Catholic Nutshell News: Friday 1/2/26
Topics include: Divorce rate rises for couples over 65; Kenya’s Mumias Hospital reopens; Federal probes intensify in Minnesota; & Mamdani revokes IHRA antisemitism definition
Fridays, "Living that coconut kinda life."
Today's sources: National Catholic Register, Catholic News Agency, Word on Fire, Catholic World Report, Zenit, & Aleteia. (Catholic Nutshell is a FREE subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)
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Catholic News Agency
Divorce rate rises for couples over 65
By Tyler Arnold, January 2, 2026
The rate of married couples filing for divorce has begun to trend downward in recent years, but the rate of “gray divorce” — divorces of couples in their 60s or older — has continued to climb. A July 2025 report from the Institute for Family Studies found that about 40% of today’s first marriages will end in divorce — much less than the oft-cited estimates of about 50%, partly because marriages are more selective, and some are waiting longer to marry or shunning marriage altogether. Another 2024 study at Bowling Green State University found the divorce rate among married couples over 65 nearly tripled over the past three decades, from 5.2% in 1990 to 15.2% in 2022. “The new challenges [are] faced by couples who find themselves newly ‘alone’ with themselves after their kids have left home for college, careers, etc.,” said Julia Dezelski, associate director of marriage and family life for the USCCB. “As empty nesters, the couple is faced with a new season of ‘rediscovery’ as a couple, and this can be a source of stress as well as disillusionment.”
aciafrica
Kenya’s Mumias Hospital reopens under women religious
By ACI Africa Staff, December 31, 2025
After months of silence that followed the suspension of services at St. Mary’s Mumias Mission Hospital of the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega in Kenya in early July 2025, fresh details are emerging about the future of the 93-year-old health facility in the West of the East African nation — a turnaround plan and return to Catholic identity, with women Religious expected to take the lead when the hospital reopens. Delays in reimbursements from Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA) made it impossible for the hospital to meet its wage obligations. “Their ultimatum was: ‘we are not coming back to work until you pay us,’” said Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe of Kakamega Diocese. “We were not getting even 100 patients admitted – the admissions were very few.” In explaining the personnel strategy for reopening St. Mary’s Mumias Mission Hospital, Bishop Obanyi said, “I intend to start with my own Sisters, Sisters of Mary of Kakamega (SMK).” He said the hospital no longer had “the Catholic ethos; it [didn’t] have the Catholic vision.”
CatholicVote
Federal probes intensify in Minnesota child care fraud case
By Elise Winland, December 30, 2025
Federal authorities are ramping up investigations into alleged fraud tied to Minnesota’s child care and nutrition programs, bringing new charges and convictions in what prosecutors have described as one of the largest pandemic-era fraud schemes in U.S. history. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a Dec. 29 X post that prosecutors have charged 98 individuals in connection with the case — 60 defendants pleaded guilty or were convicted. On Dec. 29, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that 85 of the 98 individuals charged are of Somali descent. The investigation centers on the sprawling Feeding Our Future scheme, in which prosecutors allege more than $250 million in taxpayer funds were siphoned off through fake meal sites, shell companies, and falsified invoices during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Dec. 30 began conducting door-to-door checks at suspected fraud locations in Minnesota to verify whether licensed child care centers receiving public funds were actually operating.
National Catholic Register
Our Lady’s wardrobe reveals her mission
By Mary Harper, January 1, 2026
Whether you have come across the delightful children’s book Our Lady’s Wardrobe by Anthony DeStefano, find yourself an avid collector of Marian iconography, or perhaps have contemplated Marian apparitions over the ages, one thing is sure: The clothing of Our Lady is intentional. The patterns, color palettes, textiles, and designs tangibly point to Mary’s maternity and queenship. Her garments remind us of her constant intercession, through which she draws us to Christ. For instance, from France to Mexico, our Blessed Mother wore a sash to indicate that her womb was once the home of our Savior. The particular shades of blue in the apparition of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego represent royalty among the Chichimeca people, and the flowers of Nahui Ollin decorating her dress represent the presence of God. To learn more about the theological significance of clothing, see my book, The Liturgical Style Guide, which visually guides you to dress with the liturgical year through sacred art, museum sketches, and fashion photos.
The Times of Israel
Mamdani revokes IHRA antisemitism definition on day 1
By Luke Tress, January 2, 2026
In one of his first acts in office on Thursday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revoked the city’s implementation of an antisemitism definition that includes some forms of Israel criticism, in a sweeping rejection of his predecessor’s executive orders. The mass revocation of those executive orders also canceled other pro-Israel measures taken by the former mayor, Eric Adams. Mamdani, a far-left anti-Zionist, took office with the start of the new year, replacing Adams’s staunchly pro-Israel administration. Mamdani’s campaign said the revocations would ensure “a fresh start for the incoming administration.” The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which says that some forms of Israel criticism are antisemitic. The definition has been adopted by a broad range of national and local governments worldwide, as well as other institutions. It has also drawn opposition from those who say its inclusion of some forms of criticism of Israel chills legitimate political speech.
Catholic World Report
I joyfully confess that Mary is indeed the Mother of God
By Paul Senz, January 2, 2026
“If anyone believes that holy Mary is not the mother of God (Theotokos), he has no share in the divine inheritance”, wrote the great fourth-century Archbishop and Doctor of the Church, St. Gregory of Nazianzus, “If anyone says that Christ passed through the virgin as through a tube but was not formed in her in both a divine and human manner, divine without the assistance of man, human in accordance with the law of pregnancies, he likewise is ungodly.” Those are strong words, and if I had heard them while still a Fundamentalist Protestant, I would have been scandalized. A close relative, also a Fundamentalist, once referred to Mary as a “biological vessel” used by God, and at one time, I would have agreed. But now I joyfully confess the truth that Mary is indeed the Mother of God. What changed my mind? Many things, including the study of Church history and the development of theology and doctrine, but mostly a deeper and better understanding of Scripture.
Related: Mary is Truly the Holy Mother of God, Kathy Schiffer, January 1, 2020 – National Catholic Register
CRUX
Political battles: Don’t use ‘language of faith,’ just faithful people
By Charles Collins, January 1, 2026
Ireland needs to “resist dragging the language of faith into political battles or justifying violence in the name of our beliefs,” according to Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin. Ireland is the only nation to have a continuous presence on the UN and UN-mandated peace support operations since 1958. As of May 2025, there are 368 Irish peacekeepers, the vast majority of them currently in Lebanon. Farrell said governments have a critical role to play in shaping the course of international events. In his homily, the archbishop spoke about the recent release of papers from thirty years ago, shortly before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. The 1998 peace deal essentially ended the conflict involving Irish republican and British loyalist militants and the British security forces that left 3,600 people dead and around 50,000 wounded. “It was not for nothing that people of faith across the various communities in Northern Ireland made such a contribution to the ‘peace process.’ Faith transforms; living faith gives us another horizon.”
Zenit News
Church containing the relic of crown of thorns desecrated
By Covadonga Asturias, December 30, 2025
The Archdiocese of Valladolid has publicly condemned the profanation of the tabernacle at the parish church of Santa María del Monasterio de La Santa Espina, a site of deep historical and spiritual significance. During the incident, the consecrated hosts kept within the tabernacle were stolen, an act the archdiocese has described as an offense of exceptional gravity against both the Catholic faith and the believing community. In response, Archbishop Luis Argüello, who also serves as president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, will preside over a solemn act of reparation on Saturday, 3 January, at 6:00 p.m. The liturgical gesture is intended not only to repair the sacrilege committed but also to gather the faithful around the central mystery of the Eucharist, reaffirming belief in what the Church understands as the real presence of Christ in the consecrated bread and wine. The incident is the second reported profanation in the archdiocese within a year, following a similar violation at the parish of Our Lady of the Vega in Arroyo de la Encomienda.
Big Pulpit, CNA & Zenit for 1/2/26
Big Pulpit
Tito Edwards Catholic site: January 2, 2026
The Big Pulpit website is a news aggregator that gathers quality insights and analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide.
Must Catholics Tithe a Full 10%? – Fr. David J. Nix at Pilgrim Priest
Ancient Altars Facing the People? Nußbaum’s Misinterpretation – Peter A. Kwasniewski, Ph.D.
Cardinal Burke & Pope Leo Concelebrating in St. Peter’s – California Catholic Daily
Before & After: St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Ames, Iowa – S.R. Tribe at Liturgical Arts Journal
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — January 2, 2026
Catholic News Agency provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, with updates on the words of the Holy Father and the Holy See.
5-year-old son of Catholic speaker Paul Kim passes away - Jan 1, 2026 - By Tina Dennelly - The 5-year-old son of Catholic speaker and comedian Paul Kim has passed away after more than a week on life support.
Church in Venezuela could undergo more persecution in 2026, experts say - Jan 1, 2026 - By Andrés Henríquez - As the Maduro regime in Venezuela faces pressure from the U.S. and economic conditions deteriorate, various experts say a crisis looms over the new year, and the Catholic Church, which has experienced firsthand the worst of the current situation in Venezuela.
Key dates on the agenda of the pope and Vatican for 2026 - Jan 1, 2026 - By Victoria Cardiel - Pope Leo XIV is preparing for a busy 2026, such as the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope,restoration in the Sistine Chapel, Appeal hearing in the Becciu case, a desire to visit several countries (Spain, Algeria, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, and Mexico,) and his first consistory of cardinals since his election on May 8, 2025.
Zenit
Zenit - The world seen from Rome - January 2, 2026
Zenit is an international, non-profit news agency staffed by professionals and volunteers to transmit information with fidelity and service to the truth.
In defense of the Virgin Mary? International Marian Association against document by Cardinal Fernández and Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - At the center of the dispute is Mater Populi Fidelis, the note released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) in early November under the signature of Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández
Why did the Vatican hire Hollywood superstar Chris Pratt for a documentary? - Here’s everything we know. The production, a collaboration between Vatican Media, the Fabbrica di San Pietro, and AF Films, is being crafted with an eye toward a milestone year. Its release is slated for 2026, when the Church marks four centuries since the completion and dedication of the current St. Peter’s Basilica
Who is behind the promotion of Benedict XVI’s canonization and his declaration as a Doctor of the Church? - Archbishop Georg Gänswein has reopened a conversation that never truly disappeared from the life of the Church: what to do with the rich, complex, and still-unfolding legacy of Pope Benedict XVI.
Nutshell reflections for 1/2/26:
USCCB Daily Reflection: AUDIO - January 2, 2026
Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Catholic365
Our apologies for breaking your commandments, Lord
By Eileen Renders, January 1, 2026
Lord, I am sincerely sorry for focusing on materialism, wealth, self-gratification, vanity, or anything earthly that distracts me from my love for you. Forgive me for using your name in anger, to curse someone, or something. I promise only to use your name in prayer. I have often been guilty of missing Mass with a headache, yet I was well enough to go out for dinner with a friend. We often come to you, Lord, in prayer seeking resolution and respect from our adult children who isolate us, and offer no respect at times when they no longer want our concern. You have asked us not to place ourselves above others, but to live with humility and mercy. For any of us who have committed adultery, we have broken vows and not taken into conscience how marriage is a sacrament instituted by you. We, your people, have time and again stolen from you the time, respect, loyalty, and prayer that you deserve. You tell us not to steal, not to kill, or ruin something that belongs to another, but you are the example of love, mercy, and forgiveness. I come on bended knee in prayer and ask for your grace and protection from the evil one so that I can give to you the respect, love, and devotion that is rightfully Yours.
Catholic Culture
My last day on this job
By Phil Lawler, December 31, 2025
As the year 2025 comes to an end, so does my career as editor of Catholic World News. I am retiring from the daily news business, effective January 1. CWN was born during the height of the “dot.com” era. Dozens of online enterprises sprang up in the 1990s, made sensational claims, earned millions for their founders, and then disappeared without a trace, never having produced a saleable product. Thirty-odd years later, little CWN is still chugging along, providing reliable headline news coverage for thousands of readers every weekday. I am also grateful to the many loyal readers of CatholicCulture for supporting the whole enterprise; I trust that support will continue. I won’t disappear from the CatholicCulture site. My commentary will still appear regularly on the site, along with an occasional news-analysis piece. But readers who want the full Phil Lawler Experience should look to my Substack, where I will be posting more frequently.
Aleteia
The 30-day ‘monk mindset’ challenge in 2026
By Theresa Civantos Barber, January 2, 2026
Monks live with purpose. They live for something greater than themselves. They seem to have the peace and order we all crave, but which are so difficult to find in our busy modern lives. But what if we took the lessons and habits monks and nuns live so well, and applied them to our own situations? A new app and media platform promise to bring monastic peace and productivity to our own hearts and homes. It’s called Monk Mindset, and it’s the latest offering from John Cannon, founder of SENT Ventures, the mega-successful community for Catholic entrepreneurs. The mission of Monk Mindset? To transform your life through the wisdom of monks and nuns. Monk Mindset’s content has been viral since it started in 2024, with over 75 million views and 250,000 social followers (and counting!). “Through Monk Mindset, I’ve distilled lessons from the monastery and executive coaching to help busy professionals, parents, and students to gain peace and productivity,” said Cannon.
Word on Fire
Embrace the bittersweet: A Reflection on the New Year
By Dr. Tod Worner, January 1, 2026
To look forward, we must look back. And, whether we like it or not, we are formed not only by the instructive experiences we once had, but by the pangs of lost joy, misremembered good, and irreplaceable moments that came with them. To be sure, to miss something good is not to wallow. Rather, it is to acknowledge that something was indeed good. And, naturally, we hunger for its return, if not in a different form. In many ways, this craving for the bygone is a hunger for heaven—the eternal, the ineffable—while living in a broken world. Our ache originates in our dislocation. Or as G. K. Chesterton asserted, I knew now why grass had always seemed to me as queer as the green beard of a giant, and why I could feel homesick at home. So if you feel a certain vexing bittersweetness at the turning of the year, you are not alone. It is as it should be. And it will all be okay. To assuage some of it, pray, receive the Eucharist, and give alms.
Image of Coconut by Celio Nicoli from Pixabay
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