2025 News and Events in Review

A significant shift in power occurred in January, when Donald Trump began his second, nonconsecutive term as President.  The inauguration ceremony had a different feel because, due to cold temperatures, it was held indoors in the rotunda of the US Capitol, with an overflow crowd in the Capitol visitors' center, where he went to make "off-the-cuff" remarks following the formal ceremony.

President Trump took off like a bulldozer, issuing numerous executive orders on his first day alone, even signing them while watching the festivities of celebration.

He adamantly plowed forward in seeking to correct the border problems under the previous administration, and ICE went out to apprehend people who were in this country without proper status and had criminal records.  DOGE, which was staffed by Elon Musk, sought to cut lots of government waste, which certainly changed the feel of the Washington, DC, area, where so many federal workers live.  Later in the year, the federal government went into shutdown mode for several weeks.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned and someone from his same party was elected the new head of government in the April 28 elections.

Another significant leadership change came when Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday Morning, April 21.  On May 8, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new Pope, and he took the name Leo XIV.  It was a surprise to have a new Pope native to the USA, who was born in Chicago, IL.

This change in church leadership happened in the midst of the 2025 Jubilee Year.  Many different Jubilee celebrations were held, including an event for youth, which resembled World Youth Day in many ways.  In November, he participated in a live audience with the NCYC in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  Later in November, he went on his trip international trip to Turkey and Lebanon.

As a great follow-up to the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress, the 2025 National Eucharistic Congress traveled from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.

Among those who parted from us this year were former Vice President Richard Cheney and Charlie Kirk.

A farewell Mass came for St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church on June 22, after which point, the church building ceased to be a functioning worship site.

District 97 Superintendent Dr. Shah resigned abruptly and the search for a new superintendent began.

The library vendor Baker and Taylor announced it would shut down operations, prompting a huge shift for libraries in acquiring materials.

As for what was new, August was a significant month for Amtrak with the debut of the Mardi Gras Service between New Orleans and Mobile.  Then came the launch of the new Avelia Liberty trainsets on the Acela Service.

Princess Charlotte in Britain turned 10 in May.  Actor Dick Van Dyke turned 100 in December.  The Grand Ole Opry marked its centennial on November 28.

In November, the US bishops, at their annual Fall Assembly, elected Paul Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, as their new president.  Among other major actions were voting to consecrate the USA to the Sacred Heart in June 2026 and to convoke the 11th National Eucharist Congress in 2029.