CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: MON. OCT. 25, 2010

CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: MON. OCT. 25, 2010: HEADLINES-

VATICAN: POPE: RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF SEYCHELLES

AUSTRALIA: ARTIST COMMISSIONED FOR 32 CHURCH WORKS

ASIA: VIETNAM: TRIAL AGAINST 6 CATHOLICS BEATEN BY POLICE

AMERICA: USA: NEW SEMINARY OPENS IN HAVANA

AFRICA: FOUR NEW AFRICAN CARDINALS

TODAY'S GOSPEL- ST. GAUDENTIUS: OCT. 25

TODAY'S GOSPEL: OCT. 25: Luke 13: 10 - 17

VATICAN: POPE: RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF SEYCHELLES

PRESIDENT OF SEYCHELLES RECEIVED BY THE HOLY FATHER VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2010 (VIS REPORT) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today: "This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience James Alix Michel, president of the Republic of the Seychelles. The president subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States. "Having expressed their contentment at the cordiality of bilateral relations, the two parties exchanged opinions on questions of mutual interest. In this context, attention focused particularly on commitment and collaboration for the promotion of human dignity, especially in fields of great social importance such as the family, education of the young and protection of the environment".OP/ VIS 20101025 (130)
RADIO VATICANA IMAGE
AUDIENCES VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences: - Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiberg im Breisgau, Germany, president of the German Episcopal Conference. - Participants in an international symposium on Erik Peterson.AP/
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AUSTRALIA: ARTIST COMMISSIONED FOR 32 CHURCH WORKS
Cath News report: More than a year since starting on a project of 32 works for the Church, artist Paul Newton describes it as the "most monumental in size and monumental of jobs" he has ever undertaken.Newton, who is from Dural west of Sydney, is on his way to completing a 2.25m by 1.7m canvas of Saint Mary MacKillop, reports the Hills Shire Times.Also featured in the painting are two school children, modelled by Newton's niece and nephew who "had fun getting dressed up" as poor children depicted in the scene of an early prayer meeting in The Rocks."This is just one of the really big paintings I have been working on to complete for the official opening of the Australia House chapel in Rome for early next year," he said."By the time of the opening I will have completed 10 out of the 32 works," he added, saying it would take him another 18 months to complete the rest.
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=23920
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ASIA: VIETNAM: TRIAL AGAINST 6 CATHOLICS BEATEN BY POLICE
Asia News report: Case dates back to events that took place in May when police blocked the burial of a woman in the old parish cemetery, until then on government list of historic sites to be protected, but later billed for destruction, along with all the houses in the parish, to create a tourist center. The bishop spoke of "Hunting the faithful."Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Thousands of Catholics gathered yesterday at the Redemptorist monastery in Thai Ha, in Hanoi to pray and express their support for six parishioners of Dau who will be put in trial in two days time. The trial is seen as a new attempt by the judicial system to persecute those who refuse to see their rights to truth and justice trampled on.This can be evidently seen in the 16 page report of the Bureau of Investigation of Cam Le, Da Nang which according to the Vietnam Criminal Code, will serve as the basis for the indictments against six parishioners accused of "inciting riots, falsely accusing the government, disrespecting the nation, breaking and ridiculing the law, and instigating others to violate it".It all started earlier this year, with the local authorities' decision to demolish all the houses in the parish of Con Dau, created 135 years ago to build a tourist center, without offering a fair compensation or support for re-housing. The area includes the parish cemetery and covers an area of 10 hectares, about a mile from the church. For 135 years it has been the only burial place for the faithful and, in the past, it was among the historical sites protected by the government. Until March 10, when security agents have placed a sign at the entrance of the cemetery with the inscription "No burials in this area". When a parishioner went to protest, the head of the police sprayed tear gas in his face, causing him to pass out.On May 4, during the funeral procession for Mary Tan, 82, police intervened to prevent the burial in the cemetery. For almost an hour there were clashes (pictured) between 500 Catholics and agents, with many wounded and 59 people arrested. The coffin was taken to the family of the woman and was later cremated, against the wishes she had expressed, to be buried next to her husband and his family members, in the parish cemetery.On May 6, in a pastoral letter, Bishop of Da Nang, Joseph Chau Ngoc Tri, spoke of a ”manhunt” of the faithful by the police.In July, Nam Nguyen, a Catholic parish Con Dau, he died a few hours after being released by police. In the months leading up to his arrest and death he had been detained, threatened and beaten by officers.Nevertheless, state media have praised the officers for their forbearance and self-control, describing them as victims of an organized gang of parishioners, driven to violence by the six believers who are being tried.And finally, October 22, just days before the trial, two lawyers, Duong Ha and Cu Huy Ha Vu who on several occasions had expressed support for the cause of the six Catholic and had volunteered for their defense, were denied permission to defend them.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Trial-against-six-Catholics-from-Dau,-deprived-of-their-homes-and-beaten-by-police-19810.html
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AMERICA: USA: NEW SEMINARY OPENS IN HAVANA
USCCB Delegation to Attend Opening of New Seminary in HavanaSeminary is first new religious construction in over 50 yearsCollection for Church in Latin America helped fund new seminaryWASHINGTON — A delegation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America will travel to Cuba November 3-6, 2010 to attend the opening of the new National Seminary located some 30 miles outside of Havana. The seminary is the first new religious construction in Cuba in more than 50 years. The delegation will be led by subcommittee member Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, and will also include Father Andrew Small, OMI, National Collections Office director for the Church Latin America, Thomas Quigley, counselor to the subcommittee, and local clergy from the Archdiocese of Miami. In addition to the inauguration of the seminary, the group will visit parishes and missions in Havana supported by the Collection for the Church in Latin America. The collection is taken up each year in dioceses across the United States. It supports pastoral projects throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The collection has supported projects all over Cuba, including the construction of the new seminary. The delegation will also visit the Diocese of Pinar del Rio. http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-187.shtml
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AFRICA: FOUR NEW AFRICAN CARDINALS
ALL AFRICA REPORT: Pope Benedict XVI this week announced the creation of 24 new cardinals, four from Africa.The four new princes from the Africa are: Cardinal-designate Medardo Joseph Mazombwe of Zambia 79, Cardinal-designate Antonios Naguib, 75, Cardinal-designate Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, 71 and Cardinal-designate Robert Sarah, 65.A consistory, the event in which new members formally enter the College of Cardinals, is set for November 20th in Rome. It will be the third consistory of Benedict's papacy, after previous editions in March 2006 and November 2007.Twenty of the new cardinals are under the age of 80, and thus eligible to vote for the next pope.Prior to this week's nominations, 102 of 179 living cardinals were electors. Benedict XVI is determined to honour the tradition, set by Pope Paul VI, of capping the number of cardinal-electors at 120.Four of today's new cardinals are considered "honorary" appointments, meaning cardinals already over the age of 80 and hence given the red hat largely to honour their service to the church.Cardinal-designate Medardo Joseph Mazombwe of ZambiaFor the first time in the history of Zambia, an indigenous Zambian becomes Cardinal The first and only cardinal in Zambia was the late Adam Cardinal Kozowiecki appointed by the late Pope John Paul II.Archbishop Medardo Mazombwe who recently celebrated 50 years as a priest, was born on 24 Sep 1931 at Chipata, Eastern Province. He was ordained a Catholic priest on 4th September 1960 and become Bishop of Chipata on 7 Feb 1971. Between 1996 and 2006, he was the Archbishop of Lusaka until his retirement in 2006.The cardinal elect and former Archbishop of Lusaka, has held several senior positions in the local and regional church, such as Zambia Episcopal President (1972 - 1975; 1988 - 1990 and 1999 - 2002), and as Chairman of the regional conferences under Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (A.M.E.C.E.A.) (1979 - 1986)He is an ardent campaigner who tirelessly advocated for Zambia's debt cancellation in the mid 80s, through the Jubilee movement campaign and is currently spearheading several new developmental projects in many parts of the country including the Mumpanshya area in Chongwe District.Cardinal-designate Laurent Monsengwo PasinyaCongolese Cardinal-designate Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, 71, is a biblical scholar and an activist on justice and peace issues.He is president of the Congolese bishops' conference and co-president of Pax Christi International, the Catholic peace organization.With the Vatican's blessing, in the 1990s he took an active role in mediating his country's political crisis and trying to guide the nation to a new democratic constitution. In 1991, he was elected president of the Sovereign National Conference; from 1992 to 1994 he served as president of the High Council of the Republic; and in1994-1995 he served as speaker of the country's transitional parliament.Born in Mongobele, he attended the minor seminary of the Inongo Diocese before entering the major seminary at Kabwe. Sent to Rome in 1960, he studied theology at the Pontifical Urbanian University and was ordained in Rome Dec. 21, 1963. From 1964 to 1970, he studied at Rome's Pontifical Biblical Institute, earning a doctorate in biblical sciences.He was named auxiliary bishop of Inongo in 1980, auxiliary bishop of Kisangani in 1980 and archbishop of Kisangani in 1988. Pope Benedict XVI named him archbishop of Kinshasa in 2007.Cardinal-designate Antonios NaguibEgyptian Cardinal-designate Antonios Naguib, 75, is the Coptic Catholic patriarch of Alexandria and leader of a church that has about 163,000 members, mainly in Egypt. The patriarch was at the Vatican when Pope Benedict XVI announced he would be a cardinal because he was serving as the recording secretary of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East.Born in Samalout, Egypt, he studied at the Maadi seminary outside Cairo as well as at the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome. Ordained to the priesthood in 1960, he served as a parish priest in Fikriyah, Egypt, for a year before returning to Rome to complete degrees in theology and in Scripture.He taught sacred Scripture at the Maadi seminary for 13 years and was elected bishop of Minya, Egypt, in 1977. He retired in 2002 and, according to the biography the Vatican press office released Oct. 20, he had "a period of rest" until he was elected patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church in 2006. He currently serves as president of the assembly of the Catholic hierarchy of Egypt.Cardinal-designate Robert SarahCardinal-designate Robert Sarah, 65, retired archbishop of Conakry, Guinea, has been a member of the Roman Curia for several years, most of them as a leader in evangelization. Born in Ourous, Guinea, he was educated in seminaries in Guinea, France and Senegal. He earned a degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and another in Scripture from the Franciscan biblical institute in Jerusalem.He was ordained in 1969, after which he served as rector of the minor seminary of Kindia in his home country and was pastor at several local parishes. He was consecrated a bishop at the age of 34 and was at the time the youngest bishop in the world.In 2001, he was named secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the church's missionary agency, by Pope John Paul II. He was appointed president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican's charity office, Oct. 7. The office coordinates Catholic charitable giving, distributes funds in the name of the pope and identifies Catholic projects that need special help.It has been a longstanding tradition of the Catholic Church to elevate certain outstanding bishops and archbishops to the position of cardinal. Fondly known as the "Princes of the Church", cardinals assist the Holy Father in the governance of the Church.Cardinals serve as papal advisors and hold positions of authority with the structure of the Catholic Church. Upon creation, a Cardinal automatically becomes a member of the College of Cardinals. The body or College of Cardinals is the one empowered to elect among itself someone to become Pope. Nevertheless however, on turning 80 a cardinal loses this right of election. http://allafrica.com/stories/201010250943.html
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TODAY'S GOSPEL- ST. GAUDENTIUS: OCT. 25
St. GaudentiusBISHOPFeast: October 25Information:Feast Day:October 25Born:Brescia, ItalyDied:410Bishop of Brescia from about 387 until about 410; he was the successor of the writer on heresies, St. Philastrius. At the time of that saint's death Gaudentius was making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The people of Brescia bound themselves by an oath that they would accept no other bishop than Gaudentius; and St. Ambrose and other neighbouring prelates, in consequence, obliged him to return, though against his will. The Eastern bishops also threatened to refuse him Communion if he did not obey. We possess the discourse which he made before St. Ambrose and other bishops on the occasion of his consecration, in which he excuses, on the plea of obedience, his youth and his presumption in speaking. He had brought back with him from the East many precious relics of St. John Baptist and of the Apostles, and especially of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, relics of whom he had received at Caesarea in Cappadocia from nieces of St. Basil. These and other relics from Milan and elsewhere he deposited in a basilica which he named Concilium Sanctorum. His sermon on its dedication is extant. From a letter of St. Chrysostom (Ep. clxxxiv) to Gaudentius it may be gathered that the two saints had met at Antioch. When St. Chrysostom had been condemned to exile and had appealed to Pope Innocent and the West in 405, Gaudentius warmly took his part. An embassy to the Eastern Emperor Arcadius from his brother Honorius and from the pope, bearing letters frorn both and from Italian bishops, consisted of Gaudentius and two other bishops. The envoys were seized at Athens and sent to Constantinople, being three days on a ship without food. They were not admitted into the city, but were shut up in a fortress called Athyra, on the coast of Thrace. Their credentials were seized by force, so that the thumb of one of the bishops was broken, and they were offered a large sum of money if they would communicate with Atticus, who had supplanted St. Chrysostom. They were consoled by God, and St. Paul appeared to a deacon amongst them. They were eventually put on board an unseaworthy vessel, and it was said that the captain had orders to wreck them. However, they arrived safe at Lampsacus, where they took ship for Italy, and arrived in twenty days at Otranto. Their own account of their four months' adventures has been preserved to us by Palladius (Dialogus, 4). St. Chrysostom wrote them several grateful letters.We possess twenty-one genuine tractates by Gaudentius. The first ten are a series of Easter sermons, written down after delivery at the request of Benivolus, the chief of the Brescian nobility, who had been prevented by ill health from hearing them delivered. In the preface Gaudentius takes occasion to disown all unauthorized copies of his sermons published by shorthand writers. These pirated editions seem to have been known to Rufinus, who, in the dedication to St. Gaudentius of his translation of the pseudo-Clementine "Recognitions", praises the intellectual gifts of thne Bishop of Brescia, saying that even his extempore speaking is worthy of publication and of preservation by posterity. The style of Gaudentius is simple, and his matter is good. His body lies at Brescia in the Church of St. John Baptist, on the site of the Concilium Sanctorum. His figure is frequently seen in the altar-pieces of the great Brescian painters, Moretto, Savoldo, and Romanino. The best edition of his works is by Galeardi (Padua, 1720, and in P.L., XX). SOURCE http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/G/stgaudentius.asp
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TODAY'S GOSPEL: OCT. 25: Luke 13: 10 - 17
Luke 13: 10 - 1710Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.11And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.12And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity."13And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God.14But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."15Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it?16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"17As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
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CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: SUN. OCT. 24, 2010

CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: SUN. OCT. 24, 2010: HEADLINES-

VATICAN: POPE: MASS FOR END OF SYNOD AND OTHER EVENTES -

ASIA: PAKISTAN: BOMB AT SUFI SHRINE KILLS 8 -

EUROPE: ENGLAND: ROSARY PROCESSION THROUGH LONDON -

AUSTRALIA: EDUCATION EXPERTS DISCUSS CURRICULUM -

AFRICA: ANGOLA: POPE'S ENVOY IN LUANDA FOR CONFERENCE -

AMERICA- GUYANA- DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED BY GOVERNMENT -

TODAY'S SAINT: OCT. 24: ST. ANTHONY MARY CLARET -

TODAY'S MASS READINGS: SUN. OCT. 24- 30TH SUN. ORD. TIME/YEAR C -

VATICAN: POPE: MASS FOR END OF SYNOD AND OTHER EVENTES

WE MUST NEVER RESIGN OURSELVES TO THE ABSENCE OF PEACE VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2010 (VIS REPORT) - At 9.30 a.m. today in St. Peter's Basilica, Benedict XVI presided at the celebration of the Eucharist to mark the closure of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, which has been held in the Vatican for the past fortnight on the theme: "The Catholic Church in the Middle East. Communion and Witness. Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul". The Pope concelebrated Mass with 177 Synod Fathers (nineteen cardinals, nine patriarchs, seventy-two archbishops, sixty-seven bishops and ten priests) and sixty-nine collaborators. Participating in the Eucharistic prayer were His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon, president delegate "ad honorem"; His Beatitude Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Iraq, president delegate "ad honorem"; Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, president delegate; His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, Lebanon, president delegate; His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt, relator general; Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, and Archbishop Joseph Soueif of Cyprus of the Maronites, Cyprus, special secretary. In his homily, the Holy Father noted how today's first reading and responsorial psalm "stress the theme of prayer, emphasising that it is much more powerful in God's heart when those who pray suffer want and affliction. ... Our thoughts go to our many brothers and sisters who live in the region of the Middle East and who find themselves in trying situations, at times very burdensome, both because of material poverty and because of discouragement, tension and, sometimes, fear. "Today", Benedict XVI added, "the Word of God also offers us a light of consoling hope where it presents prayer, personified, that 'will not desist until the Most High responds and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgement'. This link between prayer and justice makes us think of many situations in the world, particularly in the Middle East. The cry of the poor and the oppressed finds an immediate echo in God, Who desires to intervene to create a way out, to restore a future of freedom, a horizon of hope". "The synodal assembly which concludes today always kept in mind the icon of the first Christian community described in the Acts of the Apostles: 'The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul'. This is a reality we experienced over these days, in which we shared the joys and pains, the concerns and hopes of Christians in the Middle East. We experienced the unity of the Church in the variety of Churches present in that region. ... Thus have we enhanced the liturgical, spiritual and theological wealth of the Eastern Catholic Churches, as well as of the Latin Church. ... We hope that this positive experience may be repeated in the various communities of the Middle East, encouraging the participation of the faithful in liturgical celebrations of other Catholic rites, thus opening themselves to the dimensions of the universal Church. "Joint prayer also helped us to face the challenges of the Catholic Church in the Middle East. One of these challenges is communion within each 'sui iuris' Church, as well as the relationships between the various Catholic Churches of different traditions. As today's Gospel reminded us, we need humility in order to recognise our limitations, our errors and omissions, in order to be able to be truly 'united, heart and soul' Fuller communion within the Catholic Church also favours ecumenical dialogue with other Churches and ecclesial communities. During this synodal assembly the Catholic Church has reiterated its profound desire to pursue such dialogue". "The words of the Lord Jesus may be applied to Christians in the Middle East: 'There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom'. Indeed, even if they are few, they are bearers of the Good News of the love of God for man, love which revealed itself in the Holy Land in the person of Jesus Christ. This Word of salvation, strengthened with the grace of the Sacraments, resounds with particular strength in the places where, by Divine Providence, it was written. It is the only Word able to break the vicious circle of vengeance, hate, and violence. From a purified heart, at peace with God and neighbour, arise intentions and initiatives for peace at the local, national, and international level. In these actions, to whose accomplishment the whole international community is called, Christians as full-fledged citizens can and must do their part in the spirit of the Beatitudes, becoming builders of peace and apostles of reconciliation for the benefit of all society". The Pope continued: "Conflicts, wars, violence and terrorism have gone on for too long in the Middle East. Peace, which is a gift of God, is also the result of the efforts of men of goodwill, of national and international institutions, in particular of the States most involved in the search for a solution to conflicts. We must never resign ourselves to the absence of peace. Peace is possible. Peace is urgent. Peace is the indispensable condition for a life of dignity for individuals and society. Peace is also the best remedy to avoid emigration from the Middle East". Another contribution Christians can make to society is to promote "authentic freedom of religion and conscience, one of the fundamental human rights that each State should always respect. In numerous countries of the Middle East there exists freedom of belief, while the space given to the freedom of religious practice is often quite limited. Increasing this space of freedom is essential in order to guarantee that all members of the various religious communities may enjoy the true freedom to live and profess their faith. This topic could become the subject of dialogue between Christians and Muslims, a dialogue whose urgency and usefulness was reiterated by the Synod Fathers". At the end of his homily, the Holy Father recalled how the synodal assembly "often underlined the need to present the Gospel anew to people who do not know it well or who have even moved away from the Church. Frequent mention was made of the need for a new evangelisation in the Middle East. ... For this reason, having consulted with the episcopacy of the whole world and listened to the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, I have decided to dedicate the next Ordinary General Assembly, in 2012, to the following theme: 'Nova evangelizatio ad christianam fidem tradendam - The new evangelisation for the transmission of the Christian faith'". And the Pope concluded: "Dear brothers and sisters of the Middle East! May the experience of these days assure you that you are never alone, that you are always accompanied by the Holy See and the whole Church, which, having been born in Jerusalem, spread through the Middle East and then the rest of the world".HML/ VIS 20101025 (1190)IMAGE SOURCE - RADIO VATICANA IMAGE

FOURTEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION VATICAN CITY, 23 OCT 2010 (VIS) - During today's Fourteenth General Congregation of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, held this morning in the presence of the Pope and 162 Synod Fathers, the final list of propositions was presented and voted upon. Subsequently the names of the members of the Special Council for the Middle East of the Secretariat General of the Synod of Bishops were announced. They are: - Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. - Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. - His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt. - His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, Lebanon. - His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch emeritus of Jerusalem of the Latins. - Archbishop Cyrille Salim Bustros M.S.S.P. of Newton of the Greek-Melkites, U.S.A. - Archbishop Boutros Marayati of Aleppo of the Armenians, Syria. - Archbishop Joseph Soueif of Cyprus of the Maronites, Cyprus. - Bishop Bechara Rai O.M.M. of Jbeil, Byblos of the Maronites, Lebanon. - Bishop Antoine Audo S.J. of Aleppo of the Chaldeans, Syria. - Bishop Shlemon Warduni, auxiliary of Babylonia of the Chaldeans, Iraq.SE/ VIS 20101025 (210)

SYNOD PRESENTS FORTY-FOUR PROPOSITIONS TO THE HOLY FATHER VATICAN CITY, 23 OCT 2010 (VIS) - The working sessions of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops concluded this morning with the approval of forty-four propositions which the Synod Fathers have presented to Benedict XVI. By order of the Pope, a provisional and unofficial version of the propositions has been made public by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. The propositions are given to the Holy Father for him to consider while preparing the Apostolic Exhortation, the official closing document of a Synod. The propositions are divided into three sections: The Christian Presence in the Middle East, Ecclesial Communion, and Christian Witnesses of the Resurrection and Love. The Synod Fathers recall how "in a world marked by division and extreme positions, we are called to live communion in the Church, remaining open to everyone and avoiding the trap of confessionalism". They also note that "the attention of the whole world should be focused on the tragic situation of certain Christian communities in the Middle East which suffer all manner of trials sometimes even to the point of martyrdom". On the subject of migration, they suggest creating "an office or commission entrusted with the study of the phenomenon ... and the factors behind it, so as to find ways of stopping it", and doing everything possible "to boost the presence of Christians in their own countries of origin". "To better welcome and guide immigrants to the Middle East", reads another proposition, "their Churches of origin are asked to maintain regular contact with the host Churches, assisting them to set up the structures the immigrants need". The section dedicated to the subject of ecclesial communion speaks of communion in the bosom of the Church and calls for greater pastoral care of vocations. It is also suggested that greater use be made "of the Arabic language in the major institutions of the Holy See and official meetings, so that Christians of Arab culture have access to information from the Holy See in their mother tongue". "With a view to the pastoral service of our faithful, wherever they are to be found, and to respect the traditions of the Eastern Churches", reads another proposition "it would be desirable to study the possibility of having married priests outside the patriarchal territory". The proposition dedicated to the question of ecumenism suggests "working for a common date for the celebrations of Christmas and Easter", and expresses the desire "to inaugurate an annual feast in common for all the martyrs of the Churches of the Middle East". In the section dedicated to Christian Witness, the Synod Fathers suggest "the creation of catechetical centres where they are lacking" and highlight the vital importance of "ongoing formation and collaboration between the different Churches at the level of the laity, seminaries and universities". Reiterating the importance of the communications media "for Christian formation in the Middle East, as well as for the proclamation of the faith", the Synod Fathers advocate "the aid and maintenance of the existing structures in this area". On the question of the family, they stress the need "to make better provisions in centres for marriage preparation, counselling and guidance centres, and in the spiritual and human guidance of young families. ... Child bearing and the good education of children should be encouraged. The practice of home visiting by pastors should be revived", they write. The Synod Fathers "commit themselves to ensure young people have the spiritual and theological formation they need" and "to build with them bridges of dialogue so as to bring down the walls of division and separation in societies". Inter-religious dialogue must be strengthened so as "to strive for the purification of memory through forgiveness for the events of the past, and to seek a better future together". "Initiatives of dialogue and co-operation with Jews are to be encouraged so as to foster human and religious values, freedom, justice, peace and fraternity. Reading the Old Testament and getting to know Jewish traditions lead to a better understanding of the Jewish religion. We reject anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism, while distinguishing between religion and politics", the Synod Fathers say. On the subject of relations with Muslims, the Synod Fathers highlight the importance of promoting "the notion of citizenship, the dignity of the human person, equal rights and duties and religious freedom, including both freedom of worship and freedom of conscience". They note how "Christians in the Middle East are called to pursue a fruitful dialogue of life with Muslims, ... leaving every negative prejudice aside, ... and together combating every sort of fundamentalism and violence in the name of religion".SE/ VIS 20101025 (780)

THE TASK OF THE MISSION IS TO TRANSFIGURE THE WORLD VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2010 (VIS) - Following this morning's concelebration of the Eucharist to mark the end of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. Referring once again to the theme of the synodal assembly - "The Catholic Church in the Middle East. Communion and Witness" - the Pope noted how today also marks World Mission Day, which has as its theme: "Building Ecclesial Communion is the Key to the Mission". "There is", he explained, "a surprising similarity between the themes of these two ecclesial events. Both invite us to see the Church as a mystery of communion which, by her nature, is destined for all of man and for all mankind. ... For this reason the next Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, due to be held in 2012, will be dedicated to the theme: 'The new evangelisation for the transmission of the Christian faith'. At any time and in any place - also in the Middle East today - the Church is present and works to welcome each human being and offer him Christ, the fullness of life". "In today's liturgy", the Pope went on, "we read St. Paul's testimony concerning the final reward the Lord will give 'to all who have longed for his appearance'. This is not a passive or solitary period of waiting; quite the contrary, the apostle lived in communion with the risen Christ, so that 'the message might be fully proclaimed' and that 'all the Gentiles might hear it'. The missionary task is not to revolutionise the world but to transfigure it, drawing strength from Jesus Christ". "Christians today, as the Epistle to Diognetus says, also 'show that life is wonderful, and that their shared life is extraordinary. They spend their time on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey established laws, but with their lives they surpass those laws. They are killed and thereby they are given life. Even when they do good they are persecuted and every day their numbers grow'. "To the Virgin Mary, who from the crucified Christ received the new mission of being Mother to all those who wish to believe in Him and follow Him, we entrust the Christian communities of the Middle East and all missionaries of the Gospel".ANG/ VIS 20101025 (420)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS VATICAN CITY, 23 OCT 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father: - Appointed as members of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico, Mexico, and Cardinal Francis Eugene George O.M.I., archbishop of Chicago, U.S.A. - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the territorial abbey of Santissima Trinita di Cava de' Tirreni, Italy, presented by Dom Benedetto Maria Chianetta O.S.B., in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. - Appointed Bishop John G. Noonan, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Miami, U.S.A., as bishop of Orlando (area 28,814, population 4,002,000, Catholics 400,923, priests 253, permanent deacons 172, religious 181), U.S.A.NA:RE:NER/ VIS 20101025 (130)
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ASIA: PAKISTAN: BOMB AT SUFI SHRINE KILLS 8
AsiaNews / Agencies REPORT – Two men on a motorcycle placed a bomb near the entrance of a Sufi shrine. Islamic extremists increasingly targeting Muslim groups judged to be "heretical."Eight people are dead and dozens injured in Pakistan after an attack targeting a famous Sufi shrine in the Punjab province. The attack was carried out by two men on a motorcycle, near the main entrance of the temple of Farid Shakar Ganj, said Mohammad Kashif, chief of police. The blast also damaged several shops surrounding the temple, the shrine itself has suffered slight damage.The followers of the Sufism are often the victims of Islamic extremists, who do not tolerate their mystical practices, judging them heretical. The death toll is likely to grow, Dawn News initially reported four deaths, while the Samaa TV reported eight people, including four women. There are many wounded.The blast partially damaged the place of worship dedicated to a Sufi saint, Hzrat Baba Farid, located in the city of Pakpattan, about 190 kilometers from Lahore. According to preliminary reports, the explosive was hidden in a can of milk left in front of two men on a motorcycle. The survivors claim that the bomb blew up five or six minutes after the departure of the two assailants. Recently, Sunni Muslim fundamentalist groups linked to al-Qaida have stepped up attacks against Islamic groups they consider “heretics'', among which the Sufi monority. Last July, about 40 worshipers were killed by two suicide bombers who entered the shrine of Data Ganj Baksh, a famous place of worship in Lahore. In early October, at least eight people died in another suicide bombing at a Sufi religious site in the city southern port of Karachi.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Bomb-at-a-Sufi-shrine-in-Punjab:-At-least-eight-dead-19807.html
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EUROPE: ENGLAND: ROSARY PROCESSION THROUGH LONDON

IND. CATH. REPORT: Exactly a month after the arrival of the Holy Father in Britain, the Jubilee Crusade once again took religion into the public square last Saturday. The 25th procession through London was led this year by the Abbot of Farnborough, Dom Cuthbert Brogan, OSB, assisted by Abbot Philip Lawrence of the Abbey of Christ in the Desert, New Mexico and Prior Christian of the same monastery. There were also two 25 year-old junior professed monks from Farnborough Abbey, two priests from the Fraternity of St Peter, a couple of Southwark priests, six members of the Order of Malta, two Knights of Our Lady, six Brothers of the Little Oratory and assorted clergy servers and flower girls all ably marshaled by the Crusade MC, Gordon Dimon. The Crusade began with three cheers for Pope Benedict before the Abbot of Farnborough intoned the Credo to begin the praying of the Holy Rosary. Through the busy streets of Westminster, Knightsbridge and Kensington, a vast throng of over 2,000 Faithful made quite an impact on the crowds of shoppers. The Crusade began in brilliant sunshine beside Westminster Cathedral and made its way to Brompton Oratory with its new chapel to Blessed John Henry Newman. Hymns to our Lady charmed the shoppers on fashionable Sloane Street, Knightsbridge and Brompton Road. As we passed Knightsbridge Underground Station, a well dressed young man asked leave to join the procession. The members of the Catholic Police Guild, led by Tony O’Brien, shouldered the bier carrying the statue of Our Lady of Fatima surrounded by a sea of flowers. The procession took a full hour to travel the mile and a half between the two great churches. As the procession entered Knightsbridge, a short rain shower tried to dampen enthusiasm, but the Lourdes hymn kept spirits high and many of the pilgrims waived their hymn books in imitation of the handkerchiefs waived during the processions at Fatima. Our Lady was met at the door of the Oratory by Fr Ronald Creighton-Jobe, chaplain to the Crusade, along with a team of more Brothers of the Little Oratory. The servers, flower girls, Brothers of the Little Oratory, Knights of Malta, Knights of Our Lady, clergy and the statue waited outside the Church while the Faithful found seats inside, if they could—the vast Church was packed. Then a grand procession made its way to the Sanctuary while 2000 voices sang the beautiful hymn, Hail Queen of Heaven. The procession might be over, but the praying wasn’t – many hymns, prayers, a reading from the Apocalypse and a fine sermon from the Abbot of Farnborough was crowned by Solemn Pontifical Benediction given by the Abbot. The Faber hymn, Faith of Our Fathers ended the Crusade proper which was followed by enrolment in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A wonderful day!
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=16975
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AUSTRALIA: EDUCATION EXPERTS DISCUSS CURRICULUM
Cath News report: A coalition of 13 peak education bodies, including Catholic teachers and principals, has criticised the national school curriculum, saying it lacks a rationale and is unclear in its aims.The Australian Curriculum Coalition, in a letter to all education ministers and their opposition counterparts, also said that the time allowed for its development is "unreasonably short", The Australian reports.The ACC said the courses, due to be taught in schools from next year, are not ready and have too much material, the report added.The volume of material in the current drafts means English, maths, science and history would take up the whole of the time available in the primary curriculum and much of the secondary curriculum, it says."This means there would be no flexibility: the documents are not only a complete curriculum but one which is too large to be realistically implemented."The ACC says the curriculum should comprise "core mandated elements rather than a complete curriculum" and make clear what is essential and what is optional.The coalition comprises organisations representing government, Catholic and independent teachers and principals, academics and researchers, and was formed this year.Speaking on behalf of the ACC, Jenny Lewis, chief executive officer of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, said the aim was to produce a world-class 21st-century curriculum, but there was no clear vision what that was."There's no vision of what do we want students to be able to attain. What does an Australian 21st-century curriculum look like? That whole discourse has not happened," she said.http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=23905
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AFRICA: ANGOLA: POPE'S ENVOY IN LUANDA FOR CONFERENCE
All Africa report: The special envoy of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Frank Rode, arrived in Luanda today for the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the Conference of Religious Men and Women of Angola taking place on October 22-25.Addressing the press, Cardinal Rode, Prefect of the Office of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic, said to hold a word of encouragement from the Holy Father to the angolan people."Now that Angola is emerging from a war with the reconstruction on the horizon, the consecrated life has a say, which builds both materially and spiritually" - he said stating that reconstruction must be directed to education and health in a continent eyeing the future with hope.He said the conference is considering the Synod of african bishops held recently in Rome, Italy, under the motto "Reconciliation, Justice and Peace". http://allafrica.com/stories/201010250354.html
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AMERICA- GUYANA- DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED BY GOVERNMENT
Guyana's Parliament votes to abolish death penaltyAgenzia Fides REPORT – On October 14, 2010, Guyana's Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty for people convicted of murder. Lawyers for about 40 death row inmates have appealed to the officials to have the sentence of their clients revoked, after the vote in the National Assembly. "We are asking for them, in the light of what has been voted, to consider these prisoners and change their sentences, to bring them out from death row," Clarissa Riehl, spokeswoman for the opposition in legal affairs, told journalists. The assembly of 65 parliamentarians has decreed the death penalty for persons convicted for the murder of law enforcement officers, prison guards, and members of the judicial power.Riehl, who belongs to the opposition party, said that those who are waiting on death row for more than 10 years should have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. "Give them a deadline or see how many years have been sentenced to death and give them a certain number of years of condemnation, and then let them out of prison," said Riehl. Several Western nations have called on the former British colony to abolish the death penalty permanently. The mandatory death penalty for crimes of murder and treason had been inherited from the court system in Britain upon Guyana's gain of independence in 1966. http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=27674&lan=eng
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TODAY'S SAINT: OCT. 24: ST. ANTHONY MARY CLARET
St. Anthony Mary ClaretCLARETIAN ARCHBISHOP AND FOUNDERFeast: October 24Information:Feast Day:October 24Born:December 23, 1807, SallentDied:October 24, 1870, FontfroideCanonized:May 7, 1950 by Pope Pius XIIPatron of:Textile Merchants, Weavers, Savings (taught the poor the importance of savings), Catholic press, Claretians Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.The founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Anthony Mary Claret died in the Cistercian monastery at Fontfroide in France on this date in 1870. He was canonized in 1950 and listed in the Roman Calendar in 1960. Anthony was born at Salent in the Diocese of Vich in Catalonia, Spain, in the year in which Napoleon invaded Spain. He was trained for manual labor, since his father was a weaver, but in 1829 he entered the seminary at Vich. Ordained to the priesthood in 1835, he was assigned as pastor in his home parish. Later he went to Rome to work for the Propagation of the Faith. He also entered the novitiate of the Jesuits but had to leave because of ill health, so he returned to Spain and was assigned as pastor of a parish. His apostolate consisted of rural preaching, conferences for the clergy and publications (he wrote more than 150 books). Because of his successful apostolate he aroused the animosity of some of the clergy and as a result he left Catalonia for the Canary Islands (1848). After a year he returned to Catalonia and resumed his preaching apostolate.In 1849 Anthony gathered together five priests who formed the basis of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (popularly known as Claretians). At the suggestion of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II, Anthony was named archbishop of Santiago, Cuba (1850). For the next seven years he made pastoral visitations, preached against the slavery of the Negroes, and regularized numerous marriages. As a result of his activity he was frequently threatened with death and on one occasion an attempt was actually made on his life. In 1857 he was recalled to Spain as confessor to the queen. In this way he was able to exert some influence in the naming of bishops, set up a center of ecclesiastical studies at the Escorial, and work towards the recognition of religious orders in Spain. In 1869 he was in Rome, preparing for the First Vatican Council. He followed Isabella II into exile and at the insistence of the Spanish ambassador, was placed under house arrest in the Cistercian monastery at FontFroide, where he died at the age of 63. His remains were ultimately returned to Vich.SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/A/stanthonymaryclaret.asp
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TODAY'S MASS READINGS: SUN. OCT. 24- 30TH SUN. ORD. TIME/YEAR C
Sirach 35: 12 - 14, 16 - 1812Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him is no partiality.13He will not show partiality in the case of a poor man; and he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.14He will not ignore the supplication of the fatherless, nor the widow when she pours out her story.16He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayer will reach to the clouds.17The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; he will not desist until the Most High visits him, and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment.18And the Lord will not delay, neither will he be patient with them, till he crushes the loins of the unmerciful and repays vengeance on the nations; till he takes away the multitude of the insolent, and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous;

Psalms 34: 2 - 3, 17 - 19, 232My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!17When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.19Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

2 Timothy 4: 6 - 8, 16 - 186For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come.7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.16At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!17But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.18The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

GOSPELLuke 18: 9 - 149He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.12I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!'14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
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