Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror Directed by Hiroshi Nagahama & Yuji Moriyama (Adult Swim, 2024) It only took five years in development, but the anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s seminal horror manga series Uzumaki has finally arrived. Unfortunately, the final product has been (justly) met with disappointment from fans for its shaky pacing and frequently phoned-in […]

The post ‘Uzumaki’ taps into the uncanny side of enchantment appeared first on U.S. Catholic.

WASHINGTON - Catholics nationwide are invited to pray “9 Days for Life,” an annual Respect Life novena starting Thursday, January 16.

In the Catholic Church, a ‘novena’ consists of prayers over nine successive days, and this particular novena is an opportunity for prayer and penance in observance of the annual Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on January 22.

All are invited to sign up! Participants may access the novena or subscribe to receive the daily prayers by email or text message in English at 9daysforlife.com or in Spanish at respectlife.org/9-dias-por-la-vida. 

Sponsored by the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the novena began in 2013 in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade—the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal throughout the United States. While the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization returned the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives at federal and state levels, continuing efforts are needed to protect children and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion. This is the thirteenth year the novena is taking place. Since the novena began, it has reached hundreds of thousands of people in over one hundred countries spanning six continents.

The overarching intention of the novena is the end to abortion. Each daily prayer intention highlights a related topic and is accompanied by a reflection, educational information, and suggested daily actions. A resource kit is available, featuring the daily prayer intentions and reflections, among other materials that are available in both English and Spanish. A press kit is also available.

For additional information and updates throughout the novena, please visit the USCCB’s social media pages on X, Facebook, Threads, and Instagram.

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“Why is this day so important? Clearly, it is more than just a fancy white gown and a party.” Almost every year on the upcoming feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Pope Francis encourages Christians to celebrate the day of their baptism: “The celebration of Jesus’ baptism invites every Christian to remember his or […]

The post Celebrate Your Baptism appeared first on Integrated Catholic Life™.

The consensus seems to be that today’s students are less capable than in the past. On the surface, this appears to be true. Rose Horowitch, in a deeply reported piece for The Atlantic, discussed how college students at elite institutions are no longer prepared to read books. Likewise, Carley Suthers, for Buzzfeed, collected online comments […]

Pope Francis, in accordance with an ancient tradition, proclaimed 2025 a Jubilee Year with the central theme of hope. He qualifies hope saying, “This hope has nothing to do with mere ‘human’ optimism or the ephemeral expectation of some earthly benefit.” He calls on us all to be “pilgrims of hope.” Certainly, seriously ill people and […]

At the Nativity, we celebrated Jesus’ birth in flesh and blood.  Today, we celebrate a second “birth”—His and ours. Gospel (Read Lk 3:15-16, 21-22) St. Luke tells us that John the Baptist raised many Messianic expectations when he preached a baptism of repentance at the Jordan River.  Because of an Old Testament prophecy in the […]

St. William of Bourges was born around 1155 near Nevers, France. He felt drawn to a life of prayer and service early on, eventually joining a religious community where he deepened his commitment to simplicity and charity. Later, he was appointed Archbishop of Bourges in 1200, dedicating himself to helping the poor, enforcing Church discipline, […]

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 9, 2025 / 18:20 pm (CNA).

U.S. President Joe Biden praised former President Jimmy Carter’s character and referred to him as a “good and faithful servant of God” in his eulogy of the country’s 39th president during a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, Jan. 9. 

“The man had character,” Biden said during the service, which was attended by every living former U.S. president, numerous lawmakers, six Supreme Court justices, several celebrities, and Carter’s family. 

“Jimmy held a deep Christian faith in God,” Biden said. “Faith founded on commandments of Scripture: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy mind and all thy soul and love thy neighbor as thyself. Easy to say, but very, very difficult to do.”

Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president, was one of several people to eulogize Carter, a lifelong Baptist. Various speakers referenced Carter’s legacy both in and out of public office, his peace and humanitarian efforts, and his faith in Christ.

Three of Carter’s grandchildren spoke at the service, as did Steven Ford, the son of former President Gerald Ford; and Ted Mondale, the son of former Vice President Walter Mondale, who both read eulogies drafted by their fathers, both of whom died before Carter.

Biden, who was one of the first elected officials outside of Georgia to endorse Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, said that endorsement was based on “Jimmy Carter’s enduring attribute: character, character, character.”

“Through it all, he showed us how character and faith start with ourselves and then flow to others,” Biden said. “At our best, we share the better parts of ourselves: joy, solidarity, love, commitment. Not for reward, but in reverence to the incredible gift of life we’ve all been granted to make every minute of our time here on Earth count. That’s the definition of a good life — the life Jimmy Carter lived in his 100 years.”

'Imagine' seen as incoherent

The service included Christian hymns such as “Amazing Grace,” “Be Still My Soul,” and “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” The service also included the song “Imagine” by John Lennon, which is not a Christian song but rather includes the lyrics “imagine there’s no heaven” and “no religion too.” 

Although Carter had spoken positively of the song during his lifetime, to many observers, such as Bishop Robert Barron, the selection struck a discordant note.

“Vested ministers sat patiently while a hymn to atheistic humanism was sung,” Barron said in a post on X. “This was not only an insult to the memory of a devoutly believing Christian but also an indicator of the spinelessness of too much of established religion in our country.”

Carter’s grandson, James Carter, offered the Gospel reading from Matthew 5:1-16, which includes the Beatitudes.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” he read in part. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. … Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

One of Carter’s other grandsons, Josh Carter, read verses from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, which he said was the bedrock of his grandfather’s faith. 

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law has set me free from the law of sin and death,” he read from Romans 8:1-18. “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin and sinful man in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature, but according to the spirit.”

As a national figure, President Carter was known for speaking often about his Christian faith and spent much of his life engaged in humanitarian work. However, he also supported legal abortion and later in life expressed his support for homosexual marriage.

Family, friends remember Carter’s legacy and faith

In addition to reading from Romans, grandson Josh Carter spoke at length about his grandfather’s many decades of humanitarian work and teaching Sunday school, which he described as a central part of his life.

“My grandfather spent the entire time I’ve known him helping those in need,” Josh Carter said. “He built houses for people in need of homes. He eliminated diseases in forgotten places. He waged peace anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance. He loved people. And whenever he told these stories in Sunday school, he always said he did it for one simple reason: He worshipped the Prince of Peace.”

Steven Ford, the son of former President Gerald Ford, read the eulogy for Carter that his father wrote before his own death. Carter defeated Ford in the 1976 election and the eulogy noted the formerly fierce competition between the two but also “one of my deepest and most enduring friendships.”

“It was because of our shared values that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries, even before we cherished one another as dear friends,” the eulogy read. “... Jimmy learned early on that it was not enough merely to bear witness in a pew on a Sunday morning. Inspired by his faith, he pursued brotherhood across boundaries of nationhood, across boundaries of tradition, across boundaries of caste. In America’s urban neighborhoods and in rural villages around the world, he reminded us that Christ had been a carpenter.” 

Ted Mondale, the son of former Vice President Walter Mondale who served under Carter, also read his father’s eulogy, which focused on the 39th president’s Christian faith and his support for human rights globally. 

“Carter was a devout Christian who grew up in a small town and was active in his faith for almost every moment of his life,” the eulogy read. “I was also a small-town kid who grew up in a Methodist church where my dad was the preacher and our faith was core to me, as Carter’s faith was core to him. That common commitment to our faith created a bond between us that allowed us to understand each other and find ways to work together.”

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 9, 2025 / 18:20 pm (CNA).

U.S. President Joe Biden praised former President Jimmy Carter’s character and referred to him as a “good and faithful servant of God” in his eulogy of the country’s 39th president during a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, Jan. 9. 

“The man had character,” Biden said during the service, which was attended by every living former U.S. president, numerous lawmakers, six Supreme Court justices, several celebrities, and Carter’s family. 

“Jimmy held a deep Christian faith in God,” Biden said. “Faith founded on commandments of Scripture: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy mind and all thy soul and love thy neighbor as thyself. Easy to say, but very, very difficult to do.”

Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president, was one of several people to eulogize Carter, a lifelong Baptist. Various speakers referenced Carter’s legacy both in and out of public office, his peace and humanitarian efforts, and his faith in Christ.

Three of Carter’s grandchildren spoke at the service, as did Steven Ford, the son of former President Gerald Ford; and Ted Mondale, the son of former Vice President Walter Mondale, who both read eulogies drafted by their fathers, both of whom died before Carter.

Biden, who was one of the first elected officials outside of Georgia to endorse Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, said that endorsement was based on “Jimmy Carter’s enduring attribute: character, character, character.”

“Through it all, he showed us how character and faith start with ourselves and then flow to others,” Biden said. “At our best, we share the better parts of ourselves: joy, solidarity, love, commitment. Not for reward, but in reverence to the incredible gift of life we’ve all been granted to make every minute of our time here on Earth count. That’s the definition of a good life — the life Jimmy Carter lived in his 100 years.”

'Imagine' seen as incoherent

The service included Christian hymns such as “Amazing Grace,” “Be Still My Soul,” and “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” The service also included the song “Imagine” by John Lennon, which is not a Christian song but rather includes the lyrics “imagine there’s no heaven” and “no religion too.” 

Although Carter had spoken positively of the song during his lifetime, to many observers, such as Bishop Robert Barron, the selection struck a discordant note.

“Vested ministers sat patiently while a hymn to atheistic humanism was sung,” Barron said in a post on X. “This was not only an insult to the memory of a devoutly believing Christian but also an indicator of the spinelessness of too much of established religion in our country.”

Carter’s grandson, James Carter, offered the Gospel reading from Matthew 5:1-16, which includes the Beatitudes.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” he read in part. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. … Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

One of Carter’s other grandsons, Josh Carter, read verses from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, which he said was the bedrock of his grandfather’s faith. 

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law has set me free from the law of sin and death,” he read from Romans 8:1-18. “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin and sinful man in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature, but according to the spirit.”

As a national figure, President Carter was known for speaking often about his Christian faith and spent much of his life engaged in humanitarian work. However, he also supported legal abortion and later in life expressed his support for homosexual marriage.

Family, friends remember Carter’s legacy and faith

In addition to reading from Romans, grandson Josh Carter spoke at length about his grandfather’s many decades of humanitarian work and teaching Sunday school, which he described as a central part of his life.

“My grandfather spent the entire time I’ve known him helping those in need,” Josh Carter said. “He built houses for people in need of homes. He eliminated diseases in forgotten places. He waged peace anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance. He loved people. And whenever he told these stories in Sunday school, he always said he did it for one simple reason: He worshipped the Prince of Peace.”

Steven Ford, the son of former President Gerald Ford, read the eulogy for Carter that his father wrote before his own death. Carter defeated Ford in the 1976 election and the eulogy noted the formerly fierce competition between the two but also “one of my deepest and most enduring friendships.”

“It was because of our shared values that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries, even before we cherished one another as dear friends,” the eulogy read. “... Jimmy learned early on that it was not enough merely to bear witness in a pew on a Sunday morning. Inspired by his faith, he pursued brotherhood across boundaries of nationhood, across boundaries of tradition, across boundaries of caste. In America’s urban neighborhoods and in rural villages around the world, he reminded us that Christ had been a carpenter.” 

Ted Mondale, the son of former Vice President Walter Mondale who served under Carter, also read his father’s eulogy, which focused on the 39th president’s Christian faith and his support for human rights globally. 

“Carter was a devout Christian who grew up in a small town and was active in his faith for almost every moment of his life,” the eulogy read. “I was also a small-town kid who grew up in a Methodist church where my dad was the preacher and our faith was core to me, as Carter’s faith was core to him. That common commitment to our faith created a bond between us that allowed us to understand each other and find ways to work together.”

Beirut, Lebanon, Jan 9, 2025 / 18:00 pm (CNA).

Jan. 9, 2025 has become a historic date for the Lebanese people as a presidential vacancy that lasted over two years has come to an end.

With a divided Christian majority, Lebanon has elected a new Maronite president — Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun. 

In a parliamentary session that remained uncertain until the last minute, the Lebanese Parliament, which meets in Beirut’s Nejmeh Square, voted and Aoun was elected in the second round of elections, with 99 out of 128 votes. He is the 14th president of the Republic of Lebanon.

The election followed on the heels of numerous Arab and international initiatives to end the vacancy, which was prolonged by the country’s crises, paralyzing its institutions.

The tumultuous parliamentary session began with objections raised by some who called the potential election of Aoun a “constitutional violation” due to his status as a Category One civil servant. Any amendment to this status typically requires the approval of an existing president. 

The first round of voting failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority, prompting a two-hour recess to allow for further deliberations before a second round was held. This round resulted in the election of the new president, with high-profile Arab and international figures — including the Vatican ambassador to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia — witnessing the event.

Aoun secured the support of the largest Christian bloc in Parliament — the “Strong Republic Bloc” affiliated with the Lebanese Forces Party — and its Christian allies in the opposition, including the Kataeb Party and independents. 

However, the new president did not win the votes of the second-largest Christian bloc, the “Strong Lebanon Bloc,” which is affiliated with the Free Patriotic Movement, Hezbollah’s ally, and whose members objected to his candidacy on constitutional grounds.

Inaugural speech and oath

Minutes after his victory, the new president arrived at Parliament to deliver his inaugural speech and take the constitutional oath.

In his address, Aoun declared: “Lebanon, an ages-old nation, has endured wars, bombings, greed, and mismanagement.”

He emphasized the need to reform Lebanon’s political conduct, asserting: “We are in a governance crisis that demands a change in our political behavior.”

He concluded with a promise: “My pledge to the Lebanese people today is to usher in a new chapter in Lebanon’s history.”

A familiar name in Lebanese politics

Aoun is no stranger to Lebanon’s political scene, nor is his name unfamiliar domestically or internationally. 

Since serious efforts began to end the presidential vacancy, the army commander emerged as a leading candidate to succeed another former army commander and prominent figure, Gen. Michel Aoun.

The Lebanese Army and its commander enjoy widespread respect and admiration, particularly among the Christian community. Nearly every household across the country has at least one family member serving in the military, underscoring the institution’s national significance.

Bkerke’s calls bear fruit

While Christian divisions dominated the presidential scene, the Maronite Church, headquartered at Bkerke, the episcopal see of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch of the Maronite Church, had a different perspective. 

From the moment the vacancy began, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi consistently called for the election of a new president, urging Parliament to convene and uphold the constitution. Al-Rahi firmly rejected any tampering with the nation’s highest Christian post. While he refrained from explicitly endorsing any specific candidate, there was no opposition to Aoun’s candidacy.

The primary concern was the need to elect a president who could safeguard Lebanon’s sovereignty and address domestic and regional challenges with wisdom, peace, and objective solutions — as the patriarch stressed in his Epiphany homily earlier this week.

Celebrations in his hometown

As soon as Aoun’s election was announced, celebrations began in Aishieh, his hometown in southern Lebanon’s Jezzine District. A large screen was set up inside the town’s Church of Our Lady for residents to follow the election session live. Streets and public squares were adorned with pictures of the new president, accompanied by expressions of pride and congratulations.

The joyous atmosphere comes after months of anxiety for Aishieh, which lies near the border and is adjacent to Shiite villages affected by the Hezbollah-Israel conflict. Many viewed Aoun’s rise to the presidency as a gift and a form of justice for the Christians of southern Lebanon, who have endured decades of war, displacement, and destruction, marked by persistent fear and hardship.

Who is Lebanon’s new president?

Aoun has become the 14th president in Lebanon’s history since the country’s independence in 1943. Born in the southern town of Aishieh in 1964, he joined the army as a cadet officer in 1983 and graduated from the Military Academy. After promotions, he was appointed army commander on March 8, 2017.

Shortly after assuming military leadership, Aoun faced one of the toughest challenges of his career: leading the army in fierce battles against terrorist groups in the mountainous regions of Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border. His decisive actions resulted in one of the most significant victories in his military career.

This article was originally published by ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted for CNA.