Often quirky, mostly serious, always faithful to my Catholic faith, my role as husband & father. Comics, SciFi fan. Medical oncologist, committed to bioethics.
97-year-old Cardinal Ernest Simoni, who spent 18 years imprisoned and tortured under Albania's communist regime, climbs the hills of Medjugorje in a remarkable witness of faith.
Image: BUDI MUŠKARAC LJUBAVI
Continuing his catechetical series on the Dogmatic Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the celebration of the Eucharist:
“At Mass the faithful are not passive spectators, rather all are encouraged to offer themselves in union with Jesus Christ, the Spotless Victim, to the Father through the hands of the priest and together with him.
Participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice also means being formed by God’s word and nourished at the table of the Lord’s body. Indeed, these two parts of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and Eucharistic Liturgy, are so closely connected with each other that they form but one single act of worship.
Brothers and sisters, as we seek our nourishment from this abundant source of Divine Life, let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the mystery we celebrate.”
Pope Leo XIV has CONDEMNED eugenics, abortion and euthanasia in a speech this week, calling them 'programmed death':
'The value of the human person does not depend on what he or she accomplishes or produces.
For this reason, a physician should never be allowed to decide of the life of a particular embryo or a particular elderly person, on the basis of laboratory algorithms! Medicine must never become the servant of programmed death!'
The Sacred Heart is wrapped in a crown of thorns because true love is willing to bear pain for the beloved.
Jesus carries the wounds caused by sin, rejection, and indifference, yet He never stops loving. The pierced and wounded Heart of Christ shows us that mercy is stronger than suffering.
In a world that often runs from sacrifice, the Sacred Heart teaches us that authentic love always gives itself away.
Learn more: https://t.co/TmSQpfVHIA
Stop scrolling for one minute.
Listen to the Salve Regina.
This is not just beautiful music. It is the cry of the Church to our Mother:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.
Let Mary quiet your heart and lead you back to Jesus.
Pope Leo in audience with writers: “We need your imagination, your narrative creativity and your lively thinking. We need these to create spaces of freedom and authenticity.” https://t.co/YIG0q4rXQf
🏆1st place in the pro-life category at the Catholic Media Awards: Our @EWTNews documentary - "Canada: Preserving the Life of a Nation"
Very intentionally produced, it's made to attract ppl who wouldn't typically pay attention to these issues. Watch here: https://t.co/fs6dtYGkIN
The EWTN Global Catholic Network received widespread recognition at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, including 30 first-place awards across its many divisions: EWTN Digital, EWTN Studios, EWTN Publishing, and EWTN News.
EWTN’s top awards reflected the network’s comprehensive coverage of major events in the life of the Catholic Church around the world, including reporting on the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Leo XIV, and the lives of persecuted Christians.
The awards recognize outstanding work produced in 2025 across EWTN’s multimedia platforms; from social media and video production to book and newspaper publishing, photography, advertising, and English and Spanish language journalism — showcasing the network’s continued innovation, creativity, and commitment to excellence in service of the Church.
“These honors reflect the extraordinary dedication of our teams across television, radio, digital, print, and news media, who work every day to create opportunities for people around the world to encounter Jesus Christ and His Church,” said Michael Warsaw, chairman of the board and CEO of EWTN.
“As the media landscape continues to evolve, EWTN remains committed to meeting audiences wherever they are, through both traditional and emerging platforms, ensuring that the truth of the Gospel and the Real Presence of Christ are accessible to the faithful and to those who may be encountering Him for the first time,” Warsaw added.
Now in its 45th year, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. The network’s 11 global TV channels and numerous regional channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 160 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 600 domestic and international AM and FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the most visited Catholic websites in the U.S.; EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division; and EWTN News, its global, multilingual news service.
Here is the full list of EWTN winners: https://t.co/gdXt0Sdu7t
Dear writers, we need your imagination, your narrative creativity and your lively thinking. We need these to create spaces of freedom and authenticity, within which divine grace can make the promise of consolation and peace resound. https://t.co/FEmCrdQ392
Fidel Castro's estranged daughter Alina Fernández Revuelta and other exiles in Miami are anxiously noting Cuba’s instability and watching for President Trump’s next move.
She talked about her longing for a return to her homeland: https://t.co/NcM42yeSOv
On Saturday, I had the joy of celebrating the #SacramentofConfirmation for 32 young men and women at St John Fisher Parish in West Palm Beach.
As they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, I encouraged them to remain close to Christ, become active participants in the life of the Church, and use their God-given talents in service to others. I also invited them to be grateful to their families, catechists, and all those who have accompanied them on their journey of faith.
I am grateful to Father Benedict Redito, Pastor, and Father Raciel Treviño, Parochial Vicar, for their faithful ministry and dedication to the parish community.
As we celebrated Father’s Day weekend, it was a blessing to offer a special prayer and blessing for all fathers present.
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide these newly confirmed young men and women as they follow Christ with courage and joy.
“Jesus is real.”
These were the last written words of Jonathan Sia, a 23-year-old student from the Philippines, just one week away from graduating magna cum laude
Battling a severe kidney disorder in the hospital, Jonathan, known as a prayer warrior who loved Jesus since childhood, continued sharing the Gospel with doctors and nurses even while suffering.
Too weak to speak clearly, he signaled for a pen and paper. With trembling hands, he miraculously wrote three clear, legible words: “Jesus is real.” Moments later, as his mother witnessed a radiant light and a sense of heavenly presence, Jonathan passed away peacefully with a smile on his face.
His father, Joel Sia, shared this moving testimony that has touched countless hearts worldwide. In his final act, Jonathan left behind a profound witness: even in the face of death, the reality of Christ shines brighter than any suffering.
🌎🐑San Juan Bautista nos invita hoy a reflexionar sobre nuestra dignidad bautismal. Al igual que él, estamos llamados a preparar el camino para que otros encuentren a Jesús.
✨ ¿Cómo estás preparando tú el camino del Señor en tu vida y en tu comunidad?
#Celam#SanJuanBautista
The Vatican has rejected a request by the German Bishops’ Conference to allow lay faithful, in exceptional circumstances, to preach the homily during the celebration of the Eucharist.
The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments communicated the decision in a letter dated June 17 addressed to Bishop Heiner Wilmer, president of the German Bishops’ Conference.
In the letter, the Vatican dicastery said it is “not possible to grant the indult requested” made on March 30 which would have allowed a duly designated layperson to preach in place of the homily.
Although the dicastery — which oversees most matters related to the Catholic Church’s liturgy and the ritual of the sacraments — expressed appreciation for the pastoral motivations behind the request, it emphasized that current norms do not allow for exceptions on this point.
“The reservation of the homily to a priest or deacon is not a merely disciplinary norm, but derives from the very nature of the liturgy,” the dicastery said.
The letter noted that the homily “constitutes an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word,” is “intrinsically linked to the proclamation of the Gospel,” and “represents an exercise of the munus docendi entrusted to ordained ministers through the sacrament of holy orders.”
The dicastery also stressed that the “proclamation of the Word within the liturgical celebration is inseparable from the mission received sacramentally and from the unity that links the Word and the Sacrament in the eucharistic celebration.”
The letter underlined the need to strengthen the formation of clergy, pointing to “the importance of promoting the ongoing formation of ordained ministers, so that the homily may fully express its pastoral and spiritual efficacy.”
Finally, the dicastery recalled that the Church’s current discipline already provides other possibilities for lay faithful to preach.
“There are numerous forms of proclamation of the Word and preaching that can be entrusted to the lay faithful outside the homily and outside the celebration of the Eucharist,” the dicastery said, noting that such preaching must always be carried out in accordance with canon law and the proper nature of those forms of announcing the Gospel.
https://t.co/izePg9RwUO
If God is removed from the Declaration, our rights become governmental gifts.
And “what Caesar gives, Caesar can take away,” explains Dr. Christopher Kaczor: https://t.co/RREL0Cmk6R
Andy Warhol attended Mass several times per week, volunteered at homeless shelters, and may have been the most quietly Catholic artist of the twentieth century.
Matthew Malone tells the artist’s story here: https://t.co/T64VCnHCOy
Praise God for Lionel Messi's public witness to his Catholic faith! 🙌
Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi, who is considered one of the greatest players in soccer history, put the Catholic faith on public display while competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Messi, who is Catholic, made the Sign of the Cross multiple times throughout the duration of the competition. During the FIFA World Cup in Dallas, Texas, Messi crossed himself after scoring against Austria on June 22, 2026. He did this not once, but twice!
The game resulted in a record-breaking victory for Messi and the Argentine team.
This is not the first time Messi publicly displayed his Catholic faith on the world stage. Messi often makes the Sign of the Cross and praises God for his accomplishments.
Just last week, Messi celebrated with the Sign of the Cross after his hat trick against Algeria.
“I can’t ask for anything more; God gave me too much, now everything is just for enjoying,” Messi said in a press conference after performing the hat trick.
Additionally, a Catholic priest blessed Messi’s shoes just before the World Cup at the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján in Buenos Aires.
According to the post by Sacred Chad,
“The boots, named ‘El Último Tango’ (The Last Dance) by Adidas, were specially designed to mark what is expected to be Messi’s sixth and final World Cup. They were brought to the Basilica by Argentine sports journalist Walter Queijeiro.”
“On June 16, 2026, wearing those very boots, Messi scored his first-ever World Cup hat-trick against Algeria and tied Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history,” the post concludes.
Let us pray in thanksgiving for Lionel Messi’s public witness of his Catholic faith!
https://t.co/eN73Y8flED