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September 19, 2025


 

Overview: The impasse in Congress concerning funding the government remains, although the House may pass its stopgap funding bill, released Tuesday and advanced Wednesday, today (Friday, Sept. 19, 2025). If the House does pass the bill, which was written to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month and keep federal agencies funded through November 21, then it still must be passed by the Senate.

Economy: In the week ending September 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims ([link removed]) was 231,000, a decrease of 33,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 263,000 to 264,000. The 4-week moving average was 240,000, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 240,500 to 240,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent for the week ending September 6, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate.

The Circle of Protection: CCUSA joined in a letter to Congress by The Circle of Protection ([link removed]), a coalition of Christian organizations, that seeks to promote the care and wellbeing of the poor and vulnerable in society. The letter asks members of Congress, as they make financial decisions for the country in the coming months, "to give priority to people in need - increases rather than further cuts in funding for struggling people."

World Day of Migrants and Refugees: The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees ([link removed]) (WDMR) since 1914. It is always an occasion to express concern for different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for them as they face many challenges; and to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers. Every year the WDMR is the last Sunday of September but this year, on the Jubilee of Migrants, the WDMR will be celebrated on October 4 and 5. As the title for his annual message, the Holy Father has chosen "Migrants, missionaries of hope."

 

"Our human life makes sense not because of artificial intelligence, but because of human beings and encounter, being with one another, creating relationships, and discovering in those human relationships also the presence of God." Pope Leo XIV, in a recent interview ([link removed])

 

Q. This week the Church celebrated the memorial of St. Hildegard of Bingen. What distinction does she share with three other women in the Church?

Please send your answers to right answer ([link removed]): "Because she is credited with finding relics of the True Cross and other Christian artifacts in the Holy Land."

 

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