St. Andre Bessette

Feast date: Jan 06

Brother André was born Alfred Bessette to a poor Quebec family in 1845, a biography from St. Joseph’s Oratory says. His father died in a work accident when he was nine, and his mother died three years later. His large family was split up and the future Brother André, barely literate and physically weak from birth, moved from job to job for years.

In 1870 he presented himself as a candidate for the novitiate of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal. They did not wish to accept him due to his sickness, but assigned him a very humble job when the bishop implored them to. He was made porter at Notre-Dame College, where his daily tasks consisted of washing floors and windows, cleaning lamps, carrying firewood and working as a messenger.

Bro. André use to say, “It is with the smallest brushes that the artists paint the most beautiful pictures.”

He welcomed the sick and heartbroken, inviting them to pray to St. Joseph. His reputation grew as people reported that their prayers had been answered. He received visitors regularly for twenty-five years. Out of devotion to St. Joseph, he built a chapel with help from friends and money he earned from giving haircuts to students.

Larger versions of the chapel were constructed as more and more pilgrims came.

Brother André died in 1937. Over a million people attended his wake and burial.

Bishop Pierre Morissette of Saint-Jérôme, on Feb. 19, 2010, said “Brother André lived his life with great humility."

"Guided by a deep faith and devotion to Saint Joseph, he dedicated his life to praying, serving the poor, welcoming strangers, healing the sick and comforting the suffering,” the bishop commented. “To this day, his memory remains an important witness to all Canadians of faith and love.”

St. André Bessette was canoninzed by Pope Benedict XVI on October 17, 2010 in Saint Peter's Square.

The Epiphany Of Our Lord

Feast date: Jan 06

The Epiphany of Our Lord is the Christian feast observed on Jan. 6, 2016.  The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, a verb that means "to shine upon," "to manifest," or “to make known.” Thus, the feast of the Epiphany celebrates the many ways that Christ has made Himself known to the world, mainly the three events that manifested the mission and divinity of Christ:  the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12), the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:9-11), and the miracle at Cana (John 2:1-11). 

The visit of the Magi is emphasized on Epiphany Day, and Christ's baptism is celebrated the first Sunday that follows.

Pope Leo XIV closed the holy door of St. Peter’s Basilica this morning, ending the ordinary jubilee year of 2025 (booklet, pp. 3-13; video, 7:12-24:17, especially 20:25).

In 2010, Bishop Ricken declared the apparitions at Champion, Wisconsin, “worthy of belief.” In 2016, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the apparition site as a national shrine.

Iin his December 28 decree, Bishop Ricken exhorted “all the faithful to provide me with useful information about the Cause.”

“As someone who converted to Catholicism as a teenager myself, I know what it is like to search for answers, to thirst for the truth which only the Lord Jesus offers,” said Archbishop John Wilson. “As Catholics, leading people to Christ has to be at the heart of everything we do, because it is the Lord Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.”

“I want the faithful—from converts to cradle Catholics—to feel confident and assured of their faith, so that when they are asked the reason for the hope within them, they can confidently speak of the Lord Jesus and his saving work,” Archbishop Wilson added.

The archdiocese stated that the project will “consist of 52 videos, posted every Monday on YouTube in 2026 ... To ensure doctrinal accuracy, each script draws from a foundation of Scripture, primary Church Father documents, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and official papal and Church teachings.”

“I express on behalf of the clergy, religious, and laity of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, my predecessors, and myself, profound regret over the tragic and inexcusable harm you have suffered at the hands of your abusers,” Archbishop Aymond wrote in his letter, dated December 26 and released January 3.

“I sincerely apologize to you for the trauma caused to you and to those close to you as a survivor of sexual abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy, a religious sister or brother, or a lay employee or volunteer working within the Catholic Church,” he continued. “Sexual abuse is an inexcusable evil, and I am ashamed that you or anyone should have been sexually abused by someone working within the Catholic Church.”

The prelate added, “The Archdiocese of New Orleans takes responsibility for the abuse you have suffered and pledges to keep children and all vulnerable people safe in our ministry.”

On January 3, President Trump said that Colombia’s president is “making cocaine” and “does have to watch his a—.”

Bishop Juan Carlos Barreto of Soacha told Crux if the US action against Venezuela, which “is totally inadmissible, is expanded to Colombia, a country in which there’s a legitimately elected president, we’d see a much more serious aggression, one with terrible consequence.”

Bishop Barreto expressed concern that the president acted “without observing the principles of the United Nations and without consulting the US Congress” and described the action as “evidence of his authoritarianism.”

The novena’s “overarching intention,” according to the announcement, is “the end to abortion. Each daily prayer intention highlights a related topic and is accompanied by a reflection, educational information, and suggested daily actions.”

Francesco Rocca, the president of Italy’s Lazio region, met with Pope Leo XIV on January 3 and discussed the meeting in a subsequent Facebook post.

“At the end of December, a firecracker and gunshots were fired at the secondary entrance of the church,” the Italian bishops’ newspaper reported. “A few days ago, more gunshots. But this time, the bullets arrived inside. Fortunately, no one was there.”

The Archdiocese of Palermo condemned the attack, and the parish priest called for state action “to remedy the sea of illegality, drug dealing, and violence” in the area. Archbishop Corrado Lorefice will celebrate an Epiphany Mass at the parish today.