CATHOLIC NEWS: WED. JULY, 29, 2009. HEADLINES
POPE'S HOLIDAYS END & WITH AN ANGELIC LESSON LEARNED
THEME FOR WORLD DAY OF PEACE
UKRANIAN CHURCH (USA) RESIGNATION
NEPAL JESUIT PRIEST KNIFED, HOSPITALIZED
AFRICA: NIGERIA: 150 DIE IN VIOLENCE
AUSTRALIA:CHURCH HELPS NATIVES FLEEING DUE TO CLIMATE
CANADA: RECESSION HITS CHURCHES
SEMINARIAN STORY: SPECIAL FOR YEAR OF THE PRIEST
POPE'S HOLIDAYS END & WITH AN ANGELIC LESSON LEARNED
Pope Benedict XVI said his angel was “certainly following superior orders” in order to use the accident to teach him humility and to provide him with more time for prayer, with his recent wrist fracture.
The Pope thanked law enforcement officials for being “like angels” helping him.
"Unfortunately, my own guardian angel did not prevent my injury, certainly following superior orders," Pope Benedict said, according to the Associated Press.
“Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me more patience and humility, give me more time for prayer and meditation,” he continued.
The Pope thanked law enforcement officials for being “like angels” helping him.
"Unfortunately, my own guardian angel did not prevent my injury, certainly following superior orders," Pope Benedict said, according to the Associated Press.
“Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me more patience and humility, give me more time for prayer and meditation,” he continued.
VIS - Benedict XVI is due to leave his holiday residence today travelling by helicopter to Caselle airport near the northern Italian city of Turin. From there he will fly by plane to Rome's Ciampino airport. From Ciampino he will be taken by car to the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, where he will spend the rest of the summer and continue treatment of his right wrist which he broke in a fall on 17 July. On Saturday 1 August he is scheduled to receive around 100 athletes who are currently participating in the world swimming championships in Rome. On Sunday 2 August he will pray the Angelus from the balcony overlooking the central courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo. Weekly general audiences will resume from Wednesday 5 August. (Edited from: VIS 090729 (200)
THEME FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2010
VIS reports that the Pope chose a theme for World Day of Peace 2010 - "If you want to cultivate peace, protect the creation" for 43rd World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on 1 January 2010. "The theme", says a communique made public today, "aims to raise awareness about the strong bond that exists in our globalised and interconnected world between protecting the creation and cultivating peace. "This close and intimate tie", the communique adds, "is further accentuated by the many problems concerning man's natural environment, such as the use of resources, climate change, the application and use of biotechnology, and demographic growth. If the human family is unable to face these new challenges with a renewed sense of social justice and equity, and of international solidarity, we run the risk of sowing seeds of violence among peoples, and between current generations and those to come". The communique goes on: "Following the precious guidelines contained in paragraphs 48 to 51 of the Encyclical 'Caritas in veritate', the papal Massage will make it clear that the protection of the environment is a challenge for all humankind. It is shared and universal duty to respect a collective asset destined for everyone". The communique concludes by noting that "ecological questions must be faced, not just because of the dreadful prospects that environmental degradation presages; they must be translated, above all, into a strong motivation to cultivate peace". (Source: VIS 090729 (250)
UKRANIAN CHURCH (USA) RESIGNATION
(VIS) - The Holy Father: - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma of the Ukrainians, U.S.A, presented by Bishop Robert Mikhail Moskal, in accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. - Appointed Bishop John Bura, auxiliary of the archieparchy of Philadelphia of the Ukrainians, U.S.A., as apostolic administrator "sede vacante" of St. Josaphat in Parma of the Ukrainians, U.S.A. (Source: VIS 090729 (90)
EUROPE
MONKS FROM AUSTRIA OPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Kath.net reports that in Rome the Cistercian monks of pen Holy Cross open this year with their Gregorian hymns the VIII. Festival Internazionale di Musica e Arte Sacra in Rome. In the year 2009 non-profit Roman Foundation organized "Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra"their special Kirchenmusik Festival with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra "in residence"in the Papal basilicas."" This has now become one of the main church musical events of the eternal city. Special concerts are 18-22 days. Scheduled November 2009 and serve the institutional activities of Foundation, namely the restoration sacrid art.
Heiligenkreuzer monks who give no concerts and go on tour, sing in their monasteries in Austria to the praises of God and stürmten quite incidentally with their CD "Chant - Music for paradise"the charts."" Impressively and moving the Heiligenkreuzer monks celebrate the ancient Christian meditation form of Gregorian Chorals in the evening before in the Lateran Basilica (18.11.).
Heiligenkreuzer monks who give no concerts and go on tour, sing in their monasteries in Austria to the praises of God and stürmten quite incidentally with their CD "Chant - Music for paradise"the charts."" Impressively and moving the Heiligenkreuzer monks celebrate the ancient Christian meditation form of Gregorian Chorals in the evening before in the Lateran Basilica (18.11.).
(With files from: http://www.kath.net/detail.php?id=23535)
For more information on this festival see: http://www.festivalmusicaeartesacra.net/en/index.php
UCAN reports that Church leaders have welcomed the prison sentences a fast-track court has handed to five people it convicted of taking part in anti-Christian violence last year in Orissa state.
“It is a good development. It will go a long way in meting out justice to our people,” said Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. The court sentenced Disara Kanhar, Durbasa Kanhar, Gupteswar Kanhar, Rabindra Kanhar and Naresh Kanhar to six years of “rigorous imprisonment” each and also ordered each to pay a fine of 5,000 rupees (US$105), special public prosecutor Bijoy Krishna Pattnaik told reporters.
Archbishop Cheenath said. “The convictions and punishment will embolden our people to go back to the villages and start life."
Unrest began there the day after Maoists gunned down a Hindu religious leader.
Hindu radicals blamed Christians for the murder and destroyed houses, churches and convents in retaliation. About 90 people died and about 50,000 were displaced, mostly Christians, according to Church leaders.
Investigating officials have arrested around 680 people, accusing them of planning, abetting and executing violence.
UCAN news reports that a Catholic priest was injured in an attack in northern Kathmandu on the night of July 27.
Jesuit Father Sanjay Ekka, pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in the Baniyatar area, sustained injuries on his head, hand and hip. He was taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.
The priest is in stable condition, according to Father Lawrence Maniyar, the Jesuit superior in Nepal.
"Though the details are sketchy at the moment, we believe boys of the hostel we run in Baniyatar were involved in the attack," Father Maniyar said.
The Jesuits run Loyola Students Home, for poor boys, and Laligurans, a day-care center for small children in Baniyatar.
According to the Nepal Catholic Directory, the home has 34 residents, all Catholics.
According to Father Maniyar, police have detained "a boy from the hostel" for interrogation.
An official at the Maharajgunj police station, which has jurisdiction over Baniyatar, said a 13-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the attack.
(Edited from :http://www.ucanews.com/2009/07/28/jesuit-priest-knifed-hospitalized/
NIGERIA: 150 DIE IN VIOLENCE
AllAfrica reports that security forces yesterday raided the enclave of the radical Boko Haram sect in Maiduguri, in an all-out attempt to crush the group whose supporters ignited violence in five states in which more than 150 persons including security personnel died.
The army moved in six light armoured war tanks and deployed hundreds of heavily armed soldiers, mobile policemen and regular policemen around Maiduguri to destroy the residence of the sect leader, Malam Muhammad Yusuf, which also serves as the group's headquarters.
The security forces also cordoned off old Maiduguri, Galadima, Kasuwan Shanu and Low Cost areas, which have been under the control of the sect members since Sunday night when the crises began.
The military action came a day after more than 100 people were killed in Borno, Yobe and Kano states in gun battles between the sect's followers and security forces. Earlier on Sunday, more than 50 persons were killed in Bauchi, following at attack on a police station by the sect's followers in retaliation for the arrests of their leaders. Most of the dead were members of the sect, while many police, soldiers and prison personnel also died in the clashes. Yesterday, the violence spread to Katsina State, where the sect's followers attacked a police station in Danja injuring a policeman.
Yesterday's offensive in Maiduguri, which started in evening, was being led by the GOC, 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, Major General Saleh Maina. It is coming on the orders of President Umaru Yar'adua, who said yesterday in Abuja that his administration would no longer tolerate any armed insurrection in any part of the country.
The military ordered residents to evacuate.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said over 4,000 persons took refuge at different military and police quarters. Assistant Zonal Coordinator of the agency in the Northeast Apollos Jediel said of the displaced residents, 3,000 persons were taking refuge at the Maimalari Military Barracks, 600 were at the state police headquarters while 19 were at the Giwa Military Barracks.
He said the agency ordered release of relief materials, mostly food items and beddings, which he handed over to the Borno State Government for distribution to the victims.
(Edited from http://allafrica.com/stories/200907290012.html
The army moved in six light armoured war tanks and deployed hundreds of heavily armed soldiers, mobile policemen and regular policemen around Maiduguri to destroy the residence of the sect leader, Malam Muhammad Yusuf, which also serves as the group's headquarters.
The security forces also cordoned off old Maiduguri, Galadima, Kasuwan Shanu and Low Cost areas, which have been under the control of the sect members since Sunday night when the crises began.
The military action came a day after more than 100 people were killed in Borno, Yobe and Kano states in gun battles between the sect's followers and security forces. Earlier on Sunday, more than 50 persons were killed in Bauchi, following at attack on a police station by the sect's followers in retaliation for the arrests of their leaders. Most of the dead were members of the sect, while many police, soldiers and prison personnel also died in the clashes. Yesterday, the violence spread to Katsina State, where the sect's followers attacked a police station in Danja injuring a policeman.
Yesterday's offensive in Maiduguri, which started in evening, was being led by the GOC, 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, Major General Saleh Maina. It is coming on the orders of President Umaru Yar'adua, who said yesterday in Abuja that his administration would no longer tolerate any armed insurrection in any part of the country.
The military ordered residents to evacuate.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said over 4,000 persons took refuge at different military and police quarters. Assistant Zonal Coordinator of the agency in the Northeast Apollos Jediel said of the displaced residents, 3,000 persons were taking refuge at the Maimalari Military Barracks, 600 were at the state police headquarters while 19 were at the Giwa Military Barracks.
He said the agency ordered release of relief materials, mostly food items and beddings, which he handed over to the Borno State Government for distribution to the victims.
(Edited from http://allafrica.com/stories/200907290012.html
AUSTRALIA
CHURCH HELPS NATIVES FLEEING DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
CathNews Australia reports that Islanders from the tiny coral atolls of the Carteret Islands in the Pacific have begun to evacuate to neighbouring Bougainville. Their decision to relocate followed years of storm surges and tides that infected the fresh water supply and ruined their crops.
Fearing worse is to come, more frequent floods are expected to be the most visible signs of rising sea levels due to global warming, the islanders secured three blocks of coastal land. Five men moved earlier this year to build houses and plant crops, the first step in a five year relocation.
The Catholic Church is helping by providing land for the climate refugees.
The relocation is being headed by Ursula Rakova, an islander who set up Tulele Peisa, an organisation that raises money and campaigns for social justice on behalf of her people.
"We have a feeling of anxiety, a feeling of uncertainty because we know that we will be losing our homes. It is our identity. It is our whole culture at stake," she was quoted saying by the newspaper.
Climate scientists warn the future for atolls like the Carterets is bleak but the extent to which climate change is responsible for their predicament is unclear. (With files from: http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=15435com/article.aspx?aeid=15435
Fearing worse is to come, more frequent floods are expected to be the most visible signs of rising sea levels due to global warming, the islanders secured three blocks of coastal land. Five men moved earlier this year to build houses and plant crops, the first step in a five year relocation.
The Catholic Church is helping by providing land for the climate refugees.
The relocation is being headed by Ursula Rakova, an islander who set up Tulele Peisa, an organisation that raises money and campaigns for social justice on behalf of her people.
"We have a feeling of anxiety, a feeling of uncertainty because we know that we will be losing our homes. It is our identity. It is our whole culture at stake," she was quoted saying by the newspaper.
Climate scientists warn the future for atolls like the Carterets is bleak but the extent to which climate change is responsible for their predicament is unclear. (With files from: http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=15435com/article.aspx?aeid=15435
AMERICA
CANADA: RECESSION HITS CHURCHES
CBC Canada reports that religious institutions and faith-based organizations across Canada are praying for an end to a recession that is forcing the hardest-hit to consider radical rescue plans, including selling houses of worship.
Churches, synagogues, mosques, and gurudwaras (Sikh temples) depend largely on donations to pay the bills and finance day schools, camps, and other faith-oriented programs.
Religious orders also routinely use investment income from private trusts to finance building repairs and other projects.
But, this year, religious groups are being forced to do more with less, and in some cases are projecting the closure of churches in the wake of the economic recession.
According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, many Canadians consider themselves to be affiliated with a religious group.
In the 2001 census, respondents were asked what religion, if any, they belonged to. Here's how they answered:
Roman Catholic 43.2%
United Church 16.2%
Anglican 6.9%
Christian (not included elsewhere) 2.6%
Baptist 2.5%
Lutheran 2.0%
Muslim 2.0%
Protestant (not included elsewhere) 1.9%
Presbyterian 1.4%
Pentecostal 1.2%
Jewish 1.1%
Buddhist 1.0%
Hindu 1.0%
Sikh 0.9%
Greek Orthodox 0.7%
Mennonite 0.6%
No religion 16.2%
Vatican Radio, the voice of the Roman Catholic Church, has also begun airing advertisements for the first time in its 80-year history. It hopes the ads will raise about $250,000 US this year.
Religious orders in Canada appear to be resisting such steps, at least so far.
(Edited from http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/07/22/f-religion-recession-sell-churches.html)
Churches, synagogues, mosques, and gurudwaras (Sikh temples) depend largely on donations to pay the bills and finance day schools, camps, and other faith-oriented programs.
Religious orders also routinely use investment income from private trusts to finance building repairs and other projects.
But, this year, religious groups are being forced to do more with less, and in some cases are projecting the closure of churches in the wake of the economic recession.
According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, many Canadians consider themselves to be affiliated with a religious group.
In the 2001 census, respondents were asked what religion, if any, they belonged to. Here's how they answered:
Roman Catholic 43.2%
United Church 16.2%
Anglican 6.9%
Christian (not included elsewhere) 2.6%
Baptist 2.5%
Lutheran 2.0%
Muslim 2.0%
Protestant (not included elsewhere) 1.9%
Presbyterian 1.4%
Pentecostal 1.2%
Jewish 1.1%
Buddhist 1.0%
Hindu 1.0%
Sikh 0.9%
Greek Orthodox 0.7%
Mennonite 0.6%
No religion 16.2%
Vatican Radio, the voice of the Roman Catholic Church, has also begun airing advertisements for the first time in its 80-year history. It hopes the ads will raise about $250,000 US this year.
Religious orders in Canada appear to be resisting such steps, at least so far.
(Edited from http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/07/22/f-religion-recession-sell-churches.html)
A SEMINARIAN STORY: SPECIAL FOR YEAR OF THE PRIEST
TODAY'S SAINT
Born: Palaestina (modern-day Israel)
Died:80, Tarascon, Gaul (modern-day France) or Cyprus
Patron of:
butlers; cooks; dietitians; domestic servants; homemakers; hotel-keepers; housemaids; housewives; innkeepers; laundry workers; maids; manservants; servants; servers; single laywomen; travellers.
In St. John Gospel we find "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary, and Lazarus" (xi, 5).
(With files from: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/M/stmartha.asp)
SAINTLY QUOTE
Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.
-- St Clare of Assisi
-- St Clare of Assisi
TODAY'S GOSPEL
Matthew 13: 44 - 46
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
