In the past few weeks, we have experienced an increase in gun violence, including political violence, across the United States. The US Bishops invite all Catholics to take a few moments to pray and consider pledging to a different kind of politics, a “politics of hope,” as Pope Leo describes. The type of violence we have witnessed, the taking of a life, does not exist in a vacuum but is built through daily hostility, aggression, and disrespect. Every person is called to greater conversion, recognizing the dignity in all people and treating others, even those with whom we disagree, as Christ. Sign the pledge to live with greater civility, and encourage others to do the same, to build a civilization that seeks the common good, works toward greater understanding, and truly lives as though we are all part of God’s family.

Learn more about Civilize It, a USCCB initiative to reduce polarization and divisiveness. 

Bishop Cotta on recent political violence. 

Bishop Garcia calls us to prayer, reflection, and unity. 

The California Catholic Conference (CCC) announced it is in strong support of Assembly Bill 495 (Rodriguez, D), the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, legislation that strengthens a long-standing statute safeguarding children when parents face temporary separation.

AB 495 builds on a 1994 law that established the Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit, which allows an adult already known to the family and caring for a child to communicate with schools and medical providers on the child’s behalf. Parents retain full rights to make decisions and can override those of the temporary caregiver at any time.

“As the Church, we are called to protect the dignity of every child and to accompany families in their moments of greatest vulnerability,” said Bishop Oscar Cantú.  “AB 495 allows parents — especially those facing the uncertainty of detention, deportation, or deployment — to make loving, responsible plans so that their children remain in safe and caring hands. This upholds both parental rights and the well-being of children. This bill is pro-family, pro-child, and a responsible safeguard for the dignity and stability of our communities.”

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Pope Leo XIV has appointed Reverend Andres “Andy” C. Ligot as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose. 

Bishop-elect Ligot currently holds the roles of Vicar General and Chancellor and has been the pastor of St. Elizabeth of Portugal Parish in Milpitas since 2021. His decades-long ministry in Silicon Valley includes pastoral and tribunal service, as well as leadership as Judicial Vicar from 2008 to 2021.

Born in Laoag City, Philippines, in 1965, Bishop-elect Ligot was ordained in 1992 by Pope John Paul II. He later earned advanced degrees in theology and canon law in Spain—up to a doctorate level—before serving in both the Philippines and the U.S. Fluent in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Ilocano, he brings pastoral and cultural fluency to the diverse diocese. 

Bishop-elect Ligot joins as the sixth U.S. prelate originally from the Philippines. Information regarding his upcoming episcopal ordination will be shared soon. 

The California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP), administered by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), will soon open its next application window. Catholic schools, parishes, diocesan buildings, and other ministries are encouraged to prepare now so they can apply when the program launches.

What the Grant Provides

• Awards of up to $250,000 per campus, with a total cap of $500,000 for applicants with two separate sites.
• Funding is available for physical security improvements, including reinforced doors, controlled entry systems, lighting upgrades, and video surveillance.
• Direct support for communities vulnerable to hate-based threats, ensuring a safer environment for worship and education.

Why Catholic Institutions Should Apply

Taking proactive steps to protect parishioners, students, and staff reflects our Catholic commitment to the dignity of every person and our duty to foster secure spaces where faith and learning can flourish.

Steps to Take Now

While the official application dates have not yet been announced, the window is anticipated to open in late September or early October. Diocesan and parish leaders can begin preparing by:

• Completing a Vulnerability Assessment (required for all applicants). This helps identify security gaps and justifies the need for funding.
• Prioritizing needs such as entry control systems, exterior lighting, security cameras, or protective barriers.
• Coordinating with your diocese or parish office—especially if multiple sites will be applying. Each location requires its own application.

Visit Cal EOS for more information and updates on the application window.

On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the Catholic Church in the United States will observe Catechetical Sunday, falling on the third Sunday of September.

Catechetical Sunday is a special day for honoring and commissioning those who serve as catechists—teachers of the faith in parishes, schools, families, and other ministry settings. It is also a time for all baptized Catholics to reflect on their own role, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being witnesses to the Gospel. 

This year’s theme is drawn from 1 Peter 3:15: “Always be ready to give an explanation… for a reason for your hope.” The theme challenges catechists and all members of the Church to not only know what they believe, but to be prepared to explain why they believe it. It calls for sharing faith with gentleness and respect, modeling the way St. Peter encouraged the early Christians to witness to their hope.

Please join us in praying for catechists as they carry out their ministry and take this opportunity to reflect on how each of us is called to pass on the faith in our daily lives—at home, at work, and in the community.

Every year on October 10, people around the globe observe World Homeless Day. 

This international day serves as a platform to celebrate good works, benchmark progress, advocate for improved policies and funding that can help prevent and end homelessness.

World Homeless Day also aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and promote work in local communities to alleviate suffering and prevent death. 

Homelessness isn’t just a lack of housing. It's tied to poverty, health, mental health, addiction, displacement, domestic violence, and systemic inequities. Many people without stable homes are at greater risk of illness, exposure, safety threats, lack of food or sanitation, and often death.

By observing World Homeless Day, communities are reminded that solutions exist—through policy changes, compassionate outreach, affordable housing, and collective action. It is a call to empathy, service, and justice.

WaPo: He was a child refugee. Now he’s a bishop navigating Trump’s deportation push.

SAN DIEGO — When Bishop Michael Pham walks the halls of immigration court, he sees migrants facing the most intense U.S. deportation campaign in decades, and glimpses moments of his own life.

Pham says he remembers being 8 years old on a packed cargo boat floating off the coast of Vietnam for days without food or water, eventually realizing the bodies across the deck weren’t asleep. And at 14, arriving in America without his parents. He recalls his eight siblings, a few years later, in a tiny, overloaded house in East San Diego, scurrying to hide when the landlord appeared.

That boy is now the new leader of a 1.5-million-member diocese, a diverse region filled with migrants from around the world, major military installations and a 140-mile border with Mexico. He is the first U.S. bishop named by the first U.S. pope — Pope Leo — who, mirroring his predecessor, Pope Francis, has named migration first among the key challenges facing the world.