News in Activities

The manuscript that defies science

The manuscript that defies science

by: Marie Verdier, Burgos - La Croix International in Activities,

 “Yale University also took us for crackpots!” Juanjo Garcia said with a smile. But to protect the manuscript from the risk of degradation or disappearance, Yale ended up consenting to have it reproduced. For this, they selected the masters of the tailormade facsimile, publishers Garcia, and Molinero, creators twenty years ago of the small Siloé publishing house based in Burgos, in northwest Spain.

Cardinal Tagle wants end to parochial church

Cardinal Tagle wants end to parochial church

by: Roy Lagarde, Manila - UCAN in Activities,

"I hope that every parish really becomes a communion where we open doors, where we surpass our fears, and we see a brother or a sister whose wounds are my wounds too," said Cardinal Tagle. "New evangelization is fundamentally about the encounter with Jesus and without this there can be no other communion, communion without mission is unhealthy."

A catholic woman is appointed master of Balliol College, Oxford

A catholic woman is appointed master of Balliol College, Oxford

by: Catherine Pepinster - The Tablet in Activities,

Helen Ghosh was born in 1956 and had a schooling typical of middle-class Catholic girls of the time; she was educated by nuns at Farnborough Hill Convent School in Hampshire. From there, she went to Oxford where she read history and met her husband, the historian Peter Ghosh. It was also there that she first encountered the Dominicans at Blackfriars, who have provided her with spiritual nourishment ever since.

The sociology of French Catholics

The sociology of French Catholics

by: Anne-Bénédicte Hoffner and Gauthier Vaillant - La Croix International in Activities,

A wide-ranging sociological study commissioned by the Bayard group and published jointly by La Croix and Pèlerin sheds unprecedented light on the makeup of French Catholicism. The two authors have distinguished six profile types, which provide tools for understanding the logic of a Catholic world that is far more diverse than may have appeared.

They promise to use social media to share the Word of God and inspire others

They promise to use social media to share the Word of God and inspire others

by: Katharina R. Lestari and Konradus Epa Yogyakarta - UCAN in Activities,

More than 2,000 young people from 21 Asian countries have committed to use social media to spread positivity and share the Word of God to inspire others. Their commitment was read out by two representatives of the young people during a closing ceremony of the 7th Asian Youth Day festivities in Yogyakarta Aug. 6.Asian Youth Day participants commit to wisely use social media 

Which way will church-state relations turn in Hong Kong?

Which way will church-state relations turn in Hong Kong?

by: La Croix International - John Mok Chit-wai, Hong Kong in Activities,

Carrie Lam, a practicing Catholic, was sworn in as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong on July 1. In early August, Coadjutor Bishop Michael Yeung, former chief executive of Caritas Hong Kong, will be installed to succeed Cardinal John Tong as Bishop of Hong Kong. The relations between the church and the government will likely grow closer.

Martyrs honored as Vietnamese diocese celebrates 400 years

Martyrs honored as Vietnamese diocese celebrates 400 years

by: ucanews.com reporter, Qui Nhon City in Activities,

More than 20,300 Catholics killed during the 17th to 19th centuries Martyrs honored as Vietnamese diocese celebrates 400 years. About 10,000 Catholics attended the opening celebration on July 26 to mark the 400th anniversary of Catholicism being introduced in Qui Nhon Diocese.

CARING FOR CREATION - Parish Practice

CARING FOR CREATION - Parish Practice

by: Ellen Teague - The Tablet in Activities,

Pope Francis does not seem to have trouble getting directly into parishes. For example, as well as activity in his own parish, Mike McLoughlin of St Elphege’s, Wallington, in Southwark Diocese, has run Laudato Si’ study programmes at five deanery meetings and at diocesan level. He and other parishioners are also active with the local group Sutton for Justice and Peace, which recently promoted the message for Refugee Week of “Refugees welcome here”.

 
Vatican turns off fountains as Rome gasps in drought

Vatican turns off fountains as Rome gasps in drought

by: Reuters - July 2017 in Activities,

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Vatican authorities began on Monday to turn off some 100 fountains, including two Baroque masterpieces in St. Peter's Square, due to a prolonged drought affecting the tiny city state and the city of Rome which surrounds it. Caring for the planet and its resources is an important issue for Pope Francis, who demanded swift action by world leaders in the first ever papal document dedicated to the environment.

 
A prominent French Philosopher drowns trying to rescue children near St Tropez

A prominent French Philosopher drowns trying to rescue children near St Tropez

by: Rory Mulholland - The Telegraph in Activities,
A prominent French philosopher, psychoanalyst and newspaper columnist best known for her work on risk-taking has drowned after she swam out to try and save two children who were in trouble in the sea at a beach near Saint-Tropez. Anne Dufourmantelle was apparently swept away by a strong current at the weekend when she intervened to help the children at Pampelonne beach on the French Riviera. 
Understanding Grace more deeply

Understanding Grace more deeply

by: Ron Rolheiser, OMI in Activities,

The mark of genuine contrition is not a sense of guilt, but a sense of sorrow, of regret for having taken a wrong turn; just as the mark of living in grace is not a sense of our own worth but a sense of being accepted and loved despite our unworthiness. We are spiritually healthy when our lives are marked by honest confession and honest praise.

 
Catholic volunteers foster peace in Mindanao, Philippines.

Catholic volunteers foster peace in Mindanao, Philippines.

by: UCA News in Activities,

Catholic laypeople from across the Philippines have gone to live in Muslim communities in Mindanao for a year to foster "peace through intercultural dialogue." The volunteers are serving as assistant teachers of subjects mandated by the education department in Islamic schools in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The program is an initiative of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines implemented by the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao.

Personal testimonies 'best way to evangelize youth'

Personal testimonies 'best way to evangelize youth'

by: Roy Lagarde - UCA News Manila in Activities,

Want to effectively inculcate the Gospel to young minds? Use personal testimonies. "Personal, authentic testimony is a form of new evangelization" that strongly appeals to the youth, according to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila. July 1 event in Manila where more than 15,000 young Catholics gathered in prayer and discussions.

Pope tells archbishops not to be 'armchair Catholics,' but apostles

Pope tells archbishops not to be 'armchair Catholics,' but apostles

by: Carol Glatz - Catholic News Service in Activities,

The Catholic Church's new cardinals and new archbishops must be willing to risk everything, patiently endure evil and bear crosses like Jesus did, Pope Francis said. "The Lord answers our prayers. He is faithful to the love we have professed for him, and he stands beside us at times of trial." Just as he accompanied the apostles, "he will do the same for you," the pope told five new cardinals and about 30 archbishops named during the past year. 

Cristina Odone is creating a network of support for parents

Cristina Odone is creating a network of support for parents

by: Peter Stanford - The Tablet in Activities,

Cristina Odone is reinventing herself with an initiative creating a network of support for parents. Odone will, from Sep-tember, be piloting a scheme in Surrey with 400 parents, where existing 12-week courses will segue into self-help groups run by a facilitator, supported by written materials that the think tank has prepared. If the trial works, the plan is to roll it out nationwide.

Papal surprise: Laos gets its first cardinal

Papal surprise: Laos gets its first cardinal

by: ucanews.com reporter, Bangkok in Activities,

Bishop Ling, 73, is an ethnic Khamu, a hill tribe from northern Laos and southern China.  In 2000, Pope John Paul made him apostolic vicar of Pakse in southern Laos. Catholics in Laos told ucanews.com that Bishop Ling is both diligent and kind to the local community. As head of Pakse Vicariate, Bishop Ling has taken a keen interest in environmental issues, opposing the rapid deforestation by well-connected companies that pushed villagers from their land and created a spiral of social problems.

Bishops of Europe meet Pope Francis in Rome

Bishops of Europe meet Pope Francis in Rome

by: Nicolas Senèze - La Croix International in Activities,

The new CCEE leadership group, which was elected in October 2016, is planning to focus on “the issue of secularization, which presses us towards a renewed evangelization of our Churches and our countries", explained Cardinal Bagnasco.

“The Church in Europe believes deeply in the European continent,” he said. Youth issues were also raised as part of a symposium organized by the CCEE in preparation for the Synod on Young People.

Philippine ban on rosaries in vehicles draws ire

Philippine ban on rosaries in vehicles draws ire

by: UCA News in Activities,

"The LTFRB is absolutely missing the point by prohibiting the display of small religious images in cars," said Father Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' permanent committee on public affairs.

 Jesuits sell prime London Heythrop site to a developer

Jesuits sell prime London Heythrop site to a developer

by: Carina Murphy - The Tablet in Activities,

Heythrop College, the 400-year-old Jesuit-run institution in London which specialises in theology and philosophy, has been sold. The Society of Jesus this week confirmed the sale of the premises and the 2.7 acre site in Kensington Square, West London to property developer Jonathan Sanderson, reportedly for over £100 million.