U.S.
U.S. State Department awards CRS a disaster response assistance grant
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State announced June 5 that a $240 million grant in humanitarian and disaster response assistance, the first of a series of such grants, will be made to Catholic Relief Services, the overseas charitable arm of the Catholic Church in the U.S. The grant is the first in a series of awards the State Department intends to make to “trusted and vetted implementing organizations,” the department said in a press release. CRS said the funding will support its global rapid response fund, used to quickly get assistance to countries in crisis, such as Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The State Department said in its press release that CRS demonstrated its “capacity to provide assistance in challenging political environments,” citing Cuba, where department officials said “its local partnerships enabled humanitarian assistance to reach those in need without regime interference.” (OSV News)
Beyond the buzzer: sisters, spirit and the NBA Finals
SAN ANTONIO — As the NBA Finals spotlight the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, an unexpected group has captured national attention: the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco in San Antonio. Dubbed the “Spurs Nuns,” the sisters have gone viral during the Spurs’ playoff run, appearing courtside, offering prayers and enthusiastically cheering for their hometown team. But Sister Bernadette Mota says the attention remains secondary to the community’s mission. She emphasized that the sisters’ primary calling is serving young people and those in need, not basketball fame. For the Salesian Sisters, as national media attention to them has grown, they have welcomed the spotlight, seeing it as an opportunity to highlight their ministries and the needs of the young people they serve. (OSV News)
WORLD
Bishop of Quelimane, Mozambique, shot dead at his residence
MAPUTO, Mozambique — The Catholic Church in Mozambique is mourning the death of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of Quelimane, who was found shot dead at his residence in the early hours of June 6. Aid to the Church in Need said the bishop’s body was discovered in a corridor of the episcopal residence, and authorities have not identified a suspect. Archbishop Inácio Saúre, president of Mozambique’s bishops’ conference, called for prayer, faith and solidarity as the Church grapples with the tragedy. Pope Leo said he “learned with sorrow of the grave act of violence” that led to the bishop’s death and joined his prayers with the faithful and Church officials, a Holy See Press Office statement said. The Consolata missionary, 54, had recently been appointed apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira. His death stunned Catholics across Mozambique, where the Church faces ongoing insecurity, including Islamist attacks in Cabo Delgado Province. (OSV News)
Christian harassment cases rise in Israel as advocates urge victims to report incidents
JERUSALEM — There has been a sharp rise in reported harassment against Christians in Israel, according to new data presented June 4 by the Religious Freedom Data Center. Founder Yisca Harani said more than 88 incidents have already been documented this year, including 63 in the second quarter alone, putting 2026 on pace to exceed last year’s total of 181 cases. Most incidents have occurred in Jerusalem’s Old City and nearby Christian sites, ranging from spitting and verbal abuse to vandalism, grave desecration and attacks on religious symbols. Church representatives say such harassment is a daily reality, while authorities often describe the events as isolated acts by a small minority. Speakers at the conference criticized limited police follow-through on complaints and urged victims to continue reporting incidents. (OSV News)
