Category: Diocese of Scranton News

SCRANTON – After reading the bible for most of her life, Katelyn Haytko, 20, is now ready to fully enter into the life of the Catholic Church.

On Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, the First Sunday in Lent, the Newfoundland native was one of 177 people from the Diocese of Scranton who participated in the Rite of Election & Call to Continuing Conversion at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

“It’s important for me to step into my faith a little bit more,” Haytko said.

After months of preparation at her parish – Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Hawley – Haytko is preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at this year’s Easter Vigil.

“The program has really opened my eyes to so many things that I didn’t know from reading my bible so I’m very grateful to be a part of the program,” she said.

Her grandmother, Chris Haytko, is serving as her godparent.

“It filled my heart, I cried when she told me she wanted to become Catholic,” Chris said. “It just meant so much to me. I have a strong faith and I’m so glad that she’s now a part of that faith.”

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, presided over the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion liturgy.

“What we do here today represents the most important thing we can do as Church, to call one another to a deeper relationship to Christ,” Bishop Bambera said in welcoming those in attendance to the Cathedral.

During the homily, Bishop Bambera spoke directly to the catechumens (those who are not baptized) and the candidates (those who are baptized but have not received Holy Communion or Confirmation).

“My sisters and brothers, don’t discount for an instant the power of this moment in your lives. Jesus is speaking to you today, inviting you to a relationship with him, calling you by name to follow Him,” Bishop Bambera said. “He is inviting you to walk a path that leads to a life of meaning, purpose, and peace. He is saying, through His invitation, that your life – with all its struggles and joys, with all its blessings and challenges – has a unique place and role to play within His plan.”

Each of the catechumens and candidates then demonstrated their wish to become fully initiated members of the Catholic Church through a series of questions and responses before the congregation, including pastors, friends, and family.

The catechumens also inscribed their name in the Book of Elect for their home parish.

“Getting baptized is going to be a rebirth,” Stephane Enot of Pleasant Mount said.

After going through a number of hard times recently, including losing his mother-in-law and having his wife diagnosed with cancer, the parishioner of Saint Mary Parish in Waymart found solace in his faith.

“I found so much peace in going back to church and starting back reading the bible and all that, and then all of a sudden, it was obvious that I had to do it (join the Church). I’ve been postponing it for so long,” Enot explained.

Jolene Drum of Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, and two close friends, made the decision to go through the process together.

“My fiancé is a cradle Catholic; he was brought up Catholic, and his dad is my sponsor. My fiancé is our friend’s sponsor, and his wife is being sponsored by my future mother-in-law, so we’re just going all together,” she explained. “We go to church every weekend and go to class on Mondays together. We’re just doing this as a group. It makes it a lot easier.”

During all the preparatory classes, Drum says they were able to ask questions without judgment, because everyone has each other’s best interests at heart. They say they have found strength and purpose being on this journey together.

“It does bring a deeper, further discussion on why things are the way they are and the history behind it,” she explained.

Timothy Langan of Mountain Top, a parishioner of Saint Jude Parish, was baptized as a baby and received the Eucharist in second grade – but never received Confirmation.

That will all change at the end of the month.

“I’ve always had a very strong relationship and strong faith with God, but I let it get away from me,” he explained. “It’s one of the things that I wanted to make sure I finish in my life. It is important. I have two young daughters – one in college and one in high school – and it is important to bolster that part of my faith.”

John Hodle, who also attends Saint Jude Parish, will receive both the Eucharist and Confirmation.

“I’ve learned a lot and it really opened up my mind,” Hodle said. “It’s been a very positive experience. I’ve learned a lot about the faith and the classes helped me understand things during the Mass and why things are done the way they are.”

Anyone interested in joining the Catholic Church or coming into full communion with the Church can contact their local parish to learn more about the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) program.

TUNKHANNOCK – As Christine Aydelotte prayed before our Eucharistic Lord at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish on Feb. 29, she was overcome with emotion.

“I felt like I had a hug from Jesus,” she said.

Aydelotte was one of roughly 100 people who attended a special Lenten Holy Hour with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

“It is such a special occasion to have the Bishop with us and to have him here in our little town. He helps to strengthen our bond with Jesus,” she added. “He’s an inspiration and a reminder that we all play a small part in our one Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.”

For the last four weeks, Bishop Bambera has been traveling to each of the 12 deaneries in the Diocese of Scranton to celebrate a Holy Hour in conjunction with the second year of the National Eucharistic Revival.

“We were stunned tonight at the amount of people who came. It was shocking, actually, so you can tell there is a hunger for this,” Father Pat Albert, Pastor, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, said. “I think it was just great to see … and I hope they leave filled with a sense of joy.”

Ruth Tewksbury described the Lenten Holy Hour as “beautiful” and said she appreciated the moments of silent, contemplative prayer.

“During the Lenten journey, we become closer and closer to Jesus, as He lives His life, suffers, and dies on the cross. This brings it in the forefront of our minds. We have no interference, just the exposure to God,” Tewksbury explained.

Well over 1,000 people have participated in the Lenten Holy Hours since they began on Feb. 15 at Holy Family Parish in Luzerne. Since that time, Holy Hours have taken place at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Tannersville, Most Precious Blood Parish in Hazleton, Christ the King Parish in Archbald, Saint Eulalia Parish in Roaring Brook Township, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Williamsport, Saint Joseph Marello Parish in Pittston, and Saint John Neumann Parish in Lords Valley.

A Lenten Holy Hour is scheduled for this evening (Thursday, March 7) at Epiphany Parish in Sayre and next week in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Parishioners in the Wilkes-Barre Deanery are invited to Our Lady of Hope Parish, 40 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, at 7 p.m. on March 18. Likewise, the faithful of the Scranton Deanery will gather together at Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, 1217 Prospect Avenue, Scranton, at 7 p.m. on March 20.

“This is great way for all of us to come together for one purpose only – to praise the Lord – and I think doing this was a great way to bring all the parishes together,” Patricia McAndrew, a parishioner of Christ the King Parish, said after the Lenten Holy Hour for the Carbondale Deanery on Feb. 22.

Ellen Marie Faliskie was particularly touched by the words Bishop Bambera shared during his homily.

“As the leader of our Diocese, he gives us the words and wisdom, as all priests do, to come closer to that connection with the Body of Christ,” Faliskie said. “He gave us four great steps to what the Body of Christ is, and we continue to reflect on that, especially during this Lenten time to become closer to Christ.”

Father Ryan Glenn, Pastor, Christ the King Parish, Archbald, and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Jermyn, called the Lenten Holy Hour at his parish a “gift” that drew parishioners together.

“The more that we have opportunities to emphasize what we believe … there will be this growing appreciation and this deepening belief that Christ is truly alive and He’s truly present in the Eucharist,” Father Glenn explained.

TROUDSBURG – The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the Diocese of Scranton, in partnership with Saint Luke Parish, is holding a series of informative seminars this Lent to help the faithful deepen their connection to the Lord.

The ‘Life in the Spirit’ seminars began on Tuesday, Feb. 20 and will continue each week until Tuesday, March 19.

The ‘Life in the Spirit’ seminars are designed to be the beginning, only the first step in a new way of life – living a life open to the Holy Spirit’s active participation!

People need to continue to grow and develop in this new life, to come together with others who are living this same way, to receive support, and community.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal has prayer groups in various places within the Diocese of Scranton where people are living this life in the Spirit together and all are welcome.

Those attending the ‘Life in the Spirit’ seminar on Feb. 27 received a lesson on Salvation: Jesus is the way!

Next week, March 12, will be a special time of prayer for the attendees to have a deeper and more personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their very own Lord and Savior and a new infilling with the Holy Spirit.

On the final Tuesday, March 19, the seminar will be focused on spiritual growth and transformation in Christ.

All people are welcome to attend the ‘Life in the Spirit’ seminars which begin with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a 7:00 p.m. program.

Saint Luke Parish is located at 818 Main Street in Stroudsburg.

 

 

 

 

(OSV News) – The tens of thousands of Catholics planning to attend the five-day 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July will experience large-scale liturgies, dynamic speakers, and opportunities for quiet prayer and faith-sharing, with six different “impact session” tracks tailored to their peer groups or faith journey.

Leaders hope attendees become “a leaven for the church in the United States as Eucharistic missionaries going back to their parishes, but also sort of a gathering of people who are standing in the breach, or in proxy, for the entire church across the United States, inviting that new Pentecost, and that new sending (of) healing and life to the full,” said Tim Glemkowski, CEO of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., in a January meeting with media.

The event is the pinnacle of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative of the U.S. bishops to inspire a deeper love for Jesus in the Eucharist that began in 2022. The revival focused its first year on dioceses, the second and current year on parishes, and the final year, beginning after the congress, on “going out in mission.”

Catholic leaders have described the National Eucharistic Congress as potentially transformational for the Catholic Church in the U.S.

“I believe this event and the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage leading up to it will have a generational impact on our country,” wrote Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, and chairman of the board of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., in a commentary published by OSV News in January.

The congress will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, and the adjacent Indianapolis Convention Center. The congress distinguishes itself from other Catholic conferences because it “invites the entire church to come to pray together for revival,” said Joel Stepanek, the National Eucharistic Congress’ vice president of programming and administration.

“We’re going to gather with those there to pray for the Holy Spirit to fall on us, to pray for revival in the church in the United States, to pray for healing in our own lives so we might be Eucharistic missionaries, and we’ll do that through powerful experiences of prayer and with the encouragement of a wonderful keynote speakers,” Stepanek said.

Registration is open for full-event and single-day passes at eucharisticcongress.org/register.

The congress’ theme is centered on Luke 24, which describes Jesus meeting two disciples on the road to Emmaus following his death and resurrection. The disciples did not recognize him at first but listened to him explain Scripture, only to later realize their companion was Jesus during their evening meal “in the breaking of the bread.” They raced back to Jerusalem to tell others what they had seen.

Day one, Wednesday, July 17, is themed “From the Four Corners.” The congress is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. that day with an opening ceremony in Lucas Oil Stadium. The evening’s speakers include Bishop Cozzens; Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S.; and Sister Bethany Madonna, a Sister of Life who is the local superior and mission coordinator of the sisters’ Phoenix foundation.

Day two, Thursday, July 18, is themed: “The Greatest Love Story.” The morning schedule begins with 8:30 a.m. Mass, with options to worship in English or Spanish, including an additional Mass for youth.

Mass is followed by impact sessions, where attendees can choose from six options with “dynamic preaching and music tailored to their state in life and mission,” according to the congress’ website. Following lunch are breakout sessions and “special experiences” tailored for specific groups or interests.

The evening includes a three-hour “revival session” with Father Francis “Father Rocky” Hoffman, Relevant Radio’s CEO and executive director, leading a Family Rosary Across America live from Lucas Oil Stadium. Father Michael Schmitz, host of the popular podcast “The Bible in a Year,” also will speak.

Day three, Friday, July 19, is themed “Into Gethsemane.” Friday’s schedule mirrors Thursday’s, with morning Mass and impact sessions, afternoon breakout sessions and an evening revival session with the Family Rosary Across America’s keynote speaker Sister Josephine Garrett of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Day four, Saturday, July 20, is themed “This is My Body.” Saturday’s morning and early afternoon schedule follows the order of the previous days. In the mid-afternoon, attendees will form a large Eucharistic procession in downtown Indianapolis, which Stepanek described as “a profoundly impactful experience.”

“A lot of folks who will be out on a Saturday afternoon in downtown Indianapolis will encounter the Lord and will receive the witness that we have, as a Catholic community, of prayer and joy in that city,” he said. “It’s really one of the biggest outward facing pieces of the congress itself.”

The evening includes a revival session featuring the Family Rosary Across America and speakers Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota; Mother Adela Galindo, founder of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary religious order and lay Apostles of the Pierced Hearts; and Gloria Purvis, host of “The Gloria Purvis Podcast.” Musician Matt Maher will lead worship.

Day five, Sunday, July 21, is themed “To the Ends of the Earth.” The morning schedule begins with a revival session with speaker and author Chris Stefanick, founder and president of Real Life Catholic, followed by the revival’s closing liturgy celebrated by a papal delegate, with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

“This is our big commissioning as a Catholic community, where we will go forward then and take what we have been entrusted with as being part of this experience back to our homes, our communities, our schools, our parishes and our families to really be that salt and leaven in the world that is in need of the joy that we’re going to bring,” Stepanek said.

The congress’ main events will be emceed by Montse Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News; Sister Miriam James Heidland of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity; and Father Josh Johnson, a speaker, author and priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dave Moore, co-founder of Catholic Music Initiative, will provide music throughout the congress.

The morning impact sessions planned for days 2-4 are organized into six tracks: Encounter, Encuentro, Empower, Renewal, Cultivate and Awaken.

Encounter is the group of general sessions held in Lucas Oil Stadium. With a focus on deepening a person’s relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist, it will feature speakers including Katie Prejean McGrady, Sister Mary Grace Langrell, Mary Healy, Edward Sri and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.

Encuentro sessions are in Spanish, with speakers including Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas; Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio; Andrés Arango; Mabel Suárez; Kathia Arango; and Dora Tobar.

Empower sessions are designed to be smaller and “more intimate,” with a focus on practical tools for becoming a “Eucharistic missionary” in one’s community. Speakers include Deacon Larry and Andi Oney, Father John Burns, Chika Anyanwu, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat of New York, Meg Hunter-Kilmer and Paul Albert.

Renewal sessions are for people who work or volunteer in a parish, diocesan or other ministry role “to explore new and creative possibilities of accompaniment, evangelization, and catechesis,” according to the congress’ website. Speakers include Damon Owens, Sarah Kaczmarek, Julianne Stanz and Curtis Martin.

Cultivate sessions are focused on families to attend together, with speakers including Father Leo Patalinghug and Ennie and Cana Hickman. Awaken sessions are designed for high school youth, with large-group sessions in the mornings and smaller breakout sessions in afternoons. Speakers include Oscar Rivera, Brian Greenfield and Jackie Francois Angel. Teenagers attending the sessions must be part of a youth group or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The congress also will include an exhibit hall and a display of a replica of the Shroud of Turin, art exhibits, opportunities for confession and adoration, and music performances.

Leading up to the congress is the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, a two-month pilgrimage beginning at four different points of the U.S. where groups of pilgrims will primarily walk to Indianapolis with the Eucharist in a monstrance. The congress’ opening event will include pilgrims from the four routes converging for a procession into the stadium.

Glemkowski said the congress shares the goal of the revival: “the idea that we need a spiritual movement of God in our church to bring about renewal in this time.”

“The bishops have prophetically inaugurated or invited the church to this time of encounter with Jesus, a deepened encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, which has everything to do with belief and relationship and what … (St.) John Henry Newman would call ‘real assent’ — a sacrificial gift of your heart to Jesus in the Eucharist which bears fruit for the life of the world.”

Large-scale Eucharistic congresses have been part of the fabric of devotion in the Catholic Church for nearly 150 years, and continue to be regularly convened by U.S. dioceses and in other countries. The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is the first Eucharistic congress in the U.S. 83 years, with the most recent national congress held in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1941.

The first U.S. national Eucharistic congress was held in 1895 in Washington, and subsequent congresses have been hosted by St. Louis, New York, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Omaha, Cleveland and New Orleans.

The U.S. also hosted two International Eucharistic Congresses in 1926 in Chicago and 1976 in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia congress drew 1.5 million people, including pivotal Catholic figures such as St. Teresa of Kolkata, Dorothy Day and a future pope, St. John Paul II. Quito, Ecuador, is hosting the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress in September.

SCRANTON – Are you celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary of either 25 or 50 years in 2024?

If so, we invite you to participate in the Diocese of Scranton’s annual Wedding Anniversary Mass that will be held this June.

Every summer, the Diocese holds its Wedding Anniversary Celebration for couples. This year’s Mass will be held on June 23, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will preside at this year’s Wedding Anniversary Mass.

Please share this information with others who might wish to attend.

For more information or to register for the Mass, please click here.

SCRANTON – The annual Saint Patrick’s Parade Day Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. this Saturday, March 9, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton. All are welcome to attend.

The liturgy is traditionally held in conjunction with the city of Scranton’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Following the Mass, the Saint Patrick’s Parade is expected to take to the streets of the Electric City beginning at 11:45 a.m.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will serve as principal celebrant. Various priests from the Diocese of Scranton are expected to concelebrate the Mass.

The Mass will be broadcast live on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton and will be rebroadcast several times the following week. It will also be available for viewing on the Diocese of Scranton’s YouTube Channel.

This year marks the 62nd Anniversary of the Saint Patrick’s Parade in Scranton.

LAFLIN — The Oblates of Saint Joseph religious community, Route 315, Laflin, announces the upcoming annual nine-day Novena and feast day celebration of Saint Joseph, beginning on Sunday, March 10, in the Oblates chapel.

Novena Masses will be celebrated each day at noon and 7 p.m., with the noon liturgies broadcast live on JMJ Catholic Radio 104.5 FM.

Following all Masses, Novena devotions to Saint Joseph will be prayed, followed by the individual blessing with the relic of Saint Joseph Marello, founder of the Saint Joseph Oblates congregation.

On the Feast of Saint Joseph, Tuesday, March 19, Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will serve as principal celebrant and homilist for the 7 p.m. Mass, concelebrated by Oblate Fathers and Diocesan clergy.

Earlier feast day Masses will be offered at 8 a.m. and noon. All diocesan faithful are welcome to attend the Novena celebration.

SCRANTON – On the weekend when the war between Ukraine and Russia reached its two-year mark, more than 100 people came together in prayer at the Cathedral of Saint Peter.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, and Father Myron Myronyuk, Pastor, Saint Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church of Scranton, held a special Prayer Service for Peace on Feb. 25, 2024.

“We pray today for our brothers and sisters and all who are burdened by such unjust aggression,” Bishop Bambera said in welcoming those in attendance. “We ask God’s mercy and peace, God’s presence and an end to war.”

Sitting in a wheelchair near the front of the Cathedral, Serhii Railian knows first-hand the atrocities of war. He was severely injured while fighting in Ukraine and is now receiving rehabilitation in the Philadelphia-area.

With the help of a translator, Railian expressed gratitude for the crowd that attended the prayer service.

“He said he’s very grateful for the people of this community for remembrance and bringing this issue up because it helps the boys and girls on the frontlines, knowing all the support from America,” the soldier said.

Father Myronyuk said in addition to Railian, there was also a second injured Ukrainian soldier in attendance at the Cathedral.

“They are happy to be here, and they feel the support. Events like this show we’re not alone,” Father Myronyuk said.

On the same day as the prayer service, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters at least 31,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. It is the first time Ukraine has given a number for its military casualties, and Zelenskyy declined to say how many soldiers are wounded or missing.

“If Russia succeeds in this war, the prospects of a wider war grow exponentially and with it, the security of the entire world falls into peril,” Rev. John Seniw, a longtime pastor in Berwick whose mother was born in Ukraine, said during the homily of the prayer service.

“Let us continue to pray that God would heal the wounded, console those who mourn, sustain the soldiers and comfort all who suffer from this war,” he added.

Deborah Pusateri, a parishioner of Saint Vladimir’s Church, attended the prayer service. Her grandparents lived in Ukraine but came to the United States several decades ago.

“It was important to come out and pray,” she said. “It is just terrible that such a peaceful country is being destroyed.”

As the prayer service concluded, Bishop Bambera urged those in attendance to continue to pray for the people of Ukraine.

“While at times the world seems to forget the horrors of war and, at times, we become numb to news reports that over and over again speak of atrocities beyond belief, may our prayers never lose their intensity and may we continue to pray that God’s gift of peace would reign throughout this world and most especially this day – and someday soon – throughout Ukraine,” Bishop Bambera said.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis paid a brief visit to Rome’s Gemelli Isola Hospital Feb. 28 for “diagnostic tests,” the Vatican press office said, without providing specifics.

After telling people at his general audience, “I’m still a bit sick,” and having aides read most of his prepared remarks, “Pope Francis went to the Gemelli Isola Tiberina Hospital for some diagnostic tests. Afterward, he returned to the Vatican,” the statement said.

The 87-year-old pope had canceled his appointments Feb. 24 and Feb. 26 because of what the Vatican press office described as “mild flu-symptoms,” but Pope Francis led the recitation of the Angelus prayer Feb. 25 without obvious difficulty. The Vatican provided no health update Feb. 27 since Tuesdays are his usual day off and he did not have to cancel any appointments.

Arriving for his audience Feb. 28, Pope Francis used a wheelchair instead of walking with his cane. His voice was hoarse and softer than usual.

Pope Francis also went to the Gemelli Isola Hospital in late November for a CT scan of his lungs. At the time, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office had said, “The CT scan ruled out pneumonia, but showed pulmonary inflammation that was causing some respiratory difficulties.”

The problems forced him to cancel a planned trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 1-3 for the U.N. climate change summit. On several occasions in the first weeks of December, he had aides read his speeches for him. In mid-January, saying he had “a bit of bronchitis,” he skipped several speeches although kept meeting different groups.

Pope Francis had undergone surgery in 1957 to remove part of one of his lungs after suffering a severe respiratory infection. He has insisted the operation has had no lasting impact on his health.

But last year, he was hospitalized at the main Gemelli hospital March 29-April 1 for what doctors said was a “respiratory infection.” He tested negative for COVID-19.

In 2022 the hospital on Rome’s Tiber Island, founded and run by the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, became affiliated with the Gemelli hospital where St. John Paul II and Pope Francis himself have undergone surgery.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The ability of Catholic and other faith-based groups to “meet migrants’ basic human needs” at the U.S.-Mexico border is a religious liberty issue and must be defended, U.S. bishops said in recent statements.

In a Feb. 26 statement issued in response to a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in an attempt to shut down Annunciation House, a Catholic nonprofit in El Paso serving migrants, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty, expressed solidarity with faith-driven ministries to migrants.

“It is hard to imagine what our country would look like without the good works that people of faith carry out in the public square,” Bishop Rhoades said. “For this, we can thank our strong tradition of religious liberty, which allows us to live out our faith in full.”

Paxton’s suit targeting El Paso’s Annunciation House comes as some Republicans have grown increasingly hostile toward nongovernmental organizations, particularly Catholic ones, that provide resources such as food and shelter to migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Bishop Rhoades said that as “the tragic situation along our border with Mexico increasingly poses challenges for American communities and vulnerable persons alike, we must especially preserve the freedom of Catholics and other people of faith to assist their communities and meet migrants’ basic human needs.”

Paxton’s office alleged Annunciation House’s efforts amount to “facilitating illegal entry to the United States” and “human smuggling.”

“The chaos at the southern border has created an environment where NGOs, funded with taxpayer money from the Biden Administration, facilitate astonishing horrors including human smuggling,” Paxton said in a statement. “While the federal government perpetuates the lawlessness destroying this country, my office works day in and day out to hold these organizations responsible for worsening illegal immigration.”

Catholic and local leaders in El Paso condemned that effort, including the city’s Bishop Mark J. Seitz, who pledged his diocese and the wider church will “vigorously defend the freedom of people of faith and goodwill to put deeply held religious convictions into practice” and “will not be intimidated in our work to serve Jesus Christ in our sisters and brothers fleeing danger and seeking to keep their families together.”

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops said in a Feb. 23 statement that the state’s bishops “join Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso in expressing solidarity with ministry volunteers and people of faith who seek only to serve vulnerable migrants as our nation and state continue to pursue failed migration and border security policies.”

“Our border ministries are intended to be a stabilizing presence that protects both citizens and migrants,” their statement said. “The Catholic Church in Texas remains committed to praying and working for a secure border, to protect the vulnerable and for just immigration solutions to protect all human life.”

Bishop Rhoades commended the Texas bishops for “expressing solidarity with those seeking simply to fulfill the fundamental biblical call: ‘whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'”