News in Activities

Lessons can be learned from Aeta people's organic mangoes

Lessons can be learned from Aeta people's organic mangoes

by: Father Shay Cullen, Manila - UCAN in Activities,

Fair Trade is a boon for indigenous Philippine people and for those who consume the fruits of nature and their labor. Buying the produce of the hard work of the poor for higher fair trade prices is one way to support them and reduce poverty. They struggle to survive in their remote villages without electricity, roads or nearby schools. There are few social services or government assistance to help them make a life of dignity for themselves and their children.

Mass held after Hong Kong protest turns violent

Mass held after Hong Kong protest turns violent

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

The Colloquium of Six Religious Leaders of Hong Kong, which comprises representatives of the Catholic Church, Protestant Church, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Confucius, also released a statement calling on the government and the public to seek a solution in a restrained and peaceful manner.

Europe must rediscover 'its own identity, its own unity', says Pope Francis.

Europe must rediscover 'its own identity, its own unity', says Pope Francis.

by: Christopher Lamb - The Tablet in Activities,

Speaking on the Papal plane returning from Romania to Rome, the Pope pointed out that the global financial system, which leaves many young people unemployed and others discarded, makes it difficult for individual countries to solve problems alone. Solidarity, where poorer countries received support from wealthier ones, is vital for the common good.

New blow to Steve Bannon's plans for monastery

New blow to Steve Bannon's plans for monastery

by: Christopher Lamb - The Tablet in Activities,

President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist plans to convert the former Carthusian monastery of Trisulti, near Frosinone, 47 miles south-east of Rome, into an academy for defenders of Judaeo-Christian values.

Francis approves revised translation of Italian Missal

Francis approves revised translation of Italian Missal

by: La Croix International staff - Vatican City in Activities,

According to the new translation, the Lord's Prayer will no longer say "and lead us not into temptation" but will become "do not let us fall/be abandoned into temptation." The Holy See no longer gives a recognitio by which it approves vernacular translations; it now gives a confirmatio that confirms decisions made by the bishops' conferences.

Preaching the truth is not enough, media-savvy priest says

Preaching the truth is not enough, media-savvy priest says

by: Rock Ronald Rozario, Dhaka - UCAN in Activities,
A prominent Catholic media expert has called on Catholics to become "modern missionaries" by "proclaiming truth and the Good News" through the media armed with both "knowledge and commitment." 
They should learn to utilize the media by following Jesus' advise to be "Simple as a dove but cunning as a serpent," said Father Raymond Ambroise.
New Spanish president for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

New Spanish president for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

by: La Croix International staff in Activities,

 Pope Francis has opted for continuity with Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who died last July, in his appointment of Spanish Bishop Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot to head the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Born in Seville, Southern Spain in 1952, Bishop Ayuso discovered his religious vocation at an early age, deciding to join the Combonian missionaries, a congregation of Italian origin that is particularly active in eastern Africa.

Philippines declares Virgin Mary's birthday a national holiday

Philippines declares Virgin Mary's birthday a national holiday

by: Joe Torres, Manila - UCAN in Activities,

"I only wish [the politicians'] apparent devotion to Mary translates into genuine service to people and actual practice of Christian values in their personal and official lives," said Benedictine nun Mary John Mananzan. Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said what the legislators did was "very inspiring and interesting good news" and spoke of the Filipino culture of being "pro-God" and "pro-mother."

Cardinal turns on the lights and raises ire of Italian politician

Cardinal turns on the lights and raises ire of Italian politician

by: Catholic News Service in Activities,

Back in Rome less than 24 hours after visiting refugees in camps in Greece, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski turned on some lights and found himself being threatened by Italy's deputy prime minister. Salvini said the occupants of the building owed the electric company 300,000 euros and he would be sending the cardinal the bill.

Vietnam cathedral's demolition

Vietnam cathedral's demolition

by: ucanews.com reporter, Hanoi in Activities,

Architects have asked church leaders in Vietnam’s oldest diocese to conserve an iconic cathedral instead of pulling it down for a new one. But local Catholics and government authorities have backed the diocese’s plan to demolish 134-year-old Bui Chu Cathedral on May 13. Bui Chu Cathedral is as old as Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City and St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi.

Philippine church gets its very own 'Sistine Chapel

Philippine church gets its very own 'Sistine Chapel

by: Charlie Saceda, Bantayan Island - UCAN in Activities,

 On the island of Bantayan in the central Philippines, artists were adding the finishing touches to a mural on the ceiling of the island's old church days before Holy Week. The church's priest, Joselito Enriquez Danao in 2016, when he was assigned to the Saints Peter and Paul Parish on the island, started the concept of “dibuho kisame,” which literally means "ceiling painting."

The Month of May

The Month of May

by: Angel Moreno - CiudadRedonda in Activities,

In many Christian communities the month of May is especially linked to the cult of the Virgin Mary. The "prayer of flowers" is an exercise in popular piety, an invocation addressed to the Mother of Jesus: "Come, and let us all go with flowers to Mary, who is our Mother."

Philippines kicks off Catholic youth celebration

Philippines kicks off Catholic youth celebration

by: Joe Torres, Manila - UCAN in Activities,

At least 15,000 young Catholics attended the first day of this year's National Youth Day celebrations being held in the central Philippine province of CebuArchbishop Jose Palma of Cebu welcomed the delegates on April 24 at a sports center by telling them that to "trust in the memory of God and His memory is not the hard disk that saves and archives all our data."

Pope calls on Asian Church radio to be 'voice of the poor'

Pope calls on Asian Church radio to be 'voice of the poor'

by: Joe Torres, Manila - UCAN in Activities,

Pope Francis has called on an Asian church-run radio station, which celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 11, to help build “a more just and united society". In his message to Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), the pontiff expressed hope that the station would pursue its mandate to preach the Gospel and be a "channel of love by being the voice of the poor."

Catholic women's group in France launches petition

Catholic women's group in France launches petition

by: Clémence Houdaille - La Croix International in Activities,

Founded in 2009 by Anne Soupa and Christine Pedotti to promote male-female equality in the Church, the Skirt Committee (Comité de la Jupe) announced that "in view of various affairs in the Catholic Church" it had launched a new petition reaffirming "its opposition to the condition currently given to women in their own Church."

God does not hide behind riddles, pope says

God does not hide behind riddles, pope says

by: Carol Glatz - Catholic News Service in Activities,

The Lord's Prayer is meant to ignite the same deep love Jesus felt for his father, the same passion to "transform the world with love." Christians do not believe in random, unalterable or "inescapable fate," the pope said. Rather, they truly believe "that God can and wants to transform reality, conquering evil with good," and this, he said, is why people pray. 

Cultural worries misplaced in India's northeast

Cultural worries misplaced in India's northeast

by: Father Babu Joseph Karakombil - UCAN in Activities,

Christianity and its teachings found fertile ground among tribal communities whose communal lifestyle, fellowship and fraternity coalesced with that of the new religion. Many tribes embraced Christianity en masse, bringing phenomenal growth of Christianity in the northeast. Christians are now a majority in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram, three of the seven states in the region.

Jeremy Hunt to focus on persecuted Christians during Lent

Jeremy Hunt to focus on persecuted Christians during Lent

by: Liz Dodd-The Tablet in Activities,

 The Foreign Office is to highlight the cases of persecuted Christians during Lent, the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced on Ash Wednesday. “It is shocking that 245 million Christians worldwide are currently facing persecution,” he said in a video message.