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Thursday, August 5, 2010

CATHOLIC WORLD NEWS: THURS. AUG. 5, 2010









CATHOLIC WORLD NEWS: THURS. AUG. 5, 2010: HEADLINES-
VATICAN: FOUNDATION POPULORUM PROGRESSIO TO FINANCE 186 PROJECTS-
AMERICA: USA: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AWARD CARDINAL ORTEGA OF CUBA-
AFRICA: KENYA: CARDINAL'S STATEMENT ON VOTE IN FAVOR OF CONSTITUTION-
EUROPE: AUSTRIA: DEATH OF FR. HERBERT MADINGER FOUNDER CATH. FAITH INFO-
EUROPE: GERMANY: ZIMBABWE MISSIONARY FR. ZINKANN SJ DIES-
ASIA: INDIA: NUN'S ORGANIZATION HELPS 2 MILLION WORKERS SINCE 1985-
AUSTRALIA: PRIME MINISTER PLEDGES $1.5 MILLION FOR CANONISATION-


VATICAN
FOUNDATION POPULORUM PROGRESSIO TO FINANCE 186 PROJECTS

Agenzia Fides REPORT– Fides has been sent a statement from the Autonomous Foundation Populorum Progressio regarding their annual meeting of the Administrative Council of the Foundation held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, July 20 to 23. This year's meeting was of special importance as it has been held not long after the earthquake that hit Haiti.


Hosted by Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, Archbishop of Santo Domingo, the meeting was attended by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop of Guadalajara (Mexico) and President of the Council, Archbishop Edmundo Luis Abastoflor Montero, Archbishop of La Paz (Bolivia) and Vice-President of the Council, Archbishop Alberto Taveira Corrêa, Archbishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil), Archbishop Antonio Arregui Yarza, Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador), Bishop José Luis Astigarraga Lizarralde, Bishop of the Vicariate of Yurimaguas (Peru), Archbishop Oscar Urbina Ortega, Archbishop Villavicencio (Colombia), and new member, Monsignor Tejado Segundo Muñoz, Official of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and Dr. Juan Vicente Isaza Ocampo, Secretary of the Council, which is based in Bogota.

During the meeting, participants extensively studied 230 projects submitted in 2010 by the dioceses of Latin America and the Caribbean. At the end of the study sessions, 186 projects were approved for 20 countries for a total of $2,091,500 USD to be funded by the Italian Bishops' Conference, through the Committee for Charitable Assistance for the Third World, the main supporter of the Foundation. Another 10 projects from Haiti will be funded directly by Cor Unum through donations by the faithful for this purpose.

This year various dioceses of Haiti have submitted plans for the drilling and construction of water tanks: the Diocese of Jérémie, for the Cayemittes Islands, for example, has requested funds for the construction of three reservoirs for the collection of rainwater, with the goal of ultimately eradicating many infections among the child population which are caused by shortage of drinking water.

The visit to Haiti by the entire Council, on July 22, was one of the highlights of the meeting. The visit, which had already been scheduled prior to the earthquake last January, was an opportunity to verify its consequences on the spot. The Foundation has always had a particular regard for the nation of Haiti. In fact, since 1993, they have funded a total of 150 projects in the country.

In the spirit of what the Holy Father has said, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, as the dicastery that coordinates the various Catholic relief agencies, together with the Apostolic Nuncio, organized a meeting between various agencies in Haiti, among which were some of the Caritas organizations from Europe and America. Cardinal Sandoval was able to thank all these organizations working in collaboration with the local church on behalf of the Holy See, pointing out that this “style of presence” should characterize and give courage to those who work in charitable institutions of the Church.

The Foundation, established in 1992 by Servant of God John Paul II, seeks to be a sign of the Pope's Charity towards indigenous peoples, peasants, and African-Americans of Latin America and the Caribbean.
http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=27208&lan=eng  


AMERICA
USA: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AWARD CARDINAL ORTEGA OF CUBA

Catholic Online report - The Knights of Columbus Presented its Gaudium et Spes Award to Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino

During the States Dinner, Tuesday evening, of the Knights 128th Supreme Convention, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson presented the order's hightest award, the Gaudium et Spes Award, to Cardinal Ortega of Havana for his tireless witness to the Gospel and his persistent defense of religious freedom.
Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson congratulate Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana, Cuba, Gaudium et Spes Award honoree.
At the States Dinner, Tuesday evening, for the Knights of Columbus 128th Supreme Convention, the order awarded its eighth Gaudium et Spes Award to Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana, Cuba.
Cardinal Ortega, 74, was born in Jaguey Grande, Matanzas, Cuba. After studying at seminaries both in Cuba and Quebec, Canada, he was ordained a priest in 1964. Like many of his fellow-priests, he was arrested and spent a period of time in prison for his faith.
He was appointed as the Bishop of Pinar del Rio and received episcopal consecration in 1979. Appointed Archbishop of Havana, in 1981, he was named to the Sacred College of Cardinals in 1994.
The citation read at the dinner stated, "For nearly 30 years as archbishop, our honoree has guided the Cuban Church through often rough waters. But in January 1998, a new era of hope dawned when he welcomed Pope John Paul II to his country. During that apostolic visit, Pope John Paul II asked for Cuba to open itself to the world and for the world to become more open to Cuba, as he underscored the central place that the Catholic faith has played in the lives of the Cuban people."
In his acceptance speech, Cardinal Ortega said it was "a duty to publicly say special words of gratitude for the services rendered by the Knights of Columbus in favor of our Church in Cuba. You, dear Knights of Columbus, have actualized the motto of this year's convention, I am My Brother's Keeper.
"Regardless of the distance and the differences in our social or political systems, you have been brothers to the Cuban Catholics and have shown us your solidarity."
Reflecting on the fact that the Knights of Columbus founded its first Cuban council in 1909, the Cardinal brought an optimistic report concerning the current work among the laity.
"I must say that the laymen of Havana are already organizing groups of men who wish to join the Knights of Columbus in the various parishes. I now convey to you an entreaty on their behalf and a very especial invitation from the Archbishop.
"I can assure you that nowadays the situation is more favorable for the action of charity services characteristic of the Knights of Columbus in the Cuban Church.
"Plenty of social works for the elderly people, for disabled children, parochial workshops to help those with learning difficulties, for youngsters and adults who wish to learn humanities or the Church Social Doctrine, etc., are some of the possibilities for a social presence of the Church in Cuba, which is exceeded by these efforts also carried out by numerous Mission Houses that gather communities of 60, 70 or even 100 people in family homes.
"Many times, these communities are looked after by catechist laymen who prepare the faithful to evolve from evangelized communities to Eucharistic communities. In my Archdiocese several of these communities have turned into parishes. Now we must build parish churches. We have already achieved some permits to build them, but our Church is poor and needs help."
Cardinal Ortega also indicated a new level of cooperation desired by the Cuban government with the Church.
"Lately, the Cuban government, responding to our request, has asked us to mediate between the political prisoners' relatives and the government authorities in order to know their proposals. In this way a process began, which has led to the recent announcement that fifty-two convicts, considered prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International, will be released in a period of three to four months. More than twenty of these prisoners have already traveled to Spain.
"These discussions conducted by the Church have been unprecedented, and they bring about a new situation of social appreciation for our Catholics. We hope that this process of dialogue, in which we are immerged now, ends successfully. We ask you to pray for this cause and for our Church in Cuba."
According to the Knights of Columbus Supreme Headquarters, the Gaudium et Spes ("Joy and Hope") Award was named for the landmark 1965 document that was released as part of Second Vatican Council. It is the highest honor bestowed by order and is awarded only in special circumstances to individuals of exceptional merit. The award recognizes them for exemplary contributions to the realization of the message of faith and service in the spirit of Christ. The Award comes with an honorarium of $100,000.
First given in 1992, when the late Mother Theresa of Calcutta was named as the recipient, the award has only been given eight times. Others who have been honored include Cardinal John O'Connor, former Archbishop of New York; the late Cardinal James Hickey, former Archbishop of Washington DC; Cardinal William Baum, former Archbishop of Washington, D.C. and Major Penitentiary of the Vatican; and Archbishop Michael Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=37720



AFRICA
KENYA: CARDINAL'S STATEMENT ON VOTE IN FAVOR OF CONSTITUTION

All Africa report: Here is a statement of the Catholic Bishops of Kenya on the results of the referendum on the Proposed Constitution released on August 5, 2010 at the Kenya Catholic Secretariat (KCS).
May God be with us.
Go, therefore to all nations......teach them to observe all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. Matthew 28: 19-20.
Our dear Christians, Our dear Kenyans and all people of good will.
We have travelled a long and arduous road that has seen us speak to you as your shepherds and direct your footsteps along the road of proper moral choice. We are convinced before God that we have played our role, as mandated to us, with diligence and respect. We have not shied away from stating unequivocally what are the tenets of our faith in regard to certain issues in our proposed constitution, "in season and out of season". God will be our judge!
We your Catholic Bishops have done our bit before the referendum to sensitise Kenyans about the danger of passing a constitution that does not respect our moral values.
Now Kenyans have voted after having heard what the various people had to tell them. We respect the outcome of the referendum, where the larger numbers of Kenyans have voted to accept this proposed constitution. However, truth and right are not about numbers. We therefore, as the shepherds placed to give moral guidance to our people, still reiterate the need to address the flawed moral issues in this proposed constitution. That voice should never be silenced.
We have urged the Kenyan people to pray for a good constitution, for a constitution that respects the right to life, safeguards religious freedom in its legitimate manifestations and upholds the family as the most important societal institution. We repeat this appeal to all the Kenyan people. Let us join together in prayer for a good constitution.
The Church desires and will remain at the forefront to support the constitution and legal reform process in this country. This reform process cannot end, must not end, since we all aspire to build a better society that will respect the rights of all and facilitate our economic, social and moral development. Most Kenyans indeed recognised that the proposed constitution we voted for or against on 4th August 2010 had errors that needed to be corrected. Our main difference was whether we believed the reform should take place before or after the vote.
We recognise and highly commend the peaceful way in which Kenyans have generally conducted themselves during the referendum voting process. We ask Kenyans to make even greater efforts now to uphold the need for peace, love and unity in our relations as brothers and sisters to all other Kenyans.
We shall be giving a more comprehensive statement in the next few days.
God bless our country
Signed by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue,
Chairman-Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC), August 5, 2010
http://allafrica.com/stories/201008050829.html
image source https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GwHRU514PY5P11BGFC1sDVppTKlMoKs3PuUEM_YBI0JS8AcKTx4BlVI46TcO1bE-Ll8JvkkwOJEtevZO2vDdS6vZ5pV-VJjPQc8dc2c0sR4LbWCxA6_CYFDStHnw0snt_behuy0N2egT/s400/njue.jpg


EUROPE
AUSTRIA: DEATH OF FR. HERBERT MADINGER FOUNDER CATH. FAITH INFO

Kath Net report: The founder of KGI (Catholic faith information) was his entire priestly life commissioned the home mission



Vienna (kath.net) The well-known Viennese priest Herbert Madinger died on the 5 of August. He wasvhospitalized Tulln in the age of 88. Herbert Madinger was born on May 22, 1922, in Vienna. After dropped leaving he began studying physics, which he graduated in after the war as a graduate engineer with distinction. As a prisoner of war in 1945 he went to the Mass of a Hungarian priest in St. Fair, he experienced the presence of God, although he understood a Word. Looking for a deeper life with God he learned "Perfect devotion to Jesus through Mary" by Prof. Dr. Friedrich Wessely after St. Louis Maria Grignion de Montfort. He was given the vocation to the priesthood. In the seminary he devoted prayer before the Tabernacle. On the 29th of June 1953 he was ordained to the priesthood.


Love to the mother of God and the love for the Eucharistic Lord shaped his life and work as a priest in old age. He remained prayerful throughout his life. Prayer and apostolate were the two highlights of his priestly life and works. In the first chaplain years he built up groups of the Legion of Mary in the parishes: first in the Helenentalkircherl in Baden, later in Vienna in Rudolfsheim and finally Reinsdorf, where he remained until 2006. Professor of religion, he taught even 15 years in 15. District at the Diefenbach lane. For the inquiring students seeking people he began writing the belief letters. As a late believer who had only found the faith later on, he wanted to help those who had similar questions. "God is a puzzle to you?" was the first question for the belief letters. These are Fr. Josef Zeininger OSFS since 1965 at the request of the former pastoral Office Manager as "letters of Kath." Sent "Religious information of the Archdiocese Vienna". With enthusiasm, hard work and dedication he made tireless work, by the free faith letters many people could get answers to their questions for God. Home visits to readers of the belief letters created the Group of the KGI. He found recovery and new ideas in between as Avid climbers in the beauty of creation. The colorful casting posters encouraged and strengthened many people throughout Austria. With the attached rosaries, he wanted to help people pray again learn. Many families have to pray by walking our Lady started and to reconciliation, found strength and help. Around 60 different faith books have become a valuable help for many to better understand the word of God and grow disciples of Christ. Dr. Herbert Madinger has shaped many Reinsdorf and in Austria to Apostles for the home mission staff. Many young people have found the way to priestly and religious life through him, many of them in the Kalasantinerorden. 1979 was the community of the "Sisters of disciples search" through participation in the KGI. Dr. Madinger in the Marian home in Gablitz lived since 2006. Tuesday, 17. August 11 o'clock Cardinal Christoph Schönborn will celebrate the mass in the Church.  http://kath.net/detail.php?id=27654


EUROPE
GERMANY: ZIMBABWE MISSIONARY FR. ZINKANN SJ DIES

Independent Cath. News report: Fr Reinhard (‘Rainer’) Zinkann SJ died on Wednesday, 21 July, shortly before midnight in St Anne’s Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. He had been brought to town from Makumbi Mission on Monday with a lung infection.
Born in Germany in 1927, his family suffered persecution by the Nazi regime; first they found refuge in the Netherlands, then the USA. In 1946 he joined the Society of Jesus back in the Netherlands. In 1951 he returned to Germany where he was ordained a priest (1957). In 1959 he arrived in Zimbabwe (then still Rhodesia). He served the Church in this country for almost 51 years. From Mhondoro where the gifted linguist learnt Shona, he moved on to Chinhoyi, Karoi, St Boniface Hurungwe, St Albert’s, Chinhoyi and finally St Paul’s Musami and Makumbi.
What Pope Benedict XVI during the Year of the Priest asked priests to do, Fr Zinkann fulfilled during most of his priestly life: “While testing the spirits to discover if they be of God, priests must discover with faith, recognize with joy and foster diligently the many and varied charismatic gifts of the laity, whether these be of a humble or exalted kind.”
Fr Zinkann did exactly that by training constantly lay leaders, catechists, and other ‘ministers’ of the Christian community.
He was not an organization man. His gift was that of a pastor of souls. Never very strong physically or psychologically, sometimes breaking down under the weight of stress and tension, he was very sensitive to other people’s inner sufferings.
Fr Heribert Mueller SJ, superior of Makumbi, called him in his homily in Chishawasha a “wounded healer”. He was not a political priest, but he was deeply concerned about victims of torture and violence who needed healing, physically and spiritually. One of his catechists, Martin Berebende, was killed during the war at St Boniface Mission, Hurungwe. It grieved him deeply, and he had to come to grips with this death of a friend and co-worker. It helped him to help others cope with such loss.
In his last years in Musami and Makumbi he was very devoted to the sick and elderly and helped them to be reconciled, be freed from old grudges and find inner peace in their faith and trust in God. He left some writings about how to reconcile people which should guide us, his heirs, now in our work of bringing peace to this torn country. – He was buried on Monday, 26 July, in Chishawasha, in the presence of his sister, a retired doctor, who had come with her son from the USA. Many faithful attended, from Makumbi and Musami, even from Karoi and Hurungwe.
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=16609


ASIA
INDIA: NUN'S ORGANIZATION HELPS 2 MILLION WORKERS SINCE 1985


Asia News report: In 1985, Sister Jeane Devos founded the National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM), an organisation that now has 53 branches in 23 states. Domestic workers are often denied their rights, underpaid and treated like animals. A domestic worker in Tamil Nadu recounts how she was not treated as a human being but thanks to the NDWM, her situation improved.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – In India, the National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM) has been able to improve the conditions of some two million domestic workers, whose rights have been traditionally denied. Founded in 1985 by Sister Jeane Devos, a Belgian nun with the Order of Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the NDWM is affiliated with the Labour Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of India.
“We broke a wall of silence, slavery and exploitation,” Sr Jeane said. “Our movement has grown and we can change the situation of domestic workers through solidarity, dignity, justice and empowerment.”
The NDWM operates 53 branches in 23 Indian states. Its goal is to secure the recognition and protection of domestic workers.
Mgr William D’Souza, archbishop of Patna, said that steps have been taken in the right direction “to create a just society where domestic workers are treated as people with dignity, where their rights are defended, where their contribution to the economy and to development is recognised, where their voice is heard.”
At present, the situation for many domestic workers is truly appalling, something that Seetha Lakshmi, a domestic worker in Dindigul (Tamil Nadu), knows all too well.
“I was getting 50 rupees a month (US$ 1.1) and I was never treated like a human being,” she said. “I cried every day.”
“In 1992, I heard about NDWM and so I turned to them. We talked about wages, hours, and days off. When I spoke to my employer about this movement, my situation improved,” she said.
Over the years, the NDWM has carved a space for itself in Indian society and has found support among political leaders.
“Women and child domestic workers suffer exploitation and discrimination in various ways and forms,” said the former governor of Maharashtra state, Sanayangba Chubatoshi Jamir. “Together with migrant workers, they form the most vulnerable group of people in society who are often denied their basic rights as human beings,” he added. Therefore, “it is gratifying to note that NDWM has been lending its voice to the cause of women and child domestic workers.”
Thanks to the NDWM, the International Labour Organisation has been developing labour standards for domestic workers.
“Great things have happened to domestic workers,” Sr Jeane said. “We shall continue to move with faith in God and the Spirit that guides the movement.”
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Belgian-nun-helps-two-million-domestic-workers-in-India-regain-dignity-and-rights-19127.html



 AUSTRALIA
PRIME MINISTER PLEDGES $1.5 MILLION FOR CANONISATION OF MACKILLOP

Cath News report: Prime Minister Julia Gillard pledged $1.5 million, if elected, for the canonisation celebrations of Mary MacKillop, at a fundraising event in Sydney last night. The promise was immediately matched by the opposition's treasury spokesman Joe Hockey,  Ms Gillard made the commitment at the Mary MacKillop Celebration dinner at Sydney Town Hall and paid tribute to Australia's first saint, reports AAP in the Sydney Morning Herald.
"For all Australians, who share a country in which we put freedom of religion into action every day by respecting each others beliefs, it is a time of celebration," she told the gathering.
"The government, if re-elected, will also support the celebration of this unique, historic event with a total $1.5 million contribution."
About $550,000 will support a youth contingent and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, who will attend the canonisation ceremony in Rome in October.
The money will also go towards the production of educational materials and public events taking place at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney.
An additional $700,000 contribution will be made to the Mary MacKillop Foundation.
Mr Hockey then regaled the audience with his own experiences with Josephite nuns as a student, in particular Sister Vincent who called him only recently.
"She said I am very proud of you but please when you're sitting on those couches in parliament, sit up straight...
"I live in fear of Sister Vincent, so I want to say to you that we are going to match the prime minister's commitment of $1.5 million.
"It is not Tony Abbott I have a fear of."
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=22738


TODAY'S SAINT

Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome

Feast: August 5
THERE are in Rome three patriarchal churches, in which the Pope officiates on different festivals. These are the Basilics of St. John Lateran, St. Peter's on the Vatican Hill, and St. Mary Major. This last is so called because it is, both in antiquity and dignity, the first church in Rome among those that are dedicated to God in honor of the Virgin Mary. The name of the Liberian Basilic was given it because it was founded in the time of Pope Liberius, in the fourth century; it was consecrated, under the title of the Virgin Mary, by Sixtus III., about the year 435. It is also called St. Mary ad Nives, or at the snow, from a popular tradition that the Mother of God chose this place for a church under her invocation by a miraculous snow that fell upon this spot in summer, and by a vision in which she appeared to a patrician named John, who munificently founded and endowed this church in the pontificate of Liberius. The same Basilic has sometimes been known by the name of St. Mary ad Præsepe, from the holy crib or manger of Bethlehem, in which Christ was laid at His birth. It resembles an ordinary manger, is kept in a case of massive silver, and in it lies an image of a little child, also of silver. On Christmas Day the holy Manger is taken out of the case, and exposed. It is kept in a sumptuous subterraneous chapel in this church.
http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/D/dedicationofthebasilicaofstmarymajor.asp



TODAY'S GOSPEL

Matthew 16: 13 - 23

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13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?"

14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

22 And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you."

23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."