Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV closed the holy door of St. Peter’s Basilica this morning, ending the ordinary jubilee year of 2025 (booklet, pp. 3-13; video, 7:12-24:17, especially 20:25).

In 2010, Bishop Ricken declared the apparitions at Champion, Wisconsin, “worthy of belief.” In 2016, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the apparition site as a national shrine.

Iin his December 28 decree, Bishop Ricken exhorted “all the faithful to provide me with useful information about the Cause.”

“As someone who converted to Catholicism as a teenager myself, I know what it is like to search for answers, to thirst for the truth which only the Lord Jesus offers,” said Archbishop John Wilson. “As Catholics, leading people to Christ has to be at the heart of everything we do, because it is the Lord Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.”

“I want the faithful—from converts to cradle Catholics—to feel confident and assured of their faith, so that when they are asked the reason for the hope within them, they can confidently speak of the Lord Jesus and his saving work,” Archbishop Wilson added.

The archdiocese stated that the project will “consist of 52 videos, posted every Monday on YouTube in 2026 ... To ensure doctrinal accuracy, each script draws from a foundation of Scripture, primary Church Father documents, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and official papal and Church teachings.”

“I express on behalf of the clergy, religious, and laity of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, my predecessors, and myself, profound regret over the tragic and inexcusable harm you have suffered at the hands of your abusers,” Archbishop Aymond wrote in his letter, dated December 26 and released January 3.

“I sincerely apologize to you for the trauma caused to you and to those close to you as a survivor of sexual abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy, a religious sister or brother, or a lay employee or volunteer working within the Catholic Church,” he continued. “Sexual abuse is an inexcusable evil, and I am ashamed that you or anyone should have been sexually abused by someone working within the Catholic Church.”

The prelate added, “The Archdiocese of New Orleans takes responsibility for the abuse you have suffered and pledges to keep children and all vulnerable people safe in our ministry.”

On January 3, President Trump said that Colombia’s president is “making cocaine” and “does have to watch his a—.”

Bishop Juan Carlos Barreto of Soacha told Crux if the US action against Venezuela, which “is totally inadmissible, is expanded to Colombia, a country in which there’s a legitimately elected president, we’d see a much more serious aggression, one with terrible consequence.”

Bishop Barreto expressed concern that the president acted “without observing the principles of the United Nations and without consulting the US Congress” and described the action as “evidence of his authoritarianism.”

The novena’s “overarching intention,” according to the announcement, is “the end to abortion. Each daily prayer intention highlights a related topic and is accompanied by a reflection, educational information, and suggested daily actions.”

Francesco Rocca, the president of Italy’s Lazio region, met with Pope Leo XIV on January 3 and discussed the meeting in a subsequent Facebook post.

“At the end of December, a firecracker and gunshots were fired at the secondary entrance of the church,” the Italian bishops’ newspaper reported. “A few days ago, more gunshots. But this time, the bullets arrived inside. Fortunately, no one was there.”

The Archdiocese of Palermo condemned the attack, and the parish priest called for state action “to remedy the sea of illegality, drug dealing, and violence” in the area. Archbishop Corrado Lorefice will celebrate an Epiphany Mass at the parish today.