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Alleluia! Today's readings give us one of the most hopeful scenes in Acts: the Church has just been scattered by persecution, Saul is dragging people from their homes - and the scattered believers simply go preaching wherever they land. Philip goes to Samaria of all places, and cures the sick, and drives out unclean spirits, and the reading ends with seven wonderful words: "There was great joy in that city" (Acts 8:8). The Resurrection cannot be stopped. It just keeps going.

📰 Quick Hits

1. A Robot Won a Half Marathon. Here's What It Can't Do.

Last Sunday in Beijing, a bright-red humanoid robot named "Lightning" - developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor - ran a half marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, beating all 12,000 human competitors and surpassing the human world record by nearly seven minutes. It was a clean sweep: Honor's robots also took second and third. More than 100 humanoids competed, a massive jump from last year's inaugural race when most of the machines stumbled, fell, or just lay down at the starting line. One robot this year crossed the finish line triumphantly and then veered into a bush. A 2-foot companion robot bounced along carrying a baby bottle. One engineer offered the best line of the day: "Robots today have the body of Mike Tyson but are still missing a brain like Stephen Hawking."

Faith Lens for the Home: A robot can optimize a course. It cannot love the person running beside it. It cannot offer its suffering. It cannot choose to run 19.3 miles with its son because those miles matter in ways no algorithm can compute. Jesus says in today's Gospel: "I will not cast out anyone who comes to me" (John 6:37) - and no machine has ever come to anyone out of love. Ask your family tonight: "What can a human being do that a robot never will be able to do? What does that tell us about what we are made for?"

2. "Something's Happening": Catholic Converts Surge Across the U.S.

Dioceses across the country reported record or near-record numbers of adults entering the Catholic Church at Easter 2026. Philadelphia welcomed 1,162 new Catholics - a 62% jump over last year - across 128 parishes, nearly double the number from a decade ago. Newark welcomed 1,701, up 30%. Detroit saw its highest numbers in 21 years. Oklahoma City saw a 57% surge. The National Catholic Register surveyed 71 dioceses and found only five reporting a decline. A diocesan director in Newark said: "2025 eclipsed every year we had had up to then. We thought it might be an anomaly. And then 2026 blew away 2025, which we didn't think was possible." A Florida bishop put it simply: "It's the Holy Spirit."

Faith Lens for the Home: Philip went to Samaria and there was great joy in that city. The same Spirit is moving right now - in Newark, in Philadelphia, in Oklahoma City, in your parish. Ask your family tonight: "Is there someone in our life who seems to be searching? What would it look like to be a Philip for them - just to sit beside them and explain what we believe?" The Resurrection is still contagious. Your family is part of how it spreads.

3. One Year Since Pope Francis Died - Pope Leo Remembers His Predecessor

On the papal flight from Angola, Pope Leo XIV paused to mark the first anniversary of Pope Francis' death, saying his predecessor "gave so much to the Church through his life, his witness, his words, and his gestures" and asking the faithful to pray that Francis "is already enjoying the Lord's mercy." It was a quiet, personal moment from a pope who has spent this week proclaiming the Gospel across four African nations.

Faith Lens for the Home: We pray for the dead because we believe in the communion of saints - that death does not sever the bonds of love, and that our prayers reach those who have gone before us. Ask your family tonight: "Who have we lost that we still pray for? What do we believe happens to them?" That conversation - simple, honest, rooted in hope - is one of the most distinctly Catholic things a family can do.

⛪ Family Saint Spotlight

Sts. Caius and Soter - April 22

Two early popes of the second and third centuries who both gave their lives for the faith during times of Roman persecution. Little is recorded about them beyond their martyrdom - which is itself the testimony. They led the Church when leading the Church could get you killed, and they did it anyway.

Ask at dinner: "Sts. Caius and Soter led the Church during persecution and died for it. What would it take for our family to hold onto our faith if it cost us something real?"

✋ One Simple Action

St. Gianna Novena Day 4 is waiting at walkingwithmoms.com/saint-gianna-novena-day-4. And tonight, name one person in your life who might be searching - and say a prayer for them by name. That's how Philip started too.

📚 Read More

• Humanoid robots win Beijing half marathon: NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/world/china/humanoid-robots-race-humans-beijing-half-marathon-showing-rapid-advanc-rcna340842)
• Catholic convert surge across U.S.: National Catholic Register (https://www.ncregister.com/news/catholic-converts-surge-us) and CatholicPhilly (https://catholicphilly.com/2026/04/news/local-news/1162-catholics-enter-local-church-this-year-up-62-in-a-year/)
• Pope Leo remembers Pope Francis: The LOOP / Zeale (https://zeale.co/news/articles/tributes-mark-first-anniversary-of-pope-francis-death)
• Sts. Caius and Soter: New Advent (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03144c.htm)

The Church was scattered and it preached everywhere it landed. A robot won a race and still cannot love. One year after Francis, Leo keeps proclaiming. There was great joy in that city - and the same Spirit is loose in yours.

One more thing: the & Altar app is now live in the Apple App Store for iPhone. Daily formation for every member of your household, in one place. Learn more at WeAreDomus.com.