News in Activities

India cracks down on foreign donations

India cracks down on foreign donations

by: ucanews.com reporter, New Delhi in Activities,

Christian leaders in India are complaining that the nation's pro-Hindu government is placing unfair restrictions on voluntary organizations receiving foreign funding. Christian leaders see the move as a bid to brand humanitarian help as a cover for religious conversions.

New headquarters for Vietnam's Catholic university

New headquarters for Vietnam's Catholic university

by: ucanews.com reporter, Ho Chi Minh City in Activities,
The national Catholic university in Vietnam has begun its fourth year by moving into brand-new headquarters. Some 150 bishops, priests, religious and other people attended a special ceremony Sept. 14 in Ho Chi Minh City to inaugurate the Catholic Institute of Vietnam’s new facility.
How 'spiritual tourism' destroys church

How 'spiritual tourism' destroys church

by: Junno Arocho Esteves - CNS in Activities,

People "who are always passing by but never enter the church" in a fully communal way of sharing and caring engage in a sort of "spiritual tourism that makes them believe they are Christians but instead are only tourists of catacombs," the pope said Aug. 21 during his weekly general audience.

Face to face with London’s cleaners

Face to face with London’s cleaners

by: Magdalen Evans - The Tablet in Activities,

Each belongs to one of the City of London’s most familiar yet overlooked group of workers – that amorphous community responsible for cleaning the City, mostly in the small hours, long after everyone else has gone home or before even the earliest of starters arrives to switch on their computer.

Italian bishops provide $1.1 million in humanitarian aid to South Sudan

Italian bishops provide $1.1 million in humanitarian aid to South Sudan

by: Catholic News Service in Activities,

An infusion of $1.1 million will benefit humanitarian programs, the resettlement of refugees and internally displaced people, and peace building efforts in violence-ravaged communities in South Sudan under a program initiated by the Italian bishops conference. The program will be coordinated through Caritas South Sudan and the church's umbrella humanitarian aid agency, Caritas Internationalis.

Notre-Dame: the wounded beauty is recovering well

Notre-Dame: the wounded beauty is recovering well

by: Élodie Maurot - La Croix International in Activities,

 Time seems to have suspended itself at Notre-Dame. If you enter it through the small entrance on the Seine side, near the sacristy rebuilt by Viollet-le-Duc, you will encounter loads of candles surrounded by paper corollas. These candles, usually distributed during the Easter Vigil and then lit to celebrate the Resurrection, are still waiting for the faithful, among other objects of a daily life that is for the time being interrupted.

Vietnam monks rehabilitate drug addicts

Vietnam monks rehabilitate drug addicts

by: ucanews.com reporter, La Vang - Vietnam in Activities,

The priest, who offers spiritual advice to drug victims, said they are also given chances to join in with social life by visiting religious sites and going on sightseeing tours. n the past seven years, the retreat has looked after some 400 drug abusers for periods of four to eight months. Many have since married and obtained steady jobs. Ten of them joined a Benedictine monastery based in the central city of Hue.

A woman's place is … not in the Vatican

A woman's place is … not in the Vatican

by: Robert Mickens, Rome - The Croix International in Activities,

Each year on July 22, the Catholic Church throughout the world celebrates the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, "the first witness of the Lord's resurrection and the first evangelist". But celebrating the woman known as the "Apostle of Apostles" with the exalted rank of "feast" is a very recent development. In fact, it dates only to 2016. That's when Pope Francis decreed that her liturgical commemoration would be elevated from being a mere "memorial".

Catholic musical tells life of China missionary saint

Catholic musical tells life of China missionary saint

by: ucanews.com reporter - Hong Kong in Activities,

A video of a musical depicting the history of the first saint to have been based in Hong Kong is now available online with new subtitles in a bid to reach a broader audience. The video of St. Joseph Freinademetz: The First Saint to Ever Serve in Hong Kong can now be watched via YouTube.

Ampleforth head steps aside as inspection finds more safeguarding failures

Ampleforth head steps aside as inspection finds more safeguarding failures

by: Liz Dodd - The Tablet in Activities,

Ampleforth College is in crisis after an inspection report found it was failing to reach child protection standards, and its acting head is stepping down. The Tablet can reveal that Deirdre Rowe will be leaving after just ten months in post ... after a highly critical inspection report that found the school did not meet standards for safeguarding, leadership, behaviour, bullying and complaints handling.

Church of England publishes social media guidelines

Church of England publishes social media guidelines

by: Rose Gamble - The Tablet in Activities,

The Church of England on Monday published its first ever set of social media guidelines aimed at encouraging a more positive atmosphere online. “Social media has transformed the way we live our lives. As Christians we are called to engage in a way which is shaped by the example of Jesus. As we respond to the call on each of us to be witnesses to Jesus Christ, I encourage all of us to consider how we live our lives as witnesses online..."

South Korean Mass for peace attracts 20,000 faithful

South Korean Mass for peace attracts 20,000 faithful

by: ucanews.com reporter, Seoul in Activities,

The Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) held a special Mass on June 25 at Peace World Park in Imjingak, near the demilitarized zone dividing North and South Korea.