Catholic Nutshell News: Tuesday 12/23/25
Topics include: Bishops call for immigration moratorium; Ordination news is not good; Kidnapped Catholic school kids freed; & The impossibility of atheism
“I’ll pray for thee from my pistachio tree”
Today's sources are the National Catholic Register, CNA, The Imaginative Conservative, CRUX, The Pillar, Big Pulpit, and CatholicVote. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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Catholic News Agency
Florida bishops call for immigration moratorium over Christmas
By Tessa Gervasini, December 22, 2025
The bishops of the Catholic Church in Florida have asked President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis “to pause immigration enforcement activities during the Christmas holidays.” “We request that the government pause apprehension and roundup activities during the Christmas season. Such a pause would show a decent regard for the humanity of these families,” the bishops said in a Dec. 22 statement. “Don’t be the Grinch that stole Christmas,” Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said in a news conference. “Give people these two weeks to be with their families without fear of being arrested or taken into custody and ending up at Alligator Alcatraz or at Krome or other places to await deportation.” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, said, “President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And he’s keeping that promise.”
ACI Africa
Nigerians must stop ‘trading future for crumbs’
By Silas Isenjia, December 21, 2025
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Fr. Michael Banjo, for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), urged Nigerians to safeguard their future by making informed choices, especially during elections, amid the country’s security crisis. Fr. Banjo highlighted vices such as dishonesty, corruption, and exploitation as significant obstacles to peace, warning of the dangers of ungodliness. “If we want peace in Nigeria, we must stop trading our future for crumbs and begin to give glory to God by voting for leaders of integrity, compassion, and proven character, leaders who fear God and truly serve the common good,” Fr. Banjo said during the December 14 event. He added, “When leaders govern without fear of God, conscience gives way to selfishness, injustice grows unchecked, and violence finds room to thrive.”
The Pillar
Ordinations up in England and Wales, but the news is not good
By Luke Coppen, December 22, 2025
The number of priestly ordinations rose slightly in England and Wales in 2024 compared to the previous year. But a projection released by the National Office for Vocation in England and Wales on Dec. 22 suggested the figure would fall again in 2025. The 22 ordinations in 2024 for the 22 Catholic dioceses in England and Wales, as well as the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, are up from 20 in 2023. The 2024 figure suggests that ordinations to the diocesan priesthood may be stabilizing following a sharp drop at the end of the 1990s. Annual ordinations have hovered around the 20 mark, with occasional spikes due to influxes of former Anglican clergy. Despite the increase to 22 in 2024, the number of ordinations is expected to fall to 14 in 2025, rise to 17 in 2026, and fall again to 14 in 2027. Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth said in a Dec. 14 pastoral letter that “this year, 10 priests have died, yet only one was ordained, and this could be the first year ever we will not be sending any students to seminary.”
Zenit
Three topics the Pope will address with cardinals
By Elizabeth Owens, December 22, 2025
Early January 2026 will bring a decisive moment for the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV has summoned the entire College of Cardinals to Rome for two days of meetings on 7 and 8 January, a gesture that signals far more than a routine gathering. While the Holy See has not officially confirmed the agenda, Italian media report that three broad areas are likely to frame the discussions: the governance of the Church, the future of synodality, and questions surrounding liturgy. If these themes are indeed addressed, the consistory could offer important clues about how Leo XIV intends to balance continuity with recalibration, particularly at a time when debates over authority, participation, and worship remain sensitive across the global Church. The pope is still being closely observed by bishops and faithful alike, the January gathering may well prove to be the moment when his leadership begins to take a clearer and more personal shape.
CatholicVote
Idaho Catholic youth group sees record attendance
By Grace Porto, December 23, 2025
A Catholic youth group in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, has seen a 50% increase in the past few years, as part of a larger trend of Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s growing interest in the Catholic faith. The program at St. Pius X serves 85 middle school and high school students from four local parishes in the Diocese of Boise, according to Favs News. Twenty-four adults serve on the team leading the youth in weekly meetings, including prayer, adoration, fellowship, and a home-cooked meal. Youth ministry leader Wes Miller partially attributed the growth to the increase in young adult leaders working with the teenagers. “This is the strongest adult leadership team I’ve ever had,” he said, adding later, “Their energy, relatability and ability to connect with teens brings a unique and powerful dimension to the ministry.” The leadership includes a broad range of leaders, from college-age students to homeschooling mothers of teenagers and seniors like 72-year-old Louie Zember.
Aleteia
Kidnapped Catholic school kids in Nigeria freed
By Kathleen N. Hattrup, December 23, 2025
In late November, 303 students and 12 staff members were abducted from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, in Nigeria. A first group of about 100 was released in early December. Now, just before Christmas, the rest have been released. ishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna expressed immense relief, attributing the pre-Christmas development to prayers offered by the faithful in the Diocese and around the world. “I am deeply grateful to God for his providence and protection during this extremely difficult period,” he said. He also thanked the government at the federal and state levels for decisive and coordinated efforts. “The anxiety, worry, and emotional toll on everyone involved cannot be overstated, yet through prayers, solidarity, and unwavering faith, we have witnessed the mercy of God in bringing our children safely back to their families.”
CRUX
What happens when a town’s biggest employer shuts down?
By Jesse Bedayn, AP, December 23, 2025
3,200 people will lose their jobs when Lexington’s biggest employer closes the plant next month after more than two decades of operation. During Mass at St. Ann’s, parishioners gave the cash in their pockets to a fund for families in financial need, despite knowing they’ll be out of work next month. “Losing 3,000 jobs in a city of 10,000 to 12,000 people is as big a closing event as we’ve seen virtually for decades,” said Michael Hicks, from Indiana’s Ball State University. It will be “close to the poster child for hard times.” The job losses are expected to reach 7,000, mainly in Lexington and the surrounding counties. Tyson employees alone will lose an estimated $241 million in pay and benefits annually. Tyson says it’s closing the plant to “right-size” its beef business after a historically low U.S. cattle herd and the company’s expected $600 million loss on beef production next fiscal year. The plant opened in 1990 and was bought by Tyson 11 years later, attracting thousands of workers and nearly doubling the town’s population within a decade.
National Catholic Register
Long-running Live Nativity’s potential last call
By Matthew McDonald, December 22, 2025
Wanted: Someone to take on sets, lights, speakers, costumes, and food — and organize a 20-minute Nativity show two or three days before Christmas, preferably on a farm in or near Sherborn, Massachusetts. Barring that, next week’s is the last “Live Nativity” in this semi-rural town of 4,400 about 18 miles southwest of Boston, ending a yearly tradition that goes back nearly 50 years and has occasionally drawn a thousand people or more. After decades of struggling to put up and take down, and running the show through snow, downpours, mud, or zero-degree weather, the Downing family has decided this is the right time to stop. “If anybody wants to take this over, we’re happy to help. We’d be thrilled. It’d be a wonderful Christmas gift to the community,” said Lisa Shanahan, 55, whose parents, Richard and Joan Downing, started the event sometime during the 1970s.
From Pulpit & CNA to Fides for 12/23/25
BIG PULPIT
Tito Edwards Catholic blogger site: December 23, 2025
The Big Pulpit website is an intelligent news aggregator offering quality insight & analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide. Here are Chief Editor Tito Edward’s top recommendations for today.
Nigeria’s Christians Are Dying – The Catholic Herald
What Does it Mean to “Accept” Vatican II? – Kevin Tierney at Kevin’s Substack
The Altar Facing the People — A Novelty of Our Time – Peter A. Kwasniewski, Ph.D., at NLM
Fidelity! Fidelity! Fidelity: Leo’s Apostolic Letter Concerning the Priesthood – Fr. A.J. McDonald
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — December 23, 2025
The Catholic News Agency provides reliable, free, and up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See, available to anyone with internet access.
Priest expert in new evangelization on today’s Catholic moment - Dec 23, 2025 - By Nicolás de Cárdenas - Father Manuel Chouciño is convinced that Catholics “are in vogue” because people “are tired of feeling so empty.”
Archbishop Coakley anticipates meeting with Trump, Vance - Dec 22, 2025 - By Tessa Gervasini - Archbishop Paul Coakley said this week he is looking forward to speaking with President Donald Trump in “the near future.”
Pope Leo’s apostolic letter calls for renewed priestly formation, fraternity, and mission - Dec 22, 2025 - By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú - The document, “A Fidelity That Generates the Future,” reflects on two decrees of the Second Vatican Council on priests.
Agenzia Fides
Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies - 12/23/25
Fides News Agency (Fides) was established in 1927, at the direction of the Council Superior General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, as the first Missionary Agency of the Church and among the first agencies in the world.
AFRICA/DR CONGO - Between M23 “ghost” militiamen and private vendettas, Uvira lives in uncertainty - Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – A city suspended in limbo. This is the situation in Uvira, a city in South Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border with Burundi, which was captured on December 10 by M23.
AMERICA/HAITI - “We ask the Child Jesus for the gift of wisdom to guide our children well” - Pourcine Pic-Macaya (Agenzia Fides) – “Maintenance work on the paths and roads in the parish territory has begun again. At a time of year when agricultural work slows down, a small wage is very helpful. The two main roads leading to the local agricultural markets are now more passable, even by mule. And for our students, the path to school is also safer.”
ASIA/BANGLADESH - Riots after the assassination of student leader Hadi; Bishop Subroto: “Worrying situation” - Dhaka (Agenzia Fides) – “We have returned to full-blown street unrest and severe social instability.” Violent protests erupted following the news of the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, leader of the “Inquilab Mancha” movement, involved in the protests last year that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Nutshell reflections for 12/23/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection AUDIO - December 23, 2025
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
What We Need Now
The humble hold fast to the humility of God
By St. Augustine (354–430)—Homily on Christmas Day (Sermon 184)
The Nativity of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, by which the Truth has risen from the earth (Ps 85:11), and the day which was born of day for us has shone forth today in its annual return, is to be celebrated by us: let us rejoice and be glad in it (Ps 1 18:24). For what the humility of such great sublimity has accomplished for us, the faith of Christians knows, but the hearts of the impious are far removed from it; for God has hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them to little ones (Lk 10:21). Let the humble, therefore, hold fast to the humility of God: so that by this great help, as by a support for their weakness, they may attain to the height of God.
Imaginative Conservative
The impossibility of atheism
By Walter Farrell, December 20, 2025
As a matter of fact, there cannot be atheism. Man may vociferously deny that he had any first cause, though his very existence reveals the falseness of his claim; but he cannot even deny that he has a last cause, a final end, without paralyzing action and reducing it to the spasmodic twitchings of madness. Man must go somewhere, for his life is a motion and every act is a step toward a goal. Man’s goal is his god—an odd god, perhaps, represented by the figures on a bank statement, the sweetness of pleasure, the exhilaration of power, the oblivion of a party, a state, a nation, or even man’s own puny self—whatever it is that the modern atheist aims at, to that thing he pays the tribute of religion. That is his false god; more hideous, more ludicrous, more pathetic, more calamitous than the ugly idol of a savage.
National Catholic Register
Why tamales belong on the Christmas table
By Alexandra Greeley, December 23, 2025
According to historians, ancient civilizations of the Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, Toltecs, and Olmecs created these corn-based treats as early as 8,000 to 5,000 B.C. Over the centuries, tamales have become a cherished part of Latino culture. In Mexico, in particular, the tamale is both a culinary staple and a cultural symbol, woven into the country’s history and celebrations. Historians have noted that the tamale links “the sacred to the ordinary,” playing a role in major feasts and family traditions, according to the Mexican family-owned tamale company Los Tamalitos de Balbuena. Traditionally, Latino families — and many Catholic families — prepare and share tamales during Christmas celebrations. The dish reflects the communal nature of the season, bringing families together not only for Christmas Day but also for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Day of the Dead, Mexico’s Independence Day, and Día de la Candelaria, celebrated Feb. 2.
Catholic Stand
There are artists in our midst
By Masha Goepel, December 23, 2025
Catholic Stand Contributor, Genesius, wrote recently of “The Splendor and Diversity of Modern Catholic Art.” He writes of visiting beautiful churches throughout the US and uncovering the “priceless treasures” of modern, Catholic artwork “hidden in plain sight” throughout the parishes and homes of American Catholics. It’s difficult, sometimes, to remember that the Catholic art world is alive. That “Catholic … artists still thrive and create beauty.” But there are a wealth of Catholic artists of all genres living and creating all around the world. Unfortunately, if they aren’t committed to prioritizing social media, they’re often almost invisible outside of their own, small corners of the world. Genesius is right in the sense that — like so many things we’re not noticing — Catholic art is out in the world, but we don’t expect it to be. St. John Paul II wrote in his Letter to Artists are “called to … labor without allowing themselves to be driven by the search for empty glory or the craving for cheap popularity, and still less by the calculation of some possible profit for themselves.”
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