On April 23, Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii signed into law a bill that established April 27 of each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.
Servant of God Joseph Dutton was a Civil War veteran who dedicated the later part of his life to serving people with leprosy alongside Father Damien De Veuster (St. Damien of Molokai) — who called him “Brother Joseph” — in Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai, Hawaii.
“Brother Joseph Dutton’s life is a powerful reminder of what it means to serve others with humility and compassion,” Green said in a press release. “By establishing this day of recognition, Hawaii ensures that his legacy continues to inspire future generations to act with kindness and selflessness.”
“As state senator representing Molokai, this recognition is deeply meaningful to our community,” Sen. Lynn DeCoite said. “Brother Joseph Dutton stood alongside the people of Kalaupapa during one of the most difficult chapters in our history, bringing care, dignity, and hope to those who needed it most. Establishing April 27 as Brother Joseph Dutton Day ensures that his legacy and the strength and resilience of Kalaupapa will continue to be honored for generations to come.”
“For 44 years Joseph Dutton was an important member of the Kalaupapa community, embracing aloha and compassion in giving of his life of service to the patients living during challenging times,” said Dr. Maria Devera, board president of the Joseph Dutton Guild. “It is fitting that we take time to recall and honor that life of service and take a moment and reflect on our call to service.”
Dutton was born Ira Dutton to Protestant parents in Stowe, Vermont, on April 27, 1843. In 1883 he became Catholic and took Joseph as his baptismal name.
The next year he entered a Trappist monastery in Kentucky, where he stayed for almost two years but discerned that a better way for him to offer penance would be through an active spiritual life.
In July 1886, Dutton arrived at Kalaupapa after discovering the work St. Damien was doing on the island. He quickly became an expert in caring for the sick, specifically those with Hansen’s disease, or leprosy, and continued his work after Damien died in 1889 from leprosy. He served the sick in Kalaupapa for 44 years.
Dutton died in 1931 at the age of 87 at St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu.
His cause for canonization opened on May 10, 2022, at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu. On Jan. 21, 2024, the local phase of his cause concluded and was sent to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome for review.
The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida, is preparing to debut an intimate village of micro-homes priced for seniors at risk of homelessness.
The dioceseʼs "Trinity Village," located just a few blocks from Pensacola Bay on the Florida Panhandle, will offer the "tiny homes" at "affordable rents to individuals experiencing housing insecurity."
The “target population” for the small parcel of homes is senior citizens, the diocese says, pointing out that the senior demographic is “one of the more vulnerable segments of the population” regarding housing costs.
Groundbreaking for the project took place in September 2024. The site of the village was previously a vacant lot; the parcel is located directly behind the diocesan pastoral center.
Pensacola-Tallahassee Bishop William Wack (center) poses with other leaders at the site of Trinity Village in Pensacola, Florida, in September 2024. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Construction of the homes took place throughout 2025. The roughly 300-square-foot houses include a sleeping area, kitchen, living room, dining room and a bathroom, as well as on-site laundry.
Houses in Trinity Village in Pensacola stand under construction in July 2025. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Deacon Ray Aguado, the executive director of the Trinity House project, told EWTN News that the Pensacola population has increased “significantly” in recent years, while housing stock has not kept pace.
“Rents in the area have increased and, in some cases, have more than doubled in the past 12-24 months,” he said. “Many citizens, especially seniors, make sacrifices in order to cover their higher cost of housing.”
“These sacrifices include foregoing health care, cutting back on buying healthy foods, or missing meals altogether,” he noted.
“Trinity Village will offer these tiny homes at affordable rents to these seniors,” he said. “Trinity Village will also offer case management and mentoring services to support residents in their personal growth and ensure they maintain sound physical and financial health.”
Rent is expected to run $500 for the homes, with that price including utilities.
At the outset of the project, Pensacola-Tallahassee Bishop William Wack described the project as a “wonderful way for this community to come together” and support a vulnerable population.
“This is what we do as a Church. We donʼt just come together to pray, though that is an important part of what we do,” he said. “We come together [also] to build up the kingdom, to serve our brothers and sisters.”
MANILA, Philippines — Sister Eva Fidela Maamo, a Catholic nun and surgeon known across the Philippines as the “Healing Nun” for her decades of free medical care to the poor, has died at age 85.
She died on April 14, according to Our Lady of Peace Hospital, which announced her passing the following day.
In the 1970s, Sister Eva performed surgery on an Indigenous woman using a bamboo table and coconut water to keep the patient alive in Lake Sebu, southern Philippines. The urgent action was necessary because reaching the nearest hospital required hours on foot and crossing multiple rivers.
Sister Eva Fidela Maamo, surgeon, missionary, and 1997 Ramon Magsaysay awardee, stands with hospital staff and a priest after Mass at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, on June 26, 2022. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Peace Hospital
Her life of service and sacrifice made a deep impact on people, particularly the poor who most availed themselves of the nunʼs medical and pastoral care.
“I remember her vividly during my years as an intern and resident at Manila Doctors Hospital, attending to her patients,” said Dr. Anthony Leachon, a physician.
“Her quiet strength, her devotion to the sick and the poor, and her example of servant leadership shaped not only the lives of those she treated but also the young physicians who learned under her guidance,” he added.
Sister Eva was born on Sept. 17, 1940, in Liloan, Southern Leyte. She studied at the Velez College of Medicine in Cebu, central Philippines, and practiced at her familyʼs clinic in Liloan for a while.
Later, she entered the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres to be a nun and missionary in 1974, serving as a physician in Lake Sebu and later in other parts of the country.
Health as a right
One of her steadfast beliefs was that health is a right for all, not a privilege for a few.
Being a surgeon, she did not limit herself to an operating room. She visited public hospitals, communities, and places with very limited access to health care.
Sister Evaʼs role went beyond that of a physician who is meant to treat illnesses; she made sure to work for peopleʼs dignity — interacting with patients where they lived, seeing their existential realities.
Sister Eva Fidela Maamo, surgeon, missionary, and 1997 Ramon Magsaysay awardee, interacts with patients and staff at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, on July 11, 2023. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Peace Hospital
“In this way, she showed the human face of healing and care while witnessing Godʼs mercy,” Maria Martineze, a volunteer, told EWTN News.
The nunʼs quiet and consistent commitment tried to abridge the existing gap — need and access to health but also working for inclusion and peopleʼs right to access health, Martineze explained.
‘Barefoot doctors’
She trained “barefoot doctors” — men and women skilled to treat common illnesses and provide basic care in remote and rural areas where accessing health care has always remained a challenge.
According to Sister Eva, the “barefoot doctors” are not physicians, but they are skilled at treating common diseases.
Sister Eva trained 17 barefoot doctors in Lake Sebu in 1974. Over the years, she expanded the initiative across the country, training 274 barefoot doctors from 110 Indigenous communities.
Care for Indigenous peoples
Sister Eva had a distinctive character — going to the peripheries — as a missionary and a doctor. In her heart, she had special love for Indigenous peoples and geographically and socially isolated communities in the country, including the Tʼboli, Aeta, and Manobo.
She trained them in basic medical skills like CPR, physical exams, and minor surgery, empowering them to become health providers for their tribes.
One of the Indigenous peoples, the Aeta, displaced by the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, was cared for by the nun.
Sister Eva Fidela Maamo, surgeon and missionary, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, on July 10, 2023. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Peace Hospital
The nun worked with them for years, capacitating the leaders and community, strengthening their dignity, resilience, and physical well-being.
With her efforts, as many as 146 families with 500 persons were able to resettle. Some eventually converted to Catholicism.
“She spent her life in healing and service with compassion and love for Indigenous people,” Lourdes Balinta, an Aeta teacher, told EWTN News.
Hospital for affordable health care
The Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission was established in 1984 by Sister Eva and American Jesuit Father James Reuter to address the needs of the poor.
Additionally, in 1992, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, Parañaque, Metro Manila, was built to provide the poor with affordable access to quality health care, including feeding and livelihood programs for the poor in Metro Manila and other areas.
“Through her foundation and hospital, she brought healing, dignity, and hope to countless marginalized communities across the Philippines, offering free medical care, shelter, and livelihood opportunities,” a message from Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation said.
“Small in stature but immense in spirit, Sister Evaʼs life stands as a powerful witness to Gospel compassion lived out in action,” it added.
Sister Evaʼs life was marked by extraordinary compassion and service to the poor, embodying the Christian spirit of selfless love and dedication, Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas of Maasin said.
The Our Lady of Peace Hospital, co-founded by Sister Eva Fidela Maamo with American Jesuit Father James Reuter to serve the poor, stands in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Peace Hospital
Her tireless work as a healer and advocate for the marginalized was a profound witness to her faith in Christ and love for humanity, he added. The remarkable legacy she leaves behind — her ministry and compassion — touched countless lives.
“May her example keep motivating us to live lives of service and faithfulness to Godʼs mission,” the prelate said.
Accolades
In 1997, Sister Eva received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often considered Asiaʼs Nobel Prize, for her dedicated service to the poor communities through medicine.
In 1992, she received the Mother Teresa Award of the Philippines. In 2006, the nun was recognized as a Lasallian Star of Faith awardee, recognizing her decades of dedicated service as a nun and surgeon whose life epitomized faith in service.
Sister Eva Fidela Maamo, surgeon and missionary, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, on July 10, 2023. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Peace Hospital
True spirit of service
Though Sister Eva has passed, her legacy remains in the hearts of people.
“She was a hardworking, humble, and caring woman of God — a physician-leader whose hands healed and whose heart uplifted countless lives,” Leachon said. “Multi-awarded yet always grounded, she embodied the true spirit of service.”
“Her life reminds us that medicine is not only science but also love in action,” he added. “May her memory continue to inspire generations of healers and advocates. Her light endures in the lives she touched.”
In recent days, the new papal almoner, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, confirmed that Pope Leo XIV sent humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Ukraine, two countries suffering from war. The prelate, who is charged with overseeing the pope’s charitable works, stated that “charity is the Gospel lived out.”
“The Dicastery for the Service of Charity serves as the conduit for the pope’s aid. In recent days, we dispatched a trailer to Ukraine containing medicines, food products, hygiene supplies, and clothing. We also sent 15,000 essential medicines to Lebanon,” the Spanish archbishop stated in a message posted on X.
As reported by Vatican News, the shipment to Ukraine took place on April 25, the same day of the papal almoner’s visit, and departed from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic basilica of Santa Sofia in Rome.
That shipment “marks the 150th truck to depart from our basilica,” explained the church’s rector, Father Marco Semehen, who highlighted the collaboration of the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Pharmaceutical Bank Foundation.
The shipments include several pallets of medicines, primarily antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, intended both for hospitals and for distribution among the local population through Ukrainian volunteer networks.
Semehen emphasized that the aid was gathered with particular consideration for the most vulnerable. “We have collected everything that could be useful, taking into account in particular the needs of the most fragile — the sick and the children,” he explained, noting that “for them, donations consisted primarily of medicines, family care packages, hygiene supplies, thermal blankets, food, and a great deal of clothing of excellent quality.”
The rector also highlighted the continuity of the pope’s assistance to the Ukrainian people over time.
“For Ukraine, this continuity of aid arriving from the Vatican means a great deal,” he affirmed, while noting that “with the prolongation of the war, we have observed a decline in attention toward the needs of the population.”
‘The Church is not merely theory or doctrine’
“The Church is not merely theory or doctrine; it is also practice: It is the Gospel lived out, a testimony of charity,” he stated, adding that witnessing such generous participation “is a source of great joy.” In this regard, he underscored that “charity is the fitting response of Christians in the face of the spread of hatred in the world.”
The papal almoner also issued an appeal for peace: “The cry ‘Peace, peace, peace!’ must enter the minds and hearts of all. We still have a long way to go, and we need a true conversion.”
The pope’s assistance also extended to Lebanon. As reported by Vatican media this week, the Office of Papal Charities organized the humanitarian aid shipment to the country, sending 15,000 essential medicines, which will be distributed through the apostolic nunciature in Beirut.
The medications include antibiotics, diabetes and blood pressure medications, anti-inflammatories, multivitamin supplements, and other drugs for the most common acute and chronic conditions.
Marín highlighted the importance of cooperation in responding effectively to humanitarian emergencies. “Our dicastery is engaged in charitable work at the international level as well, operating through nunciatures and local churches,” he explained, underscoring the need to build networks and raise awareness to shed light on “the terrible reality of war, the needs it creates, and how we can collaborate in concrete ways to help those who are suffering.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
The official schedule of events for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen has been announced by the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois.
“I am filled with deep gratitude and great joy as we announce the schedule of events surrounding the long-awaited Mass of beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen," Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria said in a press release. "This is a momentous occasion not only for our diocese but for the Church in the United States and throughout the world.”
Events kick off on Sept. 20 with an anniversary Mass of Sheen’s ordination at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Peoria.
From Sept. 23–24, events will be taking place in St. Louis. Vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis will take place on Sept. 23 followed by the beatification Mass at The Dome at America’s Center on Sept. 24. Before the beatification Mass, the faithful will be able to take part in adoration and confession. After the Mass, a relic of Sheen will be available for veneration.
The website for the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation states that the choice for holding the beatification in St. Louis “was driven by the desire to include the largest number of people possible.”
While the largest venue in Peoria would only hold 15,000 people, The Dome at America’s Center — which hosted a papal visit from Pope John Paul II in 1999 — has a capacity of 100,000. St. Louis is also within a reasonable driving distance from Peoria, taking roughly two and a half hours.
Events will then head back to Peoria with Masses of thanksgiving, parish talks, and an award gala taking place on Sept. 25. The celebration concludes with a Byzantine-rite Mass of thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St. Mary on Sept. 26.
The faithful are also encouraged to take part in a nine-day novena beginning on Sept. 15.
Tylka explained that all of the events have been “thoughtfully planned as part of a pilgrimage to help us enter more deeply into the spiritual richness of this occasion and to encounter the Lord in a meaningful way.”
He added: “The beatification Mass itself will be the central moment of this sacred time, but it is surrounded by opportunities for formation, fellowship, and prayer that we hope will touch hearts and inspire renewed faith. The events that follow the beatification Mass in Peoria, including Masses of Thanksgiving and presentations, will allow us to continue reflecting on the gift of Archbishop Sheen and how his witness calls us forward as missionary disciples.”
“I am truly grateful for the many individuals and teams who have worked tirelessly to prepare for this moment, and I look forward with great anticipation to welcoming pilgrims from near and far,” Tylka said. “My hope is that through this beatification, many will come to know more deeply the love of Jesus Christ, be renewed in their faith, and be inspired to live as joyful witnesses of the Gospel in their own lives.”
With the aim of demonstrating how initiation into Christian life impacts the renewal of the Church, the Paraguayan Bishops’ Conference presented the publication “Stories of Light: The Journey and Witness of Christian Initiation in Paraguay.”
In the document, by the conference’s National Coordination of Catechesis, catechesis is viewed not merely as a process of formation but as an experience that “transforms hearts and lives, leading to renewed commitment to the Gospel.”
The document is addressed specifically to bishops, priests, catechists, and pastoral workers, and seeks to serve as a “source of inspiration and encouragement” to foster in them a greater appreciation of catechesis as a driving force for evangelization.
The publication notes that catechesis "is not merely intellectual knowledge but an experience of grace that transforms the heart and one’s entire existence, making the believer a participant in Trinitarian life.”
It also emphasizes the need to move beyond the prevailing view of catechesis as simply preparation for the sacraments, proposing a paradigm shift wherein it becomes a communal, missionary, and experiential undertaking. Within this framework, the document emphasizes that Christian initiation functions by “integrating the catechized person into the community,” thereby fostering commitment to the family, society, and the Church.
The participation of families is important in catechesis; parents, godparents, and entire communities should become actively involved.
Among the documentʼs most valuable contributions are the testimonies of young people, families, and catechists, who bear witness to the spiritual growth they experienced.
“My whole life changed and my family’s as well. Now I feel fulfilled doing so much for others,” said a participant who through this process found a new opportunity for life and service.
Formation should lead to the practice of the works of mercy. Accompanying suffering families means “touching the suffering body of Christ, integrating the social and spiritual dimensions into the catechetical process,” the text points out.
Christian initiation, according to the document, “is a response to the cultural shifts and relativism affecting young people and families,” promoting integration and fostering a faith that is both lived and shared.
Finally, the document proposes Christian initiation as a journey of pastoral renewal that fosters an “ecclesial renewal … aimed at a new vocational impetus and a new missionary awakening of parish communities.”
“Stories of Light” is thus presented as a pastoral tool that seeks to offer a model of a “Church that goes out,” one centered on encounter with Christ, on the transformative dimension of catechesis, and on living out the faith in community.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Pope Leo XIV met with the archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, at the Vatican on Monday. Mullallyʼs first official visit to Rome as the spiritual leader of the Church of England comes amid strained ecumenical relations and division among Anglicans.
Mullally’s delegation for her April 25–28 visit included representatives from the Anglican Communion and the recently appointed Catholic archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth.
A more difficult path to full communion
In his address to Mullally and her delegation on April 27, Leo said ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion has recently become more challenging.
“While much progress has been made on some historically divisive issues, new problems have arisen in recent decades, rendering the pathway to full communion more difficult to discern,” Leo said. “I know that the Anglican Communion is also facing many of these same questions at this time. Nevertheless, we must not allow these continuing challenges to prevent us from using every possible opportunity to proclaim Christ to the world together.”
The pope added that it would be “a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear.”
Beyond Catholic-Anglican dialogue, Mullallyʼs election has further caused significant theological and ecumenical divides within the Anglican Communion, particularly regarding the ordination of women and sexuality.
Pope Leo has affirmed the Catholic Church’s teaching on a male-only priesthood. In the Anglican Communion, notable splits have arisen over the ordination of Mullally as a female bishop, particularly among the Global Anglican Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON) and other conservative branches of Anglicanism. In March, GAFCON announced its break with the See of Canterbury.
Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally pray the Liturgy of the Hours together in the Urban VIII Chapel of the Apostolic Palace on April 27, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
After their meeting, the pope and the archbishop recited daytime prayer, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, together in the Chapel of Urban VIII in the Apostolic Palace.
In her address to the pontiff, Mullally thanked him for the opportunity to pray together and encouraged mutual hospitality despite differences.
“In our ecumenical journey, I believe the Holy Spirit is inviting us into a deeper practice of hospitality, not simply as welcome, but as a form of ministry,” Mullally said. “As I begin this ministry, I hope to be a shepherd who loves and cares for the Church, who encourages hospitality despite our differences, who speaks prophetically into our present reality, and who proclaims Christian hope with the confidence that the Gospel of Jesus Christ remains good news for our world today.”
Over the weekend, Mullally also visited the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Peter’s Basilica. On Monday evening, she will preside over choral evensong at the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, during which she will commission Bishop Anthony Ball as the archbishop of Canterbury’s official representative to the Holy See.
U.S. bishops said violence is never the answer after a shooter breached the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C. and injured a Secret Service agent on April 25.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement, “We are grateful the lives of the President, those who protect him, and everyone in attendance last night were spared from serious harm. Let us all pray for our elected leaders and public officials that they may receive God’s blessings. Because human life is a precious gift, there is no room for violence of any kind in our society.”
Attendees heard gunshots shortly after the White House Correspondents' Dinner began at the Washington Hilton hotel. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several cabinet members were evacuated by federal agents. Trump said in a press conference at the White House following the shooting that a lone suspect was taken into police custody and one federal agent was hospitalized after being hit in his bulletproof vest.
Bishop David Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio said the issue of gun violence requires attention.
Bonnar said in a statement, “The United States is built on freedom and respect for all. There is no room for violence that endangers the life of any human being. Moreover, the issue of gun violence must be addressed. Violence is never the answer. We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down. We pray for peace in moments of disagreement and discord. As we celebrate our 250th birthday may we live as a nation under God with liberty and justice for all.”
We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down.
Bishop David Bonnar
Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio
Since 2025, the United States has seen a marked escalation in political violence, including assassination attempts and lethal attacks linked to ideological extremism, threats against elected officials, and armed incidents surrounding political events.
High‑profile political actor Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator, was assassinated in Utah in September 2025. In Minnesota, Rep. Melissa Hortman, the top Democratic leader of the state House of Representatives, was assassinated in her home in June 2025, and her husband was killed in the same attack. Hortman, who had served as Minnesota House speaker, was a Roman Catholic catechist.
Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, posted on X on April 26, “Iʼm grateful that the President and his entourage are unhurt after this latest attack. May I raise my voice against the viciousness and tribalism that are so prevalent on the internet and that contribute mightily to the violence we see in our political culture. Can we please remember that it is possible to disagree with a politicianʼs ideas without demonizing and de-humanizing him? Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, and that includes our ideological opponents.”
MYMENSINGH, Bangladesh — In a country where Catholic vocations often emerge from modest rural communities, the quiet influence of lay Catholics can be decisive. For decades, Lobdine Chisim, a lay teacher and catechist from Mariamnagar Parish in Bangladesh’s Diocese of Mymensingh, has been one such influence — helping shape a generation of priests and religious sisters through personal sacrifice, faithful accompaniment, and maternal care.
Chisim, 65, received the papal honor “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” in 2025 in recognition of her lifelong service to the Church. The award highlighted a vocation lived not in vows or ordination but in persistent support of Catholics discerning consecrated life.
Mariamnagar Parish, founded in 1937 by American Holy Cross missionaries, has produced at least eight priests and seven religious sisters over the years. According to clergy and religious from the parish, Chisim has played a role — both direct or indirect — in nearly all of those vocations.
Lobdine Chisim at her home in Mariamnagar Parish on April 24, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Lobdine Chisim
A member of the parish, Chisim teaches at the local Catholic school and serves as a catechist. Known for her fidelity to Church teaching and firm moral guidance, she has long accompanied young people considering the priesthood or religious life, often stepping into roles usually filled by parents or formal formation staff.
Though never officially assigned to a seminary or formation house, Chisim has acted quietly and become what local clergy call a “caregiver of vocations,” introducing boys and girls to seminaries and religious congregations, helping them navigate formation, and supporting them materially when poverty threatened to derail their calling.
Chisim, the mother of one child, personally financed the seminary education of her younger brother — now Father Joseph Chisim. Beyond her family, she has continued to follow the progress of seminarians and candidates, remaining in contact with them through letters, visits, and phone calls, particularly during moments of doubt or crisis.
Father Sanchaya Ignatius Chisim (no relation to Lobdine Chisim), rector of St. Paul’s Minor Seminary in Jalchatra, Tangail, credits the influence of the laywoman as decisive in his own discernment. Speaking to EWTN News, he said she first inspired him while teaching catechism classes during his school years.
“She encouraged me to enter the seminary and continued to guide me after I joined,” he said. “She gave me advice and counseling, and many times helped me financially while I was a seminarian.”
During vacations home from the seminary, Father Chisim recalled, she would regularly check on him. “She protected me like a mother and warned me against temptation. She played an important role in my becoming a priest, and I am grateful to her.”
Religious sisters from Mariamnagar Parish offer similar testimony.
Sister Mary Hima of the Associates of Mary, Queen of Apostles, now headmistress of St. Lawrence School in Dhaka, said she first encountered Chisim as a child in catechism classes.
“She inspired us to become sisters even then,” Hima told EWTN News. “When I later entered the formation house, she was very happy and continued to motivate me, saying that as a sister I would be able to serve very well.”
Hima said Chisim’s support did not end after first profession. During a difficult period in her early religious life, when she felt unable to confide in her community or family, she turned to Chisim for guidance.
“She gave me honest advice and counseling, which helped me continue my religious life with strength,” Hima said, adding that she remains deeply grateful.
Beyond individual discernment, Chisim has become a respected figure throughout her village. She regularly leads evening prayers and is known for encouraging priests, sisters, and laypeople to live faithfully and ethically.
Lobdine Chisim speaks during a ceremony honoring her with the papal award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice on Jan. 11, 2025, in Mymensingh. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Lobdine Chisim
Speaking to EWTN News, Chisim said her motivation comes from a simple conviction about the life of the Church.
“Priests and sisters provide wonderful service. They keep the Church alive,” she said. “That is why we need many of them.”
She explained that she offers financial assistance only to those pursuing religious vocations, not for marriage. “Many families live below the poverty line,” she said. “Some boys and girls lose enthusiasm because they cannot afford books, exam fees, or school costs. I help them as much as I can.”
Although she does not consider herself wealthy, Chisim said she finds peace in supporting vocations. “I spend less on the world so that I can help them,” she said.
Her role has even extended to assisting diocesan leadership. She recalled being asked by Bishop Ponen Paul Kubi, CSC, of Mymensingh to counsel seminarians struggling with hesitation shortly before ordination.
“I talk to them and encourage them to return to the seminary,” she said. “Many have continued and are now serving the Church beautifully.”
For those who know her, Chisim’s life stands as a testimony to the often-unseen power of lay witness — a vocation of fidelity that, quietly and persistently, has helped sustain the Church in Bangladesh.
St. James (Santiago) Church in the town of Curahuara de Carangas in Bolivia, which has earned the popular moniker the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes” due to the murals adorning its interior walls, is going to be restored.
The project was announced April 21 during a press conference given by Bolivia’s deputy minister for the Promotion of Sustainable Tourism, Andrés Aramayo; the bishop of Oruro, Cristobal Bialasik; architect Josefina Matas, who will direct the restoration; and Debra Hevia, chief of mission at the U.S. embassy.
The U.S. will make an investment of $66,240 toward the restoration of the historic church, which dates back to the early 17th century.
Hevia said the funding comes from the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Preservation Fund, which has a history spanning more than 26 years of protecting Bolivian cultural heritage.
“This church is beautiful. Its architectural style and murals tell the story of Bolivia, and we want to protect them to share with the world,” she said, highlighting the importance of preserving Bolivia’s history and combating the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage objects.
“As the Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Cultures, Folklore, and Gastronomy, we view culture as a catalyst for our national pride, of our essence, but also for the social cohesion and peace we so urgently need to truly understand where we come from and where we wish to go,” Aramayo said at the press conference.
The project, which entails the repair and waterproofing of the thatched roof as well as the reconstruction of the buttresses that support the building, will respect the churchʼs architectural style and unique construction materials, the deputy minister explained. In addition, the exterior walls and façades, which have deteriorated with age, will be restored.
The building, constructed between 1587 and 1608, is located in the Andean province of Sajama at an elevation of 12,788 feet above sea level.
It is a large structure built of stone and adobe, featuring stone buttresses and a gated entrance to the church compound composed of two pilasters and a semicircular arch executed in a Renaissance style.
Inside the church, the walls and ceilings feature paintings depicting biblical scenes, which were completed in 1777 according to period documents belonging to the town of Curahuara de Carangas.
In 1960, the church was declared a national monument. With this restoration, the town hopes to become a hub for economic and social development through tourism, as part of a national religious tourism strategy.
At the press conference, the local bishop expressed his gratitude to the United States, as well as to Germany, which funded previous restoration work on the church.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
