Catholic Communications

40 Days for Life Campaign begins Wednesday, Sept. 23
“We have former abortion workers that have told us that when there is someone out there praying in front of an abortion facility, the no show rates for those abortion appointments can go up as high as 75 percent. We might not see that, but the abortion workers see that and we are getting our numbers from them,” he said.
https://iobserve.org/2026/09/21/40-days-for-life-campaign-begins-wednesday-sept-23/

Pope Leo tells Special Olympics athletes they 'remind everyone of the true values of life'
“I entrust you to the intercession of Mary and of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young sportsman like you who, in love with Jesus, together with many friends, knew how to translate the values of sport into a good and generous life, into a holy life,” the pope said.
https://iobserve.org/2026/09/20/pope-leo-tells-special-olympics-athletes-they-remind-everyone-of-the-true-values-of-life/

In AI guardrails push, US bishops advocate for Kids Online Safety Act at the capitol
Earlier this year, Pope Leo XVI called for “adequate regulatory tools capable of upholding justice and curbing the distorting effects of technological power” in his encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas,” which addresses the challenges of AI.
https://iobserve.org/2026/09/19/in-ai-guardrails-push-us-bishops-advocate-for-kids-online-safety-act-at-the-capitol/

This Sunday morning on the Chalice of Salvation we welcome Springfield Bishop William Byrne to celebrate the annual All Schools Mass. Students, faculty and staff from our diocesan Catholic schools will be in attendance. Tune in Sunday morning at 10 on WWLP-TV 22.

Diocese announces suspension of two Stigmatine priests at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish pending investigation into improper behavior
https://iobserve.org/2026/09/18/diocese-announces-suspension-of-two-stigmatine-priests-at-our-lady-of-mt-carmel-parish-pending-investigation-into-improper-behavior/

New effort underway to repeal abortion expansion law
“What this committee’s job is, is to collect enough signatures from registered voters across the state to suspend and ultimately repeal the law Gov. Healey signed into law Aug. 10,” said Myrna Maloney Flynn.
“That is a law that allows abortion for any reason up to the moment of birth, even on healthy moms and healthy, viable, pain-capable children. It also allows this to be done outside of a hospital setting, so this is an issue about the safety of women,” she said
https://iobserve.org/2026/09/18/new-effort-underway-to-repeal-abortion-expansion-law/

OBITUARY: Sister Eileen Murphy, SSJ
https://iobserve.org/2026/09/18/obituary-sister-eileen-murphy-ssj/

Bishop Byrne celebrates All Schools Mass
“Never in the history of humanity has God made anybody like you,” said the bishop in his homily.
https://iobserve.org/2026/09/17/bishop-byrne-celebrates-all-schools-mass/

Virginia diocese investigates potential sainthood cause for Catholic father who saved his son
“What Tom Vander Woude did in sacrificing his own life to save his son Joseph, that would certainly fit under the conditions of the offering of one’s life,” Msgr. deLadurantaye told The Arlington Catholic Herald, the diocese’s news outlet.
https://iobserve.org/2026/09/16/virginia-diocese-investigates-potential-sainthood-cause-for-catholic-father-who-saved-his-son/