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BAGHDAD (AP) -- Omar al-Shishani, a top Islamic State commander who was a magnet for fighters from the former Soviet Union, has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, a senior Iraqi intelligence official and the head of a Syrian activist group said Tuesday....
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Latest on the 2016 presidential campaign, with primaries in five states Tuesday and Republican front-runner Donald Trump trying to move closer to nailing down his party's nomination (all times Eastern Standard Time):...
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in Florida's presidential primaries, capturing the biggest prize on a crucial day of voting and showcasing the strength of the two front-runners. Trump's victory was a devastating blow to Marco Rubio, all but ending the Florida senator's White House campaign....
As the universal Church celebrates the third anniversary of the pontificate of Pope Francis, Kenyans have been remembering the Holy Father’s messages during his Apostolic visit to the country, in November last year.This week, at his residence, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya Archbishop Charles Balvo encouraged the Kenyan Government to show genuine concern for the needs of the poor, consider the aspirations of the young and strive to create a just distribution of natural and human resources with which Kenya is blessed.“The many brothers and sisters of the Gospel whom he (Pope Francis) met for the first time, to us the Catholic community, Bishops, priests, religious men and women, catechists and lay faithful especially the young people; he left words of inspiration and guidance,” said Archbishop Balvo.At the same time, the Nuncio appreciated the intensive papal preparations and the cooperation that exists between the Catholic Church in Kenya with the government...
As the universal Church celebrates the third anniversary of the pontificate of Pope Francis, Kenyans have been remembering the Holy Father’s messages during his Apostolic visit to the country, in November last year.
This week, at his residence, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya Archbishop Charles Balvo encouraged the Kenyan Government to show genuine concern for the needs of the poor, consider the aspirations of the young and strive to create a just distribution of natural and human resources with which Kenya is blessed.
“The many brothers and sisters of the Gospel whom he (Pope Francis) met for the first time, to us the Catholic community, Bishops, priests, religious men and women, catechists and lay faithful especially the young people; he left words of inspiration and guidance,” said Archbishop Balvo.
At the same time, the Nuncio appreciated the intensive papal preparations and the cooperation that exists between the Catholic Church in Kenya with the government. The Nuncio recalled the joy and sense of unity that Pope Francis’ visit elicited among Kenyans.
“The two days of the Holy Father and his entourage’s visit were full of excitement and enthusiasm which even the rain could not stop,” The Nuncio recalled.
Speaking at the same time, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Chairman, Bishop Philip Anyolo, on behalf of Kenyans, wished the Holy Father long life and assured him of the prayers of Kenyans.
“We want to take this opportunity to assure the Holy Father that we shall continue praying for him so that the good Lord, who has begun the good work in him bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Anyolo of the Catholic Diocese of Homabay.
Kiminini Member of Parliament, Chris Wamalwa who was the guest of honour at the event said he was elated that Kenya and the Holy See had come a long way in building a bond that is expected to continue to strengthen further in the future.
“Our shared vision of actively engaging in improving the lives of Kenyans are only two important landmarks in the long list of issues that bring us together and make us true companions on a journey of mutual cooperation for the benefit of our people,” he said.
Wamalwa is also the Vice Chair of the Catholic Parliamentarians Association in Kenya.
The celebration was also attended by Nairobi Archbishop, John Cardinal Njue, several Kenyan Bishops, priests, religious men and women, laity, diplomats accredited to Kenya and several government officials. .
Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, as Pope on 13 March of that year. Bergoglio took the pontifical name of Francis.
(Sources: CISA/Rose Achiego in Nairobi)
Email:engafricaatiradio.va
IMAGE: CNS photo/Octavio DuranBy SAN ANTONIO (CNS) -- Father VirgilioElizondo, a nationally known professor of pastoral and Hispanic theologyat the University of Notre Dame and founder of what is today the MexicanAmerican Catholic College in San Antonio, was found dead in his home the afternoonof March 14. He was 80.The Bexar County MedicalExaminer's Office verified his death late that night. The priest reportedlydied from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.Father Elizondo was widelyrecognized as "the father of U.S. Latino religious thought." He pursuedscholarly work in Latino theology, evangelization, faith and spirituality, andculture, was the author of many books. He was rector of San Fernando Cathedralin San Antonio in the late 1980s and early 1990s."I join the priests of theArchdiocese of San Antonio as we are deeply saddened and stunned by the news ofthe death of Father Virgilio Elizondo on March 14. This is an occasion forgreat sorrow, as his death was sudden and unexpected," San...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Octavio Duran
By
SAN ANTONIO (CNS) -- Father Virgilio Elizondo, a nationally known professor of pastoral and Hispanic theology at the University of Notre Dame and founder of what is today the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio, was found dead in his home the afternoon of March 14. He was 80.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office verified his death late that night. The priest reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Father Elizondo was widely recognized as "the father of U.S. Latino religious thought." He pursued scholarly work in Latino theology, evangelization, faith and spirituality, and culture, was the author of many books. He was rector of San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
"I join the priests of the Archdiocese of San Antonio as we are deeply saddened and stunned by the news of the death of Father Virgilio Elizondo on March 14. This is an occasion for great sorrow, as his death was sudden and unexpected," San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller said in a statement released by the archdiocese.
"At this devastatingly sad time for Father Virgil's family -- especially his sister -- as well as his brother clergy, co-workers and friends, we offer our most profound sympathies," the statement said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them all. I pray for all those who mourn Father Virgil and for the repose of his soul."
No details about funeral are arrangements were released.
In May 2015, Father Elizondo was named secondarily in a lawsuit filed by a John Doe in Bexar County District Court in San Antonio. The suit also named former priest Jesus Armando Dominguez and the San Antonio Archdiocese.
The suit alleged that as a boy, John Doe was sexually abused from 1980 to 1983 while he was living in an orphanage and was being mentored by Dominguez, then a student at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio. John Doe claimed that when he went to report the abuse to Father Elizondo, the priest kissed and fondled him.
Father Elizondo vigorously denied the charges in a public statement and in conversations with friends, and said he was prepared to fight the allegation legally.
A longtime friend and administrative assistant, Janie Dillard, told the San Antonio Express-News daily newspaper that the accusation "could never be (true)," and said Father Elizondo "died of a broken heart."
Dominguez, who was later ordained in San Bernardino Diocese in California, disappeared in 2005 amid criminal charges of sexually molesting a number of boys. He reportedly fled to Mexico and was never arrested.
A native of San Antonio and the son of Mexican immigrants, Father Elizondo was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Antonio in 1963. As a young priest, he worked in parishes, but in 1965, Archbishop Robert E. Lucey, then head of the archdiocese, appointed him archdiocesan director of religious education.
He was an advocate for underpaid and exploited Mexican-American laborers in the Archdiocese of San Antonio during the early 1970s. Father Elizondo was active in television work and video productions and is considered the foremost interpreter of U.S. Latino religion by the national and international media.
As pastor of the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Father Elizondo presided over a Sunday Spanish Mass that was broadcast to more than 1 million households.
In 1972, he was a co-founder with then-Archbishop Patrick Flores of the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio and served as its first president. It was renamed a few years ago as the Mexican American Catholic College.
He joined the Notre Dame faculty in 2000. Among his many books are "The Future Is Mestizo," "Galilean Journey" and "The Human Quest."
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Young black men playing basketball and football for the country's top college teams are graduating at lower rates than black male students at the same schools - despite having financial and academic support that removes common hurdles preventing many undergraduates from earning a degree, a new report has found....
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