VATICAN: POPE: MEETS 7,000 PILGRIMS FROM ITALY
The pilgrims began to arrive before dawn on Saturday, the fleet of touring buses by which they made the journey from the southern diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti lining the broad Roman boulevard that runs into St Peter’s basilica.
The pilgrimage to Rome is part of the diocesan synod of the Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti.
Pope Benedict them the Church is not a social organization, or charitable institution: it is the Community of God.
Speaking of items the diocese should consider during the synod, the Holy Father said particular attention should be paid to education, and called on parents to be the first witness of the Faith to their children.
He concluded with a special message to the priests of the diocese, asking them to proclaim the Gospel with courage and loyalty, to be witnesses to God’s mercy, and to not fear dialogue with the culture and those who are in search of God.
EUROPE: MONACO: PRINCE ALBERT MARRIES AT CATHOLIC CEREMONY
Prince Albert is the only son of Prince Ranier III and former Hollywood actress Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly married Ranier in 1956. She died in a car accident in 1982 leaving the Prince 3 children, Caroline, Albert and Stephanie.
AMERICA: CANADA: MUSICAL GUIDELINES FOR CANADIAN CHURCHES WITH NEW MISSAL
2. Four musical settings have been approved by the Bishops for use in Canada: three commissioned by the CCCB and the “Chants of the Roman Missal” by the ICEL (International Commission on English in the Liturgy). Thus, in addition to the setting which will be found in the Missal, the CCCB also approved these settings as presented in “Celebrate in Song”:
"Mass Setting A" by Fr. Geoffrey Angeles,
"Mass Setting B" (Mass of the Holy Family) by John Dawson,
"Mass Setting C" by Michel Guimont.
To help provide a spirit of unity and collaboration for all those involved in assisting our parishioners in full and active participation in the Eucharist, we are inviting parishes to utilize two settings during the first year of implementation of the new Roman Missal. We must be fully aware that all other settings presently being used are not to be employed in the parishes after the First Sunday of Advent because they do not reflect the new translation. This will be a significant change for choirs and cantors.
You are invited to choose from a) ICEL Chants setting and b) one of the approved three CCCB sung settings. You can hear the settings by visiting our resources page of the Archdiocesan Roman Missal site:www.archtoronto.org/romanmissal/resources.htm.
This will allow parishioners, music ministers and clergy to collaborate on teaching and implementing musical settings that will become familiar to congregations at all masses. Please note: all the mass settings presently being used at parish liturgies need to be replaced by the new authorized settings effective the First Sunday of Advent 2011. The desire for a unity of musical settings in your parish may be challenging but your guidance and encouragement will make this exercise of decision-making a positive moment in liturgical renewal.
4. We are aware that parishes have received other musical settings, including those from the United States. In order to foster unity, we ask all parishes to use the mass settings from the CCCB for the first year of implementation. Your cooperation is appreciated in adopting this approach in your parish.
Thank you to all those who participated in the recent workshop related to the music settings presented in “Celebrate in Song” and approved for use in Canada. More than 450 people were in attendance for the gathering, a wonderful response to the first of many planned sessions with parish musicians..
The communication also included a link for those parishes wishing to delve into more in depth study this summer regarding the Roman Missal, with suggested resources available to review atwww.archtoronto.org/romanmissal/resources.htm.
You can be assured that parishioners will be hearing plenty of information about the new translation this fall, with bulletin inserts, pew cards, catechesis and other "hands on" information regarding this historic moment of evangelization and catechesis for North America.
The important thing for all to keep in mind is that we're not just changing some of the words that are used in the celebration of mass, we hope the experience will provide an opportunity for Eucharistic renewal, to allow all Catholics to reflect on how we can all engage in more active participation in the pinnacle of our faith journey as we gather as a faith community each week.
ASIA: INDONESIA: 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF FAITH IN SMALL VILLAGE
Parishioners of St. Peter Church of Lahurus in Belu district ended a month-long celebration of the 125th anniversary of their parish’s establishment earlier this week with a Holy Mass.
“Celebrating the anniversary of this parish’s establishment is a meaningful moment which can strengthen the parishioners’ faith. So make this parish’s anniversary celebration a moment of faith celebration to thank God for his gifts given to the missioners who proclaimed the Good News in Lahurus, the center of Catholicism,” Bishop Dominikus Saku of Atambua said after the Holy Mass.
“From Lahurus, Catholicism was spread out to other remote areas here in Timor Island. Thus, parishioners must maintain their strong faith, moral and social strength, knowledge and skills which were given by the ancestors,” he added.
According to the prelate, Catholicism arrived in the parish on June 29, 1886.
“That is why parishioners should really experience their faith … by becoming individuals who have good character, noble conscience and responsibility,” he said.
The church is not merely about a building, he added.
“The real meaning of the Church is a communion of faithful who live and experience their faith in God through the intercession of Jesus Christ,” he maintained.
To mark the anniversary of the parish’s establishment, a series of programs was organized beginning on June 5, including sport competitions, a long march following the missioners’ footsteps, an audience with the bishop and the diocese’s vicar general Divine Word Father Yustus Asa, and art performances.
http://www.ucanews.com/2011/07/01/parishioners-celebrate-125-years-of-catholicism/
AFRICA: EGYPT: PROTESTERS IN TAHRIR SQUARE
"There are different interpretations of these accidents" says Fr. Luciano Verdoscia, a Comboni missionary who lives and works in Cairo to Fides. "On behalf of the protesters who accuse the current military government of being a remnant of the old regime and to use the same methods of intimidation to suppress and to give the opposition a bad name. Others say that fundamentalist elements have filtrated among the protestors in Tahrir Square, perhaps from abroad".
According to Father Luciano "young people in Tahrir Square are impatient, because they believe that the government is inventing excuses to delay the trials against former President Mubarak and his entourage, including former Interior Minister, held responsible for the massacres committed at the time of the revolution this winter. At the same time, however, the protesters who were responsible for riots or crime, however minor, if not insignificant, during this transition period are being put on trial in a direct way. So it seems that the military government uses martial law to judge these cases, whereas with regards to the charges against representatives of the old regime, trials seem to go very slowly".
The recent demonstrations, according to the missionary, must be placed in the context in which Egypt lives. "We are living a moment of stasis and waiting", says Father Luciano. "We have second thoughts about the last moments: some say that in Egypt a revolution is taking place and others, who are more skeptical and believe that the country is not ready for voting. We live in the ' enthusiasm for change, with the prospect of giving birth to a mature democracy and a fairer society, and the fears of uncertainty of danger that fundamentalist groups, which are the most organized, can have a strong voice in the reorganization of society " concludes the missionary.
AUSTRALIA: 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF HOME FOR MENTALLY ILL
Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn report: Today marks 12 months since the official opening of HOME in Queanbeyan.
A community based initiative, HOME provides supported accommodation in a loving setting for people with chronic mental illness who cannot live independently, or are at risk of being homeless.
The first of its kind in Australia, HOME currently has 18 residents comprising 14 men and four women, ranging from 25-65 years of age. Almost half are from areas other than Queanbeyan, including Canberra, Goulburn, and the South Coast. There is just one vacancy left.
HOME aims to change lives by countering the isolation and loneliness that too often goes hand-in-hand with mental illness. Residents are seen every day and encouraged to live active and fulfilling lives within their community.
To this end, some are pursuing studies through TAFE, a couple are working, while others are enjoying new hobbies.
HOME needs to raise $200,000 each year to cover operating costs. It receives no government funding and instead relies on the rents paid by residents and the support of the community.
For more information, click here.
TODAY'S SAINT: JULY 2: ST. BERNARDINO REALINO
St. Bernardino Realino
JESUIT COLLEGE RECTOR
Feast: July 2
| Born in Modena, Italy, in 1530, he trained as an attorney. At the age of thirty-four, Bernardine became a member of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. He was appointed years later to the post of rector of the Jesuit college at Lecce, remaining there until death. Bernardine was canonized in 1947. |
SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/B/stbernardinorealino.asp#ixzz1QyCiuaui
TODAY'S GOSPEL: JULY 2: LUKE 2: 41- 51
| Luke 2: 41 - 51 | |
| 41 | Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. |
| 42 | And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; |
| 43 | and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, |
| 44 | but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; |
| 45 | and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. |
| 46 | After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; |
| 47 | and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. |
| 48 | And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." |
| 49 | And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" |
| 50 | And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. |
| 51 | And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. |
