Praying for victims of the tragedy in Waukesha (Vatican News) According to a press statement from the  Communication Director of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, a priest and several Catholic parishioners, including many children of a local Catholic school were among those injured.  The Archdiocese has invited the faithful to join in prayer for all those involved, their families, and those who are traumatized from witnessing the tragic event…

Two missionaries released in Haiti after kidnapping (CNN) Two missionaries kidnapped in Haiti over a month ago have been released, according to a statement by the US-based Christian Aid Ministries. “We have learned that two of the hostages in Haiti were released. We praise God for this! Only limited information can be provided, but we are able to report that the two hostages who were released are safe, in good spirits, and being cared for,” the organization said Sunday. “While we rejoice at this release, our hearts are with the fifteen people who are still being held,” the statement also said…

San Diego’s Bishop McElroy to undergo heart surgery (San Diego Times Union) Bishop Robert McElroy, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, announced Friday that he will enter the hospital next week for heart surgery.  The planned procedure, a coronary bypass operation, is set for Monday. He is expected to make a full recovery…

Bishop Brennan celebrates last Mass before leaving Columbus for Brooklyn (The Columbus Dispatch) At a Catholic church in Long Beach, New York, where Bishop Robert Brennan long ago served as pastor, there once stood a bell tower. It had no bell and it had no light. But as Brennan recounted during a homily on Sunday at Christ the King Catholic Church on the Near East Side, the tower nevertheless functioned as a beacon guiding the ships and boats navigating the Atlantic ocean to the south. In much the same way, Brennan told nearly 200 parishioners who had gathered for the 10 a.m. mass on Sunday, their church on Livingston Avenue functions as a beacon guiding residents of the surrounding neighborhoods who seek out Jesus Christ…

Gudziak on surrender, synodality and hope (Crux) Between COVID-19, secularization and polarization, Archeparch Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, has plenty of reasons to feel gloom. Yet, during the past year, he chose instead to “surrender” himself to God, daily saying the prayer of surrender: “Jesus, I surrender my life to you, take care of everything.” And it seems to have worked, because despite the challenges, he continues to believe in the church…