COVER STORY: The inspiring story of a Paris church that met life-and-death challenges with grace and creativity

In a century and a half, St. Joseph’s confronted many of the big questions congregations are facing today

COVER STORY—Over the past two years, veteran journalist Bill Mitchell has worked with our publishing house to complete the landmark history of The National Catholic Reporter (NCR), titled Beacon of Justice, Community, and Hope. We were inspired to publish that book because NCR’s many challenges and creative solutions over the past 60 years are relevant today.

In this week’s ReadTheSpirit Cover Story, Bill is recommending another very timely history, Faith, Hope and Paris: English-Speaking Catholics in Turbulent France. You’ll find lots of contemporary questions sprinkled through Bill’s overview of Tom Heneghan’s book—plus there’s a fascinating photo gallery at the end of Bill’s story.

If you enjoy this cover story, please share it with friends via social media or email, this week.

.

..

Holidays & Festivals

Are you ready for Valentine’s Day?

Did you know we’re spending $27.5 billion this year?

HOLIDAYS EXPERT Stephanie Fenton has lots of news about this big day! Of course, that includes helpful links. Regular readers tell us that they particularly enjoy the way Stephanie’s columns often serve as gateways to more information about upcoming observances. This time, she’s found several “best gift” guides online, plus a special letter to couples from Pope Francis and delicious holiday recipes, as well.

.

.

Prayag Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest peaceful gathering.

Stephanie Fenton also reports on the complex issues involved in this Hindu gathering that already has topped 100 million people and is expected to continue growing before it ends in late February.

 

.

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

.

..

From our writers—

Meet Christy Berghoef

Spiritual practices can bring solace in troubled times

Christy Berghoef is a writer, speaker, scholar and worship leader based in Michigan whose upcoming book is called, Rooted: A Memoir of Homecoming, and will be published by Reformed Journal Books this spring. We are recommending that our readers get to know Christy’s work right now—because all of us can use the kind of spiritual solace that she is offering.

This link will take you to Christy’s website for a 5-minute video and a short column titled, “Divine Pulse.” She describes this as “the first meditative video in a series based on my upcoming book, Rooted.”

Stay tuned to ReadTheSpirit magazine for news about Christy’s columns—and her new book. If you haven’t already signed up for our free weekly newsletter, please use the green button in the upper-right corner of our front page to get those newsy emails.

.

.

Stumbling over theology

2 perspectives on VP Vance’s preaching

THANKS TO our contributing columnist Ann Worley for alerting us to a couple of perspectives on Vice President Vance’s recent well-publicized pronouncements about how he believes Christian teaching undergirds the new policies in Washington D.C. Americans certainly are free to hold—and to talk about—their own religious beliefs but the Vice President’s claims about enjoying political support from Christian tradition have sparked critiques by both Protestants and Catholics.

From Baptist News Global: Headline “Theologians push back on JD Vance’s view of ‘ordered love’”

From The National Catholic Reporter: Headline “Vance wades into public theology. He is in over his head.”

.

.

Faith & Film

Honoring Black History Month

Click on the movie poster to read Ed McNulty’s review of this film, directed by Ryan Coogler.

4 Thought-Provoking Films by Ryan Coogler

Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, much like the ongoing Roger Ebert website, we will continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work an sometimes by welcoming other writers.

THIS WEEK, we are recommending links to four great films by director Ryan Coogler, whose work Ed followed and generally praised over many years. Coogler was born in Oakland California in 1986 and was beginning his career in 2009. when Oscar Grant III was shot by a police officer on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. That incident was the subject of Coogler’s first film, titled “Fruitvale Station” to recall the BART station where Grant was killed.

Here are four films by Ryan Coogler that Ed recommended to our readers:

FRUITVALE STATION—Ed strongly recommended this film, because he wrote that we all need to be reminded that “racism is still a strong force in our society.” Ed wrote that movie review in 2013, when Coogler’s film debuted—but Ed’s advise is just as timely today.

CREED—Even though Ed publicly was an opponent of boxing as a sport, he nevertheless praised this film released by Coogler two years after Fruitvale Station.

BLACK PANTHER—By 2018, Coogler’s work with Marvel super hero was simply “spectacular,” Ed concluded.

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH—By 2021, Coogler returned to the genre of historical fiction with a far more complex story that had international connections—the rise and eventual killing of Black activist Fred Hampton. Ed gave this film 5 stars and described it as both nuanced and passionate.

And here’s an indie documentary worth seeking out

LEAP OF FAITH—Gail Brookshire encourages all of us who care about bridging the chasms in American culture to learn more about the documentary Leap of Faith—no, not that old 1992 comedy by Steve Martin. This is a relative new, indie film by Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville and it’s well worth the effort to find—or to schedule—a showing.

 

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

We are still proudly celebrating diversity and hope you will share the news each week

As Federal Diversity Programs End,
You Can Help Us Continue to Share the Good News about Our Neighbors

Let’s Start with Black History Month

LATE ON FRIDAY, new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proudly issued a directive across all branches of America’s armed forces, headlined “Identity Months Dead at DoD.” For decades, American military facilities around the world had showcased the contributions of minorities in a series of such themed months. Armed forces media professionals had routinely posted inspiring photographs, videos and stories from such events that were shared via the Internet for millions of viewers and readers around the world. Now, those signature programs are gone from the vast Department of Defense—and are disappearing from other federal departments as well.

On Saturday, The Washington Post reported that this diversity “purge” is targeting more than these programs themselves. The purge also is targeting for removal those employees—for example within the Department of Education—who simply participated in past diversity programs “such as diversity training, an affinity group, or other programs inside the department aimed at creating a more inclusive workplace.”

Then, on Saturday in The New York Times, Clyde McGrady wrote:

Feb. 1 is the beginning of Black History Month, which for decades has recognized the contributions of Black people to American civic life and culture with festive luncheons, serious lectures, profitable merchandise lines and staid White House receptions. But a month that was officially recognized nearly five decades ago by a Republican president, Gerald R. Ford, is dawning this year with new significance amid President Trump’s furious assault on diversity programs inside and outside the federal government. Suddenly the study of Black history—or at least the dark corners of slavery, segregation and bigotry—appears to be an act of defiance.

On Sunday, our own ReadTheSpirit magazine’s internationally respected Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton wrote:

Given the many years that we have dedicated to seeing, deeply appreciating, and respecting all of the colors and traditions of our neighbors and our world, it is hard to imagine squashing out something so vital and, also, so beautiful. These types of observances are what make us human. They are what unites us. They show how we can peacefully share culture with one another. … These observances each year are, in some way, efforts to bridge our differences and create a universal language. We will keep doing what we do, because we know how much it matters.

And, together with you, our readers, we will.

For our part, Stephanie and all of our other columnists will continue publishing weekly stories about cultural and religious diversity. For your part, simply sharing those stories across social media, or via your email to friends, will continue spreading good news that brings people together in peaceful ways. You don’t have to add any political comment—just share that good news we publish and the world will be a little better place.

Learning more in Black History Month

IN 2025, this annual observance is themed to emphasize the many connections between African Americans and the labor movement. Our story about this thematic emphasis includes 2 short documentary videos about one such leader, who was based in Detroit, Michigan. These videos—and many educational materials you can find online—are not hosted by the federal departments that, as of this week, are removing diversity content from their websites. If you find this story intriguing, use the social media buttons at the top of the column to share this good news with friends. You don’t need to make a political comment. Just continue to spread the good news about our neighbors’ diverse cultures as this year unfolds.

And—consider visiting a Black Church

MSU BIAS BUSTERS FOUNDER JOE GRIMM writes about how his journalism students visited with Black Church leaders and what they learned from respectfully visiting Black congregations.

.

From our writers—

Poet Jeffrey Munroe’s words soar in ‘Murmuration’

THANKS TO THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY MAGAZINE, we get to hear writer and editor Jeffrey Munroe read his new poem, Murmuration, and then talk about the creative process of developing this poetry.

.

.

Does AI artwork qualify for a U.S. Copyright?

THIS WEEK in our Front Edge Publishing column, we’ve got news about the way popular Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for generating artwork are regarded—as 2025 begins—by the officials in charge of protecting artists’ rights under copyright law.  The answer to this basic question is more nuanced than you may realize. We’ve got both a quick summary—and a link to read the entire report.

.

.

And, More Holidays & Festivals

Prayag Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest peaceful gathering.

HOLIDAYS EXPERT Stephanie Fenton reports on the complex issues involved in this Hindu gathering that already has topped 100 million people and is expected to continue growing before it ends in late February.

With the Triodion, Eastern Christians prepare for Lent

THE START OF LENT is still weeks away, but as Stephanie reports, a rich tradition of pre-Lenten preparation begins with the opening of liturgical books called Triodion.

And speaking of pilgrims …

CATHOLIC PILGRIMS from around the world always are on the move to mark the annual Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. No, they don’t come in numbers that rival Kumbh Mela, but thousands do flock to the site of the 1858 vision of Mary.

.

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

.

.

.

Faith & Film

 

Hollywood’s Best on Dr. King

AS PART OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, we are continuing to feature the following list of “Ed McNulty’s recommended films related to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time Faith & Film columnist Edward McNulty died and we mourned his passing. As we start 2025, we will be publishing occasional columns in this space contributed by our many writers—as well as links to some of Ed’s past reviews as those films become timely again.

RUSTIN—Ed enthusiastically recommended this 2023 film.

SELMA—Similarly, Ed gave a full 5 stars to Ava DuVernay’s inspiring feature film about the courageous march in 1965.

KING—Even though it was a TV production made way back in 1978, Ed always recommended Paul Winfield’s performance as Dr. King in this NBC feature.

THE LONG WALK HOME—For context, Ed urged his readers to include this 1990 drama in any film series about King and the civil rights movement.

SELMA, LORD, SELMA—Especially for younger viewers, Ed included this Disney production from 1999.

THE VERNON JOHNS STORY—Finally, Ed highlighted this often overlooked feature starring James Earl Jones as the prophetic preacher who played a key role in Dr. King’s career. Amazon Prime users can stream the film for free right now. If you’re seaching for it, the movie sometimes is titled The Road to Freedom.

And here’s an indie documentary worth seeking out

LEAP OF FAITH—Gail encourages all of us who care about bridging the chasms in American culture to learn more about the documentary Leap of Faith—no, not that old 1992 comedy by Steve Martin. This is a relative new, indie film by Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville and it’s well worth the effort to find—or to schedule—a showing.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Cover Story: Award-winning MSU Bias Busters project expands to explore lives of Americans often marginalized because of PANS/PANDAS

COVER STORY: Where do you turn if a child in your neighborhood, congregation, classroom, athletic team, scout troop or community group suddenly changes due to a little-known condition known as PANS/PANDAS? An ever-growing number of people in our communities nationwide are encountering this disorder and need answers to basic questions.

So, you’ll be glad to learn: Help is on the way. That’s our Cover Story this week, featured in the pages of our Front Edge Publishing website. Over the past two decades, the Michigan State University School of Journalism’s award-winning Bias Busters project has produced two dozen books to help Americans understand our neighbors who seem different. As of this month, the Bias Busters are starting to work on a book about understanding families living with PANS/PANDAS.

Please read and then share this cover story with friends via social media. You may be surprised to discover someone in your congregation, school or community group who is grappling with this condition. Sharing public awareness of PANS/PANDAS is helpful to countless families coast to coast—say the national nonprofit family-advocacy groups who are helping with this effort.

.

.

And from our other writers—

Our ‘Sanctuary’ authors continue to encourage compassion

THIS WEEK, we were pleased to see the authors of our new book—Sanctuary: Queering a Church in the Heartland—featured in this very informative Q and A published by The Daily Iowan, the multiple-award-winning University of Iowa newspaper that has been reporting since 1868.

.

A search for truth, dating way back to the turbulence of the Vietnam War

AS A PUBLISHING HOUSE, we are honored to have been chosen by National Catholic Reporter to publish their landmark history, called Beacon of Justice, Community, and Hope. A central figure in producing that book is the former head of that award-winning newspaper, Thomas C. Fox—who was one of the courageous American news reporters on the ground in Vietnam in the 1960s. Now, Fox and some filmmakers who have created an independent documentary called, The Stringer, are trying to “right” an apparent mistake made in attributing a famous war-time photograph to a particular photographer. It’s a complex and challenging story, but Fox is as determined as ever to pursue truth and to correct an injustice. We thought our readers would want to learn about the latest effort by Fox to help correct the journalistic record.

.

Holidays & Festivals

Prayag Kumbh Mela becomes the world’s largest peaceful congregation of people.

HOLIDAYS EXPERT Stephanie Fenton reports on the complex issues involved in this Hindu gathering that already has topped 100 million people and is expected to continue growing before it ends in late February.

.

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

.

.

.

Faith & Film

 

Hollywood’s Best on Dr. King

WE ARE CONTINUING to feature the following list of “Ed McNulty’s recommended films related to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” because our next weekly issue of ReadTheSpirit magazine (appearing on February 3) will honor Black History Month.

Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time Faith & Film columnist Edward McNulty died and we mourned his passing. As we start 2025, we will be publishing occasional columns in this space contributed by our many writers—as well as links to some of Ed’s past reviews as those films become timely again.

RUSTIN—Ed enthusiastically recommended this 2023 film.

SELMA—Similarly, Ed gave a full 5 stars to Ava DuVernay’s inspiring feature film about the courageous march in 1965.

KING—Even though it was a TV production made way back in 1978, Ed always recommended Paul Winfield’s performance as Dr. King in this NBC feature.

THE LONG WALK HOME—For context, Ed urged his readers to include this 1990 drama in any film series about King and the civil rights movement.

SELMA, LORD, SELMA—Especially for younger viewers, Ed included this Disney production from 1999.

THE VERNON JOHNS STORY—Finally, Ed highlighted this often overlooked feature starring James Earl Jones as the prophetic preacher who played a key role in Dr. King’s career. Amazon Prime users can stream the film for free right now. If you’re seaching for it, the movie sometimes is titled The Road to Freedom.

And here’s an indie documentary worth seeking out

LEAP OF FAITH—Gail encourages all of us who care about bridging the chasms in American culture to learn more about the documentary Leap of Faith—no, not that old 1992 comedy by Steve Martin. This is a relative new, indie film by Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville and it’s well worth the effort to find—or to schedule—a showing.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

For all those who are anxious this week, a heartfelt letter from Catholic author Margaret Stack

‘Feeling alienated from your new government?
I can relate. I’m a Catholic woman.’

FOR THIS WEEK’S COVER STORY, we welcome psychologist and author Margaret Stack, who has written an open letter to the half of Americans who are deeply anxious this week.

If you find Margaret’s column helpful, please share it with friends via social media and email. There are millions of Americans wrestling with their values and hopes for our nation, this week. Margaret’s story may help folks realize they are not alone.

.

And from Dr. David Gushee:

‘I underestimated the social and economic discontents within our nation.’

MANY OF OUR READERS have been asking, “So, what is Christian ethicist Dr. David Gushee thinking now?” For more than a year, Dr. Gushee had dedicated his public writing and speaking to warning about the rise of Christian Nationalism in America. Following the election, he sent into a self-imposed period of silence. Now, he has published this heart-felt reflection on his struggle to come to terms with this week’s transition in our world.

.

Holidays & Festivals

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Hopes, fears and creative responses

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS EXPERT Stephanie Fenton brings us a thought-provoking overview of the King holiday in 2025, which coincides with inauguration day. Make sure you don’t miss the news item in the middle of this column that links to a creative, inspiring musical playlist you might want to enjoy this weekend.

.

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

.

And more from our writers

Healing Wisdom from a Hospital Night Chaplain

CHAPLAIN DANIEL KIDDER-McQUOWN sums up some of the spiritual wisdom he has gleaned in recent years as the official night chaplain of a major hospital. This is a wonderfully inspiring column, especially as Dan shares some of the spiritual touchstones he found helpful with families. That makes this a good column to share with friends this week via social media.

.

And a big smile from photographer Rodney Curtis

ONE CREATIVE WAY TO MAKE OUR WORLD A BETTER PLACE is to transform the way we transport ourselves around America. Photographer and author Rodney Curtis is always up for a creative challenge—so he researched how to find this new car, pictured above. And he has some fascinating thoughts about how this new vehicle fits into his life—and into our world—in a healthy way.

.

.

Faith & Film

 

Hollywood’s Best Glimpses of Dr. King

Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time Faith & Film columnist Edward McNulty died and we mourned his passing. As we start 2025, we will be publishing occasional columns in this space contributed by our many writers—as well as links to some of Ed’s past reviews as those films become timely again.

Here are some of Ed’s recommended films related to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

RUSTIN—Ed enthusiastically recommended this 2023 film.

SELMA—Similarly, Ed gave a full 5 stars to Ava DuVernay’s inspiring feature film about the courageous march in 1965.

KING—Even though it was a TV production made way back in 1978, Ed always recommended Paul Winfield’s performance as Dr. King in this NBC feature.

THE LONG WALK HOME—For context, Ed urged his readers to include this 1990 drama in any film series about King and the civil rights movement.

SELMA, LORD, SELMA—Especially for younger viewers, Ed included this Disney production from 1999.

THE VERNON JOHNS STORY—Finally, Ed highlighted this often overlooked feature starring James Earl Jones as the prophetic preacher who played a key role in Dr. King’s career. Amazon Prime users can stream the film for free right now. If you’re seaching for it, the movie sometimes is titled The Road to Freedom.

Here’s an indie documentary worth seeking out

LEAP OF FAITH—Gail encourages all of us who care about bridging the chasms in American culture to learn more about the documentary Leap of Faith—no, not that old 1992 comedy by Steve Martin. This is a relative new, indie film by Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville and it’s well worth the effort to find—or to schedule—a showing.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Cover Story: Let’s all take a ‘Forest Walk on a Friday’ with Lynne Golodner

‘I hope readers who generously pick up this book will see themselves in my stories.’

FOR OUR COVER STORY THIS WEEK, we welcome back author Lynne Golodner, who has been a colleague of our publishing house since our founding in 2007. Lynne is a multi-talented author, writing coach and marketing expert. She also runs her own hybrid publishing house, which produced Forest Walk on a Friday, her new collection of personal essays. We’re pleased to share this news, because this a book that mirrors many of the themes that we know resonate with our readers.

In keeping with the spirit of her book, we asked Lynne to write a personal column to introduce her new Forest Walk on a Friday. If you find it inspiring, please share that column with friends using the easy-to-click social-media sharing buttons you’ll find on that page. That’s an easy way to spread more good news in our often troubled world, this week.

.

.

From our writers—

Celebrating Howard Brown surpassing 300,000 downloads of his Shining Brightly podcast

In December 2024, we reported that Howard Brown—a nationally known advocate for cancer patients—was himself in the midst of a life-and-death struggle with an aggressive form of leukemia. That’s why we’re celebrating with Howard and his family in this January 2025 Front Edge Publishing column—reporting that he is starting this new year with the most popular weekly podcast produced by any of the writers we have published over the past two decades.

.

Jeffrey Munroe on cherishing ‘Sacred Moments’

AS WE APPROACH THE 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the launch of the Reformed Journal Editor Jeffrey Munroe’s Telling Stories in the Dark—Jeffrey writes this wise, heartfelt column about the sacred nature of sharing such stories with others.

.

U.S. officially corrects the record on the Tulsa Race Massacre

AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY, federal investigators finally have released an in-depth report forever reframing the history Americans can accurately tell about the tragedy of letting racism run completely out of control. That’s what happened on a massive scale in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the summer of 1921.  In this story, Editor David Crumm explains how to find and read this new official report—and how to understand its historic context in American life.

.

.

Holidays & Festivals

On World Religion Day, Baha’is encourage appreciation of other faiths

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS EXPERT Stephanie Fenton begins her coverage, this week, with a story about this annual Baha’I festival that promotes peaceful interfaith relationships.

.

Ethiopia’s colorful festival of Timkat

WHILE MOST OF THE CHRISTIAN WORLD already has celebrated the annual festival of Jesus’s baptism, Ethiopia’s ancient Christian church follows a different calendar—so those colorful umbrellas and festive processions that herald that annual Christian holiday are coming this week. Stephanie Fenton has the story about the festival the Ethiopians call Timkat—one of the rare times each year when global TV-news cameras shine a light on good news from that region of Africa.

..

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

.

Faith & Film

Highlighting good films you might miss otherwise.

Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time Faith & Film columnist Edward McNulty died and we mourned his passing. As we start 2025, we will be publishing occasional columns in this space contributed by our many writers—as well as links to some of Ed’s past reviews as those films become timely again. This week, we are publishing a movie recommendation by Gail Brookshire, who was involved in the production of George A. Mason’s 2023 book, The Word Made Fresh.

 

Here’s an indie documentary worth seeking out

LEAP OF FAITH—Gail encourages all of us who care about bridging the chasms in American culture to learn more about the documentary Leap of Faith—no, not that old 1992 comedy by Steve Martin. This is a relative new, indie film by Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville and it’s well worth the effort to find—or to schedule—a showing.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

 

Cover Story: Remembering Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) and his deep faith that peace is possible

Our last interview with former President Carter in 2012 focused on his Christian faith

OUR COVER STORY, this week, is timed to coincide with our national time of mourning this remarkable world leader—both during his time in office as the American President and in his decades after leaving Washington D.C. Please share this inspiring interview with Carter via social media—to honor his memory and to spread his message that biblical values still matter in our world today.

This week’s memorial schedule: On Tuesday January 7, Carter’s body will be taken from the Carter Center in Georgia to he U.S. Navy Memorial, where he will be carried via a horse-drawn caisson to the U.S. Capitol. He will lie in state until the morning of Thursday January 9, which is the official “national day of mourning” and a federal holiday. Washington National Cathedral will host the state funeral service on January 9 with a eulogy by President Biden. After the funeral, Carter’s body will be transported back to Georgia on a military flight where he will travel by motorcade to Maranatha Baptist Church for a private funeral service with his family and close friends. After that service, Carter’s remains will be taken by motorcade back to his home for a private burial.
.

What is the religious makeup of the new Congress?

Pew finds it’s still more Christian than the American population

MSU SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM BIAS BUSTERS founder Joe Grimm summarizes the latest data from Pew Research about the religious makeup of the new U.S. Congress.

.

Holidays & Festivals

Debuting Stephanie Fenton’s 2025 Global Calendar!

EVERY JANUARY, we know our readers around the world are waiting to see Stephanie Fenton’s “new” calendar of religious and cultural holidays, festivals and observances. Stephanie is unique among journalists globally in her ongoing, in-depth reporting about this always-moving, always-changing calendar that ranges from “moveable feasts” and holidays to unusual anniversaries and festivals.

WHO USES THIS CALENDAR? We’ve heard, over the years, from chaplains, social workers, media professionals, HR directors, school employees, civic leaders and a host of other professionals who use this annual calendar to chart their own community cycles in the year ahead.

PLEASE, take a look at this new calendar—and email us at [email protected] if you spot any typos—or if you find a “missing” holiday or festival or anniversary that’s especially important to you. We appreciate your kindness in alerting us to such updates that can improve the usefulness of our coverage.

.

Photos to Spark Your Spirit

PHOTOGRAPHER AND AUTHOR RODNEY CURTIS has just sent us this “love letter” of a column, pulling together some of his most memorable photographs from 2024. You don’t want to miss this colorful adventure!

 

..

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Our Annual Best Stories Roundup—Highlighting the Top 10 stories you told us you enjoyed—and shared with friends—in 2024

‘You’ve got to read this!’

THAT’S WHAT WE HOPE OUR READERS say to their friends when we produce each weekly issue of our online magazine. Since 2007, we have published more than 900 of those “weekly issues” (meaning a fresh lineup of stories each Monday on our ReadTheSpirit.com front page). This week—as we do at the end of each year—we look back across our previous 51 issues and we highlight 10 stories that really got our readers talking in 2024! Please, enjoy this annual Top 10 list and remember to keep sharing these inspiring and thought-provoking stories with friends as we move into the New Year 2025.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

 

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.