Missionary Impulse

09/10/2026

After opening our school in Haiti with just 6 students in 2021, we are excited to share that we are beginning year 6 with 110 students. The students can no longer fit in the school but what a blessing it is to see another school year begin!

Our teachers were filled with excitement as they welcomed students back into their classrooms. Our parents were equally grateful for the opportunity to send their children to a school where they know they will be safe, loved, cared for, and formed in the Catholic faith.

Our mission has always been about more than education. It’s about lifelong discipleship.

As we celebrate the beginning of another school year, we recognize that Haiti continues to face tremendous challenges. Yet, even in the midst of uncertainty and hardship, there is hope. Every child who walks through our doors is a reminder of why this mission matters.

Please continue to pray for our students, teachers, families, and our mission in Haiti. Above all, please continue to pray for the people of Haiti, who deserve so much more.

28/09/2026

Catholic numbers in St. Louis have been contracting for decades, and that's especially true on the north side of town.

The rough-cut stone walls and soaring Gothic steeple of the Rock, just north of the theaters and concert halls of Grand Center, have instead held an unlikely tale of growth.

Catholic tradition, a lively service, a warm family feeling — and a new charismatic pastor — have attracted parishioners from as far as an hour away. Average weekly attendance has risen by more than two-thirds in just a year.

🔗 Full story at the link in the comments and STLtoday.com.
📰 Kim Shaw, for the Post-Dispatch
📸 Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch

25/09/2026

Six children with Down syndrome have reportedly been invited to serve Pope Leo XIV at the altar during Mass during his visit to France—an especially meaningful gesture highlighting the dignity and participation of people with disabilities in the life of the Church.

The gesture comes amid Pope Leo XIV’s repeated emphasis on the dignity of every human person. In June, while meeting members of the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, the Pope welcomed people with Down syndrome and stressed that “the value of the human person does not depend on what he or she accomplishes or produces.”

The Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, which works in research and medical care for people with genetic intellectual disabilities, has been closely associated with Pope Leo’s defense of human dignity and the culture of life. During that June audience, the Pope personally embraced young people with Down syndrome and encouraged the foundation to continue its work.

In the Catholic Church, there is a place for everyone. Every person is created in the image and likeness of God, possesses inherent dignity, and is called to participate in the life and mission of the Church. These children are not merely spectators at the altar—they are cherished members of the Body of Christ.

16/08/2026

12/08/2026

Did you know that Saint Philomena is the only person recognized as a saint solely on the basis of her intercessory miracles?

Out of every single saint recognized in the Catholic Church, Saint Philomena stands out for this specific reason. She is the only saint recognized by her miracles alone rather than a life of virtue. Her feast is August 11th.

In 1802, workers discovered a tomb in the catacombs of Saint Pricilla in Rome. Inside the tomb were the remains of a young girl. The outside read: “Pax Te Cum Fi Lumena” or, “Peace Be With You, Philomena.”

She was later identified as an early Roman virgin and martyr.

According to Church tradition, Philomena took a vow of virginity at a young age. When she caught the attention of a Roman emperor, she rejected his advances for marriage. Angered by Philomena’s rejection, the emperor imprisoned her and tortured her. Eventually, she was executed for her refusal to renounce her Christian beliefs.

Due to numerous miracles taking place at her tomb, Pope Gregory XVI raised Philomena to be publicly venerated on January 13, 1837. This meant that altars and churches could be built in her honor.

The Catholic Church celebrates Saint Philomena's feast day on August 11.

Over time, Saint Philomena has built up quite the fan club!
Various saints have long expressed their love for her and have spoken often of turning to her heavenly intercession.

The list includes Saints Padre Pio and Saint John Vianney, who said he turns to Saint Philomena for every one of his needs.

“To Saint Philomena, God refuses nothing.” -Saint John Vianney
Father Chris Alar elaborated on the Saint Philomena phenomenon and how she stands out among the communion of saints in our Church, saying,

“If you need a miracle in your life, pray to this saint. This saint is unique like no other.”

read more: https://www.churchpop.com/whatever-you-ask-she-will-obtain-the-story-of-the-miraculous-intercessor-saint-philomena/

10/08/2026

A recent study published in Developmental Science has found that a society’s emphasis on religious faith may serve as a protective factor against anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.

Researchers analyzed data spanning more than three decades (1989–2022) from global sources, including the World Values Survey and the Global Burden of Disease study. They examined how cultural values — such as independence versus religious faith and interdependence — relate to anxiety rates among young people across dozens of countries.

Key findings:

• Societies that place stronger emphasis on religious faith and interdependence tend to have lower rates of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.
• In highly developed “WEIRD” nations (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic), a strong cultural focus on independence was linked to higher anxiety rates.
• The protective effect of religion appears stronger at the societal level than at the individual or family level. In U.S. data, the religious norms of the surrounding community predicted children’s anxiety levels more strongly than the mother’s own personal beliefs.
• Where the importance of religious faith in childrearing declined over time, youth anxiety tended to rise.

Catholic University of America sociology professor Brandon Vaidyanathan noted that religion provides belonging, order, meaning, purpose, and routine — goods that help buffer individuals from anxiety. He explained that shared moral communities reduce the burden on individuals to “order life themselves,” which is often where anxiety takes root.

The study did not compare religious versus non-religious individuals, nor did it rank specific countries. Its findings point to the broader cultural environment as a significant influence on young people’s mental health.

Faith communities that foster belonging, clear moral guidance, and shared purpose may offer more than spiritual support — they may also help protect the next generation from rising anxiety.

Lord Jesus, Savior of the world, have mercy on us. Amen! 🙏

03/08/2026

At 98 years old, after surviving the horrors of World War II, decades in law enforcement, multiple strokes, and the loss of the love of his life, Raymond “Ray” Martin Sr. made the most important decision of his life— he became a Catholic.

Ray had served his country in the brutal battles of Okinawa and the Philippines before dedicating 27 years to protecting his community as a police officer. Yet the deepest journey of his life began not on a battlefield, but in the quiet witness of his late wife, Ann Marie. Though never baptized, Ray faithfully accompanied her to Mass, prayed the Rosary, and even recited the Act of Contrition for years, carrying a longing in his heart that he believed he was never worthy to fulfill.

Everything changed when hospice chaplain Deacon Jack Trevino discovered Ray’s heartfelt desire to receive the sacraments. Knowing his fragile health left little time, Father Edson Elizarraras sought permission from the bishop to prepare him through the Church’s emergency rite for those near death.

On July 16, inside the living room of his assisted living home, transformed into a small chapel with simple crosses and an altar, heaven seemed to meet earth.

As Father Elizarraras asked whether he believed the Church's faith, Ray answered through tears, “I do, yes!” Moments later, the 98-year-old veteran was baptized, confirmed, and received Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time.

Witnesses say Ray smiled throughout the sacred celebration, moving closer to the altar because he wanted to "see God at work."

The celebration ended with cupcakes, but it marked the beginning of eternity.

After waiting nearly a century, this faithful soldier finally came home—not just to the Church, but to the loving embrace of Christ.

"For Ray, this sacrament gave his final days a glorious new horizon," Father Elizarraras reflected.

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03/08/2026