World Religions News

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Denver, Colorado, Dec 5, 2025 / 18:18 pm (CNA).

After receiving a letter of excommunication from the Vatican, the leader of a schismatic group in Colorado Springs told congregants he would ignore it — furthering the divide between the small splinter group and the Catholic Church.

Anthony Ward heads the Servants of the Holy Family, a group that labels itself as Catholic in spite of the Diocese of Colorado Springs’ declaration that the group is schismatic.  

In a 40-minute speech to his congregation in which he called Church authorities “a kangaroo court” of “heretics” and “freemasons,” Ward went public on Nov. 16 about his excommunication and his plans to continue ignoring the Catholic Church’s directives. 

During a secret ceremony in 2024, a bishop whose name was withheld at the time consecrated Ward as a bishop without papal permission.

In the Catholic Church, only the pope can appoint bishops. Consecrating a bishop without papal mandate is considered illicit and incurs an automatic “latae sententiae” excommunication for both parties.

During the meeting at the Servants’ chapel on Nov. 16, Ward told his congregation that the Catholic Church had made a declaration of excommunication against him due to what he described as “persistent, rebellious disobedience.”

Though excommunication is a “medicinal penalty” designed to urge an individual to repent, Ward has said he is “ignoring” the letter and will not be responding within the 30-day window given to him. 

Embracing the claims of the letter, Ward said he will continue to disobey, instead putting his loyalty toward what he called “the true Catholic faith.” 

“I have not and will not obey commands from the kangaroo court composed of heretics, schismatics, Freemasons, representatives of the most vile sinful perversions, enemies of the cross of Christ,” Ward told the congregation, “of whom the majority of bishops — particularly in this country — no longer believe in the real presence of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ in the Eucharist.”

The U.S. Catholic bishops recently led a yearslong Eucharistic Revival that centered on the Catholic belief that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ.

Despite the local Catholic diocese’s denouncement of the Servants, the group continues to hold Eucharistic celebrations and is recruiting minors as well as adult men to be trained as priests.

The Servants’ website advertises the group as “faithful to the Latin Mass” as well as to “Catholic doctrine and morals” and claims it is “endorsed by Catholic bishops worldwide.” 

Ward named Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu Lusaka, the African archbishop emeritus of Zambia, as the bishop who illicitly consecrated him, but the other bishops are not specified readily on the website. 

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Colorado Springs referred to the most recent public statement by Bishop James Golka in April 2024. 

Since 2013, the Diocese of Colorado Springs has publicly held that the Servants are “not in good standing” with the Church.   

Pointing to continued “obstinate ill will” by the Servants, Golka declared last year that Ward and other priests affiliated with the Servants “are not in good standing with the diocesan or the universal Catholic Church” and declared it “a schismatic group.” 

Pointing to canon law, Golka declared that its Eucharistic celebration “is illicit and a grave moral offense” and that its celebration of baptism “is illicit.” The bishop also declared celebrations of penance, the sacrament of matrimony, confirmation, and holy orders by this group to be invalid. 

Golka said it would be “an act of spiritual danger” for Catholics to attend celebrations led by the Servants and encouraged the faithful to pray for reconciliation. 

The Servants did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Joseph Karam (far left) arrived with his parents, his aunt and uncle, and a group of about 90 Lebanese-Americans from across the United States — all drawn by the significance of witnessing Pope Leo’s first international visit and experiencing it on Lebanese soil — for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Joseph Karam

ACI MENA, Dec 5, 2025 / 17:02 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has left Lebanon, but the imprint of his visit remains deeply etched across the country. 

The pontiff’s presence in the country from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 stirred something in everyone — from the elderly who have carried decades of Lebanon’s wounds, to the young whose hope has been wavering, to the thousands of foreign workers and migrant communities who quietly sustain daily life there.

For a few unforgettable days, Lebanon’s diverse people, citizens and immigrants alike, found themselves united by the same emotion: a renewed sense of dignity, consolation, and hope.

A revival for Lebanon’s youth

Among those deeply moved by the visit was Joseph Karam, a young Lebanese-American who traveled to Lebanon for the first time. Karam arrived with his parents, his aunt and uncle, and a group of about 90 Lebanese-Americans from across the United States — all drawn by the significance of witnessing Pope Leo’s first international visit and experiencing it on Lebanese soil.

For Karam, the encounter of the pope with the youth on Dec. 1 in the square of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké was especially meaningful. “It was very cool for me to meet the pope in Lebanon, especially since he’s American and I’m Lebanese-American,” he said. “I felt very connected to my roots and honored that he chose Lebanon for his first international visit.”

Karam said he believes the visit left a deep imprint on Lebanese everywhere, whether in the country or abroad. “Lebanese people have long been negatively impacted by war and political strife, so I think the pope wanted them to know they are heard and that they are an important part of the Church.”

He also reflected on the pope’s appeal for young Lebanese to remain and participate in rebuilding their homeland. For Karam — whose father emigrated to the U.S. in 1987 seeking a better future — the message comes with complexity. “It’s hard for me to tell people not to leave if they have the opportunity,” he said. “But coming to Lebanon for the first time, I was truly amazed by how strong the people are, how beautiful the country is, and how vibrant the faith is.”

Ultimately, he found himself aligned with the pope’s call. “I would tell the youth of Lebanon to work to build a better Lebanon for the future, so they can reach their full potential,” he said.

Karam’s experience echoed the hope many felt from abroad. But for those who stayed in Lebanon through its hardships, the gathering carried an even deeper weight. Among them was Adeline Khouri, a French-Lebanese woman who has chosen to stay in Lebanon despite the difficulties. “We, the youth of Lebanon, have been deeply demoralized. We are exhausted by instability, insecurity, and watching so many of our people leave the country. Our hope has been worn down,” she said. 

“This gathering felt like a reboot for my faith and my perseverance in Lebanon. Being seen, recognized, and affirmed for our faith gave us consolation, strength, and hope to persevere. This moment will remain forever as a beacon of hope reminding us to keep going when things get hard.”

She described the pope’s presence in profoundly spiritual terms. “I want people to understand that the pope’s presence, his consolation, and his moving words were like a kiss from the bridegroom Jesus to his beloved bride, the Church — a kiss of love, strength, and encouragement. It was as if he whispered: ‘Well done, faithful servant. Now enter your glorious time.’”

One of the moments that most clearly reflected the joy and excitement of the youth was when a young man named Karim ran toward the stage, managed to slip past the pope’s security, and knelt at the pope’s feet to kiss them. Speaking to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, right after the incident, Karim said he had a deep desire to get close to the pope and receive his blessing. He explained that he even handed the pope his scarf so that he could sign it — a moment he described as unforgettable.

A moment of joy for migrant workers

Lebanon’s migrant workers — who formed a strong and visibly joyful presence at the Mass on Dec. 2 with the pope, especially communities from Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and other countries — also felt deeply touched by the pope’s visit. 

Sonia, from Madagascar, has been living in Lebanon for seven years and described seeing Pope Leo as “a dream come true.” She said his presence brought “a ray of sunshine in a world with a lot of problems,” expressing how much hope and consolation the moment gave to workers who often live far from their families and carry heavy burdens in silence.

A group of women from the Philippines stood together with tears on their faces, expressing their happiness and their love for both the pope and Lebanon. One of them, who has not seen her husband and children in the Philippines since 2018, told us she video-called them as the popemobile passed so that they could share the moment with her. 

Standing among them was an Orthodox Ethiopian woman who said she had lit a candle ahead of the pope’s visit, praying that his trip would go smoothly and that he would bring her “happiness and joy.” For her, his presence was an answer to that simple prayer, a moment of light amid the challenges of everyday life.

Peacekeepers at the Mass

UNIFIL peacekeepers — the United Nations force tasked with helping maintain stability in southern Lebanon — were also present at the Mass with the pope in Beirut. Among them was Capt. Nicola Giuliano of the Italian Army, who described the moment as both a privilege and a reminder of the mission’s deeper purpose.

“I am here in Lebanon for the UNIFIL mission,” he told ACI MENA. “I had the opportunity and the privilege to take part in this meeting with the pope during his visit to Lebanon. It was a beautiful occasion because, especially in these lands that have been deeply affected by armed conflict, the presence of peace and serenity is essential, especially for the younger generations.”

He reflected on how witnessing the gathering reinforced the values peacekeepers try to uphold. “We see this every day, and it also reminds us of how fortunate we are to have the basic things in life, which we often take for granted,” he said. “These young people truly need this message, and I hope to bring this experience back with me to Italy, to my own country.”

Also present at the Mass were Indonesian members of UNIFIL, including Deddy Siahaan, the Deputy Commander. A Christian from a predominantly Muslim country, he described attending the Mass with Pope Leo as “an unforgettable moment” and “truly inspiring.” 

“His presence brought hope, comfort, and unity to the people of Lebanon during a difficult time,” he said. Reflecting on the pope’s repeated call for peace, Siahaan noted how deeply meaningful the message was for him as a peacekeeper entrusted with promoting stability.

In just a few days, Pope Leo rekindled something Lebanon had been losing: hope. His call for peace reached many hearts — young, old, local, foreign — uniting a country desperate for light.

Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Gehry designed concert halls, museums, academic buildings and public spaces that shifted how people talked about architecture, Los Angeles and sometimes city planning itself.

The post Frank Gehry, Architect Who Changed Skylines, Dies at 96 appeared first on Jewish Journal.

(RNS) — Oliver Ortega, a doctoral English student at the University of Notre Dame, said he began attending Mass regularly after arriving on campus, immersing himself in a faith he held only loosely while growing up in Queens, New York. “ I’ve become more Catholic, I think, in large part because of being here,” he says.

But at Notre Dame, Ortega said he has spent less time investing in his Latino identity. At Northwestern University, where he was an undergraduate, he was part of a robust community of Latino students.

Sixty percent of Catholics under 18 identify as Hispanic, but Latinos are underrepresented at Catholic universities. Latinos are also a minority among campus ministers and make up less than 10% of theology students. Experts worry that this lack of access will mean fewer Latinos becoming priests, sisters and others serving the church, even as the church works to transform its institutions to reflect its changing demographics.

Liza Manjarrez, senior associate director of campus ministry at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, said Latino ministers were rare in the Catholic spaces she knew growing up and at the Catholic schools where she earned her bachelor’s degree and two master’s. When she came to St. Edward’s, where about half the students are Latino, in 2008, Manjarrez was “really intentional” about promoting “Latinx leadership on campus in a variety of different ways, but particularly within the church, within trying to create new leadership in the church universal.”

“ My goal for ministry in general is that it represents what the church looks like, and the church is becoming more and more Latinx, more and more Latino,” said Manjarrez.

That doesn’t mean they are Catholic. Among the Latinos who attended last year’s Las Posadas, some said they were evangelical Protestants or had a casual relationship with faith. Manjarrez said that her office can’t presume that any two students speak the same languages at home, hail from the same country of origin or have the same economic resources. Campus ministers must be as ready to bless a student’s horned lizard as they are to prepare students for Catholic confirmation.

Colleges across the country are developing ministry programs to support Latino students. At Dominican University in Chicago, where nearly 7 in 10 students are Hispanic, a 7-year-old series of conferences called ¡El Futuro is Here! draws campus ministers, faculty, staff, administrators and Latino students from across the U.S. to share best practices for including and celebrating Latino students.

In 2022, with a nearly $1.5 million grant from the Lilly Foundation, Dominican launched the PASOS network to help Catholic universities develop culturally responsive campus ministries for Latino students. It has commissioned Springtide Research Institute to conduct a study on the topic, held workshops and presentations and partnered on a summer theology program for undergraduates. It also created an undergraduate theology and arts journal called Nepantla.

Armando Guerrero Estrada, the director of PASOS, said Latino students who have attended its conferences say “they just wanted to be heard. They just wanted to be seen, and they wanted to be included in the decision-making of their campus ministries.”

Many Latinos grow up translating for their parents, caring for siblings or taking on jobs, Guerrero Estrada said. “They’re coming (to) us with all of these different leadership skills that they’ve learned throughout their lives, and now  they’re being presented with opportunities to “desarrollar,” or develop, those leadership skills for organizational purposes or for social justice purposes.”

Many Latino students are commuters who juggle paid work and family responsibilities in addition to their studies. “ How can we do spiritual development, spiritual formation without intruding on their necessity to take on a shift to pay for tuition or to help at home?” said Andrew Mercado, director of university ministry at Dominican.

At Dominican, campus ministers look for time with overscheduled students during breaks between classes instead of at night. At St. Edward’s, Manjarrez supports students who are questioning whether they should drop out to financially support their immigrant parents who are at risk under the Trump administration’s mass-deportation campaign or facing other hardships.

Manjarrez said that she prays for them and listens to them. “ I’m just a sower of the seed, right? I’m not the master builder. I am not the master gardener. I can only do what I’m able to do. And then ultimately, I also have to leave it in the hands of God.”

Campus ministers say they often have to overcome students’ negative experiences with the church. Guerrero Estrada said that “ in my conversations with students who come into my office, it’s really helping them understand that the church is much larger than some of the experiences that they’ve had with institutional members who have been maybe negative when it comes to issues of LGBTQ acceptance.”

Sister Christin Tomy, a member of the Sinsinawa Dominican order who joined the university’s ministry team in 2024, said non-Latinos can be involved in culturally responsive campus ministry. One key for her, she said, has been to recognize the importance of hospitality to Latino students. Many have stepped forward to intern with the ministry to make others feel welcome and show students they can be themselves.

“ At the beginning I felt like, who am I to come in and be the recipient of such a welcome and such hospitality?” Tomy said. But then she realized, “that is foundational to the mutuality of this relationship.”

Evelyn Acosta Celestino, who interns in the campus ministry office, found its canoeing and camping retreats not only gave her a break from the stresses of college, but also allowed her to reconnect with her faith. “That’s when I really felt that sense of community, that sense of ‘Hey, we’re here for you,’” she said.

The education at Dominican can also make Latino students feel empowered. Mercado said Latino students, many of whom have never been exposed to Latino theologians, can “immerse themselves in the history and the richness of Hispanic Catholicism in the U.S. and the contributions of Latinos in the U.S. Catholic Church.”

Mercado said he has witnessed a transformation when students see that “ my background and my realities as a Latino, as a Latina in the U.S., enriches the Catholic church.”

Viviana Soria, who transferred to Dominican from community college this fall to study theology, has been soaking up all of the opportunities for “nerding out” in theology classes. “All of my theology courses have really reignited my passion for learning and ministry,” said Soria, a campus ministry volunteer who said she feels a call to Latino youth ministry. A recent conversation about gender, migration and the Bible, she said, had helped her explore her identity as a Latina and connect that to her faith.

But some of the most powerful work campus ministers do is to show students that their Latino culture and faith have a place on campus. At Dominican, accompanying students has included praying the rosary bilingually with them, attending Eucharistic adoration and marking Dia de los Muertos, Three Kings Day, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and other celebrations important to Latino cultures.

@religionnews Across three Catholic universities in New York, students share their stories and how faith shapes their campus life. Watch the full video at religionnews.com Produced by Fiona Murphy #religionnews #catholicuniversity #catholicism ♬ original sound – RNS

As Christmas approaches each year at St. Edward’s, Manjarrez leads students of all backgrounds in the Latino Advent tradition of Las Posadas, reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging before Jesus’ birth, as they start with prayer and carols from a hill with a view of the Austin skyline and move through campus.

“ We’re just trying to get them in the door to come to church. We’re just trying to remind them we’re still here,” said Manjarrez. 

Editor’s note: Religion News Service receives financial support from the Lilly Foundation.

Grand prize-winning piece by Janielle Perez is on display at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., until Jan. 11, 2026. Perez is a student at Resurrection Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. / Credit: Tessa Gervasini/CNA

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 16:08 pm (CNA).

Children across the U.S. received awards for their artwork portraying the Nativity of Jesus in Washington, D.C.

“Through their creativity, they have beautifully expressed the story of Christ’s humble beginning and what it means to be young missionary disciples,” said Alixandra Holden, director of the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA), one of four Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S., at a Dec. 5 awards ceremony.

MCA’s mission is “to help children grow in faith by teaching them to pray and sacrifice for other children around the world.” Since 1933, the organization has encouraged children to evangelize by depicting the Nativity of Jesus.

The organization started the MCA National Christmas Artwork Contest, inviting participation of young Catholic artists. The hope is to help young people meditate on the mystery of Christ’s birth and share their gifts with the world during Advent, according to MCA.

A piece of art can “speak a thousand words,” Holden said. “Each one of them is a testament to our faith, whether it’s created by pencil, marker, or paint. Every stroke is a proclamation of the good news in their art classrooms, in their schools, and in their parishes. And wherever their lives take them, their God-given talents can continue to share Christ’s love with the world.”

The winners “were chosen from thousands and thousands of entries submitted from all across the country,” Holden said at the awards ceremony at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Participants from dioceses spanning over a dozen states won national awards. Of the 24 winners, 14 children attended the awards ceremony. 

This year’s two grand-prize winners were Janielle Perez, a student at Resurrection Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Diana Uytingco, a student at St. Andrew Catholic School in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.

Their artwork will appear on the official Christmas cards of the Pontifical Mission Societies, sent to thousands of recipients, including Pope Leo XIV. The card to the Holy Father will include a handwritten message on behalf of all the children who participated in the contest.

The artwork also will remain on display at the National Shrine until Jan. 11. 

Importance of family 

The art is a “celebration of the children,” said Monsignor Vito Buonanno, associate rector of the National Shrine, at the event. He detailed “the great gifts that God has given us through them.” 

“What is wonderful about this Pontifical Society is that it acknowledges the gifts of the children,” Buonanno said. “We think, ‘What can children do to help the missions?’ They can do an awful lot. This is just one of the things that they can do. But it is the experience of what family is.”

When meditating on the Nativity during the Advent and Christmas seasons, “remember how important family is,” Buonanno said. “The sacrifices that we make for family … are worth it because that is what keeps going, it’s our identity. It’s this identity that we discover and that we have. So we celebrate that.”

“Most especially, we celebrate it at the most important thing we do as Catholic people, as Christians. We celebrate it in the Mass. That’s where we are truly experiencing what it means to be one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.”

“It’s God who puts it all together to make us know that we can persevere and experience the love of what it means that a God Almighty became one of us,” Buonanno said. “God, he became one of us. Why? To show us the way to the Father.”

Instead of contorting ourselves trying to defend Zionism when its popularity is at a low point, it’s more effective to call out the hypocrisy of all those who claim to care for the Palestinian cause.

The post Antizionists Aren’t Just Hurting Jews– They’re Hurting Palestinians appeared first on Jewish Journal.

LONDON (RNS) — In the heart of the city, on one of its most iconic streets, the side of a small, Baroque-style church has recently been draped in a shimmering curtain that casts a lavender-like hue at night.

The dramatic installation, titled “Decades,” by the Manchester artist Louise Giovanelli, is intended to draw attention to St Mary le Strand, a 300 year-old church that until a few years ago had been considered moribund.

Like an actor standing behind a curtain, ready to perform, the church is now in the process of revealing its latest act.

“The reason we wanted to do the artwork is actually just to draw people’s attention to the building and make people look again,” said the Rev. Peter Babington, the priest in charge of St Mary le Strand. “This is not a closed, redundant building, but there’s something exciting and interesting happening, and it’s a way of generating interest.”

For years, the Anglican church had sat on a tiny island in the middle of the Strand between two lanes of traffic. Cab drivers called it “St Mary in the way.” Designed by the renowned Scottish architect James Gibbs, the church had turned ashen from soot and diesel fumes and was dwarfed by the many cultural institutions that had grown up around it: King’s College London, Somerset House, a cultural events space, The Courtauld Gallery and, off a bit, the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Three years ago, a short stretch of the Strand was redeveloped into a pedestrian walkway with benches and patches of grass. It gave the church, where attendance had been falling for decades, a chance at a new start. St Mary le Strand is now in the process of raising 12.6 million pounds (or $16.7 million) to renovate the building, repair the exterior stonework, add an accessible entry and a lower-level community space, install a new heating and cooling system and update the lighting.

The church is also dedicating itself to a new mission: remaining a place of worship, but also introducing itself as a public space for art, culture and creativity.

The church plans to host art installations, concerts and other events to better integrate into the creative environment of which it is a part.

Many of the UK’s 20,000 church buildings have fallen into disrepair, according to a survey by the National Churches Trust, which estimates that 1 in 20 will likely shutter by 2030.

But some have found new life as they reimagine themselves for new missions to meet the needs of the times.

St Martin-in-the-Fields, at the edge of London’s Trafalgar Square was also designed by Gibbs and is now known not only as a Church of England place of worship, but also for its near-daily live music events including classical chamber music, musicals and jazz performances. Additionally, it’s known for its mission of helping unhoused people with grants for housing, health care and mental health support.

The Rev. Sam Wells, vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, identified four key areas of the church’s mission: culture, compassion, congregational life and commerce. The focus on culture, he said, is a critical piece where “the church finds God at work,” and he encourages other churches to fully embrace that calling.

“It’s not saying you have to go to church to be touched by the Holy Spirit,” Wells said. “It’s saying that the Holy Spirit is working through the artist or the installation. It’s a mindset that’s infectious. People feel inspired that the Holy Spirit can work through them, too, and that they can be creative, and then they can do something that might end up being exhibited. They start to feel a sense of belonging, as though this is a place that’s honored their work.”

St Mary le Strand is significantly smaller than St Martin-in-the-Fields. It seats only 120 people. But Babington, who was appointed to lead the church shortly before it became part of the pedestrian walkway, said he was excited about its potential.

Last year, the church partnered with King’s College London and The Courtauld art gallery to mount an exhibit of large scale chalk and charcoal portraits of 50 Londoners who were displaced from their homelands. The exhibit, by artist Es Devlin, titled “Congregation,” was a sculptural collective portrait that worked well inside the church and gave the church confidence in its new direction.

“We’ve gone from having 2,000 visitors a year to 43,000,” Babington said.

The church, which lies in Westminster, an area of London, could not pay for the current installation on its own. So when the Westminster City Council approached St Mary le Strand about the artwork, it was delighted to serve as host.

The curtain enveloping the church is made of PVC mesh, a strong, open weave that allows air and light through. It gives it a translucent quality that allows glimmers of the stone work to peek through. The installation is supported by scaffolding, with arched window cutouts of the church windows.

Babington said the installation is a trial run for when renovation begins and the building is scaffolded for an even longer time. (“Decades” will stay up until Jan. 18, 2026.)

The church has secured about half the 12.6 million pounds it needs to begin the restoration, mostly from grants, and has hired a fundraiser to help achieve its goal. It has a small congregation of about 400 people, as few live in the vicinity. Its future lies with the relationships it fosters with the cultural institutions and the people who work there.

“Art doesn’t just have to be a medium for our message, like in a stained-glass window telling a Bible story,” Babington said. “It can actually be a bit more subtle than that, especially in a more secular, multi-faith world, or city, like London. I think it’s quite good for us to be doing something which is just an invitation to look.”