The LOOP

The Wednesday Loop - December 31, 2025

CATHOLICS CALLED TO ATTEND MASS EVERY 2026 FIRST FRIDAY

CatholicVote President and CEO Kelsey Reinhardt is calling on Catholics to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus by attending Mass on the First Friday of every month in 2026 – all to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary year.

THE LATEST ON THE MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL

Federal authorities are ramping up investigations into alleged fraud tied to Minnesota’s child care and nutrition programs, bringing new charges and convictions in what prosecutors have described as one of the largest fraud schemes in U.S. history.

2025 LOOP YEAR IN REVIEW!

In 2025, your news team worked around the clock to bring you the truth about the events that matter most to Catholics. Here's a look back on the top stories of the year.

THIS YEAR, RESOLVE TO BUY THE WAY YOU BELIEVE!

When you switch your cell phone service to Charity Mobile, 5% of your monthly plan price supports the live-saving work of your favorite Pro-Life charity! Get the same nationwide coverage as the big guys, a customer service team based in the U.S., and a free phone offer all Christmas season long with promo code LOOP. Offer good through 2/2/26 or while supplies last.

CATHOLIC RESEARCH FORUM: INDIA MUST STOP PERSECUTION

A Catholic research body is calling on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take urgent action to stop what it describes as a sustained rise in attacks against Christians across India, particularly during the Christmas season.

INSPIRING: ANNUNCIATION FAMILY HELPS COMMUNITY HEAL

In the hours after the Aug. 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School killed two children and injured dozens more, a south Minneapolis family opened their home, creating an impromptu gathering place for grieving parents and children.

7 IN 10 ARRESTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE RECORDS

The vast majority of illegal immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have criminal histories, according to new data provided by ICE to the Washington Examiner. Here are the numbers.

PLEASE HELP PARENTS PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN FROM EVIL SEXUAL INFLUENCES

A recent survey of kids aged 13–17 found that 73% had seen pornography; 15% of them with first exposure at 10 yrs or younger. The rate of LGBTQ teens jumped from 11% (2015) to 26% (2021). With these alarming stats in mind, Coleen Mast created a resource for Catholic families. It’s called LoveEd (as in Love-Education). It’s time our kids ‘Get Love Right!’

BIG YEAR AT VATICAN: OVER 3 MILLION ATTENDED EVENTS

A remarkable spiritual pilgrimage unfolded in 2025 as nearly 3.2 million Catholics journeyed to the heart of the Church to participate in a variety of papal liturgies and prayers during a Jubilee year that also included the election of a new pope.

REPORT: SEVENTEEN CATHOLIC WORKERS KILLED IN 2025

Seventeen Catholic missionaries and pastoral workers were killed worldwide in 2025, most of them while carrying out ordinary ministry in places experiencing ongoing violence, conflict, and social breakdown, according to a year-end report released yesterday by the Pontifical Mission Societies information agency, Agenzia Fides. The victims included priests, women religious, seminarians, and lay catechists.

HOW TO END THE YEAR RIGHT

Refine has a great guide to help you end the year right. Here's how to wrap up your 2025 goals and create even better ones for the new year.

CATHOLIC 101

Looking for New Year's resolutions? CatholicVote's Grace Porto has found a great resource to help you think them through: The writings of St. Josemaría Escrivá.

SAINT OF THE DAY

Pope Saint Sylvester (c. 250-335) was a close professional friend of Emperor Constantine’s. The emperor granted Pope Sylvester temporal governance of Rome, and under the latter’s pontificate, the papal basilicas were constructed and the first Roman Martyrology was composed.

DAILY PSALM

"Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!" (Psalm 96)

DAILY READINGS

Today's Mass readings.

THE DEEP

Erika looks back on everything she read in 2025 — American history, satire, murder mysteries, and children’s classics — while juggling motherhood, work, and ten-minute reading windows. This year-end book roundup considers what our reading habits reveal about attention, endurance, and staying human in a distracted age.