Bishops to Meet June 10-12, Consecrate U.S. to Sacred Heart

 
  WASHINGTON — Bishop David A. Konderla of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma will join fellow bishops from across the nation as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gathers for the 2026 Spring Plenary Assembly in Orlando, Florida, June 10-12.
  The public portion of the assembly will begin with an address by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, who will deliver his first remarks as president of the Conference. Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the new Papal Nuncio to the United States, is also expected to deliver an address to the body of bishops.
  In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Thursday, June 11. To prepare for this occasion, the bishops will have time to hear reflections on the Sacred Heart from several of their brother bishops before the special Mass of consecration, which will be livestreamed on the USCCB’s YouTube channel.
  The bishops’ livestream event is intended to be a catalyst to encourage parishes and individuals to participate in the America 250 commemoration by contributing to 250 Hours of Adoration and/or 250 Works of Mercy.
  The plenary agenda has not yet been finalized and is therefore subject to change but is expected to include votes on a number of action items:

• Two items pertain to a consultation on causes of beatification and canonization: Monsignor Joseph Francis Buh and John Rick Miller. 

• The Committee on Divine Worship will also present elements of a new edition of the Lectionary for Mass and the 2025 Roman Missal-Liturgy of the Hours Supplement for approval by the body of bishops. 

• A revision to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which was first discussed by bishops in regional meetings in November 2022.

The public sessions on June 10 and 11 will be livestreamed on the USCCB website.

Photo courtesy of USCCB

Learn How Catholics Contributed to America's Founding

  WASHINGTON — As the United States of America commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this July 4, the United States Congress of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) joins the celebration by lifting up the contributions of Catholics and the impact of the Church on the nation's history.
  In an historic moment, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, 2026, and invite all parishes to join in this consecration. To facilitate this at the diocesan and parish level, the USCCB has created a webpage with multiple resources.
  The USCCB recently added a special page to its website, We Hold These Truths. The resource page celebrates with stories about Catholic contributions to the United States of America on its Semiquincentennial (250) anniversary. Parishes and individuals can also learn more about participating in the America 250 commemoration by contributing to 250 Hours of Adoration and/or 250 Works of Mercy.
  Additionally, Catholic Current begins a new America 250 series of special video episodes called "Catholics and the Founding" exploring the contributions of Catholics to the United States.
 For more, go to: www.usccb.org/weholdthesetruths.

Meet a Seminarian

Saint of the Month: 

St. Jeanne-Antide Thouret

1765–1826 | Feast: May 23

French Sister and Foundress

BY CANDACE BRYANT-LESTER/FAITH Catholic

  The local population called Sister Jeanne-Antide and the members of her order the “[soup] broth and small schools sisters.”

 

  In the month of May the Church celebrates a remarkable French sister who dedicated herself to Christ by serving him in the poor.
  After Jeanne lost her mother at the age of 16, she carried the heavy responsibility of caring for her younger siblings. Though her father wished for her to marry, Jeanne instead chose to enter the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. There, she was formed in the spirituality of St. Vincent de Paul, whom she considered to be her spiritual father.
  With the Daughters of Charity, Sister Jeanne worked with the poor and in hospitals. Eventually she founded a school for poor girls as well as a soup kitchen. During the decade of the 1790s when France was thrust into revolution, Church property was confiscated, monasteries were dissolved and religious were ordered to return to secular life or face death. Sister Jeanne refused and was subsequently beaten by French authorities.
  Eventually, however, she was forced to follow others into exile, heading first to Germany before settling in Switzerland. Even in exile in Switzerland, she opened a school and a hospital, and formed a congregation named the Institute of the Daughters of St. Vincent de Paul.
  Sister Jeanne’s tireless commitment to serving the poor defined her life. Together with the women in her order she continued to open new schools and hospitals to care for the sick; she also worked with prisoners and organized the work they did so they could receive a salary. In 1810 she was called to oversee the Hospital for Incurables in Naples, Italy. A few years later, Pope Pius VII approved her community, and she was able to open more schools and convents in France, Italy and Switzerland.
  Sister Jeanne-Antide died in 1826 and was canonized in 1934 by Pope Pius XI. Her order, now known as the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne-Antide Thouret, still operates today in 30 countries around the world.
  St. Jeanne-Antide Thouret, pray for us!

From the Editor...

  We close out May (Month of Mary) with a whirlwind of activity: the last day of school for most kiddos was last week, as were many high school and college graduations (Holy Family Classical School held its first senior graduation in 66 years!), Pentecost Sunday, Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church/Memorial Day, and the unofficial start of Summer.
  June promises to be no less busy as it is packed with summer vacations and a number of major events in the life of the Catholic Church, both nationally and here at home. The annual diocesan-wide Corpus Christi Procession is set for Thursday evening, June 4, in Tulsa. Hundreds of faithful from around the Diocese are expected to join Bishop David Konderla for 6 p.m. Mass at the Parish of Christ the King, followed by the procession immediately after from midtown to Holy Family Cathedral in downtown.
  We do have a need for volunteers in multiple roles that evening — procession ambassadors, loud speaker carriers, and clean-up crew. If you are able and willing to help, please click here to sign up. You may also contact volunteer coordinator Cathy Miller by clicking here for more information. Thank you!
  Nationally, on June 11, as part of the lead up to the 250th anniversary of the historic signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Parishes around the country are encouraged to join the bishops in celebrating the consecration of our nation to the Sacred Heart. A Novena begins on June 3. For more, click here.
  So, why consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart? The USCCB provides an excellent video from Archbishop Alexander K. Sample on what it means. View the video here on YouTube.
  In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying this three-day holiday weekend with friends and family. I came across a short piece on Memorial Day from a Catholic perspective provided by Relevant Radio, "It’s a spiritual work of mercy to pray for the dead, so pray for all the souls of the men and women who have died in service to the United States." To read their entire post, click here.
  Until next week, thanks for reading!