These were some of the words of Pope Benedict XVI, which he spoke to the 5 men, whom he ordained to the episcopacy in St Peter's Basilica this Saturday. The Pope urged the bishops to liberate men and women of our day "from the impoverished condition that is life without truth," persevering "in the teaching of the Apostles and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers." Enriched by the inheritance left by the Christ to the Twelve, a secure base on which to build the house of our Faith."
AFRICA: ETHIOPIA: CHRISTIANS ATTACKED AND FORCED TO CONVERT
Islamic radicals attack Christians in Ethiopia and force them to convert
In the city of Besheno in the south of the country, the authorities prevent the construction of a place of prayer and a cemetery. Three evangelical leaders forced to leave the area. Another is in hospital after being attacked.
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Addis Ababa (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Islamic fundamentalists of a city in southern Ethiopia, Muslim majority Besheno, are conducting a series of attacks against Christians in the area to force them to convert or to leave. Besheno is a city where the last census (2007) 93.84% of the population is Muslim, and Christians are 5.82% of the population.
Three leaders of the Christian community were forced to leave the city, and two Christians were forced to convert to Islam. All are part of a small group of evangelical Christians - about thirty - who live in Besheno.
In recent days, signs were posted on the doors of some Christians threatening them with death if they do not convert to Islam or leave the city. An evangelical preacher, Kassa Awan, is still hospitalized in serious condition after being attacked November 29, 2010 by a group of Muslims.
A few days later more than one hundred Muslims surrounded the car of some Christian leaders who were on their way to a peace meeting with Muslim leaders, both Christians Tesema Hirego and Niggusie Denano, were injured. On January 2, another Christian, Temesgen Peteros, was attacked with a knife after he testified in court on the attacks suffered by his fellow believers.
The Islamic authorities who govern the city refuse to protect the Christians, and in particular refuse to build a prayer centre and a cemetery. "We ask that our right to freedom of religion be respected. We can not live in our city because of this inhumane behaviour, "said one of the leaders forced to leave the city.
AMERICA: USA: CONFESSION HELPER IPHON APP.
CNA REPORT: Developers of a new “confession helper” iPhone application say they found inspiration in Pope Benedict XVI’s call for more youth involvement in social communication.
“Confession: A Roman Catholic App” is the first iPhone, iPad and iPod touch application from the South Bend, Indiana-based publisher Little iApps, LLC.
Patrick Leinen, developer and co-founder of Little iApps, spoke about the program in a Feb. 3 interview with CNA.
He said the app is uniquely designed for cradle Catholics who go to Confession and attend church. It gives a “step-by-step” guide to Confession and a “personalized examination of conscience” based on the user’s age, vocation and sex.
“A priest won't have the same examination as a teen girl or a married man. You will get something unique to you,” he explained.
Users who have not been to Confession in some time have reported that using the app takes away the “intimidation factor” of going to confess their sins.
Leinen added that he and his fellow developers wanted to respond to Pope Benedict’s 2010 World Communications Address, which encouraged using new media to serve God’s Word.
After debating what this meant, the developers decided to make applications that are “in communion with the Church” and “in support of our lifestyle” as Catholics.
Two priests collaborated in the app’s development: Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, the executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices, and Fr. Dan Scheidt, pastor of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana.
The developers asked their local bishop for two forms of church approval known as an imprimatur and a nihil obstat. This unique process involved submitting all variations of the app’s text in written form to Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
“All the possible options were sent in,” Leinen explained. “We wanted to make sure that we were really in line with the Church in what we were doing.”
The developers plan to update the program for the Droid phone operating system. They are considering what Catholic applications to do next.
“We really appreciate the response that we've gotten from everyone in the community, lay and religious. We're continuing to look forward to creating these apps, as needed, and we appreciate any suggestions anyone has.”
The app is available through the iTunes store at a price of $1.99.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-iphone-app-aims-to-help-catholics-go-to-confession/
EUROPE: GREAT BRITAIN: ARCHBISHOP'S ADDRESS TO CARITAS
IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT: Archbishop Vincent Nichols gave an address at the Caritas Social Action Network conference entitled “A Common Endeavour” held in Liverpool on 1 February 2011.
He reflected on the recent Papal Visit to England and the Pope's words of encouragment to the Bishops at Oscott College. Archbishop Nichols also announced the start of a 'major' Catholic Bishop's Conference initiative, and made a call to action in a time civil society is in economic distress referring to what the Church has to offer. He said: 'The social teaching of the Church, with its wisdom and insight into the nature of humanity and what integral human development actually requires, has a great deal to offer, a route map towards a life of wholeness and integrity for each of us and for all in our society.'
The full text of the address is below.
'The visit of our Holy Father Pope Benedict in September touched the whole country with extraordinary grace and joy. I doubt if there is a single one of you in this hall who does not have striking memories of how much it meant to you personally.
The Holy Father’s Visit can act as a spur for us to serve Christ better. Grace must bear fruit in our lives, in our prayers and in what we do as Catholics living in Britain.
At the Bishops’ Conference meeting in November 2010 we reflected deeply on the wonderful graces which the visit of the Holy Father brought to our Church and our country. And we set out to find ways in which we, as a Catholic community, could respond to the challenge posed by the Holy Father and by the times in which we live.
Today’s event marks the launch of a major project for the Catholic community in England and Wales. I am very grateful for your participation.
In his address to the Bishops at Oscott College, Pope Benedict XVI emphasised the need for Christians 'to take a lead in calling for solidarity with those in need. The prophetic voice of Christians has an important role in highlighting the needs of the poor and disadvantaged, who can so easily be overlooked in the allocation of limited resources.'
At the end of our meeting last November we made a statement which I would like to quote from today as it sets out the basis and reason for our gathering here today. We said this:
“The present economic situation creates immense challenges for everyone in our society. We are very conscious of the hardship and stress faced by many individuals and families at the present time. We appreciate that extremely difficult decisions are being taken by central and local government, but we urge those responsible not to lose sight of the moral imperative of caring for those most in need, while acting fairly and impartially.
“Catholic social teaching reminds us that the key to social development lies in placing the good of the human person centre-stage. In that perspective marriage, family life, and the dignity of work are vitally important. The future of society crucially depends on the nature and quality of family life. A society where human dignity will flourish is one where the dignity of work is recognised and valued. We urge government - both central and local - to keep these priorities at the heart of their decision taking.
“Besides the severe economic issues facing us, there are also serious social ills. Many yearn for a richer community life, a society characterised by stronger social bonds and a greater acceptance of our mutual responsibilities. Reaching for this is both urgent and necessary. But it demands a conversion of mind and heart which cannot be achieved by government or policy initiative alone. If it is to succeed, this project must be taken beyond party politics to become a common endeavour owned by society as a whole.
“Creating a new culture of social responsibility demands that we all learn from the lessons of recent decades and put a genuine commitment to the good of others ahead of self-interest. It means that the Church must avoid becoming inward-looking or distanced from broader social needs. In his recent visit, the Holy Father consistently emphasised the mission of the Church to proclaim afresh the life-giving message of the Gospel. The Church does not exist for her own sake, but for the healing and flourishing of humanity. In coming months we will be seeking to strengthen our work in partnership with other Christians, other religions and with central and local government to help promote a more compassionate, fair and just society.
“In particular we will be engaging in a programme to enable the Catholic community to contribute as fully as possible to the new culture of social responsibility called for by Pope Benedict XVI and by the Prime Minister in his farewell speech at the end of the Papal Visit.”
That was the Bishops’ statement of intent. Today’s conference is the first major step in this programme. Its purpose is to listen and discern together - to identify and explore emerging needs and the challenges and opportunities for the social engagement of the Church in the coming years. If we are to have a real impact, of course we need a full understanding of the issues posed by today’s economic and social environment. But most crucially we also need a realistic assessment of our own capabilities, of the things that prevent us doing more, and indeed of our own potential to contribute more clearly to the good of our society.
You do not have to look far to see the difficulties and troubles in our society – and this city of Liverpool has probably known as much as any. We are all acutely conscious of the great hardships which are now being faced by very many families. Many of us know this at first hand. There are immediate and pressing needs. But this project we are embarking on together is not about a short term response to particularly difficult economic circumstances. It is about the long term and how we conduct ourselves to bear lasting fruit. So today is about our teaching and our action.
Our teaching.
In the coming months there are great opportunities to engage in the public debate about the future of civil society. In the social doctrine of the Church, particularly as expressed in Caritas in Veritate, we have a source of practical guidance and profound wisdom relevant to all who desire to recover a stronger sense of a more humane civil society. There are many people in our society of explicit faith or not who recognise that we need to escape from the dominant culture of consumerist materialism which has so come to pervade our society. The social teaching of the Church, with its wisdom and insight into the nature of humanity and what integral human development actually requires, has a great deal to offer, a route map towards a life of wholeness and integrity for each of us and for all in our society.
Our action.
Our Church, as you know, is present throughout the country, and Catholic social action takes place quietly and on a much greater scale than many realise. The present juncture offers a particular opportunity to re-imagine and re-invigorate the work we do. We have at the heart of our theology a word which beautifully describes this practical expression of Christian love - Caritas. My hope and prayer for the work we are doing together today and in the coming months is that this idea of Caritas will become more visibly the shared inspiration for Catholic social action in England and Wales. For it is a common endeavour at the service of those in need, and always to the glory of the One in whose name we are called to that service.'
Source: Archbishops House
ASIA: TAIWAN: THEME OF YOUTH CAMP- GOD IS LOVE
AUSTRALIA: HISTORIC CHURCH SITE OWNERSHIP IN QUESTION
CATH NEWS REPORT:t Local councillors, the chamber of commerce and a vocal arts community have voiced widespread opposition to the Church's plan to buy the old King's School site in Sydney's western suburb of Parramatta, said a report in the Parramatta Advertiser.
''The old King's School site is an icon in Parramatta, a treasure that has to be preserved,'' Mr Oldfield told the meeting. ''The site should always be accessible to the public and should stand as a reminder of growth, opportunity and vision for not only Parramatta but for NSW.''Chamber of Commerce president Trevor Oldfield told a Save the Old Kings Site meetingorganised by the arts community last week, that the notion of the site ''in the hands of a private organisation is absurd".
Both the arts community and Parramatta Council share a vision for the site to be an arts precinct, with galleries, artists' and performing arts studios, community arts organisations, indigenous cultural centre, retail art space and cafes.
At the the meeting members of the arts community argued that creating a public space for artists was as therapeutic as any formalised counselling service.
''The arts contributes to the wellbeing of the community,'' one of the group's leaders, musician Peter Fenton, said at the meeting.
The report said that the Lord Mayor John Chedid's positive view of church ownership of the site would not have widespread support on council.
TODAY'S SAINT: FEB. 5: ST. AGATHA
St. Agatha | |||||||||||
VIRGIN, MARTYR | |||||||||||
Feast: February 5 | |||||||||||
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TODAY'S GOSPEL: FEB. 5: MARK 6: 30-34
| Mark 6: 30 - 34 | |
| 30 | The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. |
| 31 | And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. |
| 32 | And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. |
| 33 | Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. |
| 34 | As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. |
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