Chi Rho Letters - 5th Sunday of Easter

May 03, 2026 9:46 am

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May 3, 2026 - Volume II, Issue 10


"Be who God meant you to be
and you will set the world on fire"

St. Catherine of Siena




Editor’s Note

Happy 5th Sunday of Easter! Today, we hear of how each of us will have our own place in heaven and how Christ is the way, the truth, and the light. These are the Chi Rho Letters.


It’s interesting how the passage of time has you focus on other aspects of the same scripture you’ve heard when you were younger or in a different phase of life. If I was going to offer a reflection a few years ago on this passage, I’d be focusing on Jesus being the way, the truth, and the light...


Reflection on Substack



Now, onto the Headlines -


The biggest theme this week is the Church's witness in a world still marked by war, fear, and fragile peace. Cardinal Pizzaballa's letter to Jerusalem was a needed word of hope, reminding us that the Holy Land is not a political prize but a spiritual inheritance entrusted to all of humanity. That became even more concrete in the disturbing story of a nun attacked in Jerusalem, a moment that asks each of us what kind of passerby we would be when suffering is placed directly in front of us. Catholic bishops warned that nuclear peace cannot be taken for granted, while the release of a Polish Carmelite friar from Belarus offered a small but real sign of hope. Even King Charles, speaking before Congress, invoked Christian faith and shared values in his appeal for peace. These stories all point to the same truth that peace must be prayed for, defended, and lived.


In Church Governance, the most sobering story is the nearly $1 billion settlement connected to sexual abuse claims against the Archdiocese of New York. It is a painful reminder that justice for victims and institutional accountability cannot be treated as background noise in the life of the Church. The week also brought serious questions around unity and authority, especially with The Pillar's reporting on why Pope Leo will not meet with the SSPX and the continued debate over blessing guidelines in Germany. Here in the United States, the Diocese of Oakland's closure of 13 parishes shows the strain caused by declining resources, priest shortages, and shifting Catholic demographics. Pope Leo also appointed new bishops, the Vatican's financial watchdog reported an increase in suspicious activity, and a Louisiana Vos estis complaint remains unanswered.


On Papal Watch, Pope Leo continues to give us a clearer picture of his pastoral priorities. His reflection on his 11-day trip through Africa emphasized the importance of letting the people of Africa be heard, not simply visited or spoken about. Panelists also reflected on how his Augustinian roots are shaping his papacy through his consistent emphasis on truth, unity, and love. His meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury showed the ongoing importance and difficulty of Christian unity in a divided age. His May prayer intention focused on food and hunger, and his condemnation of the bombing in Colombia showed again how quickly this pope turns toward suffering. I was especially struck by his meeting with Cardinal Ernest Simoni, the living martyr who endured prison and forced labor under communism.


Technology had a surprisingly strong showing this week. Federal charges tied to the swatting attack at Villanova, Pope Leo's alma mater, show how digital threats can reach directly into Catholic life, even disrupting an outdoor Mass. Anthropic's decision to invite Catholic and other Christian voices into conversations about artificial intelligence shows that the moral questions around AI are no longer theoretical. One of the more quietly beautiful stories came from scholars using advanced technology to recover 42 lost pages of an ancient New Testament manuscript. That feels like technology at its best: not replacing the faith, but helping preserve what has been handed down. From Catholic data centers to Roblox evangelization to online Catholic schools, the Church continues to wrestle seriously with how to live faithfully in a digital age without losing sight of the human person.


On the pro-life front, the biggest headline was a federal court ruling halting mail-order mifepristone prescriptions nationwide, a significant development in the ongoing legal fight over abortion-pill access. The Supreme Court also allowed a faith-based pregnancy center to challenge a donor subpoena, raising real questions about whether the government can pressure pro-life ministries into handing over the names of their supporters. The push for assisted suicide in the UK appears to be losing momentum, new legislation could restrict federal funding for Planned Parenthood, and the U.S. bishops urged Congress to reject an IVF mandate, warning about harm to embryos and conscience rights. From Virginia to Mexico City to Philadelphia, pro-life advocates continued taking their witness into the streets.


Finally, the feel-good stories gave us several reminders that the Church is still growing, serving, and surprising the world with generosity. Locally, St. Joseph's Prep received a $74 million gift, reportedly the largest known donation to a Catholic high school in the United States. That is an extraordinary investment in Catholic education right here in our region. A Polish livestream raised $60 million for children with cancer, a London Marathon winner spoke openly about never missing Mass, and a Florida diocese is preparing tiny homes for seniors at risk of homelessness. We also saw a Carmelite missionary named venerable, Irish twins celebrating 70 years of priesthood, and Catholic Charities honoring a volunteer who has spent years answering calls from people in crisis, giving light to those on their toughest day.


Please know of my prayers for you this week, and please pray for me.


Sunday Readings

Fifth Sunday of Easter - Link

Reading 1: Acts 14:21-27

Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13

Reading 2: Revelation 21:1-5a

Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35


Collect

Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.


Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer


Headlines

War in the Middle East



Church Governance



Papal Watch



Technology



Pro-Life News



Feel Good Stories



Contemplative Corner

St. Joseph, the Exemplar Worker

Br. Michael Prize, O.P. offered this reflection about St. Joseph and how his work has a unique spiritual meaning. Through physical and mental labor, Joseph would have encountered his own limits: exhaustion, soreness, anxiety, responsibility, and discouragement. Yet those same limits would have taught him more deeply about God as the source of strength, peace, healing, and encouragement.


Read: Reflection on St. Joseph



Collection Plate

Catholic Relief Services - Focus on Middle East Conflict - Link

As conflict and displacement continue to affect communities across the region, Catholic Relief Services is working with trusted local partners to provide lifesaving assistance and support families forced from their homes. With your gift, families across the Middle East will continue to receive vital relief and care as they seek refuge and relief. Please give now to support families across the Middle East.



The Liturgical Week Ahead

Coloring indicates Liturgical Color, links provided to USCCB site.


May 4, 2026 | Monday | Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Acts 14:5-18 | John 14:21-26

Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer


May 5, 2026 | Tuesday | Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Acts 14:19-28 | John 14:27-31a

Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer


May 6, 2026 | Wednesday | Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Acts 15:1-6 | John 15:1-8

Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer


May 7, 2026 | Thursday | Memorial of Blessed Domitilla and Companions (Optional Memorial)

Acts 15:7-21 | John 15:9-11

Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer


Community Prayer Intentions

For Strength and Comfort

  • Families of Servicemembers
  • Those affected by the Iranian and Ukrainian wars
  • Families experiencing losses
  • Myers Family
  • Demers Family
  • Pope Leo XIV


Eternal Rest

  • Noel Demers
  • Emma Niese
  • Those killed in the wars in Iran and Ukraine
  • Fr. Wilber Thomas
  • Pope Benedict XVI
  • Pope Francis


Saints in Progress, pray for us!



Thank you!

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–☧ Rob

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