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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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.
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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.”
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Faith & Film
Honoring Black History Month
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.
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