Catholic News 2

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With less than a month to go before the 2016 Uganda Martyrs Day celebration at Namugongo Catholic Shrine, the theme for this year’s event has been chosen. The theme, which has been extracted from the Gospel of John 8:32 is, “The Truth Will Make You Free.”

The 3 June celebrations will be animated by the Uganda’s Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese. The theme of the celebrations was unveiled recently, at a press conference held at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat (UCS), by Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa the Ordinary of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese and Vice Chair of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC

“The Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana last presided over the Martyrs Day celebrations in 1994 that was shortly after the visit of Pope John Paul II to Uganda in 1993,” Bishop Zziwa said. “The same Diocese is privileged this year to take the celebrations to a higher level following the successful visit of Pope Francis to Uganda last year, and the improvements of Namugongo shrine and grounds,” he added.

The annual celebrations commemorate the heroic faith of the 45 Martyrs, both Catholic and Anglican, who were burnt to death on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, the then King of Buganda between 1885 and 1887. Twenty-two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on 6 June 1920, by Pope Benedict XV, and on 18 October 1964, Pope Paul VI canonised them as Saints. In addition to the Catholic Martyrs, there are two Catechists from Paimol; Blessed Daudi Okelo and Blessed Gildo Irwa who were killed in 1918. Pope Saint John Paul II beatified the two Catechists on 20 October 2002.

Meanwhile, Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese and the UCS, which constitute the central organising committee, are working hand in hand to make the required preparations. So far, 11 committees have been formed comprising members from Kiyinda-Mityana; members from the UCS and government representatives. The committees include Pastoral and Liturgy, Transport and Protocol, Publicity and Communication, Catering and Welfare, Construction and Decoration, Finance, Security, Pilgrims, Medical, Sanitation and Ushering.

Martyrs Day in Uganda is a national public holiday. The preparations and the actual celebrations have been estimated to cost at least Ushs450m (about US$135 000).

(By Jacinta Odongo, Uganda Episcopal Conference)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

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(Vatican Radio) Bringing into focus the “invisible” lives of seafarers is at the heart of a campaign by the UK’s Office of the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) for this Jubilee Year of Mercy.  Set up to offer pastoral care and practical assistance for seafarers, the largely volunteer charitable network has published a prayer card which they have been distributing to seafarers and to supporters, “reminding them of both the corporal and spiritual works of mercy,” says AoS-UK’s National Director Martin Foley.   

Listen to the interview with Martin Foley who tells us more about the initiative:

As part of its Jubilee campaign, AoS is also organizing a series of retreats on the theme of mercy for its 16 port chaplains and some 120 volunteer ship visitors. 

“They are a fantastic [and growing] team which enables us to provide good coverage across all the UK ports,” explains Foley.  His office has appointed two new assistant port chaplains in the last twelve months, he says, “because we recognize the scale of this ministry and the need to ensure that it’s properly resourced.”

The “invisible” plight of many seafarers

“All too frequently, we come across instances of a crew being abandoned or not having been paid, or having to face difficult conditions on board – whether that be through inadequate meals, or inadequate hygiene/washing facilities,” Foley stresses.

AoS is currently responding to one such situation in Kent, in southern England.  The crew of the Southern Star container ship have not been paid their wages for the last few months and the ship has been detained by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency for being unseaworthy. Several of the Russian crewmembers have been repatriated but a handful remain on board in a bureaucratic limbo.

AoS Kent port chaplain Deacon Paul Glock and his team have been ministering to the crew and offering practical support, including providing essential provisions, Foley explains. Together with other agencies, AoS is pressing port and state authorities for a resolution to the situation.

We do this, Foley affirms, because  “we are a mission of the Church; we have been sent by the Church to share God’s love with seafarers.  And that’s not just Catholic seafarers; it’s all seafarers and to assure them that though they are far from home, family and friends, that the Church, through the Apostleship of the Sea, is here for them.  To serve them spiritually, pastorally and practically.”

Foley is pleased that some of the seafarers have been able to secure a contract on another ship, or return home.

“But officers on board a vessel have to ‘stick it out,’” admits Foley.  “So if they’re not able to come ashore, we have to go to them.  And this is really when the local Catholic community steps up to provide support…to provide food, clothing where necessary.  And to really reassure those seafarers that are stranded in a port… that out-of-sight does not mean out-of-mind.  And that we continue to be here for them.”

And, being there for them can simply mean visiting the crew on a regular basis and engaging them in conversation “to keep them in touch with the world out there.” 

In many cases, AoS will also supply the crew with “what we call a ‘my-fi’ unit so they can communicate via the internet with family and friends back home.”

AoS also works closely with trade unions so that where outstanding wages are due, these can be paid out to the crew.  The charity also recruits translation services where required.

“Our overriding objective is to make sure that whilst the crew may be stranded in a UK port for a length of time, while they are here, they do not feel abandoned. And they feel that someone is out there being an advocate for them, with the appropriate authorities,” Foley stresses.

Sea Sunday 10 July on the horizon

To raise awareness about the needs and contributions of seafarers, the Church sets aside the second Sunday of July as Sea Sunday which this year will be celebrated on July 10^th.  AOS invites parishes across the globe to pray and to “really put seafarers front and centre,” says Foley.

Year-in and year-out, seafarers come and go out of our ports and are largely “invisible,” says Foley.  One of our roles, he adds, “is to make visible this wonderful work of seafarers, to raise people’s awareness of the conditions that many seafarers have to endure to look after their families.  It’s a moment to ask the Catholic community to support seafarers through prayer and charitable giving.”

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(Vatican Radio) “The feast of the Holy Trinity invites us to engage in the daily events to be the leaven of communion, of consolation and of mercy.” Those were Pope Francis' words during his Angelus address on sunny Trinity Sunday from his studio above St Peter’s Square.

Drawing inspiration from the  Gospel of St. John, the Pope said that Jesus knew how to be close to the realization of the Father's plan, which will be fulfilled by his death and resurrection; “for this, Pope Francis continued, he wants to ensure his followers that he will not abandon them because his mission will be prolonged by the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Father explained that the Holy Spirit “guides us into new life situations with an eye to Jesus and, at the same time, open to events and to the future.” “He takes care of the wounded flesh of humanity from injustice, the oppression, hatred and greed.”

Then the Pope described how the Trinity is a family of three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit which is not closed in on itself, but it is open,

The Trinitarian horizon of communion, said Pope Francis, “embraces us all, and encourages us to live in love and fraternal sharing, assured that where there is love, there is God.”

The Holy Father went on to say that, our being created in the image and likeness of God calls us to understand ourselves as beings living interpersonal relations in solidarity and love for one another.

Following the recitation of the Marian Prayer, the Pope recalled that May 23^rd sees the starts of the First World Humanitarian Summit, due to take place in Istanbul, Turkey. The Holy Father prayed that the participants would fully commit themselves to the main humanitarian goal, that is, “to save the life of every human being, without exception, especially the innocent and the defenseless.”

Pope Francis also noted that on Tuesday, May 24, the Catholic faithful in China, would be celebrating their particular devotion to  the Blessed Virgin Mary "Help of Christians", venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. Let us ask Mary, he said, “ to give his children in China the ability to discern at all times the signs of the loving presence of God, who always welcomes and forgives.”

 

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The Church in Mozambique is this Sunday praying for peace. The country is grappling with real fears of renewed civil war. Mistrust and accusations have been growing between the ruling Frelimo government and the opposition Renamo.

The Episcopal Conference of Mozambique has decided to set aside Sunday 22 May, the celebration of the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity as a particular day of national prayers for peace. The Bishops want all donations made on this day to be given to Caritas Mozambique for its humanitarian apostolate. The announcement for the special peace prayers was made recently at the end of a plenary meeting held by the Bishops. 

More concretely, the Mozambican Bishops want Frelimo and Renamo to put a definitive end to Mozambique’s long-running political and military unrest. They have called on the two rivals to return to the discussion table and involve civil society in the country’s quest for a  “path to peace.”

Declaring the day for prayers, the Bishops called upon the Frelimo government and the opposition, Renamo to put in place “concrete steps to end the hostilities and allow the country return to a sense of normalcy.”  The Bishops further want the two rival parties to work towards the full implementation of the 1992 Rome peace agreement. The Rome accord ended Mozambique’s post-independence civil war that lasted from 1977 to 1992.

 As it is, the Bishops say that Mozambique is in a state of “semi-paralysis” because of recent events that have seriously raised tension levels in the country and eroded peace prospects. 

“In the last war, over one million people lost their lives. Never again should this happen!” the Bishops emphasise. “In the name of God, let us work for peace,” they plead. The Bishops have entrusted the nation and the people of Mozambique to the care and protection of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace. 

In a sign of solidarity, Portugal's Catholic organisation, Church in Need, (Fundação Ajuda à Igreja que Sofre/Portugal) has joined the people of Mozambique by also dedicating Trinity Sunday in Lisbon as a day of prayers for peace. The Church of St. Thomas Aquinas in Lisbon is hosting special rosary recitations and the celebration of the Eucharist in solidarity with the peace prayers in Mozambique. 

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees reports that there are over 11,500 Mozambican refugees who have fled into neighbouring Malawi as refugees for fear of renewed fightiting.

(Fr. Paul Samasumo, Radio Vatican9

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

 

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ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) -- Along with beach towels or sandals, there's a new popular beach accessory that says a lot about the violence gripping this once-glamorous resort: a small black leather tote hanging from the neck or shoulders of some men. It's not a man-bag, exactly; it holds a small pistol....

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