The death toll is rising in the devastating flooding in Kentucky – 30 people are dead including at least four children.
On the way home from a grueling five-day papal trip to Canada, Pope Francis talked about slowing down.
A wedding anniversary Mass is being celebrated in the Diocese of Brooklyn by Bishop Robert Brennan.
Currents News Staff
Pope Francis told reporters on his return flight from a lengthy 6-day trip to Canada that his ongoing health troubles, including osteoarthritis of the knee, could force him to slow down, at least in terms of international travel.
To discuss Pope Francis’ health and what he had to say on the papal plane to journalists is Crux’s Rome Bureau Chief, Inés San Martín.
Currents News Staff
Hundreds of people vanished because of unprecedented flooding in Kentucky. It has left families without answers. While the search and rescue efforts are still underway, the outlook is grim.
“With the level of water, we’re going to be finding bodies for weeks,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
Dozens of lives were lost and more could follow. Among the dead are four young siblings. The whole family clung to a tree for safety, but the rushing waters proved too strong. Their bodies were found the next day.
“I even drove by and got out at the site where those four kids were swept away,” said Governor Andy. “I’ve had to do a lot of things that were hard as governor, that was certainly one of the hardest.”
The destruction is everywhere and the governor predicted there could be hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Residents like Randy Polly are begging for help.
“We need so much help here, it is unbelievable,” said Randy. “We’re five days in this. There’s no internet, there’s no power and a lot of places have said we won’t have water for months.”
Currents News Staff
In the southeastern region of Kentucky, homes, offices and communities have been destroyed. Power and electricity is out and roads are impassable. The governor called it “one of the worst, most devastating flooding events” in the state’s history. The Catholic Church and other faith-based organizations are pledging to help for the long-term.
Joining Currents News to talk about how the Church is helping in the relief efforts is Edward Bauer, Director of Communications, for the Diocese of Lexington.
To Donate to Catholic Charities: go to catholiccharitieslexington.org, on the “Donate Now” tab and designate contributions for disasters.
Reverend Alonzo Cox’s Homily from Monday’s Mass on 8/01/22
Pope Francis is wrapping up his trip to Canada.
The death toll continues to climb in Kentucky after heavy rains caused flash flooding.
New York City is expanding the times speed cameras will be in use.
Currents News Staff
A week-long papal trip has been filled with many events, especially on the pontiff’s final days in Canada. After leaving Quebec, Pope Francis went further north than he has ever been to a small town called Iqaluit.
Joining Currents News to discuss the conclusion of the trip is John Allen, editor of Crux.
Currents News Staff
“I am now returning home greatly enriched. I bear in my heart the incomparable treasure of all those individuals and peoples who have left a mark on me,” Pope Francis said.
Tears running down the faces of attendees as the Holy Father described to 22 Indigenous delegations Friday just what his trip to Canada has meant to him. Pope Francis long called this a “penitential pilgrimage”
Monday began the path of healing for Indigenous school survivors when he finally apologized on Canadian soil.
“I am here because the first step of my penitential pilgrimage among you is that of again asking forgiveness and telling you once more that I am deeply sorry,” Pope Francis said.
On Tuesday, the Holy Father went to a Canadian site known for its miraculous healings – Lac St. Anne. The Holy Father blessed the lake following the Indigenous customs and making the sign of the cross in the direction of the four cardinal points. Then, he blessed those lakeside.
On Thursday, Pope Francis was greeted with cheers as he made his way to the National Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre for Mass. Thousands converged on one of the oldest and most popular pilgrimage sites in North America to see the pope. Those who couldn’t get a seat inside watched on big screens outside as the Holy Father continued what he called a journey from failure to hope.
“Let us believe that jesus draws near to us on our journey,” the pontiff said. “Let us go out to meet him. let us allow his word to interpret the history we are making as individuals and as a community, and show us the way to healing and reconciliation.”
Now as the Holy Father heads back to Rome, he holds in his heart the memories of a trip that he says will forever stay with him.
“I can truly say that while i came to be with you, it was your life and experiences, the indigenous realities of these lands, that have touched my soul,” Pope Francis said, “remain with me and will always be a part of me.”
Currents News Staff
Catholic bishops around the nation this week are paying special attention to marital love and the creation of life! It’s Natural Family Planning Week.
It’s a time to raise awareness about the scientific, natural and moral methods that can help married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancy. The Church condemns the use of unnatural birth control like the pill based upon a stance that dates back to 1968 when Pope St. Paul VI wrote the encyclical “Humanae Vitae.”
The papal paper taught about God’s plan for marriage and the transmission of life, saying “every marital act must of necessity retain its intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life.”
This week marks the anniversary of the release of that papal paper. Many are using this week to promote infertility awareness, in an effort to help those who are struggling to realize that they are not alone.
To learn more, just go to usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning
Pope Francis held Mass at the National Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Canada this morning.
The Church is celebrating “Natural Family Planning Awareness Week.”
New York City has a new plan to fight the rat problem plaguing the Big Apple.