Perhaps it is time to leave the great ennui of weariness and anxiety. Wisdom Wednesday begins this week – not with the perpetuity of crisis, of which we have plenty, but with hope and human kindness. A video shows a crying elderly man approaching the altar — prompting the priest to interrupt the Eucharistic Prayer and give him a hug; it went viral in Brazil. The sainthood cause for Servant of God Thea Bowman is moving forward; a judge quotes Scripture as he releases a little boy and his father from immigrant detention; Pope Leo moves into the attic above the Apostolic Palace. Cardinal Cupich’s team advances in U.S. hierarchy, and we celebrate Black History Month.
Black History Month
It has been 50 years federally recognized and 100 years strong in purpose, beginning as “Negro History Week” in 1926. Baptist News Global says it began as “a bold, scholarly and affirming act — designed to ensure Black contributions never again would be erased from the American story.” Writer Edmond W. Davis is a social historian, international journalist, assistant professor and founder of the National HBCU Black Wall Street Career Fest.
The Diocese of Jackson will soon hold a closing ceremony for the diocesan phase of the sainthood cause for Servant of God Thea Bowman, the Mississippi religious sister who helped lead the Black Catholic Movement. Bishop Joseph Kopacz will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving during Black History Month at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Monday, Feb. 9, marking the transition to the Roman Phase, which could soon see Bowman named “Venerable” by the pope.
A listing of Black History Month events from parishes, schools, and national organizations around the country is provided by Black Catholic Messenger – including the “Taking Courage through Prayer, Study, and Action” webinar on Servant of God Thea Bowman with Pax Christi USA and Michael Howard, Feb. 9.
Black Catholics shine at 2026 Grammy Awards. “Real musicians” Jon Batiste, Cynthia Erivo, and FKA Twigs were big winners on music’s biggest night, along with several honorees in non-competitive categories. From Black Catholic Messenger.
BOOK REVIEW. The quest for a Black frontier world. Writer Caleb Gayle tells the story of Edward McCabe, who sought to establish a Black state in the American West, in the Christian Century.
Cupich: Milwaukee to Omaha to Cincinnati to New York
At an upcoming Mass in Manhattan, Bishop Ronald Hicks will become the 11th archbishop of New York. But during the Feb. 6 installation in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Chicago native will also become the fourth former deputy of Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich to be named to a major American see in just the past 13 months. We offer two items from the National Catholic Register, the installation point-up and a review of Big Apple history.
Pope moves into the palace ‘attic’
Nearly nine months after his election, Pope Leo XIV is finally moving home. But, perhaps taking a page from his predecessor, he will not reside in the traditional papal apartment that has housed most modern popes since 1870. National Catholic Reporter says the new quarters are in an “attic” above the Terza Loggia, the top floor of the Apostolic Palace.
Mass celebration pauses for a hug
A video shows a crying elderly man, who had just learned of his son’s suicide, approaching the altar during Mass in Brazil. The priest is prompted to interrupt the Eucharistic Prayer to give the man a hug. The video went viral, moving millions of viewers. Our story from National Catholic Reporter.
Judge cites Gospel verses in releasing Liam
Little Liam Conejo Ramos and his father have been released from immigrant detention by a judge who cited Scripture. “Let the children come to me” references Jesus Christ’s words of rebuke to his disciples in Matthew 19:14. The second verse, John 11:35, recalls Jesus’ reaction on seeing the tomb of Lazarus: “And Jesus wept.”
Decision: Trump or the Gospel
OPINION: Catholics must decide if they serve Donald Trump or the Gospel. National Catholic Reporter’s John Grosso says, “In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus famously proclaimed, ‘No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.’” As the country continues to reel from the fallout over the shooting of Alex Pretti, Catholics are making it clear who they are choosing to serve. It isn’t always Jesus.
Traditionalist Catholic society defies Pope Leo
Justin McLellan, National Catholic Reporter says a traditionalist Catholic society whose founder was excommunicated during the pontificate of St. John Paul II has announced plans to ordain new bishops without Vatican approval. It tests how Pope Leo XIV will respond.
Hoping for ‘a reasonable teaching’ on contraception
A New Philippine bishop said he wished the Church would ‘come up with a reasonable teaching’ on contraception. Pope Leo has appointed Father Cyril Villareal as the bishop of Kalibo. In his 2011 thesis for the magister theologiae degree from the University of Vienna, Father Villareal asked, “Can the Church not update her teaching on sexual morality in the light of the vast changes that have affected our society?” From the Catholic Culture website.
Assisted suicide in Illinois
The Illinois “End-of-Life Options Act” — signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker in December — codifies physician-assisted suicide as a recognized medical option for terminally ill adult Illinois residents expected to die within six months, permitting them to obtain and self-administer a lethal prescription. Writer Fr. Enzo Del Brocco is a Passionist priest and scholar who currently serves as president of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, writing in National Catholic Reporter.
Legatus speaker: Faith and Espionage
A former CIA spy says Faith and Espionage can coexist. James Olson said the ordinary lifestyle of a spy involves ‘living a lie.’ He and his wife, Meredith, worked overseas as CIA operatives and protected their cover by constantly lying, even to their own children. From National Catholic Register.
ICE, etc.
The cruelty of U.S. immigration enforcement operations can be counted in rising body counts, attacks against children and families and in the dehumanizing rhetoric federal officials are using toward immigrants and American citizens, according a report by an immigrant rights organization. Our report from Baptist News Global on the 20 times ICE and CBP shot civilians.
Franklin Graham blames Renee Good, urges prayer for Trump team. America needs to repent of its sin and pray for Donald Trump and Kristi Noem and Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard, according to evangelist Franklin Graham. In a Jan. 14 interview on CBN, (before the Pretti shooting), Graham praised the Trump administration as agents of God’s work and saying Renee Good was killed because she didn’t follow orders. Report from Baptist News Global.
“These are not law enforcement tactics.” The Trump administration is endangering the very American communities it claims to be protecting through drastic immigration enforcement efforts, a Southern law enforcement official said. Baptist News Global quotes a North Carolina local sheriff: “Our role is to keep our communities safe, and what we’re witnessing all across this country, and certainly in Minneapolis, is ripping away at that trust and making it more difficult for me to do my job.”
The faithful should “ask God’s grace and God’s presence as we address very difficult and challenging situations on the ground,” Archbishop Paul Coakley said regarding immigration issues. From EWTN.
Consecrated women and men
Pope Leo XIV tells religious: Be ‘leaven of peace’ and a ‘sign of hope.’ The pontiff urged consecrated men and women to witness to God’s presence in a world where faith and daily life often drift apart. From EWTN.
National Catholic Reporter says, “In Africa, religious sisters step in as climate crisis deepens for the poorest.” Included, a mother of four says, “This land used to feed us . . . . Now it barely allows us to survive.”
Religion, not income, predicts American vote
Ryan P. Burge, a professor at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University, publishes Graphs about Religion, and comments that for voters, “socioeconomic status barely matters once you know someone’s religious tradition.” Burge says Hindus report the highest income of any tradition; also of high income are three branches of Judaism, Episcopalians and members of the PCUSA.
About American Muslims
Two Republican members of Congress have called for Muslims to be expelled from America. They claim Islam is incompatible with American culture and government and does not deserve Constitutional protection. “Islam is not a religion,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama in a post on X. “It’s a cult.” From Baptist News Global.
The West’s understanding of Islam has been shaped by centuries of superficial, deeply biased Christian teaching. From the Christian Century.
Justice Bulletin Board
Barbara Molinari Quinby reflects on world and American hunger, and adds: “Catholic social teaching tells us that after charity comes solidarity, relationship. Relationship leads to advocacy for just changes because bonds with those on the margins help us become the ‘light of the world.’”
A Candlemas comeback
With its rich, centuries-filled plethora of devotions, the use of candles and statues of the Baby Jesus, Candlemas is making a comeback, according to an item from National Catholic Register.
Oliver of Malmesbury’s Comet?
New research suggests Halley’s Comet was identified by an 11th-century monk. While Edmond Halley is credited as the first to determine that the comet that bears his name reappears cyclically, new research indicates that a medieval monk may have first noted the pattern. From EWTN.
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