Archbishop of Bobmay Oswald Cardinal Garcia N Archbishop John Rodrigues-Image from Facebook
Mumbai, January 25, 2025: His Holiness Pope Francis has officially accepted the resignation of His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay. Originally submitted five years ago, Cardinal Gracias’ resignation was recently reaffirmed and received final approval earlier this evening at 4:30 PM in Rome.
Following this, Bishop John Rodrigues, who was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay on November 30, now formally assumes office as the Archbishop of Bombay. His installation as Coadjutor Bishop took place during a Eucharistic celebration at the Cathedral on Thursday, January 23, 2025. As Coadjutor Bishop, Archbishop Rodrigues immediately succeeds Cardinal Gracias in leading the Archdiocese.
Archbishop John Rodrigues now serves as the Head of the Church in Bombay and the Metropolitan Head of the Bombay Ecclesiastical Province. The faithful, clergy, religious, and people of goodwill welcome him with great joy, recognizing his deep knowledge, competence, experience, and holiness of life. This significant transition marks a moment of gratitude and hope for the Archdiocese as it embraces new leadership.
In a video message released earlier today, Cardinal Gracias expressed heartfelt gratitude to all his collaborators in the Archdiocese, including bishops, priests, religious, the laity, and the citizens of Mumbai. He offered special thanks to the presbyterium of the Archdiocese for their unwavering dedication and support throughout his tenure. Acknowledging the Holy Father’s paternal care and God’s protection, Cardinal Gracias gave thanks for the grace and guidance he experienced as the shepherd of the Church in Bombay.
The Archdiocese of Bombay deeply acknowledges the remarkable contributions of Cardinal Gracias, whose visionary leadership has left an indelible legacy in the local Church, the National Church in India, and the universal Church. Speaking of his predecessor, Archbishop John Rodrigues said, “Cardinal Oswald Gracias was a giant of a man, and now as his successor I have mighty big shoes to fill.”
To formally welcome Archbishop John Rodrigues, a Eucharistic celebration will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, at the Cathedral in the evening. The Archdiocese warmly invites priests, religious, and representatives of the laity to join this significant event as a sign of unity and prayerful support.
The Archdiocese assures Archbishop John Rodrigues of its continued prayers, affection, and cooperation as he takes on this vital role.
Fr. Nigel Barrett
Spokesperson
Archdiocese of Bombay
Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan delivers the invocation during the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th U.S. president in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. | Credit: SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York and Father Frank Mann of the Diocese of Brooklyn opened and closed the prayers of invocation and benediction, respectively, at the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Dolan kicked off the prayers of invocation and was followed by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late renowned American evangelist Billy Graham and current head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
In his prayer Dolan, who was also tapped to offer the invocation at Trump’s 2017 inauguration, called on Americans to pray that the incoming administration be guided by and aligned with the will of God and for the new president, especially, that he be instilled with wisdom.
“We, blessed citizens of this one nation under God, humbled by our claim that in God we trust, gather indeed this inauguration day to pray for our president Donald J. Trump, his family, his advisers, his Cabinet, his aspirations, his vice president,” Dolan prayed.
As the inauguration also fell on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday in the United States, Dolan also invoked the memory of the slain civil rights activist, stating: “Observing the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King, who warned: ‘Without God, our efforts turn to ashes.’”
Calling especially upon God for the gift of wisdom, Dolan prayed: “If wisdom, which comes from [God] be not with him, he shall be held with no esteem. Send wisdom from the heavens that she may be with him, that he may know your designs.”
“Please, God, bless America,” he concluded: “You are the God in whom we trust, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.”
Following Dolan, Graham centered his prayer on gratitude, saying: “We come to say thank you, O Lord our God! Father, when Donald Trump’s enemies thought he was down and out, you and you alone saved his life and raised him up with strength and power by your mighty hand.”
Graham prayed in particular for continued safety for Trump and his wife, Melania.
Notably, Graham also prayed for Vance, that he may stand beside Trump and “hold his arms up like Aaron held up the arms of Moses in the midst of battle.”
“We know that America can never be great again if we turn our backs on you,” he concluded. “We ask for your help. We pray all of this in the name of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, your Son, my Savior, and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
After Trump and Vance were sworn in, African-American Pastor Lorenzo Sewell and Rabbi Ari Berman offered two of the three prayers of benediction.
Referencing Trump’s near-assassination, Sewell centered his benediction on gratitude, declaring: “Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you gave our 45th and now our 47th president a millimeter miracle.”
Also referencing Martin Luther King Jr., Sewell continued: “We pray that you use our president so that we will live in a nation where we will not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.”
Berman prayed that Trump and Vance would unite the nation “around our foundational biblical values of life and liberty of service, of sacrifice, and especially of faith and morality, which George Washington called the ‘indispensable supports of American prosperity.’”
“May our nation merit the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s blessing,” he stated, “that like a tree planted by water, we shall not cease to bear fruit; may all of humanity experience your love and your blessing, may it be thy will, and let us say amen.”
Lastly, Mann of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, concluded the prayers of benediction, offering a particularly personal prayer for the new president, with whom he is personally acquainted.
“As our president and vice president embrace their newly appointed roles,” he said, “we humbly implore that your everlasting love and wisdom will envelop them and grant them the clarity of mind to navigate the challenges that lie ahead and the compassion to serve all citizens with fairness and integrity.”
Father Frank Mann of the Diocese of Brooklyn delivers a benediction as U.S. President Donald Trump and former U.S. President Joe Biden listen during Trump’s inauguration ceremony in the rotunda of the United States Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Credit: Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images
As CNA reported last week, Mann, who is a retired diocesan priest, originally struck up what the Tablet called an “unlikely friendship” with Trump after he came across the grave sites of Trump’s parents in a Queens cemetery.
“It was slightly overgrown,” Mann told the Tablet. “I thought this shouldn’t be. This is a historic site. So, I went and bought a weed whacker and some decorations and fixed up the plot.” The priest then sent a photo of the graves to the president.
When Trump learned of the priest’s actions, he called Mann personally saying the two should meet up. They have continued to remain in contact since, with Trump reportedly seeking Mann’s advice on winning the Catholic vote in this past election.
Mann concluded his prayer by giving special thanks for Trump’s parents, Mary and Fred Trump.
“Without [them], this day would never be the miracle that has just begun,” he reflected. “From their place in heaven, may they shield their son from all harm by their loving protection and give him the strength to guide our nation along the path that will make America great again.”
Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who had previously been scheduled to offer a Muslim benediction at the ceremony, did not appear at the event. The Dearborn, Michigan-based Husainy had generated controversy for his past expressions regarding Hezbollah and Iran.
“Very nerve wracking. I was very nervous at the start, but then I felt honored and I felt like it was sort of my mission to provide them a voice,” John Oriundo said.
The collection of raw and vulnerable stories were written by students at 8 different high schools in Newark detailing their stories of saying goodbye, the journey to the U.S. and their families’ new lives.
Shawn Adler is a teacher at Science Park High School. He is the one who carefully chose, edited and compiled the stories.
“We knew that we wanted to tell the immigrant stories of our community. We wanted to give voice to the students who, quite frankly, were voiceless, and we wanted to share the positive and resilient stories of America,” Adler explained.
The book was officially published last year, but the students were honored at a ceremony Friday morning with U.S. Rep LaMonica McIver and given small royalty checks.
Newark schools superintendent Roger Leon says this book has been praised by local, state and federal leaders. He hopes this process has taught these 58 students that their stories matter..
“Their future is going to become brighter because what they’re living today and not only what they’re living, but the stories that they’re telling about their ancestry speaks volumes about the courage that is in their own respective families, that they come from accomplishments,” Leon said.
The story of Peter and Jackie Halpin, along with their entire family of six adult children, has moved many hearts online. (photo: Go Fund Me / Halpin Family)
When Peter and Jackie Halpin and their six adult children and some of their spouses showed up at the site of the family home in northern Los Angeles County on Thursday morning, there was almost nothing left.
One of the California wildfires had destroyed it, leaving only the foundation, debris, and singed concrete statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph.
They said a prayer near the statue of Mary — a version of the daily consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then someone said they should sing something. But what?
Peter ended the discussion with an intonation, setting pitch with four notes going up the scale — “La – la – la – laaaaa.” Everyone in the family knows what that means: Regina Caeli, a 12th-century Latin hymn to Mary that Peter’s mother taught all nine of her children.
The Halpin parents, their six children, and at least four spouses — about a dozen people in all — immediately sang it in harmony.
A family friend shot video of the performance. Someone posted it online, where it has caught the attention of thousands of people.
Andrew Halpin, 36, the fourth of Peter and Jackie’s six children (three boys and three girls), described to the Register on Thursday night how he felt during the family prayer.
“I was thinking, ‘I want to be strong for my folks in this moment’— for my parents. And when we started singing, it felt like we were all being strong for each other,” Halpin said in a telephone interview.
“I already feel so much healing because we were able to be there together as a family, and we were able to bond over this song that means so much to our family,” he said.
The Halpins’ performance of Regina Caeli — a seemingly effortless multipart harmony with volume and various pitches — led to a question for Andrew: How did you do that?
“We’re a very musical family. It was instilled in us from Day One, really,” said Andrew, a composer who has a wife and a toddler daughter.
When they were kids, Andrew and his siblings participated in a choir led by an accomplished choirmaster as part of a Catholic home-schooling group. They all played musical instruments from a young age. Nowadays, they also occasionally perform publicly in a family band, called The Haypenny Pigs.
“After our faith, it’s been one of the most cohesive things about my family,” he said. “There really has never been a time joyful or sad when music doesn’t play a part.”
A Home Filled With Music
The Halpins moved into the house, a Craftsman bungalow in Altadena, in 1988. It was yellow and had three bedrooms and one bathroom. The boys shared one bedroom and the girls another. About two decades ago their parents added a master bedroom with another bathroom, Andrew said.
The moment on Thursday morning was sad, even devastating.
His parents lost their home, which is where all the children grew up. One of his sisters and her daughter lost their home, which was at the rear of the same property.
But it hasn’t shaken their faith, he said.
“We have to give everything to God. And if that means our home at this time, we choose to trust that we’re in the palm of his hand,” Andrew told the Register.
Before they evacuated, Andrew’s parents, who are in their early 60s, managed to save 40 years’ worth of family photo albums and some essential documents. But Jackie’s genealogical collection, including old family photos, are gone. So is almost everything else that was in the house.
“You’re standing on the ashes of your childhood, really of your life,” Andrew said. “But you’re alive.”
Peter is a contractor who runs a concrete business. He lost a work truck in the fire, in addition to his home.
A GoFundMe page for Peter and Jackie Halpin had raised more than $60,000 as of early Friday.
Meanwhile, the family is trying to stress the positive.
“What I would want people to get out of this sadness, out of this tragedy, is that we can wring joy out of it. We can instill love,” Andrew said.
Over the years, the back yard of the family home has seen many parties for family and friends, with live music.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a party at the old yellow house that didn’t end with a jam session,” he said.
Andrew said his dad decided even before he got married that he wanted to host a lot of parties like that.
“He wanted to create a place where his family and friends could celebrate and forget their worries,” Andrew said.
“This was home for more than just us. And that’s hard to let go of,” he said.
“People know that home as a place of faith, a place of fellowship, community and music,” Andrew said. “I tell you what, when we rebuild, there’s going to be music there again.”
Pope Francis appoints Sr. Simona Brambilla, an Italian-born religious sister from the Consolata Missionaries, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, along with Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as Pro-Prefect.
By Vatican News
Sister Simona Brambilla, who will turn 60 on March 27, previously served as the Superior General of the Consolata Missionaries.
Pope Francis appointed her on Monday, the Solemnity of the Epiphany, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
She has served as Secretary of the same Dicastery since October 7, 2023, and becomes the first woman to be appointed Prefect of a Dicastery of the Holy See.
Pope Francis also chose Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, 65, whom he created Cardinal in the Consistory on September 30, 2023, as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery.
Sister Simona Brambilla has a background that includes missionary experience in Mozambique. She was a professional nurse before joining the Consolata Missionary Sisters Institute, which she led from 2011 to 2023.
On July 8, 2019, the Pope for the first time appointed seven women as members of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Later, Sister Brambilla was first chosen as Secretary of the Dicastery and now as Prefect.
Since the beginning of Pope Francis’s pontificate, the presence of women in the Vatican has increased. According to overall data covering both the Holy See and Vatican City State from 2013 to 2023, the percentage of women has risen from 19.2% to 23.4%.
A pathway outlined by the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium of 2022, the Pope has made it possible for laypeople, including women, to lead a Dicastery and become Prefect, a role previously reserved for Cardinals and Archbishops.
In Vatican City State, Pope Francis has appointed two women to leadership positions during his pontificate. In 2016, he named Barbara Jatta as Director of the Vatican Museums, which has traditionally been led by laypeople. In 2022, he named Sister Raffaella Petrini as Secretary General of the Governorate, a role usually held by a bishop.
There are also several female Undersecretaries, such as Gabriella Gambino and Lina Ghisoni at the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, while Sister Carmen Ros Nortes of the Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation serves as Undersecretary at the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Emilce Cuda is Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; Nataša Govekar heads the theological-pastoral department of the Dicastery for Communication (our parent organization); Cristiane Murray is Deputy Director of the Holy See Press Office; and Charlotte Kreuter-Kirchof is Deputy Coordinator of the Council for the Economy. The General Secretariat of the Synod also has a female Undersecretary, French-born Sister Nathalie Becquart.
On December 13, 2024, the Pope appointed Sister Simona Brambilla and María Lía Zervino, former president of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO), as members of the 16th Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat. María Lía Zervino had already been appointed as a member of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2022.