09/09/2019

Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau has appealed to Catholics worldwide to help them meet the immediate as well as long term needs of the people.</s>VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis canonized Argentina’s “gaucho priest” Sunday, bestowing sainthood on the poncho-wearing pastor with whom the first Argentine pope shares many similarities, from a taste for mate tea to a dedication to bringing the ministry to even the most isolated people.

Francis honored Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero along with six others in a Mass before a crowd of 80,000 in St. Peter’s Square, saying the new saints, “thanks to prayer, had generous and steadfast hearts.”

“The saints are men and women who enter fully into the mystery of prayer. Men and women who struggle with prayer, letting the Holy Spirit pray and struggle in them,” the pope said.

Also made into saints were two Italian priests, Lodovico Pavoni and Alfonso Maria Fusco, French martyr Salomone Leclercq, French nun Elisabeth of the Trinity, Spanish bishop Manuel Gonzalez Garcia and Mexican layman Jose Sanchez del Rio.

Born in 1849 in the province of Cordoba, Brochero was one of the most famous Catholics in the Argentina of Francis’ youth. He died in 1914 after living for years with leprosy that he was said to have contracted from one of his faithful.

Brochero was beatified in 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI signed off on a miracle attributed to his intercession. Francis moved Brochero closer to sainthood soon after being elected pope, and cleared him for sainthood earlier this year.

At the time of Brochero’s beatification, Francis wrote a letter to Argentina’s bishops praising Brochero for having had the “smell of his sheep.” That’s a phrase Francis has frequently used to describe his ideal pastor: one who accompanies his flock, walking with them through life’s ups and downs.

“He never stayed in the parish office. He got on his mule and went out to find people like a priest of the street — to the point of getting leprosy,” Francis wrote.

Among the parallels shared by the two Argentines is Brochero’s spirituality, which is deeply rooted in the Jesuit spiritual exercises dear to Francis. Francis, who like Brochero adores his mate tea, has exhorted his pastors to travel to far-flung peripheries to minister to the poor, as Brochero did on his trusty mule Malacara.

Argentinians, many waving flags, made the journey themselves to Rome to see Brochero elevated to sainthood, including Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his wife.

“Our saint, he took all that he had off in order to go ahead and in order to help people, in particular the poor ones, especially in the middle of mountains,” said Patricia Elena Zabala, from Villa Gobernador Galvez in Argentina. “He went there with a mule. That’s why he’s represented riding a mule, going along villages and helping people.”

Local media in Argentina said up to 30,000 people gathered overnight Saturday in Villa Cura Brochero, a town located about 530 miles (850 kilometers) northwest of Buenos Aires, to await the Sunday morning canonization. The gaucho priest spent much of his life in that community in the country’s central province of Cordoba.

“He’s an image to emulate, a model to follow,” Cordoba Vice Governor Martin Llayora told the official news agency Telam.</s>Brochero was beatified in 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI signed off on a miracle attributed to his intercession. Francis cleared him for sainthood earlier this year and on Sunday canonized Brochero along with six others in one of the final big Masses of his Holy Year of Mercy.

Pope Francis canonized Argentina’s “gaucho priest” on Sunday, bestowing sainthood on the poncho-wearing, mate-sipping pastor who rode his mule Malacara to the far-flung Argentine peripheries to minister to the poor.

Born in 1849 in the province of Cordoba, Brochero was one of the most famous Catholics in the Argentina of Francis’ youth. He died in 1914 after living for years with leprosy that he was said to have contracted from one of his faithful.

Pope Francis, history’s first Argentine pope, moved Brochero closer to sainthood soon after being elected Pope.

Brochero was beatified in 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI signed off on a miracle attributed to his intercession. Francis cleared him for sainthood earlier this year and on Sunday canonized Brochero along with six others in one of the final big Masses of his Holy Year of Mercy.

At the time of Brochero’s beatification, Pope Francis wrote a letter to Argentina’s bishops praising Brochero for having had the “smell of his sheep.” That’s a phrase Pope Francis has frequently used to describe his ideal pastor- one who accompanies his flock, walking with them through life’s ups and downs.

“He never stayed in the parish office. He got on his mule and went out to find people like a priest of the street to the point of getting leprosy,” Pope Francis wrote.

Among the parallels shared by the two Argentines is Brochero’s spirituality, which is deeply rooted in the Jesuit spiritual exercises that are so dear to Pope Francis. Just as Brochero would lead his flock in performing the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, so too does Pope Francis, bringing the entire Vatican hierarchy each year on a retreat outside Rome.

“If there is one religious figure in Argentina’s history who best exemplifies Pope Francis’s idea of a priest, it’s ‘el cura’ Brochero,” said Austen Ivereigh, author of the Pope Francis biography “The Great Reformer.”

“He lived simply, and for others, at one with the gauchos and poor folk.”</s>The 21-year-old made 42 appearances for the club since making his debut against Leeds in 2014.

He also played for England’s Under 16s and 18s as well as touring Australia with the Saints Academy in 2011.

Saints CEO Mike Rush: “Andre has been at the club since signing from Latchford Albion at the age of 14.

“Like with any youngster who has been here that long, is always difficult when they move on.

“We wish him nothing but the best at the Wolves.”</s>If you’re thinking you’ve read that before, you’d probably be right.

Because how often has Stephen Myler proved to be the man of the moment for Saints?

During his 10 years at the club, the fly-half has landed several match-winning kicks.

His composure under the most intense pressure is astounding, earning him the ‘Iceman’ nickname from his team-mates.

During Saints’ double-winning season (2013/14) alone, Myler kicked two match-winning penalties, in the final minute of games at Wasps and Exeter.

And he also slotted a last-gasp conversion to secure a 19-19 draw at Bath during the same campaign.

In situations when most would crumble, Myler proved to be a picture of calm as he propelled his team to glory in two competitions.

And on Saturday evening, he landed another huge effort that eased the tension around Franklin’s Gardens.

In fact, you could go as far as to say that Myler rescued Saints’ Champions Cup hopes, such is the value of a home win in the cut-throat competition.

But, of course, it wasn’t all about him.

The whole Saints team had to step up against a monstrous Montpellier team.

Saints walked in the land of the giants and just about emerged unscathed.

In Louis Picamoles, they had their own behemoth.

A man who appears to be in a bubble during the maelstrom that is a rugby match.

Opposition players, some smaller, some bigger, try to topple him, but his balance and ability to offload under pressure is sensational.

He is quite simply an outrageous rugby player and one who, injury permitting, will surely go on to be one of the greatest to have represented Northampton Saints.

Picamoles’ power and refusal to buckle under strain is exactly what Saints need right now.

It has been a tough start to the season, which has seen attack coach Alex King pay the price for a tally of two wins from six Aviva Premiership matches.

And it would only have got tougher had Montpellier managed to win at the Gardens.

But thankfully for everyone of a green, black and gold persuasion, Picamoles, Myler and Co stepped up.

Now Jim Mallinder’s men can head to France this weekend with four points to their name.

It won’t be easy to win at Castres - Saints know that all too well from recent clashes with the side from Stade Pierre Antoine - but at least defeat won’t be fatal.

At least Saints have some confidence to take across the Channel and at least that pressure hasn’t ramped up any more.

Saints will have to ensure that they have ice running through their veins if they want to win at Castres.

But in the likes of Myler and Picamoles they certainly have men who fit that particular bill.

The full-back looked really sharp, making more metres than any other player on the pitch and making the second most carries, one behind Picamoles... 8

Had a huge test as he faced up to the ridiculously big Nemani Nadolo, but he largely did well... 6

Looked strong defensively and tried to take the fight to Montpellier when he got the chance, eventually being forced off with a knock... 7

Produced a lovely offload in the build-up to Calum Clark’s score and his big boot was a useful tool... 8

Was busy, especially during the first, half and he made plenty of carries and metres to keep Montpellier on their toes... 7

So assured from the tee and came up with the big kick when it mattered most, earning the points for his side... 8

Saints brought him off with 20 minutes to go to keep things fresh, but the South African had done okay until then, with his kicking good... 7

Faced a big challenge against a Georgian front row, but Saints more than matched them in the scrum... 7

Might not be as big as some of the beasts in the Montpellier pack, but was typically brave, doing everything he could to stop them in their tracks... 7

The prop is a man who can match the power of the Montpellier pack and he put himself about here... 7

Saints were robbed of Courtney Lawes due to a knee injury, but this man stepped up, putting in a big display and a big tackle to stop Benjamin Fall scoring in the first half... 8

A huge shift from the lock, who got through a lot of work, making tackle after tackle in a fine defensive display... 8

The captain led from the front, with one courageous chargedown summing up his desire to drive Saints to victory... 8

Scored Saints’ only try in a huge personal performance that saw him win the second most lineouts in the home side and make the most tackles by some distance... 9

A gargantuan display from the big Frenchman who continues to astound at Saints this season... 9

Replacements (who played more than 20 minutes)

Saints were starting to get on the front foot as this man came on and he did little wrong during the final 20 minutes... 6</s>Stephen Myler once again landed a nerveless last-gasp penalty to secure a priceless win for Saints against Montpellier in the Champions Cup opener at Franklin’s Gardens.

With the 80 minutes having elapsed, Myler stepped up and sent the ball through the posts to draw a delighted roar from the home fans, who saw their side seal a 16-14 success.

It was yet another ice-cool moment from the player nicknamed ‘The Iceman’ by his team-mates due to his ability to land pressure kicks.

And it provided Saints with reward from an encounter that was nip and tuck throughout.

Jim Mallinder’s men had taken a 10-0 lead thanks to a Calum Clark score and five points from the boot of Myler, but Montpellier fought back in powerful fashion.

A try from François Steyn, who racked up 11 points on the night, helped to push Montpellier towards a fine away win, but Myler ruined their hopes with one exceptional flash of his right boot.

Prior to the game, there was to be a minute’s applause for Dickie Jeeps, the former Saints scrum-half, who had passed away at the age of 84 on the previous weekend.

And there was to be an immediate tribute to Jeeps during the match as Saints produced a superb flowing move, with Harry Mallinder and Louis Picamoles at the heart of it.

Mallinder let go of the ball at the perfect time and Picamoles showed strength and incredible ability as he offloaded to flanker Clark for the score.

Myler was put off by a shout of ‘miss it’, while taking the conversion and after the ball drifted wide of the posts, referee Nigel Owens told him to take it again.

This time, he made no mistake, putting his team 7-0 up inside a productive first five minutes.

Montpellier reacted strongly, throwing their weight around in the maul and thinking they had scored from one drive, but it was ruled out by the TMO.

The French team continued to knock loudly on the door, but Saints held out, bringing a huge cheer from the home fans as they won a penalty to relieve the pressure.

Montpellier thought they had won a penalty of their own soon after, but the decision was reversed for a dangerous tackle on Tom Wood and Myler landed a long-range penalty.

Montpellier were still looking dangerous though and with Saints conceding a string of penalties, the away side continually kicked to the corner.

Benjamin Fall fluffed one seemingly simple chance with numbers out to the left, but after two successive scrum penalties, they decided enough was enough and Ben Botica kicked for goal, getting his team on the board.

Three points in half an hour was a meagre return for all of the possession and territory Montpellier had enjoyed, but they were to score before the break.

Nemani Nadolo offloaded brilliantly and Steyn was the man to finish the move off, but Botica missed the conversion to leave Saints two points up at the interval.

And, as the rain lashed down, the home side were to start the second half on the front foot, winning a penalty that Myler landed with ease.

Saints were really trying to step it up, led by the outstanding Picamoles, but Montpellier were standing tall and they responded by winning a penalty, which Steyn kicked.

The tension was growing at the Gardens as Montpellier continued to push Saints back, but Steyn spurned a chance to put the French side ahead for the first timel, missing a penalty.

But the South African centre wasn’t going to spurn the chance to take a second bite of the cherry, putting Montpellier a point up with 15 minutes remaining.

Saints huffed and puffed but they couldn’t blow the white wall down, with Montpellier keeping their discipline.

But finally the French team’s ability to stay on the right side of the referee deserted them as they presented Saints with a penalty just inside the away side’s half.

Mallinder attempted to land it, but it fell short and Montpellier cleared, but there was to be one more chance for Saints.

Another penalty gave Myler a tough opportunity to the right of the posts, with the Gardens falling silent as their man approached the ball.

And to the delight of everyone of a green, black and gold persuasion, Myler made it, earning his side a memorable victory that they so desperately needed.</s>No-name kicker Wil Lutz bailed the New Orleans Saints out of a potentially embarrassing situation Sunday, booting a 52-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining for an improbable 41-38 win over the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The game between the dregs of the NFC South should never have come down to Lutz’ right foot in the waning seconds as the Saints zoomed out to a commanding 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.

But when you have two bend-and-break defensive units sharing a field, no lead is safe, apparently no matter how large that lead might be.

And this game bore that out.

New Orleans improved to 2-3 and avenged a loss to the Panthers in the Superdome a year ago by the identical score. The Panthers, meanwhile, fell to 1-5 after losing their fourth consecutive game and now sit in sole possession of the division cellar.

The time for panic in Panthers Nation officially is now. Though 10 games remain in their regular season, you can stick a fork in these Panthers. It’s time to bury the three-time defending NFC South champions and reigning NFC champions.

And let the record show that Lutz threw the first shovel of dirt on Carolina, drilling the game winner where it hurt coach Ron Rivera’s team the most, right between the uprights in the Girod Street end zone.

This is the same Wil Lutz who yanked a potential game-winning 61-yard field goal attempt as time expired in a 35-34 loss against the Oakland Raiders at the Superdome in Week 1. It is the same Will Lutz who yanked a 50-yard field goal attempt wide left early in the fourth quarter that would have extended the Saints lead to eight points over the Raiders.

Instead the missed FG attempt enabled the Raiders to stay in the game, and eventually win on a touchdown and 2-point conversion with 47 seconds left.

Afterward, Saints coach Sean Payton defended Lutz, saying the undrafted rookie from Georgia State had earned a spot on the 53-man roster with a workout for the ages. Payton also had a word for his critics and naysayers, vowing Lutz would be in New Orleans long after the head coach was gone.

Let me say this: Had the Saints lost Sunday’s game, after establishing early superiority in front of a rabid sellout crowd 73,138, Payton’s critics might have pushed him out the door.

Now before anyone in Who Dat Nation starts making Super Bowl LI plans, think again. The Black and Gold defense continues to yield points (38) and yards (406) with alarming regularity. That said, Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his passel of plamakers also exposed the Panthers’ Achilles heel, amassing 523 total yards, including 465 through the air, his NFL-record 15th 400-yard game.

Four of Brees’ 34 completions resulted in touchdowns.

And the Saints would need every one of them.

“When we got up by 21,’’ Brees said, “we knew it was going to be a four-quarter sucker.’’

Down to the final, frenetic seconds.</s>NEW ORLEANS -- After Drew Brees broke another NFL record with his latest 400-plus-yard passing performance, he stood on a podium and moved his right hand in an ascending motion while discussing the direction of the New Orleans Saints.

"We want to be on this trajectory," Brees said as he moved his hand up and away from his body. "I feel like we are."

Brees passed for 465 yards and 4 touchdowns, Wil Lutz kicked a 52-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, and New Orleans pulled out a 41-38 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

With his 15th 400-yard game, Brees broke a tie with Peyton Manning for the most all time in the regular season.

Brees also led the Saints (2-3) to a second consecutive victory while Carolina (1-5) lost its fourth in a row despite the return of quarterback Cam Newton, who missed last week's loss to Tampa Bay because of a concussion.

Newton passed for 322 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a 2-yard score and threw a two-point conversion to Devin Funchess that tied the game at 38-38 with 2:58 left, completing a comeback from an early 21-0 deficit.

However, Newton also was intercepted by Sterling Moore in the back of the end zone, stalling a promising first-half drive.

Newton had little to say afterward, offering terse, vague answers to media inquiries or simply saying, "next question." His demeanor nonetheless left little doubt how displeased he was with yet another close loss.

Meanwhile, the quarterback's coaches and teammates made it clear Newton's performance was the least of their concerns.

"He made some really good decisions," Panthers Coach Ron Rivera said. "When you score 38 points, you need to give yourself more of a chance to win."

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly credited Carolina's offense for playing well and added, "We just have to tighten some things up defensively. We just have to make a play."

Tight end Josh Hill scored the Saints' final touchdown on a difficult, leaping 8-yard catch that was initially ruled incomplete.

But Coach Sean Payton challenged the call and officials ruled on review that Hill had possession long enough for a completion before defensive back Zack Sanchez knocked the ball from Hill's grasp.

Brees didn't seem bothered that the Saints needed all of his prolific production to win and nearly squandered a three- TD lead.

"These are defining wins. These are wins you can draw from as the season goes along and really get a lot of strength from," Brees said. "It gives you great confidence and poise when situations arise in the future."

Coby Fleener ran for a 2-yard touchdown on his first career carry -- an end-around on a fourth-and-1 play that capped New Orleans' opening drive. He also caught a 50-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter on a play that Brees said didn't quite develop as drawn up because Fleener and receiver Willie Snead ran their routes too close together, causing a convergence of players over the middle.

"All of a sudden all these bodies were in this melee and here's Coby, coming down with it and taking it the distance," Brees said. "It worked out nicely."

Lutz's winning kick came after he'd missed an earlier attempt from 53 yards. Lutz said that the moment Carolina tied it at 38-38, he told punter Thomas Morstead, who also holds on field goals, and long snapper Justin Drescher, "Let's go win the game."

"Like I've been saying all year -- it's about the next kick," Lutz said.</s>Tapestry portraits of the seven saints, hung from the facade of St Peter's Basilica, rippled in the breeze above the main square at the Vatican where Francis led the ceremony.

Assembled pilgrims applauded as he read out the names of the new saints, defined by the church as having been so holy in life they are now in Heaven and can intercede with God to perform miracles - two of which are needed to declare sainthood.

President Mauricio Macri of the pope's native Argentina attended the ceremony, during which Francis elevated Argentine pastoral priest Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero.

Brochero, who rode a mule around a vast region of Cordoba province, preaching and building schools, churches and streets, "smelt of sheep", the Vatican said, referring to Francis's call for priests to behave like shepherds.

He contracted leprosy while visiting the sick, and the disease eventually killed him in 1914.

Two martyrs were also added to the Church's more than 10,000-strong roster of saints. Jose Sanchez del Rio was tortured and shot dead in 1928, at the age of 14, while opposing the anti-Catholic regime in his native Mexico.

The second, Salomone Leclerq, belonged to a religious order in France, where he was killed during the revolution in 1792.

French mystic nun Elizabeth Catez, known as Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity, died in 1906 at the age of 26 from a rare adrenal gland disorder for which there was then no cure.

Spanish bishop Manuel Gonzalez Garcia, who became known as the "Bishop of the Tabernacle" after a mystical experience in a church near Seville, was also elevated, along with Italians Father Lodovico Pavoni and Alfonso Maria Fusco, who founded religious congregations and worked with the poor in the 19th century.</s>VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has canonized Argentina's "gaucho priest," the poncho-wearing, mate-sipping pastor who rode his mule Malacara to the far-flung Argentine peripheries to minister to the poor.

The pope canonized Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero on Sunday along with six others in one of the final big Masses of his Holy Year of Mercy.

Born in 1849 in the province of Cordoba, Brochero was one of the most famous Catholics in the Argentina of Francis' youth. He died in 1914 after living for years with leprosy that he was said to have contracted from one of his faithful.
Pope Francis declares seven new saints. {Vatican Radio)