Following the announcement of his appointment as Bishop by Pope Leo XIV, we share this interview with Fr. Anthony Corcoran, SJ, in which he reflects on the life, challenges, and vision of the Catholic community in the Kyrgyz Republic.

On Monday, June 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV announced the appointment of Fr. Anthony Corcoran, SJ, as Bishop of the Catholic Apostolic Administration of Kyrgyzstan. The appointment marks a significant moment for the small but vibrant Catholic community in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, celebrated on April 29, 2026, honors one of the most remarkable women in the history of the Catholic Church — a mystic, a theologian, a reformer, and a Doctor of the Church whose influence extended far beyond the walls of her cell in Siena to the very heart of the papacy.

The Feast of St. Mark, celebrated on April 25, 2026, honors the evangelist whose Gospel — the shortest and arguably the most urgent of the four — proclaims Jesus Christ as the powerful Son of God who acts with authority over sin, sickness, and death.

The Memorial of St. John Baptist de la Salle, celebrated on April 7, 2026, honors one of the great pioneers of Catholic education and the patron saint of teachers.

Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated on April 6, 2026, the Second Sunday of Easter, invites the faithful to turn with complete trust toward the mercy of God revealed in the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter Sunday, the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord, celebrated on April 5, 2026, is the greatest and most ancient feast of the Christian faith. On this day the Church proclaims with joy what stands at the very heart of the Gospel: Jesus Christ, who was crucified and buried, has risen from the dead.

Good Friday, observed on April 3, 2026, is the most solemn day of the liturgical year. On this day the Church commemorates the Passion and death of Jesus Christ, who was crucified on Calvary outside the walls of Jerusalem.

Holy Thursday, celebrated on April 2, 2026, marks the beginning of the Sacred Triduum and commemorates three foundational gifts that Christ gave to his Church on the night before his Passion: the Holy Eucharist, the priesthood, and the commandment of love.

April in the Catholic Church is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of the Christian life. In 2026, this dedication takes on a particularly profound meaning, as the month opens in the final days of Holy Week and unfolds entirely within the Easter season.

Palm Sunday, celebrated on March 29, 2026, marks the solemn beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred period of the entire liturgical year. On this day the Church commemorates Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, welcomed by crowds waving palm branches and acclaiming him as king, just days before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion.

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, celebrated on March 25, 2026, commemorates one of the most sacred and pivotal moments in all of human history — the moment when the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth and announced that she had been chosen to become the Mother of the Son of God.

The Memorial of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, celebrated on March 23, 2026, honors one of the most remarkable missionary bishops in the history of the Church. Appointed Archbishop of Lima, Peru, in the sixteenth century, Turibius dedicated his life to evangelizing, organizing, and defending the indigenous peoples of South America at a time of profound upheaval and injustice.

The Solemnity of St. Joseph, celebrated on March 19, 2026, honors the humble carpenter of Nazareth who was chosen by God to be the earthly father and guardian of Jesus Christ and the devoted husband of the Virgin Mary.

The Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, celebrated on March 18, 2026, honors one of the great theological minds and pastoral teachers of the fourth century Church.

The Memorial of St. Patrick, celebrated on March 17, 2026, honors one of the most beloved and influential missionaries in the history of the Church.

The Memorial of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, celebrated on March 7, 2026, honors two courageous women of the early Church who chose death over apostasy during the persecution of Emperor Septimius Severus in Carthage, North Africa.

March in the Catholic Church is traditionally dedicated to Saint Joseph, the humble guardian of the Holy Family and patron of the Universal Church.

The First Sunday of Lent, celebrated on February 22, 2026, invites Catholics to begin the Lenten season with a renewed heart, turning toward God in repentance and trust. This Sunday sets the tone for the forty-day journey of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, leading the faithful closer to the mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. Celebrated on February 18, 2026, this day calls Catholics to reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal, reminding us of our dependence on God and the fleeting nature of earthly life.