As the autumn leaves begin to turn and the liturgical calendar guides us through Ordinary Time, we find ourselves observing National Hispanic Heritage Month, held annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

As we marked the solemn anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 — a day when terror shattered the illusion of security and claimed nearly 3,000 innocent lives — we are reminded that violence, in its many insidious forms, continues to plague our world today. 

As the Diocese of Brooklyn opened its school doors this past week, it started with great hope. However, the start of school was punctuated by the tragic shooting in Minneapolis during an opening-day Mass for Annunciation Catholic School. 

In recent weeks, some of our readers have written to us on the benefits or drawbacks of the Traditional Latin Mass. Although we have not reported any news on the topic, there appears to be a movement within the Catholic Church’s hierarchy to investigate the subject further.

In a world that often pulls young men toward self-sufficiency and fleeting pursuits, the “Called By Name” program — while not new — is flourishing in the Archdioceses of New York and Denver, and is emerging as a profound gift to the Catholic Church. 

Supporting retired clergy through facilities like the Mugavero Residence, with its assisted-living services, is not merely an act of charity, but an investment in the diocese’s spiritual vitality. 

The Tablet recently learned of an intriguing faith-formation initiative coming out of the Archdiocese of Denver, where the archdiocese has adopted a program from Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women (ENDOW) called Quinceañera Created for God (Creada para Dios). The new program marks a profound step forward in Catholic faith formation, particularly for young Latina women approaching the cherished milestone of their quinceañera. 

The recent revelations from the House Committee on Homeland Security hearings, detailing the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) during the Biden administration’s border crisis, demand a serious examination through the lens of Catholic social teaching.

The tank blast last week on the Holy Family Parish Church in Gaza, where three lives were lost and nine others, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, were injured, is a heartbreaking reminder of the relentless violence tearing apart the region.

A recent decision by the Department of Homeland Security to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Hondurans and Nicaraguans, which will go into effect on Sept. 8, is a profound injustice that demands a response rooted in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching.