Rionegro, Colombia, Nov 29, 2016 / 12:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A wave of solidarity and calls for prayer have inundated social networks and the media following Monday's crash in Colombia of a plane carrying 81 people, including Brazil's Chapecoense soccer team.Only six persons reportedly survived the Nov. 28 accident.The plane's pilot reported electrical failures as it approached Medellin around 10:15 pm on Monday. It crashed moments later in a mountainous area near La Union, less than 20 miles south of Rionegro.Pope Francis sent a message to Bishop Fidel Leon Cadavid Marin of Sonson-Rionegro Nov. 29 through the Vatican Secretariat of State.“The Holy Father, deeply distressed knowing the painful news of the grave accident with numerous victims, lifts up his prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased,” read the message.“I also ask your excellency to transmit the condolences of His Holiness to the family and to those who mourn such a great loss, to...
Rionegro, Colombia, Nov 29, 2016 / 12:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A wave of solidarity and calls for prayer have inundated social networks and the media following Monday's crash in Colombia of a plane carrying 81 people, including Brazil's Chapecoense soccer team.
Only six persons reportedly survived the Nov. 28 accident.
The plane's pilot reported electrical failures as it approached Medellin around 10:15 pm on Monday. It crashed moments later in a mountainous area near La Union, less than 20 miles south of Rionegro.
Pope Francis sent a message to Bishop Fidel Leon Cadavid Marin of Sonson-Rionegro Nov. 29 through the Vatican Secretariat of State.
“The Holy Father, deeply distressed knowing the painful news of the grave accident with numerous victims, lifts up his prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased,” read the message.
“I also ask your excellency to transmit the condolences of His Holiness to the family and to those who mourn such a great loss, together with expression of affection, solidarity, and comfort to those wounded and affected by this tragic event.”
The plane, flying from Brazil by way of Bolivia, was taking Associação Chapecoense de Futebol to play Atlético Nacional, a Medellin-based team, in the final of the 2016 Copa Sudamericana. Atlético Nacional has asked that the cup be awarded to Chapecoense.
Chapecoense is a small team from Chapeco, in southern Brazil. It had been promoted to Brazil's top soccer division in 2014, and had had an exceptional season this year.
In addition to the team members, 21 journalists were aboard the flight. Three of the survivors are Chapecoense players.
“It's a difficult time to speak,” Bishop Odelir José Magri of Chapeco said in a video message Tuesday. “There are no words to express this event. We wish, in the first place, to manifest our communion and solidarity. We are suffering together, everyone.”
Bishop Magri continued: “We wish to live this not in desperation, but in the dimension of faith, of hope. We know that what can unite us, what give us strength, what can reinforce our communion in this moment is the dimension of faith, of prayer, of petition and intercession for the presence, the grace, and the power of God.”
A Mass is being said this evening at the Chapeco cathedral for the victims of the crash.
The Diocese of Chapeco had tweeted earlier: “Our prayer and solidarity are with the members and family of Chapecoense.”
Bishop Cadavid stated that “We express our most profound sentiment of sadness with the families of the persons who lost their lives in this fatal accident; we encourage the survivors and all the athlets of the world to follow, as Pope Francis says, in the construction of a more fraternal world, with greater solidarity, through sports.”
He added his hope that God “would bless and accompany the families of the deceased and give them comfort in this difficult situation.”
Radamel Falcao, a striker for the Colombian national team, tweeted: “My prayers and solidarity for the survivors, family, and friends of @ChapocoenseReal at this most difficult time.”
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Be priests who have the mind of Christ, urged Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, to the five newly-ordained Rogationist priests in Parañaque City, Philippines.The ordination ceremony was combined with the 40th anniversary of the Rogationist missionary presence in the Philippines and was held at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Multinational Village, Parañaque City.In reference to St. Teresa of Avila’s prayer, the Archbishop vigorously pressed on the five new priests to keep on studying and to never give up on it. He likewise lamented priests who are pious but who lack knowledge which is supposed to enrich their priestly ministry. “You have to continue studying even after your philosophy and theology, so that you may have the mind of Christ,” stressed the prelate.He summed up his homily into three points, inviting the newly-ordained priests to have clarity of mind, purity of heart, and generosit...
Be priests who have the mind of Christ, urged Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, to the five newly-ordained Rogationist priests in Parañaque City, Philippines.
The ordination ceremony was combined with the 40th anniversary of the Rogationist missionary presence in the Philippines and was held at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Multinational Village, Parañaque City.
In reference to St. Teresa of Avila’s prayer, the Archbishop vigorously pressed on the five new priests to keep on studying and to never give up on it. He likewise lamented priests who are pious but who lack knowledge which is supposed to enrich their priestly ministry.
“You have to continue studying even after your philosophy and theology, so that you may have the mind of Christ,” stressed the prelate.
He summed up his homily into three points, inviting the newly-ordained priests to have clarity of mind, purity of heart, and generosity in giving.
Archbishop Villegas equally criticized priests who loved money. To fall in love with women is bad, but to love money is worse he said.
Lightening up the mood, the bishop related how priests would look handsome in the eyes of Jesus. “Let Jesus be the one to tell you that you are handsome, not you telling it to yourself he said.
The Sacred Ordination Rites on that day was chosen to be the highlight in the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Rogationist Missionary Presence in the Philippines.(Source: CBCP)
(Vatican Radio) The Diocese of Chapecó in Brazil offered assurances of "prayer and solidarity" to the victims and relatives of the plane crash that killed at least 75 people early Tuesday morning in the city of La Unión, near Medellín, Colombia.The charter plane was carrying the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense to play the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana, the most important cup final of in the history of the small team. A Mass for the victims was scheduled to be celebrated at the Cathedral of Chapecó on Tuesday afternoon.Listen to James Blears' report: The pilot of the charter plane carrying Chapcoenese Real soccer team reported electrical faults as it approached Medellin and it crashed in a mountain range. Rescue teams which are still searching the steep debris strewn remote terrain, which is almost three and a half thousand above sea level, initially reported five survivors, but another one has been found ...
(Vatican Radio) The Diocese of Chapecó in Brazil offered assurances of "prayer and solidarity" to the victims and relatives of the plane crash that killed at least 75 people early Tuesday morning in the city of La Unión, near Medellín, Colombia.
The charter plane was carrying the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense to play the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana, the most important cup final of in the history of the small team. A Mass for the victims was scheduled to be celebrated at the Cathedral of Chapecó on Tuesday afternoon.
Listen to James Blears' report:
The pilot of the charter plane carrying Chapcoenese Real soccer team reported electrical faults as it approached Medellin and it crashed in a mountain range.
Rescue teams which are still searching the steep debris strewn remote terrain, which is almost three and a half thousand above sea level, initially reported five survivors, but another one has been found alive, which prompts hope of more. Two of the survivors has since died.
The Club had only reached Brazil's first division two years ago.
This final of the Copa Sud Amarica, against Atletico Nacional of Medellin was the biggest of its entire history, but now this incredible achievement has transformed into utter tragedy.
The Federation has suspended all activity. Meanwhile Brazil's President Michel Temer has declared three days of national mourning.
An investigation is underway as to why this aircraft suffered electrical failures and fell out of the sky.
(Vatican Radio) The migrant crisis has undermined harmony within churches in Europe, a Catholic bishop has told a high-level EU summit.Auxiliary Bishop of Malines-Bruxelles Jean Kockerols told the meeting of European Commissioners and religious leaders that a common solution the refugee crisis “is a question that touches directly upon the values and the future of Europe”.Bishop Kockerols, also the Vice-President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), said: “This crisis has undermined unity in Europe, and, admittedly, also within the churches in Europe. The migration crisis is challenging Christian communities to position themselves, as citizens and also as believers.“It is our duty to recall that every refugee has the right to receive a fair and human treatment.”The event was hosted by the European Commission and involved 15 representatives from the major religions of the continent. Issues discussed inclu...
(Vatican Radio) The migrant crisis has undermined harmony within churches in Europe, a Catholic bishop has told a high-level EU summit.
Auxiliary Bishop of Malines-Bruxelles Jean Kockerols told the meeting of European Commissioners and religious leaders that a common solution the refugee crisis “is a question that touches directly upon the values and the future of Europe”.
Bishop Kockerols, also the Vice-President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), said: “This crisis has undermined unity in Europe, and, admittedly, also within the churches in Europe. The migration crisis is challenging Christian communities to position themselves, as citizens and also as believers.
“It is our duty to recall that every refugee has the right to receive a fair and human treatment.”
The event was hosted by the European Commission and involved 15 representatives from the major religions of the continent. Issues discussed included the challenges posed by populism and intolerance, as well as the vital role of education in improving social cohesion.
Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “With the rise of nationalism, xenophobia and extremism, we must ensure that our society remains welcoming – especially to those fleeing from war and in need of international protection – while preserving its core values and principles.”
Speaking from the experience of Nordic countries, COMECE Vice-President Mgr Czeslaw Kozon regarded family reunification in the context of migration as a key issue “as everybody has a right to found a family and all members of such a family the right to live together”. The Bishop of Copenhagen also insisted that respect for freedom of religion is important when dealing with the integration of refugees and migrants into societies.
The 12th annual meeting of its kind place took place within a framework of an ongoing dialogue by the European Union with churches, religious, philosophical and non-confessional organisations.
