8 March 2026 (Israel/Iran conflicts may spread)
Pope Leo XIV: "In addition to the episodes of violence and devastation as well as the widespread climate of hatred and fear, there is also the concern that the conflict will spread and that other countries in the region, including beloved Lebanon, may again sink back into instability."
In 2001, Paul Mann started the web site DRBO.ORG (Douay-Rheims Bible Online) to preserve that translation of the Bible after noticing that they were becoming hard to get. Unfortunately, he has gone blind in his right eye in 1992, and he more recently went approximately 80% blind in his left eye due to glaucoma. Given this, along with other health conditions, he was settled into a nursing home, but at a significant cost. If you would like to help him out with costs, a fundraiser was set up to cover medical costs. Prayers, and if possible, financial support, will be greatly appreciated by Mann, as well as many of us who benefit from the work he's done.
16 January 2026 (Immaculate Conception, Kenmore: mass schedule suspended)
The Immaculate Conception Parish in Kenmore has announced that its mass schedule has been suspended with the parish celebrating its last mass on January 11th (one day earlier).
The reasons for this suspension was cited in an article published by St. Francis de Sales Parish's pastor, Fr. Jeremy Merzweiler, that Immaculate Conception "has become overwhelmed by maintenance costs, declining offertory, insufficient savings, and a decreasing parish family. For over a century, the parish has been a vital presence in the Kenmore neighborhood, and in recent years, its former school and convent have hosted several necessary services to those mist in need in the community. Fortunately, those services will be able to continue as Catholic Charities will now be assuming control of those buildings while making plans to expand its services."