Lead by Example: Four Chaplains, selfless heroes of WWII, honored on 80th anniversary of their deaths

Lead by Example: Four Chaplains, selfless heroes of WWII, honored on 80th anniversary of their deaths

CNA, CBJ—“Most of us will never die a hero’s death… But all of us are called by the idea of faith, day in and day out, to give of ourselves,” said Newark Auxiliary Bishop Gregory J. Studerus, who presided over the Four Chaplains 80th Anniversary Mass at St. Stephen’s parish in Kearny, New Jersey, on…

Meet the ‘Lone Survivor’ priest and ‘Grunt Padre’ Author Now Head Chaplain of U.S. Coast Guard

Meet the ‘Lone Survivor’ priest and ‘Grunt Padre’ Author Now Head Chaplain of U.S. Coast Guard

CNA—Father Daniel Mode was the chaplain for the “Lone Survivor” SEAL team in Afghanistan and has authored a book about the famed “Grunt Padre,” Father Vincent Capodanno. Now there’s a new distinction on Mode’s impressive service record: Leading the chaplaincy efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, the first Catholic priest to hold that important role…

What is the FSSP?

What is the FSSP?

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP, which corresponds to the Latin Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri) is a clerical Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, canonically erected by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988. Their priests serve in apostolates across the world, with the faithful celebration of the traditional Mass and Sacraments (Extraordinary…

Dominican priest killed in Vietnam

Dominican priest killed in Vietnam

CNA—Fr. Giuse (Joseph) Trần Ngọc Thanh, O.P., was killed in a knife attack on Saturday, Jan. 29 at a mission of Dak Mot, about 40 miles northwest of Kon Tum. He was hearing confessions before the last Mass of the evening, according to Ordo Praedicatorum on Facebook.  The Diocese of Kon Tum said he was…

Heroic Catholic priest described as a ‘guardian angel’ in WWII is beatified

Heroic Catholic priest described as a ‘guardian angel’ in WWII is beatified

CNA, Catholic Business Journal—As Allied forces bombed the Nazi-occupied Italian city of Bologna in the fall of 1943, a 28-year-old Italian priest was seen digging through the rubble with a pickaxe desperately trying to rescue civilian survivors. “I remember Fr. Giovanni with the pickaxe in his hand working so hard as if he were digging…

“Your bishop wants to kill you!” : Willingly working in one of the most dangerous places in the world, One Priest Inspires Beyond Words

“Your bishop wants to kill you!” : Willingly working in one of the most dangerous places in the world, One Priest Inspires Beyond Words

“Your bishop wants to kill you” When priest friends of Fr. Innocent Sunu learned of the newly ordained priest’s first parish assignment in Madagali, Nigeria, they warned the new priest that his bishop was trying to kill him. But Fr. Innocent Sunu saw it differently. In fact this young priest waived his right to refuse…

Fr. Livinius Esomchi Nnamani: Priest with cancer dies 23 days after his hospital room ordination

Fr. Livinius Esomchi Nnamani: Priest with cancer dies 23 days after his hospital room ordination

CNA—Fr. Livinius Esomchi Nnamani, who was ordained to the priesthood in his hospital room on Holy Thursday with special permission from Pope Francis, has died of leukemia at the age of 31. The young priest’s funeral was held in Rome on April 26 (2021) at the parish of San Giovanni Leonardi. He had dedicated the…

Pope Francis Advances Saint Causes of Two Inspiring Priests–one a seasoned layman

Pope Francis Advances Saint Causes of Two Inspiring Priests–one a seasoned layman

Pope Francis advanced Tuesday the sainthood causes of several men and women, including two Italian priests of the 20th century — one who was ordained at age 23 and another who was ordained at 65, after a lay career and a lifetime of serving the poor. Venerable Fr. Mario Ciceri knew his vocation from a…

Father and Son: A very special Father’s Day!

Father and Son: A very special Father’s Day!

CNA—Edmond Ilg, 62, has been a father since the birth of his son in 1986.  But on June 21, he became a “father” in a whole new sense: Edmond was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark (New Jersey).  It was Father’s Day. Making the day even more special, it was Edmond’s son —…

More than 60 Italian priests have died after contracting coronavirus

More than 60 Italian priests have died after contracting coronavirus

CNA—In the past week alone, more than 3,000 people have died in Italy after contracting the coronavirus. Among the dead are at least 60 priests this month, according to local media reports. “I pray to the Holy Spirit to give us the gift of light and strength. Everyday I do the Via Crucis asking the…

Polish priest ordained after cancer diagnosis dies

Polish priest ordained after cancer diagnosis dies

CNA—A young Polish priest who was ordained last month following a terminal cancer diagnosis has died, his community announced Monday. Fr. Michal Los, FDP, died June 17 in the morning, the Congregation of the Orionine Fathers said in a Facebook post. “We believe that he met with the Risen Christ whom he so desperately wanted…

Vocations: 7 priests ordained in 7 years: What’s the ‘secret sauce’ at this Ohio parish?

Vocations: 7 priests ordained in 7 years: What’s the ‘secret sauce’ at this Ohio parish?

CNA—Starting in 2013, and every year since for the past seven years, one young man from the parish of St. Mary’s in Hudson, Ohio, has been ordained a priest of Jesus Christ for the Catholic Church. It’s a rarity in the Catholic Church in the United States to have that many priests coming from one…

Pope names new auxiliary bishop for Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Pope names new auxiliary bishop for Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Pope Francis today named Msgr. Alejandro “Alex” Aclan Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Holy Father has also named Auxiliary Bishop Joseph V. Brennan, for the San Fernando Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as Bishop of Fresno. The appointments were announced in Washington, D.C. at 3 a.m. PST by Archbishop…

Pope Francis: Church will focus on 8 points in ‘all-out battle’ against abuse of Minors

Pope Francis: Church will focus on 8 points in ‘all-out battle’ against abuse of Minors

Pope Francis Sunday outlined eight points that the Church will focus on in an “all-out battle” against the sexual abuse of minors to, he said, “turn this evil into an opportunity for purification.” “We need to recognize with humility and courage that we stand face to face with the mystery of evil, which strikes most…

Head of US bishops after Vatican abuse summit: ‘Intensify the Dallas Charter’

Head of US bishops after Vatican abuse summit: ‘Intensify the Dallas Charter’

CNA—Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has promised “unyielding vigilance” and an intensification of the Dallas Charter following the Vatican summit on the sexual abuse of minors. “We owe survivors an unyielding vigilance that we may never fail them again,” DiNardo said. “How then to bind the wounds? Intensify the…