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Opening of the new campus of Ave Maria University at Mount Melleray Abbey, Ireland

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Famous American Catholic university Ave Maria University has officially opened its Ireland campus at historic Mount Melleray Abbey in County Waterford. The opening Mass was celebrated by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore.Mount Melleray Abbey was a historic Cistercian (Trappist) monastery on the slopes of the Knockmealdown Mountains near Cappoquin, County Waterford. It was founded in 1833 as the first post-Reformation Cistercian house established in Ireland in the post-Reformation period. It has served as a major Trappist community for nearly 200 years.

It was officially closed as an active monastic community in early 2025. By the time it closed, the community was down to single figures, yet the facilities were still there in a beautiful, peaceful setting. Now, Ave Maria University will be using the famous monastery as a campus, keeping it open for Catholic purposes. Ave Maria University was founded by Tom Monaghan, who created Domino’s Pizza and his known for his Catholic philanthropic works.

The opening Mass was celebrated by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore.

Their main campus is Ave Maria, Florida.

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Delta and United Resume Nonstop New York–Tel Aviv Flights

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The situation in Israel has greatly improved. People are returning to the Holy Land, and US flights are as well! Delta resumed nonstop service from New York to Tel Aviv on September 6, and United resumed on September 8. 

Delta Air Lines restarted daily JFK–Tel Aviv service on September 6, 2026, while United Airlines began two daily Newark–Tel Aviv flights on September 8. This marks the first U.S. carrier flights to Tel Aviv in over six months since the March 2026 Iran war began.

Delta’s restart followed a security review and is its primary transatlantic gateway to Israel; other Delta Israel routes (e.g., Atlanta, Boston) remain suspended.  Delta Airlines will offer daily service from New York using the Airbus A330‑900neo (neo stands for “new engine Option”), offering Delta One®, Premium Select, Comfort, and Main Cabin. Delta’s first flight departed New York JFK on September 6, 2026, arriving in Tel Aviv the next morning; the return flight left TLV on September 7.

Delta flight #234 departs JFK at 3:40 p.m.(15:30) local time, arrives TLV at 9:25 a.m. (09:25) the following day,

The return flight leaves TLV departs 11:35 a.m. (11:35), arrives JFK 5:00 p.m. (17:00).

United’s Newark–Tel Aviv service had been suspended since March 2026 amid regional conflict; this restart is part of a broader U.S.–Israel service rebuild. Service resumed on September 8, 2026, with two daily flights from Newark Liberty International (EWR) to Tel Aviv using a Boeing 787-10, which seats 318 passengers.

Both airlines’ schedules are subject to security and operational conditions; check Delta.com or United.com for the latest updates.

Other airlines, including European carriers, are also planning Tel Aviv returns later in fall. Of course, El Al, Israel’s flag carrier, has continued service from JFK with no interruption.

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A New World Map introduced in September 2026

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OK, we admit it…..we’re not big fans of the U.N.  However, they do occasionally produce something that we can agree with.

On September 4, 2026, the United Nations voted to adopt a new world map. The Equal Earth projection shows continents’ and countries’ true relative sizes. It’s a far cry from the old map, the Mercator projection , which was created in the 16th century for maritime navigation. In contrast, the Mercator projection, developed in 1569 for navigation, preserves angles and shapes locally but dramatically enlarges regions near the poles

The old map is still used by many map programs; however, it distorts the size of land masses as you move away from the equator.

The Equal Earth projection is an equal-area map, meaning it maintains the proportional size of geographic regions.

The old map made Greenland look roughly the same size as Africa, when in reality Africa is 14 times larger. It made the State of Alaska look almost as large as Brazil, even though Brazil is almost five times the size of Alaska.

When planning your travels, maps are useful even if you are not doing the navigating….it’s still nice to see things in perspective.

You can see the new map here.

 

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Pope Leo XIV grants Jubilee Year dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Pope Leo XIV Grants Jubilee Year for Our Lady of Guadalupe from October 12, 2026 – October 12, 2027

Pope Leo XIV has declared a Guadalupan Jubilee Year to mark the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the new Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City and the transfer of the sacred image of the Virgin to the current shrine on October 12, 1976.

This year also coincides with the 131st anniversary of the pontifical coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop Primate of Mexico, announced the jubilee with “profound joy and gratitude” and invited the faithful to attend the solemn Mass marking the start of the jubilee on October 12 at noon at the Basilica. The Archdiocese of Mexico has scheduled a series of liturgical and cultural events in the days leading up to the opening, including Lauds, Masses, Vespers, a Rosary, concerts, and the opening of the Holy Door.

The primate archbishop encouraged Catholics to use this period for spiritual renewal and conversion under the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe, recalling her invitation: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?”.

During the jubilee, the faithful who visit the Basilica of Santa María de Guadalupe with devotion and a contrite spirit, participate in a liturgical act, or spend time in prayer there, may receive a plenary indulgence for themselves or apply it to the souls in Purgatory.

To obtain it, they must also fulfill the usual Church conditions:

Sacramental confession

Eucharistic Communion

Recitation of the Creed

or the 500th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego, with the next Guadalupan Jubilee planned for 2031

Beginning October 12, 2026 pilgrims traveling to The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City will be able to receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions.

The Jubilee will continue through October 2027.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for the Americas.

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Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic visit to France, September 25-28, 2026

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Scheduled from September 25 through September 29, the Holy Father will make an Apostolic visit to France. The schedule, as announced, will be:

Friday, September 25 
7:50 a.m. (07:00) Depart Rome Fiumicino Airport;

10:00 a.m (10:00) arrive Paris Orly Airport.
Welcome ceremony; meet with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. Meeting with authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps.

3:00 p.m. (15:00) Visit to UNESCO headquarters.

7:15 p.m. (17:15) Vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral with clergy and consecrated persons.

9:00 p.m. (21:00) Prayer vigil with young people at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Saturday, September 26
9:00 a.m. (09:00) Visit Maison Bakhita Centre for migrants and refugees.

10:15 a.m. (10:15) Audience with provincial synodal assembly, catechumens, and newly baptized at Catholic University of Paris.

3:00 p.m. (15:00) Mass at Place de la Concorde.

6:45 p.m. (18:45) Depart Paris Orly International Airport.

7:05 p.m. (19:05) Arrival at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées International Airport

7:40 p.m. (19:40) Prayer at the Grotto of the Apparitions at Massabielle.

Sunday, September 27 – Lourdes
9:00 a.m. (09:00) Meeting with French bishops at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

11:00 a.m. (11:00) Mass on the Shrine’s grounds.

3:30 p.m. (15:30) Meeting with staff and residents of Accueil Notre-Dame.

4:45 p.m. (16:45) Private meeting with Carmelite sisters.

9:00 p.m. (21:00) Holy Rosary and torchlight procession.

Monday, September 28– Metz
7:40 a.m. (07:40) Depart Lourdes; arrive Metz at 9:20 a.m.

10:00 a.m. (10:00) Interreligious meeting at the Robert Schuman Conference Centre.

11:00 a.m. (11:00) Conference on “To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity.”

4:00 p.m. (16:00) Mass at Cathedral of Saint Stephen (La Cathedrale de Saint Etienne).

6:30 p.m. (18:30) Farewell ceremony; return to Rome.

The visit includes private meetings with survivors of abuse, continuing Pope Leo’s commitment to healing and reconciliation. Events will emphasize migrant support, peace-building, and interfaith dialogue.

This visit will be a significant moment for French Catholics and the global Church, combining spiritual encounters, social outreach, and diplomatic engagement.

The journey will be covered live by Vatican Media, EWTN and other outlets.

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New Parish Named After Saint Matthew Ayariga in Arlington, Texas

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New Parish Named After Saint Matthew Ayariga in Arlington, Texas

We present this article courtesy of the North Texas Catholic:

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has announced the establishment of Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church in Arlington, Texas, as its newest parish — the first in the world dedicated to this patron saint Catholic Diocese of Fort WorthCatholic Diocese of Fort Worth.

The parish is a personal parish created to serve the growing Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas. Since 2007, this community has met weekly at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Arlington, celebrating Mass in the Twi language. The Diocese of Fort Worth and the Archdiocese of Kumasi in Ghana have collaborated, with Ghanaian priests providing pastoral care to shepherd the community Catholic Diocese of Fort WorthCatholic Diocese of Fort Worth.

Saint Matthew Ayariga was a Ghanaian migrant worker in Libya who, in early 2015, was abducted by ISIS alongside 20 Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians. Faced with the choice of renouncing his faith or being executed, he chose to remain steadfast.

When asked if he was a Christian, he reportedly replied, “Their God is my God”, affirming his solidarity with his fellow captives. He was beheaded on February 15, 2015, with his companions.

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria canonized Ayariga and the other 20 martyrs in 2015, and Pope Francis later recognized them as saints, adding them to the Roman Martyrology.

Bishop Michael F. Olson described the parish’s creation as a moment of grace, reflecting the universality and diversity of the Catholic Church. He emphasized that Ayariga’s martyrdom is a testament to the triumph of Christ, noting that the violence intended to extinguish the light of faith instead illuminated a path toward unity and remembrance.

The dedication Mass for Saint Matthew Ayariga Parish is scheduled for January 29, 2027, at 1400 South Cooper Street, Arlington, Texas. The church, located in a former Methodist church in south Arlington, is currently undergoing renovations to meet the worship needs of the Catholic community. Completion is scheduled for January 2027.

During the weekend of Jan. 29-31, 2027, Bishop Olson will celebrate three Masses to dedicate St. Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church. The Most Reverend Gabriel Anokye, the Archbishop of Kumasi, is expected to attend along with representatives of the Ghanaian community and dignitaries from Ghana, the United States, the State of Texas, the city of Arlington, and local communities.

St. Matthew Ayariga will be the 93rd parish in the Diocese of Fort Worth, which comprises 28 counties and 23,950 square miles in North Texas. It is the fifth parish established by Bishop Olson, who was ordained and installed as the bishop of Fort Worth on Jan. 29, 2014.

This parish will not only serve Ghanaian Catholics but will also welcome all members of the Catholic faithful, embodying the mission of the Church to be a community of faith, family, culture, devotion, and service.  It is located at 1400 South Cooper Street in Arlington, Texas.

 

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Archbishop challenges Catholics to walk to Shrine in Angola

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Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of Angola’s Archdiocese of Luanda has challenged Catholics to undertake a 81-mile (130-kilometer) pilgrimage on foot to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception of Muxima, describing the journey as an opportunity to unite physical sacrifice with faith, prayer and communion among Angolan families.

Archbishop Dias made the appeal Thursday, August 13, during a press conference at the Archbishop’s House in Luanda, where he officially presented the Archdiocese’s first organized walking pilgrimage to the historic shrine.

The pilgrimage is scheduled for September 4–5, 2026, and Archbishop Dias said he will personally participate in the initiative.

“Choosing to walk represents a concrete way of uniting physical effort with faith and with the intentions that pilgrims will take to Muxima,” the Agolan Catholic Archbishop said.

He described the decision to walk as an expression of faith and sacrifice, saying pilgrims would be able to associate their physical effort with their prayers and intentions before God.

“There are other pilgrimages that we have organized in recent years. We go in caravans, buses, cars, etc., but on foot, this is the first,” he said.

Archbishop Dias said pilgrimages to Muxima date back to the 17th century, when Catholics travelled individually, as families or in small groups to the shrine.

“Not organized as they are today, but people would leave individually, as families, with a neighbour, with another neighbour, to Muxima,” he recalled.  The Catholic Archbishop said the initiative differs from previous pilgrimages to Muxima because it seeks to bring Catholics together along the same route and revive an ancient tradition of walking to places of spiritual significance.

He described the shrine as a place with a long history and a deep connection with the Catholic faithful of Angola.

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Midland, Texas: Traditional Latin Mass added

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Beginning Sunday, August 30, Saint Ann’s Catholic Church in Midland, TX, will become the home to a monthly Traditional Latin Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Missal.

This Mass will be offered on the last Sunday of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the Holy Family Chapel at St. Ann’s Church.

It’s their hope that this time will enable people from West Texas (Lubbock, Amarillo, and El Paso) and Southeastern New Mexico (Las Cruces) to join them for this celebration. This is just a beginning as the diocese discerns a path forward to provide for their people.

Other priests of the diocese will be learning the Traditional Latin Mass in the weeks and months ahead.

The weekly Traditional Latin Mass at St. Margaret’s Church in San Angelo will remain unchanged.

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November, 2026 Pope Leo Apostolic visit to Argentina, Peru and Uruguay,

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Pope Leo XIV is expected to make his first South American Apostolic Visit November 5-15, 2026, traveling to Argentina, Peru and Uruguay. Pope Leo XIV’s visit is particularly symbolic because he is U.S.-born and Peruvian-naturalized, having served as a missionary and bishop in Peru, emphasizing his connection to Latin America and the Church’s peripheries. The visit aims to strengthen ties with local communities, celebrate religious heritage, and highlight social initiatives.

The official itinerary has yet to be confirmed by the Holy See, but the rough outline is as follows:

Argentina

According to the CIA World Fact book (July 2014), 92% of the country are nominally Catholic, but less than 20% practice their faith regularly (i.e., attend weekly Mass). Later studies in 2019 suggest that between 62.9% and 63.3% of Argentinians are Catholic.

Pope Leo’s visit will possibly include Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Luján, and Santiago del Estero,

Peru

As of the latest estimates, about 76% of Peruvians identify as Catholic, although this number has been declining over the decades—from 98.5% in 1940 to 76% in 2017. The Catholic Church in Peru plays a vital role in social and political life, influencing laws and moral issues. The Church operates numerous schools, hospitals, and charitable organizations, maintaining a significant presence in the community.

The Pope is expected to visit Lima, Chiclayo, Piura, Pucallpa, and Cusco.

Uruguay

Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Uruguay marks the first papal visit to the country in nearly four decades, following John Paul II’s visits in 1987 and 1988. According to the latest official estimates, Uruguay’s population is about 3.38 million people, far smaller than the populations of its neighbors, such as Brazil (over 216 million) and Argentina (about 46 million). Uruguay is one of Latin America’s most secular countries, with only 6–8% of the population regularly practicing Catholicism. Despite this, papal visits historically attract broad public participation and carry cultural and national significance.  The visit is anticipated to be a historic and unifying event for Uruguay, drawing attention beyond the Catholic community and reinforcing the Pope’s message of hope, unity, and closeness to local populations.

The Pope is expected to visit several key locations in Uruguay:

Florida: Home to the National Shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, patroness of Uruguay, where a major religious celebration is anticipated, possibly on November 8. 

Montevideo: The capital city will be a principal stop, including visits to social programs in the Casavalle area, highlighting the Church’s charitable work.

Cities such as Paysandú are under consideration for additional stops, though final decisions depend on logistical and security factors.

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Why is Poland such a hot destination?

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No, we’re not talking about the temperature…..summer is relatively mild: August temps in Krakow average high 76F, low 58F (24c high to 14c low).

What we are talking about is the fact that Poland has surged in popularity in 2026. It is recording record-breaking visitor numbers, thanks to a strong value-for-money, and a mix of cultural, natural, and seasonal appeal. Poland attracted over 21 million international tourists in 2025, the first time that figure has been exceeded, and total accommodation stays rose 11% year-on-year.  This year is shaping up to be even better.

This growth has made it one of Europe’s fastest-growing tourism markets, ranking second only to Malta in EU growth rate. Hotels are seeing a quarter of all guests as foreign tourists, with Germans, Britons, and Czechs leading arrivals. Travelers are increasingly choosing Poland over crowded southern European destinations because of cooler summer temperatures, lower costs, and easy access to lakes, mountains, and Baltic beaches. Poland’s medieval cities like Kraków and Warsaw, UNESCO-listed Old Towns, vibrant markets, and rich cuisine are major draws.

And, with its rich Catholic history, Poland offers many sites that will make your trip memorable, so check out these locations.

When winter comes, you will find major draws in Christmas markets, festive traditions, and seasonal foods like pierogi and makowiec.

Airline networks have expanded, making it easier to reach Poland from across Europe and Asia. This has reduced reliance on traditional travel corridors and brought in more visitors from Western and Southern Europe, North America and even Asia.

Poland offers a blend of history, nature, and modern culture—from alpine air in Zakopane to the sea breeze of Gdańsk—while still being budget-friendly. It’s also popular for short breaks, multi-stop itineraries, and group travel.

In short, Poland’s combination of affordable prices, diverse attractions, improved infrastructure, and seasonal appeal has made it one of Europe’s most sought-after destinations in 2026.