Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, bishop emeritus of San Cristóbal de las Casas in the Mexican state of Chiapas, expressed his hope that the approval of a series of liturgical adaptations for Indigenous communities in the Mexican state of Chiapas “will encourage the process to promote similar adaptations in other Indigenous groups.” / Credit: Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas

Puebla, Mexico, Nov 18, 2024 / 14:00 pm (CNA).

The Vatican has approved a series of liturgical adaptations for Indigenous communities in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

According to Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, bishop emeritus of San Cristóbal de las Casas, this decision transforms certain Indigenous expressions into “liturgy of the Church,” eliminating the perception that they were simply “uses and customs that were viewed with suspicion.”

The Vatican Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments granted “confirmatio” on Nov. 8, endorsing the “adaptations to the Ordinary of the Mass in Spanish” for the Tseltal, Tsotsil, Ch’ol, Tojolabal, and Zoque ethnic groups. It also granted “recognitio” for the translation into Tseltal of key magisterial documents, such as the apostolic constitution Missale Romanum and the motu proprio Mysterii Paschalis.

Arizmendi, who led the efforts of the Mexican episcopate to promote these adaptations, said in a message shared with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that these practices are a form of “incarnation of faith in expressions specific to these cultures.” Their acceptance by the Holy See represents a sign that “if in some Indigenous customs there are deviations, we can help them reach their fullness in Christ and in his Church.”

The cardinal expressed his hope that this approval “will encourage the process to promote similar adaptations in other Indigenous groups.” To this end, he invited his brother bishops and pastoral workers to “have an interest in giving liturgical value to many Catholic expressions of our native groups and not see them as simple folklore.”

What are the adaptations approved by the Vatican?

The cardinal explained that “ritual dances were approved for the offertory, the prayer of the faithful, or the thanksgiving after Communion,” pointing out that these “are not folklore but simple movements of the entire assembly, monotone, contemplative, accompanied by traditional music, which express the same thing as the Roman rite, but in a different cultural form.”

“The content of the Mass is not changed but the way of expressing it,” the cardinal said.

Another point approved is that women will be able to perform the ministry of thurifers during the Mass. Once the priest “places [on the coal] and blesses the incense,” the women will proceed to incense the altar, the images, the Gospel book, the ministers, and the assembly.

“They do it not with the common censer but with an incense that is proper to the culture,” the cardinal indicated.

The cardinal emphasized that this sign “is not a feminist demand” but one that responds to the customs of Indigenous communities, where “it is usually the woman who incense during traditional prayers.”

In another change, it was approved that a layperson of “recognized moral relevance” can lead “certain parts of the community prayer.”

This can be done “at the beginning of the Mass, to initiate the community into the celebration, to name intentions, and to ask forgiveness” as well as “in the prayer of the faithful, after the priest makes the initial invitation and closes with the concluding prayer.”

It can also occur “after Communion as a thanksgiving, which the priest concludes with the post-Communion prayer.”

“This is not about removing the priest from his role as president of the assembly,” the cardinal explained, “since he is the one who is in charge of the celebration and who authorizes these moments.” With this, he pointed out, the aim is to provide a way for the assembly to participate.

“The content of the Roman rite is not being changed, but rather its cultural expression,” he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Sister Francisca Ngozi Uti on Nov. 14, 2024, was named the 2024 Opus Prize laureate, which comes with a $1.2 million award recognizing transformative humanitarian work. / Credit: Santa Clara University

ACI Africa, Nov 18, 2024 / 11:40 am (CNA).

Sister Francisca Ngozi Uti, the founder and executive director of the Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) in Abuja, Nigeria, has been named the laureate of the 2024 Opus Prize — a $1.2 million award recognizing transformative humanitarian work. 

In her address during the Nov. 14 award ceremony at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit university in Silicon Valley, the Nigerian member of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ) said that words could not express her joy. 

“Did I ever imagine being nominated as the laureate? Honestly, no. Words seem inadequate to capture the depth of my joy. My heart overflows with gratitude,” Ngozi said. 

“I never dreamed that the work my team and I have been doing in these remote communities would gain recognition not only within our state but beyond our nation’s borders crossing the Atlantic and reaching as far as the United States of America.”

Ngozi thanked the Opus Prize jury, saying: “You believed and still believe in the work that my team and I do to alleviate the suffering and trauma of those marginalized through no fault of their own.”

By choosing CWSI as the 2024 Opus Prize winner, “you have placed a significant responsibility on us; to whom much is given, much is expected,” Ngozi said. “CWSI will not betray your trust. I accept this award on behalf of all the women, girls, and men who have partnered with us to bring about positive change in their lives and communities.”

“I remember especially the women and girls who have endured hardship and are now striving to rebuild their lives,” she added.

Reflecting on her ministry over the years, Ngozi credited her father for ensuring she received an education despite societal limitations.

“Thank you, Papa. Your sacrifice was not in vain,” she said.

She also paid homage to HHCJ foundress Mother Mary Charles Magdalene Walker. “From her life of courage, resilience, and faith, I learned to entrust myself to God, allowing him to lead while I follow,” she said.

Ngozi also thanked the staff of CWSI, HHCJ leadership, and all those who have contributed to her mission.

“To the past and present staff of CWSI who have made countless sacrifices out of love for God and humanity, I am deeply grateful,” she said.

Ngozi went on to congratulate her fellow Opus Prize finalists, including Jesuit Father Zachariah Presutti, founder and executive director of Thrive for Life Prison Project in New York, and Cătălin and Bianca Albu, the general manager and senior manager, respectively, for programs at Jesuit Refugee Service in Romania.

“This recognition is not just for me or CWSI. It is for every woman and girl whose resilience and courage inspire our mission. May God bless you abundantly for your generosity and support,” Ngozi said. 

CWSI seeks to help women become politically aware, socially responsible, and economically independent for greater autonomy and parity with men.

The Abuja-based entity also advocates for the inclusion of women in government roles and for legal provisions to combat gender-based violence in five Nigerian states. 

The late Bishop Paride Taban was the Opus Prize 2023 laureate. The bishop emeritus of South Sudan’s Diocese of Torit was honored posthumously for founding the Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron, where people from warring South Sudanese tribes live in harmony.

“Bishop Taban’s Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron will receive the $1 million prize that recognizes social entrepreneurship championing faith-filled change,” the Opus Prize Foundation and Villanova University announced last year in a press release.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

A bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Louis. / Credit: Checubus/Shutterstock

St. Louis, Mo., Nov 18, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

After a close but heartbreaking loss at the ballot box that saw Missouri voters choose to enshrine a right to “reproductive freedom” in the state constitution Nov. 5, the head of the Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) said the closeness of the vote and the unity displayed by pro-life advocates in the state suggest a repeal of the amendment in the future remains a possibility.

“It truly was a strong, unified, grassroots effort that I wish we’d gotten over the finish line, but I’m still very proud,” Jamie Morris, executive director of the MCC in Jefferson City, told CNA this week.

Morris said looking ahead, the pro-life movement in Missouri is focused on maintaining its momentum and unity — and he suggested that losing the most recent abortion vote may unify and galvanize pro-lifers even further.

“We were very much outspent and still kept the vote very, very close. That tells me that there’s still a very strong sentiment in the state of Missouri to protect the preborn, to protect their mothers. Let’s not lose sight of that,” he said. 

Amendment 3 mandates that the government “shall not deny or infringe upon a person’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” including “prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.”

Although the amendment language mentions that laws could be passed to restrict abortion past the point of “fetal viability,” the amendment simultaneously prohibits any interference with an abortion that a doctor determines is necessary to “protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”

The amendment’s appearance on the ballot was the subject of a protracted court battle earlier this year, with pro-lifers arguing that the final proposed language not only violated state law by failing to list which laws it would repeal but also misled voters about the scope and gravity of what they would be voting for. The Missouri Supreme Court ultimately voted 4-3 to allow the measure to appear before voters.

Missouri law currently extends protection to unborn babies throughout all of pregnancy with the only exception being cases of “medical emergency.” The new amendment tees up years of litigation as pro-abortion advocates will now sue to remove each of Missouri’s pro-life protections in light of the new constitutional provision.

Missouri, the first state to ban abortion after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, was one of 10 states to vote on abortion this year. While the outcome of the Missouri vote is not what pro-life advocates had hoped for, Morris said it has provided valuable insights and a renewed commitment to their cause. 

He pointed out that despite the amendment passing, Missouri’s pro-abortion amendment garnered less support than a similar amendment in Florida — 52% versus 57% — but Florida’s amendment needed 60% to pass and thus failed.

Since Election Day, some political observers have scratched their heads at the fact that despite voting to liberalize the state’s abortion laws, Missouri voters simultaneously voted nearly 60% to 40% for Donald Trump and elected a pro-life Catholic governor, Republican Mike Kehoe. They also chose a pro-life attorney general and other state officials. 

While unable to comment on specific plans, Morris expressed optimism that there will be opportunities to push back against the amendment’s implementation, given the milieu of pro-life government officials and representatives in the state. 

“My hope is, at least in this next legislative session, that we will see legislation proposed to chip away at or potentially repeal Amendment 3. I don’t have a good sense at this moment what type of legislation … but I do expect that there will be some [efforts] by the Legislature to try to protect against some of the harms that Amendment 3 poses.”

At the same time, he said, he hopes the Republican-led state Legislature will continue to try to pass pro-woman, pro-family, and pro-child policies that negate the need for abortion — in other words, “push for policies that address abortion from the ‘demand’ side.”

Outspent, but not out

Estimates vary on the exact disparity, but it was clear that pro-life groups in Missouri were vastly outspent during election season by out-of-state pro-abortion interests — 10 to 1, by one group’s reckoning.

And yet, Morris notes, the vote was close — just a handful of the state’s most populous counties in urban areas such as Kansas City, St. Louis, and Columbia carried the amendment to victory, by an overall statewide margin of less than 2%. Meanwhile, over 100 of Missouri’s counties voted no.

Each of the state’s four dioceses provided a few thousand dollars to the effort, Morris said, but the dollar figures were secondary to the grassroots efforts of the Church, which Morris said he felt presented a unified message.

“We didn’t spend any major sum of money, but I feel like we as a conference — along with each specific diocese in the state — I think we were able to still get our message out there. Whether it was all priests of a particular diocese preaching a homily on a particular Sunday or having our information sitting in church or inviting us to come speak to them,” he said. 

“It really was a truly coordinated effort that then was able to trickle down … I think the Church has a very special place and a very special voice, in not just what we say, but how we say it.”

Shocks ahead

In the wake of the vote, the pro-life community in Missouri is taking stock of the lessons learned from the campaign, Morris said, evaluating which strategies and messages resonated with the public and which did not. Despite the setback, he reiterated that he sees a renewed energy within the movement, bolstered by the close margin of the vote.

Morris said the MCC in its messaging sought to appeal to people’s values and concerns, rather than trying to be bombastic or shocking. He said its messaging about the potential impact of Amendment 3 on Missourians’ parental rights seemed to be particularly effective. 

He also said it focused on countering misinformation from the pro-abortion side, especially as it relates to ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage treatment, both of which are already provided for under Missouri law. 

Morris said he predicts that ongoing debates around the amendment will raise questions about the broader societal values concerning issues like race, sex, and Down syndrome diagnoses in the context of abortion. The amendment is likely to lead to the negation of Missouri’s specific ban on abortions done for these reasons — a stark reality that Morris predicts will shock many moderate voters. 

In addition, the amendment is expected to nullify several other protections currently in place, including laws against partial-birth abortion, parental notification, and the ability for women to sue abortion providers for malpractice.

“I think in some ways, the passage of Amendment 3 will maybe make those that are on the fence about abortion come [to terms] with some of the more stark realities of what is going on, in a way they haven’t had to before,” he opined. 

“As these types of stories come up, and as the pro-abortion side continues to push the bounds of what they think should be allowable under Amendment 3, I think we will have, from a pure strategy standpoint, an opportunity to come in and expose again how extreme Amendment 3 is.”

Left to right: John Ratcliffe, Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. / Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image; MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images; Jason Mendez/Getty Images

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 18, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen several Catholics to serve in his Cabinet and other parts of his administration, including environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., three-term Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and, in an announcement Monday evening, former Rep. Sean Duffy.

The 45th and soon-to-be 47th president made more than a dozen announcements within 10 days of his electoral victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Many of his Cabinet nominees and other administration official picks have yet to be announced.

Among the Catholics Trump has chosen for his Cabinet are Kennedy, who was nominated to be the secretary of Health and Human Services; Rubio as secretary of state; Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations; John Ratcliffe, nominated as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); and Duffy for secretary of transportation.

These five Cabinet-level positions require Senate confirmation. 

Trump also announced he will appoint Tom Homan as the “Border Czar,” a position that does not require Senate confirmation. Homan is a Catholic and was previously the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the president-elect’s first administration.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and the son of former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, was nominated by Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees 10 agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to public health,” Trump said in his announcement. “... HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming health crisis in the country.”

A lifelong Democrat before launching an independent bid for president of the United States during the 2024 election, Kennedy dropped out of the race in August and endorsed Trump after the former president promised him a health-related role. He is Catholic and credits “a profound spiritual enlightenment” for his recovery from drug addiction in his early adulthood. However, he deviates from Church teaching on life by supporting legal abortions.

Kennedy has been critical of the childhood vaccine schedule. Kennedy has said he would not “take vaccines away from anybody” as secretary of Health and Human Services but that he would promote more inquiry into side effects. He has long been critical of large pharmaceutical companies influencing regulations and the impact that processed food has on the nation’s health.

“I look forward to working with the more than 80,000 employees at HHS to free the agencies from the smothering cloud of corporate capture so they can pursue their mission to make Americans once again the healthiest people on Earth,” Kennedy said in a statement.

Marco Rubio

Trump nominated Rubio, a one-time rival for the presidency, to serve as secretary of state.

“Marco is a highly respected leader and a very powerful voice for freedom,” a statement from the Trump transition team read. “He will be a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies, and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.” 

Rubio has served as a senator from Florida since 2011 and was previously in the Florida House of Representatives. His parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba. He was raised in the Catholic faith at an early age, but his family began attending a Mormon church during his childhood before returning to Catholicism. Although the senator is Catholic, he sometimes attends a Baptist church with his wife. 

“As secretary of state, I will work every day to carry out [Trump’s] foreign policy agenda,” Rubio said in a statement after the announcement. “Under the leadership of President Trump, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else.”

Rubio has historically supported a hawkish foreign policy, which is at times at odds with Trump’s campaign rhetoric that is skeptical of American involvement in foreign wars. In recent years, however, he has moved closer to Trump’s view on foreign policy. He was initially in favor of the United States providing aid to Ukraine but voted against the most recent aid bill.

Elise Stefanik

The president-elect nominated Stefanik to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations, which primarily represents American interests in the international organization. 

“[Stefanik] was the first member of Congress to endorse me and has always been a staunch advocate,” Trump said in a statement. “... [She] led the charge against antisemitism on college campuses. She will be an incredible ambassador to the United Nations, delivering peace through strength and America First national security policies.” 

Stefanik is the chair of the House Republican Conference, which makes her the fourth-ranking Republican in the chamber. She will be replaced by Rep. Lisa McClain in this role. Stefanik is a strong and vocal supporter of Israeli military action in the Palestinian Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon. She is Catholic and is opposed to abortion but supports same-sex marriage. 

“The work ahead is immense as we see antisemitism skyrocketing coupled with four years of catastrophically weak U.S. leadership that significantly weakened our national security and diminished our standing in the eyes of both allies and adversaries,” Stefanik said in a statement.

“I stand ready to advance President Donald J. Trump’s restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day 1 at the United Nations,” she said.

Stefanik, like Rubio, has historically been more hawkish on foreign policy but has moved closer to Trump’s views of late. She initially backed American aid to Ukraine but later opposed it. She has previously supported Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

John Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe, who briefly served as the director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and is a former congressman, will head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 

“From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation to catching the FBI’s abuse of civil liberties at the FISA court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for truth and honesty with the American public,” Trump said in a statement. “When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, telling the truth to the American people.”

Like Rubio and Stefanik, Ratcliffe has also been historically hawkish. He has been strongly critical of Chinese officials and Iran. He has criticized the Biden administration for not providing more intelligence and military aid to Israel. 

Sean Duffy

Trump nominated Duffy, who served as a U.S. congressman from Wisconsin from 2011 through 2019, to lead the Department of Transportation. The department oversees 13 agencies, which includes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). 

“[Duffy] will prioritize excellence, competence, competitiveness, and beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges, and airports,” Trump said in his announcement. “He will ensure our ports and dams serve our economy without compromising our national security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers.”

While serving in Congress, Duffy introduced a bill to expand the president’s powers to enact tariffs and co-sponsored legislation to construct the St. Croix Crossing, a bridge that connects Minnesota and Wisconsin over the Mississippi River. He is also a Catholic and a father of nine children. 

“Thank you, Mr. President,” Duffy said in response to the announcement. “I’m eager to help you usher in a new golden age of transportation.” 

Duffy resigned from Congress in 2019 to help care for his daughter who was born with a heart condition. He later became the co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business.

This story was updated on Nov. 19, 2024, at 12:43 p.m. ET to include the information about Sean Duffy.

Children play as procession participants wait to enter the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne for adoration. / Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA

CNA Staff, Nov 18, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).

On Nov. 18 the Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, a French religious sister who came to the United States as a missionary in the 1800s. 

Rose was born on Aug. 29, 1769, in Grenoble, France. On the day of her baptism, she received the names Philip, honoring the apostle, and Rose, honoring St. Rose of Lima. She was educated at the convent of the Visitation of Ste. Marie d’en Haut and became drawn to contemplative life. At the age of 18, she became a novice at the convent. 

During the Revolution in France, Rose’s community was dispersed and she ended up returning to her family home. After the Concordat of 1801, she tried to rebuild her community’s monastery but was unable to do so. 

In 1804, Rose heard of a new congregation — the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She became a novice in the society that same year. 

Despite her great desire for contemplative life, Rose also felt a calling for missionary work. 

In a letter she wrote to Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat, the foundress of the society, Rose described an experience she had during adoration: “I spent the entire night in the New World ... carrying the Blessed Sacrament to all parts of the land ... I had all my sacrifices to offer: a mother, sisters, family, my mountain! When you say to me ‘now I send you,’ I will respond quickly, ‘I go.’”

In 1818, Rose was finally sent to do missionary work. Bishop Louis William Valentine DuBourg, the St. Louis area’s first bishop, was looking for a congregation of educators to help him evangelize the children of the diocese. At St. Charles, near St. Louis, Rose founded the first house of the society outside of France. 

That same year, Rose and four other sisters opened the first free school for Native American children in the United States. By 1828 Rose had founded six schools.

The saint once said: “You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds of knowledge which were never dreamed of before; yet, if you have not developed in the soul of the pupil strong habits of virtue, which will sustain her in the struggle of life, you have not educated her.”

Rose always carried a desire to serve Native Americans. In 1841, at the age of 71, she established a school for Potawatomi girls in Sugar Creek, Kansas. She spent a year with the Potawatomi, spending much of her time in prayer because she was unable to help with much of the physical work. They gave her the name “Quah-kah-ka-num-ad,” which means “woman who is always praying.”

In 1842, Rose returned to St. Charles and died there on Nov. 18, 1852, at the age of 83. She was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II on July 3, 1988, and is buried at the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne in St. Charles, Missouri.

Pope Francis was joined by thousands of pilgrims in the Vatican on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, to celebrate the eighth annual World Day of the Poor. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 17, 2024 / 13:46 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis was joined by thousands of pilgrims in the Vatican on Sunday to celebrate the eighth annual World Day of the Poor to renew the Church’s commitment to “be close to the suffering” through spiritual and material works of charity. 

Blessing of 13 keys   

Before the Sunday Mass celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis blessed 13 statues of keys, representing the 13 Houses Campaign of the FamVin Homeless Alliance as a sign of solidarity and the Church’s dedication to care for the poor and marginalized.

Each of the 13 “keys” blessed by the pope is dedicated to a specific country in which the FamVin Homeless Alliance — a charitable organization founded in 2017 and inspired by the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul — has built a home dedicated to the poor: in Syria, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

Throughout the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, families from each of these 13 countries will meet with Pope Francis and receive the blessed statue dedicated to the poor of their country. 

Sunday Mass and Angelus in the Vatican

During his homily and Angelus address, the Holy Father repeated his plea for Catholics to show their closeness to the poor through gestures of care infused with human warmth and tenderness.

“[To] those who give alms I always ask two things,” the pope said to the thousands of pilgrims gathered inside St. Peter’s Basilica for the eighth annual World Day of the Poor Mass. The theme of the commemoration was “The Prayer of the Poor Rises Up to God.” 

“Do you really touch the hands of these people or do you just throw the coins into their hands? Do you look into their eyes when you are giving some help and doing alms — do you look directly in their eyes or are you looking somewhere else?” he asked.     

Amid the “hour of darkness” — times of desolation and anguish — described in Sunday’s Gospel and readings, Pope Francis said, “a great proclamation of hope” is truly present for those who have put their trust in God.

“Jesus invites us to have a deeper look, to have eyes capable of reading within the events of history,” he explained. “An unshakable hope shines forth on this World Day of the Poor!”

Warning against the temptation of despair, laziness, and despondency, the pope said “we cannot condemn ourselves to powerlessness” in the face of poverty, inequality, and injustice. 

Pope Francis stressed that the poor and marginalized “have no choice but to continue to wait” and urged the Church to work with governments and international organizations to support them.

“Otherwise, the Christian faith is reduced into a harmless devotion that does not disturb the powers that be and is incapable of generating a serious commitment to charity,” the pontiff said. 

After praying the Angelus in Latin with the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the pope reiterated his homily message to live in solidarity with the poor through prayer and action, especially for “families who struggle to make ends meet.”

“Dear brothers and sisters, let us not forget that the poor cannot wait.”

Sunday lunch with 1,300 guests   

Following Sunday Mass and the Angelus, 1,300 economically disadvantaged men, women, and children living in Rome joined Pope Francis for lunch inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

The Italian Red Cross provided both meals and entertainment at this year’s World Day of the Poor luncheon with the pope. Three hundred forty volunteers served guests lasagna with vegetables, beef meatloaf with spinach and cheese, potatoes, fruit, and dessert.

Priests of the Congregation of the Mission, also known as the Vincentian Fathers, gifted each guest with backpacks containing food and hygiene items to bring home with them after their lunch with the pope.

Carnicerías Jiménez founder José Jiménez and his daughter Luz Maribel, the Chicago grocery chain’s human resources director. / Credit: Courtesy of Luz Maribel Jiménez

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 17, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

“With God, everything; without God, nothing”: This maxim of her mother left a deep impression on Luz Maribel Jiménez, director of human resources at Carnicerías Jiménez, an award-winning Catholic family grocery store chain in Chicago. 

In an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Jiménez shared her family’s guiding principles to inspire entrepreneurs who aspire to lead a business with values ​​and purpose.

“The most important lessons I learned from my parents include putting God and family first, maintaining a strong work ethic, feeling pride and love for what you do, treating everyone with respect, and offering help whenever possible. These are just some of the lessons,” said Jiménez, one of the family’s daughters.

A legacy born from faith, effort, and sacrifice

In 1975, José Jiménez and his wife, Guadalupe, opened a fruit store on the corner of 26th and Pulaski, marking the beginning of the Jiménez family’s legacy in Chicago. From that first business, they were able to expand and transform their venture into Carnicerías Jiménez, now a chain of eight stores that offers fresh produce to the community.

Today, José and his children manage the business, which is much appreciated for the contribution it makes to the local community. In addition, the company’s employees appreciate its family atmosphere. 

“My parents built this business from scratch. They built it on a foundation of faith, love, respect, hard work, dedication, and sacrifice,” Luz Maribel Jiménez shared.

Guadalupe, the mother of the family and one of its pillars, passed away on Feb. 7, 2022, leaving a great void but valuable lessons, her daughter related.

“Without a doubt, the most significant challenge we have encountered as a family and as a business has been the death of my mother. Although she will always be in our hearts, she played a huge role in our lives.”

Jiménez, who continues her legacy, shared with ACI Prensa some of the lessons her mother lived by.

1. ‘Faith is fundamental.’

According to Jiménez, the Catholic faith has been the driving force that undergirds the family in all its decisions. “My parents always put God as the basis of every action, from the smallest to the most consequential.”

A clear example of this was when the family opened its store on Fullerton Avenue. José, the patriarch of the family, decided to build a private chapel in the store to keep alive his devotion to St. Martin de Porres, which he practiced growing up in Mexico. This decision allows him and his team to pray to the saint and also to the Virgin of Guadalupe and St. Jude Thaddeus.

“Faith has been fundamental” in the development and growth of the business,” Jiménez said.

“Prayer and reflection have been guiding forces, helping us clarify our vision and make crucial decisions. It has strengthened our resilience during difficult times, allowing us to maintain a positive attitude and continue moving forward,” Jiménez explained.

2. ‘Sustaining and transmitting family values.’

The continuity of family values, according to Jiménez, is another of Carnicerías Jiménez’s mainstays.

“My parents have upheld and passed down our family values ​​throughout the generations by fostering open communication, sharing stories, encouraging participation in traditions, and leading by example,” she recounted.

In particular, her father has been an exceptional storyteller: “For as long as I can remember, he would engage us directly, using examples from his experiences to illustrate his points, always concluding with a moral lesson.”

In this regard, she addressed future generations of Latino youth to urge them to “always remember their roots and embrace and celebrate their faith, family, traditions, and talents.”

“Their faith will guide them on the right path, while gratitude for their blessings will empower them. Family traditions and the shared values ​​they maintain are vital connections to the future,” she advised.

3. Be grateful: ‘We cannot achieve success alone.’

Another of the main lessons that the Jiménez family can leave to future generations of Catholic entrepreneurs, she said, is having learned “to lead [their employees] with integrity, respect, and gratitude.” 

“Although business and financial growth is crucial, we recognize that we cannot achieve success alone. We must be grateful to our employees, customers, the communities where we are located, suppliers and advisers: all those who have contributed to building our business,” she noted.

4. Constantly educate yourself; ‘never lose sight of your dreams.’

Jiménez also advised entrepreneurs to commit to continuous learning since, according to her, “education is essential to create positive changes in your life and in the lives of others.”

“Never lose sight of your dreams; you have the ability to achieve them. Also, always remember to appreciate those who supported you on your path to your goals,” she added.

5. ‘Maintain an environment where employees feel like family.’

One of the priorities of the Jiménez family has always been the well-being of its employees. Jiménez emphasized that the company has worked to create “an environment in which they feel like family, valued and appreciated.”

“Our mentality has been to provide for our employees, our community, and all those who have helped us reach our 50th year in business,” she said.

In addition, she recalled that the company’s policies are based on solid principles of “honesty, humility, service, and gratitude.”

6. ‘Money is a tool, never an end.’

For the Jiménez family, business should not be just a means to make a profit. The human resources director emphasized that “business for the sake of making a profit is never the way” and added that “the end result and decision-making based solely on numbers should not be the only metric to define whether our business or company is profitable.”

“Money is a tool, never an end,” she pointed out, emphasizing that the true measure of their success is what they can do for the community.

“Our business has always measured itself and its profitability by what we can do to continue to provide employment and stability in our neighborhoods. We do our best to provide/donate financial assistance to the local community, the Catholic Church, and on the global level,” Jiménez noted.

Being a successful business, Carnicerías Jiménez has managed to engage locally by donating financial and food assistance to charities, churches, and schools. In addition, it sponsors community events and offers educational programs and job training for disadvantaged groups.

Globally, the company — under the leadership of José Jiménez — has provided disaster relief, sending supplies to diverse regions such as Mexico, Central America, Haiti, and Puerto Rico, and helping to build schools, clinics, and homes in impoverished areas.

7. One last piece of advice: ‘Pray always; always pay attention to the words of Jesus.’

At the end of the interview, Jiménez emphasized to young people that the key to running a business with values ​​is to always remain in prayer: “Always pray; always pay attention to the words of Jesus, his teachings, and his example in everything we do in this life.”

She also emphasized the importance of cultivating both oneself and one’s employees, avoiding the temptation to exploit resources for financial gain alone. 

“Know that the quality of life you create, the quality of the work environment for yourself and your people will have a huge impact on the profitability of your efforts,” she explained.

Finally, Jiménez shared two quotes that have always accompanied her and sum up her philosophy of work and life:

• “No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence” — Martin Luther King Jr.

• “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” (“For the greater glory of God”), the motto of the Society of Jesus

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Cardinal Francis Arinze during the centenary celebrations of Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Rome in November 2024. / Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

Enugu, Nigeria, Nov 17, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Vatican-based Nigerian Church leader Cardinal Francis Arinze has urged priests to avoid lengthy homilies, saying a homily should not be an exhibition of “theological acrobatics” but rather a reflection of the priest’s prayer life and a clear, concise proclamation of the Gospel.

In his keynote address during the 12-day centenary celebrations of Nigeria’s Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Arinze emphasized the importance of priests delivering homilies that are deeply rooted in Scripture, liturgical texts, and sound theology. 

“A homily well prepared should last around 10 minutes. A university lecture of 45 minutes is for a different setting. A homily is not a display of theological acrobatics nor a harangue about money,” the cardinal said during a Nov. 13 event.

A homily, Arinze added, “is not an exposition of the local political climate nor a social disquisition on the economic hardships of the people. It should be the sharing of the prayer life of the priest for the past week in the presence of the Lord Jesus in the holy Eucharist.”

He explained that the major points of the homily are best put in writing and that the language of a homily should be clear — “not an admixture of English and the local language, nor an exhibition of the preacher’s ability to navigate in idioms.”

“A poor homily is an offense against the Word of God and against God’s people gathered to hear his word,” the cardinal said.

In his address titled “The Impact of Formations House on Education in Nigeria,” Arinze reflected on the priestly vocation and the role of seminaries in preparing future priests.

“It is expected that the seminary will train the future priest to be a good pastor of God’s people. He is the spiritual director of individual Catholics and of their associations … [h]is patient attendance at their meetings, where he delivers well-prepared addresses, is one of the ways in which he serves them,” the cardinal continued. “Lay leaders remain necessary according to the nature of each association. But the priest is their irreplaceable shepherd. As a good shepherd, he is neither in front nor behind his people; he is in their midst. As the pope would put it, he has the smell of the sheep.”

Arinze noted the alarming trend of young people drifting from the Catholic faith, turning instead to African traditional religions and other superstitions. 

“In many parts of our country, Nigeria, there is a lamentation that many young people today are rather poor in their knowledge of the Catholic faith. Many of them relapse into practices of the African traditional religion,” he said.

“They may engage in real idol worship; they believe in charms; they consult fortune tellers and some go so far as to kill even a relative in the hope that that will attract big money. It is not a surprise if such young people keep away from the sacraments.”

Arinze continued: “The problem is not solved by blaming the catechists for a job not well done. Some Nigerian dioceses have a remarkable increase in the number of their priests … Suppose such a diocese adopts the policy that a priest is to be the teacher of religion in every class in schools primary or secondary. It is not below the dignity of the priest to teach the young about God and religion. Moreover, the teenagers need answers to life’s challenges.”

“The seminary also has the role of preparing its [students] to be good preachers. A priest should be a convinced announcer of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.”

In his keynote address at the beginning of the 12-day centenary celebrations, Arinze reflected on the challenge of inculturation in the Catholic Church in Nigeria.

The cardinal pointed to ongoing efforts in the Church to respect local cultures, including the adoption of local names in baptism and hymns in Indigenous languages. 

However, he underscored the need for a more thorough and careful process of inculturation, involving bishops, theologians, and cultural experts. 

“For an element of culture to be inculturated, the bishops’ conference of the area or country in question has first to set up a multidisciplinary study commission of experts in theology, liturgy, scriptural studies, ethnology, psychology, and music. Such a high-powered commission will have to sift the many sides of an indicated custom or tradition and, if it considers it ripe, make recommendations to the bishops’ conference,” he said.

“Inculturation is very demanding on a local Church,” Arinze pointed out. “It is not a one-man affair. It is not the fruit of someone’s over-fertile imagination, which concocts an idea on Saturday evening and forces it down the throat of the innocent and unsuspecting Sunday Mass congregation the following morning.”

As Bigard Memorial Seminary enters its second century of formation, Arinze expressed gratitude for its successes, calling on future generations of seminarians and priests to continue the work of evangelization and faith integration. 

“Bigard Memorial Seminary has come a long way in 100 years in preparing clergy for evangelization. It has done a good job!” the cardinal said. “May the Lord of the harvest continue to bless and guide this respected alma mater of ours as it walks into its second century. May the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles, intercede for Bigard.” 

Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Enugu was founded in Onitsha in 1922 and officially opened in 1924. It was moved to its current location in 1951. It was named after benefactors Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, a French mother and daughter who were foundresses of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, who donated the funds for the main building.

In 1982, Pope John Paul II visited Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, the first Nigerian seminary to receive such a guest. 

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

Gilmour Street train station in Paisley, Scotland. / Credit: Lachlan1/Shutterstock

London, England, Nov 17, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The new president of the bishops of Scotland is taking the Church’s message to “the streets” by joining in the evangelistic efforts of a Scottish railway mission. 

Bishop John Keenan, who was announced as the new leader of the Church in Scotland on Nov. 4, recently participated in the mission of Rail Pastors in Inverclyde, Scotland. He told CNA: “It is the Church on the streets where the Spirit wants us to be and where we feel his unique presence in almost every encounter.”

Keenan defined the Rail Pastors’ mission as “creating a little bit of community and warmth” at train stations where he shared “the joy of the Gospel,” using the phrase popularized by Pope Francis in his 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. 

The Rail Pastors are familiar to many Scots, as they have been active in Scotland for a number of years and operate at train stations in Fife, Inverclyde, and Paisley. 

The group’s mission is “to listen, care, and help travelers who otherwise might feel a little unsafe, or needing a helpful person to chat to.” Easily recognizable in bright sky-blue uniforms, Rail Pastors send people to relevant agencies for further support and are urged to be on the lookout for people contemplating suicide. 

One Friday evening last month, Keenan, who is also the bishop of Paisley, joined an ecumenical team of Rail Pastors as an observer on the trains and stations from Port Glasgow to Wemyss Bay, and then Paisley to Greenock in the west of Scotland. 

Reflecting on the mission, he said: “Uniformed as Rail Pastors, they engaged passengers of all ages from teenagers to seniors creating a little bit of community and warmth on a dark and wet Scottish autumn night.” 

Mental health statistics among Scotland’s young people are concerning, with 1 in 6 young adults aged 18–34 having self-harmed. In addition, 76% of parents have reported that their child’s mental health deteriorated while waiting for professional mental health support.  

Keenan explained that he sees the Rail Pastors as offering “a safe and reassuring presence to the young people who appreciate this pastoral care even while they are making merry.” He was able to reach out to some young people who were “amazed” to see him operating as part of the Rail Pastors team.

“A group of teenage girls recognized me from my visit to their Catholic primary school, while they were preparing for the sacrament of confirmation, and we had a nice conversation,” the bishop recalled. “Another asked me to pray for her mum. They were amazed to see me engaging with them in this role.”

He added: “In the station bar, a young man recognized me and, as we got on the train and shared his journey home, he opened up about his faith and his parents’ deep Catholic convictions. Our meeting made his day, and he got off the train renewed in faith and spirit.”  

During the evening mission, Keenan also spoke to retired police officers, transport police officers, and rail safety officers. “By midnight we had been six hours out and about as salt, leaven, and light and, where the occasion allowed, sharing the joy of the Gospel,” he said. 

Rail Pastors team leader Chris Jewell said the team was “delighted” to be joined by the bishop. 

In Scotland, Keenan has emerged as a proponent of the new evangelization, which was championed by St. John Paul II and subsequent popes. Keenan is also well known for promoting the rosary and supporting Pope Francis’ rosary “marathon” for an end to the pandemic in 2021.

Pope Francis speaks at a Mass and canonization of 14 new saints in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

CNA Newsroom, Nov 16, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis wants dioceses worldwide to shine a spotlight on their “saints next door” every year on Nov. 9.

In a letter released by the Vatican in Italian on Saturday, the pope established an annual commemoration of saints, blessed, venerables, and servants of God in local dioceses worldwide, set to begin with the upcoming jubilee.

“I exhort particular Churches, starting from the upcoming 2025 Jubilee, to remember and honor these figures of holiness each year,” Pope Francis wrote.

The initiative aims to help Catholics around the world rediscover and maintain the memory of those extraordinary disciples of Christ who have witnessed the presence of the risen Lord and continue to guide the faithful in those dioceses today.

He signed the letter at St. John Lateran on Nov. 9, the feast day of the basilica’s dedication.

While the pontiff chose this feast day for the yearly remembrance, he emphasized that he was not adding another liturgical celebration to the Church calendar.

Instead, the pope explained, he called on local dioceses to promote appropriate initiatives outside the liturgy or recall these figures within it, such as during homilies.

Called to be holy

Pope Francis connected the initiative to his 2018 apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate on the universal call to holiness.

The 2018 letter emphasized how sanctity manifests in everyday life through various examples, including married couples living their faith while being open to life, young people following Jesus with enthusiasm, and religious living the evangelical counsels.

“We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case,” the pope wrote in his exhortation. “We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves.”

According to the letter released Saturday, episcopal conferences may develop pastoral guidelines for implementing this commemoration.

The Vatican expects millions of pilgrims to travel to Rome for the 2025 Jubilee Year but also renewed spiritual initiatives in dioceses across the globe.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​