Category: 2026 News

(OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing hope that Ukraine and Russia will cooperate on humanitarian aid and evacuations for civilians in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky, the Vatican said.

In an Oct. 19 statement, the Vatican press office said the conversation centered on “the grave situation” in the city, which has been under Russian military occupation since 2022.

Pope Leo’s phone call with Zelenskyy came less than a week after an Oct. 13 call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while the pontiff was recovering from lung surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. In that call, the pope requested a humanitarian ceasefire, the Vatican said.

“His Holiness expressed the hope that cooperation between both parties will allow for the delivery of food and medical aid, and for the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population,” the statement read.

The pope also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment “to promoting dialogue and peace.”

In a separate statement published Oct. 19 by the Ukrainian president’s office, Zelenskyy said he wished the pope “full and speedy recovery following surgery.”

“We are grateful that even during this difficult time for him personally, His Holiness remembers Ukraine and prays for our people,” Zelenskyy said.

According to his office, Zelenskyy gave the pope a detailed briefing on Russian strikes against Ukrainian cities, and the two “discussed the humanitarian catastrophe” in Oleshky.

Zelenskyy, the statement read, “noted that Ukraine is working to help our people there and is preparing the necessary decisions. His Holiness informed him about contacts with the Russian side on this matter.”

— Tensions with Washington —

Zelenskyy also briefed Pope Leo on reported disruptions to Ukraine’s defense communications, which have strained relations with Washington. According to NPR, Zelenskyy said SpaceX imposed restrictions on the country’s access to the U.S. military’s Starshield satellite internet network in response “to a message from the American government.”

Starshield is a military version of Starlink, the satellite internet service run by SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk.

Musk, however, denied that SpaceX played any role in the disruptions, saying that “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government” and that “any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately” by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denied Zelenskyy’s claim that the US government ordered the disruptions, NPR reported.

Nevertheless, tensions between Ukraine and the United States have risen after Trump moved to waive sanctions against Russia in exchange for purchasing diesel in an attempt to lower rising prices due to war in Iran.

Zelenskyy’s office said the Ukrainian president’s conversation with Pope Leo “covered current security challenges and threats, including the periodic lack of warnings from partners about Russian ballistic missile attacks, which has happened three times recently.”

“The president thanked His Holiness for his support and all his efforts to achieve a dignified peace,” the statement read.

— Decrying crimes against humanity —

In a message marking the war’s 244th week, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, condemned Russia’s attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

According to the Reuters news agency, Trump announced an energy ceasefire Oct. 11; however, neither Russia nor Ukraine confirmed the agreement.

Despite the so-called truce, Russia has continued to conduct attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid, which left 600,000 people without electricity, Major Archbishop Shevchuk wrote.

“Crimes against humanity of this kind were committed precisely when the U.S. president announced a so-called energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine,” Major Archbishop Shevchuk wrote, calling the timing of the attacks especially painful.

“It is … very important for us, as Christians, to understand that even peace negotiations and efforts to end a war must be governed by moral principles,” Major Archbishop Shevchuk added, saying that “Agreements reached without regard for such principles, in which energy resources are valued more highly than human life, are doomed to fail.”

On Oct. 19, Iranian-designed Russian Shahed drones killed six people and injured 14 in the Kharkiv region, an attack Zelenskyy called a “pure atrocity.” A one-year-old girl named Angelina was killed in the strike, with her mother Inna dying hours later in the hospital, Zelenskyy wrote in his post on X.

“These are horrific photos, but behind them are shattered lives and the truth about this war,” he said, sharing photographs from the playground where the attack occurred, killing among others an 11-year-old girl.

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said negotiations shouldn’t ignore the human cost and that any agreements must be assessed by “the extent to which they alleviate the suffering” of the people and not by “the political or economic benefits they yield or the high-profile political statements they generate.”

“And even as we gratefully acknowledge mediation efforts aimed at ending the war, it is essential to distinguish between restraining an unjust aggressor and coercing the victim,” Major Archbishop Shevchuk wrote.

He also reminded the international community that while Ukraine depends on aid, that dependence “gives no one the moral right to dictate its future without the participation of the Ukrainian people themselves.”

“We must not blur the distinction between the aggressor state and the people who have the right to defend themselves,” Major Archbishop Shevchuk wrote. “In international efforts to end any war — including Russia’s war against Ukraine — it is essential not to set peace against justice.”

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The Trump administration on Oct. 18 extended protections from deportation to people from Ukraine and Sudan, allowing them to continue living legally in the U.S. for now.

Temporary Protected Status grants the U.S. government the power to shield eligible migrants from deportation if they are from countries experiencing dangerous conditions such as war, disaster, or other unrest. The Trump administration has sought to end TPS for several countries, notably Haiti, which is racked by extreme levels of gang violence, but it also recently granted an extension to migrants from El Salvador.

In a written statement provided to OSV News, a spokesperson for DHS confirmed the extension without sharing a rationale. The spokesperson stated an announcement on each country’s TPS “will be made at the appropriate time,” and until such announcements are made, nationals of those countries “present in the U.S. under TPS retain protection.”

David Spicer, director of policy and engagement for migration at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, told OSV News Oct. 19 the conference “is closely monitoring the situation facing people relying on TPS without clarity on the future of their designations.”

“These include hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans, Ukrainians, and Sudanese who are lawfully present in the United States, but face the reality of suddenly having their protection and work authorization revoked,” Spicer said. “The conference continues to urge the administration to abide by the requirements of the TPS statute, to carefully consider conditions in countries of origin and the threats to human life that could come with forcibly repatriating people, and to provide meaningful notice about the future of these designations so that families, employers, and communities can plan accordingly.”

Ashley Feasley, the legal expert in residence at the Immigration Law and Policy Initiative at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, told OSV News that while the DHS statement “is a welcome reprieve to TPS holders from Ukraine and Sudan,” it “does little to clarify the growing confusion and uncertainty they face with regards to their lives here in the U.S.”

“In addition to enduring growing conflict and war in their home countries, these individuals must continue to navigate an unpredictable day-to-day existence here in the U.S. given so much recent uncertainty over TPS generally,” Feasley said.

“Congress created TPS and codified it into law and the Executive is required to implement that process accordingly,” she continued. “For both Ukraine and Sudan, it is clear that both countries face ‘ongoing armed conflict,’ as is described in the statute designating TPS. It is absolutely not safe for these individuals to return to their home country.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end TPS designation for Haitian and Syrian nationals. Catholic leaders have also urged protection for people from those countries who would be subject to dangerous conditions in their countries of origin.

The Trump administration terminated TPS for Haiti after that ruling, and has since carried out mass deportations of Haitians back to Haiti, which is among the immigration policies the U.S. bishops have criticized, calling it incompatible with their God-given right to life, human dignity, and unity of the family.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement Oct. 14 reminding the faithful that “For citizens in a representative democracy such as our own, participation in public life — including voting — is both a right and a responsibility.”

“In a time of deep political division, the temptation is to be discouraged and to not participate in the election process. But discouragement is not a Christian virtue,” Archbishop Coakley of Oklahoma City said.

The midterm elections will determine the balance of power in Congress, as well as governors’ mansions and state legislatures across the country.

Archbishop Coakley said that as Catholics exercise their civic duty, “it is important to ensure that citizens not face unnecessary delays or complications in registering or exercising their right to vote.”

“Together, we can contribute to the common good of our nation as faithful citizens by supporting free and fair elections,” he said.

He also asked Catholics “to put their faith before politics.”

“The Church’s contribution to the public life of a nation is not a political or partisan program; rather, it reflects our commitment to the dignity of every person, who is created in the image and likeness of God,” he said. “One of the great dangers of our moment is the belief that any criticism of ‘our party’ somehow strengthens our opponents. A well-formed conscience does not operate on those terms.”

“Therefore, I encourage all to judge candidates and elected officials by their actions, not merely their promises, and how those actions promote the common good,” he continued. “We must reject rhetoric that appeals to fear, resentment, or division, and listen instead, to the Gospel call to love God and all our neighbors.”

“May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, bless our nation as we turn once more to elections, that we might respect the dignity of each person and promote the common good of all,” he said.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that among all Catholics, President Donald Trump’s approval rating dropped from 47% at the beginning of his second term to 30% in October 2026. Among Hispanic Catholics, it dropped from 31% to 18%, and among white Catholics from 59% to 39% over the same period.

More broadly, the same survey found that registered voters are more likely to support Democratic candidates than Republican ones across most religious groups. Pew found that among Catholics, white Catholics and Hispanic Catholics were divided over their support for congressional Republicans or Democrats in the midterms.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Following the Holy See’s Oct. 13 announcement that Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed, Church and civic leaders expressed their hope and prayers for his full recovery.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged the faithful to pray for Pope Leo in a post on X.

“Doctors at Gemelli Hospital removed a cancerous tumor from Pope Leo XIV’s right lung, according to the Holy See Press Office,” the post said. “The surgery was successful, with no complications, and the Holy Father has returned to his hospital room. We ask the faithful to continue praying for Pope Leo’s recovery and for the doctors and staff caring for him. We also hold in prayer all who are living with cancer, their families, and those who care for them.”

The following day, the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops sent a letter to Pope Leo, assuring him of the prayers of the bishops and faithful of Canada, entrusting him to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph.

Individual bishops and dioceses in the U.S. also urged prayer.

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, Pope Leo’s hometown, said in an Oct. 13 statement that while the cancer diagnosis was not the news they hoped to hear, “we are heartened by the skill and optimism of his physicians and the countless prayers” being offered for the pope.

“I ask that people of good will everywhere, but particularly here, in Pope Leo’s hometown join me in asking the Lord to return this son of Chicago to wellness,” the cardinal said. “He has much more good work to do, many more wise words to preach and many more ways to inspire others.”

“Bless Pope Leo XIV with strength and peace as he faces this illness and unite him ever more closely with your Son,” said the Archdiocese of New York in an X post asking for prayers for the restoration of the pope’s health.

In a separate post, Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks of New York thanked God that the pope’s surgery was “by all accounts, successful” and added that he joined faithful from the archdiocese, country and the world “in keeping the Holy Father in our prayer.”

“Friends, please join me in praying for healing for our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer,” Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, wrote on X.

Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of St. Louis asked “all people of good will to join us in prayer for Pope Leo XIV and those who are caring for him.”

Bishop Mark A. Eckman of Pittsburgh said in a statement he joins Catholics in that diocese “and around the world in lifting up our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, in prayer following the news of his surgery and lung cancer diagnosis.”

“We are grateful to hear that the surgery was successful, and we pray that the Holy Father will experience a full and peaceful recovery,” Bishop Eckman said. “Pope Leo has reminded us of the importance of faith, hope, and caring for one another. Now, as he faces this personal health challenge, we have an opportunity to surround him with the same love and prayerful
support that he so generously offers to the Church and the world.”

— Civic leaders express support, pray for Pope Leo —

U.S. officials and lawmakers also weighed in, including Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson, D-Ill., who represents a Chicago-area district.

“Pope Leo XIV is one of our own, a Chicago kid who carried the values of our neighborhoods all the way onto the world stage, and today our whole city is wishing him strength and a full recovery,” Jackson said in a post on X. “Let his diagnosis also be a reminder to talk with your doctor about lung cancer screening, because catching it early saves lives. Chicago is with you.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is Catholic, wrote in a post on X the same day, “Jeanette and I are united in prayer for (Pope Leo)’s health following his recent diagnosis.”

“May the Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy Father,” Rubio said.

Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, wrote in a post on X the following day, “Our family continues to pray for the good health and full recovery of Pope Leo XIV. May God grant him strength as he works to get better. I hope he knows that millions of American Christians are thinking about him.”

Vance also noted that Louis Prevost, the pope’s brother, is also suffering from cancer, and said, “May God keep both of these brothers healthy for years to come.”

Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., who is Catholic, wrote in a post on X, “Saint Teresa of Avila reminds us that ‘those who were nearest to Christ our Lord were those who had the greatest trials.'”

“This is no doubt true of (Pope Leo),” he said. “Please join Mina and me in praying for the Holy Father as he begins this battle to defeat cancer.”

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney, a Catholic, wished the pope “a full and swift recovery following his successful surgery.”

“His Holiness is a source of hope and inspiration for billions around the world,” Carney wrote on X. “His message of unity and compassion reminds us of the strength we can offer one another in moments of uncertainty.”

— Surgery to remove nodule was announced after Sunday Angelus —

The 71-year-old pope disclosed during his Oct. 11 Angelus address that doctors had found a “localized nodule” in his lung. He said the nodule was “detected at a very early stage” during “some recent medical examinations.”

“The doctors believe intervention is advisable, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to have it removed,” Pope Leo said.

The pope arrived at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital at about 1 p.m. Rome time on Oct. 13, and underwent the surgery in the late afternoon.

“The surgery was successful, completed on schedule and as planned, and the Holy Father has returned to his room,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement issued shortly before 8 p.m.

Just before 10 p.m., a joint statement by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, chief thoracic surgeon at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, and Dr. Luigi Carbone revealed that the “examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the preoperative tests.”

ROME (OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV underwent more medical exams and started respiratory physical therapy on Oct. 14, the day after the lung cancer surgery that removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung.

In the first medical update provided by the Vatican since the late-night revelation of the pope’s lung cancer diagnosis, the pope’s doctors said Wednesday that the pope’s “recovery is proceeding as expected” and the pope has begun walking around his hospital room.

“This morning, the Holy Father underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled following the surgery. The results confirm a normal postoperative recovery: the values are within the normal range for the type of surgery performed,” the joint statement by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the pope’s surgeon, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal doctor, said.

“The Holy Father underwent respiratory physical therapy and has begun walking around his room. He has resumed his regular diet, having had breakfast and lunch. His recovery is proceeding as expected.”

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists that Pope Leo was “in good spirits” the day after surgery. Bruni told journalists that before having surgery, Pope Leo had undergone a robotic bronchoscopy with biopsy, a chest CT scan with contrast, and a PET scan which indicated the need for the Oct. 13 surgery.

Pope Leo was admitted to Gemelli Hospital Oct. 13 for the lung surgery, following the pope’s Oct. 11 disclosure that recent medical examinations had revealed a “well-contained” lung nodule that had been “detected at a very early stage.”

According to Vatican News, post-operation tests will be conducted on the removed tissue in the coming days.

In response to a question of how long the wait might be to receive any results as to whether cancer remains beyond what was removed during the pope’s surgery, Bruni said, “You have to ask a doctor for the timing of those. It usually takes five, 10, 15 days depending on the situation.”

Speaking with OSV News, medical experts indicated that a potential analysis of the pope’s lymph nodes could be key to evaluating the next steps.

Dr. Nirmal Veeramachaneni, professor of cardiothoracic surgery at St. Louis University School of Medicine and medical director for lung cancer screening at SSM Health — who is not involved in the pope’s care — said in an interview with OSV News that it would typically take a week to get all of the biopsy results back.

The pope’s doctors Oct. 14 statement is the first update from the Vatican on the pope’s medical condition since the pope’s surgery ended with the revelation from his doctors that the “examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the preoperative tests.”

Adenocarcinoma of the lung is the most common form of lung cancer in the United States. It represents about 40% of all lung cancers, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.

The right lower lobe of the lung, which Pope Leo had removed, is the largest of the three lobes in the right lung. Located in the posterior and inferior part of the right chest cavity, it contributes roughly 30% of total lung capacity, making it the single largest lung lobe, according to the Baylor College of Medicine.

Pope Leo is expected to remain in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital as he recovers from surgery for at least one week. The Vatican has canceled all of the pope’s scheduled audiences through Oct. 20.

Bruni said that there were no changes to announce at this time to the pope’s expected length of stay in the hospital or to the pope’s scheduled trip to Latin America Nov. 6-17. He said that Pope Leo XIV had “manifested his intention” to travel to Peru and “that’s still there.”

The previously published schedule for the 12-day trip to South America indicated that he would travel more than 19,000 miles on 14 flights during a November trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, which includes stops high in the Andes mountains.

Peru’s President Keiko Fujimori said the country received the news of the pontiff’s diagnosis “with deep sadness” and asked God “to care for him, to give him strength, and allow us to see him soon recovered.”

“Holy Father, this land, which is also your home, embraces you with immense affection. Today it is our turn to accompany you with our prayers, just as you have so many times accompanied us with yours,” she wrote.

SCRANTON – Young adults are invited to join the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, and the Diocesan Vocations Office for the eleventh annual Leave a Mark Mass on Nov. 1, 2026, to kick off National Vocation Awareness Week!

Mass will take place at 5:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

Leave a Mark is the Diocese of Scranton’s response to what Pope Francis said at World Youth Day in 2016: “Dear young people, we didn’t come into this world to ‘vegetate,’ to take it easy, to make our lives a comfortable sofa to fall asleep on. No, we came for another reason: to leave a mark. It is very sad to pass through life without leaving a mark.”

Now, every year on the Sunday before National Vocation Awareness Week, young adults from around our diocese come together to worship the Lord, meet one another, and discern how God is calling us to leave a mark in this world through our vocation.

There will be a reception following the Mass at the Diocesan Pastoral Center across the street from the Cathedral of Saint Peter featuring food trucks and interactive activities.

SCRANTON – Just one month after launching in parishes throughout the Diocese of Scranton, the 2026-2027 Catholic Ministries Appeal is already approaching the halfway mark toward its $4.5 million goal, reflecting the generosity and commitment of parishioners supporting the vital Catholic ministries of our local Church.

The Diocese of Scranton extends its gratitude to the thousands of donors who have already made a gift or pledge. Every contribution helps sustain ministries that serve individuals and families, strengthen parishes, educate young people and spread the Good News of the Gospel.

The Catholic Ministries Appeal supports Vocations, Seminarians and Retired Clergy; Catholic media and communications; Parish Life initiatives; Catholic Social Services; Catholic education; as well as Parish Faith Formation and Social Justice Grants.

As the Appeal continues, previous donors may have recently received a second letter inviting them to renew their support. This year, that letter comes from the four seminarians currently living at the newly reopened Saint Pius Seminary in Scranton.

The seminarians express gratitude for the generosity that helped make the seminary’s reopening possible and invite donors to continue investing in priestly formation and the many other ministries supported by the Appeal.

“Your past support of the Catholic Ministries Appeal, through your prayers and your financial gifts, helped make the reopening of Saint Pius X Seminary a reality,” the seminarians wrote.

Those who have not yet participated in this year’s Appeal are invited to make a gift or pledge. To learn more about the ministries supported by the Appeal or to contribute, visit AnnualAppeal.org or call the Diocesan Development Office at (570) 207-2250.

WILKES-BARRE – More than 300 men gathered at Holy Redeemer High School on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, for the 11th annual ‘Be A Catholic Man’ Conference, a day of prayer and fellowship which was centered on this year’s theme, “Just Be Catholic.”

The day began with an outdoor Rosary before a morning session featuring speakers Rob Marco and the Most Rev. Joseph Coffey, Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Following lunch, John Martignoni spoke and the conference concluded with Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

In his homily, Bishop Bambera challenged the men to recognize the dignity of every human person and to demonstrate their faith through their daily actions.

Reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Bishop shared the story of a construction worker who volunteered at Ground Zero. Amid the devastation, young Salvation Army volunteers brought water and towels to recovery workers and even removed the construction worker’s boots to give him dry socks.

The worker later recalled being moved to tears by the kindness of people he might previously have overlooked or misunderstood.

For Bishop Bambera, the experience illustrated the Gospel’s call to look beyond stereotypes and recognize every person as a child of God.

“If we are truly faithful to God’s plan and to the teaching of our Church, when we must embrace a faith-centered vision that sees beyond skin color, physical abilities, ethnic stereotypes, lifestyle and economic status,” the Bishop said.

Connecting the story to the Gospel’s parable of the wedding feast on the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Bishop Bambera reminded the men that God’s invitation extends to everyone, but accepting that invitation requires a conversion of heart and a commitment to living the faith authentically.

“It’s not enough for us to say we’re Christians,” he said. “We need to give our faith a life and profess what we believe through the words we speak, the pattern of our lives and the depth of our love and forgiveness.”

The Bishop urged the men to become instruments of peace and healing in a world marked by division, beginning with their own hearts and relationships.

“Be strong in your faith and humble enough to know that we are all desperately in need of God’s mercy,” he added.

Joe Adcroft has attended the ‘Be A Catholic Man’ Conference for many years and said the event offers an opportunity to renew his spiritual commitment through prayer, the sacraments and the encouragement of fellow Catholic men.

“You go away and you’ve got this wind behind you, pushing you, like the Holy Spirit,” he said. “It just reinvigorates you.”

Adcroft also emphasized the responsibility men have to share the faith with younger generations, including their children, grandchildren and nephews.

“They’re looking for that connection to God, that love of Christ, and if we don’t take the first steps, then they’re not going to do it,” he added.

Greg Solfanelli, another longtime conference participant, described the fellowship as one of the conference’s greatest strengths.

“Iron sharpens iron,” he said. “We are here for each other and lift each other up and encourage one another. I find that here and I look forward to it year in and year out at the conference.”

This year’s speakers impressed Matt Schofield, a parishioner of Saint Patrick Parish in Nicholson.

“I enjoyed the speakers because they have viewpoints I don’t hear other than on a little screen on my phone. It’s nice to see these guys in person,” Schofield said.

Toward the end of the conference, organizers also recognized three longtime members of its organizing team – Jack Walsh III, Dennis Shovlin and Ed Niewinski – for their years of service.

Presenting plaques in their honor, conference chairman Mike Kilmer praised the men as “outstanding Catholic men, husbands, fathers, grandfathers and mentors.”

Catholic men are encouraged to save the date of Oct. 9, 2027, which is when the twelfth annual Catholic Men’s Conference is slated to take place.

SCRANTON – For Sister Judy O’Brien, I.H.M., leading this year’s Thanksgiving Community Program is more than a responsibility.

It is a full-circle moment.

Five decades ago, Sister Adrian Barrett, I.H.M., founded what would become a significant program of Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center, inviting people who had nowhere to go to a Thanksgiving meal.

This year, Sister Judy – a longtime friend of Sister Adrian and the newly appointed President and CEO of Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center – will help carry the tradition forward as the program celebrates its 50th anniversary.

“I feel like I am walking in the shoes of Sister Adrian Barrett,” Sister Judy said during an Oct. 8 press conference at Cooper’s Seafood House in Scranton. “There were 34 people at that first event. Today, this season, we will feed 4,000 people in her name and in the name of all those people who have walked with Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley over these years.”

This year’s milestone comes at a time when the need, and the cost of meeting it, continues to grow.

Linda Robeson, Director of the Family to Family Thanksgiving Food Basket Program, said the organization hopes to provide Thanksgiving food baskets to approximately 3,500 local families this year. But the rising cost of food has made that goal more difficult.

“Turkeys, this year, unfortunately have gone up over $1 a pound,” Robeson said.

Family to Family, which is marking its 40th year, has provided food to more than 1.5 million people over the course of its history. The Thanksgiving program alone has cost approximately $120,000 in recent years.

“We want to give a nice size turkey,” Robeson explained. “We want them to have leftovers. It’s a hard market, believe it or not, to find the right size price range when you’re buying turkeys a year in advance.”

The Thanksgiving Community Program will begin with an interfaith prayer service on Friday, Nov. 13 at Temple Hesed, 1 Knox Road, Scranton. The Thanksgiving Community Dinner will follow on Nov. 24 at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, with drive-through and walk-up meals available from 2:30-5:30 p.m., or until supplies last.

On Nov. 25, Family to Family will distribute Thanksgiving food baskets at the Scranton Cultural Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or until supplies last.

For Sister Judy, the effort is ultimately about much more than food.

“This is what we’re supposed to do,” she said. “It is not an obligation. It is a centering of the true meaning of Thanksgiving and the holiday season.”

And she emphasized, it cannot happen without the community.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of people who will stand with us this holiday season to help our neighbors in need,” Sister Judy said. “We could not do this without the community.”

HOW TO HELP
50th THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY PROGRAM

Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Thanksgiving Community Dinner
To donate or volunteer, visit fotpcmc.org or call (570) 342-1342

Wednesday, November 25, 2026
Family to Family Food Basket Distribution

To donate, send a check to:
Family to Family
PO Box 13
Scranton, PA 18501