Día de su santo – 24 de octubre • Patrona de los tejedores
San Antonio María Claret (1807–1870) fue un ardiente misionero, reformador y fundador cuya pasión por la evangelización dejó una huella profunda en la Iglesia, tanto en España como en América Latina. Nació en Sallent, un pequeño pueblo de tejedores cerca de Barcelona. Desde joven trabajó en el taller de su padre, pero su corazón anhelaba algo más. Ingresó al seminario y fue ordenado sacerdote en 1835, ganando pronto reconocimiento por su elocuencia, su celo pastoral y su incansable predicación.
Movido por el deseo de llevar el Evangelio a quienes más lo necesitaban, en 1849 fundó a los Misioneros Hijos del Inmaculado Corazón de María, conocidos hoy como los Claretianos, congregación dedicada a anunciar la Palabra de Dios mediante la predicación, la enseñanza y la acción social. Su lema, “El amor de Cristo nos urge”, marcó cada paso de su vida.
Ese mismo año, el papa Pío IX lo nombró arzobispo de Santiago de Cuba, donde sirvió durante seis intensos años. Enfrentó enfermedades, tensiones políticas y una fuerte oposición, pero logró reformar el clero, fortalecer la educación católica, promover la devoción a la Eucaristía y a la Virgen María, y fundar escuelas, cooperativas y cajas de ahorro para los pobres y los esclavizados. Su defensa valiente de la justicia lo hizo tanto amado como perseguido; incluso sobrevivió a varios atentados.
En 1857 fue llamado de regreso a España, donde se convirtió en confesor de la reina Isabel II, cargo que aceptó por obediencia y desde el cual promovió la renovación moral y espiritual en la corte. Tras la revolución de 1868, acompañó a la familia real al exilio en Francia, donde continuó escribiendo y predicando hasta su muerte en 1870, en el monasterio cisterciense de Fontfroide.
Autor prolífico, Claret escribió más de 140 libros y folletos sobre oración, vida cristiana y doctrina social. Fue canonizado en 1950 y es recordado no solo como misionero y fundador, sino también como un defensor de la educación, la paz y la dignidad humana. Hoy, los Claretianos continúan su misión en más de 60 países, difundiendo el fuego del amor de Dios por medio de la predicación y el servicio a los más necesitados.
Cita destacada: “Seré amable con todos, especialmente con aquellos que me resulten molestos”. – San Antonio María Claret
El padre Adolfo Suárez-Pasillas, sacerdote de la Diócesis de Jackson, aparece en la foto en México, donde regresó a principios de este año debido a los retrasos en los trámites de inmigración que afectan a las visas de trabajadores religiosos. Había servido fielmente a la comunidad parroquial de San Miguel en Forest, Misisipi, pero no pudo permanecer en Estados Unidos después de que expirara su visa R-1. La propuesta de Ley de Protección de Trabajadores Religiosos (RWPA) ayudaría a ministros como él a seguir sirviendo en las parroquias estadounidenses mientras esperan la residencia permanente. (Foto de Tereza Ma)
NACIÓN WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Mientras el ejército estadounidense llevaba a cabo otro ataque el 16 de octubre contra lo que, según él, era un barco sospechoso de transportar drogas en el Caribe, un experto de la Facultad de Derecho de Notre Dame advirtió que ese tipo de acción, sin la autorización del Congreso, podría sentar las bases para que el gobierno llevara a cabo ataques más cerca de casa sin prácticamente ningún tipo de restricciones. Según informó Reuters, se cree que el ataque del 16 de octubre es el primero de al menos seis ataques de este tipo que dejaron supervivientes entre la tripulación. Casi 30 personas han muerto en los ataques. Mary Ellen O’Connell, profesora de la Facultad de Derecho de Notre Dame especializada en derecho internacional y resolución de conflictos, expresó su preocupación por el hecho de que Trump “desempeñara un papel fundamental en la consecución de un alto el fuego en Gaza para luego dar un giro de 180 grados y utilizar la fuerza militar sin ley en el Caribe”. El 20 de enero, Trump emitió un decreto ejecutivo en el que designaba a ciertos cárteles internacionales y otras organizaciones como “organizaciones terroristas extranjeras”. El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica establece que las autoridades legítimas tienen la responsabilidad de preservar el bien común “impidiendo que el agresor injusto pueda causar daño”, pero especifica condiciones estrictas para el uso de la fuerza militar, entre ellas el agotamiento de todos los demás esfuerzos para detener dicho daño. O’Connell afirmó que los ataques no tienen justificación en la legislación estadounidense ni en el derecho internacional, y que no hay nada en la orden ejecutiva del presidente que le impida utilizar este tipo de fuerza letal en el lago Michigan, una vía navegable accesible desde Canadá pero que se encuentra íntegramente dentro del territorio estadounidense.
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Los sacerdotes, seminaristas y religiosos inmigrantes en Estados Unidos se encuentran entre los afectados por la política de control de la inmigración, según informaron defensores y analistas a OSV News. El obispo Joseph J. Tyson, de la diócesis de Yakima, en el centro de Washington, escribió en un boletín reciente que varios seminaristas de la diócesis se encontraban entre ellos, incluido uno que había nacido en Estados Unidos pero que se había marchado para estar con sus padres, que se habían auto deportado a México. En una entrevista con OSV News, el obispo Tyson dijo que muchos de los sacerdotes y seminaristas de su diócesis provienen de familias inmigrantes. “Sé lo difícil que es mantener la situación legal de mis sacerdotes y seminaristas”, afirmó. “Solo puedo imaginar cómo debe ser para los feligreses que no cuentan con un equipo de abogados”. La consecuencia de aplicar al máximo la ley de inmigración, dijo el obispo Tyson, significaría “que nos quedaríamos sin sacerdotes en las parroquias de inmediato”. El Estudio Nacional de Sacerdotes Católicos, publicado en 2022 por el Proyecto Católico de la Universidad Católica de América, indicó que el 24 % de los sacerdotes que prestan servicio en Estados Unidos son extranjeros, pero el estudio no registró la situación de sus visas o tarjetas de residencia. El obispo Tyson dijo que los obispos estadounidenses tienen que “encontrar una manera de recuperar el púlpito”, y señaló que varios funcionarios públicos católicos y voces en las redes sociales han minimizado la doctrina social de la Iglesia, en particular en lo que respecta a la inmigración.
VATICANO CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) – El papa León XIV se reunió por primera vez con una coalición de sobrevivientes de abusos y defensores de las víctimas en el Vaticano el 20 de octubre. Los miembros de la junta directiva de Ending Clergy Abuse (Acabar con los abusos del clero) se reunieron con el papa durante aproximadamente una hora en una reunión a puerta cerrada que posteriormente fue confirmada por el Vaticano. “Fue una conversación muy significativa”, afirmó Gemma Hickey, presidenta de la junta directiva de ECA y sobreviviente de abusos por parte del clero en Canadá, en un comunicado de prensa. “Refleja un compromiso compartido con la justicia, la sanación y el cambio real”. “Los sobrevivientes llevan mucho tiempo buscando un lugar en la mesa y hoy nos hemos sentido escuchados”, afirmó Hickey en el comunicado. “El papa Leo es muy cordial, nos escuchó”, declaró Hickey en una conferencia de prensa, según Reuters. “Le dijimos que venimos como constructores de puentes, dispuestos a caminar juntos hacia la verdad, la justicia y la sanación”. Mientras el grupo de seis personas que representaba a ECA se reunía con el papa, unos videos del Vaticano también mostraban una reunión separada entre el papa Leo y Pedro Salinas, periodista peruano y sobreviviente de abusos. Salinas, antiguo miembro del Sodalitium Christianae Vitae que sufrió abusos físicos y psicológicos por parte del fundador del movimiento, Luis Fernando Figari, aparece en las imágenes entregando al papa un ejemplar de su nuevo libro, “La verdad nos hace libres”, en español.
MUNDO MEZCALA, México (OSV News) – Otro sacerdote católico ha sido asesinado en el estado mexicano de Guerrero, azotado por la violencia. El padre Bertoldo Pantaleón Estrada, párroco de la parroquia de San Cristóbal en Mezcala, fue hallado muerto el 6 de octubre, dos días después de su desaparición. Según informes de prensa, recibió dos disparos en el cuello, y las autoridades federales han señalado a su chofer como el principal sospechoso. “Por el momento, no tenemos indicios de que el padre estuviera involucrado en nada ilícito”, declaró el 7 de octubre el secretario de Seguridad Pública Federal, Omar García Harfuch. La muerte del padre Pantaleón pone de relieve el creciente peligro que corren los clérigos en las regiones controladas por los cárteles. Guerrero, que en su día fue un centro de producción de heroína, sigue plagado de crimen organizado, extorsiones y secuestros. La diócesis de Chilpancingo-Chilapa, donde ejercía el sacerdote, ha sufrido múltiples asesinatos de clérigos en los últimos años. La Conferencia Episcopal Mexicana condenó la violencia y pidió una investigación completa y transparente. Desde 2006, al menos 52 sacerdotes han sido asesinados en México, lo que lo convierte en el país más peligroso del mundo para el clero católico. Los cuatro obispos de Guerrero intentaron negociar un acuerdo de paz entre los cárteles de la droga del estado en 2024, pero el asesinato del sacerdote pone de relieve los riesgos a los que se enfrentan quienes ejercen su ministerio en las zonas de conflicto del país.
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LÍNEA DIRECTA DE PREVENCIÓN DE FRAUDE El Departamento de Asuntos Temporales de la Diócesis de Jackson ha contratado a Lighthouse Services para proporcionar una línea directa anónima de fraude financiero, cumplimiento, ética y recursos humanos. Esta línea directa permite un método adecuado para reportar sucesos relacionados con la administración temporal dentro de parroquias, escuelas y la oficina de cancillería.
Louis became a Dominican at 18 and was ordained a priest in 1547. He was novice-master in his native Spain on and off for 30 years and gained a reputation for holiness by caring for plague victims in Valencia in 1557. In 1562, he went as a missionary to the Caribbean, working in Colombia, and the Leeward, Virgin and Windward Islands for six years. His apostolic zeal, aided by the gift of tongues and other miraculous events, resulted in 15,000 conversions among the Indian populations. After he returned to Spain, he trained preachers for the missions, saying the only effective preparation was humble and fervent prayer. He was canonized in 1671 and is the principal patron saint of Colombia. St. Louis Bertrand is the patron of Buñol; New Granada; and Colombia.
St. Martin de Porres, Feast Day: November 3
Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield IL
This illegitimate son of a freed Panamanian slave and a Spanish knight became a hero to the people of Lima, Peru, his birthplace, for his compassionate care of the sick and poor.
Apprenticed at age 12 to a barber-surgeon, Martin also learned herbal medicine from his mother. After working for several years at a Dominican monastery as a Third Order member, he made his profession as a lay brother in 1603. He founded an orphanage and foundling hospital, ministered to African slaves, practiced great penances and experienced mystical gifts. Martin was carried to his grave by prelates and noblemen and all Peruvians acclaimed him their beloved saint. He is the patron of hairdressers and interracial justice.
St. Juan Diego Cuāuhtlahtoātzin, Feast Day: December 9
Original painting is kept in a vault at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
Baptized at 50, this Indian was walking to Mass on Dec. 9, 1531, when Mary appeared to him on Tepeyac Hill, near Mexico City. She asked him to petition the bishop for a shrine to be built there. But the bishop asked for a sign.
On Dec. 12, Juan returned to Tepeyac; Mary told him to pick flowers blooming atop the hill and put them in his cloak to take to the bishop. When Juan opened the cloak, the flowers fell out and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe adorned his garment. This miraculous image is preserved in the famous basilica in Mexico City. Juan lived out his days as a hermit near the first chapel built there; he was canonized in 2002.
St. Juan Diego is the patron of indigenous peoples.
St. Toribio of Mogrovejo, Feast Day: March 23
Spanish-born Toribio taught law in Salamanca until 1574, when he was appointed inquisitor of Granada. In 1580, though not yet a priest, he was named archbishop of Lima, Peru, with his episcopal ordination in Seville.
After arriving in Lima in 1581, his 25 years of missionary service included diocesan and provincial synods, visits around the vast diocese, clergy reforms, and Indian-language catechisms. He also introduced European religious orders into Peru, opened the first seminary in the New World and encouraged Indians to become priests.
St. Toribio of Mogrovejo is the patron of Latin American bishops, native rights and Lima, Peru.
St. Cristobal Magallanes Jara, Feast Day: May 21
This Mexican saint shares his feast with 21 other priests and three laymen martyred between 1915 and 1937, when Mexican authorities persecuted the Catholic Church.
Many of these Cristero martyrs, canonized in 2000, were tortured and executed when apprehended. Father Magallanes, a zealous pastor in his home state of Jalisco, also did mission work among the indigenous Huicholes. Before they were shot, he said to his priest-companion, “Be at peace, my son; it takes but one moment, then it will be heaven.”
St. Cristobal Magallanes Jara and companions are the patron saints for persecuted Christians.
St. Josemaria Escrivá de Balaguer, Feast Day: June 26
Born in Barbastro, Spain in 1902, Josemaria Escrivá was ordained a priest in 1925. In 1928, he founded Opus Dei, Latin for “God’s work,” as an apostolate in the ordinary circumstances of life, especially work, focusing on the universal call to holiness. It includes laypeople, priests and seminarians.
His best known publication is “The Way,” which sold millions of copies.
In 1975, Msgr. Escriva died at age 73 in Rome, where he had lived, directing the international organization, since 1946. In 1982 Opus Dei was given the status of a personal prelature, the equivalent of a nonterritorial diocese. Its founder was beatified in 1992 and canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II.
St. Josemaria Escrivá is the patron of Opus Dei and people with diabetes.
By Mary Margaret Edney VICKSBURG – In 1860, a small group of Sisters of Mercy opened the doors of a modest school in Vicksburg with a simple but powerful mission to educate the whole child – mind, body and spirit. Today, 165 years later, that same mission is propelling Vicksburg Catholic School (VCS) into a new era as it breaks ground on a transformative multi-purpose performing arts and athletic complex.
VICKSBURG – Students, community leaders, and school staff gathered for the Vicksburg Catholic School’s groundbreaking ceremony for its Multi-purpose Performing Arts and Athletic Complex on Friday, Sept. 26. (Photo by Anna Griffing)
At a groundbreaking ceremony held Sept. 26, students, faculty, alumni, parents and community leaders gathered to celebrate the start of construction on the new building.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents more than just the start of construction. It’s the next chapter in a 165-year legacy of preparing students to make a difference in the world,” said Kristi Smith, VCS development director. “This new facility will ensure that future generations have a place to discover their talents, push their limits and reach their full potential.”
Designed for use by students in pre-K through twelfth grade, the 20,000-square-foot facility will feature a performance stage for fine arts, dedicated athletic space and an area for schoolwide Masses. The addition will also allow the school to repurpose existing classrooms, creating a dedicated middle school.
“By creating a modern space where creativity, teamwork and scholarship intersect, we’re equipping our students with the skills and confidence to thrive long after graduation,” Smith said.
VICKSBURG – Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz blesses students and staff with holy water during the groundbreaking ceremony for Vicksburg Catholic School’s new performing arts and athletic complex on Sept. 26, as Van Peeples carries the aspersorium. (Photo by Anna Griffing)
The construction site is at the corner of Hayes and Clay Street, next to St. Francis Xavier Elementary School. Formerly the home of Sullivan’s Grocery, the property was acquired by VCS earlier this year. Since then, Smith has been leading a capital campaign team to develop a vision for the land and raise the funds to make it possible.
“When we first began this effort, we knew it had potential to make a big difference, not just for our school, but for the Vicksburg community,” explained David Hosemann, a member of the project steering committee. “Seeing that vision come to life is incredibly rewarding, and it’s a testament to what Vicksburg Catholic School means to this community.”
That vision is now moving forward, thanks to the support of donors who invested in the school’s future. To date, approximately $8 million of the project’s total $10 million cost has been raised.
With construction set to begin this month, the campaign has entered its final phase to secure the remaining $2 million.
“We are incredibly proud and grateful for what we have accomplished so far, and we are confident in what’s still to come,” Smith said. “People love this school – they believe in its mission and its impact – and that loyalty is what’s turning this dream into a reality.”
(For more information about Vicksburg Catholic School, which serves students from pre-K through twelfth grade in the Vicksburg area, visit www.vicksburgcatholic.org.)
MADISON – St. Joseph Catholic School choir director Nancy Dent leads the student choir during weekly Mass at the school. Singing from left are Gypsy Macias, Lily Ratcliffe, Chamblee Ezelle, McKenzie Cummings, Atticus Gomez and Ashleigh Mason. (Photo by Terry Cassreino)PEARL – Father César Sánchez of St. Jude Parish visits a Sunday school class led by catechist Christina Overton. (Photo by Tereza Ma)CLARKSDALE – St. Elizabeth School first grade teacher Ke’Andra Lenard enjoys the annual parish fair with her niece, Pre-3 student Choyce Lenard. (Photo by Mary Evelyn Stonestreet)MADISON – St. Joseph Catholic School students Chad Davidson, left, Nick Glorioso and Ann Hardy Wright work on a project in their Human Anatomy and Physiology class. (Photo by Terry Cassreino)MADISON – Dr. and Mrs. Caskey, along with Grandmother Jane Santarufo, admire first grader Joseph Caskey’s work during Grandparents Day at St. Anthony School. (Photo by Kati Loyacono)
COLUMBUS – (Left) Annunciation School third grade students Thomas Nanney, Walker Robertson, Henry Hince and Bo Hamilton work in the school garden.
(Right) Eighth graders take part in the Living Rosary, with Brynn Clapperin center. (Photo by Jacque Hince)
SOUTHAVEN – (Left) Sacred Heart School fourth graders Alexia and Max help Pre-K4 students Theo, Jordan and Kartiar create a craft of the apostles Peter and Andrew in their fishing boat.
(Right) Sacred Heart School eighth graders process with candles during a special Mass on Sept. 17 celebrating the school’s 78th anniversary. Each candle represented 10 years of the school’s history, with eight smaller candles on the altar symbolizing the remaining years. (Photos by Sister Margaret Sue Broker)
MADISON – St. Joseph Catholic School Spirit Stepper Michael Michelle and Lady Bruins cheerleader JoJo take the floor during the school’s “Meet the Bruins” event on Sept. 24. Spirit Steppers and cheerleaders performed together to kick off the fall sports season. (Photo by Tereza Ma)
(OSV News) — She prayed with college basketball players before games, counseled them after losses, and reminded them that faith, not fame, was the real victory.
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, longtime chaplain of the Loyola University Chicago men’s basketball team and campus icon, gives a thumbs up after the team defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack in the semifinals of the South regional of the 2018 NCAA Tournament in Atlanta. Sister Jean died at age 106 Oct. 9, 2025. (OSV News photo Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters)
Now, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the spirited chaplain who became a national symbol of joy, devotion and perseverance, has completed her earthly journey.
Sister Jean, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and longtime chaplain of the Loyola University Chicago men’s basketball team, died Oct. 9. She was 106.
For many Americans, Sister Jean became a household name during Loyola’s stunning run to the 2018 NCAA Final Four, when she was 98 years old. Sitting courtside in her maroon-and-gold scarf, she offered pregame prayers, postgame analysis and the occasional strategic suggestion — earning the affection of fans, players, and coaches nationwide.
Yet long before “March Madness” made her famous, she had already spent decades forming minds, shaping hearts and witnessing to Christ’s love through education and service.
“While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy,” said Loyola President Mark C. Reed. “Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community, and her spirit abides in thousands of lives.”
A month prior to her death, Loyola had confirmed Sister Jean had officially retired from on-campus work amid growing health concerns, according to The Loyola Phoenix, the student newspaper.
Born Dolores Bertha Schmidt in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 1919, she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1937 and took the name Sister Jean Dolores. She began teaching at Catholic schools in California and Chicago before arriving at Mundelein College in 1961, which later affiliated with Loyola. By 1994, she had joined Loyola’s men’s basketball program as an academic adviser and later team chaplain — a position she held for three decades.
Her spiritual encouragement often blended faith with practical wisdom. During her 106th birthday in August, she urged Loyola students to “make new friends, talk to your old friends,” and to “become the people that God has decided you will be.” Her signature message — “Worship, Work, Win” — became both her personal motto and the slogan that adorns a banner inside Loyola’s Gentile Arena.
“Sister Jean Dolores was a woman of prayer, a dedicated educator, and a bearer of hope,” said Sister LaDonna Manternach, president of her religious order. “She saw God present in all that surrounded her and trusted in His goodness.”
Beyond basketball, Sister Jean led weekly student prayer groups and founded SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly), pairing Loyola students with residents of The Clare, the assisted-living community she called home. Her influence reached far beyond campus, touching thousands who encountered her through interviews, speaking events, and her bestselling memoir, “Wake Up With Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years” (2023).
Over the years, she received numerous honors: induction into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, the Sword of Loyola in 2018, proclamations from Illinois Gov.J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and even an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis on her 100th birthday. On her 105th birthday, President Joe Biden recognized her for a lifetime of faith-filled service.
When the news of her passing spread, tributes poured in across social media.
“Sister Jean, our beloved friend and inspiration, went home to the Lord today,” Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said in a statement posted on X. “She nurtured the mind and spirit of her students and all who came to know her with dedication, a firm belief in our faith, and a sharp sense of humor. May she rest in the peace she so richly deserves.”
For Loyola fans, her memory will forever be entwined with that magical 2018 season — when the underdog Ramblers captured the nation’s imagination and, in the eyes of many, proved that prayer and perseverance could move mountains.
But for Sister Jean, the real victory was always deeper.
“Don’t let anybody stop you,” she told students on her last birthday. “You are the future leaders of our churches, our schools, our country and our world.”
A celebration of her life and ministry will be held at Loyola University Chicago at a date to be announced.
John Knebels writes for OSV News from suburban Philadelphia.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When catechists teach, their aim is not simply to pass on information about the faith but to “place the word of life in hearts, so that it may bear the fruits of a good life,” Pope Leo XIV said.
“The Gospel announces to us that everyone’s life can change because Christ rose from the dead. This event is the truth that saves us; therefore, it must be known and proclaimed,” the pope told some 20,000 catechists from more than 115 countries attending the Jubilee for Catechists.
Pope Leo XIV greets people from the popemobile as he rides around St. Peter’s Square following Mass for the Jubilee of Catechists at the Vatican Sept. 28, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
But just proclaiming the Good News is not enough, the pope said in his homily at Mass Sept. 28 in St. Peter’s Square. “It must be loved. It is love that leads us to understand the Gospel.”
During the liturgy, Pope Leo formally installed in the ministry of catechist 39 women and men from 16 countries, including David Spesia, executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis, and Marilyn Santos, associate director of the secretariat.
Before the pope gave his homily, a deacon called the names of each of the 39, who answered in Italian, “Eccomi,” or “present.” After the homily, Pope Leo presented each of them with a crucifix.
“Let your ministry ever be grounded in a deep life of prayer, let it be built up in sound doctrine and animated by genuine apostolic zeal,” the pope told them. “As stewards of the mission entrusted to the church by Christ, you must always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”
The Gospel reading at the Mass was the parable of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31.
In the parable, the pope said, Lazarus is ignored by the rich man “and yet God is close to him and remembers his name.”
But the rich man has no name in the parable, “because he has lost himself by forgetting his neighbor,” the pope said. “He is lost in the thoughts of his heart: full of things and empty of love. His possessions do not make him a good person.”
“The story that Christ tells us is, unfortunately, very relevant today,” Pope Leo said. “At the doorstep of today’s opulence stands the misery of entire peoples, ravaged by war and exploitation.”
“Through the centuries, nothing seems to have changed: how many Lazaruses die before the greed that forgets justice, before profits that trample on charity, and before riches that are blind to the pain of the poor,” he said.
In the parable, the rich man dies and is cast into the netherworld. He asks Abraham to send a messenger to his brothers to warn them and call them to repent.
The Gospel story and the words of Scripture that catechists are called to share are not meant to “disappoint or discourage” people, but to awaken their consciences, the pope said.
Echoing the words of Pope Francis, Pope Leo said the heart of catechesis is the proclamation that “the Lord Jesus is risen, the Lord Jesus loves you, and he has given his life for you; risen and alive, he is close to you and waits for you every day.”
That truth, he said, should prompt people to love God and to love others in return.
God’s love, he said, “transforms us by opening our hearts to the word of God and to the face of our neighbor.”
Pope Leo reminded parents that they are the first to teach their children about God, his promises and commandments.
And he thanked everyone who has been a witness to others of faith, hope and charity, cooperating in the church’s “pastoral work by listening to questions, sharing in struggles and serving the desire for justice and truth that dwells in the human conscience.”
Teaching the faith is a community effort, he said, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church “is the ‘travel guidebook’ that protects us from individualism and discord, because it attests to the faith of the entire Catholic Church.”
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Migrants and refugees often are “privileged witnesses of hope through their resilience and trust in God,” Pope Leo XIV said.
“Often they maintain their strength while seeking a better future, in spite of the obstacles that they encounter,” he said Oct. 2 during a meeting with participants in the conference “Refugees and Migrants in Our Common Home,” organized by Villanova University.
The Vatican dicasteries for Promoting Integral Human Development and for Culture and Education and the U.S. bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services were among the co-sponsors of the conference, held in Rome Oct. 1-3 just before the Jubilee of Migrants and the Jubilee of Missions Oct. 4-5.
Pope Leo XIV waves goodbye to participants in the conference “Refugees & Migrants in Our Common Home,” organized by the Augustinian-run Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia, at the end of an audience at the Vatican Oct. 2, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Leo encouraged participants to share migrants’ and refugees’ stories of steadfast faith and hope so that they could be “an inspiration for others and assist in developing ways to address the challenges that they have faced in their own lives.”
Overcoming the widespread sense that no one can make a difference “requires patience, a willingness to listen, the ability to identify with the pain of others and the recognition that we have the same dreams and the same hopes,” Pope Leo XIV told the group.
Before the conference, Villanova held the official launch of its Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration, which promotes programs of scholarship, advocacy and service to migrants.
Pope Leo praised the project’s goal of bringing together “leading voices throughout a variety of disciplines in order to respond to the current urgent challenges brought by the increasing number of people, now estimated to be over 100 million, who are affected by migration and displacement.”
Sister Norma Pimentel, a Missionary of Jesus and executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, Texas, said migrants “are missionaries of hope to us, because their presence with us honestly sanctifies who and where we are.”
People who fear migrants and refugees or believe they are coming just to take jobs need to take the time to meet them, Sister Pimentel said. Then, “they will stop seeing them as somebody that is invading my space, but rather as somebody who I have the opportunity to be able to show the presence of God.”
Addressing the conference Oct. 1, she said that “in a world marked by fear, division and uncertainty, we are invited to be people of hope, pilgrims of hope, of that hope which comes from our trust in the Lord.” “In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we are called to find within ourselves kindness and compassion and courage, especially courage,” Sister Pimentel said.
Rev. Rickson Robert Antony appointed parochial vicar of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Oxford, effective Oct. 1, 2025.Will Foggo will be assigned as deacon to St. Joseph Parish, Starkville and its mission, Corpus Christi in Macon, effective Dec. 3, 2025, after his ordination to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
