Welcome to issue 6 of isle of wéired news – bringing you the weirdest news from around the world.
In this issue: the process begins for a new saint in the USA; a sexual predator masquerades as an exorcist in Japan; the Catholc Bishops’ Conference of Korea issues a warning; claims that a sonic weapon was deployed in Venezuela; a mysterious death in Eswatini is blamed on an invisible assailant; and in England, the ghost of a child in a red dress haunts a hospice.
SAINTHOOD CAMPAIGN BEGINS FOR SISTER ADELE BRICE
The Roman Catholic diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has begun an inquiry into the 19th Century nun Adele Brice, part of a process that the diocese hope will lead to the canonisation of Sister Brice.
Born in Belgium in 1831, Brice immigrated with her parents to the USA in 1855, to start a new life on a farm near Champion, Wisconsin.
In October 1859, the Blessed Virgin Mary – dressed in white with a yellow sash and wearing a crown of stars – appeared to Brice on three occasions. On her third appearance, Mary identified herself as the “Queen of Heaven” and told Brice: “Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.”
Brice devoted her life to teaching catechism and prayers to the children of the region – often travelling for miles on foot to do so.
The apparition became known as “Our Lady of Champion” – and Brice’s father, Lambert, built a small chapel at the site, which has since become “The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.”
The chapel is the only Marian apparition site in the USA recognised by the Catholic Church.
Sister Adele Brice died on 5 July 1896, and was buried beside the chapel her father built.
As part of the canonisation process, Bishop Ricken has invited the public to come forward with their stories of Sister Brice.
Source(s): Catholic Review, 18 January 2026
WOMAN MOLESTED DURING “EXORCISM”
On 10 May 2025, a Tokyo woman was sexually molested during an “exorcism.”
The woman had been suffering from ill health for a number of years – and it appears her family believed an exorcism would improve her condition.
An internet search led them to a self-styled psychic named Yamada. When Yamada arrived at the woman’s apartment, he told her: “I exorcise spirits by touching you with my hands.” Yamada then proceeded to engage in a number of lewd acts.
The woman only reported the assault when her health failed to improve.
During questioning, Yamada told police: “I only touched her after getting permission. It was necessary for an exorcism.”
Source(s): Japan Today, 1 February 2026
OUR LADY OF NAJU IS OFF LIMITS
On 12 January, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea issued a letter warning Koreans and visitors to Korea not to visit the shrine of Our lady of Naju.
The letter was issued as South Korea prepares to host the next World Youth Day, a global festival of prayer for Catholic youth that was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985.
Coincidentally, it was in 1985 that Julia Kim’s statue of the Virgin Mary began crying tears and excreting a scented oil.
Later, she began to receive messages from the Blessed Virgin – and experienced a number of miracles.
The statue was dubbed Our Lady of Naju, and pilgrims from across Asia began to make the journey to Kim’s home in Naju.
The Archdiocese of Gwangju launched an investigation into Kim’s claims – and in 1998, Archbishop Victorinus Youn Kong-hi declared that there was no evidence the events were “supernatural and thus from God.”
According to the archbishop, believing in the miracles or visiting the site is “an act of breaking the unity of the faith of the Church.”
In 2024, the Archdiocese of Gwangju repeated its position on “the Naju phenomenon” – and warned Catholics not to visit the site.
World Youth Day will be held in Seoul from 3 – 8 August 2027.
Those planning on attending will be pleased to note that the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Namyang, has been approved for visits.
Source(s): Aleteia, 18 January 2026
CARACAS SYNDROME?
A Venezuelan security guard has claimed that US forces employed some exotic weaponry during their “capture” of the Venezuelan president, Nicholás Maduro, on 3 January.
“We were on guard, but suddenly all our radar systems shut down without any explanation,” he said. “The next thing we saw were drones, a lot of drones, flying over our positions. We didn’t know how to react.”
According to the guard, helicopters appeared and dropped off 20 US soldiers – which was more than enough, apparently. “We were hundreds, but we had no chance,” he exclaimed. “They were shooting with such precision and speed; it felt like each soldier was firing 300 rounds per minute.”
Then, the Americans deployed some sort of sonic weapon. “We all started bleeding from the nose,” said the guard. “Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move.
“We couldn’t even stand up after that sonic weapon – or whatever it was.”
Source(s): New York Post, 11 January 2026
MAN ATTACKED BY AN “INVISIBLE FORCE”
A 35-year-old man in Nyamane, Eswatini, died moments after claiming he was being attacked by “invisible forces.”
Witnesses told the Times of Eswatini that he began clutching his throat and cried out that “something unseen was gripping his neck.”
The man’s family reportedly “urgently called a well-known community member, who normally prays for people believed to be under spiritual attack.”
This person arrived and prayed over the man. However, the man slipped into unconsciousness – and all attempts to revive him failed. He was declared dead shortly after.
The nature of the man’s death has triggered considerable fear and speculation in the community.
According to Makhanya Makhanya, Chair of the Witchdoctors Association, local beliefs hold that witches have the ability to send the spirits of the dead to attack a man in this way.
However, an unnamed medical doctor said that a number of medical conditions – including severe allergic reaction, asthma attack, panic attack, epileptic episodes and blood clots – could mimic what the man had experienced.
“People experiencing acute respiratory distress may feel as though something is grabbing their throat even when nothing is there,” explained the doctor. “That sensation can be extremely real to the person.”
Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Source(s): Times of Eswatini, 8 December 2025
HAUNTED HOSPICE ISSUED SOS
Several UK newspapers got very excited when evidence emerged that, back in 2023, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust had sought the help of an exorcist following reports of paranormal activity at a hospice.
The hospice in question was Priscilla Bacon Lodge, which was previously Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital. And the trust reached out to Church of England deliverance ministers (aka exorcists) after staff and patients had reported repeated sightings of ghosts – including that of a small child in a red dress.
According to a series of emails that have been discovered, the hospice’s chaplain asked the Diocese of Norwich for “advice/support from the Deliverance Team.”
The chaplain also requested “some holy oil” from Norwich Cathedral, in order to carry out a ceremony at the hospice. The chaplain said they believed the ceremony would “soothe the fears of staff and patients who believed the site was haunted.”
According to the trust, a “blessing of the building was performed.” They deny that an exorcist actually visited the hospice.
So far, the trust has refused to comment further.
Source(s): The Standard, 29 January 2026