Author: Eric Deabill

PARIS (OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV will make history during his Sept. 25-28 visit to France as the first pope to venerate the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil, the relic long believed to be the seamless robe worn by Christ during his Passion.

On the evening of his arrival in Paris Sept. 25, he will go to the Stade de France — an iconic venue for the 2024 Olympic Games, located north of Paris in the city of Saint-Denis — to take part in a prayer vigil attended by 80,000 young people ages 17 to 35.

On this occasion, he will venerate the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil, immediately after visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, where the pontiff is scheduled to pray before the crown of thorns. The tunic will be brought to the stadium from the basilica in Argenteuil especially for the event, a move local authorities have called “exceptional,” “unprecedented” and “historic.”

“In modern times, the tunic has never been officially taken out of the basilica,” Argenteuil’s official website stated. “This is a major first, just as (Pope) Leo XIV will be the first pope to behold it.”

The Holy Tunic of Argenteuil has been venerated as Christ’s tunic in France for over 1,200 years. Emperor Charlemagne received it around the year 800 from Empress Irene of Constantinople. He entrusted it to his daughter Theodrada, who was abbess of the Abbey of Argenteuil. Over the following centuries, the village of Argenteuil became an important pilgrimage site in France, attracting kings and queens eager to venerate the tunic, including St. Louis in the 13th century.

During the French Revolution, the parish priest of Argenteuil cut the tunic into pieces to better hide them and thus protect them from looting by the revolutionaries. In the 19th century, it was almost entirely sewn back together, and placed in a special reliquary inside the new Basilica of St. Denis in Argenteuil. From then on, it was displayed for public veneration every 50 years, until — following its restoration in 2016 — it was decided not to wait that long between each display.

In April and May 2025, the Diocese of Pontoise organized the last special public display on the occasion of the Jubilee of Hope. The event generated immense enthusiasm, drawing more than 200,000 pilgrims of all ages and social backgrounds.

Since July, a 39-year-old Parisian carpenter, Gabriel Hostachy, a practicing Catholic, has been working to prepare a special reliquary for the special display aligned with papal presence. Made of oak and linden wood, with a glass panel that allows the tunic to be seen, it is over 12 feet tall and was designed to withstand any attempted break-in or theft.

The tunic itself is made of brown wool. It is 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. Recent scientific research results vary but acknowledge that the fabric is contemporary with Eastern textiles from the first centuries of the Christian era. The bloodstains on it are of the same blood type as those on the Shroud of Turin.

Originally seamless, the tunic is often presented as an opportunity to pray for Christian unity, in remembrance of the moment when Christ’s clothes were divided at the time of his crucifixion, when the soldiers decided not to “tear it,” as the Gospel of John recalls: “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” soldiers said to each other, “in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled: ‘They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots.'”

Bishop Benoît Bertrand of Pontoise, who is officially the “Guardian of the Holy Tunic,” since Argenteuil is located in his diocese, places great importance on the concern for Christian unity.

In fact, as the last public display of the tunic was taking place, many of the cardinals planned to attend could not join as they were called to Rome for the conclave.

The disappointment over the lack of celebrating the display of the tunic in the presence of world’s top cardinals turned “into intense prayer for the Church, and for the future pope,” the bishop of Pontoise told OSV News at the time.

The theme of unity will be central during the vigil at the stadium, which will bring together young people from a wide variety of social backgrounds. A large number of young Catholics from the Diocese of Saint-Denis, known for its working-class neighborhoods, with a significant population of immigrant origin, will be present, along with some of their non-Christian friends.

Many young people from Paris and other dioceses will also be attending, including some who regularly attend charismatic communities or participate in the Pentecost Pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres, which follows Latin Mass.

In August, tickets to attend the vigil with the pope were snapped up within minutes of registration opening. As a result, many young people will watch it on video Friday evening during events organized by parishes or Catholic schools.

PARIS (OSV News) – As France prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV, the country’s Catholics hope for a “breath” of “new life” into their Church from the pope.

They don’t know the pontiff well, but are still counting on the “Leo effect,” a newly released survey has shown.

According to the Sept. 15 poll conducted by the French Institute of Public Opinion, or IFOP, and commissioned by Catholic media outlets Famille Chrétienne, Aleteia and RCF Notre Dame, more than a quarter of respondents — 26% — said Pope Leo’s apostolic visit could “breathe new life into the Church in France.”

Asked what they would like Pope Leo to address in the country, nearly 1 in 3, or 28%, said “peace and global conflicts,” with the respondents also hoping “he will speak candidly about the issue of sexual abuse.”

While 58% of French respondents don’t have an opinion on whether Pope Leo defends Catholic values well, 32% of those who will welcome the pope for the Sept. 25-28 visit to Paris, Lourdes and Metz said the American pope defends them “quite well.”

French commentators point out that the country’s Catholic community is looking forward to “Leo’s effect.”

For Jérôme Fourquet, director of the opinion department at IFOP, French Catholics are looking for a momentum similar to the one seen during World Youth Day 1997 with St. John Paul II.

“One of the goals of (Pope) Leo XIV’s visit to France is precisely to create such moments of fervor,” he told Famille Chrétienne, commenting on the newest survey.

For Bishop Pierre-Antoine Bozo, spokesman for the French bishops’ conference, “there is a genuine thirst in the heart of modern man,” and in France, “this spiritual curiosity is awakening” and is seen widely through a record number of baptized Catholics.

“I would add that the pope’s message has the power to resonate with the existential aspirations of many French people,” he said. “He comes to light a spark on fertile ground,” he told Famille Chrétienne.

Fourquet predicts that “those who are 15, 20 or 25 years old today” and who take part in events with the pope — “will later be able to testify to the extraordinary impact it had on their lives.” For some “it will even shape their life choices,” he said, pointing out to many priests admitting in the past they found their vocation through WYD 1997.

While “Leo XIV is not very well known to the French public,” Bishop Bozo added, this apostolic journey “is precisely the opportunity for them to get to know him — to meet him not only as the head of the Church but also as Robert Prevost, with his own distinct personality.”

What French Catholics greatly appreciate, and wait for, the survey has shown, is the papal message of peace.

“In a world defined by sound and fury, (Pope) Leo XIV’s personality stands out very clearly indeed,” Forquet emphasized. “He is a figure of an era where aggression has become the norm,” and in this moment “There is a real need for a stabilizing force,” he said. Pope Leo “answers this latent expectation among a segment of the population.”

Nearly 600,000 people have registered to attend the pope’s Mass in Paris on Sept. 26 — a truly massive turnout, according to observers.

Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris described it as “a number that exceeds all our expectations” in a Sept. 16 press release.

“Given this large turnout, the Archdiocese of Paris is setting up an additional area, secured by law enforcement,” he said, announcing that the area for participants was extended but registration has been closed for that event.

Still, sociologist Yann Raison du Cleuziou cautioned that enthusiasm does not signal a broad Catholic revival.

For Raison du Cleuziou, professor of political science, historian, sociologist of religion and one of the most renowned experts on French Catholicism, the numbers are not yet proving a comeback of Catholicism as a major force in French society.

“We should not conclude from this that Catholicism is regaining significant influence” as “secularization continues in France,” he told OSV News.

“The enthusiasm for the reopening of Notre Dame in 2024 was genuine,” he said, noting “renewed spiritual vitality in certain parishes and movements, and an objective increase in adult baptisms in recent years,” but the number of practicing Catholics, he said, “continues to decline.”

According to Raison du Cleuziou, it’s not communities or the Church as an institution that introduces change in society these days. “Individuality plays a decisive role in society far more so than communities and institutions,” he said, “and the voice of the Catholic Church as such is no longer taken into account.”

“In this context, the future of the Church in France depends on those who remain,” Raison du Cleuziou noted. “In general, it is the most conservative Catholics — those who are very devout and closely follow the Church’s teachings — who have been most successful in passing on the Catholic faith from one generation to the next. Three-quarters of today’s seminarians come from these families.”

For Raison du Cleuziou, today’s younger generations of Catholics in France are very different from those in the 1970s. They are not ashamed of their Catholicism — on the contrary — they want to show off that they’re proud of who they are.

“They want to clearly display their identity, rather than fade into the background, at the risk of being diluted by the dominant secular culture. Seminarians, for example, are increasingly in favor of wearing the cassock, at least occasionally, whereas it had almost completely disappeared after the (Second Vatican) Council.”

“Young people also feel the need for beautiful, meaningful liturgies that combine both a sense of inner reflection and solemnity in the liturgy, along with traditional theological instruction, and clear guidelines for everyday life,” Raison du Cleuziou noted. “And they are reviving individual devotions and collective expressions of popular piety that had been set aside by their elders, such as processions with banners or devotion to the Sacred Heart.”

Still, the “dominant group in France today,” about 70% of the French population, is the “nonreligious,” Raison du Cleuziou told OSV News.

“Among those over (the age of) 60, nearly one in two still identifies as Catholic, but among 18- to 29-year-olds, that figure has dropped to just 15%,” the expert pointed out. “Young Catholics therefore feel like a very small minority. And they are closely followed by Muslims, who now make up 13% of their age group and openly embrace their faith and religious practices without any hesitation.”

In this context, he said, “the presence of Catholics who have immigrated to France, for example, those from Africa, is important,” as immigrant Catholics “embrace their faith openly, calmly and simply,” he said, adding they integrate well into parishes, which are now more vibrant in cities than in the countryside.

For Raison du Cleuziou, the phenomenon of catechumens and neophytes, who often come from families that were once Catholic, is an important indicator of the state of French Catholicism.

“They say they had an ‘experience of encountering Jesus’ that has transformed their lives,” he explained. “It was this encounter that led them to seek to deepen an intimate relationship with Christ they have discovered.”

“For these newly baptized individuals, belonging to the Church as an institution was not a priority at first,” Raison du Cleuziou concluded. “They are not very familiar with the Holy See and the pope. Nevertheless, the visit of Pope Leo XIV, who will meet with some of them, is sure to intrigue them and should pique their interest.”

BRODHEADSVILLE – The Diocese of Scranton will bring together Hispanic Catholics from across northeastern and north central Pennsylvania on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, for the sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Mass & Celebration at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville.

This year’s theme, “Unidos Somos Más” – “United We Are More,” reflects both the rich diversity of the Diocese’s Hispanic communities and the Catholic faith that unites them. Hispanic Catholics throughout the Diocese represent many countries, cultures and traditions, but together they form one community of faith and one Body of Christ.

The celebration will begin with a noon Mass, with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, serving as principal celebrant.

A Marian procession following Mass will recognize the deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary found throughout Hispanic and Latino cultures. Different communities may honor Mary through distinct titles and traditions, but their devotion points to the same Mother of Christ and offers a beautiful expression of unity within the Church.

International Catholic evangelist and speaker Salvador Gómez will also be in attendance, sharing a message of faith and hope for families and young people.

The celebration will last well into the afternoon with fellowship featuring food, music, folkloric dance, cultural activities and a youth soccer tournament.

The gathering will take place during National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. First established nationally as a weeklong observance in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month took its current form two decades later, when Congress expanded the commemoration to a 30-day period. Its mid-September beginning also coincides with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American nations.

For the Diocese of Scranton, Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity not only to celebrate where our communities come from, but also to recognize the gifts Hispanic Catholics bring to the life and future of the Church.

That is the deeper meaning of “Unidos Somos Más.”

It is an invitation to strengthen relationships across cultures and parishes, celebrate the traditions that make each community unique, and recognize that our shared faith in Jesus Christ is greater than anything that separates us.

SCRANTON – The 2026-27 Catholic Ministries Appeal marks the 40th Annual Appeal of the Diocese of Scranton, continuing a tradition of generosity and stewardship that began with the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and transition to the Diocesan Annual Appeal and, most recently, the Catholic Ministries Appeal.

While much has changed over four decades, the purpose remains the same: when we unite as one local Church, we can accomplish far more together.

This year, we see that impact in a special way with the reestablishment of Saint Pius X Seminary in the former Cathedral Convent in Scranton.

Through your prayers and financial support, the Appeal also helps care for those most in need, strengthens our parishes and supports vital ministries throughout the Diocese’s 11 counties.

For more on the many Catholic ministries funded by the Catholic Ministries Appeal, including Vocations and Seminarian Support, Catholic Schools, Catholic Social Services, Catholic Media and Communications, Parish Life and Parish Grant Support, refer to pages 3-6 of this edition of The Catholic Light.

As parishes celebrate Commitment Weekend, we invite you to join us in answering this annual call to stewardship and to prayerfully discern your gift toward this year’s $4.5 million goal.

Thank you for helping us celebrate 40 years of generosity, ministry, and shared mission!

To donate to the Appeal, or learn more about the Catholic ministries it funds, visit AnnualAppeal.org.

SCRANTON – The Diocese of Scranton’s annual Red Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at 12:10 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

Historically, the Red Mass is attended by judges, lawyers and legislators for the purpose of invoking God’s blessing and guidance in the administration of justice. Its traditional name is derived from the color of vestments worn by the celebrants of the Mass, symbolizing the tongues of fire, which indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the robes of the attending royal judges were, in ancient days, bright scarlet.

The public is invited to the Red Mass to pray for those in the legal profession. Members of the county bar associations from across the 11-county Diocese and the Diocesan Tribunal staff are also invited to participate.

CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton will broadcast the Red Mass live and a livestream will be available on the Diocese of Scranton website, YouTube channel and links will be provided on all social media platforms.

WILKES-BARRE – For 25 years, Deborah Brady, Candice Lee and Jeanine Queralt have walked into Catholic school classrooms with a shared mission: to educate young people while helping them know, love and live their Catholic faith.

Their quarter-century of service was celebrated on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, as the Diocese of Scranton held its annual Diocesan Teachers’ Institute at Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre.

The day began with Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, followed by a keynote address, lunch and breakout sessions for the educators.

At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Bambera and Kristen Donohue, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education/Superintendent, presented the three long-time educators with the Saint John Paul II Awards, which recognize Catholic school educators who have completed 25 years of dedicated service in Catholic education in the Diocese of Scranton.

This year’s honorees were Brady of Holy Rosary School in Duryea, Lee of La Salle Academy in Jessup, and Queralt of Our Lady of Peace School in Clarks Green.

“Catholic school educators impart a distinctive character to the education profession,” Assistant Superintendent Christopher Tigue said in introducing the awards. “Most especially, they are witnesses to the faith, serving as sharers in the mission of Jesus Christ by leading young people to know, love and serve God.”

Brady, who teaches students in sixth through eighth grades, said she has seen a lot of changes since first walking in the doors of Holy Rosary School.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth. I’ve seen a lot of change,” she reflected. “To see the growth in the kids that you start off with … and they come back to visit you, it’s actually life changing to see that you can make an impact in somebody’s life.”

Brady previously taught at a public high school in New Jersey, but she said becoming part of Catholic education quickly became a calling. She said one of the greatest blessings has been the opportunity to share her faith with her students.

“What is the big hook for me? Sharing the faith,” she said. “I am very faithful and faith-filled, so to be able to present that to the kids, and live it, is incredible.”

Lee also began her Catholic school career at Holy Rosary School before spending the past decade teaching first grade at La Salle Academy.

For her, like Brady, teaching in a Catholic school is more than a profession.

“I feel Catholic education is truly my vocation,” Lee said. “Teaching in particular in a Catholic education system is my vocation. Just learning and living the faith and teaching it to the children and families.”

Her favorite part of teaching first grade is watching children grow throughout the school year.

“Just to get to see their smiling faces where they love school,” she said. “They walk in so young and they leave being able to read and so confident, I love it.”

Queralt currently teaches Pre-K at Our Lady of Peace School in Clarks Green. She spent 20 years at Monsignor McHugh School in Cresco before its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Queralt’s own Catholic education experience helped shape her vocation. She attended Catholic schools beginning with Saint Patrick’s School, later attending Bishop Hannan High School.

“I couldn’t imagine teaching and not being able to talk about God,” she said.

At the Pre-K level, Queralt said faith formation often begins with something as simple and profound as kindness.

“How would Jesus treat other people? What would Jesus do?” she explained. “Just setting an example for them, modeling for them, it’s a lot about kindness at that age.”

And even at such a young age, she said, children respond to learning about their faith.

“They love hearing about God. They love religion class. They love to hear the stories,” Queralt said. “They quiet down and they’re so interested in it.”

During his homily at Mass, Bishop Bambera reminded all Catholic educators that their ministry extends far beyond academics.

“As Catholic educators, we entrust to you our most sacred treasure – our children,” Bishop Bambera said. “You sacrifice daily to give them the very best of what you have – your wisdom, your common sense, your patience.”

But he added, educators offer something even greater: the love they have received from God.

“At the heart of who you are, that is your greatest gift,” he said. “Thank you for sharing your love and thank you for sharing your faith.”

SCRANTON – The faithful of the Diocese of Scranton are invited to come together in prayer during a Rosary Rally at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

The upcoming gathering, sponsored by Holy Cross Family Ministries, follows two reflection sessions on the Rosary that the organization sponsored on Aug. 24, 2026, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Scranton.

The afternoon and evening sessions invited participants to look more deeply at the Rosary as a way of encountering Christ and finding peace amid the distractions and challenges of daily life.

“The primary message is to share the power of the Rosary – that it is an encounter with Jesus Christ,” Craig Dyke, Director of Programs and Mission Outreach for Holy Cross Family Ministries, said. “We contemplate the face of Jesus by putting our prayers together with Mary.”

Dyke also encouraged people not to approach the Rosary simply as a prayer to rush through.

“Better to pray one mystery well than five poorly,” he said, encouraging participants to meditate on the life of Jesus and recognize His presence in their own lives.

Pat Williams of Our Lady of the Abingtons Parish in Dalton attended the August reflection and said it offered meaningful insights into the Blessed Mother.

“I think we need to do more praying, more rosaries,” Williams said. “She’s open and willing to listen.”

The upcoming Rosary Rally on Oct. 17 is open to all.

AVOCA – Beneath a large American flag suspended between two fire trucks, a procession of Boy Scouts carrying the colors and first responders in full dress made their way through the streets of Avoca to Queen of the Apostles Parish on Sept. 11, 2026.

Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the community continues to gather in prayer – remembering those who lost their lives, honoring the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice and giving thanks for the men and women who continue to serve their communities today.

The annual Blue Mass and 9/11 Memorial Service at Queen of the Apostles Parish brought together local police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, Scouts, elected officials, families, and parishioners for an evening of remembrance and gratitude.

“Since 1874, Christians have been coming to Saint Mary Church in Avoca to pray for their many needs,” Father Thomas Petro, Pastor of Queen of the Apostles Parish, said. “For the past 25 years, we’ve been gathering in prayer to pray for the victims and the heroes of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.”

The Mass began with a bagpipe escort and the presentation of the colors. Avoca Scouts Troop 316 and Pack 316 participated in the procession.

Inside the church, a framed photograph commemorating the FDNY firefighters who died on Sept. 11 was displayed near the ambo, serving as a visible reminder of the lives lost that day.

Father Petro said the annual Mass has become both an act of remembrance and a spiritual responsibility.

“We look forward to hosting this Mass as an act of gratitude and our own spiritual duty for those who have cared for us,” he said. “We wish to care for them spiritually and to remember them in our prayers.”

For retired Avoca Fire Chief Chris VanLuvender, continuing the tradition for 25 years has been an important way to honor both the victims and the heroes of 9/11.

“At the beginning of this, we thought it would be a nice tribute to have this every year and continue it every year,” Van Luvender said. “So far, it has been going on for the last 25 years.”

Donald Hudzinski, President of the Pittston Township Ambulance, said the Blue Mass provides an opportunity for the parish and emergency services communities to come together.

“Through this service, together we pray not only for our municipalities, but for the emergency service providers,” he said. “Not just for who they are, but for what they are called on to do.”

Hudzinski emphasized the critical role first responders play when others are in crisis.

“It’s a very challenging profession. But it’s very rewarding personally – that all these people carry out their duties with care, compassion, and service, and do it for people that they’ve probably never met,” he added.

The evening concluded with one of Father Petro’s favorite traditions: the blessing of emergency vehicles parked outside the church along Hawthorne Street.

“I feel like a little boy walking around those big shiny red trucks and saying prayers and blessing them,” Father Petro said.

The vehicles, Hudzinski noted, are more than equipment.

“They are an instrument of what we do,” he said.

WYALUSING – When the Most Rev. Ambrose Puthenveettil traveled from Kerala, India, to the United States for the first time as a Bishop, he came with a simple purpose – to see his priests.

But as he spent time visiting the priests from his Diocese, the Diocese of Kottapuram, who are serving across the United States, the Bishop said he left with something more: a renewed appreciation for the vibrancy of the Catholic Church in the United States.

“I came especially to greet and meet my priests,” Bishop Ambrose said following Masses Sept. 13 at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Towanda and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Wyalusing. “I also wanted to meet some of the people.”

The Diocese of Kottapuram currently has 11 priests serving in the United States. During his pastoral visit, Bishop Ambrose traveled to meet priests in Florida, Iowa, Colorado, and Michigan, while also spending almost a full week in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Three of his priests currently serve in the Diocese of Scranton.

Father Shinu Vazhakkoottathil John is Assistant Pastor of Saint Eulalia Parish, Roaring Brook Township, and Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, Moscow. Father Dias Antony Valiamarathungal is Assistant Pastor of Saint Boniface Parish and Saint Ann Parish, both in Williamsport. Father Jose Joseph Kuriappilly is Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Towanda, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Wyalusing.

For Bishop Ambrose, the visit provided an opportunity to see firsthand how his priests have become part of the communities they serve.

“He has come into their hearts, and he has become a member of their family,” the Bishop said of Father Jose Kuriappilly. “The people love him very much. They were telling me that they don’t want to let him go from this place.”

In Williamsport, parishioners welcomed Bishop Ambrose to celebrate Mass at Saint Boniface Church with Father Dias, calling the visit a reminder that the Catholic Church connects people “across countries, cultures and continents.”

The Bishop also celebrated Mass in Roaring Brook Township, where parishioners welcomed him alongside Father Shinu.

His visit to the Diocese of Scranton ended with Father Jose, celebrating Masses in both Towanda and Wyalusing. Parishioners gathered afterward for meals and had the opportunity to meet their pastor’s Bishop.

“It was a great day for me because my Bishop was with me in both parishes,” Father Jose said. “You see the people – they are so happy here today.”

Bishop Ambrose also had the opportunity to meet with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, to help strengthen the relationship between their two dioceses. During their time together, the Bishops discussed the growing bond between their local churches and the continued need for priests.

Bishop Ambrose said his pastoral visit gave him a positive perspective on the Church in the United States.

“I have been a Bishop for two and a half years, and I got the impression that the Catholic Church has a future in the USA,” he said.

He pointed to the faithful he encountered at Mass and the young men discerning priestly vocations as signs of hope.

“I got the conviction that the Catholic faith is very vibrant,” he added. “Jesus has told us, don’t worry, I will always be with you. He guides His Church.”

Father Jose said that was one of the most important things he hoped his Bishop would discover during his visit.

“He experienced real faith in our American Church,” Father Jose said. “He has realized how the faith is growing here again. It is emerging and growing. I can feel that.”