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Thursday 24 July 2025 Thursday of week 16 in Ordinary Time From Lebanon to New York, in the heart of St. Patrick's Cathedral, the city's most famous church, Lebanon has an important spot dedicated for Mar Charbel. The Chapel of Saint Sharbel is situated along the northeastern corridor of the cathedral, near the Lady Chapel, and is accessible by way of the ambulatory, or ramp, on the north side of the Sanctuary. Saint Patrick Cathedral’s most recent chapel honors the Catholic Maronite Saint Sharbel Makhlouf, O.L.M., a monk, and priest from Lebanon whose profound spirituality touched hearts the world...

The Bible Chapel advertises its special-needs ministry as “a place where you can attend church services without worry.” It also boasts that all its staff and volunteers are “rigorously screened, cleared, and trained.” But one family claims the nondenominational megachurch, located in the McMurray suburb of Pittsburgh, negligently enabled a known sexual predator to abuse their 13-year-old son, who has Down syndrome. A June statement from attorneys representing the family says that on Jan. 5, the victim was assaulted in Bible Chapel’s sanctuary during a youth group event. The alleged perpetrator, Daniel Gould, is an adult on the autism spectrum....

Courtney Wingo trusted Leatherwood Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama, to take her 12-year-old daughter Kamryn on a youth trip in the Houston-area from June 4–7. But she believes the church betrayed her trust and risked her daughter’s safety. “This trip was executed with no proper planning, no consent, and no consideration for the safety or readiness of the children involved,” Wingo told MinistryWatch. “My daughter was unprepared and shaken by what she saw in the tent city. It’s deeply troubling to me that an adult in a position of leadership would act so recklessly — especially when responsible for other...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The director of a summer camp at Bob Jones University between 2018 and 2024 is accused of criminal sexual conduct with a minor during his time as director, according to court records. Stephen Kopp was charged in April 2024 with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, court records show. The records say the victim was under the age of 16. An arrest warrant for Kopp said he engaged in intercourse with the victim multiple times between Nov. 16, 2023 and Feb. 16, 2024. It said Kopp was acting as a "custodial guardian" for the victim during...

23 July 2025 Wednesday of week 16 in Ordinary Time St. Bridget Of Sweden Catholic Church, Van Nuys, CAReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingExodus 16:1-5,9-15The Lord sends quails and manna from heavenFrom Elim they set out, and the whole community of the sons of Israel reached the wilderness of Sin – between Elim and Sinai – on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left Egypt. And the whole community of the sons of Israel began to complain against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness and said to them, ‘Why did we not die at...

In Matthew 21, Jesus tells a parable of two sons. One refuses to work in his father’s vineyard but later repents and serves his father; the second says he will do the work but ends up not following through.

Tuesday 22 July 2025 Saint Mary Magdalen Feast Saint Mary Magdalen Church, in Saint Louis, MOReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingSong of Songs 3:1-4I found him whom my heart lovesThe bride says this:On my bed, at night, I sought himwhom my heart loves.I sought but did not find him.So I will rise and go through the City;in the streets and in the squaresI will seek him whom my heart loves.I sought but did not find him.The watchmen came upon meon their rounds in the City:‘Have you seen him whom my heart loves?’Scarcely had I passed themwhen I...

Can I promote a book I wrote in this forum? I wrote a book describing how one can date many events during the life time of Jesus, and I am thinking of writing weekly posts describing each event (for example the conception of Virgin Mary by Hanna, the birth of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion if Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the transfiguration, the martyrdom of Stephen etc. each in an individual post in this forum. Basically excerpts from my books. Is it allowed? Would you guys and gals be interested?

Martyrs of TodayWe are bombarded by a constant stream of news concerning supposed mistreatment of and microagression against popular minorities, but little is said about the very real persecution of Christians.On June 22, a suicide bomber attacked the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias in the Damascus suburb of Dweila, killing 25 members of the congregation. The Syrian government blamed the attack on the Islamic State, which has been murdering Christians for well over a decade. Though many prominent corporate media outlets such as CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post covered the story, the incident elicited...

21 July 2025 Monday of week 16 in Ordinary Time St Lawrence Parish, Shelton, CT Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingExodus 14:5-18Pharaoh sets out in pursuit of the sons of IsraelWhen Pharaoh, king of Egypt, was told that the Israelites had made their escape, he and his courtiers changed their minds about the people. ‘What have we done,’ they said ‘allowing Israel to leave our service?’ So Pharaoh had his chariot harnessed and gathered his troops about him, taking six hundred of the best chariots and all the other chariots in Egypt, each manned by a picked...

20 July 2025 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in ClasseReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingGenesis 18:1-10'Next year your wife Sarah will have a son'The Lord appeared to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, and bowed to the ground. ‘My lord,’ he said, ‘I beg you, if I find...

JOHNNYSWIM is an American folk-pop duo comprised of married couple Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez. They met after a church service in Nashville and founded the band in 2005. The duo gained prominence with their 2014 album Diamonds and when Chip and Joanna Gaines selected their song “Home” as the theme for Fixer Upper, sparking a 20-year friendship. They also have a show, At Home on the Road, on the Magnolia Network. Like the Gaines, the Ramirezes are professing Christians. Abner has stated in an interview with Relevant magazine: “I believe in Jesus. I believe in the Holy Spirit....

19 July 2025 Saturday of week 15 in Ordinary Time Relic of Saint Macrina the Younger in Monastery of Gregoriou in Mt. AthosReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingExodus 12:37-42The sons of Israel leave Egypt hurriedly by nightThe sons of Israel left Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand on the march – all men – not counting their families. People of various sorts joined them in great numbers; there were flocks, too, and herds in immense droves. They baked cakes with the dough which they had brought from Egypt, unleavened because the dough was not leavened; they had...

18 July 2025 Friday of week 15 in Ordinary Time St. Jadwiga Church - Zlotoryja, PolandReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingExodus 11:10-12:14The institution of the PassoverMoses and Aaron worked many wonders in the presence of Pharaoh. But the Lord made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn, and he did not let the sons of Israel leave his country. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: ‘This month is to be the first of all the others for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, “On the...

Polish bishop warns of ‘Islamization of Europe’ as he denounces open bordersAntoni Długosz, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Częstochowa, spoke about the Polish government's dangerous migration policies last Saturday during a pilgrimage.A Polish bishop has denounced his government as “political gangsters” who foster the “Islamization of Europe” through their migration policy.According to a report by the Catholic Herald, Antoni Długosz, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Częstochowa, spoke about the Polish government’s dangerous migration policies last Saturday during an annual pilgrimage to the Jasna Góra monastery, where the famous Black Madonna icon is displayed.“German police are tossing illegal immigrants across the border like...

This is the Wednesday evening service at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills with Amir Tsarfati as the guest. Amir and Pastor Jack discuss the situation in the Middle East and all the things that led up to Oct 7 and what's been happening with other minorities in the Middle East in the countries around them. The video is 1:33;27 minutes long. It is long but is fascinating and contains a wealth of information.

17 July 2025 Thursday of week 15 in Ordinary TimePainting of St. Benedict of Skalka and his fellow hermit Andrew Zorard, Skalka nad Váhom, SlovakiaReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingExodus 3:13-20God reveals his name to MosesMoses, hearing the voice of God coming from the middle of the bush, said to him, ‘I am to go, then, to the sons of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” But if they ask me what his name is, what am I to tell them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I Am...

John MacArthur, the California-based Bible teacher, pastor and author known for his polarizing theological stances and defiance of ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns, has died at 86. Grace to You, the teaching ministry of MacArthur, confirmed in an X post on Monday evening that MacArthur had passed away not long after being hospitalized with pneumonia. "Our hearts are heavy, yet rejoicing, as we share the news that our beloved pastor and teacher John MacArthur has entered into the presence of the Savior. This evening, his faith became sight," the ministry shared on its social media platforms. MacArthur is survived by Patricia, his...

16 July 2025 Wednesday of week 15 in Ordinary TimeOur Lady of Mount Carmel Church of North Pudukkad, Mullassery, IndiaReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I).First readingExodus 3:1-6,9-12The burning bushMoses was looking after the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, priest of Midian. He led his flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the shape of a flame of fire, coming from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; there was the bush blazing but it was not being burnt up....

[NUMEROUS TWITTER/X POSTS AT LINK] Did you know the Bible says not to judge? Apparently it's the only thing the Bible has to say about anything! That was a real post from Chip Gaines of HGTV fame after people learned his new reality show would feature two gay dudes and the boys they adopted. When people started asking why he was platforming sin, Chip threw out a Bible verse out of context: We helpfully tried to respond to Chip, since he has a lot of faithful Christians who have followed his life and career over the years … but he...