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At least 50 people were killed and others injured Sunday when gunmen attacked worshippers at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria. Gunmen reportedly fired at Catholic worshipers attending Pentecost celebrations and detonated explosives. The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need denounced the “Pentecost massacre” on June 5 in Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, as “another terrorist act in Nigeria, one more on the long list of crimes against Christians.” The identity of the gunman is not yet known. The archbishop of Owerri condemned “in the strongest terms the spilling of innocent blood in the House of God.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251458/nigeria-catholic-church-attack
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251462/catholic-charity-urges-world-leaders-to-condemn-nigeria-church-massacre
Pope Francis condemned the war in Ukraine after Russia’s ongoing invasion of that country reached the 100-day mark. June 3 marked 100 days since the beginning of Russia’s invasion that has left thousands dead. The United Nations estimates that nearly 7 million people have fled Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, with many more displaced or stranded within Ukraine. Pope Francis, an outspoken advocate for the Ukrainian people, has expressed a desire to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow and to travel to Ukraine when the “right time” comes. His comments come after he consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in March. At the end of May, he prayed the rosary for peace in Ukraine and around the world.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251457/pope-francis-ukraine-war-100-days
Expectant mothers, babies, and their families can find comfort and encouragement alongside material help like cribs, diapers, and baby formula through the Saint Gabriel’s Call ministry in Rhode Island. Saint Gabriel’s Call is a ministry under the Providence diocese’s Office of Life and Family. It offers free and confidential services including financial, material, social, emotional, and other support for mothers and children. The ministry can help provide cribs, car seats, and furniture as well as baby clothes, linens, diapers, formula, toys, household goods, toiletries, and gift cards. The ministry has three locations in Providence, and five elsewhere in Rhode Island.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251450/pregnant-women-and-their-babies-can-find-help-among-rhode-islands-catholics
Today, the Church celebrates Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a priest of the Society of Mary and the founder of the Little Brothers of Mary, a congregation of brothers devoted to the education of the young.
The Church also celebrates Saint Norbert of Xanten, who started out as a frivolous and worldly cleric, but was changed by God’s grace into a powerful preacher and an important reformer of the Church during the early 12th century. He is the founder of the Norbertine order.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-marcellin-champagnat-262
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-norbert-491