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September 24

Pope invites new bishops to encourage "desire for holiness"

Rome, 24 (NE) Pope John Paul II invited young bishops, who are participating in the annual meeting held in the Vatican for new bishops, to be holy and promote vocations to the priesthood. In his talk the Pope focussed on four priorities: being models of holiness, being close to the priests in their diocese, promoting vocations to the priesthood and communicating Christ to modern man.

"The efficacy and the fruitfulness of our ministry," he said, "depend to a great extent on our configuration to Christ and on our personal holiness. ... A bishop's primary duty is to make an authentic desire for holiness grow in all believers, a holiness to which we are all called and in which culminate the aspirations of human beings."

The Pope also urged the prelates to "dedicate yourselves with passion to promoting authentic vocations to the priesthood through prayer, witnessing with your life and pastoral concern."

In conclusion, the Pope underscored the mission entrusted to bishops "to communicate Christ to the men of today in the world of today. Every day we experience how our times, so rich in technical means, material means and comfort, are so dramatically poor in purpose, values and ideals. Modern man, deprived of references to values, turns often to restricted and relative horizons. In this agnostic, and at times hostile context, a bishop's mission is not easy. We must not, however, give in to pessimism or discouragement, because the Holy Spirit guides the Church and gives her ... the courage to dare to seek new methods of evangelization in order to reach up-to-now unexplored spheres."

Education needs a reformation, stresses Pope

Rome, 24 (NE) Before praying the Angelus with the faithful gathered in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, the Pope called last Sunday for a renewal in education.

"Sometimes," affirmed the Holy Father, "it is said that the school, like the family, is in 'crisis.' With this expression, they are referring to the widespread perception that this institution, although recognized for its essential value, needs a complete transformation so that it can respond to the current demands of society."

The Pope also indicated that in order to reach this goal "it is not enough to modify programs and structures. The proper functioning of a school depends most of all on the formative quality of the relationship between teachers and students. Students feel motivated to give the best of themselves when teachers help them to understand the meaning of what they are studying, in terms of their growth and the realities that surround them. This is important for all schools, whether private or public, in all grades."

After recalling that "culture is the foundation of a people's identity," the Pope said that "the contribution that schools offer, subordinate to the family, is and continues to be indispensable in the transmission of the values of a culture."

September 19

God is a "merciful and just Sovereign", says Pope John Paul II

Rome, 19 (NE) "Psalm 95: God, King and Judge of the Universe" was the theme of the catechesis of Pope John Paul II, during the general audience held yesterday in the Paul VI Hall. The Pope affirmed that Psalm 95 "exalts the Creator of all beings and the Savior of peoples: 'the world is established, it shall never be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity'. ... Thus, we have the assurance that we have not been abandoned to the dark forces of chaos and chance but we are always in the hands of a merciful and just Sovereign".

"The Psalm," he said, "begins with an festive invitation to praise God. ... The fundamental act before our King, the Lord Jesus who shows his glory in the history of salvation, it is a hymn of adoration, praise and blessing. These attitudes must be present also in our daily liturgy and in our personal prayer".

The Holy Father indicated that the second part of the Psalm opens with "the proclamation of the Lord's majesty". The Fathers of the Church have seen in this Psalm "a prefiguration of the Incarnation and of the Crucifixion, sign of the majestic paradox of Christ".

"The mystery of divine majesty is manifested in the Incarnation. Christ who reigns on earth, triumphs precisely in the humiliation of the Cross. It is significant that many used to read in the past verse 10 of this Psalm from an evocative cristological perspective: 'The Lord reigned from the wood of the Cross'".

Sodalitium Christianae Vitae has a new priest

Lima, 19 (NE) Last Friday in Lima, Peru, José Ignacio Tola Claux, member of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae was ordered priest. The celebration took place in the Nuestra Señora de la Reconciliación church and was presided by Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, Archbishop of Lima. Among the faithful were Luis Fernando Figari, Founder and General Superior of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, as well as a great number of members of the Sodálite Family, the parents of the new priest and friends. Bishop Lorenzo León Alvarado of Huacho concelebrated the Eucharist.

In his homily, the Cardinal invited those who were present and the new priest to love the Church intensely. The Shepherd stressed the need "to look deeply at the Church" and to discover "that she is Body of Christ". "This takes us to get filled with hope for Christ who does not abandon his Church in the difficult times".

Continuing his homily, he remembered that "the priest must not preach himself, but preach Christ, for He is the model of holiness". He also encouraged the new priest "to live the faithfulness to the Word and to pray, because no one can cooperate actively in the mission of the Church without prayer", since from it "starts the path of the reconciliation".

In another moment, commenting the Good Shepherd's parable, he remembered that the ecclesial community builds its unity around the Bishop "who really is Shepherd and who does not abandon the flock and gives his life for his sheep". In that way he stated that "when a Shepherd is attacked, the Church is attacked". "Because of this we should always be united to the Bishops, who are the Successors of the Apostles".

US Bishops call to the hope on the celebration of the anniversary of terrorist attacks

Washington, 19 (NE) On the first anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, the faith calls the Catholic people to work for "not only a safer world, but a more just and peaceful world for all God's children", stresses the statement made by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, during the celebrations of the first anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks occurred on September 11th of 2001. In this statement the Bishops encourage the solidarity with the people affected by this tragedy, emphasizing the "need to deepen the faith and hope that lifted us up and sustained us over the past year". "We join Catholics throughout the country who are completing a nine-day novena of prayer, fasting, education, service and witness... [asking God] to nourish our faith and our hope in the promise of the Christ Risen", said the message.

September 11

Holy See issues strong protest against deportation of Catholic priest from Russia

Rome, 11 (NE) The Holy See issued yesterday a strong protest, after the deportation of another Catholic priest from Russia. "This is such a serious act that now there is talk of a true persecution", said Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in an official statement made public yesterday morning.

On September 9, Father Iaroslav Vichnevski was stopped at the Khabarovsk airport in eastern Russia and forced to return to Japan. He is the fourth Catholic cleric to be expelled from Russia over the last months, without any coherent explanations from Russian authorities.

"The most worrying thing is that the Holy See has not received any official explanation regarding the motives for these expulsions" said Navarro-Valls, commenting the situation. "The Holy See will try to resolve the problem through diplomatic channels."

Pope will preside the funeral Mass of Cardinal Moreira Neves

Rome, 11 (NE) Pope John Paul II has sent a message to the relatives of Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves O.P., former Prefect of the Congregation for the Bishops, who died the last Sunday afternoon in Rome. In his message, the Pope highlighted the work of "this faithful servant of the Church in Brazil and in this Apostolic See". It was also made public that the Pontiff will preside on Wednesday, September 11, at 5:30 pm local time in the altar of the Confession of the Vatican basilica the funeral Mass of the Cardinal. The Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.

First anniversary of "Belen" solidarity center is celebrated in Medellin

Medellin, 11 (NE) On August 6 took place in the city of Medellin a thanksgiving Mass for the first anniversary of the "Belén" (Bethlehem) Solidarity Center. It is a combined work between "Solidaridad en Marcha" , an association of the "Christian Life Movement", and the "Bethlehem Reception Homes Foundation" (a Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Medellin). The "Belén" solidarity center is placed in one of the most traditional neighborhoods of the Center of Medellin and it aims to offer an integral development to the most fragile people, the sick, the poor and the needy, looking for their evangelization.

September 5

Pope calls to "proclaim the Word of God in a world longing for truth"

Rome, 5 (NE) Pope John Paul II sent a message to Bishop Vincenzo Paglia of Terni-Narni-Amelia, Italy, on the occasion of the Sixth Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation, of which he is president. The theme of the meeting, which is taking place in Beirut, Lebanon from September 3 - 12, is: "You show me the ways of life," taken from the Psalms.

"Trusting in the force and power of the Word of God, the Catholic Bible Federation is given the great responsibility - one belonging to the whole Church - of making the Divine Word accessible to people in all parts of the world so that it can take root and thrive in their hearts." The Holy Father affirms that the "commitment to bringing about a renewed listening to the Word of God, which is a necessary element of the new evangelization, also reinforces the bonds of unity that already exist among all Christians."

The Pope concludes by urging that this occasion be "a fruitful opportunity to evaluate what has been achieved so far and to determine what needs yet to be done to proclaim the Word of God in a world longing for truth."

Cuban faithful prepare for feast of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre

Miami, 5 (NE - eclesiales.org) With great devotion, faithful in Cuba have been preparing the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, which will take place in the Island the 8th of September. On this occasion the Bishop of Santa Clara, Arturo González, has sent a pastoral letter encouraging the devotion to the Holy Virgin Mary, especially through the prayer of the Novena.

The Prelate also remembers that this year Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, will be present at the feast. "His presence among us -he affirmed- is expression of the Pope's solicitous love for the whole Church and actualizes our communion with the Universal Church".

"May this feast in honor of the Mother of the Lord Jesus, Mother and Patroness of the Cuban people, the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, Virgen Morena and Mambisa, make us grow in the true love that guides us to God and to share as much as we are, as much as we have and all that we believe, struggling to reach the crown of glory that does not wither, promised by Jesus Christ to those who, following Him through the path of the cross, remain faithful".

Bishop Foley encourages evangelization through Internet

Rome, 5 (NE - eclesiales.org) Archbishop John Patrick Foley, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, encouraged faithful to announce Lord Jesus' Gospel in Internet. In a recent conference, Archbishop Foley encouraged Catholics who work in mass media to be "true men and women, not only living according to the moral rightness, but also as valiant combatants". He also encouraged them to radically oppose "the attitudes denominated 'politically correct' of a society that tries to excuse and justify all kinds of immorality for fear of offending when telling the truth."

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