A Look Back at 2025

The Year 2025 was declared by Pope Francis as a “Jubilee Year.”  Special Jubilee Year Indulgences are offered to the faithful by visiting holy sites and shrines in Rome this year and performing the spiritual acts required for the indulgence, ie. Confession, Eucharist, detachment from sin, and praying for the intentions of the Pope.  These shrines include the four Jubilee Pilgrimage Basilicas of Saint Peter, Saint John Lateran, Saint Paul Outside the Walls and Mary Major.   For those unable to make the Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome, Dioceses around the world set up their own Jubilee Pilgrimage Sites in which the faithful may obtain the Jubilee Year Indulgences just the same as if they had visited Rome.  The Jubilee Year officially closes on 6 January 2026 with the closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday of this year.  He had served as Pope since 2013.  Pope Francis led a life dedicated to the service of God, the Church and the poor.  As Pope, he took some controversial actions and periodically steered the Church in directions that caused much concern amongst traditional Catholics.  

Following the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as Pope on 8 May 2025 and took the name Leo XIV.  A native of Chicago, Illinois and former Prior General of the Augustinian Order, Pope Leo XIV is the first American to serve as Pope.  

On 17 March 2025, the Most Reverend Joseph Williams was installed as the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey.  He had been serving as Coadjutor Bishop for the Camden Diocese since 21 May 2024 and had been Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis prior to that.   He succeeds Bishop Dennis Sullivan who had served as Bishop of Camden since 2013 and played a lamentable role in Pope Francis’s removal of Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas in 2023.

Monsignor James Tracey of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, died on 23 April 2025 at the age of 88.  He had served as a priest of the Camden Diocese for over 64 years and had been a retired priest in residence at my parish.  He had a soft-spoken manner and a most loving pastoral heart. 

My daughter graduated from high school and began college this past fall.  She immediately became involved with her college’s Catholic Campus Ministry.  Catholic Campus Ministry is run by a friend of my wife’s, Kari.  CCM has an amazing group of young Catholic adults who are very strong in their faith and lovingly devoted to Our Lord.  

Carlo Acutis was canonized by Pope Leo XIV on 7 September 2025.  Saint Carlo had an intense and loving devotion to the Holy Eucharist.  He died of cancer at age fifteen and is the first Millennial Saint.   His canonization was originally scheduled for 27 April 2025 but was delayed by the passing of Pope Francis.  

Islamic Jihadists continue to periodically murder and kidnap Christians in Nigeria, including priests, members of religious orders and school children.  World leaders need to take more vigorous action to protect Nigerian Christians and all persons from religious persecution.

On 1 November 2025, Pope Leo XIV declared St. John Henry Newman to be a “Doctor of the Church,” a distinguished honor that recognizes his contributions to theology and his devotion to the Church.  This is an honor that has been bestowed on only thirty-seven other Catholic saints.  

In early November, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a document entitled Mater Populi Fidelis (Doctrinal Note on Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary’s Cooperation in the Work of Salvation) in which they sought to clarify the use of the titles of Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix and Mediatrix of All Graces for Our Blessed Mother.   In short, the Dicastry has declared that the use of Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix of All Graces for Our Blessed Mother is inappropriate and that the faithful should exercise caution and prudence in using the title Mediatrix for Our Blessed Mother.  

In November 2025, Father Cadmus Mazzarella celebrated the 40^th Anniversary of his Ordination to the priesthood.  Father Maz has served the Diocese of Camden in many ways including as Director of Vocations.  I first met Father Maz in my senior year of college when he became the Director of the Newman Center at my college.  A priest of extraordinary holiness, Father Maz is a devoted friend and spiritual mentor.   Along with my parents, Father Maz has been the most influential person in my life.  Congratulations Father Maz!

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 and so has submitted his resignation to Pope Leo XIV. For sixteen years, Cardinal Dolan has faithfully shepherded one of America’s largest and most important archdioceses.   The Pope accepted his resignation and has named Bishop Ronald Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois to succeed him. 

As we close out the year 2025, I reflect back on the many graces and blessings that God has bestowed upon His Church and on my family and I.  I offer my heartfelt thanks to Him and I ask for His continued blessings on us all in 2026.