On July 14, 2023, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection released the 2022 Annual Report – Findings and Recommendations on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This is the twentieth such report since 2002 when the U.S. bishops established and adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a comprehensive framework of procedures to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy and establish protocols to protect children and young people.

The international World Youth Day celebration takes place every 2-3 years, typically in the summer months and on a major scale. The next one of these will take place soon, from Tuesday to Sunday, August 1 to 6, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal with millions of people and the Holy Father. The U.S. Bishops invite all young people across the United States to be a part of this global event - in person, digitally, or stateside. Learn more at https://www.usccb.org/topics/world-youth-day/international-celebration.

On July 7, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of new family reunification parole (FRP) processes for nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Read the statement from Bishop Seitz, chair of the Committee on Migration, and the press release: https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/us-bishops-migration-chairman-responds-new-family-reunification-programs.

The fourth African National Eucharistic Congress was held in Washington, DC on July 19-23. It brought together African Catholics from across the United States for worship, fellowship, and workshops. Learn more at https://anec-us.org.

The National Black Catholic Congress, which meets every five years, also gathered on July 20-23. An estimated 3,000 Black Catholics from 80 dioceses renewed their mission and worked on a pastoral plan for local implementation. https://nbccongress.org/

Bishop Robert Barron, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, offers his thoughts on Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, which is an annual educational campaign. https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning/national-nfp-awareness-week

At the recitation of the Angelus on July 23 following a Mass in commemoration of the Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis was joined at the papal balcony by a young person and his grandmother. The young man will attend World Youth Day in Lisbon next week, and the Holy Father noted the significance of the proximity of these two days, seeing it as an invitation to promote an alliance between generations.

Upon the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement in remembrance and support of nuclear arms control. Visit www.usccb.org/nuclear for more information and resources on the bishops’ teachings related to nuclear disarmament.

Pope Francis spoke about the observance of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30th. The USCCB’s Anti-Trafficking Program aims to educate on the scourge of human trafficking as an offense against the fundamental dignity of the human person, to advocate for its end, and to provide training and technical assistance to support survivors. Learn more and get involved at https://www.usccb.org/topics/anti-trafficking-program.

More than 28,600 young people and 60 bishops travelled from the United States to Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day. Follow the latest stories from the global celebration at https://www.usccb.org/newsroom.

In 2022, an estimated 258 million people in 58 countries experienced crisis-level acute hunger, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), the global humanitarian organization addressing food security. Russia’s recent decision no longer to allow Ukraine to export tons of grain means more people are likely to go hungry. In response to the rising concern, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, called on global leaders to do more to ensure food security for all. Read Bishop Malloy’s full statement. Pope Francis asked the 1.5 million young people who attended World Youth Day to take "what God has sown into your hearts" back to their home countries and build a joyful church that is open to all. Look back at the significant moments and messages of Pope Francis' Aug. 2-6 trip to Portugal. • Watch: Huge crowds gather for WYD vigil, papal Mass • Watch: U.S. pilgrims celebrate WYD The next WYD has been announced. Taking place in Seoul, South Korea, WYD 2027 will be the first to take place in on mainland Asia. Korea has a growing Catholic population of about 11 percent, or 6 million believers. Pope Francis has also announced the Jubilee of Youth in Rome 2025 for the interim. See you in Seoul in 2027!

Pope Francis prayed for Hawaii, Ukraine, and migrants during his Angelus address on August 13. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC6oCoQoRO4

Recovery efforts continue following the catastrophic wildfires that burned the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui. Pope Francis sent a papal message to Bishop Larry Silva of the Diocese of Honolulu expressing his closeness and solidarity with all those affected. Bishop Silva shared his thoughts and how to help those in need on Maui in a letter on August 11, 2023. You can also read and reflect on his homily delivered on August 13th in Kapalua, Maui, after visiting Lahaina.

To help the people of Maui recover, please prayerfully consider contributing to the Hawai’i Catholic Community Foundation at https://tinyurl.com/MauiCatholic or Catholic Charities USA at https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/?form=hawaii23

As millions of students return to school after summer break, Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane spoke with Catholic Current about the importance of Catholic Education. He is chair of the Committee on Catholic Education, which provides guidance for the educational mission of the Church in the United States in all its institutional settings. Learn more at https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-education.

With its Rome bureau founded in 1950, Catholic News Service has been providing complete, in-depth coverage of the popes and the Vatican for more than 70 years. CNS-Rome Bureau staff members Carol Glatz and Justin McLellan joined Catholic Current to discuss what it is like working as a journalist in the Vatican and what we can look forward to in the upcoming Synod. Read the latest from CNS Rome at https://www.usccb.org/newsroom?f%5B0%5D=type%3A9043.

In preparing for the observation of Labor Day in the United States on September 4, Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, issued a statement calling for radical solidarity with working families. Read the 2023 Labor Day statement (also available in Spanish). Learn more USCCB’s work on Economic Justice and Domestic Poverty.

Each year on September 1, the Catholic Church commemorates the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This day of prayer also marks the beginning of a month-long ecumenical awareness initiative known as the “Season of Creation,” which concludes on October 4 with the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. The theme chosen for this year’s Season of Creation is “Let Justice and Peace Flow,” and it calls on the faithful to reflect on the relationship between justice and creation. Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace issued a reflection: https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/laudato-si-20-pope-announces-new-document-ahead-season-creation.

Pope Francis announced this week he would publish a follow-up document to his 2015 encyclical on the environment “Laudato Si’” on the October 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Read the story from Catholic News Service in Rome.

We spoke with Kim Burgo, Vice President of Disaster Operations at Catholic Charities USA, about the devastation in Maui and ongoing emergency disaster relief operations. The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same. Learn more at https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/.

Pope Francis traveled to Mongolia and met with the country’s small Catholic community which is buoyed by the presence of missionaries from dozens of countries. Read the Catholic News Service story: https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/pope-encourages-little-mongolian-flock-faith-unity-witness

The Catholic Biblical Federation has elected Mary Elizabeth Sperry as its first woman and first lay person to serve as moderator. Learn more about fruitful Scripture reading: https://www.usccb.org/bible/understanding-the-bible.

The third Sunday in September is set aside for acknowledging the importance of catechists in the Church’s teaching ministry. Catholic Current speaks with Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, who serves on the USCCB Committee for Evangelization and Catechesis. Learn more about Catechetical Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/committees/evang....

The 109th World Day for Migrants and Refugees is on September 24. Bishop Mark J. Seitz, chairman of the Committee on Migration, invites viewers to think about the root causes of migration. Resources and information may be found at http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org.

Every 25 years, the Church celebrates a Jubilee. The next will be in 2025, and more than 30 million visitors are expected in Rome. Preparations are underway now. Visit https://www.iubilaeum2025.va to learn more.

Since 1973, the Catholic Church in the United States has observed October as “Respect Life Month.” This year, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities invites Catholics to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Respect Life Month by embracing “radical solidarity” with women facing difficult or challenging pregnancies. Read Bishop Burbidge’s full statement, “Living Radical Solidarity.” Resources for Respect Life Month are available at https://www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month.

More than one hundred bishops from around the world recently attended the Vatican’s school for new bishops. Bishop Jeffrey Fleming of Great Falls, Montana, and Bishop Michael Izen, Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, shared their experiences with Catholic Current.