Just over one-third (35%) of the total number of dioceses in the United States are considered “home mission dioceses.” They are often in rural areas with small Catholic populations or are in communities that struggle economically and cannot provide basic pastoral services such as Mass, the sacraments, religious education, and ministry training for priests, deacons and lay people without outside help. This year, $8.1 million in grants is supporting essential diocesan and parish ministries.

When he was a military chaplain in Iraq, Bishop Zielinski encountered Chaldean Catholics who would later flee to the United States as refugees to escape terrorism. The Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, based in Michigan, has 23 priests for 30 states with 189,000 parishioners — many recent refugees from Iraq. Catholic Home Missions supports a radio ministry that offers spiritual support and evangelization in English, Syriac Aramaic and Arabic. The eparchy also provides marriage preparation, which includes counseling for couples who have suffered trauma from terrorism and refugee experiences.

“Right here in the United States, we have dioceses that need help providing pastoral care. Whether it is assistance to Chaldean Catholic refugees, supporting the ministry of catechists in rural dioceses, offering help to pregnant women in need, or guiding victims of domestic violence to proper counseling and support, the support offered to home mission dioceses epitomize the love of Christ,” said Bishop Zielinski.

Youth ministry is important for any diocese. But in dioceses with fewer than 31,000 Catholics such as the Diocese of Baker, Oregon, it is a priority. The diocese is located in a region larger in area than Florida, and a grant through the Catholic Home Missions Appeal helps to send teens on mission trips, retreats and for discipleship training. In the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia, where Catholics are so few that it’s hard to organize a youth group, a home missions grant assisted 12 teens and young adults to attend World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal in 2023.

“They returned on fire for the Lord, becoming leaders of Catholic ministry in their parishes and on college campuses,” Bishop Zielinski said. “Catholics in home mission dioceses are profoundly grateful for the assistance that other Catholics offer. Whatever our difficulties, most of us are blessed with the means to share with sisters and brothers whose need is greater than our own.”

Many dioceses will take the Catholic Home Missions Appeal on the weekend of April 26-27, though some have different dates. Those who wish to support the appeal with an online contribution can donate at #iGiveCatholicTogether.

For more information on the Catholic Home Missions Appeal see: https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-home-missions.

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The following is the statement:

From its very founding, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been concerned with helping families who are fleeing war, violence, and oppression find safe and secure homes. What would eventually become the USCCB was founded in 1917 as the National Catholic War Council to support the war effort and care for Catholics in the military. In 1920, it established a Bureau of Immigration to help displaced families find new opportunities in the United States. Many of us can trace our own parents, grandparents, or great grandparents to these very families.

Over the years, partnerships with the federal government helped expand lifesaving programs, benefiting our sisters and brothers from many parts of the world. All participants in these programs were welcomed by the U.S. government to come to the United States and underwent rigorous screening before their arrival. These are displaced souls who see in America a place of dreams and hope. Some assisted American efforts abroad at their own risk and more seek a place to worship and pray safely as they know God calls them. Our efforts were acts of pastoral care and charity, generously supported by the people of God when funds received from the government did not cover the full cost.

Today, the USCCB makes the heartbreaking announcement that we will not be renewing existing cooperative agreements with the federal government related to children’s services and refugee support. This difficult decision follows the suspension by the government of our cooperative agreements to resettle refugees. The decision to reduce these programs drastically forces us to reconsider the best way to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters seeking safe harbor from violence and persecution.

As a national effort, we simply cannot sustain the work on our own at current levels or in current form. As USCCB cooperative agreements for refugee resettlement and children’s programs end, we will work to identify alternative means of support for the people the federal government has already admitted to these programs. We ask your prayers for the many staff and refugees impacted.

While this marks a painful end to a life-sustaining partnership with our government that has spanned decades across administrations of both political parties, it offers every Catholic an opportunity to search our hearts for new ways to assist. The USCCB will continue advocating for policy reforms that provide orderly, secure immigration processes, ensuring the safety of everyone in our communities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating on behalf of men, women, and children suffering the scourge of human trafficking.

For half a century, we have been willing partners in implementing the government’s refugee resettlement program. The Gospel’s call to do what we can for the least among us remains our guide. We ask you to join us in praying for God’s grace in finding new ways to bring hope where it is most needed.

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Father Arlu Carasala was ordained a priest in his India, his country of origin, in 1994 and had been carrying out his pastoral ministry in Kansas since 2004. He became a US citizen in 2011, the year in which he became parish priest of the church of Saints Peter and Paul in Seneca, a town with a few thousand inhabitants.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City described the murder on his social media channels as a «senseless act of violence» that left the community «in pain over the loss of a beloved priest» who was also «a friend.»

The Archbishop clarified that there was «no threat to the community» of believers, but acknowledged that the priest’s death caused «pain and shock»: «Father Carasala was a dedicated and zealous pastor who faithfully served our Archdiocese for over 20 years, including as Dean of the Nemaha-Marshall Region.»

«His love for Christ and the Church was evident in the way he cared for the people of his parish with great generosity and dedication. He will be deeply missed by his parishioners, friends, and confreres.»

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The fact that armed gangs have begun operating in Mirebalais, a few dozen kilometres from the capital, which is already almost fully dominated by criminals, shows how the situation in the country has worsened considerably over the past few days. “Several murders took place during this attack, including two sisters from the local congregation of the Little Sisters of Saint Thérèse. All the prisoners have escaped, and the city is controlled by bandits,” said Archbishop Max Leroy Mésidor of Port-au-Prince in a message sent to ACN on Wednesday, 2 April.

ACN director of projects, Marco Mencaglia, who visited the congregation on one of his trips to the country as they are ACN project partners, expressed his deep grief over the death of the two sisters and the growing violence in Haiti, which has reached alarming levels, and is seriously affecting the local Church. “We ask that God grant them eternal rest, and we pray for their families and the safety of the congregation. Aid to the Church in Need would like to stress its continued support for and solidarity with the Haitian Church and issue an urgent call for prayer in the face of the increased violence and its devastating impact on the community,” said Mencaglia.

In an exclusive statement to ACN, Archbishop Mésidor explained that the situation in the country has worsened, and that the terrible crisis brought on by the increased violence is radically affecting the Church’s continued presence in the capital. “Twenty-eight parishes in the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince are closed, while around 40 are operating at minimum levels because the neighbourhoods are controlled by gangs. The priests have been forced to flee, finding refuge with their families or with other clerics. They need help. The archdiocese is also in difficulty,” the archbishop said.

“Here in Haiti our Lent has become a true Way of the Cross, but we offer it up in communion with the suffering of Christ. Haiti is burning and requires urgent help. Who will come to our aid?” he asks in desperation.

In a letter addressed to male and women religious of the archdiocese, dated 30 March, Archbishop Max Leroy Mésidor described the severity of the crisis. “We are going through one of the worst periods in our history as a people. I need not add insult to injury by enumerating all that we are suffering because of the general insecurity that has affected our compatriots for several years. Nonetheless, I must report some of the events which have taken place over the past few weeks: religious communities have been displaced, many schools are closed, elderly and sick religious sisters have had to be evacuated in the middle of the night, and entire congregations had to leave their nursing homes, with nowhere to place the sick sisters.”

“The list of religious congregations in difficulty is very long. I have no words to describe what is currently happening in Port-au-Prince. It is an unbelievable situation. Our consecrated brothers and sisters are actively taking part in the suffering of our people,” the letter reads.

“The murder of these two religious sisters is a sad confirmation of the terrible suffering that the congregations are going through,” said Marco Mencalia. ACN also calls on the international community not to abandon the Haitian Church and people in this time of extreme suffering. “The situation requires concrete gestures of solidarity. The Church in Haiti is suffering, but has not lost the Faith,” the director of projects concluded.

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Cardinal Aveline succeeds Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, who has served in this role for six years. Alongside him, Bishop Vincent Jordy of Tours and Bishop Benoît Bertrand of Pontoise were elected as vice presidents, ensuring continuity and experience in the leadership team.

At 66 years old, Cardinal Aveline is widely respected for his deep commitment to interfaith dialogue and pastoral work. His election was decisive, with over two-thirds of the votes in the first round—a reflection of the strong support he enjoys among his fellow bishops.

His ecclesiastical journey has been closely tied to Marseille, a city historically known for its religious and cultural diversity. Ordained a priest in 1984, Aveline held several key positions in the diocese, including Vicariate for Ongoing Formation and University Research, before being appointed Auxiliary Bishop in 2013. His elevation to Archbishop in 2019 and subsequent appointment as a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022 underscored his growing influence in the Church.

Aveline’s close ties to Pope Francis have been evident through his roles in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. His prominence on the global stage was solidified in September 2023, when he welcomed the Pope to Marseille for the Mediterranean Meetings, a gathering focused on migration, social justice, and interfaith relations.

New Secretary General: A Bridge Between Faiths 

In another key appointment, Father Christophe Le Sourt has been named Secretary General of the CEF. Like Aveline, Le Sourt is deeply committed to interreligious dialogue, particularly in Jewish-Christian relations. His experience as the national delegate for relations with Judaism has shaped his pastoral approach, emphasizing reconciliation and understanding between faith communities.

Le Sourt, also 66, will take office on July 1, 2025, succeeding Bishop Hugues de Woillemont. A former journalist turned priest, he has served in various parishes in Le Mans and played an essential role in youth ministry, priestly vocations, and Church communications. His long-standing involvement with Jewish-Christian dialogue, particularly through the Episcopal Council for Relations with Judaism, makes him a significant figure in fostering interfaith understanding in France.

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The building, constructed in the 1930s to serve as the Episcopal Palace, has now been repurposed as an office for «Sermesa», a company affiliated with Nicaragua’s social security system. This seizure is the latest in a series of escalations targeting the Diocese of Matagalpa, which has suffered some of the harshest repression under Ortega’s rule.

The confiscation of the curia is widely seen as an extension of the Ortega regime’s vendetta against Bishop Rolando Álvarez, the exiled leader of the diocese. Arrested in 2022 after a two-week police raid on churches in Matagalpa, Álvarez was sentenced in 2023 to 26 years in prison on charges of “treason.” Stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship, he became stateless in a blatant violation of international law.

After months in prison, Álvarez was forcibly exiled to the Vatican in January 2024 as part of a deal between the Holy See and the Nicaraguan government. Since then, he has maintained a low profile, breaking his silence only occasionally to reaffirm his spiritual connection to his homeland. In December 2024, he celebrated Mass in Seville, Spain, offering prayers for Nicaragua and for the centennial of the Matagalpa diocese.

In interviews with Spanish media and Catholic broadcaster EWTN earlier this year 2025, Álvarez refrained from direct political statements, instead emphasizing his role as a pastor. He made it clear that, despite exile, he remains the legitimate bishop of Matagalpa and the apostolic administrator of Estelí. “I was ordained for the Diocese of Matagalpa, and I remain its shepherd as long as God wills,” he declared.

These remarks enraged the Ortega-Murillo regime. In an official statement, Nicaragua’s foreign ministry condemned the Vatican for “meddling in national affairs” and accused the Church of “assigning authority to individuals who are no longer Nicaraguan citizens due to their intolerable conduct.” The regime’s statement even resorted to historical attacks, accusing the Church of crimes dating back to the Inquisition and sexual abuse scandals.

The attack on Álvarez and the Matagalpa diocese is emblematic of a broader strategy to silence religious institutions in Nicaragua. Christian organizations—both Catholic and Protestant—have been relentlessly targeted. Over the past five years, the government has shut down more than 5,660 nonprofit organizations, including numerous faith-based groups. Among the most recent closures are the Christian Association of the Mount of the Holy Anointing, the Evangelical Pentecostal Missionary Church Ministry, and the Evangelical Ministry Cherubini of the King.

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According to the lawsuit, a group of men—some of them convicted gang members and murderers—devised a scheme more than a decade ago to falsely accuse McCormack of sexual abuse. A recorded prison call  would have revealed discussions of how easy it was to deceive the archdiocese. Other subpoenas uncovered conversations in which the accused reportedly joked about exploiting the system.

«I need some free money too,» one of the alleged conspirators was recorded saying. Another inmate responded that he also planned to «get on the money train.»

The lawsuit claims that the ringleaders of the fraud coached friends on how to fabricate claims, instructing them to say they had met McCormack through his parish or the basketball teams he coached. In return for their guidance, these ringleaders allegedly took a cut of the settlements. The archdiocese describes a network of perpetrators linked by neighborhood ties, family connections, and gang affiliations. Some of the accused reportedly used their payouts to fund extravagant lifestyles, purchasing luxury cars and taking lavish trips to Miami and Las Vegas. Yet, internal conflicts over dividing the fraudulent gains allegedly led to violent beatings.

The scheme thrived in part because McCormack was, by all accounts, a deeply predatory priest. Arrested in 2006 and convicted of abusing five minors, he was dismissed from priesthood and released from a state psychiatric facility in 2021. Since his initial conviction, an overwhelming number of additional claims surfaced, leading the archdiocese to pay out millions in settlements. One diocesan employee recently admitted that the total number of people who have filed claims against McCormack is unknown.

Given the gravity of McCormack’s crimes, the archdiocese often opted for swift settlements, prioritizing victim compensation over drawn-out legal battles. But this approach, while well-intentioned, may have created an environment where fraudulent claims could flourish with minimal scrutiny.

This isn’t the first time the archdiocese has pushed back against alleged false accusations. In 2017, it successfully sued a man named Ahmond Williams, citing recorded prison calls that suggested he had fabricated his claim against McCormack. At the time, the archdiocese’s legal team argued that false accusations not only drained church resources but also harmed genuine abuse survivors.

“Real survivors of abuse are the ones ultimately hurt by fraud,” attorney James Geoly stated in 2017. “False claims increase scrutiny, making it harder for true victims to receive the justice and support they deserve.”

The 2025 lawsuit suggests that, despite that earlier legal victory, the problem persisted.

The financial impact of abuse settlements on the Archdiocese of Chicago has been staggering. To fund these payouts, the archdiocese has relied heavily on investment income and real estate sales, but these resources are not infinite. Since 2020, the archdiocese has closed 100 parishes, a continuation of a trend that has seen 200 closures since 1990.

Beyond the financial strain, the case highlights long-standing tensions over how the Church handles abuse allegations. For more than two decades, critics have warned that diocesan policies—often shaped by public pressure and legal risk—sometimes lead to rushed decisions that lack due process. The Dallas Charter, adopted by U.S. bishops in 2002 to address clergy abuse, established stringent protocols, but some canon lawyers argue that these measures have inadvertently created disparities.

While accused priests often find themselves swiftly removed from ministry with little recourse, bishops accused of misconduct frequently receive institutional support, legal defenses, and, at times, a presumption of innocence that their clergy counterparts do not. This imbalance has fueled frustration among priests, many of whom feel disposable in the face of an accusation—regardless of its merit.

If the archdiocese prevails in this case, it could add momentum to calls for reform. Some within the Church have already suggested that the Dallas Charter and related policies should be revisited in light of two decades of experience. A victory in court could embolden bishops to take a more cautious approach to abuse settlements, demanding stricter verification before awarding payouts.

With information from The Pillar

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The announcement of Mother Carmen’s upcoming canonization comes alongside that of another beloved Venezuelan, Dr. José Gregorio Hernández. Their elevation to sainthood will be a defining moment for the faithful in Venezuela, a nation where devotion to both figures runs deep.

Mother Carmen’s life was a testament to selflessness and service. Born without an arm, she never allowed her physical difference to hinder her mission of aiding the poor and the sick. Her strength and faith transformed her into a beacon of hope, particularly for those who felt marginalized or forgotten. Sister Rosa Ríos, vice-postulator of her cause for canonization, describes Mother Carmen as a woman who «denied herself, gave of what was hers, and turned toward others, especially the poorest.»

The announcement of their canonization has been described as a «new Pentecost for Venezuela,» bringing renewed faith and inspiration to a country facing numerous challenges.

 An Unconventional Path to Sainthood in Papua New Guinea 

In Papua New Guinea, the upcoming canonization of Pedro To Rot is equally historic. He will become the country’s first saint, a milestone that reflects the lasting impact of missionary work in the Pacific. A devout lay catechist, Pedro To Rot was a product of the first Catholic missions established in the region by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1882. His steadfast faith and commitment to his community made him a guiding light, even in the face of persecution.

However, his path to sainthood has taken an unusual turn. Unlike most canonization cases, Pedro To Rot’s did not require a verified miracle. Typically, the Vatican demands medical proof that a candidate’s intercession led to an inexplicable healing. But in Papua New Guinea, the process faced unique obstacles. The scarcity of Catholic medical professionals in the region, combined with the fact that many local doctors practice other religions and were unwilling to participate as witnesses, made it nearly impossible to document a miracle using the usual standards.

Additionally, Papua New Guinea’s rich oral tradition posed another challenge. While there are numerous testimonies of miraculous events attributed to Pedro To Rot, many of those who experienced them cannot write, making it difficult to provide formal documentation. Given these circumstances, the country’s bishops requested a special dispensation from the requirement of a medically verified miracle, arguing instead that Pedro To Rot’s legacy of martyrdom and widespread veneration was sufficient. Pope Francis agreed, allowing his cause to proceed based on his enduring reputation for holiness and the faith of those who continue to seek his intercession.

The dates for the canonization ceremonies will be announced at an upcoming consistory, but anticipation is already building. The recognition of these new saints reflects the diverse nature of Catholicism and the universal call to holiness, transcending geography and culture.

For Venezuela, the canonization of Mother Carmen and Dr. José Gregorio Hernández is a source of national pride and spiritual renewal. Their stories highlight the power of faith to overcome adversity, whether through the physical challenges faced by Mother Carmen or the lifelong dedication to healing embodied by Dr. Hernández.

For Papua New Guinea, Pedro To Rot’s canonization affirms the strength of its local church, which continues to grow despite challenges.

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But the shortage of new priests is only part of the story. The Church is also grappling with a dramatic decline in membership. More than 321,000 German Catholics formally left the Church in the past year, bringing the total number of registered Catholics in the country below 20 million for the first time. These departures, combined with dwindling vocations, paint a stark picture.

The drop in priestly ordinations is not a sudden collapse but the continuation of a trend that has been unfolding for decades. In 1962, 557 men were ordained as diocesan priests in Germany. By 2004, that number had fallen to 122. Ten years later, in 2014, it had dropped further to 75. More recently, the numbers have been even lower—33 in 2022, 35 in 2023, and now 29 in 2024.

This decline is not evenly distributed across the country. In 11 of Germany’s dioceses, including Limburg and Münster, no new priests were ordained this year. Limburg, led by Bishop Georg Bätzing, a key advocate of Germany’s controversial “Synodal Path” reform process, also had no new priests in 2023. Münster, now Germany’s most populous diocese, has gone two consecutive years without a single ordination.

Some dioceses have fared slightly better. Trier had the highest number of new priests this year, with four, while Augsburg, Cologne, Paderborn, and Regensburg each ordained three. But these figures remain alarmingly low for a church that once produced hundreds of new clergy annually.

The shortage of priests is not just a statistical issue—it is reshaping how the Church functions. Many parishes have been forced to consolidate or close, and laypeople are increasingly stepping in to lead services. The crisis of vocations was one of the key reasons behind Germany’s Synodal Path, a reform initiative that sought to rethink Church structures, including discussions on priestly celibacy, women’s roles in ministry, and the governance of the Church.

The Synodal Path, which concluded in 2023, produced numerous proposals, some of which have been met with resistance from the Vatican. Tensions between the German bishops and Rome have been growing, as the push for reforms in Germany diverges from the more conservative stance of the global Catholic hierarchy.

Bishop Bätzing, reflecting on the latest numbers, acknowledged the gravity of the situation: “We cannot ignore these figures. They challenge us to ask again: Who are we here for as a Church?”

The Catholic Church is not the only religious institution in Germany experiencing decline. For the first time since 2018, more Protestants than Catholics formally left their churches in 2024. The Evangelical Church in Germany, a federation of Lutheran, Reformed, and United churches, lost approximately 345,000 members in the past year.

At the end of 2024, Germany’s religious landscape had shifted significantly. The country had 19.8 million Catholics and nearly 18 million Protestants, out of a total population of around 84 million. Meanwhile, secularization continues to rise, with an increasing number of Germans identifying as religiously unaffiliated.

Beyond membership losses, the German Bishops’ Conference reported declines in key sacramental milestones. Baptisms fell to 116,222 in 2024, down from 131,245 the previous year. Church weddings also declined, with only 22,504 taking place in 2024, compared to 27,565 in 2023.

There were slight fluctuations in First Communions and Confirmations, but overall, participation in Church life continues to dwindle. Regular Mass attendance now stands at just 6.6% of German Catholics—roughly 1.3 million people nationwide.

Despite these discouraging trends, there were small signs of growth in one area: adult conversions. In 2024, 1,839 people joined the Catholic Church in Germany, up from 1,559 in 2023. Notably, the vast majority—1,637 individuals—came from Protestant backgrounds.

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When asked if this is the first step before permanently removing the mosaics, the Bishop also answered: «It’s not a first step, but a second! The first was to stop illuminating them at night, during processions, starting last July.» And when asked about the next steps, he said: «A working group is conducting the reflection and supporting me in the decisions. We prefer to move forward calmly rather than under pressure from different quarters. We work with a long-term vision, for the victims, for the Church, for Lourdes and its message for all.»

According to Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Rupnik case has already concluded a phase of information gathering, and work is now underway to create a tribunal that can carry out the judicial process of the former Jesuit.

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