Catholic Nutshell News: Wednesday 11/19/25
Topics include: Pope Leo agrees on legal borders, but ...; Burials for little ones; Monument to answered prayer in UK; & Era of ‘Christendom is over’
“Here was an almond tree in bloom before me”
Today's sources are the CRUX, Catholic Culture, National Catholic Register, Vatican News, The Pillar, Aleteia, and CNA. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
Click here to view this email on the Catholic Nutshell News website. Today’s Catholic Nutshell News audio podcast is available on the Substack App.
Catholic News Agency
Burials for little ones: New Orleans ministry helps families grieve
By Kate Quiñones, November 19, 2025
Sandy Schaetz still mourns the baby she never met. “It was terrifying and traumatic,” she said of her miscarriage. “I was consoled after by the prayers of a deacon, but never named the baby or knew if it was a boy or girl.” “It was not something I understood at the time, and I only wish I had known more of what was happening,” she told CNA. Now, Schaetz volunteers with Compassionate Burials for Indigent Babies (CBIB), an organization that buries babies who died, whether stillborn, miscarried, or aborted. A shoebox-sized casket lined with donated white fabric, usually from wedding dresses, is processed through the cemetery, with Knights of Columbus present as the honor guard. A volunteer musician plays at every funeral; a Catholic deacon presides at almost every burial.
Crux
Monument to answered prayer in a secularizing England
By Yonat Shimron, AP, November 19, 2025
Richard Gamble’s passion for Jesus has always been outsized. Twenty years ago, he had a vision from God to drag a 9-foot wooden cross for 77 miles during Holy Week leading up to Easter. After that grueling marathon in 2004, God gave him a bigger, bolder vision: Build a wall that tells a million stories of how God has answered prayer. Last week, Gamble, 56, broke ground on that vision — a 168-foot-tall architectural landmark that is expected to be one of the largest Christian monuments in England, if not the world. (Christ the Redeemer, the iconic statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, is 98 feet.) It is planned to open to the public in 2028. The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, with a price tag of 45 million pounds (or $59 million), will not, however, feature any familiar Christian icons (cross, fish, lamb, or representation of Jesus). It will consist of a giant white Möbius strip stretching nearly the size of a football field.
CatholicVote
DHS officials defend vetting requirements for immigrant sponsors
By Elise Winland, November 18, 2025
Federal authorities arrested two illegal immigrants accused of raping and torturing a young girl for years after the federal government released her in 2014 to a man who falsely claimed to be her great-uncle, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported Nov. 17. DHS officials said the girl entered the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) system under the Obama administration when she was just 15 months old. ORR processed her and her mother under a federal policy that classified both as unaccompanied children, according to the DHS. DHS officials said the case underscores why the agency, under the Trump administration, has moved to tighten vetting requirements for sponsors by making background checks, criminal history screening, and verification of family relationships more robust. Nearly half a million unaccompanied minors were released to sponsors during the Biden administration, under what the DHS described as “dangerously inadequate vetting procedures.”
Related: DHS Official Justifies Immigration Enforcement With St. Augustine’s ‘City of God’ - Tyler Arnold/CNA November 19, 2025
Aleteia
Pope Leo agrees on legal borders but cautions handling illegals
By Kathleen N. Hattrup, November 18, 2025
Leaving Castel Gandolfo for his now customary day of rest on Tuesday, November 18, Pope Leo was again asked questions by a group of journalists who waited for him outside the gates. The Holy Father reiterated the message of the bishops and his own call: “I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely. Treating people with the dignity that they have. If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that: there are courts, there is a system of justice.” The Pope also stated, “No one has said that the United States should have open borders. I think every country has a right to determine who, and how, and when people enter.” He continued, “But, when people are living good lives — and many of them for 10, 15, 20, years — I think the bishops have been very clear in what they said, and I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them.”
The Pillar
Era of ‘Christendom is over,’ but the Church should not be afraid
By Edgar Beltrán, November 18, 2025
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi called on the Italian bishops on Nov. 17 to embrace the spirit of the first Christians, saying that “Christendom is over, but not Christianity,” and that “what is waning is an order of power and culture, not the living force of the Gospel. Therefore, we must not be afraid, but renew our commitment to be joyful witnesses of the Risen One.” Zuppi’s remarks come as Italy undergoes rapid secularization. Mass attendance halved in the 21st century, going from 36% to 18% by 2022. A 2022 poll revealed that 32% of Italians claimed to have never gone to a church except for a baptism, wedding, or funeral, up from 16% in 2001. “By stating that ‘Christendom is over,’ we mean that our society is naturally no longer Christian. But this shouldn’t scare us!” Zuppi said the change of era meant the Church should abandon seeking political influence and focus on transmitting the Gospel.
Vatican News
Kenyan sister transforming farming
By Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS, November 19, 2025
Sr. Josephine Kwenga, a religious sister of St. Joseph of Tarbes, transforms lives by uniting faith, sustainability, and community empowerment. Sustainable farming is bringing new life to families, communities, and the Church’s mission of care for creation in line with her passion. “I am passionate about teamwork and promotion of holistic development and social transformation,” she told Vatican News. “Our ministry is not about amassing resources; it is about community empowerment, scheduling programs that assimilate faith and sustainability, and being a resource for those we serve.” Sr. Josephine is equipped to guide development initiatives with her unique academic background in education, development studies, and social transformation, specializing in sustainable development, peacebuilding, leadership, and project management. “When families have food security, there is peace in homes and harmony in communities,” concluded Sr. Josephine.
Pime Asia News
200 Catholics pray and march in silence over looted Church
By Agenzia Fides, November 18, 2025
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – More than 200 Catholics from the of Canterbury St Augustine Church, including two priests and four nuns, marched in silence and stood in prayer in response to last week’s attack and looting. At the Nov. 18 ceremony, promoted by the parish priest and the local congregation, participants wore black as a sign of mourning. Some participants spoke to AsiaNews about their sadness over the desecration of the hosts (picture 3). “The thieves not only hurt our parish priest, but also our Lord Jesus Christ”, said Momota Costa, a housewife. Another Catholic, Shipra Serao, said she wept for the incident and fasted, eating only vegetables. Some local leaders vented their anger at the authorities. “It’s been five days, and the police have not arrested anyone. I think they are neglecting to catch the thieves, “said Hamanto Corraya, a parishioner and general secretary of the Bangladesh Christian Association (BCA).
National Catholic Register
Rising NY Catholic conversions amid broader national trends
By Kate Quiñones/CNA, November 11, 2025
A rising number of New Yorkers are reportedly converting to the Catholic Church, with the spike in converts coming as the U.S. bishops say increasing numbers of men and women are coming into the faith in this country. The New York Post found that multiple New York City Catholic churches have year-over-year double or even triple the number of adults signing up to become Catholic through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). At one parish, St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village, interest in OCIA tripled since last year, with about 130 people signing up, according to the paper. At St. Vincent Ferrer on the Upper East Side, the number of participants has doubled to nearly 90. Sign-ups at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral also doubled to about 100, according to the report. Many converts reportedly cited the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk as a motivator for their conversions.
From Loop & Agency to Pillar Post for 11/19/25
CatholicVote: Daily LOOP
Read daily news and political impact stories at the “LOOP”
Elections and politics matter. The LOOP gives you daily gems on the news that seek “to renew our country and culture.” CatholicVote’s advertised mission is “To inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life.”
SUPREME COURT TO HEAR KEY BORDER SECURITY CASE - The Supreme Court agreed this week to take up a major border security case over whether U.S. officials must process asylum seekers who remain on the Mexican side of a port of entry but attempt to request protection from U.S. officers. Here are the details.
SATANIC TEMPLE LOSES TO IDAHO’S PRO-LIFE LAW - A federal court has officially dismissed a lawsuit brought by The Satanic Temple against Idaho’s pro-life law, bringing an end to three years of litigation. The Temple had sued over the law, claiming it violated Satanists’ “right” to practice ritualistic abortions for so-called “religious” purposes.
FASCINATING! THE TOLKIEN-NEWMAN CONNECTION - J.R.R. Tolkien was born two years after the death of John Henry Newman. Both were Englishmen, but part of very different periods of history and produced very different types of literature. Still, there are many Newmanian connections in Tolkien's life. Read where they intertwined.
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — November 19, 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 happenings of the Holy See to anyone with internet access.
Pope Leo XIV on Nigeria: ‘Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered’ - Nov 18, 2025 - By Hannah Brockhaus - “I think in Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians, but for all people. Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered,” the pope said
Federal officials encourage clergy to ‘reach out’ on pastoral care for detainees - Nov 18, 2025 - By Tyler Arnold - Homeland Security officials encouraged clergy to coordinate with authorities to ensure detainees have access to holy Communion and religious services.
‘Hero of the confessional’ Father Carmelo De Palma beatified in Italy - Nov 18, 2025 - By Walter Sánchez Silva - Father Carmelo De Palma, a priest known as the “hero of the confessional,” was beatified Nov. 15 in Bari, Italy.
The Pillar
Pillar Post for Tuesday, 11/18/25
The Pillar offers a news summary and a capsule take on Catholic News. Here’s JD Flynn’s analysis of the news from yesterday in the Pillar Post:
Sources in the UK told us that the nuncio had indeed communicated to bishops a papal vision for a more “generous” application of Traditionis custodes. Going forward, the pope’s general approach seems to be “Todos, todos, todos - including devotees of the TLM,” one source told The Pillar.
For most of the general public, the “at prayer” element of the bishops’ conference is not especially visible. The liturgies, chapels, and sacramental life of the bishops gathered in Baltimore shed some insight into how bishops themselves experience that liturgical life.
In Germany, a growing number of dioceses are rejecting a document on “the diversity of sexualities” in schools, which was published by the German bishops’ conference in October. The Archdiocese of Cologne and the Diocese of Regensburg confirmed Nov. 14 that they agreed with Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau’s detailed critique of the bishops’ conference text.
Nutshell reflections for 11/19/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection Audio - November 19, 2025
Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
St. Anthony Messenger
The ‘beauty of downward mobility’
By Stephen Copeland, Nov./Dec. 2025 Issue
Upward mobility is the name of the game in Washington, DC. Michele Dunne played the game, eventually reaching the peak of her career. From the State Department to the US Embassy in Cairo, then to the National Security Council as director for Egypt and North Africa, Dunne had become a premier voice and diplomat for policymaking in the Middle East. She sought to stay true to herself and her values, even in the cutthroat, power-hungry milieu of Washington. But then it all came crashing down. As the pressure mounted to make decisions that benefited special interests, she knew she could no longer continue in her role. Dunne decided that aspiring movers and shakers in DC might find it unthinkable. She willingly walked away from the highest position she had ever held. “I learned something I never would have understood before, which was the beauty of downward mobility.”
CRUX
Catholic leaders lament attacks on democracy in Africa
By Ngala Killian Chimtom, November 19, 2025
The leadership of the Catholic Church in Tanzania is in mourning following the killing of hundreds of people after thousands took to the streets to protest the re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. In a November 12 statement, Catholic Bishops in East Africa, under the umbrella name AMECEA, lamented that “precious lives” had been lost, and said they stand with the people of Tanzania in their time of need. “When one member suffers, we all suffer together,” the statement addressed to the Bishops Conference of Tanzania stated, and noted that the Church remains in solidarity with the people of Tanzania in an “extraordinarily difficult and painful moment.” “These events, which triggered days of violent protests and have resulted in the loss of precious lives, numerous injuries, and widespread suffering, have deeply grieved us all,” says the message signed by AMECEA President Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde of Solwezi in Zambia.
National Catholic Register
Calm should rest the soul of the believer
By E. Christian Brugger, November 10, 2025
To know the end is near, to watch for the end, St. Augustine taught that the fruit of such knowledge and vigilance is patience. Instead of anxiety, instead of chaos and overactivity, rather, calm should rest the soul of the believer. The readings on Sunday Nov. 16 are indeed about the end. “Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,” the passage from Malachi begins (Mal 3:19). Like Jeremiah before him, Jesus speaks of the destruction of the temple; after this, he’ll talk of the destruction of Jerusalem. Yet what he fully means by “the end” is bigger than that (Lk 21:5-24). Jesus here is talking apocalyptically. That is, reading all this, we can’t help but think of the ultimate end. Of that inevitable future, these passages are meant to remind us. We are being spiritually prepared in these readings for the season of Advent, prepared even for that reality beyond all Advents, for the final advent of Christ the Lord.
Catholic Exchange
Why we get on our knees at the Holy Sacrifice of Mass
By Fr. Kevin Drew, November 19, 2025
The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. It got leveled to the ground. And my friends, someday we will be leveled to the ground. That should shock none of us. What should shock us is that through Christ’s sacrifice, we will rise again. For Christ is anointed and cleansed for the job. He is the Bridegroom, the true High Priest who goes beyond the temple veil to pour out blood (His own) for people’s sins. The cordoning off of the sanctuary from the outer court was the basis of what became altar rails in churches. When that sacrifice is consummated on our altar, the tabernacle veil up high in our sanctuary is opened, split in two. And a mystical river of Blood flows down the temple steps to douse the flames of sin and death. This, my friends, is the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. This is an utterly shocking mystery. And this is why we get on our knees when it happens.
Image of Almonds by Monfocus from Pixabay
Catholic Nutshell News is a subscription service hosted by SubStack. Get up to a dozen recent articles from Monday to Saturday to review regarding newsworthy issues. An easy way to browse top Catholic news and information services on the net. Edited by John Pearring.
Listen to an audio podcast of today’s Catholic Nutshell News on the Substack App!
At the top of your phone, while in the Substack app to read our post, you can press the ▶️ play button and have Catholic Nutshell News read to you daily …
