Catholic News 2
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- Arrests of immigrants suspected to be in the U.S. illegally soared in the early months of the Trump administration, in part because of a surge in the detention of immigrants who have no criminal convictions, officials announced Wednesday....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Surrounded by multiplying questions, President Donald Trump complained Wednesday that "no politician in history" has been treated worse. Democrats demanded an independent commission to dig into his firing of FBI Director James Comey, but Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan cautioned against "rushing to judgment."...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has urged two orders of nuns to renew their commitment in passing on the love of God to others.During his Wednesday General Audience, the Pope greeted Italian communities from the Montfort Missionaries of the Company of Mary and the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament, who are both in Rome for their General Chapters.Greeting the nuns at the end of the audience, Pope Francis said: “I urge them to renew their adhesion to their respective charisms of foundation to transmit the love and mercy of God in today’s ecclesial context.”The Montfort Missionaries follow the example of Saint Louis de Montfort and are dedicated to spreading the Gospel through missions and parish pastoral work. The Perpetual Adorers are devoted to prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament where they offer their lives to God the Father for the Church and the world.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has urged two orders of nuns to renew their commitment in passing on the love of God to others.
During his Wednesday General Audience, the Pope greeted Italian communities from the Montfort Missionaries of the Company of Mary and the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament, who are both in Rome for their General Chapters.
Greeting the nuns at the end of the audience, Pope Francis said: “I urge them to renew their adhesion to their respective charisms of foundation to transmit the love and mercy of God in today’s ecclesial context.”
The Montfort Missionaries follow the example of Saint Louis de Montfort and are dedicated to spreading the Gospel through missions and parish pastoral work. The Perpetual Adorers are devoted to prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament where they offer their lives to God the Father for the Church and the world.
More than 150 diocesan priests and bishops from 37 dioceses from across Indonesia recently came together in south Sumatra to discuss how best to establish a close bond with their flock in their pastoral ministry after the heart of Pope Francis. The community of diocesan priests of, known as Unio Indonesia, held the 12th edition of their association in the Archdiocese of Palembang, 2 to 7 May 2017, on the theme, ‘Priests smell like sheep", a catch-phrase of Pope Francis. The meeting stressed on the need for priests to maintain a strong bond with their flock in performing their pastoral work. Hence, forum participants were sent out to seven parishes in Palembang to bring evangelical joy to parishioners and experience the daily life in 103 Catholic families."Priests are required to present God’s blessing, as well as reinforce and support people's morals vis-à-vis the challenges and obstacles of their daily life,” Archbish...
More than 150 diocesan priests and bishops from 37 dioceses from across Indonesia recently came together in south Sumatra to discuss how best to establish a close bond with their flock in their pastoral ministry after the heart of Pope Francis. The community of diocesan priests of, known as Unio Indonesia, held the 12th edition of their association in the Archdiocese of Palembang, 2 to 7 May 2017, on the theme, ‘Priests smell like sheep", a catch-phrase of Pope Francis.
The meeting stressed on the need for priests to maintain a strong bond with their flock in performing their pastoral work. Hence, forum participants were sent out to seven parishes in Palembang to bring evangelical joy to parishioners and experience the daily life in 103 Catholic families.
"Priests are required to present God’s blessing, as well as reinforce and support people's morals vis-à-vis the challenges and obstacles of their daily life,” Archbishop Aloysius Sudarso of Palembang said. “Priests have a duty to offer moral assistance, not only to our common friends, Catholics, but also to ordinary citizens, Indonesians," he told AsiaNews.
Bishops Petrus Mandagi of Amboina and Antonius Subianto Bunjamin of Bandung focused their remarks on the future challenges facing diocesan priests in Indonesia. One of the suggestions reached at the end of the meeting stressed the urgent need for continuing education of priests. This is often overlooked in Indonesia since people often believe that once ordained, a priest has already completed his formation.
Public officials also attended the Unio Indonesia forum. South Sumatra deputy governor opened the meeting, whilst provincial authorities sponsored the event, hosting a courtesy dinner for all the participants.
Fr Paulus Siswantoko of Purwokerto diocese, Central Java, was elected Unio Indonesia’s new president for 2017-2020 period. Fr. Siswantoko, who is executive secretary of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Pastoral Care of Migrants of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI), succeeds Fr Siprianus Hormat of Ruteng diocese, Flores. The meeting ended with Masses in many parishes of Palembang.
Established in 1983 in Jakarta Unio Indonesia has more than 2310 diocesan priests and bishops as members from the country’s 37 dioceses. The forum has been running refresher activities and programmes for members, as well as fostering their spiritual, mental and intellectual welfare oriented to a more effective ministry. (Source: AsiaNews)
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has paid tribute to Polish military veterans who fought in the 1944 Battle of Montecassino.Former soldiers from the Polish army’s Second Corps who are in Rome for the anniversary of the Second World War battle were greeted by the Pope at the Wednesday General Audience.Pope Francis praised the veterans who “fought for the freedom of your country and for other nations.” He said their efforts and the “sacrifice of life” of their companions had helped bring peace to Europe and the whole world.The Battle of Montecassino involved four allied assaults of German defence posts over a four month period, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties on both sides.(Richard Paul Marsden)
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has paid tribute to Polish military veterans who fought in the 1944 Battle of Montecassino.
Former soldiers from the Polish army’s Second Corps who are in Rome for the anniversary of the Second World War battle were greeted by the Pope at the Wednesday General Audience.
Pope Francis praised the veterans who “fought for the freedom of your country and for other nations.” He said their efforts and the “sacrifice of life” of their companions had helped bring peace to Europe and the whole world.
The Battle of Montecassino involved four allied assaults of German defence posts over a four month period, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties on both sides.
(Richard Paul Marsden)
Christian leaders from the Guild of Papuan Churches have rallied against growing radicalism in Indonesia which they claim has penetrated the Christian-majority region. Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar of Jayapura led church leaders and more than 1,000 Christians in a peaceful protest on May 15. There must be a concerted effort to free Papua from radical groups, the Franciscan bishop said. "The presence of radical groups [in the province] has the potential to create conflict," he told AsiaNews, urging the government to disband groups such as the Islamic Defenders Front and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia.Papua has no record of sectarian violence but the presence of Hizbut Tahrir in the province has raised fears of conflict between Muslims, Christians and other religious groups. The central government is working to disband Hizbut Tahrir because it aims to establish an Islamic caliphate which is against Indonesia’s secular ideology.Bishop Ladjar aloso expressed the wo...
Christian leaders from the Guild of Papuan Churches have rallied against growing radicalism in Indonesia which they claim has penetrated the Christian-majority region. Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar of Jayapura led church leaders and more than 1,000 Christians in a peaceful protest on May 15. There must be a concerted effort to free Papua from radical groups, the Franciscan bishop said. "The presence of radical groups [in the province] has the potential to create conflict," he told AsiaNews, urging the government to disband groups such as the Islamic Defenders Front and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia.
Papua has no record of sectarian violence but the presence of Hizbut Tahrir in the province has raised fears of conflict between Muslims, Christians and other religious groups. The central government is working to disband Hizbut Tahrir because it aims to establish an Islamic caliphate which is against Indonesia’s secular ideology.
Bishop Ladjar aloso expressed the worries of Christian leaders about Ja’far Umar Thalib, founder and former leader of Laskar Jihad — another radical group. Thalib was involved in sectarian conflict in Ambon in 1999-2002 where thousands were killed and, in 2016, his followers almost clashed with Christians in Muara Tami district, Papua. "We want the people aware of the presence of these groups in Papua before it’s too late," Bishop Ladjar said.
John Baransano of the Papuan Reformed Evangelical Church, agreed. He said Papuans must realize what is going on in Jakarta and other parts of Indonesia, especially the jailing of Christian politician Basuki Tjahaja Purnama also known as "Ahok". He said, "Ahok is a victim of sectarian tension orchestrated by radical groups." The former governor of Jakarta was sentenced to two years in prison for blasphemy on May 9. Some allege the sentence was handed down due to pressure from radical groups.
However, some human rights activists criticized the Christian leaders for being concerned only about radicalism and ignoring ordinary Papuans who rights were being violated in their fight for independence. Father John Djonga, who advocates for the rights of Papuans, said the Christian leaders should have been more concerned about the human rights situation in Papua. Frederika Korain, a female activist, said, "Why don't the churches and bishop stage protests when Papuans are shot or killed?" Bishop Ladjar claimed the criticism was baseless, "because the church has never been silent on such issues … we just did not protest on the streets." Frist Ramdey, head of the human rights commission in Papua, defended Bishop Ladjar and the rally. "The church has worked hard. Human rights violations in Papua were exposed due to the efforts of Jayapura Diocese in the 1990s," Ramdey said.
About 65 percent of Papua's 3.2 million people are Protestant, 18 percent are Catholic, 15 percent Muslim and the rest are Hindu and Buddhists. (Source: UCAN)
Some 3,000 Catholics of a remote village parish in eastern India’s Odisha state came together on Saturday to celebrate the centenary of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima and to mark the opening of a centre of the Missionaries of Charity (MC) order of Mother Teresa in their parish. Catholics in Salimaguchha parish in Ganjam District and nearby areas joined some 10 priests and 20 religious nuns for the May 13 Mass and celebrations, presided over by local Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. The Divine Word prelate also blessed and opened the new MC house, offering it as “a gift to the poor, needy, marginalized and underprivileged” in the parish.Saturday’s celebrations coincided with the worldwide celebrations of the 100 years of the first apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, to three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Pope Francis himself led the celebrat...
Some 3,000 Catholics of a remote village parish in eastern India’s Odisha state came together on Saturday to celebrate the centenary of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima and to mark the opening of a centre of the Missionaries of Charity (MC) order of Mother Teresa in their parish. Catholics in Salimaguchha parish in Ganjam District and nearby areas joined some 10 priests and 20 religious nuns for the May 13 Mass and celebrations, presided over by local Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. The Divine Word prelate also blessed and opened the new MC house, offering it as “a gift to the poor, needy, marginalized and underprivileged” in the parish.
Saturday’s celebrations coincided with the worldwide celebrations of the 100 years of the first apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, to three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Pope Francis himself led the celebrations in Fatima, declaring Francisco and Jacinta saints.
The Salimaguchha parish of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese that opened 18 years ago has eight substations and 350 Catholic families. The MC nuns have been serving in the area for the past decade, said parish priest Father Sisir Sobhanayak.
Archbishop Barwa explained that it was their “long cherished dream” to start a women’s religious congregation in the parish “ We had been in touch with some congregations. Finally, Missionaries of Charity (MC) Sisters have agreed to open the house,” Archbishop Barwa told UCANEWS. “It was God’s plan that MC Sisters open a new community in the parish, which has many underprivileged Catholic families,” he said. Missionaries of Charity Sisters provided food pockets to all present for the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and the opening of the house. Youth leader Ranjan Singh said the entire parish is “fortunate to have MC Sisters amidst us, the congregation which stands first in the service of mankind in the world.” (Source: UCAN)
IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The commission that now-retired PopeBenedict XVI established to study the alleged apparitions of Mary at Medjugorje,Bosnia-Herzegovina, reportedly voted overwhelmingly to recognize assupernatural the first seven appearances of Mary in 1981.However, according to a report published by the websiteVatican Insider, the commission was much more doubtful about the thousands of alleged visions that have occurred since July 4, 1981, and supposedly continue to this day.Two of the 17 commission members and consultants thought thealleged visions after the periodof June 24-July 3, 1981,were not supernatural, while the other members said it was not possible to makea judgment.The commission said it was clear that the six allegedvisionaries and a seventh who claims to have begun receiving messages from Maryin December 1982 were not given adequate spiritual support.Vatican Insider published its piece on the report May 16,three days after Po...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The commission that now-retired Pope Benedict XVI established to study the alleged apparitions of Mary at Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, reportedly voted overwhelmingly to recognize as supernatural the first seven appearances of Mary in 1981.
However, according to a report published by the website Vatican Insider, the commission was much more doubtful about the thousands of alleged visions that have occurred since July 4, 1981, and supposedly continue to this day.
Two of the 17 commission members and consultants thought the alleged visions after the period of June 24-July 3, 1981, were not supernatural, while the other members said it was not possible to make a judgment.
The commission said it was clear that the six alleged visionaries and a seventh who claims to have begun receiving messages from Mary in December 1982 were not given adequate spiritual support.
Vatican Insider published its piece on the report May 16, three days after Pope Francis spoke about some details of the report to journalists traveling with him from Fatima, Portugal.
The Vatican press office May 17 declined to comment on the Vatican Insider piece.
Speaking to journalists May 13, Pope Francis said that, regarding the Medjugorje commission's work, "three things need to be distinguished."
"About the first apparitions, when (the 'seers') were young, the report more or less says that the investigation needs to continue," the pope said, according to the English translation posted on the Vatican website.
"Concerning the alleged current apparitions, the report expresses doubts," he said. Furthermore, "personally, I am more 'mischievous.' I prefer Our Lady to be a mother, our mother, and not a telegraph operator who sends out a message every day at a certain time -- this is not the mother of Jesus."
Pope Francis said his "personal opinion" is that "these alleged apparitions have no great value."
The "real core" of the commission's report, he said, is "the spiritual fact, the pastoral fact" that thousands of pilgrims go to Medjugorje and are converted. "For this there is no magic wand; this spiritual-pastoral fact cannot be denied."
The spiritual fruits of the pilgrimages, he said, are the reason why in February he appointed Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser of Warsaw-Praga to study the best ways to provide pastoral care to townspeople and the pilgrims.
According to Vatican Insider, 13 of the 14 commission members present at one meeting voted to recommend lifting the Vatican ban on official diocesan and parish pilgrimages to Medjugorje.
The commission also recommended turning the town's parish Church of St. James into a pontifical shrine with Vatican oversight. The move, the commission said, would not signify recognition of the apparitions, but would acknowledge the faith and pastoral needs of the pilgrims while ensuring a proper accounting of the financial donations pilgrims leave.
The commission's role was to make recommendations to the pope; its report is not an official church judgment on the apparitions. Pope Francis told reporters May 13 that "in the end, something will be said," but he gave no timeline.
- - -
Copyright © 2017 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
BOSTON (AP) -- Tom Brady played through a concussion last year on his way to a fifth Super Bowl title, according to his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen. The injury, which was not reported by the team, left her worried about how long he should continue to play football....
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) -- The trapeze-artist wife of daredevil Nik Wallenda is planning her own stunt high above Niagara Falls....
