U.S. Bishops to Meet Nov. 11-14 in Baltimore; Assembly to Be Live Streamed

WASHINGTON - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for the 2024 Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, November 11-14. Throughout the meeting, the bishops will have opportunities for prayer and fraternal dialogue with one another. Public sessions of the assembly on November 12 and 13 will be livestreamed.

 The plenary will begin with an address by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. The bishops will hear from Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, president of the USCCB.

 The agenda for the plenary is not final, and therefore subject to change, but the bishops are anticipating a full schedule that includes: an update on the resources being developed in a collaborative effort among several USCCB committees for Dignitas Infinita; an update on the interim implementation of Antiquum Ministerium (on the ministry of the catechist); a discussion on the pastoral implementation of integral ecology and Laudato si’; the drafting of a document guiding lay ecclesial ministry as a follow-up to the bishops’ 2005 document; the USCCB’s 2025-2028 Mission Directive; the USCCB’s 2025 budget; and three action items pertaining to liturgical texts from the divine worship committee.

 Also expected at the meeting: an update on migration; a report on the 2021-2024 Synod of Bishops; a report on the U.S. bishops’ Eucharistic revival initiative and National Eucharistic Congress; a consultation of the bishops on causes of beatification and canonization for Sister Annella Zervas, a professed religious of the Order of Saint Benedict, and of the Servant of God Gertrude Agnes Barber, a lay woman.

 During the assembly, the bishops will vote for the new Conference treasurer, as well as chairmen-elect of five Conference committees. The terms for the bishops elected as chairmen will serve for one year as chairman-elect before beginning a three-year term at the conclusion of the 2025 Fall Plenary Assembly.

 Public sessions of the assembly on November 12 and 13 will be livestreamed at: www.usccb.org/meetings -- news updates, vote totals, texts of addresses and presentations, and other materials will be posted to this page. Those wishing to follow the meeting on social media may use the hashtag #USCCB24 follow on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usccb), as well as Instagram (https://instagram.com/usccb), Threads (www.threads.net/@usccb), and X, formerly known as Twitter (@USCCB).

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including archbishops of Tehran and Toronto

Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he will create 21 new cardinals, including the archbishops of Tehran, Tokyo, and Toronto, at a consistory on Dec. 8.

The 87-year-old pope made the announcement from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square after reciting the Angelus prayer on Oct. 6.

This is the full list:

• Archbishop Frank Leo, metropolitan archbishop of Toronto (Canada)

• Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, SVD, metropolitan archbishop of Tokyo (Japan)

• Archbishop Dominique Joseph Mathieu, OFM Conv, archbishop of Tehran-Ispahan (Belgian missionary bishop in Iran)

• Bishop Mykola Bycok, CSsR, Eparch of Sts. Peter and Paul of Melbourne of the Ukrainians (Ukrainian bishop in Australia)

• Father Timothy Radcliffe, OP, theologian (United Kingdom)

• Father Fabio Baggio, CS, undersecretary for the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development (Italy)

• Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad, official of the Secretariat of State and organizer of papal trips (India)

• Bishop Baldassare Reina, vicar general of the diocese of Rome (Italy)

• Archbishop Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio, metropolitan archbishop of Lima (Peru)

• Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, OFM, bishop of Bogor (Indonesia)

• Archbishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic, archbishop of Santiago del Estero (Argentina)

• Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, OFM, metropolitan archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador)

• Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib, metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Chile (Chile)

• Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David, bishop of Kalookan (Philippines)

• Archbishop Laszlo Nemet, SVD, metropolitan archbishop of Belgrade (Serbia)

• Archbishop Jaime Spengler, OFM, metropolitan archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil)

• Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, metropolitan archbishop of Abidjian (Ivory Coast)

• Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco, OP, metropolitan archbishop of Algiers (Algeria)

• Archbishop Roberto Repole, metropolitan archbishop of Turin (Italy)

• Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Lithuania)

One of the cardinals-elect is already over 80:

• Archbishop Angelo Acerbi, apostolic nuncio emeritus (Italy)

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has created 142 cardinals from 70 countries at nine consistories.

The last consistory to create new cardinals took place on Sept. 30, 2023. The new cardinals included Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem; Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong; and Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. 

Fifteen members of the College of Cardinals have turned 80 since the last consistory, thus losing their chance to participate in a future papal election. 

After the December consistory, there will be 141 cardinal electors (barring the unexpected death of any of the cardinals) — 111 (79%) of whom have been appointed by Pope Francis.

U.S. Bishops’ President Calls on Fervent Prayer to Open Pathway to Peace

WASHINGTON – “Our Catholic faith teaches us to hope even amidst the darkest of circumstances, for Christ is risen from the dead,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in a letter inviting the bishops to pray for an end to the violence in the Holy Land. At a time of warfare in the Holy Land and in the face of a dramatic rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents here in the United States, Archbishop Broglio called on the bishops to seek ways to express solidarity with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters, and commit to combatting all forms of hatred.

 “Compassion is not a zero-sum game,” he said, referencing the loss of life in Israel and in Gaza, as well as the spike in hate crimes in the United States. “We join in mourning all those whose lives have been cut short. We share the desire for lasting peace.”

 To mark the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, Pope Francis has called on Catholics to observe a day of prayer and fasting for peace on October 7. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has also asked the clergy and lay faithful of his diocese to observe October 7 as a day of prayer, fasting and penance. To complement these efforts, Archbishop Broglio invited the U.S. bishops to join Pope Francis, and the Christians of the Holy Land “in fervent prayer for an end to the violence, for the prompt and safe return of all hostages, and for the conversion of hearts so that hatred may be overcome, opening a pathway to reconciliation and peace.”

 Read Archbishop Broglio’s letter to the bishops here.

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Bishop Burbidge Calls on Catholics to Renew Commitment to Life

WASHINGTON – “Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, gives us the fullness of life,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington in his statement inviting Catholics to commemorate Respect Life Month with “a revival of prayer and action.”

 “{Jesus} calls each of us to respect that gift of life in every human person. While we live in a society that often rejects those who are weak, fragile, or vulnerable, they are the most in need of our care and protection,” he continued. “Through the graces of this revival, may we witness, work, and vote so that all children in the womb will be protected in law and welcomed in love, and that all mothers and families will be strengthened by our support and accompaniment.”

 Since 1973, the Catholic Church in the United States has observed October as “Respect Life Month.” Bishop Burbidge, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called on Catholics to renew their commitment to the legal protection of human life, to support policies and service ministries that assist mothers, and to extend compassion to those suffering from participation in abortion.

 Read Bishop Burbidge’s full statement here.

Next International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Sydney in 2028

The 53rd International Eucharistic Congress in Quito, Ecuador, wrapped up on Sunday with the announcement that Sydney will host the next International Eucharistic Congress in 2028.

The announcement was made by Cardinal Baltazar Porras, archbishop emeritus of Caracas, Venezuela, and pontifical legate to this year’s International Eucharistic Congress.

As part of the closing Mass in Quito, presided over by Porras, the prelate declared: “In the name and by mandate of Pope Francis, he announces to you that the 54th International Eucharistic Congress will take place in the city of Sydney” in 2028.

Sydney was the site of the 29th International Eucharistic Congress in 1928.

Role of the Eucharist in the Church in Sydney

In a video shown at the event, Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney said he was “delighted to invite you all to our port city in 2028 ... 100 years after Sydney hosted this great event.” 

In a statement to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Danny Meagher assured that “we need life in the Church of Sydney to flourish. Archbishop Anthony Fisher, recognizing the importance of the International Eucharistic Congress, hopes that it will be a great success, not only for Sydney and Australia but also for all who participate.”

“We hope it will be a great occasion of grace for all attendees so that they return home with a true sense of grace, formed and transformed by what they have learned,” he said.

The prelate pointed out that “the challenge for us is to organize a very good International Eucharistic Congress, and I would measure success if we manage to have people’s hearts touched and their minds open to the richness of the Eucharist, entering into God.”

“Christ gives us his life, introduces us to his paschal mystery, and sends us into the world. Through quality presentations that touch the mind with good theology, and also connect with the heart and spirit through good liturgy and entertainment, we seek to get people truly engaged,” he said.

U.S. Bishops’ Hispanic Affairs Subcommittee Releases Diocesan Survey on Parishes and Hispanic/Latino Ministry

 WASHINGTON - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs has released the results of a recent diocesan survey it conducted on parishes and Hispanic/Latino ministry. The survey aligns with the launch of the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry and serves as a baseline for implementing it as a 10-year plan.

The survey featured three questions regarding the number of parishes in each diocese, the number of parishes offering Mass in Spanish, and the number of parishes with a Hispanic/Latino presence or ministry without a Mass celebrated in Spanish. The data was self-reported by the dioceses.

 The summary of the findings show:

• 175 surveys were completed, representing 100% of the Latin Catholic (arch)dioceses in the United States*

• The (arch)dioceses reported a total of 16,279 parishes, with 4,479 offering the Sunday Mass in Spanish.

• 2,760 parishes have a Hispanic/Latino presence or ministry, but do not currently offer Mass in Spanish.

• 99% of the surveyed dioceses have multiple parishes offering Mass in Spanish.

 *The survey did not include the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA,

the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair

of St. Peter, or the Eastern Catholic Archeparchies and Eparchies in the United States.

The survey also highlighted the leadership in Hispanic/Latino ministry at the diocesan level, with 47% of respondents being either directors or coordinators of Hispanic/Latino ministry, while another 35% of respondents held positions in offices dedicated to cultural diversity, faith formation, and catechesis, signaling that there are other diocesan offices engaged in, or overseeing Hispanic/Latino ministry. The subcommittee reads this data point to show the correlation of a robust diocesan structure and a vibrant ministry at the parish level.

 Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose, chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs welcomed the results: “Surveys like this are vital to understand and address the response of the Church to the needs and aspirations of our Hispanic/Latino communities. There are common obstacles that dioceses face when engaging in Hispanic/Latino ministry, such as bilingual priests, or limited resources. In a practical way, this survey helps to measure our work and determine how we can continue serving this thriving part of our Church and the importance of ongoing ministry to the needs of our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters.”

 Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, assistant director of Hispanic Affairs under the USCCB’s Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church commended the dioceses for their participation in the survey, stating, “The high participation rate reflects the dedication of our dioceses to Hispanic and Latino communities. It is heartening to see such a widespread commitment to build a more integrated and united Catholic Church in the United States.”

 The results of the survey, and additional information about the work of the USCCB Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs may be found at: Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs USCCB.

 The survey results are also available in Spanish: Diocesan Survey (Edición en Español).

Survey: New priests are young and involved in their community

CNA Staff - The incoming class of seminarians who will be ordained in 2024 is young and involved in their community, an annual survey released April 15 found.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned the Center for Applied Research (CARA) at Georgetown University for an annual survey. From January to March of this year, CARA surveyed almost 400 seminarians who are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood in 2024. 

More than 80% of respondents were to be ordained diocesan priests, while almost 20% were from a religious order. The largest group of respondents, 80%, were studying at seminaries in the Midwest.  

The survey found that half of the graduating 2024 seminarians, “ordinands,” will be ordained at 31 years or younger — younger than the recent average. Since 1999, ordinands were on average in their mid-30s, trending slightly younger. 

This year’s ordinands were involved in their local communities growing up. As many as 51% had attended parish youth groups, while 33% were involved in Catholic campus ministry. A significant number (28%) of the ordinands were Boy Scouts, while 24% reported that they had participated in the Knights of Columbus or Knights of Peter Claver.

Involvement in parish ministry was also a key commonality for this year’s ordinands. Surveyors found that 70% of ordinands were altar servers before attending seminary. Another 48% often read at Mass, while 41% distributed Communion as extraordinary ministers. In addition, just over 30% taught as catechists. 

The path to priesthood

Most seminarians first considered the priesthood when they were as young as 16 years old, according to the survey. But the process of affirming that vocation and studying to be a priest takes, on average, 18 years. 

Encouragement helps make a priest, according to the CARA survey. Almost 90% of ordinands said that someone (most often a parish priest, friend, or parishioner) encouraged them to consider becoming priests. 

Discerning the priesthood is not always an easy path, and 45% of ordinands said they were discouraged from considering the priesthood by someone in their life — most often a friend, classmate at school, mother, father, or other family member.

The survey also found that most ordinands had Catholic parents and were baptized Catholic as infants. Eighty-two percent of ordinands reported that both their parents were Catholic when they were children, while 92% of ordinands were baptized Catholic as an infant. Of those who became Catholic later in life, most converted at age 23. 

Catholic education and home schooling were also factors for this year’s ordinands. One in 10 ordinands were home-schooled, while between 32% and 42% of ordinands went to Catholic elementary school, high school, or college. 

Seeing religious vocations in the family also helped seminarians find their vocation, the survey indicated. About 3 in 10 ordinands reported that they had a relative who was a priest or religious. 

Eucharistic adoration was the most popular form of prayer for this year’s graduating seminarians. Seventy-five percent reported regularly attending Eucharistic adoration before entering seminary. The rosary was also important to those discerning vocations: 71% of ordinands said they regularly prayed the rosary before joining seminary. Half said they attended a prayer or Bible group, and 40% said they practiced lectio divina.

The survey also found that 60% of ordinands graduated college or obtained a graduate-level degree before joining the seminary. The most common areas of study were business, liberal arts, philosophy, or engineering. 

This leads to many seminarians — about 1 in 5 — carrying educational debt into the seminary. On average, each ordinand had more than $25,000 in educational debt. 

Most seminarians don’t come straight from school, however. Seventy percent reported having full-time work experience before joining the seminary. Very few served in the military, with only 4% reporting having served in the U.S. armed forces. 

About a quarter (23%) of ordinands were foreign-born — down from the average of 28% since 1999. Ordinands not born in the U.S. were most commonly born in Mexico, Vietnam, Colombia, and the Philippines. The survey found that 67% of ordinands were white; almost 20% were Hispanic or Latino; about 10% identified as Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native Hawaiian; and 2% were Black.