ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 5, 2026 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Every Jan. 5 the Church celebrates the feast of St. John Neumann, Redemptorist missionary, fourth bishop of the city of Philadelphia, and organizer of the first Catholic education network in the United States.

John Nepomucene Neumann was born in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic, in 1811. He attended school in Budweis and years later, in 1831, entered the seminary in that same city.

Upon completing his preparation for the priesthood, he presented himself to his diocese but suffered an unexpected setback. The local bishop had fallen ill and priestly ordinations in his diocese were suspended until further notice.

Neumann, eager to serve the Lord, wrote letters to the bishops of the neighboring dioceses, but none of them wanted to accept him. Despite the obstacles, the saint was not discouraged.

To earn his living, he went to work in a factory where he met a few Americans from whom he learned some English. Later, he contacted some bishops in the United States. Neumann had a missionary soul and was ready to move to America.

Priest and missionary in North America

The archbishop of New York agreed to receive and ordain Neumann, so he left his family and friends to embark on the adventure of proclaiming the Lord in a distant land. After being ordained in the U.S., Neumann joined 36 other priests who were to assist the almost 200,000 Catholics living in the U.S. at the time.

The newly ordained was entrusted with the administration of a parish. The first pastoral difficulty he faced was the vast territory entrusted to him: His parish stretched from Ontario, Canada, to Pennsylvania.

Given the immense need, Neumann spent most of his time visiting villages and towns. He had to cross inhospitable territories, walk long distances in extreme cold and sweltering heat, and trek high mountains and majestic landscapes — all in order to watch over his flock and to assist those in need.

These were long years of providing catechesis, administering the sacraments, and celebrating the Eucharist. It was common to see Neumann preach both in churches and in abandoned huts. He even preached outside taverns, refuges for impenitent souls.

Neumann often had to celebrate Mass in dining rooms and kitchens.

Redemptorist

With time and continued difficulties, the missionary priest discovered the need for the support of a religious community. He knew the Redemptorists well so he applied to join the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. When the time came, he took his vows at the congregation’s house in Baltimore in 1842.

Neumann was noted for his piety and kindness as well as his versatility in understanding and accompanying his parishioners, most of whom were European immigrants. Neumann knew up to six languages, so it was not difficult for him to communicate with Catholics who did not speak English well.

In 1847, he was appointed visitator of the Redemptorists in the United States. At the end of his service, the Redemptorists were ready to form an autonomous “province or religious province,” which became a reality in 1850.

Promoter of Catholic education in the U.S.

Neumann was then ordained bishop of Philadelphia, and from that city he organized the diocesan system of Catholic schools, becoming a great promoter of religious education in the country. He also founded the congregation of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, dedicated to teaching in schools, and was the promoter of the construction of more than 80 churches throughout the country.

Neumann was a simple man, short in stature and reportedly good-natured. Although he never had robust health, he carried out great pastoral and literary activity. He wrote many articles in magazines and newspapers, and published two catechisms and a history of the Bible for schoolchildren.

Once, in one of his articles, he wrote: “I have never regretted having dedicated myself to the mission in America.”

On Jan. 5, 1860, when he was just 48 years old, he suddenly collapsed in the street and went home to the Lord. He was beatified in 1963 and canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.

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

Vatican City, Jan 5, 2026 / 04:00 am (CNA).

More than 33.4 million pilgrims traveled to Rome to participate in the Jubilee of Hope, surpassing initial projections, the Vatican said Monday.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, said 33,475,369 pilgrims ultimately took part in the jubilee — nearly 2 million more than the Vatican’s initial estimate of 31.7 million.

He also said the final group to pass through the Holy Door on Monday will be staff from the Dicastery for Evangelization, the principal organizers of the holy year, at 5:30 p.m. local time.

The solemn closing of the holy year will take place Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. local time, when Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to close the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in a ceremony expected to be attended by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, civil authorities, and large numbers of faithful.

The Holy Door is scheduled to be opened again in eight years, in 2033, for the Jubilee of the Redemption.

In his assessment of the jubilee, Fisichella described the year as extraordinary in many respects and noted its unusual historical arc: The jubilee began under Pope Francis and concludes under Pope Leo XIV — a transition he said underscored the complexity of the organizational effort.

He also pointed to major events that unfolded alongside the jubilee calendar, including the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26 and the election of his successor, Leo XIV, on May 8, saying those developments were integrated into the jubilee schedule amid an exceptional succession of events.

Pilgrims from 185 countries

According to official Vatican data presented Monday, pilgrims from 185 countries took part in jubilee events. By geographic area, Europe accounted for 62.63% of participants, followed by North America (16.54%), South America (9.44%), and Asia (7.69%). The remaining pilgrims came from Oceania (1.14%), Central America and the Caribbean (1.04%), Africa (0.95%), and the Middle East (0.46%).

By country, Italy represented 36.34% of pilgrims, followed by the United States (12.57%) and Spain (6.23%). Other leading countries included Brazil (4.67%), Poland (3.69%), Germany (3.16%), the United Kingdom (2.81%), China (2.79%), Mexico (2.37%), and France (2.31%). The Vatican also recorded significant participation from Argentina, Canada, Portugal, Colombia, Australia, the Philippines, Slovakia, Indonesia, and Austria.

Fisichella said that beginning in May — around the time of Leo XIV’s election — Rome saw an unexpected increase in pilgrims, which he said was managed with close attention in a city that remained under international media focus throughout the year.

How the count was made

Fisichella said the initial projections were based on a study by the faculty of sociology at Roma Tre University and were intended as an early planning guide.

He said the primary count was made at St. Peter’s Basilica’s Holy Door, where a camera automatically recorded the number of pilgrims passing through each day.

For the other three papal basilicas — St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls — the Vatican applied percentages based on the flow recorded at St. Peter’s, supplemented by volunteer counts using manual clickers. Attendance at major jubilee events and audiences was also tracked and cross-checked with registrations made through the official jubilee website.

Rome mayor cites lasting legacy and spending

Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the Jubilee of Hope has left a lasting legacy for the city, both in infrastructure and in institutional governance, pointing to what he described as a “jubilee method” of sustained cooperation among public administrations.

Gualtieri said the jubilee program included 332 interventions, with 204 already completed or partially completed. He added that street works in Rome were about 90% finished, with the remaining 10% scheduled for completion in 2026.

He also said government funding specifically allocated for jubilee-related works totaled 1.725 billion euros ($2.02 billion). According to Gualtieri, 75% of those resources were used for interventions completed or partially completed, while spending for essential, nondeferrable interventions reached 90%.

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

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Jan 4, 2026 / 18:00 pm (CNA).

Catholic college athletes attending the SEEK 2026 conference in Columbus, Ohio, considered how holiness is built: Not through spotlight moments but through quiet sacrifice, daily fidelity, and offering what little they have to God.

Some 26,000 attendees have gathered through Jan. 5 in Columbus, Denver, and Fort Worth, Texas, for the conference organized by  FOCUS, a Catholic group that sends missionaries to college campuses and parishes to invite students and young adults to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The message about holiness anchored a Varsity Catholic event, a branch of FOCUS ministry for college athletes. The session featured Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams and recently retired Atlanta Braves pitcher J.J. Niekro, who shared personal stories of faith, perseverance, and the ways small sacrifices shape both athletics and spiritual life.

The event was sponsored by NOVUS, a Catholic athletic brand founded by brothers Garrett and Nick Bernardo, both of whom played baseball at the University of Maine. The company encourages athletes to push throughout their trials and “claim their crown,” inspired by James 1:12: the promise of a crown for those who remain faithful to God.

Unseen holiness

Williams, the primary speaker, reflected on the Gospel account of the widow’s offering from Mark 12:41-44 in which a poor widow gives two small coins while the wealthy contribute from their surplus.

“Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury,” Williams read. “Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small copper coins, worth a penny. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all the others. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.’”

He urged athletes to see their daily sacrifices as similar offerings — small, consistent acts of faith that may go unnoticed but have profound spiritual value. Drawing on his baseball experience, he compared Christian sacrifice to the often-overlooked fundamental of bunting, a play that advances the team without fanfare.

“Bunting is the ‘hardest easy’ thing to do on a baseball field,” Williams said. “As soon as that 95-mile-per-hour fastball comes at your face, every instinct says, ‘Bail.’ But if you set your angle and commit, you’ll get that bunt down.”

Williams connected that principle to daily prayer, fasting, and other small sacrifices. “You’re telling me all I have to do is wake up 15 to 20 minutes earlier and pray? That’s hard — but it’s pretty easy,” he told the audience. “As athletes, we understand sacrifice with training, practice, and busy schedules. But when we sacrifice for the Lord, we don’t always see an immediate return. That’s why it’s harder.”

He also highlighted saints who exemplified quiet heroism, including Blessed Miguel Pro, a Jesuit priest martyred in Mexico, and St. Carlo Acutis, a teenager who combined ordinary interests with extraordinary devotion.

“ St. Carlo loved video games,” Williams said, “but he made small sacrifices so he could pray and go to Mass. Small acts of love and sacrifice were offered by him daily.”

Williams emphasized that holiness often unfolds in unseen ways, much like the sacrifice bunt.

“No bunt I ever laid down was on ESPN highlights,” he said. “The game just moved on. But the runner advanced, and someone else got the RBI. There’s heroism in hidden moments!”

Priorities of faith

Niekro, who introduced Williams, shared a personal witness shaped by loss and faith. The son of Astros Hall of Famer Joe Niekro and nephew of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, he reflected on losing his father, uncle, and grandfather within months during his childhood.

“At a very young age, I was stripped of all the major father figures in my life,” Niekro said. “What I kept returning to was my Catholic faith — especially Ignatian spirituality.”

After years of injuries and surgeries, Niekro retired from professional baseball in August 2025. He credited his faith for giving him perspective on life and priorities. “My model for life became very simple,” he said. “Wake up and love Christ.”

He recalled a moment shared with his uncle, who was sick at the time, that reshaped his understanding of success.

“He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘J.J., I would trade my entire Hall of Fame career to spend one more hour with my family,’” Niekro said. 

Reflecting on Williams and Niekro’s talks, Garrett Bernardo said the event underscored the importance of helping athletes root their identity in Christ rather than in statistics or performance.

‘Don’t miss the sign’

“One of the biggest challenges to collegiate athletes is identity,” Bernardo said. “There’s a real temptation to believe that your performance determines who you are. But when you’re rooted in something constant — like knowing you’re a son or daughter of Christ — that provides great peace.”

Bernardo said bringing normally busy athletes together during SEEK offered a rare opportunity for encouragement and reflection. “When you can get everyone in a room together, share a message, and inspire one another, it’s really powerful,” he shared. “This experience has fueled me as a former college athlete, and I know it’s going to fuel them as well.”

For Williams, he expressed his hope for the students present that they would remember the widow’s offering and the metaphor of the “two pennies.”

“When you’re empty, let your prayer be simple,” he said. “Lord, all I have is two pennies. You have to do the rest.”

“Don’t miss the sign,” he added. “Just execute the bunt.”

The Epiphany of the Lord All the nations of the earth will adore the one King.  Christ blesses us as we close out the Christmas season.  The magi represent us as we are dismissed to go out to the rest of the world.

Jan 4, 2026 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Archbishop Samuel Kleda of the Archdiocese of Douala in Cameroon has outlined a moral and social vision for the Central African nation, calling for a change of hearts that would translate into forgiveness, unity, justice, and an end to violence.

Presiding over the New Year Mass in the courtyard of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral of his archdiocese on Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Kleda urged Cameroonians to begin the year by dismantling not only weapons of war but also the inner attitudes that fuel division and conflict.

In his homily, the archbishop framed peace as the defining task of 2026, insisting that it cannot be imposed by force or decrees.

“Peace cannot take root in society unless it first reigns in individual lives,” he said, calling for what he described as a profound conversion of hearts.

He urged the faithful to scrutinize their words and actions, warning that everyday behaviors can either build peace or deepen wounds.

Kleda appealed to Cameroonians to banish “bitterness, irritation, anger, scorn, insults, and all forms of wickedness,” and to replace them with generosity, tenderness, and forgiveness as the foundations of social renewal.

Rejecting violence as a false solution to Cameroon’s crises, the archbishop had a message for all who bear arms or justify armed conflict: “Let us destroy all weapons of war and stop fighting one another,” he said, warning that violence breeds only fear, terror, and death — never peace.

Reflecting on the struggles of the people of God in Cameroon, the Church leader said that many Cameroonians today lack what he called “peace of heart,” weighed down by economic hardship and social insecurity.

He listed some of the realities eroding hope, including youth unemployment, limited access to health care, food insecurity, shortages of water and electricity, prolonged pretrial detention, internal displacement caused by conflict, and widespread poverty, among others.

“Cameroon is a very rich country, yet many of our people feel forced to emigrate,” Kleda observed, describing the situation as a troubling paradox that demands serious reflection and urgent action.

He noted that insecurity, corruption, and injustice continue to undermine social cohesion and stall national development.

Still, Kleda sought to encourage those who feel overwhelmed by fear or discouragement.

“Every obstacle we encounter is a grace that helps us to grow,” he said, inviting Cameroonians to see even painful experiences as opportunities for transformation and solidarity.

Addressing the country’s ongoing conflicts, particularly in the North West, South West, and Far North regions, the archbishop issued a moral challenge to those who sustain or profit from violence.

He warned that anyone who deliberately fuels conflict will be judged “first by the court of history and then by the divine court” for the bloodshed of innocent people.

In his homily, the Catholic leader also pointed to signs of hope, praising the spirit of solidarity shown in Douala, where displaced persons fleeing violence have been welcomed. He said the city has opened its doors to those affected by conflict, receiving them “as brothers and sisters,” a gesture he presented as a living example of the Gospel in action.

Unity, he stressed, must become a guiding principle for Cameroon in the new year. Drawing on a familiar proverb, he said: “One hand alone cannot tie a bundle,” underscoring the need for collective effort and mutual support.

He clarified that true unity does not mean uniformity, but harmony rooted in diversity, likening it to the spirit of Pentecost rather than the confusion of the Tower of Babel.

Kleda emphasized reconciliation, reminding the people of God that restoring broken relationships takes precedence even over acts of worship. Quoting Scripture, he said: “If your brother has something against you, go first and be reconciled,” insisting that responsibility for peace does not lie only with the one perceived to be at fault.

Forgiveness, he insisted, must be generous and persistent. It is not a one-time gesture but a continuous commitment that must be renewed again and again. Forgiveness, he added, “must be offered not just once, but 70 times seven.”

Warning against hardened attitudes, Kleda said that “resentment, refusal to forgive, and hardened attitudes make peace impossible, reviving tensions and perpetuating conflict.” Genuine peace, he explained, “requires honest dialogue, acknowledgment of shared responsibility, and a sincere commitment to forgiveness and reconciliation.”

Turning to leadership and governance, he called on political and social leaders to take concrete responsibility for peace by responding to the real suffering of the population. He urged them to “leave their offices and engage directly with the daily realities of ordinary Cameroonians,” cautioning that indifference to suffering breeds despair and erodes public trust.

Peace, the archbishop insisted, cannot endure without justice and development. Condemning corruption as a grave injustice, he said the nation’s resources belong to “all Cameroonians, not a privileged few.”

He urged both leaders and citizens to “reject greed and to serve the common good, following the example of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve.”

At the start of 2026, the archbishop called on all Cameroonians to become servants of peace, willing to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the nation.

Entrusting the year to the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, he concluded his homily with a note of hope and prayer. “Let us commit ourselves to living this new year 2026 under the protection of the mother of Our Lord and our mother. If we walk with her in recourse to her intercession during this new year, her Son will fill us with his graces and his blessings,” he said.

This article was published by ACI Africa, CNA’s African news partner, and has been adapted for CNA.

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2026 / 05:20 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV said Christian hope “is not based on optimistic forecasts or human calculations” but on God’s decision to share humanity’s path so that no one is alone on life’s journey.

Speaking Jan. 4 from the window of the Apostolic Palace to hundreds of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square despite the rain, the pope said the foundation of Christian hope is “God’s Incarnation,” pointing to the day’s Gospel reading from the Prologue of St. John: “The Word became flesh and lived among us” (Jn 1:14).

On the second Sunday after Christmas, before reciting the Angelus, Leo urged believers to rethink their faith and avoid an abstract or distant spirituality. “He is not a distant deity in a perfect heaven above us, but a God who is nearby and inhabits our fragile earth, who becomes present in the faces of our brothers and sisters, and reveals himself in the circumstances of daily life,” he said.

The pope also underscored that the Incarnation calls for a concrete and consistent commitment, including examining whether one’s spirituality and the ways faith is expressed are “truly incarnate.”

“God has become flesh; therefore, there is no authentic worship of God without care for humanity,” he said, linking Christian faith to solidarity with those who suffer.

After the Angelus, Leo reiterated his closeness to those affected by the New Year’s Eve fire in a bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where young people had been celebrating. Swiss authorities have confirmed at least 40 dead and about 115 injured, many of them seriously.

“I wish to express once again my closeness to those suffering as a result of the tragedy in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and to assure them of my prayers for the young people who died, for the injured, and for their families,” the pope said.

He also said he was following developments in Venezuela “with deep concern” and that “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration.” His remarks came a day after news of the U.S. capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The pope urged that the country’s sovereignty and rule of law be guaranteed.

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

Jan 4, 2026 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Have you ever walked past a door and seen what appears to be random letters and numbers written at the top? These letters and numbers actually have a great significance.

Traditionally on the feast of Epiphany, Catholics bless their homes by writing the letters C, M, and B and the numbers of the year on either side — so this year it would look like “20+C+M+B+26.”

The letters stand for the traditional names of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. They also represent the Latin blessing “Christus mansionem benedicat,” which means “May Christ bless this house.”

Many Catholic parishes will give their parishioners a piece of chalk, a small bottle of holy water, and the words for the house blessing so that each family can bless its home.

Epiphany, which is also known as “Little Christmas,” is the feast that celebrates the arrival of the three Magi who came to worship the child Jesus shortly after his birth. It is traditionally celebrated on Jan. 6. However, the Church in the United States celebrates it on the Sunday between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8. Many around the world celebrate this feast with as much pomp and circumstance as Christmas, including the exchanging of gifts.

The blessing, which is popular in Poland and other Slavic countries, has spread around the world and become increasingly popular in the United States.

How do you bless your home?

Begin by having all family members gather outside the front door. All make the sign of the cross. One person will then read this prayer:

Leader: Peace be to this house.

All: And to all who dwell herein.

Leader: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of his burial.

(Enter your home and read the Magnificat, the hymn of praise sung by the Blessed Virgin Mary in Luke’s Gospel after being greeted by Elizabeth. During this, sprinkle the area you are in with holy water. After that is complete, pray:)

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of his burial.

Leader: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,

All: But deliver us from evil.

Leader: All they from Saba shall come

All: Bringing gold and frankincense.

Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry come unto thee.

Leader: Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know thee by faith may also attain the vision of thy glorious majesty. Through Christ, Our Lord.

All: Amen.

Leader: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee — Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.

All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.

Leader: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness, and mercy, the fulfillment of thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ, Our Lord.

All: Amen.

After the prayers are recited, walk throughout your home sprinkling each room with holy water. Then write the initials of the Magi connected with crosses at the top of your front door. Then the numbers of the year. The numbers will be split so that they are on each side of the initials. You will write:

20 + C + M + B + 26

This is a special tradition at the beginning of each year, a way to invite God into your home and place your family under his protection.

This story was first published Jan. 6, 2022, and was updated Jan. 2, 2026.