‘Canticle of Peace’: Leo XIV presents the beauty of music as a path to God
Pope Leo XIV stated Wednesday that “the beauty of music invites us to encounter the One who is beauty itself,” during the “Canticle of Peace” prayer and fraternal gathering held at Castel Gandolfo’s Borgo Laudato Si’ gardens.
Leo XIV also prayed for peace to reign “in all those places in the world that continue to suffer from violence
The gathering, organized by the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF), took place as part of the celebrations marking the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.
Addressing the young members of the ABF Voices choir who came from Uganda, the Holy Land, and Italy, Leo XIV assured them: “Know also that the Holy Father loves you and prays for you, for your families, and for your countries.”
After listening to the performance by tenor Andrea Bocelli and the choir, the pope thanked them for the effort put into preparing the recital and congratulated their conductors, noting that “music has the extraordinary capacity to bring different voices together in unison, where each contributes something unique to the whole.”
“In this sense, the choir becomes an ideal symbol of harmony and cooperation,” he added.
In his message, Leo XIV noted the significance of the fact that Sacred Scripture and the Church’s liturgy speak of “choirs of angels and saints” when describing the joy of heaven.
This does not mean, he explained, that they are “literally singing all the time,” but rather that, “united in love, they contemplate God together and find the fullness of happiness in him.”
The Holy Father then invited the young people to reflect on what had taken place during their performance: “As you sang, did you notice how music drew all of us into a new experience — something greater than anything any one of us could have created alone?”
“This is the experience of beauty. It opens up a new horizon before us and awakens within us the desire to move towards it,” he continued.
The pope explained that “when we journey toward that horizon, we do not simply discover something, but Someone. We encounter God, our Creator.”
Leo XIV encouraged the young people to continue cultivating the gifts God has bestowed upon them and to allow those talents to lead them to him, for “He is all we seek in life, the only one who can calm our restless hearts.”
The pontiff also reminded them that “you were made for great things and that the whole world is not enough to satisfy your thirst for meaning and happiness.”
Before concluding, Leo XIV thanked the Andrea Bocelli Foundation for its work on behalf of young people facing educational and social disadvantages, and highlighted that “through the power of music, you are contributing to the Church’s mission of promoting the integral development of every human person in service of the common good. May God bless your efforts.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Archbishop Wenski meets lawmakers to gain support for Haitian migrants amid deportation fears
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski traveled to Washington, D.C., on July 28 to advocate on behalf of Haitian migrants who fear they will soon be targets of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts.
Wenski’s meetings with lawmakers came one day after the expiration of the automatic work‑permit extension under temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians. The Supreme Court ruled last month that the administration has the authority to terminate TPS, which ended their work authorization and could subject them to deportation orders.
“Haiti is a house on fire,” Wenski told “EWTN News Nightly” Capitol Hill correspondent Erik Rosales before entering the office of Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia.
The archbishop said TPS expiration and possible deportation of hundreds of thousands of Haitians is bad for the migrants — who would be sent back to an unstable country — and for the American communities in which the migrants live and work. About 353,000 Haitian nationals hold TPS status in the U.S., according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“To think that we can send 350,000 people back to Haiti without that having very bad consequences in Haiti — but also here because these people are working, they’re not on the dole, they’re working, and if they’re removed from their jobs, if they lose their work permits, that’s going to have a negative economic impact on the communities in which they live,” Wenski said.
As Haitian TPS status ends, some lawmakers have introduced bills to compel the DHS to extend the status. In April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation, H.R. 1689, that would extend TPS for Haitians for three more years. No legislative efforts have gained traction in the Senate.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has advocated strongly on behalf of Haitian migrants, asking the Trump administration and lawmakers to extend TPS. About two-thirds of Haiti is Catholic.
Chieko Noguchi, spokeswoman for the USCCB, told EWTN News that Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, USCCB Committee on Migration chair, “has encouraged his brother bishops across the country to engage with their elected officials” on Haitian TPS status and broader immigration reform efforts.
“As pastors committed to upholding the common good, the bishops are actively engaging in this dialogue and continue to be grateful for the opportunity to do so, which they acknowledged in their special message last November,” she said.
In November 2025, the USCCB adopted a message in a 216-5 vote that opposed the “indiscriminate mass deportation of people” and policies that revoke the legal status of migrants, such as the terminations of TPS for various groups of migrants.
Kaine, an advocate for extending TPS, told EWTN News after meeting with Wenski that he was glad “to discuss the critical need for Congress to do what is right and protect TPS holders who have been in the U.S. legally for years” and looks forward to working with the USCCB to advocate for TPS holders.
TPS holders “have made countless contributions in important sectors such as healthcare and construction, and developed deep roots in our communities through their U.S. citizen families and businesses,” he added. “Many TPS holders, such as those from Haiti, should not be forced to return to the extremely dangerous conditions that made them seek safety in the United States.”
Status of Haitian migrants
On July 27, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin reposted a DHS post on X, which said “temporary protected status is exactly that — TEMPORARY” and urged anyone whose TPS has expired to self-deport out of the U.S.
“For those with terminated TPS: it’s closing time,” the post read. “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”
When asked whether DHS intends to specifically target Haitians for deportation amid the TPS expiration, a spokesperson told EWTN News that the department “does not discuss ongoing or future operations” but is conducting law enforcement activities daily.
“For too long, TPS has been allowed to function as a de facto amnesty program despite Congress never intending it to be permanent,” the spokesperson said.
Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge and a resident fellow in law and policy for the Center for Immigration Studies, told EWTN News that TPS was initially approved for Haiti in 2010 after a devastating earthquake.
Although Haiti continues to face serious safety and political stability concerns, he said the effects of the earthquake no longer impact the country. He noted that Haitians can apply for permanent status under other programs, such as if they are eligible for asylum, but that TPS is not a permanent resettlement program.
Arthur said Haitians who are in the U.S. under temporary legal status “had the opportunity to work in the United States and make money” and learn skills, which they can take back “to Haiti and [it can] help them make Haiti a better country.”
The former judge said he expects immigration enforcement toward Haitians to be part of “the larger enforcement efforts” rather than a targeted campaign against Haitians, with a priority toward people who have been convicted of crimes.
“The response [now] is foreign aid on the part of the United States and aid from the Catholic Church toward making Haiti a better place,” Arthur said.
TPS status for Syrian migrants also ended on July 27. El Salvador’s TPS designation is set to expire Sept. 9.
Brownsville, Texas, bishop addresses plight of nun, others like her facing deportation
While he is thankful and relieved that Sister Leticia Ugboaja will be able to remain serving in the Rio Grande Valley as her immigration case continues, Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, Bishop Daniel Flores said July 29 that the outcome of her situation is still “an open question,” as it is for many others in similar circumstances.
The Texas bishop, who also serves as vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), released a statement following Ugboaja’s July 28 ICE check-in, at which she was informed third-country removal was not off the table.
“We are grateful to God for Tuesday’s news that Sister Leticia ‘Letty’ Ugboaja will be able remain in our community while her case is allowed to move forward,” Flores said. While the Church feels “some relief” at the moment, he added, “we also remember that it is important to continue praying for and accompanying the many individuals and families who live in fear and anxiety as they seek a way to resolve their immigration status.”
“The prospect of deportation to a third country frightens many persons who, like Sister Letty, have violated no laws, and who have been granted permission to stay while conditions in their country of origin remain life-threatening,” Flores said.
Flores recalled the special message the USCCB issued in November 2025 in which the bishops urged meaningful immigration reform. “We can be a nation of both respect for law and of well-considered compassion for persons at risk in their own countries,” Flores pointed out, calling for political consensus that “defends the common good, protects the vulnerable, and treats all persons whose immigration status is being reviewed with humanity.”
“May God guide us in building a society reflecting both justice and mercy,” he emphasized.
Status of Sister Letty
On July 28, Ugboaja’s attorney, Carlos Garcia, told reporters gathered outside the ICE field office where her check-in took place that the possibility of third-country removal “is very concerning for us ... That is obviously not what we want. And that’s why we are exploring all our legal alternatives.”
Ugboaja, a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and a registered nurse at South Texas Health System, was detained by two ICE agents on Sunday, June 28, as she walked to Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, where she serves as a Eucharistic minister.
She was released the same day after the intervention of several political leaders.
At a press conference last week, Garcia said an immigration judge denied Ugboaja’s application for asylum in 2019 but did grant her protection from removal to Nigeria under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, finding it was likely she would be tortured if she returned there.
Garcia said this protection legally bars the U.S. government from deporting her to Nigeria, though she remains under a final order of removal and could be sent to a third country.
After Ugboaja’s July 28 check-in, her attorney expressed gratitude that the nun, who has lived in the United States for nearly two decades and has never missed an immigration appointment, was not detained and not required to wear an ankle monitor, possibilities he had discussed last week. The nun has another check-in scheduled for Jan. 28, 2027.
UK’s Burnham says assisted dying debate must follow fixes to palliative care
U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said debates on assisted suicide should be delayed until the country’s palliative and social care systems have been reformed.
"Personally, I think thereʼs something that needs to happen first, and thatʼs the fixing of the funding of palliative care and social care,” Burnham said on July 29. "I think it is very challenging to introduce that wider debate in a context of people not receiving that care and having the peace of mind about that care.”
Burnham spoke with reporters after outlining his social‑care reform plans at Jewish Care in Golders Green, a northwest London suburb. Burnham, a Catholic, praised the facility for its “model of community” and the Jewish values that shape its care in a July 29 op-ed following the speech.
“They understand that care means treating people not as the sum of their different ailments, but as a human being with history and character, deserving of all the dignity and respect that comes with that,” he wrote. “Building a stronger care system and building a stronger country begin with the same belief: that every person belongs, that every community matters, and that no one should ever be made to feel like a stranger in the place they call home.”
Burnham said England must urgently fix social care, which supports people with daily living needs. The U.K.’s publicly funded national health system cannot recover without it, Burnham said.
Burnham’s speech came after the House of Commons passed the end-of-life bill, but the measure did not advance in the House of Lords. The bill will be debated again in the next parliamentary session.
U.S. bishops’ solidarity fund backs pope’s call for unity with Church in Africa
The U.S. bishops’ Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa is advancing Pope Leo XIV’s call for deeper unity by funding bicycles that help Marianist sisters reach remote villages in the Central African Republic.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has distributed 97 grants, including the bicycle project, totaling more than $3 million in 2025 through its Africa Solidarity Fund, according to a July 21 press release. The fund also supports programs in Mali, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and throughout the Horn of Africa.
Archbishop Thomas Zinkula, chair of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on the Church in Africa, said in a statement: “The gifts of Catholics in the United States to the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa underwrite projects that build foundations for peace, as well as projects directed toward evangelization, vocations, environmental stewardship, leadership formation, and other facets of our faith.”
Bicycle ministry opens access to rural areas
One grant enabled the Marianist sisters to train “Gospel volunteers” and equip them with bicycles to distribute Bibles and rosaries, the USCCB statement said. Sister Amala Francis of the Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate in the Central African Republic said the bicycle project proved highly valuable for young people, especially in rural communities where travel had previously been impossible.
“We crossed the river and preached the Word of God to the unreached places,” she said.
The sisters’ ministry includes the villages of Beagua, Cattin, and Samba, along with St. Philomena School, St. Abraham Parish, and St. Matthew Parish, all located in the rural southwest of the Central African Republic near the border with Cameroon and along the Lobaye River.
Francis described the bicycle project as a “very fruitful time,” noting that 30 sisters were provided with bicycles and carried out their ministry by “going out and distributing Mass pamphlet reflections and then going into schools and ministering.”
Francis said the sisters did not seek to teach merely the catechism in schools but to “bring peace” through the teachings of Jesus through “simple songs” and activities. They also visited families and communities on their bicycles.
Francis shared that another sister told her: “When I drive the bicycle, I see something different, I feel that Christ is coming with me. I feel that I drive this bicycle not just for reaching the place, but I am bringing Christ to the families.”
Confronting wounds of abuse
Francis said she encountered many troubling trends among young people throughout the project, with 400 to 600 children who have not gone to school because they lacked basic services and spent much of their time idle, since neither nongovernmental organizations nor church workers could reach the area because of the river and dense forest.
“I observed during this project,” she said, “the youth are not knowing about Christ because young girls are carrying [children from] sexual abuse and early pregnancy.”
“Many girls are traumatized with their life. They are traumatized because I see that they are youth not formed in the right path,” she said. “So, we have many programs to help guide the youth on the right path.”
Women as ‘messengers’
The sisters have continued to follow up on their efforts funded through the USCCB’s grant and have continued to find ways to boost education and evangelization in the region.
“Since education is very poor in Central African Republic,” Francis said, “and we wanted to give more, we started our English school [and] we get a lot of books for that for the children and are teaching English, so now the children are also learning different languages.”
In addition to young people, Francis emphasized the sisters’ efforts to reach women in remote communities, whom she described as “messengers” who “change the mind of the family.”
“Mothers are also important,” she said. “So we are touching the heart of the youth, women, and the children.”
Peru’s new president pledges to acknowledge Church’s importance
On July 28, Peru’s new president, Keiko Fujimori, took an oath acknowledging “the importance of the Catholic Church in the cultural and moral formation of Peru” and announced a policy to improve the quality of life for Peruvians “from womb to tomb.”
Fujimori — elected in a tight race that required a runoff — took office during a formal session of the country’s Congress, where she received the presidential sash for the 2026–2031 term. She is the first woman elected by popular vote to lead the country.
The ceremony was attended by officials from various countries, including King Felipe VI of Spain and Presidents Javier Milei of Argentina, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, José Antonio Kast of Chile, Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, Santiago Peña of Paraguay, Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay, José Raúl Mulino of Panama, and Nasry Asfura of Honduras.
“I, Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi, swear by God, the homeland, and the holy Gospels to faithfully discharge the office of president of the republic that the nation has entrusted to me for the 2026–2031 term,” she said upon taking her oath of office.
The leader then swore to defend “this land, national sovereignty, liberty, democracy, and the independence of the branches of government” as well as to uphold and enforce the constitution and laws of Peru.
“I swear that I will safeguard the physical and moral well-being of all Peruvians, especially those who have been historically marginalized,” she continued.
Upon concluding her oath, Fujimori made specific reference to the Church: “I swear that, while respecting freedom of worship, I will recognize the importance of the Catholic Church in the cultural and moral formation of Peru, and I will work tirelessly for a safe, prosperous, and united country.”
The Peruvian constitution in Article 116 requires the president to take an oath of office but does not specify a particular formula, although some wording is traditional.
At the beginning of her first address to the nation, Fujimori said she was taking office with “profound humility” and “with a heart full of faith in the destiny of our homeland.”
“I thank God and place in his hands the work we begin today in the service of Peru,” she stated.
The new president asked God for “wisdom in making decisions, strength to persevere,” and for help “never to forget that power only finds meaning when exercised to serve.”
Fujimori noted that she had sworn before God, “before history, and before all of you,” “the most sacred oath a citizen can take”: to defend the constitution, protect freedoms, and dedicate every day to the well-being of the country.
Improving life ‘from womb to tomb’
In presenting her administrationʼs priorities, Fujimori announced that one of her goals for the nation will be “to improve the quality of life for all Peruvians, from womb to tomb.”
To this end, she pledged to adopt “a policy of comprehensive protection for early childhood, childhood, adolescence, and the family.”
“We will reorganize the social programs and public services that are currently fragmented in order to build a genuinely comprehensive protection system with universal coverage and continuous care at every stage of life,” she stated.
“Protecting our children and strengthening their families means protecting Peru’s future,” she noted.
Poverty, security, and freedom of expression
The leader described the state in which she is inheriting the country as “complex and painful,” marked by corruption, insecurity, healthcare deficiencies, and deep social divides.
Fujimori noted that three out of every 10 Peruvians lack the certainty of having necessary food on a daily basis and that 35% of children between the ages of 6 months and 35 months suffer from anemia, a situation she called “truly immoral.”
Regarding security, she announced the strengthening of the police force, the temporary deployment of the armed forces during states of emergency, and prison reform to ensure that jails “return to being centers of confinement rather than operational hubs for organized crime.”
Her plans for the economy include raising the minimum living wage — the monthly minimum wage — to 1,300 soles (approximately $382).
Fujimori also reaffirmed her commitment to “absolute respect for the independence of the branches of government and for individual liberties, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of the press.”
In closing, she called on opposition political forces to build bridges of dialogue and urged them to think “of future generations, not the next elections.”
“There are not two different Perus; there is but one Peru — vibrant, multicultural, strong, and ancient — ready to stand tall,” she declared.
Cardinal Castillo calls for reconciliation with justice
Hours before the inauguration ceremony, the archbishop of Lima and primate of Peru, Cardinal Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio, celebrated the traditional Mass and Te Deum at the Lima Cathedral marking the 205th anniversary of the nation’s independence.
During his homily, as reported by the ANDINA news agency, the cardinal urged the nation to overcome divisions through justice, solidarity, and the pursuit of the common good.
“Our God wants us to be in solidarity and to be just, not with a reconciliation that covers up the wrongs we have committed but rather a reconciliation that, clearly recognizing the injustices we have perpetrated, knows how to enact justice and make restitution to all those who have been harmed,” he stated.
Castillo warned that Peru is facing a “catastrophic” situation, not primarily due to economic indicators but because “the human condition and human dignity are in grave danger.”
In light of this reality, he called for the promotion of initiatives for reconciliation, peacemaking, and dialogue as well as a process of conversion aimed at rebuilding the country on the foundations of justice, solidarity, and the common good.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Chilean cardinal stirs controversy as country debates heartbeat law
Cardinal Fernando Chomali, the archbishop of Santiago and primate of Chile, once again addressed the country’s pending “Listen to Their Heart” bill, which seeks to mandate within the abortion protocol (authorized in Chile under three specific grounds) an opportunity for the patient to listen to the babyʼs heartbeat.
Specifically, according to the bill’s legislative summary, the measure would modify the country’s health code “to establish the duty of the doctor to inform the woman about the embryonic or fetal heart activity and to offer her the opportunity to hear it prior to the interruption of the pregnancy.”
Speaking with the Chilean newspaper La Tercera, the cardinal sought to shift the focus of the discussion to the healthcare professionals involved. “It pains me that there are doctors who agree to perform an abortion,” he lamented.
Chomali also expressed regret over a tweet in which he stated that every mother should rejoice at hearing a heartbeat. “It pains me to have been a source of division in that regard,” he emphasized.
He explained that he is opposed to abortion under any circumstances. “I believe those three grounds should not exist,” he stated, drawing on his experience of accompanying women who are enduring a “horrific ordeal” such as rape, a fetus with serious medical issues, or whose life is at risk.
In such cases, he called for a “renewed recognition of what it means to care for another person,” noting that “when there is medical, psychological, spiritual, and financial support, women feel more supported and decide against [abortion].”
Regarding doctors who perform abortions, he remarked: “I find that terrible; I think that instead of showing the heartbeat to a woman facing a very difficult, complex situation, it would be very good for that heartbeat to be heard by a doctor who is committed to healing, curing, and caring for life.”
In this regard, he noted that doctors take an oath that entails “doing everything possible to heal and never to cause harm and here, objectively, someone is being harmed: a human being.”
He thus called for a review of current regulations: “It’s always the right time to examine all laws, because laws can be improved.”
“If you look at the bigger picture, a human life is being eliminated,” he summarized.
“Someone told me that with this attitude of mine, I mean, opposing the three grounds for abortion, I would turn half the world against me and end up all alone. I would rather stand alone than betray something as fundamental as the truth: that there is an innocent human being who deserves every possible care that could be given to it, and that’s that,” he declared.
I would rather stand alone than betray something as fundamental as the truth: that there is an innocent human being who deserves every possible care that could be given to it.”
Cardinal Fernando Chomali
Speaking to Radio Duna, the cardinal noted that this is simply “one bill among many” and expressed the view that “it must be addressed where it belongs: in the Legislature. They will have to decide whether or not they agree with it.”
Chomali added that “it is a matter that must be handled with great prudence, tact, and good judgment.” He expressed the view that “a woman could always have the option to hear the heartbeat,” but clarified: “Making it mandatory would be a matter for discussion.”
The archbishop further advised against confrontation: “What does not seem right to me is the use of language that serves only to polarize, when what matters is the truth,” he insisted.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Inaugural Catholic military conference to feature keynote on just war theory
The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, will launch its first conference for Catholic service members to explore how the ongoing conflict with Iran fits within the Church’s teachings on just war theory.
University of Notre Dame theology professor Joseph Capizzi will deliver the keynote address at the Nov. 9–11 event under the theme “Living and Serving Justly,” according to a July 28 archdiocese press release. The conference will be held at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Virginia.
The U.S.-Iran conflict has entered its fifth month, and Catholic theologians have expressed concern over the impact of U.S. military force on civilian infrastructure in Iran.
“The position of the Church,” Capizzi said in the release, “is that the use of force, including lethal force, is bound by the moral law, and even when countries resort to the use of force in conflict, it’s not anything goes. In fact, both sides remain bound to the requirements of moral international law regarding the treatment of civilian populations, the treatment of prisoners of war and wounded soldiers, among others, and this has been spelled out for a long time in Western tradition.”
Capizzi is the McGrath-Cavadini director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame and is the author of “Politics, Justice, and War: Christian Governance and the Ethics of Warfare.” His remarks will include reflections on the teachings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas and how they apply to modern warfare.
“Even when it’s resorted to, the use of force must be discriminatory or ‘distinct’ — the principle of distinction is what it’s called in international law, which means it has to distinguish between legitimate targets and illegitimate targets,” he said. “Civilian populations, civilian structures like schools, hospitals, desalinization plants and so on — they are not legitimately targeted. You must abide by this principle of distinction, and any uses of force must be proportional to the ends sought.”
Other speakers at the three-day event include Catholic radio host Katie McGrady, who will serve as emcee. The conference will feature additional keynote addresses and breakout sessions geared toward fostering “synodal” connections within the archdiocese, according to the release.
Parish named for Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus keeps the faith on Chicago’s South Side
July 29 is the feast day of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. It’s a relatively new feast day, implemented fewer than six years ago. The faithful might remember these siblings — especially since they are mentioned in all four Gospels — as friends and disciples of Jesus.
Individually, each of the three siblings has important lessons to teach. Martha, the oldest sibling, has a heart for service but is also anxious and worried about many things; Jesus encourages her to focus on the contemplation of Jesus himself, as her sister Mary has done. And Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead provides a powerful witness to the eventual resurrection of the body. Together, the siblings display admirable qualities of unity and love.
For one Catholic parish, Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus Parish on the South Side of Chicago, the patronage of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus serves as a symbol of the unity that has come about through the merging of three previously distinct parishes into one new and diverse community.
Father Mark Thomas Ameh, the pastor when the parishes merged and a native of Nigeria, arrived at the parish in July 2023 after previously ministering in Las Vegas. He told EWTN News at the time that the church was built originally as St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, but amid an ongoing archdiocese-wide consolidation process, “Renew My Church,” the parish was merged in 2022 with two others and renamed to reflect the new community.
Ameh was not in Chicago when the renaming of the merged parish took place, but he said a person who was there told him the name was chosen to reflect the fact that the new parish was made of three former ones coming together.
Parish office manager Alfreda Rogers told EWTN News that it is the only parish in Illinois named for the sibling saints.
Despite its triple patronage, the church still has a statue of St. Margaret of Scotland on the high altar and is also known as “St. Margaret of Scotland Church.” In 2026, the church celebrates 150 years and the parish will hold a gala after a Mass on Aug. 2 to mark the occasion.
Abeh, a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Paul, described the parish as a “vibrant” church of about 500 registered parishioners when it began. Today, according Rogers, the parish serves about 200 families and offers two Masses on Sundays. There is also a Catholic school associated with the church.
Rogers said in a recent interview with Fox 32 Chicago that the parish is focused on bringing youth back to the Church and continuing to serve the community.
Father Donatus C. Mgbeajuo, also a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Paul, took over as pastor in July 2024, and Deacon Herbert D. Johnson just became parish pastoral director on July 1.
Chicago’s South Side has a reputation for being dangerous but perhaps now is even more famous for being near the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.
A 2021 decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments said Pope Francis had included Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in the General Roman Calendar “considering the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to him attentively, in believing that he is the resurrection and the life.”
The memorial of St. Martha was already included on July 29 in the General Roman Calendar before the Second Vatican Council, but St. Lazarus and St. Mary had been originally left off due to uncertainty about the identity of Mary Magdalene.
So, why change the memorial to all three siblings instead of Martha alone?
The decree explained that these uncertainties “have been resolved in recent studies and times” and pointed out that Mary and Lazarus are already commemorated on July 29 in the “Roman Martyrology,” the Church’s official catalog of martyrs and saints.
This story was first published on July 29, 2023, and has been updated.
Rhode Island shooting suspect was recipient of miraculous healing decreed by Vatican in 2025
The suspect in a double shooting in Rhode Island this month is apparently the same man whose unexpected recovery after a health crisis as a newborn was deemed a miracle by the Vatican in 2025.
Police in Newport, Rhode Island, said in a July 24 press release that Tyquan Johnson was facing arrest for felony assault with a firearm in connection with a double shooting in Newport on July 19.
The police dispatch, which said Johnson was considered “armed and dangerous,” identified the suspect’s birthday as Jan. 14, 2007. That date is the same birthday as the Rhode Island-born “Tyquan” noted by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in its information page on Blessed Salvador Valera Parra.
Valera was a 19th-century-born Spanish priest who carried out “many works of a spiritual and social nature,” particularly during cholera epidemics and earthquakes, according to the dicastery.
In considering his beatification, the dicastery said it reviewed the Rhode Island case, in which a pregnant mother was hospitalized after her amniotic sac ruptured. The baby was ultimately delivered via cesarean section, after which doctors “did not perceive any heartbeat.”
The attending physician at that point “invoked Salvador Valera Parra,” the dicastery said, after which the baby recovered his heartbeat without any external assistance and made a full recovery.
Pope Leo XIV approved the dicastery’s promulgation of the miracle on June 20, 2025. In a July 18, 2025, statement, Diocese of Providence Chancellor Father Timothy Reilly said the miracle was “a reminder of the power of prayer and the intercession of holy men and women.”
“God is indeed close to us. We are thrilled that this recognition will move the cause of beatification and canonization forward for Venerable Servant of God Salvador Valera Parra,” the priest said at the time. Reilly did not respond to requests for comment on the crime incident this month.
Rhode Island police said another individual was wanted in connection with the shooting, though it did not identify that suspect in its press release.
In the years following the miracle birth the Johnson family moved to Hampton, Virginia. Tyquan Johnson subsequently told local media that the promulgation of the miracle “changed my faith a lot because I’m destined to be in this world.”
“If God didn’t want me in this world, he would just let me die on that table. But he wanted to give me a second chance,” he said.