(ZENIT News – Angeles News / Los Angeles, 12.17.2024).- For those who knew the strange story of Juan Gutierrez’s ankle, or even parts of it, the word “miracle” was hard not to think of.

A fluke basketball injury. Faulty medical advice. Unexpected inspirations during prayer. A sudden healing. The surprising involvement of the Vatican.

While the news of Gutierrez’s unexplained recovery from a torn Achilles tendon got out, it didn’t really get around, at least not far beyond where the story started: St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California, where Juan and other future priests for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and other Catholic dioceses in the western U.S. are trained.

The event was remarkable enough to be noticed by just enough people, while Gutierrez’s modest, shy demeanor seemed to divert any further attention from it.

But this odd combination of circumstances would eventually prove providential, confounding medical authorities, changing the life of this anonymous seminarian, and forever tying him to another young man who had been dead for almost 100 years: Pier Giorgio Frassati, who in August will be declared a saint of the Catholic Church on account of the miracle of Juan Gutierrez’s ankle.

• • •

This odd tale begins in Texcoco, a city on the peripheries of Mexico City, where Juan Manuel Gutierrez was born in 1986. His parents separated when he was 2, but at 19 he immigrated to the U.S.  to join his father in Omaha.

It was there that, after being invited to a weekend retreat, he returned to the Catholic faith of his youth that he’d fallen away from. Soon, he found himself unable to shake the feeling that he was being called to the priesthood, and eventually wound up applying to enter the seminary in Los Angeles.

In 2013, he began college studies at the archdiocese’s Juan Diego House of Formation in Gardena. Graduating in 2017, he and his classmates moved to St. John’s Seminary to continue formation.

Every Monday, Gutierrez soon learned, St. John’s seminarians went to play basketball at a nearby gym in Camarillo. While not exactly an athlete, he’d always enjoyed sports as a youth, especially basketball and soccer, and the chance to compete again was a perk of seminary life for Gutierrez.

On Sept. 25, 2017, Gutierrez stepped onto the court: “I didn’t really warm up” that day, he remembered.

A few minutes into the game, Gutierrez had a feeling like someone had bumped into his right ankle, followed by a sound: “Pop!”

“When I heard the pop, I turned around and nobody was there,” Gutierrez recalled. “Like, absolutely nobody.”

What he did notice was that he couldn’t walk normally anymore. He headed for the bench and got a ride back to St. John’s.

Gutierrez remembered thinking that the injury “wasn’t that bad.” But the pain he began to feel didn’t let him sleep much that night. For a few days, he pushed himself to go to class and follow the seminary prayer schedule. But when another seminarian decided to go to the hospital to get an injury looked at, Gutierrez realized he had better join him.

At the hospital, the X-ray didn’t show any broken bones. A doctor prescribed painkillers, telling Gutierrez he had most likely pulled a muscle.

Back at the seminary, one of Gutierrez’s classmates had noticed him limping: Rene Haarpaintner was a widower in his 50s who’d left his medical practice to enter the seminary. He was still a licensed chiropractor, and suggested that Gutierrez walk with crutches to allow the pulled muscle to heal.

“It was bad,” remembered Haarpaintner, who was ordained a priest in 2023, a year after Gutierrez. “It was swollen everywhere and I could not really palpate (touch) much of it because the swelling was so big, everything was blue.”

When Gutierrez’s pain worsened over the next few weeks, Haarpaintner gave Gutierrez some stretching exercises to try.

Gutierrez dutifully complied, even though the stretches proved painful — really painful.

As Gutierrez’s pain got worse, Haarpaintner guessed he had suffered ligament damage. But that would take an MRI to confirm and the earliest appointment available was Oct. 31, which was almost three weeks away at that point.

In the meantime, Haarpaintner suggested that Gutierrez stay off his foot completely. He got through the month with a borrowed air cast and a makeshift brace. On Halloween morning, he drove himself to the radiology lab for the MRI.

Hours later, as Gutierrez was opening the gate to the seminary, his phone rang. It was the doctor.

When he saw the caller ID, “I knew that something was really wrong,” Gutierrez said. “I didn’t even say hello to him. I just picked up and said, ‘It’s bad, huh?’ ”

He had guessed correctly: “You have a tear in your Achilles.”

The doctor told Gutierrez to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon, and that surgery would be his best option.

A sense of dread came over the seminarian. Surgery would mean a long, painful road to recovery. His schoolwork would no doubt suffer, and how was he going to pay for the procedure? He still hadn’t told his family in Nebraska or in Mexico about the injury.

Gutierrez spent that night in his room Googling “Achilles injuries.” The pictures of blood and stories of infections associated with tendon surgery only made him feel more anxious.

• • •

The next day, Nov. 1, was the day the Catholic Church celebrates “All Saints’ Day,” remembering all the holy men and women in heaven. After Mass in the seminary chapel, Gutierrez stayed behind. His heart was heavy from the latest news.

“I was there, I was praying, and then at the end, I was like, you know, I think I need help from above,” he recalled. “I was having this conversation with myself in my head.”

At some point, the thought entered: “Well, why don’t you make a novena?”

It wasn’t a strange idea. Growing up, Gutierrez had prayed plenty of the nine-day devotions to different saints. Novenas aren’t “magic,” he’d come to believe, but “a journey of faith and prayer.”

For Gutierrez, the question was: who do I pray to? Then the conversation did take an odd turn.

“I had this whisper in my head that tells me: ‘Why don’t you make it to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati?’ I just remember thinking, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a good idea.’ ”

It was a peculiar thought, given that Gutierrez didn’t exactly have any personal devotion to Frassati. He’d been introduced to him in the same way he’d learned about so many other saints: watching YouTube videos.

Frassati had been born in Turin, Italy, in 1901 to Alfredo Frassati, a journalist (and later, a politician and diplomat) who founded the major Italian newspaper La Stampa, and Adelaide Ametis, a respected painter.

His father was an agnostic, but Frassati early on developed a deep devotion to the Eucharist, attending daily Mass and spending long hours of prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. An avid outdoorsman and mountain climber, he would eventually spend much of his own fortune to help the local poor.

He died in 1925, a few days after falling ill with polio, which he probably contracted while visiting sick people in a slum area of Turin. He was just 24 years old.

Hundreds of the city’s poor followed his coffin during his funeral procession, and within a few years a movement began to have him declared a saint. Frassati became associated with the phrase “verso l’alto” (meaning “to the heights” in Italian), which he wrote on a photograph of his last climb.

Among his admirers was St. Pope John Paul II.

John Paul, a skier, a hiker, and an outdoorsman himself, found a kindred spirit in the idealistic and energetic young Frassati.

He held him up often as a role model for how young Catholics can follow Jesus in a complicated and changing world.

“He was a modern youth,” the pope told a gathering of young people in 1983, “open to the problems of culture, sports, to social questions, to the true values of life, and at the same time a profoundly believing man, nourished by the Gospel message, deeply interested in serving his brothers and sisters, and consumed in an ardor of charity that drew him close to the poor and the sick. He lived the Gospel beatitudes.”

When Frassati’s remains were moved to the Cathedral of Turin in 1981, his body was found incorrupt, that is, showing none of the ordinary signs of decay after death.

In 1987, John Paul declared him “Blessed,” beatifying him after the Vatican recognized the healing of a man from tuberculosis who prayed to Frassati as a miracle attributed to his intercession.

And so it was on that fateful All Saints’ day in 2017 that Gutierrez came back to the chapel to start the novena to Blessed Frassati, praying it during the time set aside for seminarians to pray before the Blessed Sacrament.

At no point during the novena did he ask to be healed, he stressed.

“My prayer was, ‘Lord, through the intercession of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, I ask you to help me in my injury.’

Gutierrez said he would have ended the prayer there, before praying the usual rosary to accompany the novena.

But at that moment on that first day, he had what he calls another “inspiration,” to follow up that prayer with a declaration: “…and I promise that, if anything unusual happens, I will report it to whomever I need to report it to.”

“That part did surprise me,” recalled Gutierrez. “I’m like, where did that come from?”

It would prove to be a thought worth holding. Because unusual things were about to happen.

• • •

A few days later, Gutierrez entered the chapel to pray his novena. It wasn’t during the usual 5 p.m. Holy Hour, he remembered, because nobody else was there this time.

He recalled feeling “a warmth around the area of my injury” as he knelt and was praying.

“It was gentle,” Gutierrez said. “But it would increase little by little, and at some point I thought that an outlet of the electrical was catching fire. And I was looking for the fire. And there was no fire there. So I just remember looking at my ankle and thinking, ‘That’s so strange’ because I could feel the warmth.”

Gutierrez knew from his past experiences with the Charismatic Renewal movement that heat is sometimes associated with God’s healing. Gutierrez looked up toward the tabernacle holding the Blessed Sacrament. He began to cry.

“I told the Lord in my heart, ‘It cannot be. Not because you don’t have the power to heal me, but because I know that I don’t have the faith for something like this.’ And that moved me.”

His tears having dried and his prayers finished, Gutierrez left the chapel. He doesn’t remember exactly what day the mysterious experience took place, only that there were a few days left before Nov. 9, when his novena was set to conclude.

He does remember that after that day, he stopped wearing the brace used to keep his right foot immobilized: “I just didn’t need it anymore.”

Gutierrez had an appointment scheduled for Nov. 15 with an orthopedic surgeon. At some point, he realized that he was not even thinking about his injury anymore.

• • •

On Nov. 15, inside his downtown LA office, the orthopedic surgeon asked his new patient what he did for a living.

“I’m a seminarian, which means I’m studying to be a priest,” Gutierrez explained.

To confirm the diagnosis of a torn Achilles indicated by the MRI images, the surgeon conducted something called the Thompson test, which involved squeezing the patient’s calf as he laid face-down on the hospital bed. If the foot moved when he squeezed, that would mean the tendon was connected. If it didn’t, it would confirm the tear.

“Hmm,” Gutierrez heard the surgeon mutter after squeezing. Then the surgeon pressed his thumb on the place where the MRI showed the tear.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

Gutierrez felt a slight sensation of muscle soreness, but no pain. The doctor asked if he could press harder, and then harder again. Still Gutierrez felt no pain.

Sitting back up, he noticed a puzzled look on the surgeon’s face. Pressing directly on the area of the tear, he’d expected to feel the gap with his thumb, something Gutierrez had felt the couple of times he had dared to examine his ankle.

“You have no gap,” the surgeon said. “You must have somebody up there looking after you.”

A chill went down Gutierrez’s spine. He remembered the novena. Then he began to pepper the doctor with questions.

Could the gap have closed on its own? No, the doctor replied, in fact, they tend to open even more over time. What if the MRI was wrong? No way. “This is the most advanced piece of technology we have for something like this.”

Pointing to the screen, the surgeon told the seminarian, “As of Oct. 31, you had a tear in your Achilles, but now I can’t find it.”

• • •

At the time, Gutierrez wanted to tell everybody about this strange development. But he was afraid of drawing too much attention to himself. He resolved to only tell a few of those close to him.

At St. John’s, his fellow students noticed that he was no longer limping and no longer wearing the brace. When they asked him about it, he kept his answers simple, saying only that a doctor had told him he didn’t need surgery after all. The fact that he hadn’t made a big deal about his injury in the first place helped tamp down on further questions

“Juan’s a pretty low-key guy,” said Father Tommy Green, a classmate of Gutierrez’s who was ordained a priest in 2024. “It kind of just fell off the radar.”

Within a few weeks, Gutierrez was jogging, and ready to move on with seminary studies and normal life. He only confided about the healing to his spiritual director and a few close friends. As far as he was concerned, the story was over.

Then he got a reminder about the second part of his novena prayer.

Gutierrez was wandering the exhibit hall at a youth conference a few months later when he came across a booth featuring a life-size photo cutout of Frassati. The booth was unattended. Taking some Frassati prayer cards, he noticed on the back an email address where people could send stories of favors they had received through Frassati’s intercession.

He remembered his promise: “If anything unusual happens, I will report it to whomever I need to report it to.”

He put it off for a few months, but eventually sat down to type his testimony and email it.

“To me, that day was the end of it: I fulfilled my promise to Pier Giorgio that I would report it,” recalled Gutierrez.

He never received a reply to his email. Once again, he thought the story was over.

Two years passed, it was now the fall of 2020, and he found himself sitting at St. John’s in a class being taught by Msgr. Robert Sarno, an American priest who had recently retired after nearly 40 years at the Vatican’s Dicastery of the Causes of the Saints.

The subject of the course? The diocesan phase of canonization causes.

“I was like, ‘Oh snap,’ maybe there’s something here that will make me tell my testimony about my experience with Pier Giorgio to somebody, ” Gutierrez thought.

When the class turned to the subject of how the Church investigates claims of miraculous healings, the thought of approaching Msgr. Sarno with his story only made Gutierrez more nervous. He could picture the straight-talking Brooklyn priest brusquely dismissing his tale as a “nice story.”

“Jesus, give me courage to say something about this because I personally don’t want to,” Gutierrez prayed.

• • •

One day after breakfast, Gutierrez worked up the courage to approach Msgr. Sarno and tell him his story.

Msgr. Sarno looked at him and asked, “Why did you wait this long to tell me this story?’

“Because you’re very intimidating,” the seminarian replied.

“Yeah, I’ve been told that before” Msgr. Sarno said.

At dinnertime the same day, Msgr. Sarno approached Gutierrez to tell him that Rome was “very interested” in his story.

In an interview with Angelus, Msgr. Sarno said, “It was the last thing that I had expected, that in this course that I was teaching in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, there could be a potential miracle for the canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.”

After talking to Dr. Silvia Correale, J.C.D., the Argentine-born lawyer who was heading up Frassati’s canonization cause in Rome, Msgr. Sarno suggested to Gutierrez that it would be “prudent” not to speak about his experience to anyone else.

The reason was that Msgr. Sarno had been given the “green light” to initiate a diocesan-level canonical investigation into Gutierrez’s case. Msgr. Sarno worked on the sainthood causes of such legendary figures as Sts. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Damien of Molokai, among others.

Explaining the caution he gave to Gutierrez, Msgr. Sarno told Angelus: “You don’t want to prejudice the witnesses of a potential investigation.

You want to keep all the witnesses completely free to be examined without any restrictions or coloring or, bias, if you will, in the case.”

From there, the process began to move. Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez authorized Msgr. Sarno to head up the archdiocese’s investigation of Gutierrez’s story.

Two LA priests, Father Joseph Fox, OP and Msgr. Michael Carcerano, were appointed to help with the judicial process, and in the fall of 2023, Msgr. Sarno returned to St. John’s to interview witnesses and gather evidence, including doctor’s notes, the initial MRI scan, and other documents.

Among the seminarians interviewed was the chiropractor, Haarpaintner.

Because the doctors who examined Gutierrez at the hospital had missed that it was a torn tendon, Haarpaintner testified, it is likely that his recommended stretching exercises had actually made that tear worse. This, he believed, made a sudden recovery even more improbable from a medical standpoint.

Haarpaintner said it was a lesson in humility when he was also asked to speak over Zoom to a Vatican medical panel investigating the possible miracle.

He said a surgeon on the call told him, “You screwed up, you aggravated the injury by putting his foot in plantar flexion.”

“Yes, I did, sorry, I did!” Haarpaintner remembered answering.

“Can you imagine what that was like for my vanity? Not good,” joked Haarpaintner, whose hometown in Switzerland is a few hours’ drive from Blessed Frassati’s native Turin.

“This is the best case of malpractice in the eyes of God, that’s for sure.”

By the time Sarno submitted his findings to the Dicastery for the Causes of the Saints, he felt confident that he had stumbled upon the miracle that everyone was waiting for in the case.

“I believe in Divine Providence,” Msgr. Sarno said, “And there are just too many accidents in this case.”

On Nov. 20, the Vatican announced that Frassati would be canonized next Aug. 3 during the 2025 Jubilee Year celebration for young people, following the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, another Italian youth known for his deep love for the Eucharist and the poor. Five days later, Pope Francis formally approved the second miracle attributed to Frassati’s intercession.

While the canonization of Acutis was widely expected for next year’s jubilee, the Frassati news came as “a great and happy surprise” to those familiar with his cause, including Msgr. Sarno.

“The fact that Pier Giorgio’s canonization will happen during the 100th anniversary of his death, plus during the holy year of 2025, plus the fact that Carlo Acutis will be canonized during the jubilee weekend for teenagers, Pier Giorgio during the one for young adults … you can’t say that that’s not Divine Providence either,” said Msgr. Sarno.

• • •

With the strange story of Gutierrez’s ankle now officially recognized as a miracle and the secrecy surrounding his healing gone, the 38-year-old priest is ready to introduce his saintly friend to new generations.

Since his ordination in 2022, Father Gutierrez has served as associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Church, a suburb east of Los Angeles. In another curious coincidence, the cathedral where Frassati is entombed is also named for St. John the Baptist. The parish has a heavy Hispanic and Filipino presence, with multiple ministries for young people and at least a dozen Masses every weekend.

“I think Pier Giorgio was a great role model for what it is to be a young Catholic in the world,” said Gutierrez. “Someone who takes ownership of our Catholic identity, someone who is involved in the lived experience of the faith, not only in the walls of your church, but even beyond that.”

The experience has shown Gutierrez that when it comes to heavenly intercession, “we don’t choose the saints, the saints choose us.”

So why did Frassati choose him, of all people? The priest hasn’t really figured it out, since he certainly doesn’t share the Italian’s wealthy background, or his athleticism. “To this day, I’m still trying to receive the miracle of becoming a hiker,” he jokes.

That said, Gutierrez sees at least one clear connection that might explain the workings of Providence.

“He was known to have a heart for the needy and the poor,” said the priest. “Maybe it wasn’t a big deal at the moment, but in my time of need, he drew near to me and he helped me. And there are a lot of people who have received graces from him. I’m not the only one.”

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Since its founding, the program has provided nearly $14 million in scholarships to more than 1700 individuals, known as Saeman Scholars, to advance their education and prepare them to return home and serve in leadership positions in their own countries.

“We are inspired by, and committed to, Saint John Paul II’s vision to prepare Catholic leaders and educators for service,” said Eustace Mita, President of The Papal Foundation Board of Trustees. “These scholarships help train those called to lead in developing nations, where resources for ongoing leadership formation are limited.”

In 1998, then Pope John Paul II was asked what he would do with an unrestricted, $5 million gift. Without hesitating, he said he would provide scholarships for tuition, room, and board to priests, religious sisters, and laity from disadvantaged countries, allowing them to study in Rome and then return to their dioceses to teach the authentic magisterium of the Church. The program launched in 2000 thanks to the wonderful generosity of John and Carol Saeman of Denver, CO, who made the initial $5 million gift that was matched by The Papal Foundation.

“This scholarship is a miracle for myself and the people of my area,” said Justin Musona, a diocesan priest from the Catholic Diocese of Mutare in Zimbabwe. “I embrace learning, and the scholarship has given me a deeper level of understanding and education in our Faith.  I want to assure you that I will put my learnings to good use in the pastoral field.” “Saint John Paul II knew we needed a way to provide educational opportunities in Rome for individuals from disadvantaged countries, so they could return to their dioceses equipped to help secure the future of the Church around the world,” added Dave Savage, Executive Director of The Papal Foundation. “He himself was sent to Rome as a student priest, an experience that helped shape his life of servant leadership. Forming leaders in the Catholic Church is a blessing, and we and we are incredibly grateful to John and Carol Saeman, who made this work possible.

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It all began in 1985, when Mother Line, the current prioress, and Sister Verónica met. Verónica expressed a deep sense of calling from God to consecrate her life, but no congregation was able to accept her, as most required postulants to be self-sufficient and possess the mental capacities needed to meet the demands of religious life.

Faced with this situation, Mother Line recognized that existing congregations lacked the infrastructure and way of life adapted to the needs of individuals with this syndrome. Seeing Verónica’s genuine call from God, she interpreted it as her personal mission. Together, they began living a shared life, laying the foundation for what is now a community of about ten sisters.

Mother Line believed that this way of life would attract other young women, and her hopes began to materialize. The community gradually grew, and in 1995, the Little Sisters moved to Le Blanc, in the Indre region of central France.

In 1999, Archbishop Pierre Plateau formally approved the initiative as an institute of contemplative life. Later, on December 15, 2011, Archbishop Armand Maillard of Bourges approved the institute’s constitutions.

Today, the community comprises eight sisters with Down syndrome and two «able-bodied» sisters. This presents challenges for the latter, as sisters with this condition require special support. However, as Mother Line explains, the sisters with Down syndrome achieve autonomy through their contemplative lifestyle, which allows them to follow a regular and predictable rhythm. “For them, changes are difficult, but when life is very orderly, they manage it remarkably well.”

The sisters engage in various activities, such as weaving and ceramics workshops, and maintain a medicinal plant garden. They embrace the simplicity of religious life inspired by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who serves as their role model.

Sister Verónica, one of the founders, shares her testimony:

“It has been 34 years since I felt Jesus’ call. I have sought to know Him through reading the Bible and the Gospel. I was born with a disability called Down syndrome. I am happy and love life. I pray, but it saddens me that other children with Down syndrome cannot feel this same joy of living. Jesus made me grow in His love. After being rejected by other communities, my greatest joy came on June 20, 2009, when I made my perpetual vows in the Institute of the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb. It is my greatest happiness: to be the bride of Jesus.”

While the sisters face physical and mental limitations, they are spiritually boundless. Mother Line emphasizes the incredible spiritual strength of the sisters with Down syndrome. “They know the Bible, the lives of the saints, and have an extraordinary memory. They are souls of prayer, profoundly spiritual, and very close to Jesus. Their souls are not disabled; on the contrary, they seem closer to the Lord, with whom they communicate with astonishing ease. The able-bodied sisters in the community especially admire their ability to forgive and to encourage others with precise words from the Bible that brighten the day.”

This religious community reminds us of the transcendence of the human spirit in a world that often values people only for their productivity. These sisters defy that logic, showing the beauty of a life whose worth cannot be measured by material standards. Their capacity to love and closeness to God show that they are not disadvantaged souls because of their condition but profoundly loved by Him.

“Certainly, it is a world to discover,” concludes Mother Line. “They bring joy to society and, above all, offer the love the world so desperately needs.”

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(ZENIT News / Mexico City, 12.09.2024).- “One of our children saw his father be killed,” says Sister Rosalina during an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “We had another case of three children who witnessed the murder of their mother in front of their house. They saw the whole thing.” These are just a few of the heartbreaking situations that the Working Sisters of the Holy Family have endured in the communities near Zamora de Hidalgo, in the Mexican state of Michoacán. The city, which is spread over fertile valleys and is famous for its architecture, is also a hotbed of violence, crime and stray bullets. It has one of the highest murder rates in Mexico, around 118 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The sisters work in a school with around 300 students and strive to give them the tools to withstand the challenges. “We try to help them be more resilient, and not be afraid,” says Mother Josefina Peña, the superior of the congregation, who is affectionately referred to as “Madre Jose”. Sister Rosalina describes some of the tougher cases she experienced in the different local communities: “I remember the terror in one of them, the panic felt by the families, and the threats they received. One of the worst threats was that they were going to form a rosary with the heads of the children, which they would set up at the town’s roundabout,” she recalls, with horror.

“You could see the fear in their faces. The other sisters and I told them that the children would be safe with us.” She adds, however, that “it is awful. The hardest thing is telling a child that their father has been killed. It is very painful to witness this type of thing, because though we already carry the greatest gift of all, which is faith in God, from a human perspective one wants to do more.”

Although violence has now subsided to an extent, there are many still missing, and the violence between cartels, although somewhat hidden, continues. They say that in the novitiate area they had to live through the shootings and even stray bullets sometimes entered the building.

“We train the novices so that they can be prepared to visit the small communities”

Sister Miriam, the master of novices, explains to ACN that many of the young women arrive at the novitiate after having experienced violence situations within their own families, or other complicated backgrounds, with all the pain and suffering they bring. “When they arrive, the first thing we do is provide human and psychological help, so that they can heal, and begin to forgive, to escape from all of this violence, and all the internal suffering they carry,” she explains. “The help we offer is holistic, spiritual and psychological. We help them to discern, and we accompany them. We are there to support them 100%. After that, we train them so that they will be prepared to visit the small communities.”

Of course, there is a financial dimension to all of this, and for that the congregation expresses its thanks for the support received from ACN and its benefactors. Mother Jose and Sister Miriam are two of the many religious who have benefitted personally from ACN’s economic help to further their studies. The foundation has renewed this project to support the formation of several novices. “We are so grateful to all of you, and as always, to the foundation. We have been praying to God for you, for your family and for all those who are with you now, who will join you in the future, or who have already left,” says Mother Jose.

“Our strength comes from prayer”

The extent of the violence begs the question: why do the sisters remain? What drives them to carry on? “The way we support each other,” Sister Rosalina replies immediately. “And prayer: our strength comes from prayer. The older sisters, who are already ill, pray a lot for us,” she adds. Furthermore, the religious sister assures ACN that “it doesn’t cross our minds to leave. We want to remain with the people. To accompany those who are suffering. We’re not going anywhere. We strive to be conciliatory, and we find our strength in God. He could call us to himself at any time, so we need to be on good terms with Him, to be at peace with each other, and to build relationships of peace. We will not abandon those who need us.”

Mother Jose concludes, saying that “it is wonderful to see how both the local inhabitants and the novices grow as people and spiritually. Being a ray of light and hope gives us strength, and we are grateful for the mission we have been entrusted with: to accompany our brethren in these communities. To be a family.”

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A Protest Turned Legal Battle

The incident occurred on October 3, 2023, outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. Brennan, a devout Catholic and vocal pro-life advocate, stood within the restricted buffer zone established to shield womans seeking abortion services. Arrested alongside her partner, David Hall, Brennan’s actions were filmed and later shared online by the legal advocacy group Christian Concern, highlighting her peaceful stance and the subsequent intervention by authorities.

Brennan pleaded not guilty, arguing her religious convictions and actions were protected under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). However, District Judge Peter Kind upheld her conviction, referencing a 2022 UK Supreme Court decision that validated similar restrictions as a means to balance protest rights against the privacy and dignity of those seeking abortions.

“A Moral Duty to Protect the Innocent”

During her testimony, Brennan, 53, delivered an impassioned defense rooted in her Christian faith. Swearing on the Bible, she declared, *“I was fulfilling my moral duty to stand up for the smallest among us.”* Quoting Proverbs 24:11, she emphasized her responsibility to intervene for the unborn, likening her advocacy to the work of emergency responders saving lives.

Brennan’s testimony criticized both the government and the laws restricting protests around abortion clinics. “The government, in its arrogance, believes it can overrule God,” she asserted, condemning the legislation as contrary to Scripture.

She expressed concern over what she sees as an erosion of Christian freedoms, stating, “Today, they’re keeping Christians away from abortion centers. Tomorrow, it will be public squares and city centers.”

Wider Implications for Free Speech

Brennan’s case has become a rallying point for those opposing buffer zones and broader restrictions on public expressions of faith. Her comparison of the current government to a dictatorship reflects growing unease among religious communities, particularly as reports of arrests for street preachers increase across the UK.

While her conviction was framed as a matter of maintaining access to healthcare, critics argue it symbolizes a chilling effect on free speech. Brennan plans to appeal the verdict, stating, “I feel betrayed by my government, but I am proud to have spoken up for the unborn and for Christ.”

Support from Across Borders

The ruling has drawn international attention, with messages of support for Brennan pouring in from across Ireland and beyond. Her case has sparked renewed calls for dialogue on the balance between protecting individual freedoms and safeguarding access to medical services.

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Despite Israeli military orders urging residents to evacuate south via designated corridors, many parishioners of the Church of the Holy Family have refused to abandon their homes. “Why should we leave our houses? None of us are part of this conflict,” Father Romanelli emphasized. The priest voiced concerns about the conditions in the south, where displaced Palestinians, numbering in the millions, are already crammed into makeshift camps.

A Community Under Siege

The constant noise of helicopters and bombings provides an unrelenting backdrop to life in Gaza. “Day and night, there is no respite,” Father Romanelli reported, highlighting the northwest areas of Jabalia and Shati as particularly affected. Families from these regions, including some Christian households, have been issued strict evacuation orders.

For now, Gaza’s Christian population has found refuge in two locations: Father Romanelli’s parish and a nearby Orthodox church. However, this sanctuary is precarious. Key Catholic facilities, such as the Caritas headquarters and the St. Thomas Aquinas training center, have already been ordered to evacuate. While these buildings were fortunately empty due to ongoing repairs, the message is clear—the threat is closing in.

«We Cannot Leave Our Parish»

Father Romanelli underscored the steadfastness of his community, who refuse to abandon their spiritual home despite the danger. “What would our Christians do in the south? There, they would join millions living in destitution, surviving under tarps. Here, we are surrounded by what remains of our Catholic community,” he explained.

The priest also expressed hope that the global Church would amplify their plight. He praised Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, for his advocacy and revealed that Pope Francis has been making regular calls to stay updated on their dire situation.

A Test of Faith and Survival

The future of Gaza’s Christians hangs precariously on what Father Romanelli referred to as the “plan of the generals.” The parish remains a beacon of faith for the community, even as war encroaches on every side.

Father Romanelli issued an urgent plea to the West: “Our story must be heard. We need the world to understand that amidst this conflict, there are those who simply want to live in peace, to preserve their homes, and to keep their faith alive.”

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In 1990, Father Calise was at a breaking point. Ten years into his priesthood, alcohol had infiltrated every aspect of his life, straining relationships with his family, parishioners, and his vocation itself. At the urging of a concerned priest, he entered a 90-day treatment program at Guest House, a specialized residential center in Michigan for clergy with addictions. This decision marked the beginning of his journey to recovery.

A New Mission: Supporting Others in Recovery

Father Calise’s sobriety gave him a new perspective on ministry. Determined to support others facing similar struggles, he founded Transition House, a place of respite and renewal for priests re-entering ministry after treatment for addiction. Located within the rectory of Transfiguration-St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Maspeth, New York, where he serves as pastor, Transition House has grown beyond its original mission.

“Initially, it was intended for priests recovering from addictive behaviors,” explains Father Calise. “But over the years, it has evolved to serve a broader purpose.” Now, the house also welcomes clergy dealing with non-addiction-related challenges, such as health issues, visa complications, or the need for temporary relief from pastoral pressures.

Transition House is not a treatment center but a haven for priests transitioning back into ministry. “It’s a space where they can acclimate to diocesan life after treatment,” says Father Calise. With six bedrooms, a living area, and a chapel, the home offers a supportive environment tailored to individual needs. Some priests stay for weeks, while others remain for months, depending on their circumstances.

Loneliness and Addiction in Clergy Life

Father Calise is uniquely positioned to provide guidance, having experienced the pain of addiction himself. His struggle began in adolescence, eventually spiraling into alcoholism. Reflecting on those years, he recalls, “There was so much pain and sadness. But out of that, I’ve been able to help others find a path to healing.”

Clergy members, he notes, are particularly vulnerable to addiction due to the isolating nature of their roles. “We live very solitary lives. Many priests are alone in their rectories, and even when they’re not, there’s often a deep sense of loneliness. That isolation often seeks solace.”

Statistics back up this reality. The St. John Vianney Center in Pennsylvania estimates that 10% of U.S. priests struggle with substance addiction, yet only 2% seek treatment. The stigma surrounding addiction and the demands of ministry often prevent priests from reaching out for help.

Healing Through Service

Father Calise’s personal recovery journey has become a cornerstone of his ministry. He also celebrates Serenity Sundays, healing Masses at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish for individuals in various stages of addiction recovery. These services provide spiritual support and a sense of community for those on their path to sobriety.

“Recovery taught me to be available to God’s surprises,” he reflects. “It’s about being present for the unexpected needs of others and seeing Christ in those moments.”

As Transition House marks seven years of operation, Father Calise continues to lead by example. His story is a testament to the power of vulnerability, resilience, and faith. For him, the work is far from over. “Sobriety has given me the chance to touch lives in ways I never imagined. And for that, I’m deeply grateful.”

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(ZENIT News – Asia News / Vatican City, 11.26.2024).- On Friday, 22 November, the Vatican hosted the award ceremony for the 2024 Ratzinger Prize, which the homonymous Foundation has given out since 2011 to individuals who have distinguished themselves in scientific research of a theological nature.

This year, for the first time, one of the two winners is from Asia, Japanese sculptor Etsurō Sotoo along with the American theologian Cyril O’Regan. Originally from Kyoto, Sotoo has been working in Barcelona for 46 years on the Sagrada Família. Designed by Antonio Gaudì (1852-1926), the great architect whose cause for beatification is underway, the cathedral is as visionary as it is full of meanings.

On 7 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI himself presided over the solemn ceremony of consecration of the church in Barcelona, which is so significant for our time. We publish extensive excerpts from  Etsurō Sotoo’s address at the award ceremony.

***

When I first came to Barcelona from Japan in 1978, I remember feeling like a stranger in a foreign land. Every street, every corner, appeared full of stories and symbols that, at first, were foreign to me. However, when I started working with stone, when I took the chisel and started sculpting, I knew that stone had its own language, a language that needs no translation, so I came looking for stone from Japan to Europe.

Stone is great art or something more. Art, in its purest form, is a universe of stone, to the end of the universe where no one has gone and we cannot go, but I know that the stone is there.

Working at the Sagrada Família made me realise that, although we come from different cultures, we share a common essence that can be expressed not only through art, for I discovered that Gaudí had a somewhat oriental intuition. Over time I began to feel that my Japanese roots and this Catalan land were connected, like two branches of the same tree, which meet in the spirituality of creation. I want to explain the fruits and leaves I have worked on: more than 200 pieces, each more or less a tonne, each finished in five days, that is, on Monday I would bring the stone and by Friday I delivered it. No one then knew what meaning they had.

Gaudí’s disciples had ordered me to put fruit with leaves underneath, stone fruits; above the fruits, colourful Venetian mosaic, and below fruits and stone leaves. But why, what does it mean? Understanding this was necessary for me to sculpt, because a sculptor does not limit himself to cutting stone without sense or meaning, and if I did not understand it I could not work. So I investigated, but since no one knew, I had to invent. We grow thanks to words. And we ourselves are fruits, I say it in the words of Pope Ratzinger: «We are fruits of nature.»

We must not only respect nature. Gaudí said that nature was his teacher; for example, fruits and leaves. In Japan, fruits are not born or ripen in leafless nature. In Japan we grow and mature thanks to words, because we write words with signs. The ideogram for Kotoba, which means word, is composed of two signs: «to say» and «leaves», and literally means «to make a leaf out of saying». My heart tells me that, with this truth, people feel or learn, and that the secret that moved Gaudí lies here: leaves and fruits as a symbol of the growth of our soul, because this temple is a tool to make us grow. I imagine that Gaudí did not know the Japanese language, but since he learnt from nature, that is, nature was his teacher, and our culture also comes from nature, we arrive at the same answer.

This is how I immersed myself in the spirit of this work, feeling deeply Japanese and at the same time a son of this city, like a seed that was born in Japan and flew to Barcelona, a Mediterranean city, a rich land where it grows, adapting and developing far beyond my expectations. In every sculpture, in every figure that I have sketched, I wanted to convey something of that duality, of that encounter between worlds that enriches, adds and deepens our identity, because the more different the cultures that come together, the newer and stronger the culture that is born.

Perhaps there is no better example than the Nativity Portal, where music-playing angels and the children’s choir celebrate the birth of the Child Jesus. For me, these sculptures are not just stone figures. They are a song to life, an attempt to capture those children in stone as if they were my living children, as if each figure was about to move, dance or sing. This is Gaudí’s secret: he was always looking for shapes that would make the stone statue look alive, in motion.

When I started working with stone, a very old gentleman came to see me, and told me: «That child is me, when I was nine or ten years old I used to play ball in front of the Sagrada Família and every time Mr. Gaudí passed by we stopped the game, we stopped as a sign of respect. One day this gentleman, Gaudí, approached me and, putting his hand on my head, said: ‘I will give you a candy if you will be a model’. I didn’t know what a model was, I went to visit his studio with my friends.”

I didn’t expect to see a living model of that façade, I thought they were all dead, and I’m also happy to have made something very similar to that man. Isn’t that what we all feel inside? That impulse to get closer, to touch the divine. We are not simply making a figure and much less a monument; we have to create something real. The Baby Jesus who is there is not made of stone, everyone wants to see him as he was two thousand years ago, where he really existed; everyone wants to be there, together with the Magi, present at the most important and magnificent event of that time.

People wonder how you can continue to build without Gaudí. Art is not like someone has made a mistake and we follow this wrong path; art, like science, is the search for the right answer, because, even if Gaudí is no longer with us and he did not leave any data, if we look where Gaudí looked, we always find the right answer. This is my way of building the Sagrada Família.

Today, almost a century and a half after Gaudí began to work, we are closer than ever to seeing the Sagrada Família completed. But I wonder: Even when the architectural project is completed, is it really possible that a work like this can be finished? Can we say that something that is growing is completed? The Sagrada Família is not just a construction; It is a symbol of our ability to create something greater than ourselves, something that lasts, that transcends. Gaudí said: «The more we try, the better, because the owner of that house is not in a hurry.» I would add that this temple is an eternal instrument that builds us: Pope Benedict said in his homily that, “The Church of herself is nothing; she is called to be the sign and instrument of Christ”

Personally, I know that my mission in this work is not over. There will always be something more to do, some detail to perfect, some space to fill with meaning, something to restore and improve. Gaudí said that his real client was God and I believe that, in some way, all of us who work here feel this same vocation. My job is not only to sculpt stone, but to give it life, to transmit through it the faith and love that Gaudí dreamt of. Always thinking: how can we give happiness to this great client, God? The answer is: “We simply try to make ourselves happy, as every parent feels happy when they see their children happy, loved.”

Therefore, as long as there is a spark of creativity, as long as there is a stone waiting to be carved, I will stay here, serving this work with humility and devotion. In the meantime, we try to improve the work, learning, building ourselves as human beings.

For me, the Sagrada Família is not just a building under construction: it is a prayer that rises, a song that celebrates the greatness of God and the nobility of the human spirit. And I know that, in this place, I will always find a home, a reason to go on, a purpose that fills my heart. We are simply a note within the score that harmonises God’s music.

When I see visitors marvel at the sculptures, stop to observe every detail, I know that my work, our work, acquires meaning. The work of the Sagrada Família is an invitation to engage God in dialogue, to peace, to communion. And it is this, in the end, that gives me strength. I feel that my life, my culture, my history, and each of the days I have dedicated to this basilica have not only been worth it, but I feel built by it, not by me.

The Sagrada Família will continue to be a beacon of hope and love for all who visit it. And, as long as God and destiny allow it, I will remain here, to take care of her, sculpting, dreaming and working so that every corner of this temple reflects the divine light, that light that unites us and reminds us that, in the end, «We are all one in love».

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A Life of Defiance and Sacrifice

Gibbons, who has spent over 11 years in prison for her peaceful protests against abortion, is currently incarcerated following her latest arrest in June 2024. Her crime? Standing silently outside Toronto’s Morgentaler Clinic, a site at the heart of Canada’s abortion debate. Despite facing legal repercussions for her actions, she remains unwavering in her convictions.

In her letter, Gibbons criticized Canada’s judiciary for what she perceives as its complicity in perpetuating abortion. She described the system as one that «silences dissent» and prioritizes property rights over the lives of the unborn. “The disdain of the court for life is palpable,” she wrote, lamenting what she called the nation’s “amnesia” about the sanctity of life.

The Legal Backdrop: A Battle for Free Expression

Ontario’s “Safe Access to Abortion Services Act,” enacted in 2018, prohibits pro-life activities, including silent protests and prayer, within 50 meters of abortion facilities. Gibbons has frequently clashed with this law, viewing it as a blatant suppression of free expression and a surrender to what she calls “the mills of death.”

The law, initially introduced by a Liberal government, remains unchallenged under the Conservative leadership of Premier Doug Ford. Gibbons’ resistance to this legislation has come at a personal cost—her repeated arrests and imprisonment.

A Message Rooted in Faith and Hope

Gibbons’ letter is not just a critique of Canada’s legal and political landscape but also a call to action for pro-life advocates. She exhorted supporters to reject complacency, warning that “a world where evil goes unchallenged is dying.” She urged individuals to confront injustice head-on, inspired by the “love of Christ” and a shared humanity with the unborn.

In her poignant words: “The Holy Spirit mobilizes us to defend our shared humanity with our unborn friends. Keep going! Peace of Christ.”

A History of Peaceful Resistance

Gibbons’ activism spans decades, marked by arrests, trials, and imprisonment. Her most recent legal battles began in May 2024, when she spent hours outside the Morgentaler Clinic before being arrested. Even when transferred to a mental health court for remaining silent during proceedings, Gibbons remained resolute, refusing to abandon her principles.

Her activism is deeply tied to Canada’s history of abortion legislation. Since the legalization of abortion in 1969, more than four million unborn children have been aborted, according to CLC. Gibbons sees her actions as a counterpoint to this grim statistic—a testimony to the value of every life.

The Broader Context: A Nation Divided

Gibbons’ case comes at a time of heightened tension around abortion rights in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has doubled down on its pro-choice stance, while pro-life advocates like Gibbons continue to challenge the prevailing narrative.

Her letter serves as both a rallying cry and a reminder of the cost of conviction. For Gibbons, the fight for life is not merely a political issue but a moral imperative that transcends the courtroom and enters the realm of faith and humanity.

In a nation grappling with its identity and values, Gibbons’ voice, even from behind bars, resonates as a call to remember, resist, and persevere.

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“The Meese Award is the highest award ADF bestows,” said ADF CEO, President, and General Counsel Kristen Waggoner. “Its namesake, Attorney General Edwin Meese, is a hero to us all. His wisdom and friendship provided crucial guidance and support to ADF in its formative years. General Meese’s life’s work embodied a commitment to the Constitution, textual originalism, and religious liberty. ADF presents this award each year to leaders in our culture who have courageously walked into the wind of opposition; giants on whose shoulders we stand as we work to protect our most fundamental freedoms. This year, I’m honored to present the Meese Award to Dr. Thomas F. Farr. ADF recognizes Tom’s significant efforts in publicly promoting and defending our most cherished freedoms and a principled jurisprudence through the active advancement of constitutional originalism.”

As an advocate, thought leader, and public servant, Dr. Farr’s vigilance in expanding religious liberty around the globe has been unparalleled. He served for 28 years as a foreign service officer, where he worked diligently to bring religious literacy to the Foreign Service through education. He pioneered America’s religious liberty diplomacy, resulting in global advances for free exercise and, in some cases, the saving of lives.

Waggoner noted that Farr possesses a deep understanding of how essential religious freedom is to human flourishing—and that its divine origin makes it the most precious of natural rights.

“Tom’s years at the helm of the Religious Freedom Institute produced remarkable scholarship, upon which ADF’s lawyers and experts regularly rely,” she explained. “Tom’s decades of faithful service have embodied and advanced religious freedom through scholarship, diplomacy, and a steady Christian presence in the halls of power.”

The award is named in honor of former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III, who was the first recipient in 2009.

“I am honored to have my name associated with this award, which has been distinguished by the outstanding individuals who have received the award over the past years. That tradition continues today with our recipient, Thomas F. Farr, who has tirelessly worked to advance religious freedom,” Meese said.

Past award recipients include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Judge Robert Bork, Archbishop Charles Chaput, Dr. Albert Mohler, Ambassador Sam Brownback, Chuck Colson, Prof. Robert P. George, ADF Founder Alan Sears, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, and former ADF CEO and Home School Legal Defense Association Founder Michael Farris.

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