“For if every baptized person is called to bear witness to the Lord Jesus by proclaiming the faith received as a gift, this is especially so for each consecrated man and woman. There is a clear connection between consecrated life and mission.” Pope Francis wrote this in his message for the 89th World Mission Day which will be celebrated on 18 October 2015.
Pope Francis’ interview with Argentinian newspaper “La voz del Pueblo”: His audiences, his meetings with people, the risk of being attacked, the emotion felt when seeing children and prisoners in pain, his car trips. His promise to the Virgin Mary that he would not watch TV and his longing… for a tasty pizza
Fr. Rifat Bader, director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan, has said that "Pope Francis will announce next Sunday (May 17) the canonization of four nuns. Two of them are Palestinians, namely Marie-Alphonsine, founder of Palestine's first congregation, the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem, and Mary of Jesus Crucified Baouardy, the founder of the Carmelite Convent in Bethlehem and India. One French nun and one Italian nun are also being canonized."
Jacques Murad, Prior of the Monastery of Mar Elian was abducted by two armed kidnappers, Fides news agency reports. The news was confirmed by the Syrian Catholic archdiocese of Homs.
“Priest Jacques Murad, Prior of the Monastery of Mar Elian, was abducted by two kidnappers at the Monastery under the threat of arms. According to some local sources, contacted by Fides news agency, the seizure most probably took place on Monday, May 18, while other sources claim that the priest was kidnapped on Thursday May, 21.”
The eyes and hearts of millions are focused on Rome, the Italian capital, specifically at St. Peter's Square, for the canonization of two Arab nuns from Palestine. They are namely Sultana Ghattas, known as Mother Marie-Alphonsine who was born in Jerusalem in 1843 and passed away in Ain Karim in 1927. She is the founder of the Sisters of the Rosary congregation that are located in Jordan, Palestine as well a number of Arab and foreign countries. The second one is Sister Mariam Baouardy, who took the name of Mary of Jesus Crucified.
Their meeting in the Vatican lasted twenty minutes and “great satisfaction” was expressed regarding the bilateral agreement. Tomorrow, Sunday May 17, the Palestinian leader will be attending the ceremony for the canonization of the first two modern-day Palestinian saints.
The Christian communities of Syria and Iraq have survived 2,000 years of tumult and war. In some of them, prayers are still said in Aramaic, the language that Lord Jesus Christ used in daily life. These communities now tremble on the brink of destruction.
Europe’s Episcopal Conferences are meeting in Switzerland to discuss how Muslims in Europe are changing. Cardinal Tauran said there is a strong risk of a community retreat. Cardinal Ricard, meanwhile, says international crises have led to an increase in Islamophobia in Europe but dialogue is still the only way forward.
The Latin Patriarchate inaugurated a few days ago a new site for religious pilgrimage to be added to several other sites frequented by tourists from Jordan and abroad. The new shrine, which Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal has visited and which Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Archbishop Maroun Lahham had earlier inaugurated in the presence of large masses of people, is located in Naour township by the Latin Convent. What is striking is that this shrine does not stand for an event listed in the Holy Bible as is the case with several holy sites in our beloved country.
The Church is getting ready to celebrate in the coming days the canonization of Mother Marie-Alphonsine Ghattas and Sister Marie of Jesus Crucified (Mariam Bawardi). The Church acknowledges thereby the genuineness of their spiritual experiences, introducing them as examples and intercessors for faithful. How does Church recognize the sainthood of her faithful?
