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.
Of the 278,000 people who traveled the ancient Roman Catholic pilgrims route in the north of Spain in 2016 only about a third did it "strictly for religious reasons". Attempting to re-conquer this "de-christianized" domain has become a major concern of the Church.
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
What is thought to be the biggest Catholic parish in the world is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary next week. It is in Dubai, now a glittering city in the desert built by foreign workers
Pope recites prayer he wrote at 100th anniversary celebrations of apparitions at Our Lady of Fatima shrine in Portugal. Honor the believing, tender Mary, not a 'plaster statue'. Mary's example of believing and following Jesus is what matters most; she cannot be some image "of our own making" who Christians barter with for mercy, Pope Francis said.
"I come to you in the joy of sharing with you the Gospel of hope and peace," the pope said in the message released by the Vatican on 10 May. Pope Francis was to embark on a two-day visit to Fatima 12-13 May to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions, which began 13 May, 1917, when three shepherd children reported seeing the Virgin Mary.
