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October 31

Mass in honor of Chinese martyrs celebrated in Hong Kong

Rome, 31 (NE) On Sunday October 29, with a solemn Mass in honour of the 120 Chinese martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II in Rome on October 1, Catholics in Hong Kong diocese demonstrated their love for the Church and for China, reported yesterday Fides news agency. Despite Beijing had banned all public ceremonies in China for the new Martyr Saints and also advised the diocese of Hong Kong to keep celebrations for the Canonization "low-key", more than 1,200 people attended the celebration, mostly local Catholics, as well as 120 priests local and missionary. The celebration was presided by Cardinal John Baptist Wu Cheng-Chung.

During the celebration, the blessed relics were given the welcome accorded to 'family tablets' with incense, traditional music played on traditional instruments. According to Fides, a special hymn was composed to honor the Martyr Saints. The homily during the Mass was given by a direct descendant Rev. Francis Li, from Taiyuan who told the moving story of the martyrdom of his grandfather Li Zhongyi and his uncle Li Shiyan, both among the 120 canonized.

Fr Li denied the ideological and political interpretation given by Beijing to the canonization, saying that the death of Chinese Catholics killed during the Boxer Revolution was indeed martyrdom. "If you were ordered to support the Qing Dynasty government, and you were killed for not doing so, this would not be considered martyrdom. However, the Boxers ordered the missionaries and the Christians to renounce their faith. They were killed because they refused to do so. This is called martyrdom," he stressed.

Recalling the Chinese government criticism for the celebration, Father Li said that, ironically, this had given great publicity to the event, since this "caused everyone in Hong Kong, and in the whole world, to become aware that the Catholic Church was holding a canonization ceremony". The Liturgy closed with a solemn procession to replace the martyrs' relics in the Chapel of the Passion in the Cathedral apse.

"Through the intercession of the martyr saints of China" prayed the Chinese priest in closing, "let us ask the Lord to help us to follow their example and to witness to the Gospel in our daily lives by loving God and loving others."

Founder highlights virtues of Blessed Mary as paradigm for Christian Life

Lima, 31 (NE) With the theme "Blessed Mary, Paradigm of Christian Life" the association "Bethany" held this weekend its 6th annual Congress in the city of Lima, Peru. Bethany is an association of the Christian Life Movement (CLM) that gathers adult women who want to live a more committed life with their faith, praying and giving witness of the Lord. The three-day congress ended on Sunday with a closing Mass. The main conference took place on Saturday, offered by Luis Fernando Figari, founder of the Christian Life Movement, who encouraged the members of Bethany to commitment and coherence with their faith, calling them to announce the Gospel in their daily life.

Women today must look at Mary as "a special model for women's Christian life", said Figari during his conference, recalling that there is today a "crisis of identity" in women. "Never has the nature and characteristics of women been discussed so much as in our time, and never has this nature and dignity been so much attacked", he emphasized. Stressing that there are many positive reflections regarding the nature of women, the founder of the CLM expressed as well his concern for the numerous aggressions and offenses to women's rights and dignity by "a culture of death". "Many women", he further added, "also renounce to their feminine identity before the attack of a consumerist and secularist culture". This means there is a "false anthropology" in women that forgets "their valuable personal characteristics".

Stressing how Mary enlightens the reality of women, Figari recalled to the members of Bethany that by being baptized they share a common mission in the Church according to their vocation, calling them to accept this mission as Mary did when the angel appeared to her. The Peruvian founder also reflected on the need to "listen God's word" and act according to it. He also stressed the unity between the concept of maternity and the concept of faith, even for women who bear no children or who are consecrated, recalling for them "the dimension of spiritual maternity". Inviting the participants to the congress to study and prayer, he stressed the need to live according to their Catholic identity.

In closing, Figari recalled the urgent need for true Christian families the society has today. Families "are absolutely invaluable" and must be places "where evangelization is lived and from where evangelization is proclaimed". The model, he further stressed, is the Family of Nazareth. "Mary, model for all Christians", he finally said, "invites you to actively participate in the new evangelization, being before all evangelizers constantly evangelized… helping to proclaim the Good News, being witnesses of Christian women to help generate in the world the 'revolution of love'".

Argentina: teachers called to announce "the truth of Jesus Christ"

Buenos Aires, 31 (NE) With the commitment "not to abandon the loyal humanistic service and to illuminate the way with the word of faith," the Catholic University teachers finished their Jubilee encounter on Sunday, after two days of discussing and evaluating. The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, presided over the closing Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Previously, the closing act took place in the Headquarters of the Argentinean Catholic University Holy Mary of Buenos Aires, where the conclusions of the meeting were announced. Afterwards, the participants made a pilgrimage to the Cathedral.

The slogan of the meeting: "The University for a new humanism," guided the different academic commissions created to analyze how the magistracy should be projected, emphasizing the students' role, their current aims and the perspectives it has for the future. During the Eucharistic celebration, Archbishop Bergoglio of Buenos Aires thanked the teachers for their participation in the Jubilee event and exhorted them to "take the truth of Jesus Christ so that everybody that comes close to it, may have the joy of meeting Christ, who is the one who changes life."

US Cardinal highlights need of integral education

Philadelphia, 31 (NE) Cardinal Antonio Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, addressing the faithful through his radio messages, has recently highlighted "the awesome responsibility" that teachers have today. "They must provide children with the tools they need to make a good living in these challenging times," affirmed Cardinal Bevilacqua. He also pointed out the importance of an integral education, because "young people need more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic", and invited the teachers to grant a true education in values, specially "through the example of how teachers live their lives and convey their values. The manner in which teachers share their experiences, strengths, and hopes is crucial in forming a young person's future." "Our teachers deserve respect and need our prayers for the awesome responsibility they carry," concluded Cardinal Bevilacqua.

October 30

Pope celebrates Jubilee of Sports at Rome's Olympic Stadium

Rome, 30 (NE) Pope John Paul II presided yesterday the Jubilee of Sports at Rome's Olympic Stadium. Before a crowd of 70.000 that filled the stadium, the Pope stressed the importance of sports in man's life. Attending the event were renown personalities from many different sports, including Antonio Rossi, Gold medal winner at Sydney, who addressed the Holy Father on behalf of all the athletes.

After celebrating Mass, the Holy Father stayed at the Olympic Stadium to watch a soccer game, the first in history personally attended by a Pope. During his homily, Pope John Paul II stressed that "in the frame of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, all the athletes of the world are symbolically gathered here, before all to renew their own faith in Jesus the Lord, Man's only savior".

"Every single Christian", the Pope further said, "is called to become an authentic athlete of God, that is, a faithful and courageous witness of His Gospel." "Christ is the true athlete of God, Christ is 'the strongest' human being, who has faced and defied the 'adversary', Satan, with the power of the Holy Spirit, opening the Kingdom of God", the Pope emphasized.

Despite pressure, Chinese faithful to celebrate canonization of martyrs

Rome, 30 (NE) Despite certain pressures from the Chinese government, the diocese of Hong Kong will proceed with the thanksgiving ceremony commemorating the canonization of 120 martyrs from China, presided by Pope John Paul II on October 1. The act of thanksgiving will take place on Sunday, October 29, at Hong Kong's Cathedral. The Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong, John Tang, recalled to authorities that are against this act of thanksgiving that "it is a purely religious activity." Concerning the same matter, the Holy See, even before the canonization, clarified that the beatification had "no political motive and is not directed against anybody, much less against the great Chinese people, whose traditions of civilization have always been recognized and appreciated by the Holy See, particularly by Pope John Paul II."

Archbishop Arrieta highlights Dominus Iesus declaration

San Jose, 30 (NE) "We cannot fail to affirm that Jesus Christ founded only one Church and that it has subsisted now for over 2000 years in the Catholic Church," recently pointed out the Archbishop of San Jose de Costa Rica, Román Arrieta, in a brief message to the faithful of this Archdiocese, commenting the Dominus Iesus Declaration. Explaining some misunderstandings that have taken place, the Prelate highlighted the necessity to keep together two truths: "the real possibility of salvation in Christ for the whole of mankind and the need of the Church in order to achieve this same salvation." On the other hand, Archbishop Arrieta recalled to Costa Rican faithful that it is not possible "to consider the Church as a path to salvation along with other paths constituted by other religions." Although it is true that the non-Christians can receive divine grace," he further emphasized, "it is also true that objectively they are in a gravely deficient situation if compared to that of those who, in the Church, have the totality of the means of salvation."

October 28

Legislators from all the world to meet with Pope

Rome, 28 (NE) For a first time, members of parliaments from all over the world will gather at the Apostolic Palace with Pope John Paul II. The meeting will take place on November 4, in the frame of the Jubilee of statesmen and legislators. Approximately 5 thousand legislators from all the continents will take part of the event and will have lunch together with the Holy Father at the Apostolic Palace. That same day in the morning, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, State Secretary, will address the legislators. In the afternoon, participants will approve measures regarding different important issue, such as the foreign debt, religious freedom and death penalty.

Catholics in Alaska encourage beatification of missionary priest

Rome, 28 (NE) Over the last weeks, Catholics in Alaska have been encouraging the cause of beatification of the Spanish missionary Jesuit, Father Segundo Llorente, who during almost 40 years announced the Gospel in the arctic region. As the Italian daily Avvenire recently informed, faithful in Alaska have been gathering material and witnesses to support the cause. The Jesuit missionary was born in November 1906, and was ordained priest in 1934. Soon after his ordination he traveled to Alaska, in the Arctic Polar circle, staying there for almost 40 years, preaching the Gospel at both sides of the Yukon River. He returned to his native homeland in Spain only once to encourage missionary vocations. Father Llorente also wrote several books about Alaska, and became the first representative of the Eskimo people before the congress in Washington. He died in January 1989.

October 27

St. Thomas More to be declared Patron of statesmen

Rome, 27 (NE) A conference on the presentation by the Pope of St. Thomas More as patron saint of statesmen on October 31 was held yesterday morning in the Holy See Press Office. The petition, presented by a group of statesmen, politicians and ministers, was accepted by Pope John Paul II. Among the reasons presented to the Holy Father to proclaim Thomas More Patron saint of statesmen is that the English saint, "absolutely faithful to his civic duties, exposed himself to extreme risks for the service of his own nation. He managed to become a perfect servant of the state, because he struggled to be a perfect Christian. 'Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, but unto God the things that are God's".

"He understood" they stressed, "that these words of Christ, while affirming the relative autonomy of the temporal from the spiritual sphere, call upon the Christian conscience to bring the values of the Gospel to the civil sphere, rejecting any compromise, even if this means martyrdom faced with profound humility." Statesmen and politicians also highlighted in their petition that in "Saint Thomas More there was no sign of that split between faith and culture, between timeless principles and daily life, which the Second Vatican Council laments as 'among of the gravest errors of our time'.

Thomas More was born in London on 7 February 1478, and he was beheaded in the same city on 6 July 1535. He became a prominent lawyer, a member of Parliament, and a well respected judge. After agreeing to enter the King's service at forty-one, he rose quickly in his responsibilities until he became Lord Chancellor of England at the age of fifty-two. He resigned that office, however, on 16 May 1532 after King Henry VIII manipulated both Parliament and the Convocation of Clergy in order to assume control over the Church in England. Sir Thomas was eventually imprisoned for fifteen months before being tried and executed for not signing an oath that recognized the King's supremacy in spiritual affairs.

Pope to celebrate 50th anniversary of dogma of the Assumption

Vatican City, 27 (NE) With a solemn Eucharist celebration, the Church will celebrate next week the 50th anniversary of the dogmatic definition of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the Holy See Press Office informed yesterday, on Wednesday, November 1, Solemnity of All Saints and "a day of grace and joy for the entire Church", Pope John Paul II will preside at a concelebrated Mass with the members of the College of Cardinals in St. Peter's Square. The Dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950.

Largest Catholic church in Central Asia dedicated

Rome, 27 (NE) More than a hundred years after the beginning of its construction, last Sunday the Cathedral church of Tashkent, capital city of Uzbekistan, was finally dedicated. The church, which is the only Catholic temple in this former soviet republic, is the largest in Central Asia, as UCANews Agency recently reported. Attending the ceremony was the Apostolic Nuncio, together with more than 700 faithful and several members of the clergy of several "sui iuris" missions in the area.

The church started to be built in the second half of the XIX century by Polish exiles. The construction was halted for some years until 1912, and a few years after had to be suspended again, in 1917, due to Russia's communist revolution. Used by the communist government for other purposes and almost destroyed by an earthquake and a fire, the church was returned in 1991, year of Uzbekistan's independence, after the Holy See had signed an agreement with the new republic recognizing the presence of the Church in the country. The reconstruction began in 1993. At the moment there are about 3000 Catholics in Uzbekistan, from a total population of 22 million, most of them Islamic.

Ecuador: Jubilee celebration encourages commitment of laity

Quito, 27 (NE) In the frame of the celebrations for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, the Archdiocese of Quito, Ecuador, will celebrate this weekend the Jubilee of the Laity. Organized by the Archdiocese of Quito Council of Laity, the Jubilee celebration will be carried out next Saturday, October 28th. The initiative, said a communique of the Ecuadorian archdiocese, is encouraged by Auxiliary Bishop Julio Terán Dutari of Quito, Vicar of the Apostolic Movements. The event aims to commit lay Catholics in the celebration of the Jubilee and in the Church's evangelization effort, following the Pope's request. The celebration will include a procession of the Virgin of Fatima as well as a Mass presided by Bishop Teran.

October 26

Pope continues reflection about the Eucharist

Vatican City, 26 (NE) "The Eucharist opens to the future of God" was the theme of Pope John Paul II' Catechesis, during the general audience held yesterday in St. Peter's Square. Speaking to the 50,000 pilgrims gathered, the Pope said that "the communion with Christ which we are now living as pilgrims and travellers along the paths of history, anticipates that supreme encounter of the day in which 'we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is'." The Eucharist, he continued, "is an anticipation of the kingdom of God's horizon of glorious light."

Recalling St. Paul, the Pope stressed that "the Eucharistic supper is associated with the final coming of the Lord: 'As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes'." St. John, continued the Pope, when he says that whoever eats of this bread "will live for ever," gives us to understand that "eternal life" is "the same divine life that surpasses the frontiers of time."

"The Eucharist, being communion with Christ, is, therefore, participation in the life of God who is eternal and triumphs over death." The Holy Father encouraged Christians not to neglect "this encounter, this banquet which Christ prepares for us in His love. May our sharing in it be most worthy and joyful!"

Miami Archbishop denounces promotion of violence in television

Miami, 26 (NE) Writing in the Archdiocesan weekly "The Catholic Voice", the Archbishop of Miami, John C. Favalora, denounced the promotion of violence and sex through television, movies and video games, damaging especially the children and young people. The American Prelate referred to a combined declaration emitted by several North American associations trying to give some answer to the increasing of violence among teenagers.

"The conclusion of the public health community, based on more than 30 years of investigations, is that the exposure to violent entertainment can lead to the increase of violent attitudes, values and behaviors, particularly among children", said the report.

"Common sense tells us that the level of violence in our society has increased and that more children are exposed to it from early ages", affirmed Archbishop Favalora. "As well as the violence, we wonder why our children are sexually active at early ages but we are reluctant to accuse who is guilty: a culture flooded by sexual images that promote promiscuity". "It is time for us to wonder if a rich diet in violence and sexuality is healthy for our children", he concluded.

St. Louis: Pro-Life convention urges to say "yes" to life

St. Louis, 26 (NE) More than a thousand people said "yes" to life at the 24th annual St. Louis Archdiocesan Pro-Life Convention. During the event, carried out at the Marriott Pavilion Hotel, there were moments of prayer, exhibitions and workgroups on the defense of life. Sister Dorothy Guadalupe was the keynote speaker at the Pro-Life Convention. She is a member of the Sisters of Life, a religious order founded in New York in 1991 by the late Cardinal John O' Connor of New York, with the charism of the protection of life, especially of the unborn.

During his intervention, Archbishop Justin Rigali of St. Louis said "It is indeed an honor and privilege to serve this local Church in which so many people, with their deep abiding faith and loving persistence, continue to say yes to protecting human life." Discussing the upcoming election, Archbishop Rigali urged those present "not only to take seriously your civic and moral responsibility to vote, but to uphold human dignity and human life by the choices you make in the voting booth. I also urge you to take your responsibility yet one step further by challenging your friends to do likewise."

The theme of the Pro-Life Convention, "Say Yes," comes from the biblical reference to Mary at the Annunciation, saying yes to God when told she would bear the Redeemer.

Canonization process of Padre Pio advances

Rome, 26 (NE) The diocesan part of the canonization process of Blessed Padre Pio has been closed, and it is expected that in these days the process will be taken to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to continue its progress. In relation to the miracle necessary for the canonization of the Capuchin father raised to the altars by Pope John Paul II in May last year, the postulators of the cause have kept silence. The identity of the person whose healing will be examined by the Vatican congregation is not known, although it is known that the miracle is related to a boy who lives in the area where Padre Pio lived. The miracle will be examined by three different commissions, including a medical and a theological commission, after which it will be approved or not. The approval of the miracle is strictly necessary for the canonization process to advance.

October 25

Pope highlights importance of formation in seminaries

Vatican City, 25 (NE) Pope John Paul II received yesterday the rector, teachers, students and members of the association of friends of the major seminary of the Metropolis of Warmia, "Hosianum" in Olsztyn, Poland. During the meeting, held in the Clementine Hall, the Pope recalled that the 20th century "has brought many transformations in several areas of life". Similar transformations will also take place in the new millennium, the Pope emphasized, "becoming source of new challenges for man, and especially for believers".

Before this reality, faithful "must find a solid support in priests well prepared for their ministry. Therefore, the role of the seminary as a community that forms future priests is particularly importad today", the Pope said. The seminary "must be an environment of men of profound faith, of unshakable hope and of self-denying charity. An environment of men open to the action of the Holy Spirit, that awakens in Christ's disciples the desire for active commitment to promoting the coming of the kingdom of the Father". "The seminary must also be a place where humanly mature priests are formed, priests who know how to use modern culture's advances and who want to contribute to its creation", the Pope further stressed.

Next exposition of the Holy Shroud to be in year 2025

Rome, 25 (NE) A million people have visited the Holy Shroud of Turin during the 72 days of the present Holy Year's exposition. Pilgrims from more than 170 countries have come to this exposition, the longest in history. Archbishop Severino Poletto of Turin, Pontifical custodian of the Shroud, stated during a recent press conference that the next exposition will take place "probably in 2025, date of the following Holy Year, unless exceptional events take place." In March and August of this Holy Year the Shroud was carefully examined by teams of different scientists. The Sindone 2000 Congress took place in Orvietto with the presence of important scientists from different specialties who evaluated all the studies that have been made until today. As a conclusion, the participants, among them scientists from different confessions and even some agnostics, asked the Holy See to declare the Shroud of Turin an authentic relic of the Lord Jesus.

Peruvian Catholic author analyzes challenges of technology

Arequipa, 23 (NE) With a great success was held last week in the city of Arequipa (Peru) an important seminar on the theme "The Challenge of Technology". The seminar, organized by the Center for the Person and Culture of the Saint Paul Catholic University of Arequipa, was given by German Doig Klinge, author of the book "The challenge of Technology. Beyond Icarus and Dedalus", recently published in Spanish by Vida y Espiritualidad (VE).

Doig, who is the General Coordinator of the Christian Life Movement and a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, reflected on technology and its relation with the human being. He also touched themes such as "Technology and today's world", "Technology's anthropological and cultural dimension" and "Approaching the technological challenge from faith." The seminar, held in the Saint Paul University, was attended by business men, technologists, university teachers, as well as priests, religious men and women and other people interested in the theme.

The Center for Person and Culture, which was inaugurated more than two years ago by the Saint Paul University, aims to promote a space for reflection and dialogue, necessary to integrally go deeper in the reality of human beings, analyze the challenges presented by today's culture and foster all those cultural manifestations that involve a true comprehension of the person.

As part of his activities in this southern Peruvian city, Doig also offered a conference about the challenges of the technologic age for the person and for the family. The Peruvian author highlighted the need of a correct approach to technology, in the light of the truth brought by the Lord Jesus, that must lead to place technology at the service of the human being, the family and the whole society.

Cardinal Bevilacqua encourages Catholic health care

Philadelphia, 25 (NE) Last week, coinciding with the Feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, published a booklet called "Pastoral Reflections on Catholic Health Care." According to the communications office of the Archdiocese, the aim of the booklet is to explain the Church's concern for health care, to offer encouragement and pastoral guidance to all who work in this important area of Church apostolate, to offer a brief explanation of the current crisis in health care, and to support reforms ensuring Catholic health care to remain vigorous. "Catholic health care is an important expression of the mission of the Church, and like all health care, Catholic health care is facing serious challenges at this time. I hope that this statement helps our Catholic people to know that the changes in health care and the need for reform of our health care system are concerns of the Church and so should be concerns of all Catholics," stated the Philadelphia Cardinal.

Ecuador pays solemn homage to Pope John Paul II

Quito, 24 (NE) With a solemn Eucharist celebration, the Archdiocese of Quito, Ecuador, paid homage to Pope John Paul II on occasion of 22nd anniversary of pastoral ministry. The Eucharist and the Te Deum that took place in the Cathedral of Quito gathered important ecclesiastical and civil authorities of the country, including the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin.

During the homily, Auxiliary Bishop Julio Terán Dutari of Quito reflected on the Pope's 22 years of Pontificate, specially focusing on the Great Jubilee of the year 2000. He also reviewed the country's present situation and stated that "this Jubilee year has coincided with the commotion caused by the worst crisis that Ecuador has suffered in its history, and when our reality is included within a globalized world."

"At the beginning of the Jubilee, the Holy Father opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica with a desire for peace. Pope John Paul II also lead the World Meeting for Peace and he then stated that the best way to achieve peace is through prayer, together with deeds of justice and love," Bishop Teran said. He also mentioned the great progress that Ecuador has made after passing through a severe constitutional crisis.

In closing, Bishop Teran emphasized the recent visit that the president of Ecuador, Gustavo Noboa and some members of his family, paid to Pope John Paul II, thus giving witness of a nation that supports the Holy Father in his crusade in defense of family.

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