By Junno Arocho Esteves (OSV News) – The pastor of Gaza’s only Catholic parish revealed that Pope Leo XIV sent a personal condolence message following an Israeli missile strike that killed five people, including a Christian mother and daughter. In his daily video update posted to YouTube Oct. 4, Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish, read the pope’s”beautiful message” he received earlier, just one day after the missile strike that killed Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel Najjar. “Good morning, Father Gabriele. Ever since hearing the painful news about Maysa and Mary, I’ve been praying for them, their families, and everyone in Gaza. ‘How long, Lord?’” Pope Leo wrote, echoing a lament from Psalm 13. “Thank you for standing by the parish and so many people who only want to live in peace. God bless, with a warm embrace,” he wrote to Father Gabriele.
Christians attend the funeral of Mary Hafez Michel Najjar and her mother, Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud, at St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City Oct. 3, 2026. The Christian mother and daughter, along with three others, were killed in the early morning hours Oct. 3 in an Israeli airstrike on the residential building where they lived. (OSV News/courtesy X, @PGabRomanelli)
According to Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu Agency, the two women were among five people killed in the early hours Oct. 3 in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City. “Maysa and her daughter Mary had devoted their time to serving parishioners and displaced people sheltering at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, providing support and assistance amid the devastating humanitarian conditions facing the Gaza Strip,” Ramzi Khouri, head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, said. He added that the deaths of two women were “a painful loss for their families … and the parish community, and add to the growing number of martyrs among the Palestinian people in Gaza, who continue to endure death, destruction, and suffering on a daily basis.” The mother and daughter were laid to rest hours after their deaths, following a funeral at St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza. In an Oct. 3 statement, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem prayed for their eternal rest, as well as “an end to the war and bombardment and for the protection of civilians. “May a just peace prevail, so that the people of Gaza may live without fear for their children and loved ones. May their memory be eternal,” the statement read. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem also issued a statement on behalf of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who expressed condolences to the families of those who died and to the Christian community in Gaza. “His Beatitude offers his prayers to the Lord, asking Him to receive the two deceased in His abundant mercy, grant them eternal rest in His Kingdom, and bestow upon their families and loved ones the grace of consolation, strength, and hope,” the patriarchate said. In his video update, Father Romanelli said he was grateful for Pope Leo’s message and said the airstrike confirmed fears “that there is not a single safe place in Gaza.” “Let us pray intensely for the Church, let us pray intensely for Pope Leo XIV, and let us pray intensely for peace between Palestine and Israel,” Father Romanelli said. “May these innocent victims from this part of the Holy Land, like Maysa and Mary and so many others, serve – united to the redeeming sacrifice of Christ – to grant us peace of soul, peace among families, peace in society, and peace throughout the world.”
(Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist.)
JACKSON – Across the Diocese of Jackson, parishioners gathered with their pets for blessing ceremonies, giving thanks for the animals that bring companionship and joy to their lives. The photos on this page capture these celebrations of faith and the special bond between people and their pets. The blessing of animals is traditionally held near the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, whose love for God’s creation continues to inspire the faithful. Known as the patron saint of animals, St. Francis reminds us to recognize the goodness of all God has made and to treat living creatures with care and compassion. These gatherings offer an opportunity to thank God for the comfort, laughter and love our pets bring into our homes. They also remind us of our responsibility to care for the animals entrusted to us and to be good stewards of the world we share.
CLEVELAND – Father Kent Bowlds with Frank, his 9½-year-old English springer spaniel whose formal name is “Pup Francis,” after Pope Francis. Father Andrew Bowden suggested the name while serving in the parish as a seminarian. Father Bowlds says Frank makes him laugh every day, fetches papers from his printer — sometimes when he would rather he didn’t — and can hear a food wrapper opening from 100 yards away. (Photo courtesy of Father Kent Bowlds)SOUTHAVEN – Father David Szatkowski, SCJ, blesses Baby Girl, a puppy held by Sacred Heart School student Ben Lowery. (Photo by Laura Grisham)SOUTHAVEN – Father David Szatkowski, SCJ, blesses Kiwi, a lizard held by Sacred Heart School student Layla Cook. (Photo by Laura Grisham)TUPELO – Father Henry Shelton blesses family pets at St. James Parish on Oct. 2 in honor of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. (Photo by Michelle Harkins)CLINTON – Father Lincoln Dall blesses pets at Holy Savior Parish on Sunday, Oct. 4. (Photo by Robert Gatewood)MADISON – Father Will Foggo blesses pets at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Joining him are Edna Scapinello with her dog Maggie and Mary Jane Lemon and her daughter Murphy with their dogs Poppy and Daisy. (Photo by Sallie Ann Inman)GRENADA – Father Joseph Ashok Thumma joins Hans Campbell with Autumn, Kathy Everhart with Greta and Myra Liberto with Brady during the blessing of pets at St. Peter Parish in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. (Photo by Raymond Liberto)
VATICAN CITY – Christ the King Jackson parishioner Carrie Robinson greets Pope Leo XIV during an audience with a U.S. delegation from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Robinson spoke briefly with the pope and shook his hand during the group’s visit to the Vatican. Robinson shared that Pope Leo had some wonderful things to say about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. (Photo by Vatican Media)
CLARKSDALE – Former St. Elizabeth School eighth-grade classmates from 1962 reunite during the 60th joint reunion of the Clarksdale High School and Coahoma County High School classes of 1966. Pictured are Lucretia Luckett Boyle, Margaret Birdsong Johnson, Ronnie Demilio, Susan Matthews Young and Sue Haaga Craig. Classmate Carolyn Hannan Evans is not pictured. (Photo courtesy of Ronnie Demilio)
JACKSON – Chancery staff serve lunch during the Shower Power event in downtown Jackson on Sept. 11. Pictured from left are Joni House, Debbie Moore, Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, Father Lincoln Dall and Rebecca Harris. (Photos by Tereza Ma)
RIDGELAND – Local Catholic parishioners, Brian Lott and John Dorsa joined together to serve meals to about 70 first responders Sept. 11 in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. (Photo courtesy of John Dorsa)MOBILE, AL – Monsignor Elvin Sunds is invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Fleur de Lis on June 5 in the chapel of the archdiocesan chancery in Mobile. He is joined in the investiture by Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso of Mobile and Father Robert P. Higginbotham of the Diocese of Biloxi. (Photo by Michael Horten)JACKSON – Norman McDonald, a member of the Order of the Fleur de Lis Board of Governors, presents a $1,500 check to Sister Jane at the Carmelite Monastery on Monday, Oct. 5. The gift will assist with building repairs and HVAC needs. Pictured in back from left are Knight Commanders Jim McCraw and Craig Harrell, Sister Clare, Sister Jovi, Monsignor Elvin Sunds and Sister Evelyn. (Photo courtesy of Michael Horton)OXFORD – Bishop Joseph Kopacz, accompanied by pastor, Father Mark Shoffner, teaches 160 inquirers about the sign of the cross during the opening night of OCIA at St. John the Evangelist Parish. (Photo by Jennifer Newsom)
Dozens of countries were represented at this year’s Taste of St. Francis on Sunday, Oct. 4. Teresa Karki, left, serves chicken momos with tomato sauce from Nepal, while Alejandro Banda serves Oaxacan tamales from Oaxaca, Mexico. (Photos by Sallie Ann Inman)
By Joanna Puddister King and Tereza Ma MADISON – A kind word, a listening ear or an invitation to share a gift can become a powerful expression of faith. That message connected art, storytelling and practical ministry workshops during the Diocese of Jackson’s Fall Faith Formation Day Sept. 19 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Centered on the theme “Formed to Serve, Sent to Lead,” the gathering brought together catechists, youth ministers and other parish leaders for prayer, fellowship, two keynote presentations and breakout sessions addressing the opportunities and challenges of sharing the faith today. Keynote speaker Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, used his colorful artwork and personal stories to encourage participants to recognize God’s presence in everyday encounters. An artist, author and retreat leader based in Camden, New Jersey, Brother Mickey belongs to the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and has worked in full-time art ministry since 1994. Throughout his presentations, he returned to the influence of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, whose life and witness helped him discover a new purpose for his artistic gifts.
MADISON – Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, speaks to a room full of catechists during Fall Faith Formation Day at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. More photos are available at https://jacksondiocese.zenfoliosite.com. (Photos by Tereza Ma)
Brother Mickey recalled first encountering Sister Thea through a magazine interview while his father was seriously ill. Later, watching a video about her life inspired a series of paintings and set him on a path of sharing her story through art. Over more than three decades, that inspiration has continued to grow. Forty-seven of his paintings inspired by Sister Thea are now part of the materials gathered for her canonization cause. For Brother Mickey, Sister Thea’s example offers a lesson in transforming grief into hope and using personal gifts to build others up. He encouraged those working in faith formation to see their ministry as an opportunity to accompany people and help them recognize their own worth. “It’s just saying to somebody, ‘I’m here. You’re not alone,’” he said. His afternoon presentation expanded that message through stories of community mural projects and friendships formed through art. He described people finding moments of peace, connection and renewed confidence while painting together, including those experiencing grief or hardship. Creativity, he suggested, can open a door to relationships that might otherwise never develop. For Timothy Roberts of St. Alphonsus Parish in McComb, the presentation deepened an existing interest in Sister Thea. “It just enhanced everything I already knew about her, and I want to learn more,” said Roberts, who teaches fourth-grade parish religious education with his wife, Mary. The day’s breakout sessions gave participants opportunities to connect that spirit of accompaniment with their own ministries. Topics included mental health, artificial intelligence, Confirmation preparation, engaging teaching methods, youth summer experiences, young adult discipleship, Catholic social teaching and immigration. Sessions on Catholic social teaching and immigration were offered in English and Spanish. In “Created in His Image: Faith, Human Dignity & A.I.,” Joni House, executive director of Catholic education for the diocese, invited participants to consider how technology can serve people while preserving human dignity and relationships. Her presentation offered six areas for discernment: dignity, truth, relationship, responsibility, the common good and mission. Participants considered whether information is trustworthy, whether a human person remains accountable for decisions and whether technology helps people love God and serve their neighbors. Small-group exercises applied those questions to situations such as using AI to draft parish messages or formation materials and using AI-generated information in decisions affecting a person. Jeanne Setzer, who serves in a book group at St. Francis of Assisi in Madison, said the workshop addressed an increasingly important part of daily life. “I think it’s very important for us to learn how to use AI responsibly,” Setzer said, emphasizing that human connectedness should remain central. “AI should help enhance our relationships with each other.” Amy Chaney of St. Michael Parish in Vicksburg also valued the discussion, along with the chance to learn from other catechists. Having taught First Communion preparation for about three years, she came seeking ideas for educating children and sharing the faith.
Participants discuss artificial intelligence during a workshop led by Joni House at Fall Faith Formation Day.
“I’m enjoying communicating with other people in the diocese and meeting people that I’ve talked to on the phone and being able to connect with them in person,” Chaney said. Other workshops explored how ministers can care for themselves and accompany people through important transitions. Dr. Kayla Acklin led “You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup: Mental Health and Ministry,” addressing personal well-being as an essential part of caring for others. Dr. Edgar Meyer facilitated “Beyond Graduation: Accompanying Young Adults into Lifelong Discipleship,” which included a panel of young adults sharing their experiences. Deacon Bill Vautrot, ordained in July and assigned to St. Gregory the Great in Senatobia, attended both sessions. “I really learned how important it is to take care of yourself so you can take care of others,” he said. The young adult panel also helped him better understand the challenges people face after college and how the church can support their continued growth in faith. Attendees were also able to leave with resource guides on building a young adult ministry program and campus ministry programs for local colleges. For those teaching children and teenagers, workshops offered ideas to bring home to parish classrooms and youth groups. Mary Roberts attended April Moore’s session on bringing joy and energy into faith formation. She said the discussion offered ways to use visuals, games and interaction to engage students while continuing to teach the faith. Lauren Cotting, youth minister and Confirmation catechist at St. Alphonsus in McComb, attended Abbey Schuhmann’s session on Catholic camps, conferences and service experiences. Schuhmann and the panel introduced opportunities ranging from service-centered experiences to summer programs combining recreation and faith formation, giving Cotting options to share with her parish team. Amy Le and Cindy Tran, youth ministry leaders at St. Michael Parish in Forest, said the day offered encouragement for a growing ministry. Le recalled beginning with only two or three students; the group now consistently draws at least 15. They came away with ideas for developing leadership, involving young people in service and strengthening relationships within the parish. “It’s just nice to have another perspective on how to do things,” Tran said. For Le, the gathering reinforced the possibilities ahead as their young people continue to grow together in faith. “I think it’s beautiful to be here today,” she said.
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE By Melvin Arrington “Is this heaven?” I asked myself this question repeatedly throughout the day. Everyone around me declared that this was almost like being in heaven. They all affirmed that heaven must be something like this place. But no, this was not heaven; it was Missouri, to be specific, the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, where, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, our busload of pilgrims from Oxford, Mississippi, joined with 50,000 other souls gathered there for the three-hour-long beatification mass for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. It was a celebratory event I had been looking forward to for a long time. It did not disappoint. The breathtakingly beautiful opening procession, which lasted almost as long as a typical Sunday Mass, included 1,000 priests, 850 seminarians, 850 men and women religious, 260 deacons, 89 bishops, and four cardinals. This visual spectacle combined with the celestial sounds of the choir and orchestra transformed what was once a pro football arena into what seemed like a little corner of heaven. An overwhelming sensation of joy came upon me as I realized I was being granted the privilege of participating in this very special moment in the life of the Church! The high point of any Mass is always when we receive Our Lord’s precious Body and Blood in the Eucharist. But there were so many other spectacular moments as well, such as when the now sixteen-year-old James Fulton Engstrom, the so-called “miracle baby,” processed in carrying Archbishop Sheen’s relic, his lower jawbone. James was born with no heartbeat, no pulse, nothing. His parents immediately began praying, asking for Sheen’s intercession. Then, after 61 minutes had passed, when the doctors were about to call the time of death, the child began to breathe. He not only survived but grew into a normal little boy with no signs of organ damage. In 2019 Pope Francis officially recognized the baby’s healing as a miracle, which cleared the way for the beatification to take place. How appropriate that Sheen’s mandible serves as his primary relic! For over three decades his majestic voice was heard regularly on NBC radio’s Catholic Hour. In the 1950s, his television program “Life Is Worth Living” reached an estimated audience of 30 million weekly at the height of its popularity. Paying homage to Sheen’s finely-honed speaking skills, Billy Graham called him “the greatest communicator of the twentieth century.”
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is pictured from the 1950s, when he hosted his Sunday evening program geared toward family life, the seven capital sins and other religious themes. (CNS file photo)
While many people consider Fulton J. Sheen to be the first great Catholic televangelist, young people are now calling him the first Catholic influencer and content creator. I’m not at all sure what that means. It has been said that the archbishop has more converts to his credit than anyone else in history, including St. Paul and St. Francis Xavier. When Pope Pius XII asked him how many conversions he was responsible for, Sheen responded: “Your Holiness, I have never counted them. I am always afraid if I did count them, I might think I made them, instead of the Lord.” Whatever the total may be, I include myself in that number because I owe my conversion to the Catholic faith to Blessed Fulton J. Sheen. In my view, Sheen must be a saint because he continues to lead souls to Christ today, almost half a century after his death. At a time in my life when I was searching for something more than my Protestantism could provide, trying to go deeper into my Christian faith, as C. S. Lewis would say, “further up and further in,” I re-discovered Fulton J. Sheen. Re-discover is the proper word because I can recall seeing him on television when I was very young and completely captivated by his theatrical gestures, his visually stunning vestments (especially that cape!), and his soul-piercing eyes. But as I got older and he became less visible to the public eye, he totally fell off my radar screen. Then, in 2001, by chance, I came across a book titled “America’s Bishop: The Life and Times of Fulton J. Sheen” by Thomas C. Reeves, and from that moment on, everything changed. I saw Sheen’s picture on the cover and recognized him immediately. To say that I stumbled upon that book by chance is not accurate; surely, it was God guiding me all along the way. Curious to find out more about this enigmatic figure from my past, I began to do a little research and found out that he had been a university professor, which meant that he must have written something. A quick check revealed that he had authored dozens of books, numerous pamphlets, and countless magazine and newspaper pieces, which explains why part of the archbishop’s hand was chosen as one of his relics. In addition to all those books, I also ran across many of his old “Life Is Worth Living” TV shows. Slowly, I began to work my way through all this print and video material. Sheen’s sharp insights, the clarity and compelling nature of his arguments, and his good cheer and humor gradually won me over. At some point it dawned upon me – I was no longer Protestant. Continuing to plow ahead, I eventually made my way to the Catholic faith, thanks to Sheen’s teachings. What began as a brief nostalgic reflection ended with a life-changing conversion. Thanks be to God! Although Sheen died in 1979, I’m absolutely convinced that during all those years when I was seeking the truth, he was praying for me. The beatification Mass in St. Louis was the experience of a lifetime for me and my traveling companions. So, what’s the next step? What do we do for an encore? Maybe there will be another opportunity for a pilgrimage, this time to Sheen’s tomb in the Cathedral of St. Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois. If so, I’m ready! Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us!
(Melvin Arrington is a Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages for the University of Mississippi and a member of St. John Oxford.)
(Editor’s note: This is an abridged version of the Holy Father’s message for World Mission Sunday 2026. Read the full text at https://bit.ly/4zi5bPO)
Dear brothers and sisters, For World Mission Day 2026, I have chosen the theme ‘One in Christ, united in mission.’ I wish to encourage the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit. One in Christ – Missionary disciples united in him and with our brothers and sisters The mystery of union with Christ lies at the heart of mission. Before his Passion, Jesus prayed to the Father, ‘that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us’ (John 17:21). These words reveal Jesus’ deepest desire, as well as the identity of the Church as a community of his disciples. That is, a communion … at the service of fraternity among all human beings and in harmony with all creation. The Church’s primary missionary responsibility is to renew and sustain spiritual and fraternal unity among its members. The evangelising mission that Christ entrusted to his disciples requires, above all, hearts that are reconciled and eager for communion. Being ‘one in Christ’ calls us to keep our gaze fixed on the Lord, so that he may truly be at the centre of our lives and communities, the centre of every word, action and interpersonal relationship, leading us to say with amazement: ‘It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, the more united we are in Christ, the better able we will be to carry out the mission that he entrusts to us. United in mission – That the world may believe in Christ the Lord The unity of disciples is not an end in itself; it is directed towards mission. Jesus states this clearly: ‘So that the world may believe that you have sent me’ (John 17:21). It is through the witness of a reconciled, fraternal and united community that the proclamation of the Gospel acquires its full communicative power. No baptised person is exempt from or indifferent to mission: everyone … participates in the great work that Christ has entrusted to his Church. I would like to thank Missio (the Pontifical Mission Societies) for their service to missionary cooperation, which I experienced with gratitude during my ministry in Peru. Missio continues to nurture and form missionary awareness for the faithful of all ages, and to promote a network of prayer and charity that connects communities throughout the world. The annual offerings collected on this day are distributed by Missio on behalf of the Pope, to support the various needs of the Church’s mission. The global Missio network plays a valuable role for the entire Church. They are a living sign of unity and ecclesial missionary communion. I invite everyone to work with them in a spirit of gratitude. LEO PP XIV Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul
By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Leo XIV’s journey to France aimed to show that a joyful or serene rebirth is always possible even after tremendous tragedy or terrible suffering, he said. By visiting the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, meeting with survivors of abuse and praying at Lourdes, and celebrating the Christian faith openly in the public square of a secular nation, the pope highlighted how the miracle of new life can happen when everyone comes together out of love for one’s neighbor and the common good, he said during his weekly general audience Sept. 30. As has been customary, Pope Leo used his first general audience after his Sept. 25-28 trip to Paris, Lourdes and Metz in France to tell people about the purpose of his visit and to thank all those who made the journey possible. He also repeated an appeal he made in France: asking the faithful worldwide to pray the rosary throughout October, “dedicating it in a special way to ending wars and achieving peace.”
Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful from the popemobile at the Prairie of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France, Sept. 27, 2026, before celebrating Mass. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
The motto of the journey, “That the world may have life,” the pope said in English, “characterized the Gospel-centered nature of my meetings throughout the visit. For God alone, through his grace, can restore the Church and renew humanity, and it was evident to me that this is precisely what is occurring.” The Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris, which was restored after a fire destroyed its wooden spire and most of its roof in 2019, “can symbolically shed light on this entire apostolic journey, offering a perspective that I would summarize in one word: rebirth,” he said in his main catechesis in Italian to thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Rebuilt and “more splendid than ever, the cathedral’s restoration “was a test of the possible collaboration between the Church, the state, public institutions and civil society,” Pope Leo said. “The synergy for the common good should be the norm for institutions, political and social forces, and all those with civil and economic responsibilities,” he said. “This is the message I wished to convey” to secular leaders, he said, “highlighting the fundamental criterion upon which such collaboration must be based: the dignity of the human person.” According to France’s National Institute of Demographic Studies, the percentage of 18 to 49-year-olds who reported not belonging to any religion grew from 45% in 2009 to 53% in 2020, and 29% of the entire population reported being Catholic. However, the pope said, there is also “a sign of renewal within the Church in France that has been evident for some years now, namely the remarkable and growing number of young people and adults seeking baptism.” A tangible and visible sign of rebirth “appeared in a surprising way” during Mass Sept. 26 in Place de la Concorde, which, he said, was a highpoint of his visit. “Priests, the choir and a remarkable crowd extended all the way along the Avenue des Champs Élysées up to the Arc de Triomphe and beyond.” An estimated 800,000 people filled the streets, according to the Vatican. Despite the vast crowds, “everyone was able to receive the Eucharist,” he said, “This is the true reconstruction, the restoration of the Church that only God can bring about, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.” Turning to his visit to Lourdes, he said the shrine dedicated to Our Lady also represents “a message of hope and rebirth,” especially for those who are sick “in body and spirit.” This was another message “that I wished to openly reaffirm: every human life, in whatever condition, even in the most extreme frailty, retains its inviolable dignity and deserves to be cared for, accompanied and relieved of suffering with human compassion and with the aid of the means offered by science,” he said. Because Lourdes “represents for the entire world a sanctuary of the civilization of love,” he said this was context for his meeting with a group of people who had experienced abuse by members of the church. “I asked them to help me express to other victims too my own wish, and that of the whole Church, to listen to them and walk alongside them as they seek healing, acknowledging the pain inflicted upon their lives and working to prevent abuse,” he said. Lastly, visiting the city of Metz, he said, helped symbolize its role in the process of unifying Europe “as a project for peace in the wake of the destruction wrought by war.” After two devastating world wars, “Europe was reborn, founded on those principles of democracy, solidarity and fraternity amongst peoples, which owe much to its Christian roots,” Pope Leo said. “Dear brothers and sisters, may the public witness of love for Jesus Christ that we have seen in France be an inspiration to the whole Church. Let us not hide our faith!” he told Portuguese-speaking pilgrims.
By Gina Christian ST. LOUIS (OSV News) – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen – the 20th-century theologian, evangelizer, Catholic communications pioneer, teacher and preacher – is now Blessed Fulton J. Sheen. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a pro-prefect for the Holy See’s Dicastery for Evangelization and papal delegate, pronounced the Church’s declaration on Archbishop Sheen’s holiness of life and witness to Jesus Christ at a Sept. 24 Mass celebrated in The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. To the applause of pilgrims, Cardinal Tagle described Archbishop Sheen as a “son of Illinois, son of the United States of America” and “indeed, son of the world.” Hundreds of clergy, including dozens of bishops and cardinals, had processed into the arena for the Mass as choirs, accompanied by an orchestra, performed a succession of hymns. The priests’ vestments were embroidered with “JMJ,” Archbishop Sheen’s signature dedication to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The location had been selected by Archbishop Sheen’s home Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, to accommodate the number of pilgrims who arrived for the beatification and its surrounding events. Around 50,000 people were in attendance, according to organizers. During a press conference a few hours prior to the Mass, Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria said that almost every U.S. state and several additional nations were represented by pilgrims. A number of the faithful hailed from Italy, Poland and Brazil, he said. Close to 90 bishops, some 1,000 priests, an estimated 1,600 men and women religious, and almost 250 deacons were present, added Bishop Tylka, who wore Archbishop Sheen’s pectoral cross. Among the concelebrating prelates was Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Around 50,000 attended the beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Sept. 24, 2026, at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. Blessed Sheen is remembered as one of the most influential and innovative evangelists in American history. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
The beatification – a papal act affirming an individual’s presence in heaven is worthy of belief – officially occurred between the liturgy’s Penitential Rite and the Gloria. Bishop Tylka made a formal request for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification to Cardinal Tagle. A short biography of Archbishop Sheen, who was born in El Paso, Illinois, in 1895 and died in New York in 1979, was read by Archbishop Sheen’s great-nephew, Paul Cunningham, after which Cardinal Tagle proclaimed the apostolic letter from Pope Leo XIV declaring the beatification in Latin. Bishop Tylka then read the letter in English, as applause followed both. With the papal decree’s public proclamation, Archbishop Sheen became formally counted among the Church’s “beati,” from the Latin word for “blessed.” James Fulton Engstrom – whose revival from stillbirth in 2010, attributed to Archbishop Sheen’s intercession, was formally declared the miracle that moved Archbishop Sheen to beatification – processed with his parents and siblings to present a major relic of Archbishop Sheen during the liturgy. Enclosed in a special case called a reliquary, the relic is Archbishop Sheen’s mandible, or jawbone, chosen because it represents the archbishop’s tremendous gifts as an orator, teacher and evangelist. As part of the beatification, a portrait of a haloed Blessed Fulton Sheen was also unveiled. In the image, he is notably holding a piece of chalk, which he famously used – along with a blackboard – during his Emmy-winning television show, “Life Is Worth Living.” The image was also simultaneously unveiled in the Diocese of Peoria at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. The first reading from the beatification Mass, Isaiah 52:7-10, was delivered in Spanish, with the second reading, 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-7, proclaimed in Portuguese, while the Gospel taken from Mark 16:15-20 was proclaimed in English. The prayers of the faithful were offered in a variety of other languages, illustrating both the universal character of the Church and also the missionary mindset of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, who served as the U.S. director for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. In his homily, Cardinal Tagle praised Archbishop Sheen as a “storyteller of Jesus” and “a “missionary who digs deep into the heart of the poor to meet Jesus there.” The cardinal noted then-Bishop Sheen’s passionate advocacy for the poor during the Second Vatican Council. During the 1964 discussions on the document “Ad Gentes,” on the missionary activity of the Church, then-Bishop Sheen asked his brother bishops to “affirm” the notion of poverty and the bishops who came from poor and suffering parts of the Church. “As only a wounded Christ could convert a doubting Thomas, so only a Church wounded by poverty can convert a doubting world,” he said. Cardinal Tagle commended Archbishop Sheen for making genuine connections with the people he met and to whom he preached and ministered. “The missionary evangelizer is blessed by the communion with persons and peoples, especially the poor and vulnerable, and this is communion in the name of Jesus Christ,” he said. Cardinal Tagle shared how Archbishop Sheen told a friend, who asked why he became a priest, that he was called to share the Gospel and tell the story of Jesus. “I never tire of telling it; I never tire of improving my telling of it. I love my calling,” Archbishop Sheen said, as Cardinal Tagle recounted. In remarks after Communion, Bishop Tylka urged all attendees to pray for Archbishop Sheen’s canonization, leading them together in a prayer for that intention. “It is God who has given the Church the extraordinary witness of the man we may now call Blessed Fulton J. Sheen,” he said. Thanking the many prelates involved in the Mass, including Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, whose archdiocese hosted the beatification, and representatives from the Archdiocese of New York, Diocese of Rochester and the Pontifical Mission Societies, Bishop Tylka noted, “Your presence today is a beautiful reminder that while Peoria is incredibly proud to call Fulton Sheen one of our own, he is a gift to the whole Church.” Bishop Tylka also expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Sheen’s family, individuals and benefactors involved in preparations and liturgy, and the faithful who made the pilgrimage to attend the beatification. “Fulton Sheen has left us a great legacy,” he said. “He fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel in challenging cultural times. He supported the Church’s missions throughout the world. He won tens of thousands of converts and preached to millions. His time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament was the source of his insight into the Son of God. He used every gift God gave him for one purpose: to bring people to Christ. And his legacy is now ours.” Following the Mass, attendees were invited to remain in prayer to venerate Archbishop Sheen’s relics.
(Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina. Maria Wiering, senior managing editor of OSV News, contributed to this article.)
By Vatican News VATICAN CITY (Vatican News) – The Pontifical Swiss Guard is preparing a commemorative year to mark the 500th anniversary of the Sack of Rome, in which 147 Swiss Guards lost their lives protecting the pope. On May 6, 1527, the guard fought bravely to defend St. Peter’s Basilica and Pope Clement VII, escorting him to safety in Castel Sant’Angelo, as the city of Rome was laid to waste. Col. Christoph Graf, commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, describes the 1527 Sack of Rome as “one of the most defining events” in the history of the military force.
Pope Leo XIV attends the swearing-in ceremony of 27 new Swiss Guards in the Vatican’s San Damaso Courtyard Oct. 4, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
The Swiss Guard will be commemorating the 500th anniversary throughout 2027, beginning with a history conference in Brig, Switzerland, on Jan. 23. A publication will be released examining the political, military and religious circumstances surrounding the events of the period and their consequences. The commemorative year aims not only to remember a defining history event, but to honor the values that have shaped the Swiss Guard for centuries. It also aims to deepen understanding of the Swiss Guard’s mission today, encourage young Swiss men to serve at the Vatican, and highlight Switzerland’s enduring connection to the institution and its rich tradition. In April, the Pontifical Swiss Guard will participate in the Sechseläuten, Zurich’s Spring Festival, at the invitation of the Central Committee of Zurich’s guilds, who recognize that the guard commander who was killed during the Sack of Rome, Kaspar Röist, was from Zurich. The culmination will be the commemorations held at the Vatican May 5-7. The program will include vespers and the unveiling of a new commemorative plaque honoring the fallen guards; Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica; the swearing-in of the new guards in St. Peter’s Square; a light-art projection by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter; and more events involving representatives of the Church, political life, civil society and the wider Swiss Guard family. In September, former guard members will join in a national pilgrimage to Einsiedeln, Switzerland. “The commemorative year recalls the willingness to sacrifice and marks the loyalty of our predecessors,” Graf said. “At the same time, we want to show that the values of that time are still present today and shape the mission of our guardsmen in the service to the pope.”
(A version of this story was originally published by Vatican News and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.)
By Jay Sorgi (OSV News) – For half a century, the National Association of Pastoral Musicians helped define much of the sound of Mass and other sacramental experiences throughout the United States, teaching and empowering musicians to make music a spiritual food for tens of millions every Sunday. They plan to do the same and further enrich the life of the church for another 50 years, but under a new name as of Oct. 6: The National Association of Catholic Church Musicians. “We want them to have an encounter with God. We are that instrument (which) hopefully the Holy Spirit is working through, so that the people that come to worship have an encounter through the music,” said Anna Betancourt, NACCM’s vice chair, who led cathedral choirs in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of Anaheim, California, before a recent move to Texas. “It’s wonderful to have all the musical skills and to learn the notes. How are we going to make it beautiful? How are we going to pray these words? That to me is key,” she told OSV News. The group received a special blessing from an American Catholic whose faith life was fostered by Catholic music, Pope Leo XIV, through special greetings shared earlier for its national convention in July. “The Holy Father therefore hopes that your efforts will enable the Church to continue to offer reverent and dignified worship in the parishes, schools and other institutions where you serve. In this way, he is confident you will help American Catholics to sing of the steadfast love and mercies of God in a continuous hymn of praise,” said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, in a letter to the NACCM. Jennifer Kluge, the organization’s executive director, told OSV News the Second Vatican Council planted NACCM’s roots by opening up the musical worship experience to the congregation. “We had this huge role to play. There was this brand new opportunity for congregational singing. The congregation for the first time ever, not only had the opportunity to participate musically in the liturgy, but actually had a responsibility and an obligation to participate,” she said. “Our members came to us saying, ‘How do we enliven this?’” Amanda Bruce, NACCM’s senior associate director of marketing & communications, said that since 1976, NACCM answered that question by helping create frameworks for dioceses, archdioceses and parishes to find and nurture the life of pastoral musicians, and to incubate much of the music heard during Mass. “We talk very often in leadership about how we so often minister (to) those who are celebrating the highs and the lows of their lives, weddings and funerals,” Bruce told OSV News. “So many of the songs that so many Catholics bring to us in music ministry are often songs that premiered at our conferences,” she said. “Our association was a lot of the conduit for some of that music.” NACCM Board Chair Meyer Chambers, a 38-year member who has sung or led music ministries in cathedrals, Newman centers and Black Catholic parishes from Boston to New Orleans, told OSV News he sees how the name change can help attract Catholics who share music outside the choir lofts on Sunday, whether it’s through Gregorian chant, guitar-folk or Gospel sound. “We need to go out and proclaim this beautiful thing that God has given us,” he said, “this ability to make music to praise the Lord on the highways, the byways, the corners, the woods, everywhere, because that’s where you’ll find us.”
(Jay Sorgi writes for OSV News from Philadelphia.)
