemporary encouragement to live the life of Jesus,” he said, adding, “Let us say again and again, peace be with you.”

Rob DeFrancesco, executive director of the Catholic Media Association, told OSV News the organization was “deeply unsettled by the attack.”

“We are grateful to the brave men and women who stopped the assailant. We are also mindful that journalists today, including our own members, often work in environments where their profession puts them in danger,” he said.

“Our mission is to share the truth in love,” said DeFrancesco. “That mission requires a society where reporters can seek the truth without the threat of violence.”

(OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV sent a message of support to participants at a Catholic university event marking 15 years since the abolition of the death penalty in his home state of Illinois.

On the same day, the Trump administration announced plans to expand the available methods of federal execution, including bringing back the firing squad and the electric chair.

In a two-minute video released April 24, Pope Leo addressed those on hand that day at DePaul University in Chicago — some 25 miles north of where the pope grew up — for a gathering titled “A Beacon of Light in Darkness.”

The commemoration, which took place at the school’s student center, featured renowned anti-death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, and former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who in 2011 signed the state bill abolishing capital punishment, commuting the sentences of the 15 death row inmates at the time to life in prison.

“The Catholic Church has consistently taught that each human life, from the moment of conception until natural death, is sacred and deserves to be protected,” said Pope Leo in his message. “Indeed, the right to life is the very foundation of every other human right.”

“For this reason,” he said, “only when a society safeguards the sanctity of human life will it flourish and prosper.”

Pope Leo then summarized the Catholic Church’s position on the death penalty, the formulation of which Pope Francis clarified in 2018, revising paragraph 2267 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church — a move that built on St. John Paul II’s frequent and longstanding calls to abandon the death penalty.

“In this regard, we affirm that the dignity of the person is not lost even after various serious crimes are committed,” said Pope Leo, paraphrasing a line of the passage — which in turn drew on the words of St. John Paul II, who in his 1995 encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” wrote, “Not even a murderer loses his personal dignity, and God himself pledges to guarantee this.”

“Furthermore, effective systems of detention can be and have been developed that protect citizens,” Pope Leo said, continuing his summary of the Catechism passage.

Such systems “at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption,” he said.

“This is why Pope Francis and my recent predecessors repeatedly insisted that the common good can be safeguarded, and the requirements of justice can be met, without recourse to capital punishment,” the pope explained.

“Consequently,” said Pope Leo — quoting the catechism’s citation of an October 2017 address by Pope Francis — “the Church teaches that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”

“I therefore join you in celebrating the decision made by the governor of Illinois in 2011, and I likewise offer my support to those who advocate for the abolition of the death penalty in the United States of America and around the world,” Pope Leo said. “I pray that your efforts will lead to a greater acknowledgment of the dignity of every person, and will inspire others to work for the same just cause.”

The pope added, “With these sentiments, I cordially invoke upon all of you the divine blessings of wisdom, joy and peace.”

In an April 24 statement, Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network — a national organization working to end the death penalty and advance justice solutions in line with Catholic teaching — said the pope “makes it crystal clear that the death penalty is a priority for the universal Church.”

“It was absolutely thrilling to hear the first American Pope’s encouraging words about death penalty abolition efforts in his home state and country,” she said. “It indicates the closeness of the Holy Father Pope Leo to the Church’s indefatigable work across the nation to end this death-dealing practice.”

She also noted that the message came just a few days after Pope Leo’s address at a prison in Equatorial Guinea, where he assured inmates, “Life is not defined solely by one’s mistakes, which are often the result of difficult and complex circumstances. There is always the possibility to start over, learn and become a new person.”

The pope also told the inmates, “Brothers and sisters, you are not alone.”

Also on April 24, the U.S. Department of Justice said it would seek to streamline the death penalty process and increase the means of administering the federal death penalty, directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to restore the lethal drug pentobarbital and “additional manners of execution.”

“The additional manners of execution that BOP should consider adopting include the firing squad, electrocution, and lethal gas — each of which the Supreme Court has found to be consistent with the Eighth Amendment,” stated the DOJ Office of Legal Policy document “Restoring and Strengthening the Federal Death Penalty.”

Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976 — the same year the nation celebrated its bicentennial — 1,662 men and women have been executed in the U.S., according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. As of April 24, eight have been executed in 2026.

The center noted that “executions have declined significantly over the past two decades,” with most “concentrated in a few states and a small number of outlier counties.”

Oklahoma had the highest per capita execution rate from 1976-2024, followed by Texas and Missouri, according to the center’s data.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – A national garden in the nation’s capital proposed by survivors of clergy sexual abuse promises to foster healing not only for survivors but also for the Catholic Church as a whole.

“We can’t heal alone,” said Mike Hoffman, chair of the National Healing Garden Working Group. “We want to heal with you, with our Church, with the bishops, with the priests. We want to heal together,” added the executive director of the National Catholic Restorative Justice Initiative, a group dedicated to restorative justice for survivors of Catholic clergy abuse.

Hoffman, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by clergy, and Deacon Bernie Nojadera, executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, spoke with OSV News about the efforts behind the National Healing Garden, which will be on the grounds of The Catholic University of America in Washington. The garden is planned for the east side of Caldwell Hall by the St. Francis Peace Garden.

In a statement, Peter Kilpatrick, president of Catholic University, said that the garden “will serve as a tangible sign of God’s mercy and an extension of our commitment to lift up human dignity.”

The university is managing fundraising efforts as well as collaborating on the design. Organizers are seeking to raise $200,000 by spring 2027 to fund the garden that will include flowers, shrubbery, seating, plaques and a prayer labyrinth representing the nonlinear pathway of healing. The garden, which is currently being designed, will serve as a healing space for survivors of clergy abuse and for anyone who has been abused or impacted by abuse.

“Our outreach is to all survivors across the country of any kind of abuse … no matter their faith background, no matter where they came from and no matter who the perpetrator was,” Hoffman said.

The vision statement by the National Healing Garden Working Group — a group of seven clergy abuse survivors and other members including Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala of Washington driving the garden — reflects this desire.

Members of The Catholic Project, a Catholic University initiative dedicated to collaboration between clergy and laity in the wake of the Church’s sexual abuse crisis, were also part of the working group from the beginning, including Stephen White, former executive director, and Sara Perla, acting director.

“As clergy sexual abuse survivors from across the United States, in relationship with the Church, we offer empathy and acknowledgement to all survivors of any kind of abuse,” the statement reads. “In this sacred healing space, we invite the entire Body of Christ into the journey of accompaniment and reconciliation, imploring God’s mercy to bring healing to the lives of everyone harmed by abuse in the Church.”

It concludes: “Pledge with us to continue working to respect, protect, defend, and restore the dignity that all deserve as children of God.”

The garden is put forth in relationship with the Church, particularly the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People. As liaison between the working group and the bishops’ committee, Deacon Nojadera said the working group of survivors did the heavy lifting for this new project.

“In the end, I’m hoping the Church transforms, converts and ends up even a healthier and holier Church — and that’s going to be with the assistance of our survivors, of our survivor-victims, who, in a way, are showing us what it is they need for this healing, for their healing,” he said.

The garden also has the prayerful support of nine bishops and archbishops, eight Catholic organizations, five Catholic academic institutions and three parishes.

The garden draws inspiration from other, more local healing gardens across the country, including one in Chicago, which Hoffman was also behind, and five in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Hoffman, who also serves as chair of the Hope and Healing Committee of the Archdiocese of Chicago, said the Chicago garden helped him in his healing journey. He first came forward to tell his story of clergy abuse in 2006. He called a meeting with the late Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, a Catholic University alumnus, his “major healing milestone.” As a Church leader, the cardinal apologized to him.

“One reason why I’m here today is because I could unburden myself to Cardinal George, and he could hear that,” Hoffman said of their 2008 meeting.

Hoffman stressed the importance of placing gardens in public, visible spaces. He said how these gardens are used is also important. The Chicago garden, which has been in place for over a decade, holds an annual child abuse prevention prayer service attended by hundreds.

“That’s healing to me,” Hoffman said. “The issue has driven so many of us apart, and here is a healthy and healing space that has brought us together.”

He said organizers plan to hold similar events in the national garden.

The creation of a national garden, or “a permanent site of healing, prayer, and accompaniment for victim-survivors of clergy sex abuse and The Dallas Charter | USCCBfor the broader Church,” is one of four proposals identified by Hoffman’s NCRJI.

Hoffman suggested the garden’s opening might coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Dallas Charter in 2027. The charter, formally called the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” is a set of procedures from the USCCB for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and prevention of further acts of abuse.

At the USCCB, Deacon Nojadera hoped the garden will remind God’s people that “they are wonderfully created in the image and likeness of God” and of “the reality that every one of us is unconditionally loved.”

(OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV concluded his first trip to Africa April 23, capping a four-country visit marked by urgent calls for peace, direct engagement with conflict zones and a backdrop of international political tension.

Traveling April 13–23 through Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, the pope met civil and religious leaders, celebrated public Masses and encouraged Catholics to remain steadfast witnesses to the Gospel.

His visit brought him into regions scarred by violence, including Cameroon’s separatist conflict, while also addressing inequality and corruption in Angola, promoting interreligious dialogue in Algeria and a just society in Equatorial Guinea.

— Algeria —

Pope Leo’s 11-day trip began with an unexpected controversy after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized him in a late-night April 12 post on Truth Social.

Trump called the pope “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” accusing him of believing “it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” The remarks followed the pope’s criticism of the Iran war and his repeated calls for peace.

Journalists aboard the papal flight quickly pressed for a response.

“I have no fear, neither of the Trump administration nor of speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do,” Pope Leo said.

“We are not politicians,” he added. “We are not looking to make foreign policy … but I do believe in the message of the Gospel: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ is the message that the world needs to hear today.”

The remarks sparked backlash from religious and political leaders, but the pope declined to escalate tensions.

“I don’t want to get into a debate,” he said, emphasizing that his mission is to proclaim peace.

“I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”

Despite the dispute, Pope Leo struck a positive tone before landing, saying he was “very happy to visit the land of St. Augustine again.”

In Algiers, he visited the Great Mosque, calling the encounter a sign “that we can learn to respect one another, live in harmony and build a world of peace.”

Later, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa overlooking the Mediterranean, he honored Algeria’s Christian martyrs and highlighted interreligious dialogue in the Muslim-majority nation.

The basilica, he said, is a “sign of our desire for peace and unity,” symbolizing “a Church of living stones, where communion between Christians and Muslims takes shape.”

On April 14, the pope traveled to Annaba, near the ruins of ancient Hippo Regius, where St. Augustine spent his final years. The visit held personal significance; Pope Leo has often described himself as “a son of Augustine.”

Celebrating Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine, he urged Christians to follow the saint’s example, “fervently seeking the truth and serving Christ with ardent faith.”

“Be heirs to this tradition, bearing witness through fraternal charity … as a hope of salvation for the world,” he said.

Addressing Algeria’s small Christian community, he praised their quiet witness.

“Your presence in this country is like incense,” he said. “A glowing grain that spreads fragrance because it gives glory to the Lord and joy and comfort to so many.”

— Cameroon —

During his flight to Cameroon, Pope Leo reflected on Algeria as “a special blessing,” noting that St. Augustine’s life offers a vision of unity and respect across differences.

That message carried into Cameroon, a country scarred by separatist violence. Addressing authorities in Yaoundé, the pope acknowledged the suffering caused by conflict in the English-speaking northwest and southwest regions.

Since 2017, fighting between separatist militias and government forces has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced over 500,000.

“Lives have been lost, families displaced, children deprived of schooling and young people no longer see a future,” he said. “Behind the numbers are the faces, stories and shattered hopes of real people.”

Days before his arrival, separatist groups declared a three-day ceasefire to allow safe travel during the visit.

The highlight of the April 15–18 stop was the pope’s visit to Bamenda, in the heart of the conflict zone. Addressing Catholics at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the pope was met with enthusiasm after declaring, “I am here to proclaim peace.”

After hearing testimony from local residents — including a chief imam who described a deadly attack on a mosque — the pope strongly condemned violence carried out in God’s name.

“But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain,” he said, warning against dragging what is sacred “into darkness and filth.”

Celebrating Mass for 20,000 people at Bamenda’s airport, he urged hope rooted in faith.

“This is the moment to change, to transform the story of this country,” he said. “The time has come, today and not tomorrow.”

He called on Cameroonians to “restore the mosaic of unity” by embracing the country’s diversity.

On April 17, he celebrated Mass in Douala for an estimated 120,000 faithful, urging Africans to share God’s love by feeding the hungry and offering spiritual nourishment.

Though the visit brought hope, media coverage continued to frame the trip through the lens of tensions with Trump — something the pope later addressed directly.

— Angola —

While the pope’s warning to those who use God to justify violence resonated with suffering Cameroonians in Bamenda, several media outlets ran headlines insinuating that Pope Leo was making an indirect dig at Trump.

En route to Angola, Pope Leo clarified that his remarks in Cameroon had been prepared weeks earlier and were not directed at the U.S. president.

“My speeches were written well before the president ever commented,” he said. “It is not in my interest to debate,” adding “there has been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all its aspects.”

Arriving in Luanda, he shifted focus to Angola’s challenges and the Church’s role in offering hope. Home to more than 20 million Catholics, Angola has deep Christian roots but continues to struggle with inequality, corruption and the legacy of a civil war that claimed up to 800,000 lives.

Addressing government leaders, the pope urged them to prioritize the common good.

“Place the common good before every particular interest,” he said. “Never confuse your own part with the whole.”

He warned that the people have suffered when power is abused.

“They bear the scars not only of material exploitation, but also of the presumption of imposing an idea upon others,” he said.

On April 19, Pope Leo celebrated Mass for about 100,000 faithful in Kilamba. Reflecting on the Gospel story of the road to Emmaus, he cautioned against despair in societies marked by prolonged suffering.

“When one is long immersed in a history characterized by pain, one can risk losing hope and remaining paralyzed by discouragement,” he said.

Afterward, he traveled to the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, southern Africa’s most visited Catholic shrine, where tens of thousands had gathered — many camping for days in intense heat.

Calling the shrine a place where “the heart of the Church” is alive, he noted its enduring role in Angola’s spiritual life.

“For centuries, many have prayed here in joy and sorrow,” he said. “Mama Muxima has quietly kept the heart of the Church alive and beating.”

On April 20, the pope flew east to Saurimo, near Angola’s largest diamond mine. There, he visited a nursing home housing 74 elderly residents, many rejected by their families due to superstitious beliefs.

“The care of the weakest is a sign of the quality of a nation’s social life,” he said. “The elderly must not only be assisted, but listened to, because they preserve the wisdom of a people.”

Celebrating Mass for tens of thousands, he also addressed exploitation linked to the diamond industry.

“How often the hope of many is frustrated by violence, exploited by the overbearing and defrauded by the rich,” he said.

“We were not born to become slaves,” he added. “Every form of oppression, violence and dishonesty negates the resurrection of Christ, the supreme gift of our freedom.”

— Equatorial Guinea —

The final leg of Pope Leo’s 11-day journey took him to Equatorial Guinea. Upon landing on the island of Malabo, the pope was welcomed by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled the oil-rich Central African nation since seizing power in a 1979 coup and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most authoritarian leaders.

Nevertheless, in his address to the country’s civil authorities, the pope appealed for justice and ethical governance in a country long criticized for corruption and human rights abuses.

Drawing from St. Augustine’s classic work “The City of God,” Pope Leo noted that the “city of God” is characterized by love, especially for the poor, while the “earthly city … is centered upon the proud love of self, on the lust for power and worldly glory that leads to destruction.”

“Every human being can benefit from the ancient realization of living on earth as a pilgrim,” he said. “It is essential to discern the difference between that which lasts and that which passes, remaining free from the pursuit of unjust wealth and the illusion of dominion.”

Celebrating Mass April 22 at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the eastern city of Mongomo, the second-largest Catholic Church in Africa, the pope renewed his call to the country’s leaders and citizens to prioritize the common good.

“May the Lord help you to become a society in which everyone, each according to their respective responsibilities, works ever more fully to serve the common good rather than private interests, bridging the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged,” he said.

In his final Mass in Malabo Stadium April 23, Pope Leo offered a word of hope to the country’s Catholics, urging them to seek strength, justice and hope from the Gospel and the sacraments.

Encouraging the faithful to “joyfully proclaim” that “Christ is everything for us,” Pope Leo reminded Christians that in Jesus, “we find the fullness of life and meaning.”

“Our problems do not disappear in the Lord’s presence, but they are illuminated,” he said. “Just as every cross finds redemption in Jesus, so too the story of our lives finds its meaning in the Gospel.”

As the Mass concluded, the pope bid farewell to the African continent, saying that his visit was “an invaluable treasure of faith, hope, and charity.”

Highlighting the continent’s significance, the pope said that “today, Africa is called to contribute significantly to the holiness and missionary character of the Christian people.”

“I entrust this intention to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, to whom I commend myself wholeheartedly, as well as your families, your communities, your nation, and all the peoples of Africa,” the pope said.

SCRANTON – The Diocese of Scranton will celebrate its annual Mother’s Day Adoption Mass on Sunday, May 10, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

This liturgy prayerfully recognizes all mothers, with a special emphasis on adoptive and foster mothers. The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

The Mother’s Day Adoption Mass is open to the public and all faithful are invited to attend.

CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton will broadcast the Mass live. A livestream will also be provided on the Diocese of Scranton website, YouTube channel and across all Diocesan social media platforms.

In his first year as the successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV has offered the Catholic Church a renewed reflection on the importance of motherhood and maternity.

Through his pastoral tone and public messages, he has emphasized that motherhood is a sacred gift, and maternity is at the heart of the Church’s mission to protect, nurture and evangelize.

As the world grows increasingly more complex, Pope Leo XIV calls the Catholic faithful to rediscover the foundational role of mothers in both the Church and society.

On Mother’s Day 2025, Pope Leo issued a heartfelt message from the Vatican, offering blessings to all mothers, especially those in heaven. In doing so, he reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s deep gratitude for the maternal vocation.

In a formal message to the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, Pope Leo XIV framed maternity as a vocation essential to the Catholic Church’s life, and at the Jubilee of Families last year shared that a family’s love, when grounded in Christ, becomes “a sign of peace for the world.”

While Mother’s Day is not a liturgical or Catholic observance, it is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the beautiful vocation of motherhood and the gift of human life. It calls us to cherish the gift of life that we receive from our mothers and to pray for all women to whom God has entrusted life in a very special way.

(OSV News) – Ahead of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s Sept. 24 beatification, the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, recently released a schedule of events, inviting those who plan to travel to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, for the beatification to “go deeper” and “transform your trip into a sacred journey.”

“The Sheen Pilgrimage is a spiritual experience centered around prayer, reflection, and celebration,” the diocese said. “Beginning in Peoria, IL, on September 15, this pilgrimage includes the anniversary of Sheen’s ordination, the historic Beatification Mass, and culminates in celebratory Masses and the Sheen Award Gala.”

The schedule begins with a nine-day novena of holy hours at 7 p.m. every evening at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria from Sept. 15-23 and a Sunday, Sept. 20 Anniversary Mass of Sheen’s Ordination at the cathedral at 3 p.m., which requires tickets.

The festivities will continue in St. Louis with Vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis at 5 p.m. on Sept. 23, also requiring tickets.

On the day of the beatification, there will be an expo for attendees at The Dome at America’s Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., adoration and confession available at 9 a.m., and a pre-Mass show at 10 a.m.

“With anticipation of a great number of people wanting to participate, we chose (The Dome) because of availability, being indoors, and the close proximity to the Diocese of Peoria,” Bishop Tylka said March 25 when details of the beatification were announced.

Following the 2 p.m. Beatification Mass, there will be veneration of a relic of Sheen from 4 to 6 p.m.

Masses of Thanksgiving and various parish talks will take place in the Diocese of Peoria on Sept. 25, and the Sheen Award Gala, a ticketed event, will get underway in Peoria Civic Center at 6 p.m. that evening.

Masses of Thanksgiving, including a Byzantine Rite Mass of Thanksgiving, will also be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Peoria on Sept. 26.

The diocese has more information and tickets for the events that require them at celebratesheen.com.

“Whether you come for a day or the entire week,” the diocese said, “this is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a remarkable spiritual leader and grow in faith alongside pilgrims from around the world.”