News

• 31 May 2004
  VATICAN - The Pope presides 1st Vespers Pentecost: "it is my hope that the spirituality of Pentecost will spread in the Church giving new impulse to prayer, holiness, communion and mission ” Vatican City (Fides Service) - On Saturday 29 May in St Peter’s Square Pope John Paul II presided the celebration of Vespers for Pentecost. “Veni, creator Spiritus! From the Church everywhere on the solemnity of Pent ...
• 31 May 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - New missionary presence in the world of the internet: on line web site of Missionaries of Mary, Xaverian Sisters Rome (Fides Service) - Today 31 May 2004, the Missionaries of Mary, Xaverian Sisters, inaugurate their web site www.saveriane.it. “Today’s liturgical feast which recalls the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Visit to her cousi ...
• 31 May 2004
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Another young Catholic dies of beatings: Samuel Masih, in prison on charges of blasphemy died in hospital of beatings received in prison Lahore (Fides Service) - The blasphemy law in Pakistan is a threat hanging over members of religious minorities. A young Catholic boy Samuel Masih, charged with blasphemy and put in prison in August 2003 died in hospital ...
• 31 May 2004
  ASIA/NEPAL - First Catholic Pastoral Centre: a step forward for a “little Church but with lots of enthusiasm” in Nepal Kathmandu (Fides) - The Catholic community in Nepal has its own Pastoral Centre named after Saint John Vianney. The Centre, situated at Godavari, 15 km south of the capital Kathmandu, is a compound of two buildings on ab ...
• 31 May 2004
  VATICAN - For thirty years the International Centre for Missionary Animation (CIAM) has served the Church “to reawaken the desire for holiness in all the agents of mission”. Vatican City (Fides Service) - “CIAM is at the service of the Church for the spiritual renewal of missionary pastoral workers and to promomte the spirit of mission throughout the Church”: this was how Father Romeo Ba ...
• 31 May 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - Even in rich countries children’s sicknesses are a worry. “Measles, Mumps and German Measles are no joke”. Italian health ministry launches anti-measles campaign. In 2002-2003 there were 28,000 cases of measles reported and 8 were mortal. Rome (Fides Service) - “Measles, Mumps and German Measles are no joke” with the slogan the Italian health ministry launched an anti-measles campaign urging calls families to prevent this disease often underestimated ...
• 31 May 2004
  AFRICA/MOROCCO - “Cold and lucid strategies are behind the hands of terrorists” Father Lacunza, Rector of the Pontifical Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies Rome (Fides Service)- “Not force, but rather intelligence will conquer terrorism” Father Justo Balda Lacunza, Rector of the Pontifical Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies in Rome,, commenting the present situation ...
• 29 May 2004
  AMERICA/PERU - “Send me Lord I will be your missionary!” more than 2,500 children attend National Missionary Childhood Day to renew their commitment. Lima (Fides Service) - While the Great City Mission of New Evangelisation “Remar Mar adentro”, is in full swing in Lima, today May 29, children are taking part in the national Missionary Childhood Day 2004 to reflec ...
• 29 May 2004
  AMERICA/COLOMBIA - “New missionary challenges demand team work of priests, religious and laity... Sound formation for lay missionaries”: conclusions of 1st National Missionary Meeting for Religious Bogota (Fides Service) - Organised by the Commission for Missionary Pastoral of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference in collaboration with the National Mission Centre and the Pontifical Mission Societies in Colombia, the ...
• 29 May 2004
  AFRICA/UGANDA - President of Holy See’s Council for Justice and Peace Cardinal Renato Martino visits war torn Uganda: solemn Mass on June 3 to commemorate Ugandan Martyrs. Vatican City (Fides Service) - The President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Renato R. Martino will visit Gulu, Kalongo and Kitgum three towns in war torn northern area of Uganda. The main purpo ...
• 29 May 2004
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - More than 2,000 priests, religious and laity at the service of children: National Congress for Catholic Educators in Korea Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - “Walking Beside Them” was the theme of a recent National Congress for Catholic Educators held in Seoul. The event was attended by 2,000 teachers, educators, pastoral workers, priests, men and ...
• 29 May 2004
  AFRICA/ANGOLA - A forgotten war. “The Church has no political interest in the crisis in Cabinda, but it cannot remain silent in the face of the tragedy afflicting the people ” says Catholic Vicar General of Cabinda diocese Rome (Fides Service)- “We must emphasise that the Church’s activity is always pastoral, never political ” Mgr Raul Tati, Vicar General of the diocese of Cabinda, said in his intervention at a two day Seminar held 2 ...
• 29 May 2004
  ASIA/CHINA - Hebei: two Catholic priests detained by police for five days are released but no sign of two arrested Bishops Baoding (Fides Service) - Two Catholic priests, Father Lu Genjun, aged 42, and Father Cheng Xiaoli, aged 40, arrested on 14 May were released four days later on May 18. The priests were arrested in Anguo, 200 km south we ...
• 28 May 2004
  Pope John Paul II's missionary prayer intention June 2004: “That religious freedom - a fundamental right of humankind - may meet with ever growing respect in Asian countries.” Comment by Archbishop Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Agra, India Vatican City (Fides Service) - The world committed itself to the promotion of Human Rights with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. For many this was a target to be achieved and an ideal to be realized. ...
• 28 May 2004
  EUROPE/POLAND - "Carrying love to the Whole World": two day Missionary Childhood Congress in Poland Częstochowa (Fides Service) - The 5th National Missionary Childhood Congress Pontifical Mission Societies in Poland is being held 28 and 29 May at Jasna Gora, Częstochowa. The theme of the congress is "Carrying ...