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Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team, announced this week that he is donating $5 million to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago in honor of his late cousin, Sister Joyce Dura. Irsay, a billionaire businessman who grew up in the Chicago area, praised his cousin’s service to others during her time as a religious sister. “Sister Joyce spent a half-century giving back to others, so with this gift I only hope to emulate my dear cousin’s spirit, grace, and her commitment to our communities,” Irsay said.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255506/indianapolis-colts-owner-donates-5-dollars-million-to-catholic-charities-chicago-to-honor-his-cousin-a-nun
The Archdiocese of Saint Louis may close more than 25 Catholic elementary schools amid a major restructuring plan that has already closed and merged many parishes. Roughly one-third of the 80 Catholic parish elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis will meet with representatives from the Office of Catholic Education and Formation and their Episcopal Vicar to consult on their current and future status, the archdiocese announced September 27.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255513/one-third-of-st-louis-catholic-schools-face-possible-closure
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City on Thursday called the execution of convicted murderer Anthony Sanchez, which took place a week ago, “fundamentally at odds with the culture of life the state of Oklahoma proclaims to be building.” Sanchez was convicted of the 1996 rape and murder of 21-year-old University of Oklahoma student Juli Busken, KOCO5 reported. He died September 21 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, about a 130-mile drive from Oklahoma City.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255516/oklahoma-archbishop-decries-execution-of-anthony-sanchez-as-archaic
The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) on Mount Graham in southern Arizona celebrated its 30th anniversary this month, and the observatory has several days worth of celebrations planned for this weekend. The VATT is a relatively recent extension of the Vatican Observatory, which has roots dating to 1582, making it one of the oldest active astronomical observatories in the world. The observatory was re-founded in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, who intended to reinforce the Catholic Church’s support of science. Originally located near Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Vatican Observatory moved to Castel Gandolfo under Pope Pius XI due to light pollution from the city. In 1981, again due to growing light pollution, the observatory launched another research center under the famously dark Arizona skies. The VATT, which is paid for by private donations, is today located on a mountaintop in rural Arizona about 200 miles southeast of Phoenix.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255512/celebrations-planned-for-30th-anniversary-of-vatican-observatory-s-arizona-telescope
Today, the Church celebrates the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the only angels named in Sacred Scripture. All three have important roles in the history of salvation. Saint Michael is the "Prince of the Heavenly Host," the leader of all the angels. Saint Gabriel, whose name means "God's strength," is mentioned four times in the Bible. Most significant are Gabriel's two mentions in the New Testament: to announce the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias, and the at Incarnation of the Word in the womb of Mary. Saint Raphael’s name means "God has healed,” and Tobit is the only book in which he is mentioned. His office is generally accepted by tradition to be that of healing and acts of mercy.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-michael-gabriel-raphael-archangels-609