‘He’s just Catholic’: Joliet voices speak on new NY archbishop Hicks

by Edward Desciak December 19, 2025December 19, 2025

“When it comes to the culture wars, I don’t think he is interested,” said Rev. Peter Wojcik. “He doesn’t have social media accounts. I think he’s just Catholic.”

Two women mourners pay their respects at a makeshift memorial at Bondi Pavilion Dec.15, 2025, to victims of a shooting during a Jewish holiday celebration at the beach in Sydney. Two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach Dec. 14, killing 15 people, including a child, officials said, in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation.

The Weekly Dispatch

After Bondi Beach, how safe is America from Islamic State terror?

by Kevin Clarke December 19, 2025January 16, 2026

The ISIS rampage at Bondi Beach in Australia highlights a phenomenon well known to counterterrorism experts: The holiday season also represents a period of heightened threat from extremist groups like the Islamic State.

A family from the first group of white South Africans granted refugee status for being deemed victims of racial discrimination under U.S. President Donald Trump's refugee plan attend a meet and greet event at Dulles International Airport in Virginia May 12, 2025.

Dispatches

Trump’s irresponsible talk about South Africa ‘white genocide’ stokes racial divisions

by Russell Pollitt, S.J. December 18, 2025January 15, 2026

President Donald Trump’s promotion of a erroneous narrative of white farmers being “killed and slaughtered” in a genocide in South Africa is contributing to racial tensions there.

Dispatches

Assisted suicide now legal in Illinois despite opposition from bishops, disability advocates

by Edward Desciak December 12, 2025January 15, 2026

Assisted dying has been legalized in many nations across the Western world, as choosing how to end one’s life has come to be seen by many as the final frontier of individual rights.

A combination photo shows Pope Leo XIV smiling as he greets visitors and pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sept. 10, 2025, and U.S. President Donald Trump smiling after arriving at the White House Feb. 22. Trump said in a Dec. 9 interview with Politico that he would be open to meeting with Pope Leo and responded to the U.S.-born pontiff's criticism of his immigration policy.

The Weekly Dispatch

What might Pope Leo make of Trump’s ‘America First’ National Security Strategy?

by Kevin Clarke December 11, 2025December 11, 2025

The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy is at odds with church teaching and Pope Leo’s priorities on the transatlantic alliance, climate change, immigration, arms production, nuclear weapons and more.

A sleeping newborn at Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem. The hospital delivers almost 4,000 babies each year and treats more than 500 each year at its neonatal clinic.

The Weekly Dispatch

Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem brings hope and help to West Bank Christians

by Kevin Clarke December 5, 2025December 5, 2025

Economic and political conditions for West Bank Christians have grown dire, but Holy Family Hospital remains a beacon of hope and faith.

St. Charbel Makhlouf is depicted in a mosaic at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

Dispatches

What to know about Lebanon’s beloved patron saint before Pope Leo’s visit

by Clotilde Bigot November 26, 2025November 26, 2025

Pope Leo will visit the monastery of St. Maron and the shrine of St. Charbel, Lebanon’s miracle-working unifier of Muslims, Druze and Christians.

Dispatches

Catholic food pantries adjust Thanksgiving deliveries to ICE deportation realities

by Edward Desciak November 26, 2025November 26, 2025

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach and ICE deportation efforts continue, Catholic parish food pantries are adapting to make sure immigrant community members have all they need to celebrate the holidays when they are afraid to leave their homes.