MCC Weekly Update 10/13/23

Pope Francis Responds to Hamas’ Terrorist attacks on Israel

Catholic News Agency reported that Pope Francis condemned Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel this week. On October 10, Pope Francis stated: "I continue to follow with sorrow and apprehension what is happening in Israel and Palestine. So many people killed, and others injured." 

The initial Hamas attack October 7 took place on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, which marks the completion of the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll. "I pray for all those families that saw a day of celebration be transformed into a day of mourning," the pope said.

"One who is attacked has the right of self-defense," the pope said, "but I am very concerned about the total siege under which Palestinians are living in Gaza, where there also have been many innocent victims. Terrorism and extremism will not help reach a solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, but only increase hatred, violence and vengeance and only make each other suffer."

Latin Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem calls for a Day of Prayer and Fasting

The Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem has called for a day of prayer and fasting on Tuesday, Oct. 17, for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has urged Catholics to organize times of prayer with Eucharistic adoration and recitation of the rosary “to deliver to God the Father our thirst for peace, justice, and reconciliation.”

“In this time of sorrow and dismay, we do not want to remain helpless. We cannot let death and its sting (1 Cor 15:55) be the only word we hear,” he said in a statement issued Oct. 11.

Eucharist Procession Through the Streets of New York City

On October 11 the Holy Eucharist was processed through the streets of New York City as part of the Napa Institute’s 2023 Principled Entrepreneurship Conference. The procession began at St. Patrick’s Cathedral following a Mass celebrated by Fr. Mike Schmitz, of the Diocese of Duluth. Bishop Edmund Whalen, auxiliary bishop of New York, carried the monstrance with our Eucharistic Lord into the streets of New York City, passing such landmarks as Radio City Music Hall.

USCCB Launches National Catholic Mental Health Campaign

In an effort to raise awareness on and remove the stigma of mental illness and mental health challenges, and advocate that those who struggle receive help, Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, are launching the National Catholic Mental Health Campaign. The campaign aims to inspire a national conversation around the topic of mental health and to mobilize the Catholic Church to respond compassionately and effectively to the mental health crisis.   

The campaign began on World Mental Health Day, October 10, and seeks to raise awareness of the many facets of mental health, combat stigma, and advance wise and effective public policy. A Novena marks the launch of the campaign, along with a statement introducing the initiative from Archbishop Gudziak and Bishop Barron. The campaign will be enhanced with additional resources and efforts in the coming months. The USCCB collaborated with several national Catholic organizations in creating the Novena, which will run October 10-18. Additional information and resources are available at: https://www.usccb.org/mental-health-novena

Delegates from Oceania, Africa Express Excitement for Discourse and Unity at Synod 

Several delegates from Africa and Oceania said the Synod has provided their often-overlooked communities an outlet to be both seen and engaged by the universal Church. Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda, Cameroon, said at an Oct. 12 briefing that the Synod on Synodality is a chance for Africa to be seen at the center stage. 

“This synod is a very big consolation to Africa, because with the problems we have in Africa sometimes we feel isolated and abandoned,” the Archbishop said. “Africa has its own specificities and its own peculiarities and when we come together as the universal Church in a synodal journey, it is an opportunity for Africa’s voice to be heard.” 

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besongu of the Democratic Republic of Congo said in the midst of the Synod, the devil wishes to sow discord and attack the Church. 

“If we have the courage to look at our current reality as a Church, it won’t be hard to see how the Evil One is at work, influencing our way of being and acting. The Evil One wants to see us divided; he might even use some of us for his cause,” the Archbishop of Kinshasa said. “That’s why we must courageously fight the Evil One, using the weapons of synodality,” he continued, “which require unity, walking together, prayerful discernment, listening to each other and to what the Spirit has to say to the Church.” 

The Synod, started in 2021, has functioned as a series of conferences featuring priests, bishops, and even lay members of the global church. The Synod on Synodality is expected to conclude in 2024.

Archdiocese of St. Louis Respect Life Apostolate 50th Anniversary Conference

On Sunday, October 15, starting at 9 a.m., the Archdiocese of St. Louis Respect Life Apostolate will celebrate Respect Life Month with a 50th Anniversary Conference, at the Cardinal Rigali Center. This inspirational and educational day includes Holy Mass, presentations on timely topics from Catholic and pro-life leaders, lunch, ministry partner informational tables, as well as an opportunity for networking, prayer, and fellowship. Presenters and panelists will address the Missouri ballot initiative, best practices in pro-life messaging and conversations, abortion statistics in Missouri and the U.S., and pro-life strategies post-Dobbs. 

Contact prolife@archstl.org or 314-792-7555 with questions. Complete event information and online registration is available at: https://bit.ly/RLA-50-Conference