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NEW YORK (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump is facing an early test with fellow Republicans over U.S. relations with Russia, as lawmakers seek to investigate a CIA assessment that Russia interfered in the November election and issue warnings over the incoming president's potential pick for secretary of State....
WASHINGTON-- Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), offers condolences, prayers and words of support for those involved in this weekend's bombings in Cairo, Turkey and Somalia as well as the Church roof collapse in Nigeria. Full statement follows: As we enter the Third Week of Advent, we are reminded that even the shadow of violence and terrorism cannot obscure the light of our coming Savior. St. Mark himself was no stranger to the persecution of Christians. Those who gathered to worship the Lord at his cathedral this morning in Cairo are family to us. We draw near to our Coptic brothers and sisters in prayer, sorrow and comfort. And we are confident in the healing power of our Lord Jesus Christ. The lives lost strengthen the faith of Christians everywhere and offer a testament to the great privilege of worshiping God in peace. This weekend has witnessed the darkness of violence reach into many places, includi...
Full statement follows:
As we enter the Third Week of Advent, we are reminded that even the shadow of violence and terrorism cannot obscure the light of our coming Savior. St. Mark himself was no stranger to the persecution of Christians. Those who gathered to worship the Lord at his cathedral this morning in Cairo are family to us. We draw near to our Coptic brothers and sisters in prayer, sorrow and comfort. And we are confident in the healing power of our Lord Jesus Christ. The lives lost strengthen the faith of Christians everywhere and offer a testament to the great privilege of worshiping God in peace. This weekend has witnessed the darkness of violence reach into many places, including Turkey, Somalia and the church building collapse in Nigeria. But the light still shines! Today let us offer a special prayer for all those facing persecution.
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KATHA, Myanmar (AP) -- In the 1990s, Nyo Ko Naing noticed that the handful of foreign tourists who made it to his remote hometown were carrying their own maps and looked like they were searching for something. Someone, it turns out, by the name of George Orwell....
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Latest on the trial of Cardell Hayes, charged in the April shooting death of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith (all times local):...
Cairo, Egypt, Dec 11, 2016 / 02:47 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- At least 25 persons were killed Sunday when a bomb exploded at a chapel attached to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, and dozens more were injured.“Vicious terrorism is being waged against the country's Copts and Muslims. Egypt will emerge stronger and more united from this situation,” Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated Dec. 11, as he declared a three-day period of national mourning.The explosion occurred around 10 am local time during a Liturgy at the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church.The Coptic Orthdox Church is an Oriental Orthodox Church, meaning it rejected the 451 Council of Chalcedon, and its followers were historically considered monophysites – those who believe Christ has only one nature – by Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox.Egypt’s Christians, mostly Copts, make up 10 percent of Egypt’s 83 million-strong population, while the remaining 90 percent ...
Cairo, Egypt, Dec 11, 2016 / 02:47 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- At least 25 persons were killed Sunday when a bomb exploded at a chapel attached to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, and dozens more were injured.
“Vicious terrorism is being waged against the country's Copts and Muslims. Egypt will emerge stronger and more united from this situation,” Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated Dec. 11, as he declared a three-day period of national mourning.
The explosion occurred around 10 am local time during a Liturgy at the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
The Coptic Orthdox Church is an Oriental Orthodox Church, meaning it rejected the 451 Council of Chalcedon, and its followers were historically considered monophysites – those who believe Christ has only one nature – by Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox.
Egypt’s Christians, mostly Copts, make up 10 percent of Egypt’s 83 million-strong population, while the remaining 90 percent is Muslim.
Christians in Egypt have long faced attacks from Islamist extremists, particularly since Egypt's military ousted president Mohammed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, in 2013.
In February, four Coptic teenagers were found guilty of insulting Islam and sentenced to five years imprisonment.
And two persons were killed in clashes outside St. Mark's in April 2013.
In Libya, the Islamic State killed 21 Coptic Orthodox from Egypt in February 2015.
In 2011, a bombing on a Coptic church in Alexandria killed 23.
Following his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the attack, and stated that “there is only one answer” to such violence: “fiath in God and unity in human and civil values.”
He also expressed his closeness to Tawadros II, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, “and to his community, praying for the dead and the wounded.”
Liverpool, England, Dec 11, 2016 / 03:43 pm (CNA).- Scientists at a university in Liverpool recently unveiled what they say is the most realistic portrait ever created of St. Nicholas of Myra, the popular 4th Century bishop best known as the inspiration for the modern-day figure of Santa Claus.Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University's Face Lab used a facial reconstruction system and 3D interactive technology to create the portrait, which was unveiled on Dec. 6, the feast day of St. Nicholas.It's #StNicholas day. Check out the facial depiction of St Nicholas we produced @LJMU @LSAD_2016 https://t.co/EQfjjHmRis #stnicholasday pic.twitter.com/MW1GpWhBWW— Face Lab Liverpool (@FaceLabLJMU) December 6, 2016University Professor Caroline Wilkinson said the reconstruction relied on “all the skeletal and historical material” available, the BBC reports. A university spokeswoman said the new image uses “the most up-to-date anatomical standards, Turkish ti...
Liverpool, England, Dec 11, 2016 / 03:43 pm (CNA).- Scientists at a university in Liverpool recently unveiled what they say is the most realistic portrait ever created of St. Nicholas of Myra, the popular 4th Century bishop best known as the inspiration for the modern-day figure of Santa Claus.
Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University's Face Lab used a facial reconstruction system and 3D interactive technology to create the portrait, which was unveiled on Dec. 6, the feast day of St. Nicholas.
It's #StNicholas day. Check out the facial depiction of St Nicholas we produced @LJMU @LSAD_2016 https://t.co/EQfjjHmRis #stnicholasday pic.twitter.com/MW1GpWhBWW
— Face Lab Liverpool (@FaceLabLJMU) December 6, 2016
University Professor Caroline Wilkinson said the reconstruction relied on “all the skeletal and historical material” available, the BBC reports. A university spokeswoman said the new image uses “the most up-to-date anatomical standards, Turkish tissue depth data and CGI techniques.”
Among the features depicted in the saint’s image is a broken nose, which Wilkinson said had “healed asymmetrically, giving him a characteristic nose and rugged facial appearance.”
St. Nicholas lived 270-343 A.D. He was the bishop of Myra, in southern Turkey.
During his years as bishop, he was imprisoned during the Diocletian persecution, then later released when Constantine came to power.
He was known for his staunch defense of the faith, as well as his often anonymous generosity toward those in need.
Stories surrounding the saint abound. He is believed to have once rescued three sisters from being sold into slavery by throwing bags of gold through an open window into their house to pay their family’s debts.
Another popular story holds that he became so enraged by the heretic Arius – who claimed that Christ was not truly God – that he punched him during a heated debate at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
Based on the broken nose in the saint's facial reconstruction, maybe Arius punched him back.
.....
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http://t.co/VK50acdOtj Is this what Saint Rose of Lima looked like? #History #Catholic
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) August 28, 2015
HOGANSBURG, N.Y. (AP) -- A century after the first commercial dam was built on the St. Regis River, blocking the spawning runs of salmon and sturgeon, the stream once central to the traditional culture of New York's Mohawk Tribe is flowing freely once again....
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The refrain is heard almost as often as the fatal gunshots: The way to reduce Chicago's gun violence is tougher prison sentences for repeat gun offenders, keeping them off the streets and decreasing the city's mounting death toll....
BEIRUT (AP) -- Islamic State militants recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from Syrian troops Sunday, according to both sides in the battle, scoring a major advance after a year of setbacks in Syria and neighboring Iraq....
Magis Zimbabwe, a group of young people, inspired by the Ignatian spirituality to do more for Christ, has launched a new theme ‘Hearts on Fire’ for the year 2017.‘Hearts on Fire’ was launched at an Ignite Youth Day, held recently at Zimbabwe’s St Canisius Parish in Marlborough. The event drew over 75 youths from Zimbabwe and Zambia.Brother Edward Ngonidzashe, a delegate for Youth Ministry told the young people that, “Hearts on Fire is about igniting young people who are inspired by their faith and the service of their society.” He added, “We want an ignited generation who are involved in actions of justice, service and making a difference,” said the Jesuit Brother.According to Ngonidzashe, the Magis want to inspire a whole movement of young people towards a Church that is fired up for Christ and a just society. He reminded the youth that Pope Francis exhorted them, during World Youth Day in Poland, to be active and bring ...
Magis Zimbabwe, a group of young people, inspired by the Ignatian spirituality to do more for Christ, has launched a new theme ‘Hearts on Fire’ for the year 2017.
‘Hearts on Fire’ was launched at an Ignite Youth Day, held recently at Zimbabwe’s St Canisius Parish in Marlborough. The event drew over 75 youths from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Brother Edward Ngonidzashe, a delegate for Youth Ministry told the young people that, “Hearts on Fire is about igniting young people who are inspired by their faith and the service of their society.” He added, “We want an ignited generation who are involved in actions of justice, service and making a difference,” said the Jesuit Brother.
According to Ngonidzashe, the Magis want to inspire a whole movement of young people towards a Church that is fired up for Christ and a just society. He reminded the youth that Pope Francis exhorted them, during World Youth Day in Poland, to be active and bring life into the Church and the world.
“It pains me the most to see youth who retire so early,” Ngonidzashe said. He encouraged the youth gathered never to give-up on their aspirations but always draw inspiration from Jesus Christ himself who remained resolute to end. Next year’s theme is anchored on three pillars- Inspire, Engage and Ignite.
Hearts on Fire follows the Ignatian principle of setting the world on fire which brings out the desire in young people to transform people’s lives: Transform people’s lives by being Magis; being more in everything; in serving Christ and society.
Brother Ngonidzashe challenged the Church to create space for youth to grow in faith and service.
The Ignite Youth Day Holy Eucharist was presided over by Fr Isaac Fernandez. They day concluded with a “Hearts on Fire Concert “as the young people participated in creative spoken word, music and dance.
(By Bothwell Munetsi, Jesuit Province of Zimbabwe – Mozambique)
Email:engafrica@vatiradio.va
