Pope announces special year dedicated to St. Paul
ROME (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI announced a special jubilee year dedicated to St. Paul, saying the church needs modern Christians who will imitate the apostle's missionary energy and spirit of sacrifice. The pope said the Pauline year will run from June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009, to mark the approximately 2,000th anniversary of the saint's birth. He made the announcement while presiding over a vespers service at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome June 28, the eve of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, patron saints of Rome. "Dear brothers and sisters, as in the (church's) beginning, today, too, Christ needs apostles ready to sacrifice themselves. He needs witnesses and martyrs like St. Paul," the pope said. The Pauline year will feature numerous special liturgies and events in Rome, the pope said, but should also be celebrated in local churches and in the sanctuaries, religious orders and other institutions that have a special link to St. Paul.
Texas Catholic Charities to help victims of flooding
AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) --- The Diocese of Austin said it would work through Catholic Charities of Central Texas to provide long-term flood relief assistance to those affected by daily downpours in the flood-stricken areas of the diocese. Two weeks of steady rain in central and northern Texas have resulted in 11 known deaths. "We are dedicated to providing help and creating hope for the many families in central Texas affected by the flooding," Cynthia Colbert, executive director of Catholic Charities, said in a June 27 statement. "We'll be working to coordinate assistance to the poor and most vulnerable residents, such as those without insurance, those who cannot access community services, the elderly and the disabled," she said. For the short term, monetary donations were being collected, as well as donations of gift cards to Target, Wal-Mart and H-E-B grocery stores; no donations of furniture, clothes or household items were being requested.
U.S. bishop calls for an end to violence against Iraqi Christians
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- A U.S. bishop, who described the situation of Christians in Iraq as "particularly dire," called for an end to the continuing violence against the country's religious minorities. "As an expression of solidarity with our brother bishops in Iraq, we urge U.S. and Iraqi authorities and religious leaders within Iraq to do everything possible to help end the violence and the targeting of Christians and other religious minorities," said Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Fla., chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Policy. Those who remain in Iraq continue to be targeted with acts of violence, he said in a statement released June 27. "These targeted actions against Christians and other religious minorities are not simply signs of general societal violence, but are also attacks on Christianity and religious freedom by the most extreme elements within Iraqi society," said the bishop.
Christian Family Movement encouraged by bishops' marriage campaign
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (CNS) --- A top leader of the Christian Family Movement in the United States called an initiative by the U.S. bishops to strengthen marriage "good for couples and good for society. It's very exciting to see the Catholic Church encouraging people to treasure their own marriages," said Lauri Przybysz, who shares the CFM presidency with her husband, John. The national office of CFM is in Evansville. Przybysz, coordinator of family and marriage enrichment for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, was participating in the conference of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers in Denver, where on behalf of the U.S. bishops Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput June 27 launched public service announcements for the marriage initiative. The announcements, for television and radio, feature couples from around the country candidly talking about what they did that day for their marriage.
Vatican expresses concern over increasing violence in Lebanon
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- The Vatican expressed its growing concern for the situation in Lebanon, where internal violence has worsened in recent weeks. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora met June 28 with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, for talks on the Lebanese crisis, the Vatican said. In a statement, the Vatican said the meeting focused on the difficult political situation in Lebanon, on the "grave threats" to the country's security and on possible solutions. The two men also discussed wider regional issues and the problems faced by the Christian minority in the Middle East, the Vatican said. Lebanon's population is estimated to be 40 percent Christian, the highest percentage of any Middle East country. The Vatican statement said the meeting underlined the need to resume dialogue in Lebanon among "all components of society, each of which is called upon to contribute to the common good of the country."
Talbot celebrates 50 albums, prepares for break in recording, touring
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- John Michael Talbot's newest album, "Living Water," will mark more than one noteworthy occurrence. In addition to being his 50th album, it will also be his last recording for an unknown period of time as he prepares to take a break from recording and touring. "I don't know whether or not I'm going to quit it, but I am going to pause for a while," Talbot told Catholic News Service in an interview about his new album and his writing style. He spoke by telephone from his Little Portion Monastery in Arkansas. For the past 15 years, he has performed in four concert tours a year, traveling back and forth across the country numerous times and also visiting Europe. "I'm kind of preferring to spend some time with nothing for a while," he said, adding that what God wants him to do after that is God's business. He still plans to tour to promote his new album, which is to be released Aug. 15.
Hundreds welcome World Youth Day cross as it begins Australian tour
SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) --- Hundreds of youth, clergy and laity watched the World Youth Day cross and icon of Mary and Jesus pass from young New Zealanders to youth representatives from every Australian diocese. Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma were among those gathered to welcome the symbols July 1 inside a lofty Sydney airport hangar where the more than 12-foot-high World Youth Day cross was framed against the bulk of a Qantas jumbo jet. Archbishop Wilson predicted the 12-month pilgrimage through more than 400 communities and 28 Australian dioceses "would touch the lives of many young Australians" before the cross and icon return to Sydney for World Youth Day in July 2008.
Pope condemns killing of 11 Colombian lawmakers by guerrilla forces
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI condemned the killing of 11 Colombian lawmakers by guerrilla forces and urged the release of all those held hostage in the country. The deputies were shot and killed after being held for more than five years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC. The rebels said the victims were killed in crossfire during an attack on their camp. The pope, speaking at his noon blessing in St. Peter's Square July 1, called the slayings a "barbaric" act in a country torn by "fratricidal hatred." He said he shared in the deep sorrow of relatives of the victims. Colombia is believed to be the country with the highest number of kidnappings in the world, many for political purposes. In the 1990s abductions in Colombia totaled more than 2,000 annually; according to official statistics, that number has dropped to under 1,000 in recent years.
Baby of baseball star Mike Piazza baptized at Brooklyn cathedral
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) --- Tiny Nicoletta Veronica Piazza was welcomed into the Catholic faith by a Brooklyn bishop who baptized her June 21 in Brooklyn's St. James Cathedral Basilica. Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius A. Catanello christened the first child of Alicia and possible future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza on the day before the Oakland Athletics began a three-game interleague series with the Mets at Shea Stadium. Piazza, a 12-time All-Star and Oakland's designated hitter until he sustained a shoulder injury that put him on the disabled list, is fondly remembered as a hero to Mets and Dodgers' fans for his 14 years as a popular catcher and slugger. Bishop Catanello, a longtime friend of the ballplayer who witnessed the marriage of the Piazzas in St. Jude's Church in Miami in 2005, administered the sacrament. |