ASIA: CHINA: BEIJING: CHINESE CATHOLIC RUN MARATHON FOR CHARITY
AMERICA: USA: BISHOPS' CONFERENCE: NATURE OF CHURCH -MISSIONARY
EUROPE: GREAT BRITAIN: BISHOP PRESENTS POPE WITH NEW MISSAL
AFRICA: ANGOLA : BISHOP CHALLENGES TO EVANGELIZATION
AUSTRALIA: CANBERRA / GOULBURN - ALL INVITED TO CAROLS OF THE NATIONS
TODAY'S SAINT: OCT. 23: ST. JOHN OF CAPISTRANO
TODAY'S MASS READINGS: 30th SUN. OF ORDINARY TIME/ YEAR A
RADIO VATICANA REPORT: Pope Benedict marked the 85th World Mission Sunday by canonizing three saints in St. Peter’s Square.
Two of the saints were Italian – Archbishop Guido Maria Conforti of Parma, who also founded the Xaverian Missionaries and Father Luigi Guanella, the founder of of the Servants of Charity and the Institute of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence. One was Spanish, Sister Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph.
In his homily on the Gospel of the day (Matthew 22:34-40), Pope Benedict said love of neighbour is “the visible sign that the Christian can show the world to witness God's love.”
"How providential is then the fact that today the Church should indicate to all members three new saints who allowed themselves to be transformed by divine love, which marked their entire existence,” said Pope Benedict. “In different situations and with different charisms, they loved the Lord with all their heart and their neighbour as themselves so as to become a model for all believers.”
The Pope called on all people to be drawn by their examples, and to be guided by their teachings, so that their entire existence becomes a witness of authentic love for God and neighbour.
After reciting the Angelus at the end of Mass, he asked everyone to pray to the Virgin Mary for the October 27th meeting in Assisi scheduled to be attended by leaders of world religions and non-religious personalities in search of peace. It is marking the 25thanniversary of a similar meeting in the same town called by Blessed John Paul II.
Two of the saints were Italian – Archbishop Guido Maria Conforti of Parma, who also founded the Xaverian Missionaries and Father Luigi Guanella, the founder of of the Servants of Charity and the Institute of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence. One was Spanish, Sister Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph.
In his homily on the Gospel of the day (Matthew 22:34-40), Pope Benedict said love of neighbour is “the visible sign that the Christian can show the world to witness God's love.”
"How providential is then the fact that today the Church should indicate to all members three new saints who allowed themselves to be transformed by divine love, which marked their entire existence,” said Pope Benedict. “In different situations and with different charisms, they loved the Lord with all their heart and their neighbour as themselves so as to become a model for all believers.”
The Pope called on all people to be drawn by their examples, and to be guided by their teachings, so that their entire existence becomes a witness of authentic love for God and neighbour.
After reciting the Angelus at the end of Mass, he asked everyone to pray to the Virgin Mary for the October 27th meeting in Assisi scheduled to be attended by leaders of world religions and non-religious personalities in search of peace. It is marking the 25thanniversary of a similar meeting in the same town called by Blessed John Paul II.
ASIA: CHINA: BEIJING: CHINESE CATHOLIC RUN MARATHON FOR CHARITY
IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT:
They were about 30,000 participants altogether. The Catholic runners raised about 550 thousand Yuan (about 60 000 euros). After a Mass celebrated in the morning, which ended with the blessing of the runners, the sisters raised an additional 18,300 Yuan, which will go to several projects, including a nursing home for the elderly, the Orphanage of He Bei, and the Clinic and Centre for Rehabilitation of mentally and physically disabled young people. Seven nuns and a priest completed the entire course of 42.195 km in just over five hours (five nuns are of the same Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit), 11 ran for more than 21 km, the others did nine km. During the marathon the runners were cheered on by parishioners. According to the organizer of the marathon, this was the first time such a large group of sisters had taken part and the first that a priest completed the entire course. Source: Fides |
EUROPE: GREAT BRITAIN: BISHOP PRESENTS POPE WITH NEW MISSAL
BISHOPS OF ENGLAND AND WALES REPORT: On 19 October Bishop Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds, presented the Holy Father with a special white edition of the new Roman Missal. Bishop Roche is Chairman of the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL), and Chairman of the Bishops' Conference Department for Christian Life and Worship. Also meeting the Holy Father were Archbishop Hart of Melbourne, Monsignor Bruce Harbert, former Executive Director of the Secretariat of ICEL, and Pierpaolo Finaldi of the Catholic Truth Society.
Bishop Roche spoke about their meeting, “At the end of Pope Benedict’s visit to Great Britain he spoke about the then forthcoming new translation of the Roman Missal. It is therefore with great pleasure that today we are able to present him with a special edition of the Missal which has been approved for use in England and Wales, Scotland and Australia. The publication of the Missal is a significant landmark in the life of the Church in England and Wales. It will help us to respond to the Holy Father’s call to deepen our knowledge and faith in the Eucharist and renew our liturgical celebration. I am grateful to the Catholic Truth Society for producing the magnificent edition for the Holy Father but also the general high quality of the Missals which will soon be gracing our altars.”
The Missal given to the Holy Father has binding featuring uniquely shaped boards and hand-tooling for the cover, marbled endpapers and a dedicatory inscription to His Holiness.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Liturgy Office microsite for the new translation of the Roman Missal:
http://www.missal.org.uk/
Catholic Truth Society information about the new translation of the Roman Missal:
http://ctscatholiccompass.org/category/roman-missal/
AMERICA: USA: BISHOPS' CONFERENCE: NATURE OF CHURCH -MISSIONARY
USCCB REPORT; WASHINGTON—Catholic parishes will observe World Mission Sunday 2011 on October 23 by inviting missionaries to speak to congregations about their work and by taking up a collection. This year’s theme is “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
In his Message for World Mission Sunday 2011, Pope Benedict XVI explained its theme, saying, “The universal mission involves everyone, everything and always. The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of those who have received it, but it is a gift to be shared, good news to be passed on to others.”
“The very nature of the Church is missionary,” said Peter Murphy, executive director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). “We are each called by virtue of our baptism to proclaim the Good News to our families, our neighbors and to the world. World Mission Sunday promotes an awareness of the Church’s missions and enkindles a love for evangelization.”
The work of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis includes coordinating the U.S. Church’s overseas mission efforts, working closely with the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, the mission-sending societies of men and women, organization of lay missioners and other organizations.
Headquartered in New York City, the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States include the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood Association, Society of St. Peter the Apostle and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
For more information about World Missions and World Mission Sunday, visit:www.usccb.org/about/evangelization-and-catechesis/world-missions/.
AFRICA: ANGOLA : BISHOP CHALLENGES TO EVANGELIZATION
Agenzia Fides REPORT - "The hope is through faith that enlivens our communities despite the serious problems that they are afflicted by," said His Exc. Mgr. Jesus Tirso Blanco, Bishop of Lwena, in eastern Angola, passing through Rome, and granted the following interview to Fides.
What are the conditions of your diocese 9 years after the end of the Civil War (1975-2002)?
My diocese covers 220.000km2, equal to almost continental Italy. We feel the effects of the serious consequences of the civil war, both for the presence of mines, and because the structures of the Church were destroyed due to the war. This has had serious repercussions on the pastoral level, because we recorded a decrease in the number of Catholics, because of the lack of infrastructure and pastoral operators, especially missionaries. However, we are working to rebuild. We have launched over the past three years, a development plan which will end in January 2012, which envisages the construction of two seminars and two new parishes, the reactivation of another and the creation of seven religious communities. Subsequently a further phase will be implemented, from 2012 to 2014, which provides for the establishment of 7 religious communities and diocesan priests to evangelize this vast territory.
What are the main challenges to evangelization?
The main challenges to evangelization comes from lack of priests and missionaries, as well as the difficulty to form catechists. On a social level, there are strong issues in the health and education field. The local road system should be developed to allow its development. As a Church we feel involved and committed to support the human and social development of the population: firstly by carrying out our work of evangelization, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord, and secondly with our social institutions, especially in the educational field. In our diocese more than 20,000 students attend Catholic schools, from kindergarten to university through a program of study at a distance. This is a fundamental aspect because our region is strongly affected by the lack of qualified and trained people.
We also want to contribute to the profound reconciliation of the population. For this we intend to dedicate one of the new parishes to Our Lady of Reconciliation. It is true that now there is peace, but there are still some open wounds, both physical (many people have lost a leg due to landmines) and social (people who have lost their entire families during the war). The population also continues to live with the mines, in several cases not even aware of being in the presence of a minefield, except when it is too late.
What would you like to ask your government for your diocese?
Angola is rich in resources but these are not well distributed. Eastern Angola is a forgotten corner of the Country, there are no roads or schools. There are areas of 40,000 km2, without a single doctor. I understand the difficulties of rebuilding a country after a war, but I would ask the authorities to give greater attention to the formation of our young people, who are the present and the future of the nation.
So, what is the hope?
The hope is there thanks to our communities, where faith is so alive that we can see a future through their open attitude to life, to God and the Church. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/10/2011)
What are the conditions of your diocese 9 years after the end of the Civil War (1975-2002)?
My diocese covers 220.000km2, equal to almost continental Italy. We feel the effects of the serious consequences of the civil war, both for the presence of mines, and because the structures of the Church were destroyed due to the war. This has had serious repercussions on the pastoral level, because we recorded a decrease in the number of Catholics, because of the lack of infrastructure and pastoral operators, especially missionaries. However, we are working to rebuild. We have launched over the past three years, a development plan which will end in January 2012, which envisages the construction of two seminars and two new parishes, the reactivation of another and the creation of seven religious communities. Subsequently a further phase will be implemented, from 2012 to 2014, which provides for the establishment of 7 religious communities and diocesan priests to evangelize this vast territory.
What are the main challenges to evangelization?
The main challenges to evangelization comes from lack of priests and missionaries, as well as the difficulty to form catechists. On a social level, there are strong issues in the health and education field. The local road system should be developed to allow its development. As a Church we feel involved and committed to support the human and social development of the population: firstly by carrying out our work of evangelization, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord, and secondly with our social institutions, especially in the educational field. In our diocese more than 20,000 students attend Catholic schools, from kindergarten to university through a program of study at a distance. This is a fundamental aspect because our region is strongly affected by the lack of qualified and trained people.
We also want to contribute to the profound reconciliation of the population. For this we intend to dedicate one of the new parishes to Our Lady of Reconciliation. It is true that now there is peace, but there are still some open wounds, both physical (many people have lost a leg due to landmines) and social (people who have lost their entire families during the war). The population also continues to live with the mines, in several cases not even aware of being in the presence of a minefield, except when it is too late.
What would you like to ask your government for your diocese?
Angola is rich in resources but these are not well distributed. Eastern Angola is a forgotten corner of the Country, there are no roads or schools. There are areas of 40,000 km2, without a single doctor. I understand the difficulties of rebuilding a country after a war, but I would ask the authorities to give greater attention to the formation of our young people, who are the present and the future of the nation.
So, what is the hope?
The hope is there thanks to our communities, where faith is so alive that we can see a future through their open attitude to life, to God and the Church. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/10/2011)
AUSTRALIA: CANBERRA / GOULBURN - ALL INVITED TO CAROLS OF THE NATIONS
DIOCESE OF CANBERRA REPORT: Everyone in the Archdiocese is invited by Archbishop Mark Coleridge to celebrate the spirit of Christmas by attending the annual Carols of the Nations.
The event will take place from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, 18 December at Archbishop’s House.
Parking and entry is via Albert Street, Commonwealth Park. A sausage sizzle, tea, coffee and soft drinks will be on sale. Those attending should bring a chair or picnic blanket.
Children are invited to bring baby Jesus from the nativity set for Archbishop Coleridge to bless.
TODAY'S SAINT: OCT. 23: ST. JOHN OF CAPISTRANO
St. John of Capistrano
FRANCISCAN PAPAL LEGATE AND HERO OF HUNGARY
Feast: October 23
Information:
Feast Day:
October 23
Born:
June 24, 1386, Capestrano, Abruzzi, Kingdom of Naples
Died:
October 23, 1456, Ilok, modern Croatia
Canonized:
1690 or 1724, Rome by either Pope Alexander VIII or Pope Benedict XIII
Patron of:
Jurists
Born at Capistrano, in the Diocese of Sulmona, Italy, 1385; died 23 October, 1456. His father had come to Naples in the train of Louis of Anjou, hence is supposed to have been of French blood, though some say he was of German origin. His father dying early, John owed his education to his mother. She had him at first instructed at home and then sent him to study law at Perugia, where he achieved great success under the eminent legist, Pietro de Ubaldis. In 1412 he was appointed governor of Perugia by Ladislaus, King of Naples, who then held that city of the Holy See. As governor he set himself against civic corruption and bribery. War broke out in 1416 between Perugia and the Malatesta. John was sent as ambassador to propose peace to the Malatesta, who however cast him into prison. It was during this imprisonment that he began to think more seriously about his soul. He decided eventually to give up the world and become a Franciscan Friar, owing to a dream he had in which he saw St. Francis and was warned by the saint to enter the Franciscan Order. John had married a wealthy lady of Perugia immediately before the war broke out, but as the marriage was not consummated he obtained a dispensation to enter religion, which he did 4 October, 1416.
After he had taken his vows he came under the influence of St. Bernardine of Siena, who taught him theology: he had as his fellow-student St. James of the Marches. He accompanied St. Bernardine on his preaching tours in order to study his methods, and in 1420, whilst still in deacon's orders, was himself permitted to preach. But his apostolic life began in 1425, after he had received the priesthood. From this time until his death he laboured ceaselessly for the salvation of souls. He traversed the whole of Italy; and so great were the crowds who came to listen to him that he often had to preach in the public squares. At the time of his preaching all business stopped. At Brescia on one occasion he preached to a crowd of one hundred and twenty-six thousand people, who had come from all the neighbouring provinces. On another occasion during a mission, over two thousand sick people were brought to him that he might sign them with the sign of the Cross, so great was his fame as a healer of the sick. Like St. Bernardine of Siena he greatly propagated devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, and, together with that saint, was accused of heresy because of this devotion. While he was thus carrying on his apostolic work, he was actively engaged in assisting St. Bernardine in the reform of the Franciscan Order. In 1429 John, together with other Observant friars, was cited to Rome on the charge of heresy, and he was chosen by his companions to defend their cause; the friars were acquitted by the commission of cardinals.
After this, Pope Martin V conceived the idea of uniting the Conventual Friars Minor and the Observants, and a general chapter of both bodies of Franciscans was convoked at Assisi in 1430. A union was effected, but it did not last long. The following year the Observants held a chapter at Bologna, at which John was the moving spirit. According to Gonzaga, John was about this time appointed commissary general of the Observants, but his name does not appear among the commissaries and vicars in Holzapfel's list (Manuale Hist. Ord. FF. Min., 624-5) before 1443. But it was owing to him that St. Bernardine was appointed vicar-general in 1438. Shortly after this, whilst visiting France he met St. Colette, the reformer of the Second Franciscan Order or Poor Clares, with whose efforts he entirely sympathized. He was frequently employed on embassies by the Holy See. In 1439 he was sent as legate to Milan and Burgundy, to oppose the claims of the antipope Felix V; in 1446 he was on a mission to the King of France; in 1451 he went at the request of the emperor as Apostolic nuncio to Austria. During the period of his nunciature John visited all parts of the empire, preaching and combatting the heresy of the Hussites; he also visited Poland at the request of Casimir IV. In 1454 he was summoned to the Diet at Frankfort, to assist that assembly in its deliberation concerning a crusade against the Turks for the relief of Hungary: and here, too, he was the leading spirit. When the crusade was actually in operation John accompanied the famous Hunyady throughout the campaign: he was present at the battle of Belgrade, and led the left wing of the Christian army against the Turks. He was beatified in 1694, and canonized in 1724. He wrote many books, chiefly against the heresies of his day.
FRANCISCAN PAPAL LEGATE AND HERO OF HUNGARY
Feast: October 23
Information:
Feast Day:
October 23
Born:
June 24, 1386, Capestrano, Abruzzi, Kingdom of Naples
Died:
October 23, 1456, Ilok, modern Croatia
Canonized:
1690 or 1724, Rome by either Pope Alexander VIII or Pope Benedict XIII
Patron of:
Jurists
Born at Capistrano, in the Diocese of Sulmona, Italy, 1385; died 23 October, 1456. His father had come to Naples in the train of Louis of Anjou, hence is supposed to have been of French blood, though some say he was of German origin. His father dying early, John owed his education to his mother. She had him at first instructed at home and then sent him to study law at Perugia, where he achieved great success under the eminent legist, Pietro de Ubaldis. In 1412 he was appointed governor of Perugia by Ladislaus, King of Naples, who then held that city of the Holy See. As governor he set himself against civic corruption and bribery. War broke out in 1416 between Perugia and the Malatesta. John was sent as ambassador to propose peace to the Malatesta, who however cast him into prison. It was during this imprisonment that he began to think more seriously about his soul. He decided eventually to give up the world and become a Franciscan Friar, owing to a dream he had in which he saw St. Francis and was warned by the saint to enter the Franciscan Order. John had married a wealthy lady of Perugia immediately before the war broke out, but as the marriage was not consummated he obtained a dispensation to enter religion, which he did 4 October, 1416.
After he had taken his vows he came under the influence of St. Bernardine of Siena, who taught him theology: he had as his fellow-student St. James of the Marches. He accompanied St. Bernardine on his preaching tours in order to study his methods, and in 1420, whilst still in deacon's orders, was himself permitted to preach. But his apostolic life began in 1425, after he had received the priesthood. From this time until his death he laboured ceaselessly for the salvation of souls. He traversed the whole of Italy; and so great were the crowds who came to listen to him that he often had to preach in the public squares. At the time of his preaching all business stopped. At Brescia on one occasion he preached to a crowd of one hundred and twenty-six thousand people, who had come from all the neighbouring provinces. On another occasion during a mission, over two thousand sick people were brought to him that he might sign them with the sign of the Cross, so great was his fame as a healer of the sick. Like St. Bernardine of Siena he greatly propagated devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, and, together with that saint, was accused of heresy because of this devotion. While he was thus carrying on his apostolic work, he was actively engaged in assisting St. Bernardine in the reform of the Franciscan Order. In 1429 John, together with other Observant friars, was cited to Rome on the charge of heresy, and he was chosen by his companions to defend their cause; the friars were acquitted by the commission of cardinals.
After this, Pope Martin V conceived the idea of uniting the Conventual Friars Minor and the Observants, and a general chapter of both bodies of Franciscans was convoked at Assisi in 1430. A union was effected, but it did not last long. The following year the Observants held a chapter at Bologna, at which John was the moving spirit. According to Gonzaga, John was about this time appointed commissary general of the Observants, but his name does not appear among the commissaries and vicars in Holzapfel's list (Manuale Hist. Ord. FF. Min., 624-5) before 1443. But it was owing to him that St. Bernardine was appointed vicar-general in 1438. Shortly after this, whilst visiting France he met St. Colette, the reformer of the Second Franciscan Order or Poor Clares, with whose efforts he entirely sympathized. He was frequently employed on embassies by the Holy See. In 1439 he was sent as legate to Milan and Burgundy, to oppose the claims of the antipope Felix V; in 1446 he was on a mission to the King of France; in 1451 he went at the request of the emperor as Apostolic nuncio to Austria. During the period of his nunciature John visited all parts of the empire, preaching and combatting the heresy of the Hussites; he also visited Poland at the request of Casimir IV. In 1454 he was summoned to the Diet at Frankfort, to assist that assembly in its deliberation concerning a crusade against the Turks for the relief of Hungary: and here, too, he was the leading spirit. When the crusade was actually in operation John accompanied the famous Hunyady throughout the campaign: he was present at the battle of Belgrade, and led the left wing of the Christian army against the Turks. He was beatified in 1694, and canonized in 1724. He wrote many books, chiefly against the heresies of his day.
TODAY'S MASS READINGS: 30th SUN. OF ORDINARY TIME/ YEAR A
Exodus 22: 20 - 26
20"Whoever sacrifices to any god, save to the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.21"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.22You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.23If you do afflict them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry;24and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.25"If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor, and you shall not exact interest from him.26If ever you take your neighbor's garment in pledge, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down;
20"Whoever sacrifices to any god, save to the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.21"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.22You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.23If you do afflict them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry;24and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.25"If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor, and you shall not exact interest from him.26If ever you take your neighbor's garment in pledge, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down;
Psalms 18: 2 - 4, 47, 51
2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.3I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.4The cords of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me;47the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me;
2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.3I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.4The cords of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me;47the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me;
| 1 Thessalonians 1: 5 - 10 | |
| 5 | for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. |
| 6 | And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; |
| 7 | so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedo'nia and in Acha'ia. |
| 8 | For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedo'nia and Acha'ia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. |
| 9 | For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, |
| 10 | and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. |
| Matthew 22: 34 - 40 | |
| 34 | But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together. |
| 35 | And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. |
| 36 | "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" |
| 37 | And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. |
| 38 | This is the great and first commandment. |
| 39 | And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. |
| 40 | On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." |
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