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Friday, July 8, 2011

CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: FRI. JULY 8, 2011









VATICAN: POPE: HOLIDAYS BEGIN IN PEACE- DELEGATION SENT TO SUDAN

AMERICA: USA: VIRTUAL WORLD YOUTH DAY- CREATE AN AVATAR AND TRAVEL TO MADRID

TODAY'S GOSPEL: JULY 10: Matthew 10: 16- 23

THE POPE ARRIVES IN CASTELGANDOLFO TO BEGIN HIS HOLIDAY

VATICAN CITY, 8 JUL 2011 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. yesterday, shortly after his arrival at the Pontifical Villas in Castelgandolfo, the Pope addressed some brief remarks to people gathered there to greet him.

"Thank you and good evening to you all, dear friends", he said. "I have arrived here to begin my holidays. Here I have everything: the mountain, the lake, ... a beautiful church with a recently restored facade and good people. I am so happy to be here. Let us hope the Lord grants us a peaceful holiday. My heartfelt blessing to you all. May Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless you. Good evening and thank you". (IMAGE SOURCE: RADIO VATICANA)

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DECLARATION CONCERNING INDEPENDENCE OF SOUTHERN SUDAN

VATICAN CITY, 8 JUL 2011 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. today released the following declaration:

"Tomorrow 9 July, the new Republic of South Sudan will be proclaimed in the city of Juba. For this solemn occasion, the Holy Father has sent an official delegation headed by Cardinal John Njue, archbishop of Nairobi and president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference. The delegation, which will also include Archbishop Leo Boccardi, apostolic nuncio to Sudan, and Msgr. Javier Herrera Corona, secretary of the apostolic nunciature to Kenya, will bring the authorities of the new State, and all its citizens many of whom are Catholic, best wishes for peace and prosperity.

"As Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, said yesterday when receiving a Sudanese parliamentary delegation led by Ahmed Ibrahim Elthair, president of the Sudanese National Assembly, peace, reconciliation and respect for universal rights (especially religious liberty) are the fundamental pillars upon which to construct the new socio-political circumstances of the region, and vital conditions in order to be able to look to a future of hope.

"The Holy See, which has had stable diplomatic relations with the authorities of Khartoum since 1972 and will give due consideration to any request from the government of Southern Sudan, invites the international community to support Sudan and the new independent State so that, through frank, peaceful and constructive dialogue, they may find just and equitable solutions to outstanding questions; at the same time she expresses the hope that those peoples will enjoy a journey of peace, freedom and development".

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 8 JUL 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Dionisio Hisiilenapo of the clergy of the diocese of Ondjiva, Angola, executive secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome, as bishop of Namibe (area 97,097, population 1,202,928, Catholics 272,154, priests 15, religious 35), Angola. The bishop-elect was born inEpumbu,Angola in 1966 and ordained a priest in 1998.

- Erected the new diocese of Sylhet (area 12,595, population 8,261,614, Catholics 17,000, priests 21, religious 33) Bangladesh, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Dhaka, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan church. He appointed Bishop Bejoy Nicephorus D'Cruze O.M.I. of Khulna,Bangladesh, as first bishop of the new diocese.

- Appointed Bishop Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, auxiliary and diocesan administrator of Awka,Nigeria, as bishop of the same diocese (area 1,551, population 1,431,000, Catholics 723,551, priests 298, religious 163).

- Transferred the diocese of Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from the ecclesiasticalprovince of Castries, Saint Lucia, to that of Port of Spain,Trinidad and Tobago.

- Appointed Msgr. Charles Jason Gordon of the clergy of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, moderator of the archdiocesan Curia as bishop of Bridgetown (area 430, population 277,000, Catholics 11,000, priests 11, religious 14), Barbados, and of Kingstown (area 388, population 120,000, Catholics 15,469, priests 11, religious 14), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The bishop-elect was born in Port of Spain in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1991.

- Appointed Fr. Joseph Harris C.S.Sp., pastor and judicial vicar for the clergy of the archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, as coadjutor archbishop of the same archdiocese (area 5,128, population 1,262,400, Catholics 289,460, priests 107, religious 141). The archbishop-elect was born in Trinidad in 1942 and ordained a priest in 1968.

AMERICA: USA: VIRTUAL WORLD YOUTH DAY- CREATE AN AVATAR AND TRAVEL TO MADRID

JESUSCARITASEST.ORG REPORT: The US Conference of Catholic Bishops have created a social media tool for pilgrims to make a virtual pilgrimage to World Youth Day, Madrid, Spain. They have created a Facebook page and an Facebook application. The USCCB released the Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virtual-World-Youth-Day/155152027881863 Here photos and videos are uploaded. They hope to get 1 million virtual pilgrims on the Facebook fan page. This initiative is a wonderful way for the world to access WYD. Some pilgrims who are disabled, poor, or unable to attend can now participate with many media tools. This makes the pilgrimage almost palpable to those who cannot attend.

There is also a Web site available: http://www.virtualworldyouthday.org/ Here people can form an avatar and it participates in the events.There is also a virtual world map showing all the virtual pilgrims. .



World Youth Day 2011 will be held August 16-21, in Madrid, the Spanish capital.

Those wishing to contact the USCCB for information on how to access the Facebook Application or Website can email: Catherine Panzica at cpanzica@usccb.org.

ASIA: LEBANON: MARONITE BISHOPS PLEA FOR PEACE


Beirut (AsiaNews) – After three days of heated debate, charges and counter-charges and clashes between the majority and the opposition, the new Lebanese government led by Najib Mikati won a vote of confidence in the Lebanese parliament, with 68 votes out of 128. Shia-dominated Hizbollah and the “Free Patriotic Movement” of Maronite Michel Aoun back the government of Sunni Mikati, whilst the opposition includes members from the 14 March coalition, led by the pro-Saudi “Future Movement” of former Prime Minister Saad Eddin Hariri.

Prime Minister Mikati reiterated his government’s intention to cooperate with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (who was killed on 14 February 2005). He rejected opposition criticism against his commitment to “respect” the United Nations resolutions rather “follow" them. He added that his government would “continue the path of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon”.

Lebanon is currently going through a period of political and social turmoil following the indictment by the STL of four members of Hizbollah in connection with the Hariri assassination (see “Car bomb kills Lebanon's former Prime Minister,” in AsiaNews, 14 February 2005). Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that members of his powerful Shia party would not be arrested. Discussions in parliament centred on the international tribunal, Hizbollah’s disarmament and the situation in Syria.

Maronite Synod, which met on Wednesday in Bkerke chaired by patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, said it hoped that the new Lebanese government, with the confidence of parliament now behind it, would be able to tackle domestic issues and address the needs of the people. The bishops trust that the government will be able to assume its responsibilities at a critical moment in the history of Lebanon and the region.

In its monthly press release, the Synod said, “The issuing of the bill of indictment by the international court, at the time when the new government was getting ready to discuss its ministerial statement, has stirred the discussion and increased the gap between the political parties in Lebanon.” Hence, the bishops “appeal to all political authorities to keep up to the high democratic discussion, endeavour to unite the view, bring forth the truth and work at implementing justice which has for effect to put an end to the serial murders and to stir discord in the country.”

Looking at events in the Arab world, the bishops said, “Troubles and painful events still blow over a number of the region countries, causing there a number of casualties, spreading destruction, disorder and unclearness [sic]”, which causes uncertainty “about what might come out of it as deep social and political changes.”

Whilst they “express their anxiety about this situation, they ask God to grant security, peace and stability to these countries” as well as “encourage their sons and daughters to hold to their land, love their homelands and serve them” and “endeavour to [bear] witness for spiritual, social and humane values”.

AUSTRALIA: YOUTH LEADER O'BRIEN ON A MISSION

Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT:
Devett O'Brien elected Secretary General of IYCS

Of the young Australians who are actively engaged in their faith this still represents only a fraction of those Catholic youth leader Devett O'Brien wishes to reach.

"Approximately two percent of young people talk openly about their faith and their commitment to Christ, and are active in their faith. But for me, the real question and challenge is how do we reach the other 98 percent?" asks the Brisbane-born law student.

The 25-year-old from Griffiths University, has just been elected Secretary General of the International Young Christian Students (IYCS) movement, and in his new position one of his ambitions is to find ways to reach the world's young people. To encourage them to embrace Christ and his teachings, and for those who grew up Catholic, to bring them back to the Church.

Devett, who is studying for a double degree in economics and law, will take up his new position at the end of the Spring Semester in October this year, and will spend the next four years based in Paris. He will oversee and help coordinate YCS activities worldwide as well as represent students at the United Nations and the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Rome.

"It will be exciting to show as many people as possible that our God and the Church has something real and relevant to say about the injustices and struggles of young people around the world, and YCS offers an inspiring alternative image of Christian life," he says and adds this image begins from the reality of each individual's life whether this is in a classroom in Sydney, in the midst of a civil war on the Ivory Coast or in the uncertainty of life in the Middle East.

From the time he was in Year 8, Devett has been an enthusiastic member of YCS, so much so that after his first YCS meeting at Brisbane's St Thomas' Parish, Camp Hill, he and a friend immediately set about establishing their own YCS at his family's nearby parish of St Therese.

He then went on to become the National Coordinator for the Australian movement, working in dioceses across the country and founding youth groups and building what he called "a new generation of apostles."

Using the "See, Judge and Act" system of self-examination developed by the YCS which calls on young people to be Christian witnesses and proclaim the Gospel, Devett worked closely with the late much-loved, Bishop Joe Grech, the former Bishop of Sandhurst and was instrumental in the formation of the Australian Catholic Youth Council in 2007.

"The Church should have a 'young heart' because Jesus lived and died young," he says, but is quick to point out having a "young heart" encompasses those of all ages. "It means having a youthful spirit," he explains and cites Pope John Paul II's address when at World Youth Day in Rome who spoke of the "young heart" of the Church as the "centre of the Church."

He believes this means communicating in a contemporary real way that resonates with people today. But while he agrees that modern technology and the new media is playing an increasingly larger role, he warns as a tool and way to reach young people, not to focus too much on the technology, but rather on the message.

"Having a conversation that resonates with young people, means we have to engage them and make what we are saying relevant to their lives. If we are not able to do that it doesn't matter whether our message is in morse code or on Facebook. It's not going to connect."

Devett admits is very much looking forward to this new challenge and says under his stewardship, IYCS will "fight poverty and build peace."

"I am very excited," he says of his new appointment but adds that he is also a little scared. "It is also a wonderful opportunity and I am keen to strengthen the YCS movement in other countries, which is something I think we have done quite well here in Australia," he says.


AFRICA: DEM. REP. OF CONGO: AIDS TREATMENT CENTER TO OPEN TOMORROW

Agenzia Fides REPORT - According to the latest UNAIDS report 2010, the world begins to register a reversal of the spread of the HIV epidemic. In recent years more than 5 million people in the southern countries of the world have had access to antiretroviral therapy, thanks to international efforts by various international agencies, NGOs, and different countries. However, in Congo, where it is estimated that more than 500 000 people living with HIV/AIDS, much remains to be done. Among the latest achievements in the field, a center for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in the city of Kinshasa, capital of the country, which has about 10 million inhabitants is opening. The center is called DREAM (Drug Resource Enhancement against Aids and Malnutrition) which is situated in Bibwa, in a neighborhood inhabited by over 300 thousand people not served by other treatment centers. The Centre is part of a program of public health care and operational research in ten African countries, involving nearly two million beneficiaries and is a program of global fight, control, prevention and treatment against HIV infection in countries with limited resources. Antiviral treatment is in itself the true and effective prevention, with its potential to eliminate the virus from the plasma and all body fluids, and drastically reduce the infectivity of those hit by the virus and reduce the possibility of infection. The Centre is the result of a collaboration agreement signed by the Community of Sant'Egidio with the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is committed to providing the drugs for the treatment. The DREAM program has already been in the country since 2009, with a treatment center in Mbandaka, in the region of the Equator.

EUROPE: GREAT BRITAIN: ORDINARIATE RECEIVES LARGE DONATION TO SUSTAIN THEM FOR A YEAR

Ordinariate receives controversial £1m donation

Priests of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham (Photo: Mazur)

CATHOLIC HERALD REPORT: By MARK GREAVES on Wednesday, 6 July 2011A 150-year-old Anglo-Catholic charity has given £1 million to Britain’s Personal Ordinariate – enough to keep it financially afloat for up to a year.

The money, donated by the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, will ensure that priests in the ordinariate will not be left penniless in the coming months. It represents almost half of the charity’s total assets.

Trustees agreed to the grant after checking with lawyers that it would be compatible with the charity’s objects – namely, “the advancement of the Catholic faith in the Anglican tradition”.

The Confraternity changed its rules in April last year so that ordinariate priests could become members. Five out of six of its trustees have now been ordained as priests in the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

But one Anglican minister has already lodged a complaint with the Charity Commission and written letters of protest to Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster and the Pope. The Rev Paul Williamson, from Hanworth, south-west London, said the grant was a “disgrace”. A Facebook group opposing it has attracted nearly 300 members.

Mgr Keith Newton, the head of the ordinariate, said the grant guaranteed an income for its priests. He said: “A million pounds sounds like a lot of money but it’s not an awful lot to run something like an ordinariate. It needs at least a million pounds a year – and that’s without thinking that it will grow.”

Mgr Newton said there was still “a lot of work to do”, citing pensions as well as life and health insurance costs for clergy. But he said that all of the 60 or so ordinariate priests now had somewhere to live. “It’s a great relief,” he said.

Fr Christopher Pearson, superior general of the Confraternity, said he would be consulting in the coming year on whether Catholics should be allowed to remain members, and if it could continue to exist as an Anglican charity.

He defended the grant against criticism, saying that the Confraternity was never a Church of England society. He said that when it was founded in 1862 priests who reserved the Blessed Sacrament or led Benediction risked imprisonment. Its assets, he said, did not originate from the Church of England either. He said they were largely down to the investment of donations from the 19th century.

Fr Pearson also pointed out that critics of the grant “had their own incomes, churches, tabernacles, chalices”, but priests in the ordinariate did not.

The Confraternity has also given £10,000 to three Walsingham nuns who joined the ordinariate at the start of the year. According to Fr Pearson, the money paid for “clothes, shoes and housing”.

It is understood that trustees cannot benefit from the £1 million grant.

The Confraternity, which has about 120 priest members in England and 1,500 worldwide, was founded by the Rev Thomas Carter, a prominent Anglo-Catholic, in 1862.

Its six trustees are supposed to be elected by district councils of priest members, or associates, but some of these councils have not met in decades. In these cases the appointment is made by the superior general.

On its website the Confraternity states: “There is no more precious thing in the world than the Blessed Sacrament of the altar and our joy is to help … others to regard as such this most precious gift: Christ’s own abiding Presence among us.”

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2011/07/06/ordinariate-receives-controversial-1m-donation/

TODAY'S SAINT: JULY 8: ST. RAYMOND OF TOULOUSE

St. Raymond of Toulouse

CHANTER AND CANON

Feast: July 8



Information:

Feast Day:July 8
Born:Toulouse, France
Died:3 July 1118

A chanter and canon renowned for generosity. A native of Toulouse, France, he was known originally as Raymond Gayrard. After the death of his wife, he became a canon of St. Sernin, Toulouse, helping to rebuild the church that became a popular place for pilgrims. After his death on July 3, many miracles were reported at his tomb.



SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/R/straymondoftoulouse.asp#ixzz1RVx6uPlN

TODAY'S GOSPEL: JULY 10: Matthew 10: 16- 23

Matthew 10: 16 - 23
16"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues,
18and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.
19When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour;
20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;
22and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.