St. Mary's Church

Esta semana, Mons. Gomez había instruido a las parroquias de toda la arquidiócesis que celebraran Misas especiales por la paz y la unidad, e invitó a los católicos y a todas las personas de buena voluntad a orar por la paz en medio de los disturbios

El Papa León XIV celebrará este domingo 15 de junio, la Misa por la Solemnidad de la Santísima Trinidad en el Vaticano.

La familia de Violeta Chamorro informó que la expresidenta de Nicaragua falleció este sábado 14 de junio, a los 95 años, en la ciudad de San José, capital de Costa Rica, tras una larga enfermedad

CNA Staff, Jun 14, 2025 / 15:16 pm (CNA).

Catholic leaders in Minnesota responded with prayers and calls for peace following what authorities said were the politically motivated shootings of state lawmakers that left two dead.

Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed early on Saturday in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also shot early on Saturday in their home in Champlin, with both reportedly expected to survive after surgery.

Authorities said they engaged the suspect at Hortman's home, but the alleged killer was able to escape on foot. Police reportedly discovered a list of possible additional targets in the suspect's car, including state Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar.

A manhunt for the killer was still underway on Saturday afternoon.

'We must do everything in our power to regain a sense of civility'

On Saturday, Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda in a statement called on "all people of goodwill to join me in prayer for the repose of the souls of Minnesota House Speaker-Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, along with prayers of recovery for Senator John Hoffman and his wife."

"I also ask you to pray for the members of law enforcement who are putting themselves at risk hunting down the person, or people, who inflicted this violence and terrorized communities," the archbishop said. "There is absolutely no reason for someone to commit such senseless violence on anyone, particularly those who are involved in public service."

Hebda described Hortman as "an honorable public servant" who met regularly with the Catholic bishops of the state.

"Although we disagreed on some issues, we worked collaboratively to find common ground on others in pursuit of the common good," he said.

Hoffman, meanwhile, "is always generous with his time, as well, meeting with the bishops whenever they are at the Capitol. He is a strong advocate for the most vulnerable, and Minnesota continues to need his leadership."

"At this time of fear and uncertainty, we need to rely even more on our loving God and that begins with prayer – both privately and communally," the archbishop said.

Also on Saturday, Jason Adkins, the executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, said he was "deeply saddened and angered" by the shootings and killings, describing Hortman as a collaborative lawmaker and Hoffman as "a champion of vulnerable people" and "a friend."

"Resorting to violence in public life is never acceptable and begets more violence," he said. "Unfortunately, we, as a society, have increasingly embraced violence as a means of solving problems because we have lost a sense of the dignity of every human person created in the image and likeness of God."

"Until we recover a deeper sense of our common humanity and fraternity, we will continue to see the collapse of both civic discourse and the ability of our political process to mediate conflict and achieve the common good," Adkins said.

In a statement on Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz said: “We are not a country that settles our differences at gunpoint."

"We have demonstrated again and again in our state that it is possible to peacefully disagree, that our state is strengthened by civil public debate. We must stand united against all forms of violence – and I call on everyone to join me in that commitment," he said.

Este sábado, León XIV se dirigió a los peregrinos del Jubileo del Deporte en una audiencia jubilar realizada en la Basílica de San Pedro, invitándolos a conectar “de forma más radical” el mundo de Dios con el nuestro, en el marco del Año Jubilar de la Esperanza

El Papa León XIV nombró al sacerdote Alfonso García López, sacerdote exorcista de la diócesis de Istmina-Tadó y nacido en el Chocó, nuevo Vicario Apostólico de Guapi en el Cauca. Es el segundo obispo afrodescendiente del país.

Durante su catequesis en la audiencia jubilar de este sábado, con motivo del Jubileo del Deporte, el Papa León XIV se refirió a la escalada de violencia entre Israel e Irán en los últimos días, haciendo un llamamiento “a la responsabilidad y a la razón”

El Papa León XIV presidió este sábado la audiencia jubilar con motivo del Jubileo de la Esperanza, al encontrarse en la Basílica de San Pedro con miles de atletas peregrinos que participan en el Jubileo del Deporte.

CNA Staff, Jun 14, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

A small home in Dolton, Illinois, was on the market for $199,000 until a former inhabitant of the house became the pope. Now the humble 1,050-square-foot home just south of Chicago could go for more than a million dollars.

The three-bedroom brick structure with a spacious backyard was home to Pope Leo XIV — then Robert Prevost — during the pontiff’s childhood. Now, 212 E. 141st Place has become a piece of papal history as the home of the first-ever American pope. 

A private auction for the home, which is being held online, will close bidding on June 18.

Pope Leo’s childhood home is marked by a rosary hanging on the red door as well as a crowd of visitors in the yard. The home is only a 15-minute walk from the parish that the pope attended, the former St. Mary of the Assumption, which has since fallen into disrepair. 

The Cape Cod-style home, built in 1949, sold in May 2024 for $66,000. Leo’s family had owned the home for about 40 years, from the year Leo was born in 1955 up to his time as a missionary in Peru in 1996.

Officer Latonya Ruffin, who has been stationed in front of the house to keep an eye on the property, said it’s “an honor to do this.” 

“It’s an honor just to be here,” Ruffin told “EWTN News In Depth” reporter Mark Irons. “People come out, and they love him. They love this man.”

Peter Kamish, a Catholic from Chicago visiting the pope’s childhood home, said that he is “proud” to know that the first American pope came from the city.  

“I’m very proud of it,” he said, expressing hope that “maybe, the pope will come to Chicago.”

The current owner of the property, a real estate investor not related to the pope, had initially listed the home for just under $200,000. But when the new pope was announced to the world, the owner and his real estate agent withdrew the property from its public listing. 

The owner’s agent, a realtor named Steve Budzik, said he believes the home will sell at a very high price point. 

“I’ve talked to a lot of people every time I’m at the property, and everybody has pretty much told me that they think it will sell for over a million dollars,” Budzik said.

But what will happen to the home of Pope Leo XIV after it is sold? 

The village of Dolton is interested in turning it into a historic site. According to Budzik, the Archdiocese of Chicago is working with the village as well. Dolton officials say they could acquire the property by eminent domain if auction negotiations fall through.

“I think making it a museum would be very nice for Dolton,” Ruffin said.

When asked if the Vatican was interested, Budzik’s reply was brief.

“No comment,” he said. 

In the same week that the auction will conclude — and the fate of Leo’s historic home will be decided — a celebration will kick off at Rate Field in Chicago to honor Pope Leo. 

At the event at the Chicago White Sox’s home stadium, Pope Leo, a lifelong White Sox fan, is set to deliver a “special video message” on June 14 to the world’s youth.

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 14, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The number of ordinations of permanent deacons in the United States has decreased by nearly 200 from 2023 to 2024, according to a recent survey.

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University published the survey results in its 2025 report “A Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate in 2024.” 

According to the report, 587 men were ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2023, but in 2024, the number fell to 393.

The report was created in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations.

The study surveyed ordained permanent deacons who intend to remain deacons, excluding transitional deacons (those who will be ordained to the priesthood).

Conducted from February to May 2025, the survey received responses from 138 archdioceses/dioceses and two archeparchies with bishops and eparchs that belong to the USCCB and maintain an active office of deacons.

The overall response rate was 76%, with a higher response rate among archdioceses/dioceses (78%) than archeparchies/eparchies (22%). 

“With the release of this survey, I ask for continued prayers for deacons and for an increase in vocations to the permanent diaconate within the United States,” said Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations.  

Estimated numbers of U.S. deacons 

Since the report did not have a 100% response rate, CARA cannot confirm the exact number of deacons, but it estimated that there were about 20,212 permanent deacons in the U.S. in 2024. This includes approximately 20,022 in the Latin rite and 189 in the Eastern rite. 

CARA estimated that about 11,503 permanent deacons were in active ministry in 2024. Including those that did not respond, it is estimated that there are a total of 13,864 active deacons.

During 2024, 393 permanent deacons were ordained, 545 deacons retired from active ministry, and another 361 deacons passed away. 

CARA reported that there “are not enough new permanent deacons being ordained to make up for the numbers who are retiring from active ministry and dying each year.”

Of the respondents, the Archdiocese of Chicago had the highest number of permanent deacons (848). The others with the largest numbers included the archdioceses of Atlanta (385), New York (369), San Antonio (361), and Galveston-Houston (316). 

The Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, had the lowest total number of permanent deacons in 2024 with 43. The others with the fewest deacons were the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky (77), the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota (63), the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota (94), and the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma (105). 

Characteristics of U.S. deacons

The report found that the large majority of active deacons are currently married (93%). A small number are widowers (4%), and even fewer have never been married (2%).

Almost all of the active deacons (96%) reported that they are at least 50 years old: 18% are in their 50s, 41% are in their 60s, and 38% are 70 or older.

Nearly all responding dioceses and eparchies (96%) have a minimum age of acceptance into permanent diaconate, which on average is 32 years old. Three in five (58%) have a mandatory age for retirement, which is 75 years old on average.

The study found that most active deacons are non-Hispanic and white (74%). The rest of the respondents reported to be Hispanic or Latino (20%), Asian or Pacific Islander (3%), or Black (2%). 

More than half (66%) of active permanent deacons have a college degree, 15% of whom also hold a graduate degree in a field related to religion or ministry. About 16% of the deacons had only a high school diploma or GED.

Among permanent deacons who are financially compensated for ministry, 10% are entrusted with the pastoral care of one or more parishes. About 24% work in other parish ministerial positions including religious education or youth ministry, and 18% work in non-ministerial parish positions such as administration, business, or finance.

Academic and post-ordination programs

Almost all of the responding dioceses and eparchies (98%) have a director of the diaconate or a person with a similar title to oversee the ministry — 43% of whom are employed full time.

Nine in 10 dioceses and eparchies (92%) have an active ministry formation program for their deacons. Of these, 27% offer a program in Spanish. Of those that do not have a formation program, 30% are planning to begin one in the next two years.

The majority of the responding dioceses and eparchies (90%) require deacons to take part in post-ordination formation, requiring a median of 20 hours annually. Specifically, 91% of Latin-rite dioceses require continued formation, but none of the Eastern-rite eparchies do.