Vatican City, 22 April 2012 (VIS) - At midday today, the third Sunday of Easter, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to pray the Regina Coeli with faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square below. (IMAGE SOURCE: RADIO VATICANA) Before the Marian prayer, the Pope dedicated some remarks to the signs the Risen Christ gave His disciples as they, "startled and terrified, thought they were seeing a ghost".
"The resurrection", the Holy Father explained, "did not cancel the signs of the crucifixion. Jesus showed the Apostles His hands and feet; in order to convince them He even asked for something to eat. ... Thanks to these very realistic signs, the disciples overcame their initial doubt and opened to the gift of the faith, a faith which enabled them to understand the things written about Christ 'in the law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms'. ... The Saviour assures us of His real presence among us through the Word and the Eucharist and, just as the disciples of Emmaus recognised Jesus in the breaking of the bread, so we too meet the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist".
Finally the Holy Father recalled that during the period of Easter it is customary for the Church to administer First Communion to children. In this context, he exhorted pastors, parents and catechists "to prepare this feast of the faith well, with great fervour but also with sobriety".
Following the Regina Coeli the Holy Father mentioned yesterday's beatification in Mexico of Maria Ines Teresa of the Blessed Sacrament Arias Espinosa, foundress of the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. "Let us give thanks to God for this exemplary figure of Mexico, a land I had the joy of visiting and which is always in my heart", he said,
Finally the Pope turned his attention to the Day of the Sacred Heart Catholic University, which is being celebrated this Sunday in Italy on the theme: "The Future of the Country in the Hearts of the Young". He said: "It is important for young people to be educated in values, over and above scientific and technical knowledge. It was for this reason that Fr. Gemelli founded the Catholic University, which I hope will remain abreast of the times but also faithful to its origins".
HOLY FATHER DENOUNCES HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ORGAN HARVESTING
Vatican City, 23 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father has written a message for the seventh world congress on the pastoral care of tourism, which begins today in the Mexican city of Cancun. The message is addressed to Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, and to Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cardenas L.C., prelate of Cancun-Chetumanl.
"Tourism", the Pope writes in the English-language version of his message, "like other human realities, is called to be enlightened and transformed by the Word of God. ... Tourism, together with vacations and free time, is a privileged occasion for physical and spiritual renewal; it facilitates the coming together of people from different cultural backgrounds and offers the opportunity of drawing close to nature and hence opening the way to listening and contemplation, tolerance and peace, dialogue and harmony in the midst of diversity.
"Travelling reflects our being as 'homo viator'; at the same time it evokes that other deeper and more meaningful journey that we are called to follow and which leads to our encounter with God. Travelling, which offers us the possibility of admiring the beauty of peoples, cultures and nature, can lead to God and be the occasion of an experience of faith, “for from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator”.
"On the other hand tourism, like every human reality, is not exempt from dangers or negative dimensions. We refer to evils that must be dealt with urgently since they trample upon the rights of millions of men and women, especially among the poor, minors and handicapped. Sexual tourism is one of the most abject of these deviations that devastate morally, psychologically and physically the life of so many persons and families, and sometimes whole communities. The trafficking of human beings for sexual exploitation or organ harvesting as well as the exploitation of minors, abandoned into the hands of individuals without scruples and undergoing abuse and torture, sadly happen often in the context of tourism. This should bring all who are engaged for pastoral reasons or who work in the field of tourism, and the whole international community, to increase their vigilance and to foresee and oppose such aberrations".
"I would like to highlight three areas which should receive full attention from the pastoral care of tourism. Firstly, we need shed light on this reality using the social teaching of the Church and promote a culture of ethical and responsible tourism, in such a way that it will respect the dignity of persons and of peoples, be open to all, be just, sustainable and ecological. The enjoyment of free time and regular vacations are an opportunity as well as a right. The Church, within its own sphere of competence, is committed to continue offering its cooperation, so that this right will become a reality for all people, especially for less fortunate communities.
"Secondly, our pastoral action should never loose sight of the 'via pulchritudinis', “the way of beauty”. Many of the manifestations of the historical and cultural religious patrimony are “authentic ways to God, Supreme Beauty. ... It is important to welcome tourists and offer them well-organised visits, with due respect for sacred places and the liturgical action, for which many of these works came into being and which continues to be their main purpose.
"Thirdly, pastoral activity in the area of tourism should care for Christians as they enjoy their vacations and free time in such a way that these will contribute to their human and spiritual growth. Truly this is “an appropriate moment to let the body relax ... in order to grow in personal relationship with Christ”".
"The new evangelisation, to which all are called, requires us to keep in mind and to make good use of the many occasions that tourism offers us to put forward Christ as the supreme response to modern man’s fundamental questions".
POPE RECALLS HISTORIC ROLE OF WOMEN IN BUILDING THE CHURCH IN AMERICA
Vatican City, 21 April 2012 (VIS) - At midday today Benedict XVI received members of the Papal Foundation on their annual visit to Rome. The agency is a Catholic association founded in Philadelphia, U.S.A., in 1990 by the now-deceased Cardinal John Krol, which every year finances the needs of the Church around the world.
Speaking to the group in English, the Pope thanked them for their support for "a wide variety of apostolates". He also noted that later this year he will canonise two new saints from North America, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha and Blessed Mother Marianne Cope, "striking examples of sanctity and heroic charity" who "also remind us of the historic role played by women in the building up of the Church in America. By their example and intercession, may all of you be confirmed in the pursuit of holiness and in your efforts to contribute to the growth of God’s Kingdom in the hearts of people today".
"In these days I ask your continued prayers for the needs of the universal Church and in particular for the freedom of Christians to proclaim the Gospel and bring its light to the urgent moral issues of our time", the Pope concluded.
MEETING ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA
Vatican City, 21 April 2012 (VIS) - The commission established by Benedict XVI in 2007 to study questions of importance concerning the life of the Catholic Church in China is meeting in the Vatican today. The commission includes superiors of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia with responsibility in this area, as well as certain representatives of the Chinese episcopate and of religious congregations.
A communique released by the Holy See Press Office notes that, while previous meetings have examined the formation of seminarians, consecrated persons and priests, this year the focus will be on the formation of the lay faithful in the light of the situation of the Catholic community in China, and in the context of the "Year of Faith" which will be celebrated by the entire Church from 11 October 2012 to 23 November 2013. Attention will also be given to progress made in the field of forming priests, consecrated persons and seminarians, and to what remains to be done to ensure they are adequately prepared for the service they are called to offer, within the Church and for the good of society. The meeting of the commission is due to end on 25 April.
CONCERT BY THE GEWANDHAUS ORCHESTRA FOR THE POPE'S BIRTHDAY
Vatican City, 21 April 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday in the Paul VI Hall the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, Germany, conducted by Riccardo Chailly, performed Symphony No. 2 "Lobgesang" by Felix Mendelssohn as a tribute to Benedict XVI for his eighty-fifth birthday. The concert took place under the patronage of the Free State of Saxony and the city of Leipzig.
Following the performance, and having first expressed his thanks to the musicians and organisers, the Holy Father recalled how Mendelssohn had composed the symphony to mark the fourth centenary of the invention of printing, and that it was first performed at the Thomaskirche of Leipzig (the church of Johann Sebastian Bach) on 25 January 1840. The conductor on that occasion had been Mendelssohn himself, the long-time director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra.
"Art as praise of God, supreme Beauty", the Pope said, "lies at the root of the way that Mendelssohn composed, not just as regards liturgical or sacred music, but his entire oeuvre. ... For him, sacred music was not at a higher level than any other kind; each in its own way had to serve and honour God".
The Holy Father concluded by quoting the words written by Robert Schumann after having attended the first performance of the "Lobgesang": "Let us - as the text so splendidly set to music by the maestro says - 'lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light'".
CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE HOLY FATHER BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE
Vatican City, 23 April 2012 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff today published the calendar of celebrations due to be presided by the Holy Father between April and June.
APRIL
Sunday 29: Fourth Sunday of Easter. Priestly ordinations at 9 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica.
MAY
Sunday 13: Sixth Sunday of Easter. Pastoral visit to the Italian towns of Arezzo, La Verna and San Sepolcro.
Sunday 27: Solemnity of Pentecost. Mass at 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica.
JUNE
Friday 1 to Sunday 3: Pastoral visit to Milan for the World Meeting of Families.
Thursday 7: Solemnity of Corpus Christi. At 7 p.m., Mass in the basilica of St. John Lateran, procession to the basilica of St. Mary Major and Eucharistic blessing.
Friday 29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Mass at 9 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica. Blessing and imposition of the pallium on new metropolitan archbishops.
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 23 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience:
- Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
- Nine prelates of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Roger Lawrence Schwietz O.M.I. of Anchorage.
- Bishop Donald J. Kettler of Fairbanks.
- Bishop Edward James Burns of Juneau.
- Archbishop James Peter Sartain of Seattle, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio L. Elizondo M.Sp.S. and by Archbishop emeritus Alexander J, Brunett.
- Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Spokane.
- Bishop Joseph Jude Tyson of Yakima, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Carlos Arthur Sevilla S.J.
On Saturday 21 April he received in audience:
- Fourteen prelates of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop William Joseph Justice and Bishop Robert Walter McElroy, auxiliaries of San Francisco, accompanied by Bishop Ignatius Chung Wang, former auxiliary, and by Archbishop emeritus John Raphael Quinn.
- Bishop Clarence R. Silva of Honolulu.
- Bishop Joseph Anthony Pepe of Las Vegas.
- Bishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone of Oakland.
- Bishop Randolph Roque Calvo of Reno.
- Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, accompanied by Bishop emeritus William Keith Weigand.
- John Charles Wester of Salt Lake City.
- Bishop Patrick Joseph McGrath of San Jose in California.
- Bishop Robert Francis Vasa of Santa Rosa, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Daniel Francis Walsh.
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 21 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed the following cardinals, created in the consistory of 18 February as members of dicasteries and offices of the Roman Curia:
1. Cardinal George Alencherry of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, India; Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, and Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, as members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
2. Cardinal George Alencherry of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, India; Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, U.S.A.; Cardinal Lucian Muresan, major archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Julia of the Romanians, Romania; Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, and Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, as members of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
3. Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
4. Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, penitentiary major, and Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, archpriest of the papal basilica of St. Mary Major, as members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
5. Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, penitentiary major; Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, archpriest of the papal basilica of St. Mary Major; Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as members of the Congregation for Bishops.
6. Cardinal John Tong Hon, bishop of Hong Kong, China; Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, archpriest of the papal basilica of St. Mary Major; Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, as members of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
7. Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, Netherlands, and Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as members of the Congregation for the Clergy.
8. Cardinal Dominik Jaroslav Duka O.P., archbishop of Prague, Czech Republic, and Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as members of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
9. Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, archbishop of Toronto, Canada; Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, Netherlands; Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, archbishop of Florence, Italy; Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, archbishop of Berlin, Germany; Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples; Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, as members of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
10. Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, and Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as members of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
11. Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
12. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, archbishop of Berlin, Germany, and Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, as members of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
13. Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as member of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
14. Cardinal Dominik Jaroslav Duka O.P., archbishop of Prague, Czech Republic, and Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City State, as members of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
15. Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, as member of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum".
16. Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, penitentiary major, as member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
17. Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, as member of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care.
18. Cardinal John Tong Hon, bishop of Hong Kong, China, as member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.
19. Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, archbishop of Florence, Italy, as member of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
20. Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, archbishop of Toronto, Canada, and Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, U.S.A., as members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
21. Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, U.S.A., as member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.
22. Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.
On Saturday 21 April it was also made public that the Holy Father appointed:
- As members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, Italy, and Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, U.S.A.
- Archbishop Lorenzo Balisseri, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops, as a consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
- Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, as member of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.
- Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City State, as his special envoy to celebrations marking the millennium of the foundation of the Holy Hermitage of Camaldoli, Italy, due to take place on 19 June.
EUROPE : RUSSIA : THOUSANDS AT DAY OF FAITH - PROTECT CHURCH WITH PATRIARCH
ASIA NEWS REPORT:
by Nina Achmatova
After weeks of media scandals, the Patriarch of All Russia leads a procession and a prayer at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior: "Protect the Church from the anti-Russian forces."
Moscow (AsiaNews) - Thousands of people took part in the day in defense of the faith yesterday in Russia, organized by the Moscow Patriarchate to "protect the Church from the attacks of anti-Russian forces", as stated by the same Patriarch Kirill, center of a series of media scandals which are compromising his image.
At least 40 thousand people arrived for a prayer led by the patriarch at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. The same church, where in late February the Pussy Riot group sang their "punk prayer", in which they condemned the close relations between the Patriarchate and the newly elected President Vladimir Putin. The gesture cost the band's three girls custody on charges of "hooliganism". The incident has raised a heated debate over the role of the Church in politics and exposed Kirill to harsh criticism. "We are under attack by anti-Russian force," said the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in front of the crowd of priests and faithful. "The danger is that blasphemy and mockery of religion are presented as a legitimate expression of human freedom, which must be protected in modern society," he added.
Media and internet criticism of Kirill intensified after his open support for the third nomination of Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin. The religious leader had called the 12-year reign of the politician and former KGB agent at the head of Russia as "a miracle of God", but shortly after he railed against the Pussy Riot, demanding exemplary punishment. On 20 April, Moscow's court ordered that the three girls, held since March, remain behind bars until at least June 24, to allow investigators to complete investigations. In fact, it is a case of detention without trial, note human rights activists, who point out that the three women face up to seven years in prison.
According to many believers, the "punk prayer " was nothing more than the beginning of a series of "acts of vandalism" against the Orthodox Church. Some of these have brought to light, in the Russian media, Kirill's life of luxury and privilege prompting the Patriarch to hold a Day of Prayer. "The reason for this hostility -, according to Pyatigorsk theology student Anastasia Pavlukhova - is that the Church now supports the state more explicitly and so they attack it to indirectly affect the authorities." On 6 March, as news agency Reuters recalls, a man with an ax lashed out against icons in Veliky Ustyug, north-east of Moscow. Two weeks later, an attacker armed with a knife, attacked and desecrated a priest at the altar in the Church of Nevynnomyssk, in the south-east of the country.
"I came here because there is a risk that Russia will return to its past without God," said Olga Golubeva, 54, a lawyer, who has participated in the procession and prayer led by Kirill yesterday. According to the Patriarchate, the participants were 50 thousand, 65 thousand for the Ministry of the Interior, and 40 thousand for the international press. Other similar events with thousands of people were held in Yaroslavl, Krasnodar and St. Petersburg.
"The Church needs this kind of events to prove it has more supporters than detractors - says Alexei Makarkin, an analyst with the Center for political technologies in Moscow - but also to consolidate the support of clergy and faithful." "Within the Church itself - he adds - opinions are divided on what was worse: the performance of Pussy Riot or the reaction of the Patriarchate, the scandal or the demand for punishment for the girls."
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Moscow,-tens-of-thousands-with-Kirill-in-defense-of-the-faith-24566.html
by Nina Achmatova
After weeks of media scandals, the Patriarch of All Russia leads a procession and a prayer at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior: "Protect the Church from the anti-Russian forces."
Moscow (AsiaNews) - Thousands of people took part in the day in defense of the faith yesterday in Russia, organized by the Moscow Patriarchate to "protect the Church from the attacks of anti-Russian forces", as stated by the same Patriarch Kirill, center of a series of media scandals which are compromising his image.
At least 40 thousand people arrived for a prayer led by the patriarch at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. The same church, where in late February the Pussy Riot group sang their "punk prayer", in which they condemned the close relations between the Patriarchate and the newly elected President Vladimir Putin. The gesture cost the band's three girls custody on charges of "hooliganism". The incident has raised a heated debate over the role of the Church in politics and exposed Kirill to harsh criticism. "We are under attack by anti-Russian force," said the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in front of the crowd of priests and faithful. "The danger is that blasphemy and mockery of religion are presented as a legitimate expression of human freedom, which must be protected in modern society," he added.
Media and internet criticism of Kirill intensified after his open support for the third nomination of Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin. The religious leader had called the 12-year reign of the politician and former KGB agent at the head of Russia as "a miracle of God", but shortly after he railed against the Pussy Riot, demanding exemplary punishment. On 20 April, Moscow's court ordered that the three girls, held since March, remain behind bars until at least June 24, to allow investigators to complete investigations. In fact, it is a case of detention without trial, note human rights activists, who point out that the three women face up to seven years in prison.
According to many believers, the "punk prayer " was nothing more than the beginning of a series of "acts of vandalism" against the Orthodox Church. Some of these have brought to light, in the Russian media, Kirill's life of luxury and privilege prompting the Patriarch to hold a Day of Prayer. "The reason for this hostility -, according to Pyatigorsk theology student Anastasia Pavlukhova - is that the Church now supports the state more explicitly and so they attack it to indirectly affect the authorities." On 6 March, as news agency Reuters recalls, a man with an ax lashed out against icons in Veliky Ustyug, north-east of Moscow. Two weeks later, an attacker armed with a knife, attacked and desecrated a priest at the altar in the Church of Nevynnomyssk, in the south-east of the country.
"I came here because there is a risk that Russia will return to its past without God," said Olga Golubeva, 54, a lawyer, who has participated in the procession and prayer led by Kirill yesterday. According to the Patriarchate, the participants were 50 thousand, 65 thousand for the Ministry of the Interior, and 40 thousand for the international press. Other similar events with thousands of people were held in Yaroslavl, Krasnodar and St. Petersburg.
"The Church needs this kind of events to prove it has more supporters than detractors - says Alexei Makarkin, an analyst with the Center for political technologies in Moscow - but also to consolidate the support of clergy and faithful." "Within the Church itself - he adds - opinions are divided on what was worse: the performance of Pussy Riot or the reaction of the Patriarchate, the scandal or the demand for punishment for the girls."
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Moscow,-tens-of-thousands-with-Kirill-in-defense-of-the-faith-24566.html
NEW ZEALAND : FUTURE RECYCLED CARDBOARD CHURCH
IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT:
|
ASIA : CHINA : VATICAN APPROVED BISHOP TO BE ORDAINED
UCAN REPORT:
To be
ordained with Vatican approval and government recognition this week
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Changsha
Father Methodius Qu Ailin will be ordained bishop
of Hunan this week, according to local Church sources.
The 51-year-old priest has been approved by Pope Benedict XVI and recognized by the Chinese government, the sources said.
The ceremony is scheduled for April 25 at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Changsha city, the capital of southern Hunan province.
Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing, vice president of the government-sanctioned bishops’ conference and a participant in an illicit episcopal ordination in Chengde in 2010, will be the main celebrant, the sources said.
The ordination will coincide with the final day of a plenary meeting of the Vatican Commission on the China Church.
Bishop-elect Qu was born in 1961 and ordained a priest in Hengyang in 1995. He became a candidate for bishop in an election last year.
He is deputy director of the Hunan Provincial Catholic Patriotic Association and a member of Hengyang City People’s Political Consultative Conference.
About 20 priests serve 65,000 Catholics in the province, which has been without a bishop for more than a decade, following the death of Bishop Simon Qu Tianxi of Changsha in 2000.
Hunan has four dioceses and five apostolic prefectures, according to the Vatican.
The government-sanctioned “open” Church authorities restructured them into six dioceses in 1991 and later merged them into Hunan diocese in 1999.
Since these administrative changes were not recognized by the Vatican, the new prelate will be known officially in Rome as the bishop of Changsha.
http://www.ucanews.com/2012/04/23/hunan-province-to-get-new-bishop/
The 51-year-old priest has been approved by Pope Benedict XVI and recognized by the Chinese government, the sources said.
The ceremony is scheduled for April 25 at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Changsha city, the capital of southern Hunan province.
Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing, vice president of the government-sanctioned bishops’ conference and a participant in an illicit episcopal ordination in Chengde in 2010, will be the main celebrant, the sources said.
The ordination will coincide with the final day of a plenary meeting of the Vatican Commission on the China Church.
Bishop-elect Qu was born in 1961 and ordained a priest in Hengyang in 1995. He became a candidate for bishop in an election last year.
He is deputy director of the Hunan Provincial Catholic Patriotic Association and a member of Hengyang City People’s Political Consultative Conference.
About 20 priests serve 65,000 Catholics in the province, which has been without a bishop for more than a decade, following the death of Bishop Simon Qu Tianxi of Changsha in 2000.
Hunan has four dioceses and five apostolic prefectures, according to the Vatican.
The government-sanctioned “open” Church authorities restructured them into six dioceses in 1991 and later merged them into Hunan diocese in 1999.
Since these administrative changes were not recognized by the Vatican, the new prelate will be known officially in Rome as the bishop of Changsha.
http://www.ucanews.com/2012/04/23/hunan-province-to-get-new-bishop/
AFRICA : KENYA : MAJOR COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT
CISA NEWS REPORT:
NAIROBI, April 20, 2012 (CISA) -The
Catholic Bishops in Kenya plan to undertake a major communication project
between now and next year, which aims to improve effective communications and
service in the Church.
Presenting a report during the launching of the
Bishops’ Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) for 2012/2013 period on April 19,
Executive Secretary for Social Communications and Managing Director of Waumini
Communications Company, Mr David Omwoyo said this will involve media relations
and visibility, the SMS (Short Message Services), revamping Catholic Media
Projects and Trickling down the RRI to the dioceses.
Mr Omwoyo said the Church will undertake these
communications projects under the banner: The Catholic Communications Campaign
within the Church’s Media Apostolate Unit and under the national body of the
Bishops, Kenya Episcopal Conference, KEC.
“The Bishops will pay attention to the
communication needs of the Church with special attention to equipping its
existing Communications centers, training of personnel within national and
diocesan levels, equipping and modernizing its Communications offices,
technologically, and building effective relations between the Church and the
media on national and international levels,” emphasized Mr Omwoyo at a later
telephone interview with CISA.
He added that on Sunday, May 20, 2012 during
the marking of this year’s World Communications Day, the Church will launch the
collection of signatures in all the 1977 Catholic parishes in the country.
“The aim is to get at least four million of the
10 million Catholics to subscribe to our bulk SMS service. Within that we will
be able to speak to more than 4 million people every week,” explained Mr
Omwoyo.
“We also need to set up 14 radio transmission
sites to cover the whole country and a national TV station,” he added.
SOURCE: CISANEWSAFRICA
AMERICA : BOLIVIA : HELPING DEAF AND YOUNG IN NEW FACILITY
Agenzia Fides REPORT–Laying the foundation stone of a new
facility for the care of children and deaf young people in the city of
Cochabamba has recently taken place. The new facility will be called "Don Bosco
Salesian Center for the Deaf" and will be built on land granted to the Salesian
community and will be managed by Fr. Antonio Díez, a Spanish missionary of the
local Salesian community who has been in Bolivia for more than 30 years. About
300 people with deafness, is what is read in the note by Ans sent to Fides will
benefit from the new structure, built on land granted by the municipality over
an area of 1,040 square meters, which will offer primary and secondary education
and, for youth and adults, will include technical formation. Currently, some
deaf students already attend traditional courses or evening classes taught at
the Salesian facility; but with the construction of the center especially
dedicated to their care it will be more specific and will cover a larger number
of people. (AP) (Agenzia Fides
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : MON. APRIL 23, 2012
| John
6: 22 - 29
| |
| 22 | On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. |
| 23 | However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. |
| 24 | So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus. |
| 25 | When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" |
| 26 | Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. |
| 27 | Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." |
| 28 | Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" |
| 29 | Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." |
TODAY'S SAINT : APRIL 23 : ST. GEORGE
St. George
MARTYR
Feast: April 23
 Information:
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St George is honoured in the Catholic Church as one of the
most illustrious martyrs of Christ. The Greeks have long distinguished him by
the title of The Great Martyr, and keep his festival a holiday of obligation.
There stood formerly in Constantinople five or six churches dedicated in his
honour, the oldest of which was always said to have been built by Constantine
the Great, who seems also to have been the founder of the church of St. George,
which stood over his tomb in Palestine. Both these churches were certainly built
under the first Christian emperors. In the middle of the sixth age, the Emperor
Justinian erected a new church in honour of this saint at Bizanes, in Lesser
Armenia: the Emperor Mauritius founded one in Constantinople. It is related in
the life of St. Theodorus of Siceon that he served God a long while in a chapel
which bore the name of St. George, had a particular devotion to this glorious
martyr, and strongly recommended the same to Mauritius when he foretold him the
empire. One of the churches of St. George in Constantinople, called Manganes,
with a monastery adjoining, gave to the Hellespont the name of the Arm of St.
George. To this day is St. George honoured as principal patron, or tutelar
saint, by several Eastern nations, particularly the Georgians. The Byzantine
historians relate several battles to have been gained, and other miracles
wrought, through his intercession. From frequent pilgrimages to his church and
tomb in Palestine, performed by those who visited the Holy Land, his veneration
was much propagated over the West. St. Gregory of Tours mentions him as highly
celebrated in France in the sixth century. St. Gregory the Great ordered an old
church of St. George, which was fallen to decay, to be repaired. His office is
found in the sacramentary of that pope and many others. St. Clotildis, wife of
Clovis, the first Christian king of France, erected altars under his name; and
the church of Chelles, built by her, was originally dedicated in his honour. The
ancient life of Droctovaeus mentions, that certain relics of St. George were
placed in the church of St. Vincent, now called St. Germaris, in Paris, when it
was first consecrated. Fortunatus of Poitiers wrote an epigram on a church of
St. George, in Mentz. The intercession of this saint was implored especially in
battles and by warriors, as appears by several instances in the Byzantine
history, and he is said to have been himself a great soldier. He is, at this
day, the tutelar saint of the republic of Genoa; and was chosen by our ancestors
in the same quality under our first Norman kings. The great national council,
held at Oxford in 1222, commanded his feast to be kept a holiday of the lesser
rank throughout all England. Under his name and ensign was instituted by our
victorious king, Edward III, in 1330, the most noble Order of knighthood in
Europe, consisting of twenty-five knights besides the sovereign. Its
establishment is dated fifty years before the knights of St. Michael were
instituted in France by Louis XI; eighty years before the Order of the Golden
Fleece, established by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy; and one hundred and
ninety years before the Order of St. Andrew was set up in Scotland by James V.
The emperor Frederic IV instituted, in 1470, an Order of knights in honour of
St. George; and an honourable military Order in Venice bears his name.
The extraordinary devotion of all Christendom to this saint
is an authentic proof how glorious his triumph and name have always been in the
church. All his acts relate that he suffered under Diocletian at Nicomedia.
Joseph Assemani shows, from the unanimous consent of all churches, that he was
crowned on the 23rd of April. According to the account given us by Metaphrastes,
he was born in Cappadocia, of noble Christian parents. After the death of his
father he went with his mother into Palestine, she being a native of that
country, and having there a considerable estate, which fell to her son George.
He was strong and robust in body, and having embraced the profession of a
soldier, was made a tribune, or colonel, in the army. By his courage and conduct
he was soon preferred to higher stations by the Emperor Diocletian. When that
prince waged war against the Christian religion, St. George laid aside the marks
of his dignity, threw up his commission and posts, and complained to the emperor
himself of his severities and bloody edicts. He was immediately cast into
prison, and tried, first by promises, and afterwards put to the question and
tortured with great cruelty; but nothing could shake his constancy. The next day
he was led through the city and beheaded. Some think him to have been the same
illustrious young man who tore down the edicts when they were first fixed up at
Nicomedia, as Lactantius relates in his book, On the Death of the Persecutors,
and Eusebius in his history. The reason why St. George has been regarded as the
patron of military men is partly upon the score of his profession, and partly
upon the credit of a relation of his appearing to the Christian army in the holy
war, before the battle of Antioch. The success of this battle proving fortunate
to the Christians, under Godfrey of Bouillon, made the name of St. George more
famous in Europe and disposed the military men to implore more particularly his
intercession. This devotion was confirmed, as it is said, by an apparition of
St. George to our king, Richard I, in his expedition against the Saracens; which
vision being declared to the troops, was to them a great encouragement, and they
soon after defeated the enemy. St. George is usually painted on horseback and
tilting at a dragon under his feet; but this representation is no more than an
emblematical figure, purporting that by his faith and Christian fortitude he
conquered the devil, called the dragon in the Apocalypse.
Though many dishonour the profession of arms by a
licentiousness of manners, yet, to show us that perfect sanctity is attainable
in all states, we find the names of more soldiers recorded in the Martyrologies
than almost of any other profession. Every true disciple of Christ must be a
martyr in the disposition of his heart, as he must be ready to lose all, and to
suffer anything, rather than to offend God. Every good Christian is also a
martyr, by the patience and courage with which he bears all trials. There is no
virtue more necessary, nor of which the exercise ought to be more frequent, than
patience. In this mortal life we have continually something to suffer from
disappointments in affairs, from the severity of the seasons, from the
injustice, caprice, peevishness, jealousy, or antipathy of others; and from
ourselves, in pains either of mind or body. Even our own weaknesses and faults
are to us subjects of patience. And as we have continually many burdens, both of
our own and others, to bear, it is only in patience that we are to possess our
souls. This affords us comfort in all our sufferings and maintains our souls in
unshaken tranquillity and peace. This is true greatness of mind and the virtue
of heroic souls. But, alas! every accident ruffles and disturbs us; and we are
insupportable even to ourselves. What comfort should we find, what peace should
we enjoy, what treasures of virtue should we heap up, what an harvest of merits
should we reap, if we had learned the true spirit of Christian patience! This is
the martyrdom and the crown of every faithful disciple of
Christ.
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SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/G/stgeorge.asp#ixzz1spGRzvC7
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