The Good Newsroom

01/09/2026

In his first New Year’s address to the diplomatic corps on January 9, Pope Leo XIV defended the unborn, saying, abortion "cuts short a growing life and refuses to welcome the gift of life."

He also spoke about traditional marriage and the institution of family.

Read the article:
https://thegoodnewsroom.org/pope-delivers-fierce-defense-of-the-unborn-in-address-to-diplomatic-corps/

Photo: CNS Photo/Vatican Media

01/09/2026

Pope Leo XIV’s first consistory concluded in Vatican City on January 8, and he “did more listening than talking” during his discussions with the cardinals.

Read the article:
https://thegoodnewsroom.org/cardinals-leave-consistory-with-a-clear-vision-from-pope-a-church-that-cares/

Photo: OSV News photo/Simone Risoluti, Vatican Media

01/09/2026

PHOTO GALLERY: Bishop-designate John Bonnici was introduced to the Rochester community with a press conference and afternoon Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Jan. 7. His installation as the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Rochester is scheduled for March 19, 2026, on the feast of St. Joseph.

See the photo gallery: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/bishop-designate-john-s-bonnici-introduced-in-rochester/

01/09/2026

Watch Msgr. LaMorte's homily from this morning's Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral here. Stories about Jesus healing leprosy appear several times in Luke’s Gospel, including the one we have today.

Stories about Jesus healing leprosy appear several times in Luke’s Gospel, including the one we have today.

01/09/2026

I’ve been taking about practices worth recovering – what about penance on Friday? It’s the day Jesus died on the Cross, and we want to be close to Him. Old timers like me remember that it used to be that Catholics gave up meat every Friday. How about it?

01/09/2026

Bishop John Bonicci, who will be the next Bishop of the Diocese of Rochester concelebrated Mass with the Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester on January 7.

Bishop Bonicci, who is currently an Auxiliary Bishop at the Archdiocese of New York thanked Timothy Cardinal Dolan at the press conference.

"I am truly grateful to Cardinal Dolan for all he has done for me over the course of the past four years. His mentorship, support, and fraternal love continue to be a great gift,” he said.

Learn more:

The bishop-designate promised to listen and learn as he prepares to lead the upstate New York diocese.

01/08/2026

On December 19, 2025, Alcance Latino, Inc. received a $20,000 donation from McBean Law, PLLC, an award-winning immigration law firm in White Plains.

Alcane Latino supports programs and services to the immigrant and Latino communities in Westchester County.

Read the article:
https://thegoodnewsroom.org/alcance-latino-receives-20000-donation-from-mcbean-law/

Photo courtesy of Alcance Latino

01/08/2026

Sister Patricia Howell, OP, entered into eternal life on December 29, 2025. She served as a teacher and a principal at St. Luke’s School in the Bronx. Sister Pat entered the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt in 1975 and took her final vows in 1984.

Read her full obituary:

Sister Patricia Howell, OP, entered eternal life on December 29, 2025. Sister Pat's most enduring legacy is her 24-year commitment to St. Luke's School in the Bronx, where she served as a teacher and then as principal for 19 years.

01/08/2026

Monsignor Francis P. Gorman, who ministered in Manhattan, Venezuela, Chester, and Sleepy Hollow, entered into eternal life on December 30, 2025. He was a priest for more than 65 years in the Archdiocese of New York before retiring in 2009.

Read his full obituary:

Fluent in Spanish, Monsignor Gorman ministered in Manhattan, Venezuela, Chester, and Sleepy Hollow, advocating tirelessly for the poor and unborn until his retirement in 2009.

01/08/2026

The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Garrison (Franciscan Friars of the Atonement) are planning an Ecumenical Service of the Word in Manhattan for the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The faithful can join in person or online.

"It's a small opportunity, relative to the big picture, for people to be together and focus their attention on the relationships we have with one another, the relationships between our churches, which are broken," Aaron T. Hollander, executive director of the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, told The Good Newsroom. "It's really about that sense of desire to join with one another, to make Christ's prayer for unity,for the unity of the Church and the unity of all humanity – to make that prayer our own desire as well as Christ's desire."

Find out more:
https://thegoodnewsroom.org/franciscan-friars-planning-ecumenical-service-for-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/

Photo courtesy of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement

01/08/2026

At the start of the consistory on January 7 in Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV met the cardinals with an important message.

“I am here to listen,” he said, calling the meeting “highly significant.”

Al inicio del consistorio celebrado el 7 de enero en la Ciudad del Vaticano, el papa León XIV se reunió con los cardenales y les transmitió un importante mensaje.

“Estoy aquí para escuchar”, dijo, calificando la reunión de “sumamente importante”.

Read the article/Lea el artículo:
https://thegoodnewsroom.org/i-am-here-to-listen-pope-leo-tells-cardinals-at-start-of-consistory/

Photo/foto: OSV News photo/Simone Risoluti, Vatican Media

01/08/2026

You can watch Fr. Haggerty’s homily from this morning's Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral here. Jesus never returned to Nazareth after He revealed that He is the Son of God to the people of His hometown.

Jesus never returned to Nazareth after He revealed that He is the Son of God to the people of His hometown.