Erlanger, KY News

As the Jewish community observes Rosh Hashanah amid ongoing conflict and rising antisemitism, two New York religious leaders have issued a message of support. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Brooklyn released a joint statement on October 4, addressing the somber atmosphere during what should be a time of celebration.

Late on September 27, as Tropical Storm Helene left its mark on North Carolina's mountains, Father John Putnam of St. Mark Church in Huntersville initiated a call for supplies. His message to his staff highlighted the urgent need for essentials like diapers, canned goods, and water.

The conflict in the Middle East has reached a grim milestone, marking one year since Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in significant casualties and hostages. The ongoing violence has been described by Pope Francis as “a spiral of violence,” with escalations affecting various regions including the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Pope Francis has announced the creation of 21 new cardinals, with the ceremony set for December 8. This diverse group includes a range of ages and nationalities, highlighting the global nature of the Catholic Church. Among those named are a 99-year-old former nuncio and a 44-year-old Ukrainian bishop.

This week, OSV News reported on various significant events and developments. A team from OSV News traveled to Rome for the "Synod on Synodality," which commenced on October 2. The synod involves 368 members who began with a two-day retreat, culminating in a penitential liturgy on October 1. The official opening took place with a Mass at St. Peter's Square, and the event will continue until October 27.

The Jewish New Year celebrations in Jerusalem this October were overshadowed by the anniversary of a violent attack by Hamas on Israel. The recent violence on October 1, which resulted in seven deaths and 16 injuries in Tel Aviv, added to the somber mood. Israeli authorities described the incident as a "combined shooting and stabbing attack" targeting public transportation users.

At the first and only vice presidential debate on October 1, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota and Senator JD Vance of Ohio discussed key issues such as abortion, immigration, gun policy, and democracy. The debate occurred after President Joe Biden decided not to seek reelection following a poor debate performance in June. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, declined a second debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict following Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, Pope Francis has been in daily contact with Gaza's only Catholic parish. The Holy Family Church in Gaza City provides refuge to approximately 500 people, including both Christians and Muslims. It is believed that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus passed through this area during their escape to Egypt.

Los miembros del Sínodo de los Obispos fueron llamados a dialogar genuinamente con quienes tienen diferentes puntos de vista y a evitar agendas personales, según lo expresado por el Papa Francisco en la apertura del sínodo. El pontífice destacó la importancia de mantenerse abiertos a cambiar de opinión para el bien de la Iglesia.

The penitential liturgy led by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica on October 1 featured testimonies from individuals who have experienced significant suffering, including a survivor of clergy sexual abuse. Laurence Gien, abused at the age of 11 by a priest in South Africa, shared his story before bishops, cardinals, and Pope Francis as part of an effort to appeal to their "better selves."

A new campus for St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Ambler, Pennsylvania, has been completed, reflecting a modern approach to seminarian formation. Auxiliary Bishop Keith J. Chylinski of Philadelphia emphasized the importance of "mentorship and accompaniment" in shaping future priests. "Formation today is very different than it was 50 years ago," he stated, highlighting a focus on holistic development.

Christianity's role in Europe was the focus of a recent international conference titled "The New Shape of Europe," held on September 20-21 in Kraków, Poland. During the event, French professor Chantal Delsol addressed European officials and highlighted Christianity's potential as a driving force for Europe if it could overcome its historical challenges.

The second session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is underway at the Vatican, starting on October 2. This four-week event gathers 368 voting delegates and numerous nonvoting participants from around the world to focus on "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission" and explore synodality within the church.

Three years after approval by the U.S. Catholic bishops, updates to the ritual texts for distributing holy Communion outside of Mass and for Eucharistic adoration are set to take effect. The revised version of "Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery outside Mass" will be implemented on December 1, 2024, coinciding with the First Sunday of Advent.

Iraqi Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil addressed the tensions with Cardinal Louis Sako, the Chaldean Catholic patriarch based in Baghdad, attributing them to a misunderstanding. He denied allegations that he was working against the patriarch. In a message sent to OSV News on September 24, Archbishop Warda rejected "all accusations in full." These allegations stemmed from claims made by the Chaldean patriarchate on August 28, suggesting that Archbishop Warda had been misled by political figures attempting to undermine Cardinal Sako's authority as head of the Chaldean Catholic...

Boston College's Clough School of Theology and Ministry has launched a new initiative aimed at empowering Catholic organizations that serve the Hispanic community in the United States. The project, titled "Nuevo Momento: Leadership and Capacity Building for Ministerial Organizations Serving Hispanic Catholics," began in August with support from a $15 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc.

The Catholic Church must confront its past mistakes and seek forgiveness to maintain credibility in its mission of spreading the teachings of Christ, Pope Francis stated. This call for acknowledgment came during a penitential liturgy held on October 1, where seven cardinals read out requests for forgiveness penned by the pope himself.

A Taiwan-based online prayer group is making strides in evangelization among international Chinese speakers, inspired by St. Therese of Lisieux's "little way." The initiative originated from Jesuit Father Augustine Tsang’s doctoral thesis at the Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of St. Robert Bellarmine in Taipei.

The Los Angeles Catholic Prayer Breakfast saw a record turnout this year, with over 2,000 attendees gathering at the Cathedral Plaza on September 17. The event featured Father Mike Schmitz as the keynote speaker, who emphasized the importance of recognizing one's own brokenness to fully experience God's mercy.

Oct. 7 will mark the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israeli communities and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, has called for a day of prayer, fasting, and penance to commemorate this event.