WORLD: JESUSCARITASEST.ORG CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO ALL
EUROPE: ROME: PARCEL BOMBS IN EMBASSIES WITH INJURIES
ASIA: CHINA: APPROVED BISHOP APPOINTED
AUSTRALIA: CARDINAL PELL: CALLS FOR FORGIVENESS AT CHRISTMAS
AFRICA: ANGOLA: PRIEST CALLS FOR RETRIEVAL OF VALUES
TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 24: ST. CHARBEL
Here is the full text of the Pope’s message: "Recalling with great fondness my four-day visit to the United Kingdom last September, I am glad to have the opportunity to greet you once again, and indeed to greet listeners everywhere as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. Our thoughts turn back to a moment in history when God's chosen people, the children of Israel, were living in intense expectation. They were waiting for the Messiah that God had promised to send, and they pictured him as a great leader who would rescue them from foreign domination and restore their freedom.
God is always faithful to his promises, but he often surprises us in the way he fulfils them. The child that was born in Bethlehem did indeed bring liberation, but not only for the people of that time and place - he was to be the Saviour of all people throughout the world and throughout history. And it was not a political liberation that he brought, achieved through military means: rather, Christ destroyed death for ever and restored life by means of his shameful death on the Cross. And while he was born in poverty and obscurity, far from the centres of earthly power, he was none other than the Son of God. Out of love for us he took upon himself our human condition, our fragility, our vulnerability, and he opened up for us the path that leads to the fullness of life, to a share in the life of God himself. As we ponder this great mystery in our hearts this Christmas, let us give thanks to God for his goodness to us, and let us joyfully proclaim to those around us the good news that God offers us freedom from whatever weighs us down: he gives us hope, he brings us life.
Dear Friends from Scotland, England, Wales, and indeed every part of the English-speaking world, I want you to know that I keep all of you very much in my prayers during this Holy Season. I pray for your families, for your children, for those who are sick, and for those who are going through any form of hardship at this time. I pray especially for the elderly and for those who ar0e approaching the end of their days. I ask Christ, the light of the nations, to dispel whatever darkness there may be in your lives and to grant to every one of you the grace of a peaceful and joyful Christmas. May God bless all of you!"
WORLD: JESUSCARITASEST.ORG CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO ALL
JESUSCARITASEST.ORG REPORT:EUROPE: ROME: PARCEL BOMBS IN EMBASSIES WITH INJURIES
Catholic Online REPORT -Two parcel bombs detonated in two separate embassies in Rome. Two people were seriously injured in the blasts - a mailroom employee at the Swiss embassy may lose a hand in the bombing, and another person at the Chilean embassy suffered injuries.
A mailroom employee at the Swiss embassy may lose a hand in the parcel bombing in Rome, and another person at the Chilean embassy suffered injuries.
"There is serious threat against foreign embassies in Rome," Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told reporters after the explosions.
"It is too early to know the origin of the threat. We are checking all the embassies in Rome and the Italian embassies abroad for suspicious packages. We should avoid being alarmist. The police are investigating the situation," he said.
A "suspicious package" was also found at the Ukrainian Embassy in the Italian capital -- but it turned out not to be dangerous.
Police began their sweeps of all embassies and consulates after the blasts. Many countries have two diplomatic missions in the city, one to the Italian state and a separate one to the Vatican.
Bomb threats were phoned to City Hall but no other bombs have yet been discovered. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attacks.
The bombings come a day after police blanketed Rome in heavy security due to student demonstrations.
The demonstrations passed off largely peacefully, but protests a week earlier resulted in many minor injuries and millions of dollars in damage.
In November, police discovered 14 parcel bombs coming from Greece, most of which were sent to various embassies in Athens. Police intercepted and destroyed most of them, but a woman at a courier office was wounded by one of the devices and another device exploded in the courtyard of the Swiss Embassy.
Other parcel bombs were addressed to European targets including the leaders of Germany and Italy.
Two men accused of participating in the bombings were taken into custody after they were arrested in Athens in possession of two parcel bombs, Glock pistols, a bulletproof vest, and a wig.
Greek authorities said that they believed the letter bombs was the work of a home-grown Greek terrorist group that does not have ties to international organizations like al Qaeda.
ASIA: CHINA: APPROVED BISHOP APPOINTED
Wenzhou (AsiaNews) - The 83-year-old Bishop Zhu Weifang of Wenzhou has been installed this morning, Dec. 23, as bishop of Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.
The new bishop explained to AsiaNews that he was ordained two years ago. He has been approved by the Holy See and recognized by Chinese government. He also invited “underground” Catholics from Wenzhou diocese to attend the liturgy.
Mgr. Zhu said his Christmas wish is “to have communion and unity among Catholics in the diocese, reconciling between open Church and underground communities.”
Local sources said the installation was arranged by the government, and many government officials came to the ceremony.
There are 29 priests, 40 nuns in the official Church, while the whole diocese has a Catholic population of 110,000, according to Mgr. Zhu.
Born in 1927, Mgr. Zhu, was ordained a priest in 1954.
Coadjutor Bishop Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou leads the underground community.
Photo: UCAN (Z.Y.)
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/New-bishop-of-Wenzhou-installed-20343.html
AUSTRALIA: CARDINAL PELL: CALLS FOR FORGIVENESS AT CHRISTMAS
2010
Cardinal George Pell
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CATH NEWS REPORT: Life is mostly good in Australia, and those blessed with prosperity and happiness should strive to spread the cheer and happiness to the less advantaged, said the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, in his Chrismas message.
He stressed the important role Christianity plays in the basic tenets of the nation.
"The Australian principle of a fair go for all cannot be understood without the Christian teachings of universal love and forgiveness," he said, exhorting the faithful to practise what is preached.
The Cardinal's full message and its audio version is linked below.
FULL STORY
Christmas Message 2010 from Archbishop Cardinal George Pell (Media Release)
Christmas Message 2010 from Archbishop Cardinal George Pell (Audio)
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, Christmas Mass Times (Media Release)
AMERICA: CANADA: MESSAGE FOR CHRISTMAS FROM BISHOPS' CONFERENCE
CCCB REPORT: The angels sang of peace on Christmas night. The Prophets had promised peace. Each celebration of the Eucharist we proclaim it and share it with one another. Christ’s peace is much more than the absence of war and violence, important though these are. It does not concern stillness and quiet, though these are vital for our wellbeing. The peace Christ offers is a renewed and whole relationship that brings all into unity and harmony: God and humanity, heaven and earth, nature and society, brothers and sisters, no matter how estranged.
God’s saving justice is always accompanied by peace. The Lord who “guides our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1.79) is the One who scatters the proud, brings down the powerful, sends the rich away empty, lifts up the lowly, and fills the hungry with good things (Luke 1.51-53). The Blessed Messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation (Isaiah 52.7) is the Suffering Servant, “rejected by others, a man of suffering” (Isaiah 53.3).
Willingness to serve while ready to be disappointed and even hurt is part of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Christmas Day is followed by the feast of Saint Stephen, a deacon and the first Christian martyr. As a result of the birth of Jesus, the Holy Innocents were massacred under the order of King Herod. The wonder and joy of Christmas envelope the helplessness of humanity and also the hope that comes from kindness and compassion.
As we celebrate this Christmas, may we be renewed by our hunger for justice and our desire for compassion. Let us rededicate ourselves to our mission as peacemakers, as suffering servants with Christ. This was the humble, vulnerable sign given to the shepherds that first Christmas night: “You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
The peace of Christ be with us all this Christmas.
+ Pierre Morissette
Bishop of Saint-Jérôme
President
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
SOURCE http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/media-room/statements-a-letters/2980-christmas-message-2010
AFRICA: ANGOLA: PRIEST CALLS FOR RETRIEVAL OF VALUES
ALL AFRICA REPORT: The Angolan Catholic priest Apolónio Graciano on Thursday, in Luanda, said that being Christmas the birthday day of the son of God, Jesus Christ, it represents a propitious period for the Angolan society to strengthen the struggle for retrieval of moral values.
Speaking to ANGOP, in light of the December 25 date (Family Day), in order to accomplish this goal it is necessary that families, during this festive period, hold a spirit of Angolan conscience, solidarity, fraternity and companionship among families.
On the other hand he regretted the fact that the Angolan families are dysfunctional due to the war that ravaged the country for a long time and consequently caused poverty and misery in many families.
TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 24: ST. CHARBEL
St. Charbel Makhlouf | |||
MYSTIC AND MARONITE HERMIT | |||
Feast: December 24 | |||
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