January 2026
Cardinals statement - Leo on Vatican II - Homeless Union - Martin Luther King - Gutierrez today - Year of Francis - Venezuela - Reimagining the Cardijn movement
Friends
Welcome back for our first edition of 2026.
Far from the peaceful Christmas we had hoped for, the last month has been a time of trouble and conflict. Invasion of Venezuela, ICE shootings, homelessness - so many problems that call us to action. In this issue, we begin with the response of Cardinals Cupich, Tobin and McElroy to these challenges.
We note that Pope Leo has declared 2026 the Year of Francis, the peacemaker. And we share news of his catechesis on the teachings of Vatican II. Fr Ty Hullinger alerts us to action against homelessness while Fr Chris Malano offers an important reflection and warning on how easily force is justified by authority. The International YCW condemns the US intervention in Venezuela. Richard Pütz warns against the way in which Christian nationalism turns faith into a fist while Bill Murphy reminds us of the inspiration of Martin Luther King.
We share a newly translated talk by Joseph Cardijn from 1947 in which - just 22 years years after the founding of the YCW - he already speaks of the need to re-imagine the movement.
We link to a significant reflections by Liam Myers on the relevance today of the late Dominican, Gustavo Gutierrez.
Stefan Gigacz reminds us of all the various Cardijn-related anniversaries coming up this year, including the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Enrique Angelelli and his companions.
Thanks for joining us as we face these challenges of the year 2026.
The Cardijn Associates Team
Cardinals hit out at US foreign policy
Three American cardinals, Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. of Newark have issued a strongly worded statement measuring U.S. foreign policy against the principles set forth by Pope Leo XIV.
“As pastors entrusted with the teaching of our people, we cannot stand by while decisions are made that condemn millions to lives trapped permanently at the edge of existence,” Cardinal Cupich commented. Pope Leo has given us clear direction and we must apply his teachings to the conduct of our nation and its leaders.”
“Catholic social teaching testifies that when national interest narrowly conceived excludes the moral imperative of solidarity among nations and the dignity of the human person, it brings immense suffering to the world and a catastrophic assault on the just peace that benefits every nation and is the will of God,” Cardinal McElroy added. “In our current national debate about the fundamental contours of American foreign policy, we ignore this reality at the cost of our country’s truest interests and the best traditions of this land that we love.”
READ MORE
Cardinals Cupich, McElroy and Tobin cite Pope Leo XIV’s direction to diplomats (Archdiocese of Washington)
Leo proclaims Year of Francis
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Jubilee Year coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.
The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, issued a decree published by the Franciscan Friars Jan. 10, declaring a yearlong celebration in honor of the Poverello, or the Little Poor One.
According to the decree, Pope Leo has established that from Jan. 10, following the closing of the church’s Jubilee Year, until Jan. 10, 2027, a special Year of St. Francis may be proclaimed, in which every Christian, “following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.”
READ MORE
Pope sets Jubilee to mark 800th year since St. Francis’ death; saint’s body to be displayed (OSV News)
Catechesis on Vatican II begins
Pope Leo has launched a new series of weekly catecheses “dedicated to the Second Vatican Council and to reflecting on its documents.”
“The work of the Council Fathers paved the way for a new ecclesial season, placing at its center the mystery of salvation and the unity between God and his people,” he nonted. “At the same time, it opened the Church to seek dialogue with the people of good will for a more just and fraternal world.”
“As we make our journey of rediscovering the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, let us welcome the past with its rich tradition; let us consider the present with its joys and sorrows; and let’s look towards the future with an urgent appeal for greater justice, love and peace.”
READ MORE
General Audience, 7 January 2026 (Vatican)
General Audience, 14 January 2026 (Vatican)
What will the first US pope teach us about Vatican II? (National Catholic Reporter)
Fr Ty Hullinger: Homeless Union’s Winter Offensive
What would Gustavo Gutierrez tell us today?
When Dominican Fr. Gustavo Gutiérrez, the late beloved “father” of Latin American liberation theology, wrote in We Drink From Our Own Wells that “poverty means death,” he was not writing metaphorically, observes Liam Myers. His lifework powerfully conveyed that any spirituality must be communal, contextual and connected to the material conditions of the people one is in community with.
In the same text, Gutiérrez further clarifies his understanding of poverty:
It means death due to hunger and sickness, or to the repressive methods used by those who see their privileged positions being endangered by any effort to liberate the oppressed. It means physical death, to which is added cultural death, inasmuch as those in power seek to do away with everything that gives unity and strength to the dispossessed of the world.
Gutiérrez clearly communicates the Gospel call for the church to care for the poor, and compels us to all join in these efforts.
READ MORE
Take off your headphones: What would Gustavo Gutiérrez tell us today? (National Catholic Reporter)
IYCW condemns US intervention in Venezuela
The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) has released a statement strongly condemning “the military aggression, foreign intervention, and the reported kidnapping of the Head of the state of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, carried out by the government of the United States of America on 3 January 2026.”
“As a global movement of young workers inspired by Christian values and committed to justice, peace, and human dignity, IYCW categorically rejects militarism, imperialism, political abductions, and foreign intervention that harm civilian populations or violate the right of peoples to self-determination,” the statement says.
“We affirm that conflicts between nations must be resolved through peaceful means—dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international law.”
READ MORE
Fr Chris Malano: Into the water, into the world
READ MORE
Fr Chris Malano, Into the water, into the world (Bridging our worlds)
Martin Luther King, an inspiration for social Catholics
Upon arriving at the Capital Hilton on January 8 for the Annual Meeting of the Society of Christian Ethics, I had a free afternoon, writes Bill Murphy. Since the weather was so unseasonably warm, I decided to take a long walk around the National Mall to get some exercise and visit the various monuments while praying for our nation, Church, and world.
Especially memorable were the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr that were carved in stone at his memorial. These 14 texts were selected from his speeches, sermons, and writings by a “Council of Historians.” According to the official brochure prepared by the National Park Service, these words were selected to illustrate the four primary messages of Dr. King, all of which align with Catholic Social Doctrine, namely justice, democracy, hope, and love.
READ MORE
Martin Luther King, Jr, Inspiration for Social Catholics (Better Politics)
PHOTO
Minnesota Historical Society / Flickr / Wikipedia / CC 2.0
2026 anniversaries
Once again, I’m beginning the new year with a short overview of anniversaries connected with Cardijn and the various jocist-inspired movements, writes Stefan Gigacz. In particular, we remember the martyred Blessed Enrique Angelelli and his companions, who died fifty years ago this year in 1976.
Also important is the 75th anniversary of the First World Congress on Lay Apostolate held in Rome in October 1951 with Cardijn as one of the keynote speakers.
Sadly, we note that this year will mark the fortieth anniversary of the division at international level of the YCW in 1986.
READ MORE
2026 anniversaries (Cardijn Research)
Cardijn: Re-imagining the movement
The title of this lesson is relevant to the whole Study Week, to each lesson, discussion and every exercise, as well as to all publications and all activities of the YCW, said Cardijn in 1947. All these aspects must assist us to constantly “re-imagine” the movement, to rethink it for each of ourselves and all together.
This is indeed a fundamental, essential, and fundamental attitude for every person, every priest, and especially for every leader of the movement. Even more than everyone else, the priest must constantly rethink his life, his ideal, and his apostolate.
It is the only way to constantly renew ourselves, to constantly surpass ourselves, to prevent ageing, routine, deviation, and their fatal consequence, namely discouragement if not scepticism.
READ MORE
Joseph Cardijn, The YCW, a movement that always needs be re-imagined! (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)
Reflection: When faith becomes a fist
Whether we teach in classrooms or parishes, we all encounter that moment when a learner conflates patriotism with salvation, or when defending the faith becomes more about conflict than genuine witness, writes Richard Pütz.
As theologians and religious educators, we face serious challenges: Christian nationalist movements are on the rise, using familiar symbols and stories for purposes that distort the messages we’ve been entrusted to teach.
This challenge moves us beyond politics. Rather, it’s a crisis of discipleship that demands our pastoral attention and pedagogical creativity.
READ MORE
When Faith Becomes a Fist: Teaching Against the Theology of Control (Cardijn Reflections)
News briefs and social media
World War II Belgian YCW peace prayer card
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Cardijn Associates USA
Contact
Email: cardijnassociates@gmail.com