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December 8

Pope stresses need for all baptized to encourage vocations

Vatican City, 8 (NE) To encourage vocations to priesthood is the duty of all baptized, recalled yesterday Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Basilica. The Pope received 2,500 members of Serra International, a worldwide volunteer organization of Catholics whose primary aim is to foster vocations to the priesthood and to encourage spiritual growth. "Your baptismal calling leads you towards others," the Pope told them during the meeting. "It is essentially a missionary calling, as you have learned from the example of Blessed Junipero Serra, the great evangelizer of California."

Addressing the pilgrims, the Pope stressed as well that to answers today's needs, "the whole Church must become completely ministerial, a community of heralds and witnesses, rich in laborers for the harvest." "Dear Serrans," he said, "you are committed in a special way to promoting vocations. Never forget that yours must be above all a commitment to prayer" which "moves the heart of God, ... which is a powerful key to resolving the vocations question" and "is also a school of life."

The Pope also highlighted the efforts of Serra International "to spread an authentic culture of vocations." "Within the People of God," he affirmed, "there is a specific mission awaiting each one. Because the needs of the 'harvest' are so great, all the members of God's People must grow in the awareness of 'being called'."

Holy Father to pray traditional Easter Marian hymn

Rome, 8 (NE) Today, feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope John Paul II will homage the Blessed Virgin at the Piazza Spagna, as he does every year on this date. On this occasion, however, the Pope will then go to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will join Prelates of the Eastern Catholic church in praying the Akathistos Hymn.

The Akathistos Hymn, an important element of the Byzantine liturgical tradition, is a hymn of praise and supplication to the Blessed Virgin. Its exact origin and author are unknown, but it is old enough to have been sung by the Patriarch of Constantinople in the year 626, in thanksgiving after a siege on that city was lifted.

The name of the hymn comes from the greek "a-kathistos", meaning "not seating", and while it is prayed participants must remain standing. Using a particular metric, it is in the form of a poem with 24 stanzas, each stanza beginning with a different one of the 24 letters in the Greek alphabet. The hymn commemorates the mystery of the Lord's Incarnation, recalling as well several passages from the Bible highlighting the Lord's relationship with his mother.

Longest Marian pilgrimage closes in Argentinean shrine

Buenos Aires, 8 (NE) On December 8, 9 and 10 will be held, in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lujan, Argentina, the Feast of Guadalupe, that will finish the pilgrimage on foot of the images of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Black Christ of Esquipulas, considered history's longest pilgrimage for having gone through 19 countries of the continent. The images of America's Patroness and of Christ of Esquipulas will be afterwards enthroned inside the Basilica, after having traveled 24.000 kilometers since they left Mexico on December 12, 1992.

As was informed, the pilgrimage is expected to reach Lujan today, and tomorrow the Archbishop of Parana, Estanislao Karlic, will preside over a Eucharistic celebration were he will entrust Argentina to Blessed Mary. On Sunday the images that have been on this pilgrimage will be placed on the altar of Christ's Sacred Heart, in the Basilica. On Tuesday 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be celebrated.

The pilgrimage through American lands started on December 12, 1992, in the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico, from where a group of priests, nuns and lays faithful started the mission of carrying the Marian image, the Bible and flags of the Latin American nations and Caribbean Islands, as a symbol of the continental confraternity. As the organizers informed, 2,920 cities, villages and hamlets were visited during the 2.919 days of the pilgrimage.

Mexico: initiatives for the care and diffusion of sacred art increase

Mexico City, 8 (NE) The theft of sacred art is a preoccupying theme in the countries of rich Catholic tradition, like Mexico, where only in the capital city 500 churches can be found that are considered cultural patrimony of the nation because of their construction and because they have valuable pieces of religious art. Thus, the Sacred Art Commission of the Archdiocese of Mexico has been sponsoring a series of initiatives, strengthened by the recent celebration of the "First Archdiocesan Congress of Sacred Art." Besides the concern to make Catholics know and value the extremely valuable artistic, religious and historical pieces kept in these temples, the damaging and stealing of these pieces has to be faced and dealt with. Among the proposed aims can be mentioned: getting economic support, making a list of all the pieces, forming priests, religious, lays, architects, artists and restorers in the theme of Sacred Art and, finally, implement the Sacred Art Museum of Mexico City, whose place is already reserved.

December 7

Pope invites to cooperate in the coming of Kingdom of God in the world

Vatican City, 7 (NE) "Cooperation in the coming of the Kingdom of God in the world" was the theme of Pope John Paul II' catechesis yesterday in St. Peter's Square. In the presence of 30,000 people the Pope recalled that "the Kingdom is "the effective but mysterious action that God works in the universe and in the tangle of human affairs. He overcomes the resistance of evil with patience, not with clamor and arrogance. ... The Kingdom is grace and love of God for the world, our source of serenity and trust." "The human person is called to cooperate with his hands, mind and heart to the installment of the Kingdom of God in the world", recalled afterwards the Pope. "This is specially true", he continued "for those who are called to the apostolate, who are as St. Paul says, 'cooperators of God's Kingdom, but is also true for all human beings". Pope John Paul II concluded by encouraging everyone to invoke "'Thy Kingdom come!' An invocation that in the history of humanity has been raised to heaven so many times as a great breath of hope."

US Bishop urges President to commute 31 death sentences

Washington, 7 (NE) The President of National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB), Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, wrote this week a letter asking President Clinton to commute the sentences of all those now awaiting execution in federal prisons. The Bishop, who on November was a signatory to a letter asking the President to place a moratorium on federal executions, asked to commute the sentences "of all 31 people (civilians and military) awaiting executions in federal prisons." "These courageous acts-a moratorium or commutations--would demonstrate to the nation and the world that Americans are turning away from death and towards life by protecting even the lives of those who failed to demonstrate a similar respect for life," wrote Bishop Fiorenza.

After 37 years without executions at the federal level, a first one is scheduled for December 12. "For Catholics, this day is the great feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of the Americas, who appeared before a peasant to share the Good News that God has special concern for the poor and the forgotten," Bishop Fiorenza wrote.

"As you know," he continued, "for nearly thirty years the U.S. Catholic bishops have been working to end the death penalty in the United States. We believe that we have other means to keep society safe from murderers--means that demonstrate a respect for life and ensure that innocent people will never be put to death. We do not believe that we can teach society that killing is wrong by killing those who kill others." "The Jubilee Year", he said in closing his letter, "is not the time to begin again the execution of those who commit federal crimes."

Brazil will celebrate national Eucharistic congress

Rio de Janeiro, 7 (NE) From the 19th to the 22nd of July of the year 2001 the Church in Brazil will celebrate a National Eucharistic Congress. It is the fourteenth Eucharistic congress carried out in this country, in this occasion with the theme "Eucharist, source of mission and solidarity". Delegates from all the dioceses of the country will participate in the event, assisting to many different activities of the congress. The main activities, however, will be open to the public and a great attendance is expected from faithful all over the country. The congress will be carried out in the Archdiocese of Campinas and it will have the motto "Come for the supper of the Lord". As it was informed, the preparatory document for the XIV National Eucharistic Congress of Brazil will be published soon. Meanwhile, on December 8th, the celebration of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of Campinas, the official poster of the meeting will be issued.

Paraguay prepares for great Marian celebration

Asunción, 7 (NE) Paraguayan faithful are preparing themselves for one of the main celebrations of the year: the feast of Our Lady of Caacupé, Patroness of Paraguay. Over the last days, thousands of pilgrims have arrived to the "spiritual capital city" of the country, where the Marian shrine which guards the "Virgencita Azul" (Blue Litle Virgin, as she is also called by faithful) stands. With a preparatory novena faithful await the main celebration, which is carried out every year on December 8th. The devotion to the Virgin of Caacupé comes from the XVIth century, after an Indian convert carved the Virgin's image, fulfilling a promise he had made. In 1603 the Tapaicuá Lake overflowed and it flooded the whole Pirayú valley razing everything in its way, including the Virgin's image. However when the waters went away the Virgin's image made by the Indian reappeared. The residents began to diffuse their devotion and started invoking it as the "Virgin of the Miracles." A devote neighbor, who was a carpenter, made a modest hermitage to keep the image and there the Virgin of Caacupé began receiving pilgrims. The image is small, a little more than fifty centimeters tall, and its feet rest over a small sphere, holding its figure a white silk band. Every December 8th the celebration of Santa María de Caacupé takes place and pilgrims arrive in thousands to the Shrine to show their love and gratitude to the "Blue Virgin of Paraguay."

December 6

Catechists and Religion teachers to celebrate Jubilee

Vatican City, 6 (NE) The Jubilee of Catechists and Teachers of Religion, to take place in Rome next weekend, was presented yesterday in the the Holy See Press Office by Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos and Archbishop Csaba Ternyak, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy. Approximately 7,500 catechists and teachers of religion are expected to attend the congress.

During the presentation, Cardinal Castrillon stressed that the "evangelizing mission is the first, fundamental and general mission of the Church. Catechists and religion teachers, in communion and collaboration with Bishops, have an important place". "It is hoped," said the cardinal, "that, above all, (this Jubilee) will give catechists and teachers of religion the interior enrichment that arises from the earnest desire to convert to the paths of the Lord." He also highlighted the need for "every Christian to be always prepared, before himself and before the rest, to give reason of the gift of faith in Jesus Christ".

During his intervention, Archbishop Ternyak outlined the Jubilee program. Events will begin on December 9 with a Eucharistic celebration in the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls presided by Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Meanwhile, at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 10, the Pope will preside a Eucharistic celebration in the Vatican Basilica. Afterwards, in the Paul VI Hall at 4:30 p.m., Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will deliver a speech entitled: "The new evangelization."

Archbishop Ternyak also stressed that catechesis must be given "in fidelity to the Catechism of the Catholic Church", and that the duty of parents in their children's Christian formation cannot be forgotten.

Italian Archbishop calls not to forget Christian meaning of Christmas

Rome, 6 (NE) "May nobody steal Christian Christmas from us" is the title of a recent message from Archbishop Severino Poletto of Turin to faithful in this Italian archdiocese. In his pastoral letter on occasion of Advent, Archbishop Poletto called faithful not to let Christmas and its Christian significance be "snatched" from them, changing its meaning to a "feast of consumerism". The true meaning of Christmas is Christian and cannot become forgotten or overshadowed by any other meaning or message, further stressed Turin's Archbishop. In his letter, the Prelate recalled the celebration of the Great Jubilee and this year's exposition of the Holy Shroud, which is kept in this city. As faithful in Turin guard the Holy Shroud, the Archbishop said, they "must now guard and bear fruit" to the patrimony meant by Christmas celebration with its true Christian meaning.

Mass in Hispanic-Mozarabic rite in St. Peter's Basilica

Rome, 6 (NE) On December 16th, in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, a Mass following the Hispanic-Mozarabic liturgical rite will take place. The Eucharist will be presided by the Archbishop of Toledo, Francisco Álvarez. It was also informed that in that same day Pope John Paul II will receive in audience the pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Toledo, many of which belong to the Mozarabic community, to which almost 2.000 families belong in Spain.

"Mozarabic rite" is the name given to the liturgical rite used in Spain during the first centuries of Christianity, in the years of the Spanish Visigothic kingdom. The rite was formulated during the VI and VII centuries, and it was specially encouraged by Saint Isidoro of Seville. The IV Council of Toledo (633), presided by Seville's Bishop, regulated this liturgical rite, which was adopted in the entire Iberian Peninsula and even in some parts of France.

During Pope Gregory VII's Pontificate, in the XIth century, the Mozarabic liturgy was abolished, and it was slowly replaced by the Roman rite used in almost all occident. As the peninsula was being reconquered from the Arabs, the Roman rite substituted the Mozarabic rite, still used by the Mozarabic Christians who lived in the regions dominated by the Moors and in which the change had not been introduced.

Cardinal Cisneros, in 1495, would be the one to rescue the Mozarabic liturgy. Toledo's Archbishop prepared a new edition of the Mozarabic liturgical books and in 1500 the Missale Mixtum would be printed and soon after the Breviarum Gothicum. With Pope Julius II's approval to restore the rite, the Mozarabic chapel in Toledo's Cathedral was constituted, and soon after the same would be done in Salamanca.

Today, the members of the Mozarabic community of Toledo belong to the two Mozarabic parishes of the Archdiocese. In the Cathedral of Toledo's Corpus Christi Chapel a Hispanic-Mozarabic rite Mass is celebrated every day, but all the churches of Toledo celebrate annually in this rite the solemnity of Holy Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation, on the 18th of December, as well as Saint Ildefonso's feast on January 23rd.

Puerto Rico: National meeting of saint carvers

San Juan, 6 (NE) This year the town of Orocovis will once again host the National Encounter of "Santeros" (saint carvers) that is carried out every year in Puerto Rico, congregating numerous saint carvers from different parts of the country. The meeting which last year took place in the city of San Juan due to the damages caused by the hurricane Georges, will begin on Sunday 17th of December. It is the seventeenth edition of the National Encounter of Saint carvers, and the event expects to gather approximately 100 artisans from several towns. The assistants of the meeting will be able to buy the various carvings made by the most important saint carvers in Puerto Rico. The carving of saints is an activity also spread in other places of the American continent. One of the cities that has developed this traditional activity that picks up popular devotion is Santa Fe, in the state of New Mexico (United States).

December 4

Pope recalls true meaning of suffering during Jubilee celebration

Rome, 4 (NE) Pope John Paul II presided yesterday a Mass in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-walls on occasion of the Jubilee of the disabled. During the celebration, a young girl addressed the Holy Father, thanking the Pope for his witness of suffering which illuminates the true meaning of Christian suffering. In his homily the Holy Father called civil authorities throughout the world to work "to assure conditions of life and opportunities that effectively respect and protect the dignity of disable people". In closing, the Pope raised a prayer in favor of all the disabled people in the world. "Lord of life and hope", the Pontiff prayed, "in You all human limitation is rescued and redeemed." "Love is the last word, it is Your love that gives sense to life", finally stressed the Pope.

England: Bishops stand against cloning

London, 4 (NE) Cloning of human embryos for medical research is "immoral and unnecessary," the Bishops of England and Wales declared recently, urging the members of parliament to oppose this bill, which could be voted for in the House of Commons in the next days. In their communique, the Bishops stated that cloning is immoral "because it involves the deliberate creation and destruction of new human lives for the sole purpose of extracting stem cells for research". Meanwhile, Cardinal Thomas Winning, Archbishop of Glasgow, stated in declarations at a TV program that "research is not a problem for us. How it is done is the problem." "The members of parliament are being asked to allow the cloning of these tiny human embryos. The end is good, finding new treatments for disease. But the means are immoral, the tiny cloned human beings are killed before they come to birth," he stated.

14 churches in Chile declared patrimony of humanity

Santiago de Chile, 4 (NE) The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) declared 14 churches of Chiloe (Chile) as patrimony of humanity. The declaration took place officially in Australia this week, three years after the request to declare the churches patrimony of humanity was made. The churches belong to a group of 60 considered of the Chilota architectonic style, dating from the 18th century. Although some of these churches have been restored not long ago, others are in bad condition, such as the church of Quinchao, the largest of all, which was heavily damaged by the 1985´s earthquake. The churches of Chiloe stand out among other churches of the region because they are made out of wood, the "alerce", and as such, are unique in the world. One of these temples, the church of Achao, was constructed without using nails, but only with wooden unions.

Japanese Catholics commemorate canonization of Chinese martyrs

Rome, 4 (NE) With a Eucharist celebration at St. Ignatius Church in Tokyo, Japanese faithful recently commemorated the canonization of the Chinese martyrs, raised to the altars by Pope John Paul II in October. The Mass was presided by Cardinal Shirayanagi Seiichi, Archbishop emeritus of Tokyo. The Cardinal, during his homily, expressed "deep regret" over the opposition of the Chinese communist government to the canonization.

"It is a great sorrow for us that the event, which was meant to be a joy for the Church in China, received a negative reaction and the canonized are being called conspirators of aggressive imperialism," Cardinal Shirayanagi Seiichi said. The Cardinal visited China in several occasions from 1989 to 1994. The visa was nevertheless denied to him after 1994, year in which Pope John Paul II created him Cardinal. "Let us remember those martyrs… and our Chinese brothers and sisters who are urged to proclaim God's love to people", he called during the celebration.

The Japanese Cardinal also highlighted that the canonization ceremony had a special meaning as it marked the Feast of Saint Therese of Lisieux, patron of the missions. Attending the Mass where several faithful from the Chinese community in Japan, as well as religious whose confreres were among the 120 Chinese Martyrs.

December 1

Pope to visit Ukraine from June 21 to 24

Vatican City, 1 (NE) Yesterday morning the Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, publicly announced that Pope John Paul II will pilgrim to Ukraine on June next year. As it was informed, the Pope was invited by the Ukrainian president and the Bishops of this country. The Papal visit had already been announced during the first days of November, although no official date had been given. "Confirming what I already said on November 6", said Navarro-Valls in his declaration, "the Holy Father John Paul II has accepted the invitation of Leonid Kuchma, president of Ukraine, and will visit that country from June 21 to 24, 2001." An official program of the visit has not been yet announced.

India: violence against Christians increases

Rome, 1 (NE) Persecution and violence against Christian faithful has increased in India over the last days, according to a report from Fides news agency. In four different incidents of violence against Christians, churches were attacked, a priest was beaten up and nuns were once again made to suffer. In declarations to Fides, the Bishops' Conference spokesman Rev Fr Dominic Emmanuel said the crimes cannot pass unobserved. "The country must question itself about the reasons for the violence while Parliament is meeting for its Winter Session", he said. Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops have asked Christian MPs to raise the matter in the House.

In the last two years as many as 200 cases of violence against Christians have been registered, according to the Vatican news agency. Hindu extremists justify attacks on Christian minorities on the grounds that these believers disturb the peace. This is specially encouraged by Hindu fundamentalists, who support the ruling party Bharatiya Janata, and call for the expelling of all foreign missionaries and the institution of a "national Church", Chinese style. Among a population of about one billion, mostly Hindu, Christians make up 2.5 percent. Catholics are 17 million, 1.7 percent of the total population.

Puerto Rico: date of the beatification of first blessed announced

San Juan, 1 (NE) Carlos M. Rodriguez, or "Charlie", as he is affectionately called in Puerto Rico, will be beatified next April 29, 2001, during a Eucharistic celebration in Rome. The announcement was made this week by the Archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves, during a press conference. "We thank God for this grace granted to us, we thank the Holy Father for having decided the beatification," said the Archbishop, expressing his will to "take 2000 Puerto Rican pilgrims" to the ceremony of beatification of the first blessed of Puerto Rico and Caribbean Islands.

Carlos Rodríguez dedicated his life to the apostolate and prayer, writing and talking about the different mysteries of Christ's life. He is specially recalled for his humility and simple and coherent faith. He died in 1963, when he was 44, after a chronic intestinal disease that led to cancer. "The Diocese of Caguas is touched because this was a common man that lived in Caguas with his family, and lived love of Christ… he was a simple Puerto Rican, but a heroic one. We need models in Puerto Rico and Carlos Manuel is one of them," pointed out the Bishop of Caguas, Alvaro Corrada del Rio, commenting on the future beatification.

Sao Paulo organizes first jubilee of ecclesial movements

Sao Paulo, 1 (NE) Highlighting the ever-increasing importance of ecclesiastic movements in the evangelization, the Archdiocese of Sao Paulo (Brazil) for the first time is organizing a Jubilee of the Movements and new ecclesial communities. The event, which will be held on Sunday, December 10, in the Ibirapuera Stadium, will include the presence of 20 movements that will gather over 15 thousand people. The meeting will begin with a musical presentation and after the initial prayer, a conference will be given on Pope John Paul II's thought concerning the Movements in the Church. Then a video will be shown about the World Meeting of the Movements, held in Rome in 1998, during the Pentecost celebration. Finally the different movements will make a short presentation of themselves, to conclude the Jubilee finally with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Claudio Hummes.

International gathering on AIDS held in the Vatican

Vatican City, 1 (NE) A press conference to present an Intercontinental Meeting on AIDS which has been organized by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers was held yesterday at the Vatican. The meeting, which started yesterday and will finish today, has gathered specialists from Asia, Africa, America and Europe in the Vatican's St. Martha's House. Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, council president, presided at the press conference. The Archbishop pointed out that there are just over 36 million people in the world who have AIDS and that, since its appearance on the world scene 21.8 million people have already died. Archbishop Lozano Barragan stressed during his intervention that "there is no doubt that the most important thing is the prevention of the illness and, in the cases of those who contract it through sexual relations, the best prevention is chastity, both within and outside of marriage, even if that means going against the current in a 'pansexual' society such as contemporary society." "In all cases, God's law is always current and always observable," he stressed.

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