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The Eucharist in Times Square: Procession With Father Mike Schmitz Draws Thousands on NYC Streets Priests, nuns, and laity participated in a massive Eucharistic Procession on the streets of New York City on Oct. 10, 2023. Approximately 5,000 Catholics attended the procession hosted by the Napa Institute for this year's Principled Entrepreneurship Conference. Father Mike Schmitz, the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Diocese of Duluth, opened the conference with a standing-room-only Mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Eucharistic procession and Benediction. In his homily, Father Mike said he initially did not want to lead a Eucharistic procession. His students at the University of Minnesota Duluth often ask if they can process with the Eucharist on campus, but he also says no. He fears the general public will not understand the Eucharist or know how to react when the procession passes by. "When I think of a Eucharistic procession, like no, I want them to know this is Jesus. I want them to understand. No, this is the love of God for you in the flesh," Father Mike explained. "This is the love of God who loves you to the point where even if you are his enemy, He's poured out his life for you. In fact, that's what scripture says." He said as Catholics who believe, we will notice Jesus in the Eucharist. However, he encourages the faithful to help the world understand Jesus' Eucharistic Presence. "What God has asked us to do tonight is what he asked Jonah to do," Father Mike said, referencing the Oct. 10 daily Mass readings. "'Go out there and take me [the Eucharist] with you. "Go out there to a world that doesn't notice me [Jesus]– that doesn't understand me [Jesus]--That doesn't accept me. Go out there and just take me [the Eucharist] with you." Father Mike then explained why he wants Jesus to "come in power and glory." "We will all know in that moment when God comes fully revealed and fully present. Everyone will notice. No one will miss him and no one will misunderstand His love," he said. "We will have either chosen to be his friends or we will have chosen to be his enemies." He then concluded his homily saying the procession was an "incredible opportunity" to be Jonah and Simon of Cyrene. "Let this procession be your choice to say, 'God, I want you to recognize me in Your Glory, so I'm going to cling to You.'" Following Mass, Father Mike led Benediction and the Eucharistic procession began from Saint Patrick's Cathedral. New York Auxiliary Bishop Edmund Whalen held the Eucharistic monstrance while priests, religious, and laity followed. Several priests and religious orders attended, including the Sisters for Life, the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, Dominican sisters, and clergy from both the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Napa Institute representative Grady Connolly told ChurchPOP that attendees said the Eucharistic procession "was one of the most moving experiences of their faith thus far. Many were moved to tears as we processed through Times Square during rush hour with a police escort." Video courtesy of Napa Institute
ChurchPOP746,445 次观看 • 2 年前

Pope Leo XIV fulfilled Barcelona’s dream: he blessed and inaugurated the Tower of Jesus Christ of the Sagrada Familia, making the iconic temple the tallest church in the world. Lights, music, and spectacular fireworks marked a historic night, coinciding with the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the “architect of God,” on his path to the altars.
ChurchPOP16,181 次观看 • 1 个月前

Pope Leo could not resist this photo op. At the Catholic University of Central Africa, he stopped in front of a new statue of St. Augustine—depicted in the shape of Africa and holding a book inscribed in Latin with “Tolle lege,” the words heard at his conversion. The Pope blessed the statue and, as seen on the EWTN livestream, carefully positioned himself so Vatican Media could capture the moment, before receiving a miniature version of the statue as a gift.
ChurchPOP32,841 次观看 • 2 个月前

This was one of the most joyful and electric welcomes Pope Leo has received in Africa. The city of Mongomo greeted him with a smoke-filled entrance worthy of a major sports final. The energy took him by surprise, and he felt it so strongly that he broke from the schedule to give an improvised speech to the crowd.
ChurchPOP24,116 次观看 • 2 个月前

Not a Fan of the Rosary? Fr. Mark-Mary's Advice for Those Who Struggle to Pray It "How do I pray with Our Lady?" "How do I lift my mind and heart to the Lord?" These are some of the questions Father Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, hopes he answers for listeners during his new "Rosary in a Year" podcast with Ascension. Father Mark-Mary sat down with ChurchPOP editor Jacqueline Burkepile for an exclusive interview about the graces he hopes flow from inspiring and guiding people in praying the rosary. The 15-minute daily podcast aired on Jan. 1, 2025, topping Apple's podcast charts during its first week of release. In the interview, Burkepile asked Father Mark-Mary how he plans to spread the podcast into a year, what it will consist of, the impact he hopes it makes on his listeners, and why he believes praying the rosary is important. He also explains why this podcast can relate to all viewers - those new to the rosary and those who have prayed it for years. Burkepile also asked Father Mark-Mary how he would respond to people who are "put off" by the rosary, and those who believe it's "too long," "boring," or they "don't have time." "Catholics, Christian– we are people of truth and people of objective truth. So it's important that we live in the fullness of truth. The fullness of the truth is that the rosary is devotional, which means that it is not obligatory," Father Mark-Mary begins. "We do have freedom with the rosary. That being said, it isn't just a devotion amongst devotions. We have the Liturgy ...we have to celebrate the Mass in the way in which it's given to us," he answers. "Within devotions and devotionals kind of through the last, more or less 800 years, which the rosary has become more popularized with, you know, Our Lady at Fatima with a number of the saints with John Paul II. "It really is, if you will, like the devotional par excellence. And there's a great genius to it," Father Mark-Mary continues. "It's been shown to be a huge tremendous source of grace for ourselves and the whole world." ✍️ Written by Jacqueline Burkepile Jacqueline Burkepile
ChurchPOP97,211 次观看 • 1 年前

This is so beautiful! Two Florida high school football teams and their cheerleaders held pre-game Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction in a beautiful video. John Carroll High School and St. John Paul II Academy joined together in prayer at John Carroll High School gym in Fort Pierce, Florida. Father Richard George, pastor of Saint Anastasia Catholic Church in Fort Pierce, Fla., led Adoration and Benediction. Virtue=Strength, a "Catholic program that helps schools and sports teams strengthen their Catholic identity through intentional virtue lessons and ceremony events," helped organize the event. Virtue=Strength's website explained that hosting Eucharistic Adoration before the football game "highlighted the beauty of Catholic identity and the importance of Christ in all areas of life, even athletics. The gathering served as a profound reminder of the faith that binds Catholic school communities and the ultimate goal of life—eternal union with God." "Ceremonies like this are vital in Catholic education," the website continued. "They provide students with tangible experiences of the faith’s depth and beauty, offering moments to encounter Christ in ways that resonate beyond the classroom. “It was a fantastic experience seeing hundreds of football players, cheerleaders, coaches, parents, and teachers coming together to adore our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament before a football game," Virtue=Strength Executive Director Lou Judd told ChurchPOP. "Working with the John Carroll staff and Father George to make this happen was such a joy. This is what Catholic athletics is all about. Growing in our faith, growing in virtue, striving to imitate the Saints. Hopefully, this spreads across the country.” What do you think of the video? ✍️ by Jacqueline Burkepile
ChurchPOP86,814 次观看 • 1 年前

After a near-death experience, Catholic actress, model, and television host Joelle Maryn hopes to inspire others in their God-given purpose through her new book, "Become the Fire." Maryn shared her incredible conversion story with ChurchPOP in 2023. She lost everything in a house fire when she was a young girl. She lost her sister and her home, and her parents never fully recovered from the grief. This loss broke her family and her spirit and eventually led to her departure from the Catholic Church. She spent 12 years away but returned to Catholicism after realizing the emptiness the world offers. She experienced a life-changing illumination of conscience during a photo shoot near the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles while wearing a $4000 dress. Since returning to the Catholic Church, she's spent her life dedicated to spreading the Gospel. She is deeply devoted to Our Lady, the rosary, and the Eucharist, and spreads the Gospel and love for the Church through her incredible story. In this new interview, Maryn tells Burkepile that her new book, "Become the Fire" is "about finding out what your purpose is, your mission, your gifts, your graces, and how God wants to use you and how he can even use the worst trial in your life to bring about a greater good." In the book, Maryn discusses the battles we encounter throughout life. "God has a plan for your life, but the enemy's plan is to keep you from God's plan," she says. "When you start to realize the fears, doubts, worries, anxieties in the way– they're blocking the blessings." Maryn also accentuates the importance of recognizing our identity as children of God. "Once you realize you are a child of God, you could say that all day, 'Oh, I'm a child of God.' But when you start walking like, 'I am a child of God. And if someone wants to mess with me, they got to mess with my Daddy!' "When you start walking in that kind of confidence, and you start surrendering your battles to the Lord, and you start forgiving your enemies and letting God handle it, you have freedom in your life," Maryn emphasizes. Maryn says, 'Become the Fire' will help you to "discern how God speaks to you, push past fear and find your purpose, and achieve your God-inspired dreams." "Become the Fire: Push Past Fear and Find Your Purpose" is available on Amazon. Check out the full interview on ChurchPOP's YouTube: Written by Jacqueline Burkepile Jacqueline Burkepile
ChurchPOP77,920 次观看 • 1 年前

Actor Shia LaBeouf Says He's in RCIA Preparing for Confirmation in the Catholic Church "I'm in RCIA. I'm scheduled to be confirmed in seven months and I hope Bishop [Robert] Barron comes down to confirm me. But we'll see. I'm in RCIA right now and once a week I get on the horn with Fr. Bobby and we talk shop." More:
ChurchPOP138,933 次观看 • 3 年前

Two priests responded with a Eucharistic blessing to the fear sparked by a wave of violence shaking Mexico after the death of drug lord Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” On Sunday, February 22, Father Ricardo López Díaz, from the Parish of the Holy Cross in El Salto (Jalisco), climbed to the highest part of his church’s bell tower and went live on Facebook; together with another priest (Father Pedro), they imparted a Eucharistic blessing over the entire region. Father Pedro went up to the rooftop with a beautiful monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament while they sang “Tú reinarás” (“You Shall Reign”). The priests gave the blessing by turning the monstrance toward the four cardinal points, and they especially entrusted Mexico to Our Lady of Guadalupe, praying: “Protect your children, bless them. In you we trust, Mary Most Holy. Protect your people. Holy Mary of Guadalupe, Queen of Mexico, preserve our faith and save our homeland.”
ChurchPOP23,794 次观看 • 4 个月前

As the Blessed Sacrament was brought forth after Corpus Christi Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Oregon, this marked the first time in decades that Portland authorities permitted a public Catholic procession to pass through the heart of downtown. Thousands of Catholics filled the city’s streets for the landmark Eucharistic procession led by Archbishop Alexander Sample. In his homily at the Mass preceding the procession, Archbishop Sample described the event as a pivotal moment for the local Church. “The Eucharist has to be at the forefront and center of evangelization and mission renewal. To see you all here today fills my heart with hope for the future,” he said. Noting the Pacific Northwest’s reputation for secularism, he added, “So many people see the Pacific Northwest as a center of darkness. I wish they could see this. I wish the Church across the United States could see this. I wish Pope Leo could see this. God is on the move here in Western Oregon. The Holy Spirit is igniting a fire, and you’re all part of that. I predict that today is a turning point for the renewal of Christ’s mission in Western Oregon.” The crowd’s size and diversity were striking: more than half of those present hailed from Latino, Asian, and African communities. Hymns rose in Latin, English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and other languages. Onlookers stopped to watch, many visibly moved; some knelt in prayer along the sidewalks, a powerful testament to the presence of faith in a city often labeled as secular or indifferent. Archbishop Sample was joined by over 20 priests, eight deacons, more than 100 altar servers and seminarians, 50 religious brothers and sisters, the Knights of Columbus, and the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher. The event concluded with solemn Benediction on the Cathedral steps and the surrounding blocks, which were filled with worshippers. Visibly moved, Archbishop Sample addressed the crowd, exclaiming, “¡Viva!”—to which more than a thousand Latino Catholics responded with a resounding, “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” On the other side of the continental United States, a procession was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., where Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the archbishop for the Military Services, USA, and the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, was the principal celebrant and homilist. Hundreds turned out and thousands watched online as the faithful, including EWTN intern Arty Cantu, witnessed the beauty of Christ alive in the national shrine. Cantu said: "Witnessing our Eucharistic Lord being processed at the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception reminded me that we are always on a pilgrimage to peace and hope. Seeing religious sisters, so many priests and laity gathered together affirmed that we are all on our own pilgrimage with our Lord as our peace to lead us to paradise. "
ChurchPOP47,841 次观看 • 1 年前

This is such a beautiful and important message! During the SEEK 2026 conference in Denver, Colo., ChurchPOP asked Sister Ines Sandoval, OCD, of the Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, if she had any wisdom to share with mothers. This came after a candid conversation among a group of moms outside a booth at the yearly FOCUS conference. As a spiritual mother herself, Sister Ines gifted us with a profound, much-needed message. “Mothers, first of all, I just want to tell you how beautiful you are,” she begins. “I want to thank you for your 'yes'…” Sister Ines continues her message of encouragement, saying, “I’m blessed to be a spiritual mother, but you and I—we walk this road together.” She explains that both the vocation of spiritual motherhood and that of physical motherhood require a whole-body and spiritual investment. Then, she adds a special message to mothers who might be questioning whether or not their work is valued or worthy. “I just want to remind you, yes,” she says. “Please, don’t give up, and thank you for claiming your spiritual motherhood and your authority as a daughter of the King.” What a powerful reminder! What do you think of Sister Ines Sandoval's encouraging words for mothers? You can find the full article here:
ChurchPOP13,077 次观看 • 6 个月前