All Saints Parish Homilies and News

Our Lady of Arabia is a Roman Catholic title for the Blessed Virgin Mary, venerated as the patroness of the Apostolic Vicariates of Northern and Southern Arabia. Represented holding a Rosary and the Child Jesus, she is a central figure for the diverse, mostly expatriate (IOW for faithful who are living in the area but not natives) Catholic population in the Gulf, particularly in Kuwait and Bahrain.  Reported in Aleteia by Ryle Silva “May Our Lady of Arabia watch over us all” At the start of the conflict in Iran, the bishops of the two vicariates that oversee the gulf countries of Arabia and more than 2 million Catholic faithful there issued statements. Both prayed, "May Our Lady of Arabia, our mother, watch over us all." The two statements are brief, and encouraged the faithful to be attentive to instructions given by local authorities. The bishops also urged prayer and charity. "Let us remain united in faith and charity, caring especially for the elderly, the sick, and...

There has been no harsher critic to U.S. military action in Iran than Pope Leo XIV: “War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading. The principle established after the Second World War, which prohibited nations from using force to violate the borders of others, has been completely undermined. “Peace is no longer sought as a gift and a desirable good in itself, or in the pursuit of the establishment of the ordered universe willed by God, with a more perfect form of justice among men and women.” “Instead, peace is sought through weapons as a condition for asserting one’s own dominion. “This gravely threatens the rule of law, which is the foundation of all peaceful civil coexistence.” A source close to Pope Leo XIV tells me the pontiff is expected to condemn DonaldTrump’s strike against Iran and appeal for peace during his Sunday Angelus. The source said the U.S-born pope views the strikes as “immoral, illegal, and a grave threat to the entire human family.” If Sunday’s remarks c...

Echo report published in Aleteia by Cerith Gardiner Overcoming a long-standing aversion to the election of a U.S. pontiff, on May 8, 2025, the College of Cardinals announced they had selected Chicagoan Robert Francis Prevost to serve as the 267th pope and shepherd of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.  At a time when public confidence in leadership is battered by polarization, conflict, and skepticism, one global figure stands out: Pope Leo. According to the Gallup International End of Year Survey , he is the only contemporary global leader with a positive net reputation worldwide — a remarkable distinction in a fractured age. In the survey, conducted between October and December 2025, among 64,097 adults in 61 countries, paints a vivid picture of global sentiment. With 49% favorable, 25% unfavorable, and 26% undecided, Pope Leo’s net favorability score is +24 — the only positive score in the entire ranking. His appeal spans cultures and continents: He holds a net positive ima...

Echo report published in Aleteia  by Phillip Kosloski: Non-Catholics are welcome to receive ashes on their forehead during Ash Wednesday liturgies. A shes are a "sacramental". For Catholics, this often seen as an evangelization opportunity, as not all Christians use ashes on Ash Wednesday. At the same time, what's interesting is that receiving ashes is one tradition in the Roman and Eastern Catholic Churches that do not require any previous sacrament. In fact, someone who is not even baptized can receive ashes on Ash Wednesday.  Ashes are what's called a "sacramental" in the Catholic Church. Simply put, sacramentals are anything set apart or blessed by the Church for the purpose of sanctifying our lives and leading us to the sacraments. They are sacred signs and provide for us grace (spiritual help) through the intercession of the Church. Furthermore, the blessing over the individual who is receiving the ashes is very general: "Repent, and believe in th...

Minneapolis bishop encourages flock to be “instruments of peace”.  Rest in peace and God Bless Renee Good (died January 7, 2026) and Mr. Alex Jeffrey Pretti (died January 24, 2026), in Minneapolis. Aleteia link here:   The archbishop of Minneapolis-St. Paul released a statement as did the leader of the US bishops' conference.   Update: The statement from the US bishops' president was added to this article after original publication. Archbishop Bernard Hebda called everyone to "ask what we can do to restore the Lord’s peace" and insisted that everyone must see each other "as brothers and sisters created in the image and likeness of God." That is as true for our undocumented neighbors as it is for our elected officials and for the men and women who have the unenviable responsibility of enforcing our laws. They all need our humble prayers.  The archbishop noted times of Eucharistic Adoration as well as a Mass for the victim, Mr. Alex Pretti, R.N. (died January...

𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 In 2026, the Catholic Church is celebrating an extraordinary Franciscan Jubilee Year to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death (the Transitus * ) of Saint Francis of Assisi, who passed away on October 3, 1226. Saint Francis of Assisi, (b. 1181- d. 1216 AD) The Jubilee Year officially runs from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. It was established by decree of the Vatican's Apostolic Penitentiary at the request of Pope Leo XIV, following the conclusion of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025. The year focuses on spiritual renewal, peace, and evangelical poverty, inviting the faithful to follow Francis' example of living the Gospel "without evasion". For the first time in history, the mortal remains of Saint Francis will be publicly displayed for veneration from February 22 to March 26, 2026, at the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. A special plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful during this Jubilee Y...