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VATICAN : POPE : MUSIC UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE FOR PEACE
UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
OF MUSIC, HOPE FOR PEACE (IMAGE SOURCE: RADIO VATICANA)Vatican City, 12 July 2012 (VIS) - "It pleases me to welcome an orchestra such as this one, which was born of the conviction, or better yet, of the experience that music unites persons, over and above any division". With these words the Pope thanked Director Daniel Barenboim and the musicians of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra for the concert given in the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo to celebrate the feast of St. Benedict, patron of Europe.
"Music", the pontiff continued, "is the harmony of differences ... from the multiplicity of tones of the various instruments a symphony can arise. However, this doesn't happen magically or automatically. It comes only from ... a patient and laborious commitment, which requires time and sacrifices in the effort to listen to one another, avoiding excessive egoism and privileging the best success of the whole".
"In these moments I am thinking of the great symphony of peace between the peoples that is never complete. My generation, like that of Director Barenboim's parents', lived the tragedy of the Second World war and the Shoah. It is highly meaningful that the maestro desired to bring a to life a project like the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra: a group in which musicians from Israel, Palestine, and other Arabic nations play; Jewish, Muslim, and Christian persons. The numerous acknowledgements that have been conferred on you and this orchestra demonstrate your professional excellence as well as your ethical and spiritual commitment".
Continuing, the Pope emphasized that the symphonies that were performed, Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth, express two aspects of life: "drama and peace; humanity's struggle against adversity and its enlightening immersion in a bucolic environment... The message I would like to draw from it for today is this: to achieve peace we must dedicate ourselves to dialogue with a personal and communal conversion, patiently seeking possible areas of understanding".
"I wish and pray that each of you", he concluded, "continue sowing the hope for peace in the world through the universal language of music".
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC GUEST OF THE POPE
Vatican City, 12 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father welcomed Giorgio Napolitano, president of the Republic of Italy, and his wife, Clio Maria Bittoni to the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. They met briefly in the Apostolic Palace's Garden of the Moor, later conversing along the parapets of the gardens.
At 6:00pm the president and the Holy Father attended a concert of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, directed by Maestro Daniel Barenboim, whom they greeted after the performance. Afterwards the president of the Republic and his wife dined with the Pope in his private apartments.
SPOKESPERSONS OF EUROPEAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES MEET IN COLOGNE
Vatican City, 12 July 2012 (VIS) - Members of the press and spokespersons of the European Episcopal conferences met in Cologne, Germany to discuss the relationship between the media and the Catholic Church.
Bishops, priests, and laypersons from across the continent are participating in the various sessions of the meeting, which will take place from 11 to 14 July. It will deal with, among other themes, communication regarding financial issues related to the life of the churches. A special session will be held dedicated to the Year of Faith and the media projects of the various episcopal conferences related to this event.
ASIA : SYRIA : DIPLOMAT DEFECTS DUE TO VIOLENCE - AMBASSADOR AL-FARES
ASIA NEWS REPORT:
Nawal al-Fares, ambassador in Baghdad, was a regime member since the days of al-Assad Afez. The Baath Party has become a tool to kill the innocent. Invitation to army to join the revolution and really defend the population against foreign enemies. Other major defections planned in coming days.
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Nawaf al-Fares, Syrian ambassador to Iraq, has defected from the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the Baath Party. The fight against terrorism launched by the President has now become a "horrible massacre" against the Syrian people. The diplomat announced his resignation in a statement to the Qatari channel al-Jazeera.
"I urge all honest members of this party - he said - I to follow my path because the regime has turned it [the party] to an instrument to kill people and their aspiration to freedom." The ambassador appealed to the army to join the revolution and begin to defend the people and the homeland against foreign enemies, not by killing innocent people.
Fares, a Sunni Muslim born in Deir al-Zor, Syria's eastern city to the border with Iraq is a veteran of the Damascus government, active in the days of Hafez al-Assad, father of the President. He is the second leading diplomat who turns his back to the president. The first was Bassam Imadi, Syrian ambassador in Sweden, now a member of the Syrian National Council. Another major defection was that of Tlas Manaf, a general from a Sunni family and personal friend of Assad, who in recent weeks has left the country seeking asylum in France.
According Imadi defections are a sign that diplomats and members of the regime sense the imminent end of Assad. "We should consider [Fares] as someone very close to the regime - he said - we should also remember that he is also calling on other ambassadors to resign, which means that others will follow suit".
Meanwhile, the UN has prepared a new plan to end the violence. The draft text - the fruit of the Paris conference of July 6 - orders the Syrian regime to cease "within ten days," the use of heavy weapons against rebellious cities'', or risk "immediate" new economic and diplomatic sanctions as provided by Article 41 of the UN Charter.
There are no end to clashes between the army and rebels of the Free Syrian Army and foreign Islamist militants. Overnight there were clashes in the capital's neighborhoods and Ibril. In Homs attempts at reconciliation are in progress between the various families thanks to the "Mussalaha" launched by Christian religious leaders, Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox.
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS
Nawal al-Fares, ambassador in Baghdad, was a regime member since the days of al-Assad Afez. The Baath Party has become a tool to kill the innocent. Invitation to army to join the revolution and really defend the population against foreign enemies. Other major defections planned in coming days.
_0712_-_Syria_ambassador_to_Iraq_defects.jpg)
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Nawaf al-Fares, Syrian ambassador to Iraq, has defected from the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the Baath Party. The fight against terrorism launched by the President has now become a "horrible massacre" against the Syrian people. The diplomat announced his resignation in a statement to the Qatari channel al-Jazeera.
"I urge all honest members of this party - he said - I to follow my path because the regime has turned it [the party] to an instrument to kill people and their aspiration to freedom." The ambassador appealed to the army to join the revolution and begin to defend the people and the homeland against foreign enemies, not by killing innocent people.
Fares, a Sunni Muslim born in Deir al-Zor, Syria's eastern city to the border with Iraq is a veteran of the Damascus government, active in the days of Hafez al-Assad, father of the President. He is the second leading diplomat who turns his back to the president. The first was Bassam Imadi, Syrian ambassador in Sweden, now a member of the Syrian National Council. Another major defection was that of Tlas Manaf, a general from a Sunni family and personal friend of Assad, who in recent weeks has left the country seeking asylum in France.
According Imadi defections are a sign that diplomats and members of the regime sense the imminent end of Assad. "We should consider [Fares] as someone very close to the regime - he said - we should also remember that he is also calling on other ambassadors to resign, which means that others will follow suit".
Meanwhile, the UN has prepared a new plan to end the violence. The draft text - the fruit of the Paris conference of July 6 - orders the Syrian regime to cease "within ten days," the use of heavy weapons against rebellious cities'', or risk "immediate" new economic and diplomatic sanctions as provided by Article 41 of the UN Charter.
There are no end to clashes between the army and rebels of the Free Syrian Army and foreign Islamist militants. Overnight there were clashes in the capital's neighborhoods and Ibril. In Homs attempts at reconciliation are in progress between the various families thanks to the "Mussalaha" launched by Christian religious leaders, Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox.
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS
AUSTRALIA : SCENE BEGINS - CONGRESS ON NEW EVANGELIZATION
ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY REPORT:
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
12 Jul 2012
The faithful were there. The
supporters and organisers, friends and family, priests and religious.
But so too were the office workers, students and tourists who strolled through Martin Place today and found themselves caught up in a happy, out-going festival of faith.
This is SCENE 2012, the Sydney Congress Embracing the New Evangelisation.
Created to continue the momentum and enthusiasm of Sydney's World Youth Day in 2008, SCENE features daily workshops, pub nights, catechesis, Eucharist adoration, music and prayer. Held in the years between each international World Youth Day, SCENE 2012 has become an integral part of the Sydney calendar.
This year along with international and leading speakers from across Australia, there are panel discussions where Catholic painters, poets, musicians and writers together will share their experiences and explain the close relationship between creativity and inspiration with spirituality and mission.
This year's SCENE began at St Mary's Cathedral with morning
prayer and Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop Julian Porteous.
However by lunchtime the action was in Martin Place with what has become one of the most popular outdoor features - the Vocations Expo.
Held over three days with 40 stalls showcasing the wide range of Catholic religious communities, resources, organisations, schools, universities as well as adult education, this year's Expo also offers a daily lunchtime barbecue and sausage sizzle as well as freshly-made cappuccinos brewed by a team of Capuchin Friars.
And the friars were only too happy to explain the connection
between a frothy coffee and a hooded habit. But you have to go back to 1525 when
a new order of Catholic monks was founded in Europe. Members wore a long,
pointed cowl called a "cappuccino" which is the Italian word for hood and they
became known as the Capuchin order. Years pass and a blend of espresso coffee
mixed with steamed milk was dubbed "cappuccino" because it was the same colour
as the habit worn by the Capuchin friars.
Fact or fiction the coffee the Capuchin friars were serving up to the crowds today was certainly appreciated.
Early on there was some concern for showers forecast for the
day Maybe the morning prayer took care of that because by lunchtime Martin Place
was filled with people of all ages, checking out the stalls, asking questions
and simply sitting in the warm sunshine to listen to SCENE's musicians and
non-stop live music.
The Vocations Expo continues tomorrow and Friday beginning each day at 11 am. In addition to Expo SCENE 2012 has a packed program of pub talks, workshops, panels, forums, live music, prayer, tours of St Mary's Cathedral, a daily Holy Hour, candlelight processions culminating on Saturday, 14 July with GRACEFest - an evening of live rock bands, prayer and catechesis in the courtyard at the University of Notre Dame.
To find out details of the program for SCENE 2012 log on to http://www.credosydney.org/our-works/scene/scene-2012
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
12 Jul 2012
Capuchin friars and fresh-made capucchinos were
in big demand at SCENE's
Vocations Expo which opened today
But so too were the office workers, students and tourists who strolled through Martin Place today and found themselves caught up in a happy, out-going festival of faith.
This is SCENE 2012, the Sydney Congress Embracing the New Evangelisation.
Created to continue the momentum and enthusiasm of Sydney's World Youth Day in 2008, SCENE features daily workshops, pub nights, catechesis, Eucharist adoration, music and prayer. Held in the years between each international World Youth Day, SCENE 2012 has become an integral part of the Sydney calendar.
This year along with international and leading speakers from across Australia, there are panel discussions where Catholic painters, poets, musicians and writers together will share their experiences and explain the close relationship between creativity and inspiration with spirituality and mission.
Young and old checked out the 40 stalls at
SCENE's
Vocations Expo which runs until the end of the
week
However by lunchtime the action was in Martin Place with what has become one of the most popular outdoor features - the Vocations Expo.
Held over three days with 40 stalls showcasing the wide range of Catholic religious communities, resources, organisations, schools, universities as well as adult education, this year's Expo also offers a daily lunchtime barbecue and sausage sizzle as well as freshly-made cappuccinos brewed by a team of Capuchin Friars.
Live music attracted the crowds at the
first day of SCENE's Vocations Expo
2012
Fact or fiction the coffee the Capuchin friars were serving up to the crowds today was certainly appreciated.
Jessica Langrell, Chaplaincy Convenor at the
University of Notre Dame helmed one of the
40 stalls at SCENE's Vocations Expo in Martin
Place
The Vocations Expo continues tomorrow and Friday beginning each day at 11 am. In addition to Expo SCENE 2012 has a packed program of pub talks, workshops, panels, forums, live music, prayer, tours of St Mary's Cathedral, a daily Holy Hour, candlelight processions culminating on Saturday, 14 July with GRACEFest - an evening of live rock bands, prayer and catechesis in the courtyard at the University of Notre Dame.
To find out details of the program for SCENE 2012 log on to http://www.credosydney.org/our-works/scene/scene-2012
Fresh cappuccinos a pleasant habit to have at
SCENE 2012
The Capuchin Friars will take your order
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF
SYDNEY
AFRICA : IVORY COAST : SESSION ON DEVELOPMENT - SECAM
CISA NEWS REPORT:
ABIDJAN, July 10, 2012 (CISA) -A two-day working
session of a Steering Committee of a Forum on Culture and Development in Africa
is currently taking place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to finalize arrangements for
the holding of a Workshop on the theme: Culture and Development in
Africa.
According to Benedict Assorow, Director of Communications, SECAM, the Workshop will take place in November 2012 in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania. It will be organized by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Culture (PCC).
The need for the setting up of a Culture and Development Forum in Africa came about following a recommendation of a meeting that was organized jointly by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Culture in Abidjan, in September 2010.
The main challenge from that meeting was that Africa needed to appropriate the process that will bring about a structured dialogue between Africa and the Holy See on matters of culture and development.
Culminating from this the SECAM Standing Committee in October, 2010 approved the formation of a Steering Committee to look into how such a Forum can be organized and formalized. The Standing Committee mandated the Department of Evangelization of SECAM to manage the process.
The Steering Committee of the Forum is under the Chairmanship of His Eminence, Theodore Adrien Cardinal Sarr, First Vice-President of SECAM and Archbishop of Dakar, Senegal. Bishop
Barthelemy Adoukonou, Secretary of the PCC is representing his Council at the meeting.
The Committee’s purpose among others is to prepare the Church in Africa to form an Ecclesiastical Subject with a vision and mission for an enlarged Forum on Culture and Development in November this year. It will also work out a holistic and unifying approach to culture and development on the continent of Africa with particular reference to the resources and the challenges of the Church on the continent.
The Workshop in Tanzania is expected to come out with concrete proposals of the desired name, structure and modalities under which the proposed permanent Forum will function.
About sixty participants of the workshop will be drawn from all the Episcopal Regions of SECAM. They would include bishops, priests, and lay people. Religious Congregations- both men and women- operating in Africa will also be represented.
Other members of the Steering Committee attending the meeting include Rev Fr Joseph Komakoma, First Deputy Secretary General of SECAM and in-charge of Evangelization; Fr Leonard Santedi, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Rev Sr Teresa Okure, SHCJ Professor, Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Rev Fr Edouard Ade, Professor at UCAO in Benin; Rev Fr Anthony Makunde, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Tanzania; Rev Br Hilaire Raharilalao of Madagascar and Benedict Assorow, Director of Communications, SECAM.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
According to Benedict Assorow, Director of Communications, SECAM, the Workshop will take place in November 2012 in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania. It will be organized by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Culture (PCC).
The need for the setting up of a Culture and Development Forum in Africa came about following a recommendation of a meeting that was organized jointly by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Culture in Abidjan, in September 2010.
The main challenge from that meeting was that Africa needed to appropriate the process that will bring about a structured dialogue between Africa and the Holy See on matters of culture and development.
Culminating from this the SECAM Standing Committee in October, 2010 approved the formation of a Steering Committee to look into how such a Forum can be organized and formalized. The Standing Committee mandated the Department of Evangelization of SECAM to manage the process.
The Steering Committee of the Forum is under the Chairmanship of His Eminence, Theodore Adrien Cardinal Sarr, First Vice-President of SECAM and Archbishop of Dakar, Senegal. Bishop
Barthelemy Adoukonou, Secretary of the PCC is representing his Council at the meeting.
The Committee’s purpose among others is to prepare the Church in Africa to form an Ecclesiastical Subject with a vision and mission for an enlarged Forum on Culture and Development in November this year. It will also work out a holistic and unifying approach to culture and development on the continent of Africa with particular reference to the resources and the challenges of the Church on the continent.
The Workshop in Tanzania is expected to come out with concrete proposals of the desired name, structure and modalities under which the proposed permanent Forum will function.
About sixty participants of the workshop will be drawn from all the Episcopal Regions of SECAM. They would include bishops, priests, and lay people. Religious Congregations- both men and women- operating in Africa will also be represented.
Other members of the Steering Committee attending the meeting include Rev Fr Joseph Komakoma, First Deputy Secretary General of SECAM and in-charge of Evangelization; Fr Leonard Santedi, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Rev Sr Teresa Okure, SHCJ Professor, Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Rev Fr Edouard Ade, Professor at UCAO in Benin; Rev Fr Anthony Makunde, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Tanzania; Rev Br Hilaire Raharilalao of Madagascar and Benedict Assorow, Director of Communications, SECAM.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
AMERICA : VENEZUELA : BISHOPS CONFERENCE ENDS - RECONCILIATION
Agenzia Fides) - The 98th Assembly of the Episcopal
Conference of Venezuela (CEV) ends today, July 12. The words that were our guide
in the work are those of His Exc. Mgr. Diego Padron, Archbishop of Cumanà and
President of the CEV, who pointed out that the primary task for the Church in
Venezuela is to "be the mediator of reconciliation and to continue her service
to the people, without distinction." Mgr. Padron also stressed the Church's
attention towards national life, to provide answers to questions about the fate
of Venezuela: its democracy, its freedom and its security. In the opening speech
of the work, the President of the CEV noticed the climate of "secrecy" with
which one wants to manage some aspects of country’s life, such as the
President’s health and the real situation of prisons. During this meeting, the
Episcopal Conference addressed the issues of the new evangelization of Christian
education and socio-political commitment. Mgr. Padron then said he hopes that
election day in October can be lived "in a climate of respect and justice, so
that the electoral process is fair and transparent". Venezuela will have to
elect a new President for the period between 2013-2019 among 7 candidates,
although the 2 who have a better chance are Chavez and Henrique Capriles.
In the context of the Assembly of the CEV, on July 10 a meeting was held between the authorities of the Episcopal Conference and the authorities of the government, represented by the Vice President of the Republic, ElÃas Jaua, and by the ministers of Interior and Justice, Tarek El Aissami and Youth, Mari Pili Hernandez. The Government thus sought to emphasize the value of the Church for the Venezuelan society, and thanked the Church for the work carried out especially against violence. On behalf of the Bishops, His Exc. Mgr. Mario Moronta, Vice President of CEV, reminded the government the emergencies affecting the country and the possibility to work together to resolve them.
According to data collected by Fides Agency, with this meeting, the government resumed a relationship of dialogue and collaboration with the Church. During the 13 years of Chavez government in fact the climate between the government and the Church was very tense, to the point that in 2010 there was a breaking-point, when President Chavez qualified the Bishops as "cavemen" after they publicly expressed their support for Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, who had accused Chavez of wanting to violate the Constitution (see Fides 28/12/2010). President Chavez then ordered a review of the Church-State agreement on the financing of social works, but the measure was not followed and on 27 April, the government gave 294 million dollars to the Catholic schools network that welcome more than 500,000 students. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 12/7/2012
In the context of the Assembly of the CEV, on July 10 a meeting was held between the authorities of the Episcopal Conference and the authorities of the government, represented by the Vice President of the Republic, ElÃas Jaua, and by the ministers of Interior and Justice, Tarek El Aissami and Youth, Mari Pili Hernandez. The Government thus sought to emphasize the value of the Church for the Venezuelan society, and thanked the Church for the work carried out especially against violence. On behalf of the Bishops, His Exc. Mgr. Mario Moronta, Vice President of CEV, reminded the government the emergencies affecting the country and the possibility to work together to resolve them.
According to data collected by Fides Agency, with this meeting, the government resumed a relationship of dialogue and collaboration with the Church. During the 13 years of Chavez government in fact the climate between the government and the Church was very tense, to the point that in 2010 there was a breaking-point, when President Chavez qualified the Bishops as "cavemen" after they publicly expressed their support for Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, who had accused Chavez of wanting to violate the Constitution (see Fides 28/12/2010). President Chavez then ordered a review of the Church-State agreement on the financing of social works, but the measure was not followed and on 27 April, the government gave 294 million dollars to the Catholic schools network that welcome more than 500,000 students. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 12/7/2012
EUROPE : RIP FR. ANTHONY BULLEN - EXPLORING GOD'S WORLD
IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT:
|
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE THURSDAY JULY 12, 2012
| Matthew
10: 7 - 15
| |
| 7 | And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' |
| 8 | Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. |
| 9 | Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, |
| 10 | no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. |
| 11 | And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. |
| 12 | As you enter the house, salute it. |
| 13 | And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. |
| 14 | And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. |
| 15 | Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor'rah than for that town. |
2012
source: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/J/stjohngualbert.asp#ixzz1RuGbqZw9
TODAY'S SAINT: JULY 12: ST. JOHN GUALBERT
St. John Gualbert
BENEDICTINE ABBOT
Feast: July 12
ST.
JOHN GUALBERT was born at Florence, A. D. 999. Following the profession of arms
at that troubled period, he became involved in a blood-feud with a near
relative. One Good Friday, as he was riding into Florence accompanied by armed
men, he encountered his enemy in a place where neither could avoid the other.
John would have slain him; but his adversary, who was totally unprepared to
fight, fell upon his knees with his arms stretched out in the form of a cross,
and implored him, for the sake of Our Lord's holy Passion, to spare his life.
St. John said to his enemy, "I cannot refuse what you ask in Christ's name. I
grant you your life, and I give you my friendship. Pray that God may forgive me
my sin." Grace triumphed. A humble and changed man, he entered the Church of St.
Miniato, which was near; and whilst he prayed, the figure of our crucified Lord,
before which he was kneeling, bowed its head toward him as if to ratify his
pardon. Abandoning the world, he gave himself up to prayer and penance in the
Benedictine Order. Later he was led to found the congregation called of
Vallombrosa, from the shady valley a few miles from Florence, where he
established his first monastery. Once the enemies of the Saint came to his
convent of St. Salvi, plundered it, and set fire to it, and having treated the
monks with ignominy, beat them and wounded them. St. John rejoiced. "Now," he
said, "you are true monks. Would that I myself had had the honor of being with
you when the soldiers came, that I might have had a share in the glory of your
crowns! " He fought manfully against simony, and in many ways promoted the
interest of the Faith in Italy. After a life of great austerity, he died whilst
the angels were singing round his bed, July 11,
1073.
|
source: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/J/stjohngualbert.asp#ixzz1RuGbqZw9
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