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Oct 25, 2023

ADOM :: News briefs from across the country and around the world

Photographer: Jeffrey Bruno A clergyman elevates a monstrance in a Eucharistic

Photographer: Jeffrey Bruno

A clergyman elevates a monstrance in a Eucharistic procession through the Manhattan borough of New York City to St. Patrick's Cathedral for a Pentecost Vigil May 27, 2023. The Charismatic Renewal event in Spanish attracted close to 2,700 people. (OSV News photo/Jeffrey Bruno)

WASHINGTON(OSV News) | Ahead of a U.S. bishops' meeting in June, pastoral experts toldOSV News they are looking forward to progress on issues impacting health care,Hispanic Catholics and persons with disabilities. The U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather in Orlando, Florida June 14-16 for theircustomary Spring Plenary Assembly. USCCB president Archbishop Timothy P.Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, will address thebishops, as will Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the U.S. Amidprayer and dialogue sessions, the bishops are expected to survey a number oftopics, including the ongoing National Eucharistic Revival and 2024 NationalEucharistic Congress, the upcoming World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, andupdates on two pastoral statements — one on ministry to persons withdisabilities, the other on Hispanic Catholics — and revisions to the USCCB'sEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

Photographer: Gregory A. Shemitz

Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry, pictured in a file photo, was named chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism May 10, 2023. Ahead of the U.S. bishops' meeting in Orlando, Fla., June 14-16, Bishop Perry recently spoke with OSV News about his new role. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

CHICAGO(OSV News) | Ahead of the U.S. bishops' meeting in Orlando, Florida, June14-16, Bishop Joseph N. Perry said that new investigations by church institutionsinto their involvement with slavery and Indian boarding schools are "veryhealthy" and aid a collective examination of conscience. Bishop Perry wasnamed chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc CommitteeAgainst Racism May 10, 2023. An auxiliary bishop of Chicago, he succeededArchbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky, who served two terms asthe committee's chairman. While society fights racism through the courts andpublic policy, the bishops' work has emphasized racism as a sin and the needfor personal conversion, he said. "The whole push for this ad hoccommittee is evangelization — evangelization toward a deeper understanding andempathy with human dignity, broadly across the board," he said.

Photographer: Paul Haring

Then-Bishop George Leo Thomas of Las Vegas returns to his seat after receiving Communion at the Basilica of St. Mary Major during his "ad limina" visit in Rome Jan. 30, 2020. Pope Francis created the ecclesiastical province of Las Vegas May 30, 2023, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas and the suffragan dioceses of Reno, Nevada, and Salt Lake City. The same day he named Bishop Thomas the first metropolitan archbishop of Las Vegas. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

WASHINGTON(OSV News) | Pope Francis has created the ecclesiastical province of Las Vegas,comprised of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas and the suffragan dioceses of Reno,Nevada, and Salt Lake City. He also named Las Vegas Bishop George L. Thomas thefirst metropolitan archbishop of Las Vegas. Archbishop Thomas, who turned 73May 19, was appointed the third bishop of Las Vegas Feb. 28, 2018. Theestablishment of the new province and the appointment of the metropolitanarchbishop were publicized in Washington May 30 by Archbishop ChristophePierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

NEWHAVEN, Conn. (OSV News) | A short documentary just released by the Knights ofColumbus highlights the life, ministry and selfless service of Father EmilKapaun, a U.S. Army chaplain who died May 23, 1951, while ministering toprisoners of war during the Korean War. The 15-minute film titled "TheMagazine and the Miracle: Finding Father Kapaun" also traces the journeyof Father Kapaun's mortal remains from a shallow grave in the prisoner-of-warcamp where he died, to an unmarked tomb in the National Memorial Cemetery ofthe Pacific in Honolulu's Punchbowl Crater in 1954, to their eventual return tohis home Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, and final resting place in a tomb at theCathedral of the Immaculate Conception, there in 2021. "Father Kapaun'sheroism, selfless service to his country, and devotion to Jesus Christ and theCatholic faith were a daily inspiration to his fellow soldiers during World WarII and the Korean War," said a Knights news release. His sainthood causewas formally opened in 1993, giving him the title "Servant of God."His case is being reviewed by the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints inRome. The film can be viewed at https://www.kofc.org/en/documentary/father-kapaun/index.html.

WASHINGTON(OSV News) | For parents still wondering if social media can be harmful totheir children's mental health, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy had awarning May 23: "We are in the middle of a national youth mental healthcrisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of thatcrisis — one that we must urgently address." The "Surgeon General'sAdvisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health" reveals almost 95% ofyoung people ages 13-17 use social media an average of 3.5 hours a day. Thisdoubles "the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such assymptoms of depression and anxiety ... body dissatisfaction, disordered eatingbehaviors, social comparison, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescentgirls." Christopher McKenna, a digital security expert, founder of ProtectYoung Eyes, and a keynote speaker at the 2022 National Catholic EducationAssociation conference, praised the HHS' policy suggestions, which includepolicymakers strengthening safety and privacy standards; greater transparencyby tech companies; parental instruction to kids about responsible onlinebehavior; limiting of online time by children; and prioritization byresearchers to establish social media standards and evaluation. JessicaHeldman, a child rights professor at the University of San Diego and a memberof its Children's Advocacy Institute, said Big Tech companies must nonethelessbe held responsible for the harm done to youth. "This advisory emphasizeswhat is truly at stake, and it dispels any notion that social media platformsare somehow so different from other products that they should be allowed tooperate with impunity."

VATICANCITY (CNS) | Pope Francis called the migration crisis between Mexico and theUnited States a "serious problem" and praised a U.S. bishop workingalong the border during an interview with Telemundo journalist Julio Vaqueirobroadcast May 25. The pope was shown photos of a baby wrapped in a blanket andplaced inside a suitcase to be taken across the Rio Grande into the UnitedStates. "It's a serious problem there," the pope said in response."On the other side (of the border) there is a great man, BishopSeitz" of El Paso, Texas. "This bishop feels (the problem),"Pope Francis said. "The problem of migrants is serious, it's serious thereand it's serious here," he said about Europe, particularly "along theLibyan coast." The pope said Zelenskyy asked for his help in returningUkrainian children who have been taken into Russia and told the pope to"not dream much about mediations" during their May 13 meeting. Inresponse to a question on abortion, Pope Francis said that a fetus is a"living being." On abuse, the pope said that priestly celibacy"has nothing to do" with the sexual abuse of minors by the clergy,since, he said, abuse is committed at high rates within families and schools bymarried persons too.

Photographer: Handout

Shia LaBeouf stars in the new drama "Padre Pio." The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.(OSV News photo/Gravitas Ventures)

ROME(OSV News) | A film making its U.S. debut recounts the life of a beloved20th-century saint — and the movie's star told OSV News he "fell in lovewith Christ" to prepare for the part. Actor Shia LaBeouf portrays St. Pioof Pietrelcina in the new drama "Padre Pio," which premiered at lastyear's Venice Film Festival and is being released in U.S. theaters and ondemand June 2. Directed by Abel Ferrara, the movie traces a pivotal period inthe life of St. (Padre) Pio of Pietrelcina, when the 33-year-old CapuchinFranciscan priest — bearing the stigmata, the visible wounds of Christ — beginswhat would become his lifelong ministry in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, justafter World War I. The film's plot links Italy's often violent postwarstruggles with Padre Pio's own spiritual wrestlings, revealing how compassion,courage and holiness give hope in the triumph of good over evil. The story arcresonated with LaBeouf, whose preparation for the film led to his embrace ofthe Catholic faith after battling the demons of celebrity life. In the face ofsuffering and evil, LaBeouf said he now looks to Padre Pio as a role model forstrength, wisdom and courage. "He suffered in patience, silence andsolitude. He didn't complain about it," said LaBeouf. "The deeper Igot into Pio, the more I realized the right way to suffer. His life wasinstructive."

WASHINGTON(OSV News) | Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington blessed a new sculpture,"Advent," May 17 on the grounds of Theological College, the nationaldiocesan seminary of The Catholic University of America in Washington. Thesculpture, already being referred to as the "national life monument"and "national life sculpture," is the third in a series of sculpturesby Toronto sculptor Timothy Schmalz. One, "Angels Unawares," visuallyrepresents immigrants and refugees throughout history. After an initial stop in2020 on the grounds of the Catholic University of America as part of anationwide tour, it moved to its permanent home on the university's campus in2021. The other sculpture, "The Home Coming," displays the differentdimensions of homelessness. It was installed last year on the east portico ofthe Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which adjoinsCatholic University's campus. "Advent" is, in large part, a bronzesculpture of the Virgin Mary with rich, flowing lines. But unmistakably presentis concave mirrored stainless steel to represent Mary's womb — and visibleinside that womb is the embryonic Christ Child. The sculpture is "anexpression of the beauty of life," said Father Daniel Moore, provincialsuperior of the U.S. Province of the Society of St. Sulpice, whose priests runTheological College.

Photographer: Mihoko Owada

Washington Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory blesses the sculpture "Advent" by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz on the grounds of Theological College in Washington May 17, 2023. The sculpture depicts Jesus as an unborn child in Mary's womb. (OSV News photo/Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard)

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