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CNA Staff, Feb 3, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Catholics in Kansas last week drove a truckload of supplies more than 1,600 miles to Los Angeles to bring some relief to the faithful there who have been devastated by recent wildfires. 

Deacon Greg Trum and his wife, Barb, told CNA they were moved to help residents of Los Angeles while putting Christmas decorations away in the storage space of their Leawood, Kansas, home. 

"Barb said, 'Hey, if something's been in the storage area for a year and we haven't needed it, it needs to go,'" Trum said, adding that his wife further expressed that she wished they could get some of their belongings to victims of the Los Angeles fires. 

Trum's response? "We could probably load up a truck and do something."

The Trums asked their pastor, Father Brian Schieber at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, if they could organize the parish to donate supplies. They contacted Paul Escala, the superintendent of Catholic schools in Los Angeles, to determine what parishioners in that city might need. The effort ultimately focused on students and others at St. Elizabeth Catholic School in Altadena.

They put the word out to the St. Michael community. "The response was overwhelming," the deacon said. "Immediately people started bringing things in."

The effort began at the St. Michael the Archangel parish school. Trum said the principal told the several hundred children of the school: "If you woke up and had nothing, what would you need? Bring that to these kids." 

"We got a ton of school supplies, cleaning supplies, toiletries, and bedding," Trum said. "It was originally somewhat focused on the school. But once we knew we were going to overwhelm the school [in Los Angeles] with the supplies, we opened it to family needs."

Organizers quickly saw that the volume of goods being donated by the parish would require a truck to transport it. Trum was able to secure transportation at a bargain rate. 

"I was in the commercial tire business," he said. "One of my customers was Penske Truck." 

"I didn't want to get gouged," Trum said with a laugh. "I called them up and told them about it and said, will you give us a deal?"

According to the deacon, the company responded: "We'll give you a really good deal — we'll give you a truck!" All it cost the church was gas, Trum said. 

A fellow parishioner, Mike Pollock, oversaw the logistics of boxing up and organizing the supplies. The deacon ultimately rode out with another friend and fellow Catholic, Mike Klover. 

On the way out, they stopped at a Catholic parish in Topeka that had heard about the effort and wanted to add supplies to the truck. The city was directly on the route to Los Angeles, so the drivers stopped and loaded up more donations. 

After that, "the only room we had on our truck was our two suitcases," the deacon said. "Mother Mary was definitely in charge, making sure things went well."

Both the St. Elizabeth church and school survived, but many members of the parish and school lost their homes in the surrounding area.

The duo traveled a total of 1,653 miles to get to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Pasadena, where the supplies would be dropped off for the nearby St. Elizabeth Parish. 

"We had a 3:30 appointment, and we were there at 3:15," Trum said. Many members of the community turned out to help unload the truck, including Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Brian Nunes.

Trum and Klover stayed overnight two nights with the religious sisters at the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Alhambra before heading back to Kansas. 

For Barb Trum, the experience was the fruit of a dedication to Christ and the Virgin Mary. "We have a very deep devotion to the Blessed Mother," she told CNA. "You have to stay very close to the sacraments every day, whether it's daily Mass, the Eucharist, reconciliation, or adoration."

She urged the faithful to "have an open heart to do God's work and build up the kingdom of God." She pointed to the Gospel directive in which the faithful are told "if you have two things you're supposed to give one to someone who needs it." 

"When Jesus calls, we respond," she said. "That's what we did."

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CNA Newsroom, Feb 2, 2025 / 07:30 am (CNA).

In a profound reflection delivered during Sunday's Angelus prayer, Pope Francis emphasized how Jesus Christ reveals the ultimate criterion by which all history is judged: love.

"Whoever loves lives, whoever hates dies," the pope told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

The Holy Father also renewed his urgent appeal for peace in conflict zones worldwide, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, where armed groups continue to terrorize communities and millions have been displaced. "War destroys, devastates everything, takes lives, and leads to a disregard for life itself," he said, adding that "war is always a defeat."

Drawing from the Gospel of Luke (2:22-40), which recounts Mary and Joseph bringing the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, Pope Francis focused his catechesis on three significant aspects of Christ revealed through Simeon's prophecy: salvation, light, and a sign of contradiction.

"God is present among his people — not because he dwells within four walls, but because he lives as a man among men," Francis explained, highlighting the radical newness of this moment in salvation history.

The pope noted how Mary and Joseph were "deeply moved and astonished" as Simeon identified Jesus through these three significant words: salvation, light, and a sign of contradiction.

Explaining the first aspect, Francis emphasized that Jesus embodies universal salvation, calling it "an awe-inspiring truth emphasizing that God's redemptive love is fully embodied in one person."

Regarding the second characteristic, the pope described how Jesus illuminates the world "much like the rising sun, dispelling the darkness of suffering, evil, and death" that continues to afflict humanity today.

Finally, addressing Jesus as a sign of contradiction, Francis explained how Christ reveals the deeper truths of human hearts, with history ultimately judged by the criterion of love.

Concluding his reflection, the pope encouraged the faithful to examine their spiritual expectations, asking: "What am I waiting for in my life? What is my greatest hope? Does my heart desire to see the face of the Lord?"

He then invited all to pray together that Mary "may accompany us through the lights and shadows of history on our journey to the Lord."

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ACI Africa, Feb 2, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Amid the escalation of violence, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has scaled up humanitarian response in Goma, a city in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where violence has resulted in a humanitarian crisis.

In a Jan. 29 report, the leadership of the aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales said the situation in Goma has worsened due to escalating conflict, underscoring the need for a heightened humanitarian response.

"Our local experts remain in Goma, working tirelessly to support families affected by the conflict. We continue to help those devastated and displaced by the fighting," CAFOD said in the report.

The U.K. Catholic agency added: "We are stepping up our response to meet the increasing need for humanitarian aid, such as emergency food and water. We work with local experts in Goma and the people they are supporting through the crisis. Thanks to our courageous local experts, we are ready to respond to these growing needs."

CAFOD's country representative for DRC, Bernard Balibuno, described the situation in Goma as "very serious."

"Our staff and partners are responding with what they have, and we will be scaling up our response," Balibuno said in the report.

He added: "The humanitarian needs in Goma now are vast. The city has been forced into shutdown by the fighting and hundreds of thousands of people are displaced."

On Jan. 27, the Rwandan-backed March 23 (M23), the rebels wreaking havoc in Goma, announced that its forces had taken over Goma.

With approximately 2 million residents, Goma has been in conflict for more than three decades since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, with numerous armed groups competing with authorities for control of the country.

According to CAFOD, fighting in the DRC has affected millions, displacing families and disrupting essential services. Families seeking safety in the city are now trapped, with limited access to electricity, water, and food.

The fighting has confined families to overcrowded shelters in hospitals, churches, and schools. U.N. aid agencies warn of severe shortages of basic necessities, CAFOD indicated in its report.

The report further indicated that the conflict has severely damaged the infrastructure, disrupting electricity and water supplies. Internet services are inconsistent, making communication difficult.

Children face significant challenges as schools remain closed, disrupting education and forcing many to flee their homes. Health care services are struggling, with urgent shortages of medicine and supplies.

CAFOD also reported that a Catholic maternity hospital sustained damage from bombings, resulting in casualties among children and caregivers.

In the report, CAFOD urged the international community to acknowledge the crisis in DRC.

"We are making sure DRC is not a forgotten crisis, and you can do the same," CAFOD said, calling on individuals to share information about the conflict and to support affected families through prayer and advocacy.

The charity entity acknowledged the ongoing support from the Catholic community in England and Wales, affirming its commitment to assisting displaced families in Goma.

"Thanks to our brilliant local experts and the support of the Catholic community in England and Wales, we are ready to respond to this growing need as families are displaced once again," CAFOD said. "Now that the fighting has engulfed Goma, we need to talk about the conflict more than ever."

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

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ACI Prensa Staff, Feb 2, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The Salesians received the news that the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has validated the diocesan investigation for the beatification cause of the Servant of God Antonino Baglieri, a quadriplegic layman who, in the midst of suffering, decided to bring Jesus to other people who are ill.

The Vatican communication, signed by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the dicastery, was received by the Salesian Family's postulator general for the causes of saints, Father Pierluigi Cameroni, as confirmed by ANS, the Salesian Congregation's news service.

According to the publication, the validation was accomplished after verifying the formal aspects of the procedural acts and the solidity of the evidence, including the quantity and quality of the witnesses and the documents that were collected. The diocesan investigation was carried out in the curia of the Diocese of Noto, Italy, from March 2, 2014, to May 5, 2024.

Cameroni said the progress in the cause of beatification "is a great achievement, the fruit of the work carried out by the members of the diocesan tribunal and by those who have contributed, particularly by the historical commission and the vice postulator."

Now, the next step will be for the postulator to ask the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to appoint a relator who will guide the preparation of the "positio super virtutibus" ("position on the virtues").

Who was Antonino 'Nino' Baglieri?

Baglieri was born on May 1, 1951, in Modica, Italy. At the age of 17, while working as a bricklayer's apprentice, he suffered a fall from a 56-foot scaffold, leaving him completely paralyzed.

According to the official Salesian website, his mother, Giuseppina, putting all her trust in God, decided to dedicate the rest of her life to caring for her disabled son. Thus began Baglieri's difficult journey, moving from one hospital to another without finding any improvement. 

Upon returning to his village in 1970, after a few days of visits from friends, he went through a decade of isolation, pain, and despair without leaving his home.

On the evening of March 24, 1978, Good Friday, a group from the Catholic Charismatic Renewal prayed over Nino, and at that moment he felt a profound change within him. From then on, he accepted with faith the cross that he had been called to bear and began to form himself spiritually by reading the Bible, especially the Gospels.

During that time, while helping some children with their homework, he learned to write with his mouth. Thus he began his mission of evangelization, capturing his memoirs and sending letters to people around the world. 

He also wrote personalized holy cards for those who visited him and wrote down phone numbers to keep in touch with the sick, to whom he imparted serenity, comfort, and hope with his words, the Salesian Congregation said.

In May 1982, Baglieri began to commemorate the anniversary of the cross he had been called to carry following his accidental fall and that same year he joined the Salesian Family as a Salesian cooperator. On Aug. 31, 2004, he made his perpetual profession of the evangelical counsels with the Volunteers with Don Bosco.

On March 2, 2007, at 8 a.m., after years of illness, Baglieri died. Following his wish, he was dressed in sportswear and sneakers, thus expressing his desire to "run to meet God on his last journey."

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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Rome Newsroom, Feb 1, 2025 / 16:09 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis urged Ukrainian youth on Saturday to persist in dialogue and patriotism while acknowledging the profound challenges of forgiveness amid ongoing warfare during a virtual meeting with young people gathered in Kyiv's Cathedral of the Resurrection.

The encounter, which connected the pope with approximately 250 young Ukrainians in Kyiv and other locations across Europe and the Americas, began with a moment of prayer followed by testimonies about the impacts of war on their lives and communities.

"War brings famine, war kills," the pope told participants, encouraging them to be patriots and to "love your homeland, guard your homeland." He added that "being patriots" represents "the mysticism of young Ukrainians today," reported ACI Stampa, CNA's Italian-language news partner.

The meeting carried added significance as Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk warned that air raid sirens could force participants into underground shelters at any moment. Despite a recent airstrike, restored power and internet services allowed the meeting to proceed.

Francis recalled the story of Oleksandr, a young soldier whose Gospel book and rosary the pope now keeps "as relics" on his desk. While encouraging dreams of future peace, the pontiff emphasized that "peace is built through dialogue — never tire of dialogue," even when challenging.

Addressing a specific question about forgiveness when war leaves deep wounds, the pope acknowledged it as "one of the most difficult things" while sharing his own perspective: "I am helped by this phrase: I must forgive as I have been forgiven. Each of us must look in our own life at how we have been forgiven."

The virtual audience included moving testimonies, including from a 17-year-old girl whose brother was wounded and surrounded by enemies but later freed and an 18-year-old from Kharkiv who spoke of fallen comrades and destroyed cities.

Before imparting his blessing, Pope Francis made a final plea to remember Ukraine's young heroes. He encouraged perseverance: "We have all made mistakes, but when one falls, they must get back up and keep moving forward."

Marco Mancini contributed to this report.

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CNA Newsroom, Feb 1, 2025 / 17:00 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis urged consecrated men and women to become "bearers of light" in today's world through their faithful witness of the evangelical counsels as he celebrated first vespers for the World Day for Consecrated Life in St. Peter's Basilica.

Speaking to thousands of religious on Saturday evening, the pope outlined how poverty, chastity, and obedience can transform society through God's love, drawing from the biblical theme "See... I have come to do your will, O God" (Heb 10:7).

The World Day for Consecrated Life, celebrated annually on Feb. 2, takes on special significance this year as the Church prepares for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life scheduled for October. The celebration coincides with the feast of the Presentation of the Lord and is marked by the symbolism of light.

In his homily, the pope emphasized how evangelical poverty liberates religious from worldly attachments, enabling them to become "a blessing for others" by embracing "simplicity, generosity, sharing, and solidarity." He warned against the dangers of "selfishness, greed, dependence, and violent use" of material goods.

"What a balm it is for the soul to encounter religious women and men capable of a mature and joyful relationality of this kind!" Francis said during the evening prayer service. He compared consecrated persons to a "Bride before her Spouse... surrounded by his light."

The Holy Father noted that consecrated chastity, rooted in the Trinity, offers a powerful witness in a world often marked by "superficial relationships and selfish affectivity." Religious communities must provide ongoing formation to help members fully live this gift without "unhealthy expressions of dissatisfaction," he added.

Regarding obedience, Francis highlighted its role as an "antidote to isolated individualism" in an age dominated by ceaseless words and images but little listening. This counsel fosters "active listening" and helps people discover their purpose in "God's greater plan," he said, particularly in families, workplaces, and social networks.

The pope concluded by calling consecrated men and women to return to the origins of their vocation through renewed Eucharistic adoration. "We are too practical, we want to do things, but ... adore," he urged. "There must be the capacity for adoration in silence."

Catholics worldwide are invited to pray Sunday for vocations to consecrated life.

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CNA Staff, Feb 1, 2025 / 10:55 am (CNA).

Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Peréz called for all to "unite in prayer" after a private medical jet carrying a pediatric patient, her mother, and four crew members crashed Friday night in northeast Philadelphia.

"My heart sank when I learned that an aircraft crashed at Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard in northeast Philadelphia tonight," Peréz said in a Jan. 31 statement. 

The plane, which was owned by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, crashed just after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. It was headed to Branson, Missouri, before its final destination of Tijuana, Mexico. The six passengers, who were all Mexican nationals, were killed, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. At least six people on the ground were treated at a local hospital and released.

A representative of Shriner's Children's Hospital in Philadelphia said the child had received care at the hospital and was returning home with her mother, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a post on X Saturday morning that "consular authorities are in permanent contact with the families" and "my sympathy goes out to their loved ones and friends."

"This shocking tragedy comes with great loss, pain, and anxiety for the families of the crew and passengers as well as neighborhood residents and business owners whose evening was shattered with sudden violence," Peréz continued in his statement. "We pray fervently that God will bring comfort and healing in this time of anguish."

Peréz prayed that the Blessed Mother would be with the first responders and emergency personnel and extended his gratitude for their service.

"Let us all unite in prayer and do what we can in the days ahead to share the compassionate love of Christ with those suffering as a result of tonight's crash," he said.

The tragedy comes just two days after an American Eagle flight collided with a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, killing 67 people.

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CNA Staff, Feb 1, 2025 / 05:30 am (CNA).

A priest in South Korea is serving up bowls of rich Korean stew in Seoul via a restaurant ministry as a means to fight youth hunger in the nation's capital.

Father Gabriel Lee Mun-su launched Youth Mungan "out of a desire to help young people in need," Claretian Ministries says on its website.

The restaurant serves "a single, affordable meal to all young people," namely a bowl of jjigae, a traditional Korean stew. The meals are given to customers "regardless of their financial situation, with no standards attached."

Jjigae is ubiquitous throughout much of South Korea, with various forms of the recipe being found in historical records starting at least several hundred years ago.

The stew has been adapted to many different recipes, though a popular version in both Korea and increasingly in the West incorporates kimchi, the country's staple fermented cabbage dish.

Often seasoned with copious amounts of spicy peppers along with garlic and ginger, kimchi's popularity has spread from Korea in recent years and is regularly found in grocery stores and restaurants around the world.

'The value of money truly depends on how it's used'

Lee told the Korea Herald this month that he was inspired to launch Youth Mungan in part after hearing a report of a young man dying alone of starvation in a "gosiwon," or a cramped private dorm. 

The priest said a nun's remark about an affordable restaurant for young people stuck with him and that the Claretian congregation helped him to develop the idea as well.

The restaurant charges about 3,000 won for a bowl of kimchi — the equivalent of about $2 in the United States. The priest told the Herald that, when he first opened the shop, it was losing "about 1 million won a month." The priest attempted to cover the gap with lectures and donations, though the venture "did not look like a sustainable business model." 

An appearance on the South Korean variety show "You Quiz on the Block," however, led to major exposure for the restaurant and a "massive" response including donations of kimchi and other ingredients. 

The donations, Lee said, brought in "too much money to run just one restaurant," leading the priest to open multiple locations. Youth Mungan now includes five storefronts around the city. 

The priest told the Herald of one instance where a woman bought her bowl of jjigae and proceeded to pay for everyone else's bowl as well, a cost of about 100,000 won. 

"It made me realize that the value of money truly depends on how it's used," he said.

The restaurant offers another ministry in the form of hiring workers with "borderline intellectual functioning," according to the Herald. Lee told the paper that the restaurant's simple menu helps those workers acclimate to the job. 

On its website, Claretian Ministries says Youth Mungan offers a variety of other ministries for young people to participate in including "distributing briquettes in winter to the elderly."

In a 2021 talk, meanwhile, Lee said he regularly meets "a lot of beautiful young people" in the course of his ministries. 

They're beautiful, the priest said, in part because they "gladly share their talents for the happiness of others."

Such people, he said, made him realize he could be happy "by living a life of sharing my talents, time, or materials with someone that needs it."

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CNA Newsroom, Feb 1, 2025 / 06:06 am (CNA).

Pope Francis highlighted Mary Magdalene's transformative encounter with the risen Christ as a model for personal conversion during a Jubilee audience at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Saturday.

"The Jubilee is for people and for the Earth a new beginning; everything must be rethought within the dream of God," the pope told pilgrims gathered for the morning audience Feb. 1.

The encounter was one of a series of Saturday jubilee audiences of 2025, following a first meeting with pilgrims and a heart-to-heart with journalists.

A biblical model of transformation

Drawing from the Gospel of John's account of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, Francis emphasized how she "turned around" multiple times before recognizing the risen Jesus — a detail the pontiff said was carefully chosen by the evangelist.

"The Risen One is not on the side of death, but on the side of life," the Holy Father explained. "He can be mistaken for one of the people we encounter every day."

The pope connected Mary Magdalene's spiritual journey to the broader meaning of conversion, noting that entering "the new world" often requires changing perspective more than once.

Francis emphasized how Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus only when he spoke her name, suggesting that personal encounter is essential for authentic conversion.

"From Mary Magdalene, whom tradition calls 'the apostle of the apostles,' we learn hope," the pope said, adding that the journey of faith requires a "constant invitation to change perspective."

The pope concluded his catechesis with a challenging question for the faithful: "Do I know how to turn around to see things differently? Do I have the desire for conversion?"

Francis warned that an overconfident and proud ego prevents recognition of the Risen Jesus, noting that even today, "He appears in ordinary people who easily remain behind us."

Following the Paul VI Hall's main audience, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Basilica via video link. After warmly welcoming them, he thanked them for their presence and led them in praying the Our Father.

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Vatican City, Feb 1, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis discussed in a Jan. 30 audience with seminarians and formators from the ecclesiastical province of Valencia in Spain how his mother put up quite a bit of resistance to his entering the seminary.

The bishop of Orihuela-Alicante, José Ignacio Munilla, posted on Facebook that during the meeting, in addition to his formal remarks, there was an exchange in which the Holy Father shared the experience in detail.

"The seminarians of the ecclesiastical province of Valencia were able to spend two whole hours with the pope, during which all those who wanted to freely asked him questions, to which he responded in a very charming way," the bishop indicated.

Munilla explained that the Holy Father's comments about his mother's opposition to his beginning the path to the priesthood was in response to the question of a future priest who is currently experiencing a similar experience.

"One of the seminarians told the pope about his suffering because his mother has not accepted his decision to go to the seminary, because she had 'dreamed' of other paths for her son," the bishop recounted.

He then said that after listening carefully to the concern of this young seminarian, Pope Francis shared with those present that he "also experienced that same situation."

"His mother, although she was Catholic, opposed Jorge Mario Bergoglio's vocation and did not want to visit him in the seminary. But, finally, on the day of his priestly ordination, she knelt before her son and asked for his blessing," Munilla related.

He said the Holy Father's advice for this young seminarian to calm his anguish was "prayer, tenderness, and patience!"

"What a great witness of spiritual fatherhood for the seminarians!" Munilla wrote.

This is not the first time the Holy Father has spoken about this experience. The then-cardinal archbishop of Buenos Aires also referenced it in a book interview written together with journalists Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti titled "Pope Francis: Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio: His Life in His Own Words" in the 2014 English edition.

"First I told my father, and he thought it was great. What's more, he felt happy. Then he told my mom, who, like a good mother, had begun to have a feeling about it," the pontiff explained.

Using an affectionate Argentine expression, Bergoglio commented "'la vieja' [the dear old lady] got very angry."

"When I entered the seminary, my mother didn't come with me, she didn't want to go. For years she didn't accept my decision. We weren't fighting. It was just that I would come home [for a visit], but she wouldn't go to the seminary," Pope Francis told the seminarians. 

55 years of priesthood

Last Dec. 13 was the 55th anniversary of Pope Francis' priestly ordination. On that day in 1969, just before his 33rd birthday, Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained a priest by Archbishop Emeritus of Córdoba, Argentina, Ramón José Castellano.

According to the above-referenced book, initially titled in Spanish "The Jesuit: Conversations with Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio" and published in 2004 before he became pope, Francis found his vocation to the priesthood while he was on his way to celebrate Spring Day. When he stopped by a church to go to confession, he left the confessional inspired by that priest.

From 1970–1971, Bergoglio continued his formation as a Jesuit in Spain. On April 22, 1973, he made his final vows in the Society of Jesus. When he returned to Argentina, he served as a professor in the San José department of theology in the town of San Miguel (on the outskirts of the city of Buenos Aires) and rector of the college. At the age of 36, he was appointed Jesuit provincial of Argentina.

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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