All Saints Parish Homilies and News

Why Pope Leo won’t be in Rome on the anniversary of his election Around the world, there are thousands of churches and shrines dedicated to Mary.  Published in Commonweal by Vanessa Carcoran The Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary in Pompeii (Kasa Fue/Wikimedia Commons) Some, like the Basilica of Mary Major, where Pope Francis chose to be buried, have their origins in early Christianity. Some of the more modern Marian shrines, such as Guadalupe, Lourdes, and Fátima, attract pilgrims from all over the world, drawing millions of visitors annually. But an Italian shrine that contains a once-discarded Marian icon has captured the interest of Pope Leo XIV. On May 8, the one-year anniversary of his election to the papacy, Pope Leo will not be in Rome. Instead, he will travel to Pompeii to visit the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary. Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii is less well-known than many other shrines in Rome but is a thoughtful choice for a po...

The Battle of Gettysburg, as great a tragic and devastating loss as it was, does appear to be a true American Miracle. My family has visited the Elizabeth Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg. I recommend a visit if you intend to go to Gettysburg, because the two locations on like sister cities, one in Pennsylvania and, of course Emmitsburg in Maryland. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (b.1774-d. 1871). The Battle of Gettysburg, Emmitsburg, & Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton published in Single Mom Smiling blog. On the 4th of July, I’m looking back at the bloodiest battle in our nation’s history, the Battle of Gettysburg, with some thankfulness and awe. Many of us know about the Battle of Gettysburg from high school history lessons, but how many of us have heard of Emmitsburg, Maryland or understand the connection between Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Battle of Gettysburg ❓ My boys and I spend time each year camping, and with each trip, we try to incorporate some sort of faith-based experience. Not to...

This WWI chaplain believed St. Thérèse saved his life Aleteia report And he dedicated the first church in the world in her honor. Get to know blessed Father Daniel Brottier on YouTube Father Daniel Brottier * always wanted to be a missionary. For this reason he joined the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in 1902, and was promptly sent to Senegal, West Africa. However, God had other plans for him. Father Brottier was graced with eight years of missionary work, but was forced to return to France because of poor health. His body couldn't withstand the harsh climate and ultimately he yielded to the fact that he would never be able to go out on mission again. Father Brottier returned to France and shortly thereafter, World War I (WWI) erupted. He volunteered to become a chaplain for the 121st Infantry Regiment. He was a courageous chaplain in the midst of battle, risking his life at every turn. Afterwards he was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Légion d'honneur . Saved by St. Th...

Rocket Strikes McGivney House in Erbi l, Iraq Report by the Colombia Magazine staff The chapel of McGivney House in Erbil, Iraq, is shown after a March 4, 2026 rocket strike. The apartment building was constructed with help from the Knights of Columbus to house Christian families displaced by persecution and violence carried out by the Islamic State group. (Photo by Aemel Waad / Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil) McGivney House, a 140-unit apartment complex in Erbil, Iraq, was partially damaged during a rocket strike March 4. The strike came four days after the February 28 U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. Built with help from the Knights of Columbus, the complex opened in February 2019 to house Christian families displaced from the Nineveh Plains after the Islamic State group overran the region in 2014. Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda of Erbil, Iraq, stands in front of McGivney House in 2018. (Photo by Claire Thomas) Located in Ankawa, the Christian- majority district of Erbil ...

Echo Baltimore Sun editorial (Maryland):    Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo cross a moral line.  Pope Leo is not a politician ❗ In a nation built on the freedom of belief, disagreement with religious leaders is not only permissible but inevitable.  Nevertheless, there is a difference between disagreement and dismissal, between critique and an attempt to diminish moral authority itself. That distinction is at the center of Donald Trump’s recent challenge to His Holiness Pope Leo. For Marylanders, this is not an abstract debate. Ours is the cradle of American Catholicism. From the founding of the Baltimore Basilica to generations of Catholic schools, hospitals and parishes, the Church has played a defining role in shaping both civic and moral life in this state. Millions of Americans and many here at home look to the pope, not as a political figure, but as a moral compass rooted in centuries of teaching and tradition. No public figure, including a pope, is beyond critici...

Our Sunday Visitor support for His Holiness Pope Leo  by Gina Christian. The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the oldest and largest Irish Catholic organization in the US, strongly defends the papacy and supports the pope as the moral leader of the Church. Recently, the AOH, led by National President Sean Pender, expressed "deep offense" and strongly criticized US political figures for attacking Pope Leo XIV, asserting the Pope is not a partisan figure. (OSV News) — A number of Catholic organizations are speaking out in defense of Pope Leo XIV, as President Donald Trump doubled down on his harsh criticism of Pope Leo XIV — with Vice President JD Vance, a former Marine Corps corporal and Catholic convert, also claiming the pope should “be careful when he talks about matters of theology” in criticizing the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran. “In recent days, many Catholics and other people of goodwill have been deeply disappointed by the disparaging comments directed at Pope Leo...