VATICAN : POPE : NO VIOLENCE IN GOD'S NAME
AFRICA : KENYA : NEW MISSAL INITIATES JAN. 15
TODAY'S SAINT : JAN. 14 : ST. SAVA
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=554272
MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY
This morning Pope Benedict XVI received the Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Monti, in private audience.
After the audience the Prime Minister, accompanied by the Italian Ministers for Foreign and European Affairs, met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and the Undersecretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Ettore Balestrero.
In the course of their meeting, the Holy Father and the Prime Minister discussed the social situation in Italy and the challenges for the Italian government, as well as the contribution of the Catholic Church to the life of the country. They also considered global events, as well as the current situation in Europe and the Mediterranean area. Finally, they emphasized the need to protect religious minorities – especially Christians – throughout the world.
Finally, the Pope and the Prime Minister confirmed their desire to continue collaborating in a constructive way within the broader context of international relations.
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=554686
ASIA : IRAQ : SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 20 OR MORE
ASIA NEWS REPORT:
Suicide bomber blows himself up at a checkpoint near the city’s main mosque. Policemen are among the victims. The incident comes as Shia mark Arbain, one of the main celebrations on the Shia calendar.
Baghdad (AsiaNews/ Agencies) – At least 20 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on Shia pilgrims in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. They were marking the festival of Arbain, one of the main holy days of the Shia calendar.
The suicide bomber struck a checkpoint used by pilgrims on their way to a major Shia mosque to the west of Basra. Victims are said to include several policemen.
The attack follows a string of similar incidents against the Shia community that took the lives of hundreds of people and wounded thousands more in the past few weeks. Last week for instance, at least 72 people were killed in bomb attacks targeting Shia Muslims in southern Iraq and the capital, Baghdad.
Experts note that the attacks are a sign of growing tensions between Sunnis and Shias following the departure of US troops in December and the arrest order issued by Prime Minister al-Maliki, a Shia, against Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni.
Sources told AsiaNews that a plan is being implemented to complete the fragmentation of the country of 27 million people along confessional lines.
If successful, it would mark the division of Iraq into a Shia area (61 per cent of the population) and a Sunni area (34 per cent, of which 17 per cent Kurdish).
It could also mean the final disappearance of Yazidis as well as Christians (4 per cent). The latter have already lost half of their community in the past 10 years.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Suicide-attack-against-Shia-pilgrims-in-Basra-kills-at-least-20-23697.html
Suicide bomber blows himself up at a checkpoint near the city’s main mosque. Policemen are among the victims. The incident comes as Shia mark Arbain, one of the main celebrations on the Shia calendar.
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Baghdad (AsiaNews/ Agencies) – At least 20 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on Shia pilgrims in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. They were marking the festival of Arbain, one of the main holy days of the Shia calendar.The suicide bomber struck a checkpoint used by pilgrims on their way to a major Shia mosque to the west of Basra. Victims are said to include several policemen.
The attack follows a string of similar incidents against the Shia community that took the lives of hundreds of people and wounded thousands more in the past few weeks. Last week for instance, at least 72 people were killed in bomb attacks targeting Shia Muslims in southern Iraq and the capital, Baghdad.
Experts note that the attacks are a sign of growing tensions between Sunnis and Shias following the departure of US troops in December and the arrest order issued by Prime Minister al-Maliki, a Shia, against Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni.
Sources told AsiaNews that a plan is being implemented to complete the fragmentation of the country of 27 million people along confessional lines.
If successful, it would mark the division of Iraq into a Shia area (61 per cent of the population) and a Sunni area (34 per cent, of which 17 per cent Kurdish).
It could also mean the final disappearance of Yazidis as well as Christians (4 per cent). The latter have already lost half of their community in the past 10 years.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Suicide-attack-against-Shia-pilgrims-in-Basra-kills-at-least-20-23697.html
EUROPE : ITALY : CHAPLAIN HELPS PASSENGERS IN SINKING SHIP
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The National Director of the Apostleship of the Sea in Italy, Fr Giacomo Martino, said: "The work of cruise chaplains onboard is of great value to encourage and support crew and passengers at difficult moments."
Praising the crew of Costa Concordia, he said: "The crew worked to save passengers with great generosity and a spirit of selflessness."
Thousands of passengers have begun to arrive at the Savona cruise terminal where the local Apostleship of the Sea is joining other agencies to distribute clothing and food. It is also providing spiritual and emotional support.
The priest and parishioners on the island of Giglio, where the ship sank, worked during the night to assist those leaving the ship.
Fr Giacomo called for prayers to be offered for those who have died and those missing.
Each year the Apostleship of the Sea deploys chaplains on many cruise lines to support the pastoral and practical welfare of crew and passengers. Last year more than 700 cruise chaplains provided 15,000 days of cruise chaplaincy across the world.
Source: AoS
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=19649
AMERICA : PERU : APPEAL TO END VIOLENCE - VALUE LIFE
Agenzia Fides REPORT – On Saturday, January 7 three armed men entered the police station in the district of Santa Rosa, province of Jaen, and killed three policemen cold-bloodedly, the pregnant wife of one of them and their 13-year-old son. The Director of Radio Marañón, in Jaén, the Jesuit priest Francisco Muguiro Ibarra, following the recent acts of violence in the area of Cajamarca, spoke about the importance for the respect for life.
According to information sent by the CNR (National Coordination of Radios) to Fides, Fr. Muguiro said: "Different Assumptions:revenge, armed robbery (two shotguns and four handguns), can be many ... but this time it seems that drug dealing and terrorism are simply discarded. No matter the motivation, there is no motivation, nothing is valid to take the life of another person, unless you are in the situation of self-defense, but this is currently under discussion after the episode of the student who killed a thief who wanted to steal his mobile phone".
The Jesuit priest invites us to reflect on the value of life: "Life is not any one thing. And It is God’s miracle. How much does it cost a parent to be able to form a healthy person! Life is God's plan But it seems worth little in these days. The same day the policemen were killed, 3 other people died in the streets of Jaén due to family disputes or for robbery, and then in Bagua a farmer was killed".
For this reason father Francisco Muguiro Ibarra invites the community to engage in forming the new generations to the true value of life: "The blood of the three members of the Police and their families cries out to God from the land of Santa Rosa and demands justice, not revenge, but Justice ... Starting from the family, school, society, we must begin to appreciate life more. Children need to start living the life as it is, something sacred. We would all like to take part in a campaign for public safety, so that we do not continue to hear about the violent death of our fellow citizens, as what happens every day, and life gains back its value". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 13/01/2012)
http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=30768&lan=eng
According to information sent by the CNR (National Coordination of Radios) to Fides, Fr. Muguiro said: "Different Assumptions:revenge, armed robbery (two shotguns and four handguns), can be many ... but this time it seems that drug dealing and terrorism are simply discarded. No matter the motivation, there is no motivation, nothing is valid to take the life of another person, unless you are in the situation of self-defense, but this is currently under discussion after the episode of the student who killed a thief who wanted to steal his mobile phone".
The Jesuit priest invites us to reflect on the value of life: "Life is not any one thing. And It is God’s miracle. How much does it cost a parent to be able to form a healthy person! Life is God's plan But it seems worth little in these days. The same day the policemen were killed, 3 other people died in the streets of Jaén due to family disputes or for robbery, and then in Bagua a farmer was killed".
For this reason father Francisco Muguiro Ibarra invites the community to engage in forming the new generations to the true value of life: "The blood of the three members of the Police and their families cries out to God from the land of Santa Rosa and demands justice, not revenge, but Justice ... Starting from the family, school, society, we must begin to appreciate life more. Children need to start living the life as it is, something sacred. We would all like to take part in a campaign for public safety, so that we do not continue to hear about the violent death of our fellow citizens, as what happens every day, and life gains back its value". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 13/01/2012)
http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=30768&lan=eng
AUSTRALIA : FREE 1 DAY WORKSHOP ON VOCATION
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT:
13 Jan 2012
13 Jan 2012
Marriage is a vocation and needs
prayer and God's help when
making this important decision
More than 20 Sydney Catholics have already registered for a free one-day workshop designed to help men and women discover what God wishes for them and how to make important decisions about their lives.
Conducted by the Archdiocese of Sydney on Friday, 20 January the workshop is inspired by the writings of St Ignatius.
The first of its kind to be held in Sydney and the first of three planned for throughout the year, the workshop has been created by the Archdiocesan Vocations Centre to help participants not only discover the power of prayer but how to call on God to help them make positive decisions in regard to their careers, marriages or furture.
The decisions can be as simple as what course of study should a school leaver follow at university but can also relate to decisions about a career and whether someone should change jobs or stay where they are. The decision could also be about a loved one and whether or not this really is the person they should marry.
"Christian decision-making is not just about priestly vocations or life as a religious," says Father Michael de Stoop, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Sydney who with Sister Anthony Mary Diago RSM has designed the workshop based on St Ignatius' insights and inspiration.
"We wanted to make sure the workshop is not just about abstract principles but will provide practical advice and real life examples on Christian decision-making and the difference this can make to our lives," he says.
University students often need guidance to decide
on careers and what God is calling them to do
Although some of those attending the January workshop or one of the other two to be held later in the year, may be seeking clarity in discerning a vocation for the priesthood or as a religious, others may be seeking God's guidance in their marriage, career, role as a parent or in their work for their local parish and ministry.
"Often when we are making decisions we want to know what God wants us to do. We make decisions pertaining to the gifts we received from Christ and for this reasons it should not just be our duty but our passion to pray to Him for guidance when making these decisions," says Fr de Stoop. But he points out for many, making the right decision isn't easy and we can become confused and worried.
"But St Ignatius in his teachings showed how we can make the right decision through prayer in combination with our own insights," he says.
St Ignatius, the 16th Century saint and founder of the Society of Jesus, used five basic principles to make decisions. The first was to trust in God and be very clear about what exactly needed to be decided. The second was to hold a strong belief in God in daily life while also seeking advice and information from others to help with making the decision. Next came the importance of impartiality and not leaning to one side or the other but instead carefully weighing all the advantages and disadvantages of the issue to be decided.
Fr Michael de Stoop with students at
University of Notre Dame
The fourth suggestion from St Ignatius was to give yourself time to really think about the decision, and while praying to God about this decision, listen to Him and discover which choice brings disquiet and which brings peace and ease.
Finally, as the commitment on what is the best way to go becomes clear, make the decision and pray to God for confirmation.
From St Ignatius's teachings, the workshop will explore Christian-decision making in far more detail and will also talk about the characteristics of authentic inspirations of the Holy Spirit and show how these can be used to reach a resolution that is not only right for you, but God's will.
Fr de Stoop and Sister Anthony Mary Diago have spent several months planning the workshop which will be held from 9.30 am until 3 pm on Friday, 20 January at the Catholic Education Centre, 3 Keating Street, Lidcombe.
For those unable to make this workshop, another will be held on Friday, 13 July as well as on 25 September.
Registration for next week's free workshop and to find out more, phone 02 9390 5970 or email vocations@sydneycatholic.org.
TODAY'S MASS AND GOSPEL ONLINE : SAT. JAN. 14, 2012
| Mark 2: 13 - 17 | |
| 13 | He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. |
| 14 | And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. |
| 15 | And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. |
| 16 | And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" |
| 17 | And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." |
TODAY'S SAINT : JAN. 14 : ST. SAVA
St. Sava
PATRON OF SERBIA, RELIGIOUS
Feast: January 14
 Information:
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Born, Rastko, he was the third son of Stephen I Nemanja (r. 1167-1196), ruler of Serbia. In 1191, he went to Mount Athos, where he took the name Sava and became a monk. He was joined there five years later by his father, who had abdicated in favor of his eldest son, Stephen. With his father, Sava established on Mount Athos the monastery of Khilander (Hilandar), which emerged as one of the leading monastic centers for the Serbians. Sava returned to Serbia in 1208 and became archimandrite of Studenica, using the post to wield considerable political and religious influence throughout the kingdom.
He opposed his brother's religious policy of treating with the Holy See and in 1219 was consecrated the metropolitan of an independent Serbian Church by the patriarch of Nicaea with the approval of the Byzantine emperor, who was much in favor of keeping Serbia within the sphere of Greek Orthodox influence. Sava worked to establish dioceses throughout Serbia, promoted native clergy, built churches, and translated numerous religious texts into Serbian. In 1229, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, returning there in 1233 to win recognition of the Bulgarian patriarch from the patriarchs of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch. he died while on his way home, at Tirnovo, Bulgaria. (Taken from Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints |
SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/S/stsava.asp#ixzz1jR09zfLB
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