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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 13, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

During Tuesday night's presidential debate with former President Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris refused to say whether she opposes late-term abortions and denied that they happen in the United States.

However, more than a dozen states, in fact, allow on-demand abortions after the point of viability, and nine of those states permit abortions throughout the entirety of pregnancy.

What's more, studies from pro-abortion groups and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that thousands of abortions happen late into pregnancy every year.

"Nowhere in America is a woman carrying a pregnancy to term and asking for an abortion," the vice president claimed. "That is not happening — it's insulting to the women of America."

During the debate, Trump said Harris' vow to codify Roe v. Wade into national law would legalize late-term abortion. The now-defunct landmark Supreme Court ruling forced states to permit abortion at least until the point of fetal viability, at which point the unborn child could survive outside the womb. The exact moment of fetal viability is different for every pregnancy, but this usually occurs in the 23rd or the 24th week.

Trump said Harris would support abortion in "the seventh month, the eighth month, [and] the ninth month," to which Harris retorted: "That's not true."

When asked by ABC debate moderator Linsey Davis whether she would support any restrictions on abortion, Harris ducked the question and said she supports what she called the "protections" of Roe v. Wade. Harris used the word "protections" in reference to making abortion legal, not to to mean protecting the unborn.

Although ABC's debate moderators — Davis and David Muir — intervened to "fact check" Trump on several of his arguments, neither of them corrected Harris to inform viewers where late-term abortions are legal and occur in the United States.

However, Roe v. Wade did not prohibit states from allowing abortion much later into pregnancy, some of which do permit abortion in the seventh, eighth, and ninth months.

In nine states and Washington, D.C., abortion is legal for the entirety of pregnancy, until the moment of birth, for any reason. In one state, elective abortion is legal through the second trimester, which concludes at the end of the 27th week of pregnancy. In another four states, abortion is legal through the 24th week of pregnancy, regardless of whether the unborn child has already reached viability.

States where on-demand late-term abortion is legal

The most permissive abortion laws are in Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. A woman can procure a legal abortion through the ninth month of pregnancy, until the moment of birth, for any reason. 

Minnesota, the home state of Harris' running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, has some of the most permissive pro-abortion laws in the country. Walz signed legislation in January 2023 that declared abortion "a fundamental right" and prohibited local governments from taking any action that interferes with that legal right. This provided even stronger protections for Minnesota's laws on abortion, which permit the procedure until the moment of birth.

Virginia allows elective abortion through the second trimester of pregnancy, which ends in the 27th week. This is three or four weeks after the unborn child could survive outside the womb.

In four other states — Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and New Hampshire — abortion is legal in the 24th week of pregnancy, regardless of whether the unborn child is viable. About a dozen states allow abortion up until the point of viability, which is often determined by the physician, who may be an abortionist. More than 20 states restrict abortion earlier than viability.

How often does late-term abortion happen?

State laws vary on what data abortion clinics must record and report to the government. Most states provide some data to the federal government, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not offer a comprehensive breakdown of the exact gestational ages of preborn children at the time of an abortion.

However, the CDC does report its estimates of how many abortions occur in the 21st week of pregnancy or later. In 2019, the CDC estimated about 4,882 abortions were performed at least 21 weeks or later into pregnancy. The data is incomplete because it excludes the nine states that permit abortions at that stage of pregnancy and the District of Columbia.

The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, which provides estimates through voluntary surveys, reported that about 0.9% of abortions were conducted in the 21st week or later in 2023. The report estimated more than 1 million total abortions, which would mean that more than 9,000 abortions occurred in the 21st week or later.

If the Guttmacher Institute's reporting is correct, this would mean that, on average, between 24 and 25 abortions in the 21st week or later occur every day in the United States.

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Quito, Ecuador, Sep 12, 2024 / 17:10 pm (CNA).

"The Eucharist and the Transfiguration of the World" was the title of the presentation given by Bishop Andrew Cozzens at the International Eucharistic Congress being held in Quito, Ecuador.

"What is God's answer to the wounds of the world?" asked the bishop of Crookston, Minnesota, in his remarks.

"His response is to send his Son into our broken world," Cozzens continued. "The purpose of the Incarnation is for the Eucharist, so that he can offer his life for us, for the healing of our world."

Cozzens, who also chaired this year's U.S. National Eucharistic Congress, explained that Jesus Christ redeems the world through his paschal mystery.

"The paschal mystery is the greatest mystery we have because it transforms evil into good," Cozzens noted. 

Reflecting on the power of this work of redemption, Cozzens underscored that "there is nothing so evil, nothing so bad, that it cannot be taken by God and turned into something good."

The mystery of human suffering 

Regarding this aspect of man's life, Cozzens posed the question: "Why is it that Our Lord did not take away human suffering? Why not? He could have. Why through his death and resurrection did he not end suffering? Well, the reason must be he knew that suffering would be the place where we could learn to express the most love."

"And so Our Lord did not take away suffering. He entered into suffering, and he transformed suffering from within, and made it possible for suffering to become a force of love in the world. This is the power of redemption, and this is the mystery the Eucharist invites us to every day." 

In that sense, Cozzens pointed out, "the Eucharist wants to teach us how to transform, or we might even say transfigure suffering, so that our sufferings can become a place of glory."

Addressing the question of why God allows suffering, Cozzens continued: "It could only be so that greater love could come into the world, so that more glory could come. The more we begin to live a Eucharistic life, the more we understand the meaning and the value of our sufferings."

Cozzens also warned of the temptation, in the face of suffering, to "turn in on oneself." However, "what the Lord asks is in that moment that I would turn to him and I would see his suffering, and that I would turn to others and see their suffering. And then in my heart, I would make a simple prayer: 'Lord, I accept this suffering for those people I know who are suffering, for love of you or others.'"

Suffering and the Mass

Cozzens then highlighted that Jesus "invites us to pour out our sufferings to him and ultimately, "he wants to show us how he can use this suffering for good."

"What happens at the Mass is that I bring my suffering to the altar. And that suffering now is united to Christ's offering to the Father, and then has the power to pour out love on the whole of the world."

For this reason, Cozzens emphasized, "the Eucharist is the heart of the world because through the Mass, all the sufferings of our world are able to be offered to the Father, united with Jesus."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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CNA Staff, Sep 12, 2024 / 18:00 pm (CNA).

Hurricane Francine made landfall in southern Louisiana on Wednesday evening as a Category 2 storm, bringing 100 mph winds in some areas and copious rainfall. Many parts of the state, already drenched with previous rains, remained flooded Thursday even as Francine moved out of the region heading north.

Low-lying areas near and to the east of where Francine made landfall faced storm surge of five to 10 feet, the Washington Post reported. At the peak of the storm, 450,000 people in Louisiana were without electricity, a figure that has dropped to around 350,000, per the AP.

Kim Burgo, vice president of disaster operations at Catholic Charities USA, told CNA on Thursday afternoon that the aid organization is helping to fund and coordinate relief efforts through local Catholic Charities agencies in the region. The hardest-hit diocese in southern Louisiana has been Houma-Thibodaux, as well as parts of the Dioceses of Baton Rouge and Lafayette and the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Burgo said the local Catholic Charities organizations in these areas are undertaking assessments to determine the needs of the affected populations, especially the poor whom they already serve on a regular basis. She said their primary concern is ensuring that people have access to necessary supplies and services — such as generators and food — to help them get by as power is restored and cleanup begins.

Each individual Catholic Charities agency in the region is accepting donations, as is Catholic Charities USA, which will distribute 100% of the donations to the affected areas.

"Each agency or each diocese will have their own criteria and different ways to help. And certainly, there are locations where people can drop off goods and items," Burgo said, noting that some parts of Louisiana were spared flooding and storm damage despite their proximity to damaged areas.

Catholic Charities of Acadiana (CCA), which serves the Diocese of Lafayette, is already soliciting volunteers to help with relief efforts. The group says it needs volunteers who can do damage assessments, roof tarping, muck out and cleanup, debris removal and chainsawing, and in-kind donations management. The group also encouraged people of goodwill to donate to its disaster relief fund.

Burgo said CCA has begun assembling and distributing supplies, assisting the National Guard by unloading trucks filled with essential items like tarps and anti-mold products.

Meanwhile, in Houma-Thibodaux, a big focus is on distributing meals to people in need, especially for those still without power. The lack of electricity is especially impactful for low-income households as it disrupts the functioning of medical equipment and impedes food preservation, among other issues. 

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans is also mobilized to help the community, but weather conditions were so bad that the agency said on social media that its offices would be closed until Friday, Sept. 13. Officially, 7.33 inches of rain fell at New Orleans International Airport on Wednesday, making it the second-wettest September day on record, the Washington Post reported. 

Burgo emphasized that Catholic Charities serve as a long-term presence in the community, providing support not just in times of disaster but also during peaceful periods. She encouraged people in need of assistance or those willing to offer help to reach out to their local Catholic Charities office or visit the national website.

"We're not an organization that just goes in and does some work and then leaves. We're there in both the times of sunshine and the times of disaster events," she said.

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CNA Staff, Sep 12, 2024 / 18:20 pm (CNA).

A state judge nixed North Dakota's protections for unborn babies on Thursday, saying that the state constitution creates a right to abortion before the unborn baby is viable outside the womb, which is usually defined at 22 or 23 weeks of pregnancy. 

North Dakota District Judge Bruce Romanick's 24-page order making abortion legal up to the point of fetal viability is set to go into effect in 14 days. 

The ruling overturned the law that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed in April 2023, which allowed abortion only in certain cases, such as pregnancies caused by rape or incest, within the first six weeks of pregnancy, and cases of serious health risk for the mother.

The Red River Women's Clinic filed the original lawsuit in 2022 against a 2007 "trigger law" that went into effect after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. That law was later overturned by the state Supreme Court. The clinic has since relocated a few miles from Fargo, North Dakota, to Moorehead, Minnesota.

Romanick was ruling on the state's request to dismiss the 2022 lawsuit. The state had argued that a trial wouldn't make a difference as the clinic had since moved out of state.

Romanick ruled that the state's abortion restrictions were unconstitutional because "pregnant women in North Dakota have a fundamental right to choose abortion before viability" under the state constitution, which protects "life, liberty, safety, and happiness" for individuals "including women."

North Dakota Right to Life said in a statement Thursday that it is "deeply disappointed" by the ruling, arguing that the judge used "poor methodology" to go against "the standard legal process."

"This ruling was made in response to the state's request to dismiss the lawsuit, yet instead of either dismissing the case or setting a court hearing date, the judge unilaterally issued a ruling that dismantles critical protections for the unborn and vulnerable women across our state," the statement read.

"The judge's poor methodology and decision to bypass the standard legal process reflect a troubling disregard for the legal protections that were put in place to ensure informed consent and promote the safety of North Dakotans," the statement continued. 

The judge also ruled that the restrictions were void because of their "vagueness." He argued that the law violated due process because it was not clear enough to physicians which abortions they could perform legally and could have "a profound chilling effect on the willingness of physicians to perform abortions."

"All North Dakota citizens, including women, have the right to make fundamental, appropriate, and informed medical decisions in consultation with a physician and to receive their chosen medical care … Such a choice is a fundamental one, central to personal autonomy and self-determination," the court document reads.

"Unborn human life, pre-viability, is not a sufficient justification to interfere with a woman's fundamental rights," the judge continued. "Criminalizing pre-viability abortions is not necessary to promote the state's interest in women's health and protecting unborn human life."

North Dakota Right to Life argued that the ruling was dangerous for both women and unborn children.

"We firmly believe that this ruling does a grave disservice to our state and will lead to harmful consequences for women, minors, and unborn children alike," the statement read.

The group argued that the decision "opens North Dakota to unrestricted abortion access — eliminating necessary safeguards such as waiting periods, parental consent for minors, and critical health and safety standards."

"In doing so, the judge's decision directly undermines the well-being of women and young girls, putting their health at risk and disregarding the will of the people in North Dakota," the statement continued.

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CNA Staff, Sep 12, 2024 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

A recently ordained priest in Chicago is denying accusations from Illinois state officials that he molested a child during a recent penance service that allegedly took place at a youth retreat.

A letter from Chicago archbishop Cardinal Blase Cupich to St. Josaphat Parish, posted this month to the Archdiocese of Chicago's website, said the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) "has opened an investigation into allegations they termed child exploitation and child molestation" allegedly committed by Father Martin Nyberg.

The incident allegedly occurred during a "public penance service," according to the archbishop. Nyberg has served as an associate pastor at St. Josaphat in the city's Sheffield neighborhood since July of this year, the prelate said.

The 28-year-old priest "strenuously denies the allegations," Cupich wrote, though the archdiocese "reported the allegations to civil authorities and offered assistance to the accusers" in accordance with archdiocesan policy.

"I asked Father Nyberg to step aside from ministry until civil authorities have completed their investigations and our Independent Review Board has presented its recommendations to me," Cupich wrote. 

"Father Nyberg agreed to cooperate fully with this process, and we will provide him with pastoral assistance as he awaits its outcome."

The archbishop sent a similar letter to members of St. Paul of the Cross Parish, where Nyberg served as a deacon from 2023 to 2024.

The Archdiocese of Chicago did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday regarding the timeline of the independent review board's investigation as well as a query about the nature of the "public penance service."

But CBS News Chicago reported that the alleged incident reportedly took place at an "eighth-grade confirmation retreat" in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in late August.

Students allegedly "said they were asked inappropriate sexual questions at the aforementioned confession service during the two-day overnight retreat," while some said they were "touched inappropriately by Nyberg." 

DCFS spokeswoman Heather Tarczan, meanwhile, told CNA on Thursday that the department's investigation "just started and we are working with local law enforcement."

"At this time, we cannot say exactly how long it will take," she said.

According to the Chicago Catholic, Nyberg was born in Chicago and attended The Catholic University of America and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

He was ordained on May 18 of this year and celebrated his first Mass at St. Edward Parish in Chicago.

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Lima Newsroom, Sep 12, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, renewed his request for prayer for the new statutes of "the Work," as its members call this institution of the Catholic Church, and encouraged them to share "the fire of the Lord" with others.

"As I have already told you, in the upcoming days there will be a new meeting of the experts who are studying the possible changes to the statutes of the Work. Let us continue to accompany this work with our prayer," Ocáriz said in a message shared Sept. 11 on the organization's website.

In July 2022, Pope Francis ordered a reform of Opus Dei, which has as its center the drafting of new statutes, a work the prelature is carrying out in coordination with the Vatican in a climate of dialogue and trust, as previously noted by Ocáriz.

'Bringing the fire of the Lord to all souls'

In today's text, Opus Dei's leader offers a reflection on one of the seven words that Jesus spoke when he was on the cross — "I thirst" (Jn 19:28) — in anticipation of the Sept. 14 feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Ocáriz posed some questions: "Do I have that same thirst? Do I share in the fire that burns in his heart? Am I consumed by zeal for souls wherever I am? Do I fearlessly strive to enkindle the people I meet, through my prayer and atonement, through my sincere friendship?"

"We can remember, with St. Josemaría, that our mission is to bring to all souls — in the midst of the world — the fire of the Lord that we harbor in our hearts," the text continued, recalling what the founder of Opus Dei said at the beginning of his well-known book "The Way." 

"To shine forth, wipe out, set aflame. Phrases that will become an ever-increasing reality in our lives to the extent that we contemplate the wounded heart of Jesus and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are set aflame by that same fire," Ocáriz continued, exhorting members to illuminate "intellects with clear doctrine, to erase the filth of sin with our own expiation, to enkindle hearts with love."

"The holy cross speaks to all of us. Let us not be afraid of love, of giving life in abundance, even if it seems that we are losing our lives, because that is not the case. Let us not be afraid to make Christ known through our lives, whom so many souls are seeking thirstily, often without knowing it," the prelate counseled.

After encouraging Opus Dei members to walk alongside the Virgin Mary, the prelate of Opus Dei finally encouraged his readers that the experience of suffering "may enkindle in us ever more strongly the light of faith, the assurance of hope, and the fire of charity, and along with them, joy. Yes, also joy in the cross."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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ACI Africa, Sep 12, 2024 / 11:00 am (CNA).

The Diocese of Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria is appealing for prayers and humanitarian assistance for thousands of people displaced by floods that intensified Sept. 10.

In a Facebook post, the diocese announced that the flooding in Maiduguri, a city in Borno Estate, is the worst the region has experienced in decades.

Images circulated on social media platforms show St. Patrick's Cathedral submerged under water and a few visible rooftops of buildings in the surrounding areas of the city known for Boko Haram activity.

The catastrophic event is believed to be the result of damage to the Alau Dam, located several miles from Maiduguri city.

Explaining the nature of the devastation in the Facebook post, the diocese said: "Maiduguri city experienced the worst flooding in over 30 years… Thousands have been rendered homeless and no one knows the number of fatalities yet."

"Please pray for us," the diocese representative requested in the post, adding that the diocese has been working on reaching out for support to help those affected.

"Kindly give what you can to assist; help spread this message… and pray for us."

The diocese said that there is no food, shelter, or sanitation facilities for those displaced by the floods, adding: "Government has reopened the IDP [internally displaced person] camps, but these are overwhelmed by the number of those seeking refuge."

In further attempts to describe the nature of the catastrophe, the diocese said the raging waters had broken the confines of a zoo, allowing dangerous animals to roam freely.

"There are also news reports of a prison break," the post noted.

Meanwhile, the pontifical charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International has launched an urgent appeal for prayer and support for the affected community of Maiduguri.

In a statement on Sept. 11, ACN said it had contacted the Diocese of Maiduguri to determine the extent of the damage, its impact on the community, and the immediate needs of those affected.

This article was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

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CNA Staff, Sep 12, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

On Sept. 12, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast was officially instituted by Pope Innocent XI, and the celebration dates back to the early 1500s when Catholics in Spain began commemorating Mary's special graces, intercession, and mediation.

Over the centuries, the Blessed Mother has been graced with a plethora of different titles such as Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Queen of Peace, and many others. 

Here are seven of the Virgin Mary's most popular titles:

Our Lady of Fátima

The Blessed Mother received this title when she appeared to three shepherd children in the small village of Fátima, Portugal, in 1917. Against the backdrop of World War I, the Virgin Mary appeared six times to Lucia Dos Santos and Jacinta and Francisco Marto where she instructed them to pray the rosary daily, showed them a vision of hell, and warned them of the trials that would afflict the world by means of war, starvation, and the persecution of the Church. In her last apparition to the children, she called herself "the Lady of the Rosary."

Our Lady of Lourdes

On a cold day in February 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 13-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France. Over the course of 18 apparitions, the Blessed Mother told the young girl to pray the rosary, to pray for the conversion of sinners, and that a chapel needed to be built on that spot. This spot continues to be the home of the healing waters millions of pilgrims visit each year at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

The most popular Marian title in Latin American countries, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to a humble Native American, Juan Diego, on a hill in what is now Mexico City in 1531. She made a request that a church be built on the site and left an image on Juan Diego's tilma that still shows no signs of decay almost 500 years later. Between 18 million to 20 million pilgrims visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe yearly.0

Our Lady of the Rosary

The Blessed Virgin Mary received the title of Our Lady of the Rosary in the 16th century from Pope Pius V after he attributed a naval victory that secured Europe against Turkish invasion to the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Crew members on more than 200 ships prayed the rosary in preparation for the battle, as did Christians throughout Europe, who were encouraged by the pope. When the pope was informed of the day's events — that all but 13 of the nearly 300 Turkish ships had been captured or sunk — he understood the significance. He was moved to institute the feast now celebrated universally as Our Lady of the Rosary.

Our Lady of Sorrows

The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is nearly 1,000 years old and encourages the faithful to reflect on the seven sorrows of Mary, which begin with St. Simeon's prophecy told to the Blessed Mother and culminate in the events of the passion and death of Christ. 

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots

One of the many devotions Pope Francis has promoted during his pontificate is the devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. A painting of the Blessed Mother, which was completed around the year 1700, shows her untying knots from a long ribbon. The image was inspired by the painter's grandparents, who years before avoided a divorce after meeting with their priest, who took a ribbon from the marriage ritual and asked for the intercession of the Virgin Mary to untie the knots of their marital difficulties. 

Queen of Peace

The title of Queen of Peace, or Our Lady of Peace, dates back to the 16th century when Jean de Joyeuse presented a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary to his bride, Françoise e Voisins, on their wedding day. The statue, named Notre Dame de Paix, or Our Lady of Peace, depicted Mary holding an olive branch in her right hand and the Prince of Peace, Jesus, seated in her left arm. The statue became a family heirloom and was passed down to their grandson, Henri Joyeuse, who joined the Capuchins in Paris. The statue remained with the Capuchins for the next 200 years and on July 9, 1906, in the name of St. Pius X, the archbishop of Paris ceremonially crowned the Our Lady of Peace statue, thus becoming Our Lady, Queen of Peace.

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Jerusalem, Sep 12, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

On Aug. 31, exactly 100 years after its dedication, the Church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant was reopened for worship on the hill of Kiryat Yearim, nine miles from Jerusalem. 

The church, which was closed for four years for restoration work, stands atop the hill overlooking the (Muslim) village of Abu Gosh. From the top, visitors can see Jerusalem.

The place, mentioned in the Bible as "Kiriath-Jearim," has held an important role in the history of the Jewish people as it was here that the Ark of the Covenant rested after being recovered from the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 6). 

The ark contained the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments — God's covenant with the Jewish people — were inscribed and was the sign of God's presence among his people.

According to the Bible, it was hosted in the house of Abinadab, where it remained for about 20 years (see 1 Samuel 7:1-2) until King David brought it to Jerusalem.

For this reason, even today, the site is visited by many groups of Jews.

A Byzantine basilica was built on the top hill around the fifth century. The current church, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1920, stands on the remains of that building. It was consecrated in 1924 by the then-Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Luigi Barlassina, and dedicated to Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the current Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, recently came to the basilica to dedicate its new altar on the occasion of the reopening of the church. 

"This reopening is a moment of trust in the future, a desire to start anew, and this is what we need most at this time, when everything around us speaks of death and endings," he told CNA after the celebration on Aug. 31.

"Climbing this mountain, blessed by the presence of the Lord," he added, "invites us to have a broad and farsighted perspective on events and not to close ourselves off in the dramatic present moment."

Hosting the event were the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, a French congregation founded in 1832 by Mother Emilie De Vialar, which owns and operates the church and surrounding property.

The complete details of how the land came to be acquired by the sisters are lost to history, but it centers on one of the order's sisters who died in 1927. Sister Josephine Rumèbe, who is buried in the church, was reportedly endowed with special mystical gifts and managed to acquire the land on behalf of the sisters. The story goes that she had 5,000 francs at her disposal and sought the help of a clergyman for the purchase. To prevent a competing buyer from acquiring it, the cleric secured the entire hill for 20,372 francs. Miraculously, when Sister Josephine counted the gold coins hidden in her room, the amount matched exactly what she needed.

The dedication of the new altar in the basilica took place after the recitation of the creed and chanting of the litanies. The cardinal placed relics in the altar, including that of Mother Emilie De Vialar, who was canonized a saint in 1951. This was followed by the anointing of the altar with chrism oil, the incensing of the altar, the covering of the altar, and the lighting of the altar.

"The covenant of God with his people finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is no longer just the sign of God's presence but God himself among us. Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant because she carried Christ himself in her womb," said the cardinal in his homily, inviting the faithful, following the example of the Virgin Mary, to renew their trust in God as the Lord of history and active within history.

Upon entering the church — whose iconographic elements were created by artists from the Ave Center of the Focolare Movement — the eye is drawn to the golden flame emanating from the center of the apse.

A special decoration that, on one hand, evokes the biblical significance of fire, symbolizing the presence of God, and on the other, is connected to the history of this place and particularly to Sister Josephine's vision of a "mountain of fire," holds significance here.

When she was still a young postulant in France, during Eucharistic adoration, Sister Josephine had a vision of flames forming a mountain with Jesus above them instead of the host. The vision then vanished, and only 50 years later, at the time of laying the foundation stone of the church, it was revealed to her that the "mountain of fire" was indeed Kiryat Yearim, which she used to call "the Holy Mountain."

Sister Valentina Sala, the current provincial of the congregation for the Holy Land, immediately felt a strong connection to this place. She recounted to CNA: "The first time I came here for a few weeks, a sister took me to Kiryat Yearim. I knelt at Sister Josephine's tomb and prayed to return if that was God's will."

On the centenary of the church's dedication, Sister Valentina also emphasized the significance of this place for her congregation, whose charism is to serve the needs of people through works of charity. 

"What is charity work? What people need today is not just health care or education; there is a hunger and thirst for God. We must be able to recognize this need, helping those who come here to listen to his voice. We need places where people can pause and rest with God," she said.

When the construction of the church was nearly complete, Sister Josephine had a vision of the Virgin Mary, at the top of the church, facing Jerusalem with outstretched arms in a gesture of dispensing grace. A statue now stands above the church to recall that vision, facing away from those entering and directed toward Jerusalem. 

"This place, which evokes the covenant, invites us to realign ourselves with God and to be under this blessing," Sister Valentina concluded.

This is also the meaning of the words she addressed to those present — the vast majority of local faithful from Jerusalem as well as from Galilee — at the end of the Mass.

"Sister Josephine had already seen you in various visions: 'I saw a crowd rushing toward the basilica. I saw priests, sisters of our order, and then men and women of the world who were even more pleasing to God than all the others, holy souls shining like stars.'"

She continued: "And what if we are that vision? What if we are that future? Of course, we are! From now on, you will be the ones to bring life to this hill, to this covenant between God and his people. Come, rush, stay, feel at home. There is not only a newly renovated church to see but a Presence to discover: Take the time to dwell with the Lord. What could be more beautiful... Many graces await to be dispensed from here!"

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Quito, Ecuador, Sep 11, 2024 / 16:41 pm (CNA).

Visibly affected and on the verge of tears, Leyden Rovelo spoke about the suffering of tens of thousands of recently arrived immigrant children in the United States during her talk Sept. 9 at the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress in Quito, Ecuador.

Rovelo referenced official reports that indicate that federal agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have failed to account for between 30,000 and 85,000 of these minors.

"They don't know where our children are," she said.

The Catholic Church and the migration drama

"The Catholic Church unequivocally recognizes the legitimate authority of sovereign nations to regulate their borders and manage migratory flows," she said.

However, this position of the Church "does not constitute an endorsement of draconian measures or inhumane practices," said Rovelo, director of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri.

"Rather, it underlines the imperative to defend human dignity throughout the process of [immigration] control," said Rovelo, who is also a member of the Hispanic Advisory Group of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development.

She also referenced a message from the USCCB in 1983 in which the bishops affirmed "that the Hispanic-Latino presence in the American Church is a blessing from God for the Church and for the entire country."

Rovelo continued her presentation by pointing out that since 1565, when the first Mass was celebrated in St. Augustine, Florida, "we have witnessed how Hispanic immigrants have revitalized parish life throughout the country, many of them in parishes whose population was aging," although she noted that this "has not been without difficulties or wounds."

Regarding the tragedies experienced by young Latin American migrants, Rovelo shared the story of a woman she had to assist who told her that her 5-year-old daughter died during the trip to the United States and she doesn't even remember in which country she had to bury her.

"This delicate balance between national sovereignty and human rights is the basis and approach of the Catholic Church in the face of the dilemma of migration," she emphasized.

The mystery of God in a time of migration

Rovelo elaborated on the fact that migrants are bearers of the Gospel and of the image of God, created in his image and likeness. Migrants are pilgrims on earth who seek — like everyone else — their final destiny in heaven, she said.

In addition, she asked people to see migrants for their human identity, "restoring our hearts and minds," and not to see them through political labels, their legal status, or by making value judgments.

"We are all in flight. Migrants on the way home. Just as Christ is the bridge between us and the Father, we are also the bridge between migrants and a better place," Rovelo said.

Finally, she highlighted the efforts of the American bishops to mitigate the suffering inherent in migration processes, calling on countries of origin to "address the root causes of migration," while increasingly promoting and strengthening their support services for migrants and refugees.

"The Church has chosen to focus on the intention of 'rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's and rendering to God what is God's' by advocating sustainable development, democratic institutions, and policies that respect human rights and human dignity in the countries of origin," she commented.

"The Church seeks to create an environment where people can thrive in their countries of origin, thereby reducing the compulsion to undertake dangerous journeys," Rovelo added.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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