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Asakiranam (beacon of hope), a Caritas India project launched in 2014 in Kerala creates awareness about cancer in remote areas with the help of 10.000 volunteers. Under this project, patients and other people are encouraged to switch to organic farming techniques and shun fruits and vegetables produced with the help of chemical pesticides, which is considered by many to be a major cause of cancer in the state.Under the project, in 2016 alone, over 1,500 awareness classes on the causes and symptoms of cancer were conducted and 235 cancer detection camps were organized. It helped contact over 246,000 families making them aware of the disease. They also provided care and support for families affected by cancer.The high incidence of cancer cases in Kerala forced all 31 dioceses in the state to take up the project, said Father Frederick D'Souza, executive director of Caritas India."The uniqueness of the project is that for the first time a single program with the sa...
On 11 Dec, 2016, the Catholic Church of Laos welcomed its first group of Blessed. More than a thousand Catholics witnessed the Beatification ceremony of the 17 martyrs of Laos, presided over by Filipino Cardinal Orlando Quevedo in the Sacred Heart Cathedral of the Laotian capital Vientiane. The group of 17 martyrs known as “Joseph Tien and his 16 companions” met their end in the last century in the hands of Communist Pathet Lao forces. A miracle is now needed to clear them for canonization or sainthood. Since the Dec. 11 Beatification, Laotian Catholic communities as well as religious congregations associated with the martyrs have been celebrating thanksgiving Masses. German Oblate of Mary Immaculate priest, Fr. Thomas Klosterkamp is the postulator or promoter of the sainthood cause of the 17 martyrs of Laos. He was not present at the Beatification in Vientianne but came to know about it from those who attended the ceremon...
(Vatican Radio) The Office of Papal Charities this week helped out the earthquake-hit regions of central Italy at the express wish of Pope Francis, buying typical food products from local producers and distributing it to several soup kitchens in Rome.Central Italy was hit by a powerful 6.3 magnitude quake in August 2016, which killed nearly 300 people. Other earthquakes have since caused major damage to the area.Farmers and merchants in the affected areas have since suffered a drastic reduction in their revenues.A communique from the Office of Papal Charities said the organization selected “several groups of farmers and producers at risk of closure because of the damages provoked by the earthquake” from which to buy alimentary products.It said vendors were chosen in conjunction with Bishop Domenico Pompili of Rieti, Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole of Ascoli Piceno, Archbishop Francesco Giovanni Brugnaro of Camerino-San Severino Marche, and Archbishop Renato Boccardo...
(Vatican Radio) A 2-day seminar aiming to propose much needed public policies for water and sanitation management is underway in the Vatican. Organized by the Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the seminar is entitled “The human right to water: An interdisciplinary focus and contributions on the central role of public policies in water and sanitation management”.The workshop focuses on the potential and effective contribution of science, culture, politics and technological advancements to the attainment of a fairer world of greater social justice and solidarity. One of the participants, Father Peter Hughes, a missionary priest who has spent his life working in the Amazon region, pointed out that water management impacts many issues including peace and the prevention of conflicts.Listen: Father Peter Hughes, who has worked all his life in Peru, in the Andes and in the Amazon explains he is currently involved in a new project in defense of the Amazon regio...
Florence, Italy, Feb 23, 2017 / 06:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- She is one of the oldest religious sisters in the world, but this week, she turned 110 years young. Despite her advanced age, Sister Candida Bellotti retains the enthusiasm of a young woman. On Monday, Feb. 20, she celebrated her 110th birthday and received a special message from Pope Francis.“To the Reverend Sister Candida Bellotti, Sister Minister of the Sick, who with gratitude to God is celebrating her 110th birthday, the Holy Father Francis spiritually participates in the joy we all share for this happy occasion and sends warm congratulations and heartfelt wishes,” said the pontiff in his message.At age 80, Pope Francis is 30 years her junior.Sister Bellotti celebrated her birthday with the Bishop of the Italian Diocese of Lucca, Benvenuto Italo Castellani. She resides in the diocese along with the convent's sisters and the provincial superior, Sister Giuliana Fracasso.In a recent interview, she sai...
Vatican City, Feb 23, 2017 / 07:33 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Thursday Pope Francis welcomed longtime friend and Rabbi Abraham Skorka to the Vatican for the presentation of a new version of the Torah, which he said is a sign of the love God shows to man in both words and gestures.The Torah “manifests the paternal and visceral love of God, a love shown in words and concrete gestures, a love that becomes covenant,” the Pope said during the Feb. 23 audience, adding that the word covenant in itself “is resonant with associations that bring us together.”He noted how St. John Paul II in his speech for the 25th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council document “Nostra Aetate,” which marked a milestone in improving Catholic-Jewish relations, called the Torah “the living teaching of the living God.”“God is the greatest and most faithful covenantal partner,” he said, noting that not only did God call Abraham to form a people that would...
IMAGE: CNS/ReutersBy Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Francis affirms basicChristian principles, he is not singling out one person or nation, but hedefinitely is not excluding them either.The ongoing global migration and refugee crisis is a case inpoint.The United States is not the only country engaged in aheated political debate over immigration policy with often opposing voicesfocusing on: ensuring the country's security; regulating numbers based on theresources available to resettle them; or living up to an ethical obligation -- andoften a legal one, according to international treaties -- to shelter peoplefleeing violence and persecution and to welcome those seeking a more dignifiedlife for themselves and their families.While the pope's remarks on welcoming migrants and refugees cannotbe read as focused on the U.S. debate, one also cannot pretend they havenothing to do with it.The new Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery forPromoting Integral Human Developme...
IMAGE: CNS/Vatican Press OfficeBy Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In an effort to help support theeconomy of the central Italian region devastated by several earthquakes in 2016,the Vatican has purchased food from local farmers and producers to feed the homeless.Pope Francis instructed his almoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, to purchase largequantities of food from central Italy, known for its delectable selection ofmeats, cheeses and wine. Working with bishops from the devastated areas, ArchbishopKrajewski purchased products from "several groups of farmers and producerswhose businesses were at risk of closing due to the damage caused by theearthquake," the Vatican said in a statement released Feb. 23. "The papalalmoner proceeded to purchase a large quantity of their products withthe intention, expressed by the Holy Father, of helping them and encouraging them to continue their activities," the Vaticansaid.All of the products purchased by the papal almoner's officewill ...
IMAGE: Nancy WiechecBy Rhina GuidosWASHINGTON (CNS) -- In two memos published Feb.20, the Department of Homeland Security outlined guidelines that White Houseofficials said would enhance enforcement of immigration laws inside the countryas well as prevent further unauthorized immigration into the U.S.In a Feb. 21 news briefing, White House presssecretary Sean Spicer said the guidelines include hiring more border agents,construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, and hiring more personnel to"repatriate illegal immigrants swiftly."The memos by Department of Homeland SecuritySecretary John F. Kelly also called for state and local agencies to"assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law" and for hiring"additional border patrol agents, as well as "500 Air and MarineAgents/Officers." The cost of implementing such programs, whether there'senough funding and how Congress will be involved, was not discussed.While there have been two arrests under the newadministration involvin...
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jimmy Kimmel says he never really wanted to host the Academy Awards....
