Erlanger, KY News

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.

Relief efforts are in progress to assist communities in western North Carolina, which have been severely affected by Tropical Storm Helene. The storm caused significant flooding, disrupting municipal water systems, destroying roads, and downing utility lines, leaving many mountain communities isolated since September 27. As of September 30, supplies were being airlifted to areas around Asheville due to the extensive damage.

Amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin addressed delegates at the 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on September 28. He emphasized that "peace is only possible if it is wanted." The session occurred as Pope Francis was on his Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium.