The Franciscan schools in the Holy Land date back to the 16th century, while the Holy Land School in Bethlehem is considered the oldest in the entire Middle East, having been founded in 1598.

These schools, which seek to provide qualitative education to people of different social and economic backgrounds, have had graduates who proved to be excelling in every walk of life.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS SERVE AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Press reports have indicated that Nigeria is becoming the “biggest killing ground of Christians in the world” due to attacks by extremist militants.

The International Christian Concern (ICC) estimates that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians have been killed in the last decade in the West African nation.

POPE IMPLORES "MOTHER OF HOPE'S" INTERCESSION FOR NIGERIA'S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

August 22 is the Feast of the Queenship of Blesses Mary, the Mother of the Church and the Mother of the Universe.
This feast is intended to let everyone venerate Her devoutly being the merciful mother of Her Son, Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

On the 11th of October 1954, Pope Pius XII established the Feast of the Queenship of Mary to be celebrated throughout the world, and commanded that on that day each year, the world should renew its consecration to Her. In the future the Feast came to be celebrated on August 22.

How often have I heard a sermon preached on these words of Jesus found in Matthew 16:18-20 : "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,*and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it" turn from an exegesis on the text to a gentle polemic on the importance of the Papacy as an office continuing the ministry of Peter.

Press reports have indicated that the Catholic bishops of Bangladesh have launched a campaign to plant 400,000 trees across the country during the current special “Laudato Si’’ anniversary year, in commemoration of its 5th anniversary.

Several countries and organizations in the world have seized every opportunity to highlight the importance of this landmark encyclical as it saves the world from poverty and ensures a thriving world.

"Oh God, save Iraq and the Iraqis from wars, violence, persecution and all forms of viruses so that they can emerge out of these crises healthier and stronger. Amen"

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi has been quoted by the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA) as saying that with the defeat of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq (IS), Iraqi Christian immigrants, 'the original children of the country' should return home. He added that he was serious about providing assistance to Christian families and solving their problems.

As the consequences of the pandemic play themselves out and an emotional culture of fear and anxiety takes the stage, people are looking for hope. Sources of hope can be found throughout the Christian message, but nervousness weighs heavy on the heart. Sometimes people need something more than a message. They need something more personal. They need a mother’s love and reassurance.

In many places the Feast of the Assumption of Mary the mother of Jesus, which is also known as the Dormition (falling asleep) by our Eastern Churches is kept on the date it falls, but in other places if Sunday follows or precedes then there is a transfer of the festival, so in England and Wales we celebrate it this year on the Sunday!

Faithful gather inside the Shrine Church of St. Charbel at the St. Maron Monastery in Annaya, Lebanon. (photo: Sarah Hunter)
As noted on Tuesday, the fortunes of the Maronites are often tied to those of Lebanon; to separate either of these symbiotic entities would do neither of them justice. But equally inaccurate is the suggestion that to be Maronite is to be Lebanese, or vice versa.

Catholics worldwide honor Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15, marking the Solemnity of the Assumption, which is one of the principal feasts of Blessed Mother Mary, Mother of the Church.

This feast commemorates the departure of Our Blessed Lady from Her earthly life and the assumption of her body and soul into Heaven by God. It is a day that marks the sublime nature of Our Mother being the Mother of the Saviour of the entire world, Lord Jesus Christ.