A message from Rayanne Bennett, Associate Publisher
It was St. Augustine of Hippo who described God as “beauty ever ancient, ever new.” That same reference has often been used about the Church, which has – throughout the centuries – responded to the challenges of the times while drawing on the ancient truths of the Gospel that never lose their relevance.
This could have been said at any point in Church history, but we are particularly mindful of it now, when this ancient community of believers led by Pope Leo XIV is bringing the timeless truths of the faith to bear on the most intractable of human trials. And as we see with the encyclical just written by Pope Leo XIV on artificial intelligence, the Church truly stands alone in offering expansive and uplifting guidance of this complex and troubling technology that also holds unfathomable promise to better humanity. We encourage our readers to spend time with the coverage we’ve put together on AI and the encyclical, especially the message of our own Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and his endorsement of the Holy Father’s words.
Moving beyond the topic of AI, this new issue of The Monitor Magazine provides a bird’s eye view of the many ways that the Church continues to address the toughest issues of the day by simply preaching, praying and living the Gospel. Readers will find on page after page examples of Catholic Social Teaching put into action to address poverty, hunger, immigration policy and enforcement, domestic violence, prison ministry and school safety.
It was recently reported in a Pew Research study that most U.S. adults who regularly attend religious services have some awareness of political and social issues of the day. That makes sense because, as Christians, we should be aware of our brothers and sisters and the ways that some of them might be hurting. We should want to understand how we are called to advance the tenets of our faith – particularly as they relate to the need to protect and advance human life and dignity.
We believe that those who regularly read this magazine and follow articles on the website are especially well-informed and we are deeply grateful for the role that our work has toward this effort.
Each of these news packages – most of which can be found under the ISSUES & ADVOCACY heading – carry an implicit invitation to readers . . . to learn more and to get involved. We hope, in the ancient tradition of our Church, that you will respond to that invitation and find a way to make a difference.
May God bless you and yours with a safe and restful summer!
Web Exclusive . . .
We Believe: Holy Spirit, enkindle in them the fire of your love! Confirmations 2026. CLICK to view a sampling of photos taken by parish representatives.