Kyrgyzstan: Church raided, nuns fined for reading Scriptures

A Catholic church has been raided and two nuns fined for reading the Bible at Mass, following which the Catholic Church was threatened with being banned. 

Two foreigners at a registered Protestant church were also fined. 

A Hare Krishna wedding rehearsal was also raided, the host fined, and Indian students present had their visas revoked. 

The Interior Ministry, police "Departments for the Struggle against Extremism and Illegal Migration," the SCRA, and the NSC secret police refuse to explain why they violate legally-binding international human rights obligations.

On 26 March, the State Commission for Religious Affairs (SCRA), the National Security Committee (NSC) secret police, and Talas police "Department for the Struggle against Extremism and Illegal Migration" raided St Nicholas Catholic Church in Talas, in the north-western Talas Region, after a Sunday evening Mass was celebrated. 

People leaving the state-registered Church were forced back into the the Church by officers, some of whom were carrying weapons.

People were forced by the armed officers to remain in St Nicholas Church for about one and a half hours until two Slovak nuns, Sister Daniela Cincilova and Sister Eva Eliasova, signed a statement that they were "guilty" of alleged "illegal missionary activities" and "spreading their ideology." 

The SCRA then fined the nuns the maximum fine under Violations Code Article 142, Part 4 ("Carrying out religious activity without registration at the executive state body for religious affairs") of 7,500 Soms each. 7,500 Soms is equivalent to just over two week's average wages. The Catholic Church has appealed againts the fines.

Two foreign Protestants at a registered Protestant church were fined for "illegal missionary activity" after a raid by state officials, a local Protestant who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of state reprisals told Forum 18. 

The raid and fines also took place around the time St Nicholas Church in Talas was raided, and included officials from the police "Department for the Struggle against Extremism and Illegal Migration" (see below).

Three days after the raid on St Nicholas Church, on 29 March, the SCRA wrote to the Catholic Apostolic Administration in Bishkek (which leads the Church in the country) threatening that if more "violations" happen the SCRA will "take action against the Apostolic Administration in Kyrgyzstan for its liquidation".

SCRA Deputy Director Kanatbek Midin uuly refused to explain to Forum 18 why his fellow-Deputy Director Zamir Kozhomberdiev threatened the Catholic Church in writing with possible liquidation (see below).

On 11 June Interior Ministry and police "Department for the Struggle against Extremism and Illegal Migration" officials, as well as SCRA officials, raided the wedding rehearsal of a Hare Krishna couple, human rights defender Erzhan Kayipov told Forum 18 on 25 July. 

The wedding rehearsal was taking place in the flat of another Hare Krishna devotee. The devotee was fined 7,500 Soms, just over two weeks average wages, and Indian students present had their student visas cancelled (see below).

The Interior Ministry and police "Departments for the Struggle against Extremism and Illegal Migration," the State Commission for Religious Affairs (SCRA), and the NSC secret police have all refused to explain to Forum 18 why the regime is violating its legally-binding international human rights obligations (see below).

On 26 March, the State Commission for Religious Affairs (SCRA), the National Security Committee (NSC) secret police, and Talas police "Department for the Struggle against Extremism and Illegal Migration" raided St Nicholas Catholic Church in Talas, in the north-western Talas Region, after a Sunday evening Mass was celebrated. People leaving the state-registered Church were forced back into the the Church by officers, some of whom were carrying weapons, Agenzia Fides reported on 29 March.

The police "Department for the Struggle against Extremism and Illegal Migration" was previously called the "Department for the Struggle against Extremism and Terrorism."

People were forced by the armed officers to remain in St Nicholas Church for about one and a half hours until two Slovak nuns, Sister Daniela Cincilova and Sister Eva Eliasova, signed a statement that they were "guilty" of alleged "illegal missionary activities" and "spreading their ideology." 

Both nuns were forced by the armed officers to sign statements admitting "guilt" under Violations Code Article 142 ("Violating the Religion Law").

The SCRA then fined the nuns the maximum fine under Violations Code Article 142, Part 4 ("Carrying out religious activity without registration at the executive state body for religious affairs") of 7,500 Soms each. 7,500 Soms is equivalent to just over two week's average wages.

Fr Damian Wojciechowski SJ, Director of the Curia of the Apostolic Administration, told Fides that he thought the raid and fines were the result of ignorance on the part of local officials, as all the nuns had done was to read out passages from the Bible at Mass. 

Fr Wojciechowski said this is not illegal as Kyrgyz law requires written state permission for foreigners to preach and to lead worship, but the nuns had not done this in the Mass.

The Catholic Church has appealed against the fines, but as of 2 August without success so far.

Neither Talas regional nor city police answered their phones when Forum 18 called them on 2 August.

Colonel Urmatbek Jumabekov, head of the Interior Ministry's "Department for the Struggle against Extremism and Illegal Migration" (which controls police departments with the same name) told Forum 18 on 2 August that he knew of the raid, detention of worshippers, and fines. 

However, he refused to discuss them as he claimed to be in a meeting and asked Forum 18 to call back in 30 minutes. When Forum 18 called back, Colonel Jumabekov's phone was connected to a fax machine.

An NSC secret police officer in the Investigations Division, who refused to give her name, would not explain to Forum 18 on 1 August why armed officers raided a Catholic Church, detained worshippers, and imposed an illegal fine on the nuns. 

The NSC officer asked Forum 18 to call back in 20 minutes, but repeated calls later were not answered.

SCRA Deputy Director Kanatbek Midin uuly also refused to explain on 26 July why St Nicholas Church was raided by armed officers, worshippers were detained, and two nuns were fined illegally by the SCRA. 

"We will definitely answer all your questions," he claimed.

St. Louis archdiocese suspends parish mergers, awaiting Rome’s decision

The Archdiocese of St. Louis has announced that it will hold off on plans to merge some parishes, to await the results of parishioners’ appeals to Rome.

An archdiocesan reorganization plan, in which mergers would reduce the number of parishes from 178 to 134, went into effect on August 1. 

But the archdiocese suspended the implementation of the plans for parishes that had appealed to the Vatican.

While Archbishop Michael Rozanski had denied the pleas to keep these parishes operating, when they appealed to Rome he suspended the mergers out of “respect for each parishioner’s right to this recourse,” the archdiocese said.

Israeli extremists attempt to storm Catholic church and monastery in northern Israel

Extremist Israeli groups have on several occasions in recent weeks attempted to storm the Stella Maris Monastery and Catholic church in the northern port city of Haifa, Israel, prompting Christians to take measures to protect the holy site.

After several attempts last week, intruders managed to infiltrate the outer courtyard of the monastery and disrupt the prayer session taking place, causing fear and anger among the Christian community.

In an effort by the church to deter any future attacks, work began today to install an iron fence around the monastery. The monastery was founded by the Carmelites, who have been practicing their faith from Mt. Carmel in Haifa since the 12th century, when hermits began to gather in a caves in imitation of the prophet Elijah. Tradition says that the prophet’s cave is located underneath the altar of the church.

Wadih Abu Nassar, an adviser to several churches in the Holy Land, commented on the installation of the fence in a post on his Facebook page, saying: “The gates will contribute to facilitating filing a complaint against those who jump over the gates and walls of the monastery as an aggressor. It will also facilitate protecting the monastery from attacks.” 

After a series of attempts to infiltrate the church, intruders were confronted by Haifa’s Christians last Thursday evening in the courtyard of the monastery and St. Elias Church.

The repeated attacks in Deir Mar Elias are linked to a group of extremist Israelis’ allegations that the Christian site contains the “tomb of the Prophet Elisha.” The church has responded to the allegations with a categorical denial, stressing that the monastery’s tomb contains only priests and monks.

The Justice and Peace Committee of the Council of Heads of Catholic Churches in the Holy Land condemned these attacks on Christian clergy and Christian holy places.

In a statement, the committee drew attention to the number of attacks in recent months against Christian clerics with beatings and insults in addition to the vandalism of sacred sites and offensive writings by extremist settlers.

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was just named a cardinal by Pope Francis and serves as the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, has raised concerns that Christians are increasingly enduring persecution in the Holy Land. He said the current administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has created a political climate in which acts of aggression are tolerated.

“The frequency of these attacks, the aggressions, has become something new,” Pizzaballa said during Easter week, LaCroix International reported. “These people feel they are protected … that the cultural and political atmosphere now can justify, or tolerate, actions against Christians.”

The Islamic-Christian Committee for Jerusalem and its Holy Sites also condemned these provocations and stressed its intolerance toward repeated harassment and attacks on Christian sacred sites in the region, describing such actions as “barbaric.”

In a statement, the committee expressed deep concern over the ongoing assaults on the monastery under the pretext of conducting prayers for the Jewish prophet who they say is buried there.

The committee affirmed that claims of the existence of Jewish graves within churches are used as pretexts to seize sacred sites. It likened these actions to similar acts of aggression witnessed at the Al-Aqsa Mosque when Israeli troops raided the Muslim sacred site.

German lay leader chides cardinal for refusal to bless homosexual unions

A German cardinal was publicly criticized by the powerful Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) on Monday for formally warning a priest over same-sex blessings in the Archdiocese of Cologne.

Birgit Mock, a vice president of the ZdK, attacked Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne for admonishing Father Herbert Ullmann, reported CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.  

The priest had conducted a “blessing service for all loving couples,” reported the newspaper Rheinische Post, which also published a photo of the liturgical ceremony, including altar servers before a rainbow flag on the altar steps.

In an interview with Domradio, ZdK’s Mock called the warning “beyond incomprehensible” and pointed to a resolution of the German Synodal Way that says “all people are equal before God and human dignity includes gender identity and sexual orientation.”

Mock, who headed the Synodal Way’s working group on sexuality, is a staunch supporter of German public defiance of the Vatican on blessing same-sex unions.

In a recent attempt to bridge the deep concerns and growing divide, German bishops and representatives of the Roman Curia met at the Vatican on July 26 to continue discussions on “the theological and disciplinary issues that have emerged in particular in the ‘Synodal Way.’”

According to a joint statement from the Vatican and the German Bishops’ Conference, the meeting took place in a “positive and constructive climate” and will be followed by further meetings.

The German delegation included Bishops Georg Bätzing, Stephan Ackermann, Michael Gerber, Bertram Meier, and Franz-Josef Overbeck. The secretary general of the bishops’ conference, Beate Gilles, and the spokesman, Matthias Kopp, were also present. 

Five department heads and a secretary participated on the Vatican side, including Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

German bishops who have spoken in favor of blessing same-sex couples include Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference; Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx; Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück; Bishop Helmut Dieser of Aachen; Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz; and Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers of Dresden-Meissen.

Overbeck of Essen has publicly said he would not take disciplinary action against priests who blessed same-sex couples.

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) issued its declaration on March 15, 2022, in a formal document known as a Responsum Ad Dubium (“response to a question”). 

In reply to the query, “Does the Church have the power to give the blessing to unions of persons of the same sex?” the CDF answered: “Negative.” 

The congregation — now dicastery — outlined its reasoning in an explanatory note and accompanying commentary.

In its explanatory note, the Vatican said: “The Christian community and its pastors are called to welcome with respect and sensitivity persons with homosexual inclinations and will know how to find the most appropriate ways, consistent with Church teaching, to proclaim to them the Gospel in its fullness.”

“At the same time, they should recognize the genuine nearness of the Church — which prays for them, accompanies them, and shares their journey of Christian faith — and receive the teachings with sincere openness.”

The Vatican statement sparked protests in the German-speaking Catholic world. Several bishops expressed support for blessings of same-sex couples, while some churches displayed LGBT pride flags and a group of more than 200 theology professors signed a statement criticizing the Vatican.

The backlash prompted bishops in other countries to express fears that the German Church was heading for schism.

German Catholics also criticized defiance over blessing services. The group “Maria 1.0” urged the country’s bishops to unite with Rome in the face of the protests.

Addressing “schismatic tendencies” in the Church in Germany, Helmut Hoping, a professor of dogmatic theology at the University of Freiburg, told CNA Deutsch that some of the priests conducting blessings “also openly advocate opening the sacrament of marriage to same-sex couples in the medium term.”

Meanwhile, the German Church is facing an exodus of historic proportions. More than half a million baptized Catholics left the Church in 2022, the highest number of departures ever recorded. 

This mass exodus has led several German bishops critical of the Synodal Way, including Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau and Bishop Meier of Augsburg, to acknowledge the Church’s need to regain trust with “patience and credibility.”

The writing is on the wall for the bishops: On Monday, Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg expressed concern about the possible merging of East German dioceses due to financial problems in the wake of the exodus, reported CNA Deutsch. With more and more baptized Catholics refusing to pay the controversial church tax, the German elites that receive funds from the tax — such as the ZdK — are concerned about creating “pressure” for changes while they still have the material means to do so.

Mexican bishops submit ‘Indigenous liturgical adaptations’ to the Vatican for approval

The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) has recently presented to the Vatican for its approval a series of Indigenous liturgical adaptations for the celebration of Holy Mass for the “original peoples” of the country. 

Speaking with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, promoter of the initiative and one of those in charge of making the presentation to the Vatican, explained that the adaptations have the objective of “advancing the progress of inculturation of the Church in the native peoples and of taking responsibility for the celebration of Holy Mass with some elements of these cultures.”

“It’s not a question of creating a new Indigenous rite but of incorporating into the liturgy various ways of relating to God of these peoples and which express the same thing as the Roman rite, but in its cultural form.”

Before the Indigenous liturgical adaptations were presented by the Mexican Church to the Holy See, they had been approved during the 114th plenary assembly of the CEM, held April 17–21. The adaptations were approved by 103 of the 105 voting bishops.

Arizmendi, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, pointed out that “the proposal at first was for San Cristóbal de Las Casas, but in the assembly on April 19, the Mexican episcopate asked that it be for all the native peoples of the country.”

San Cristóbal de Las Casas is a town in the southern state of Chiapas that has approximately 1.1 million Indigenous-language speakers, making up 27% of the state’s population.

The cardinal explained that the text was first sent to the Episcopal Commission for Liturgical Pastoral Care.

“They asked me to present the text and write it up, to present it to the assembly,” he said. “The vote in favor was last April 19. Now the proposal is already in Rome, at the Dicastery for Divine Worship, awaiting its final approval.” The document was delivered in June.

Incorporating elements ‘without harming the eucharistic liturgy’

After almost 18 years as bishop of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Arizmendi joined a dialogue led by his successor — the current bishop of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Rodrigo Aguilar — to present a text to the CEM assembly on the subject.

Arizmendi said that “there are certain elements, which have been studied, that can be incorporated into the Holy Mass without harming the eucharistic liturgy.”

“We were studying and seeing what things could be taken into the Catholic liturgy, what things yes, what things no,” he said.

The cardinal explained that “the creators of these initiatives are the same Indigenous people of San Cristóbal de Las Casas” who have similar experiences with other communities in the country.

There are 16 major Indigenous peoples in Mexico with a population over 100,000 speaking their native language.

In addition, Arizmendi and Aguilar had the support of the president of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgical Pastoral Care of the CEM, Víctor Sánchez, the archbishop of Puebla.

Aguilar said the cardinal asked him to accompany him to Rome to present it to the Holy Father and his collaborators as a liturgical proposal.

The Holy See received the project favorably, he said, although no decision has been reached yet.

The liturgical adaptations approved by the CEM include incensing, a “senior layperson” role, and ritual dance.

The incensing is done by a male or female thurifer using the Church’s normal incense.

Arizmendi explained that “the incensing is done by a layperson, man or woman, but that person does what the priest normally does. In this case, the priest blesses the incense, and it is not he who incenses the altar, the crucifix, the images, the offerings, but the layperson. They ordinarily do this outside of Mass, and we are taking it into the liturgy.”

The appointment of a “senior layperson” would also be incorporated as an addition to the new ritual. That person’s function will be to lead community prayer when appropriate.

Arizmendi clarified that “the senior layperson is a man or woman who in the communities is entrusted with praying for the community; it’s a traditional position and is ordinarily called that by tradition and is chosen by the community, because they trust him or her.”

Regarding ritual dance, the CEM document states: “Thanksgiving after Communion: On some occasions, thanksgiving is performed with a ritual dance (light movements of the body), accompanied by instrumental music typical of the place.”

Nicaraguan lawyer: 65 women religious have been expelled from the country since 2022

Researcher and lawyer Martha Patricia Molina, a member of the editorial board of the newspaper La Prensa, reported that the dictatorship led by President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua has expelled 65 nuns from the country between 2022 and 2023, a period of a year and a half.

“From 2022 through 2023, 65 women religious have been expelled and six women from different religious congregations have been prohibited from entering, for a total of 71,” Molina wrote on Facebook July 29.

The lawyer is also the author of the report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church?”, which documents the more than 500 attacks against the Church in the country since 2018.

According to Molina, a total of 10 religious congregations in the country have been affected, including Dominicans of the Annunciation, Missionaries of Charity, Trappist nuns, Women Religious of the Cross of the Sacred Heart, and Sisters of the Fraternity of the Poor Ones of Jesus Christ of Nicaragua.

“For safety reasons I will not mention the rest of the congregations [five] because we already know that the dictatorship is capable of anything. The nuns have been expelled for the most part with psychological violence,” Molina lamented on social media.

Molina noted that four priests from different dioceses and several women religious have pointed out to her that the number of 71 nuns who are victims of repression is higher than that recorded in her study “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church?” where only 32 expelled nuns are mentioned.

“They tell me that it is difficult at this time to find a congregation with foreign sisters because they have all been expelled,” she said.

The lawyer added that her sources in the country said “the Nicaraguan nuns who have wanted to return to the country, to take the place of the foreigners who were expelled, have been denied entry.”

“We have not learned the exact number because most of the congregations have decided to remain silent and offer that martyrdom for the conversion of the dictators of Nicaragua and those who work for them,” she concluded.

The latest repressive act of the state against a congregation of nuns occurred at the beginning of July, when the Nicaraguan dictatorship canceled the legal personality and confiscated the assets of the Sisters of the Fraternity of the Poor Ones of Jesus Christ, whose convent the police entered to expel them.

This attack occurred a year after the expulsion of a group of Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who were later taken in by the Diocese of Tilarán-Liberia, in Costa Rica.

Pope appoints a delegate to settle dispute with rebellious Syro-Malabar archeparchy

Pope Francis has appointed a papal delegate for the Archeparchy (archdiocese) of Ernakulam-Angamaly; his choice fell on Bishop Cyril Vasil of the Eparchy (diocese) of Košice of the Slovak Greek-Catholic Church, a former secretary of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches.

This follows the pope’s decision to accept the request made in June by the major archbishop of the Syro-Malabars, Cardinal George Alencherry, to appoint a delegate to end a row that began over the new version of the Holy Qurbana, the local traditional Mass. 

The "uniform" liturgy is a compromise between the various liturgies previously in use.

In the first part of the service and the liturgy of the Word, the priest is turned towards worshippers; in the middle, that of the consecration and Eucharistic rites, he turns towards the altar (in the direction in which the faithful also look). After the communion, the celebrant turns back to look towards the assembly.

This solution was reached by the Syro-Malabar Synod held in the summer of 2021 following several appeals for unity made by Pope Francis, but the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly and its clergy have refused so far to adopt it.

In a statement, Fr Abraham Kavilpurayidathil, major archiepiscopal chancellor of the Syro-Malabar Church, writes that, "The Holy Father has appointed his special Delegate to study the current situation and to propose the ways to end the crisis [that] emerged in the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly.”

Appointing a papal delegate was first mentioned in early May and was discussed by the Synod of Bishops of the Eastern Rite Church in June.

The statement goes on to say: “The Pontifical Delegate will arrive on August 4, 2023. He will be accompanied by Rev. Fr. Sunny Kokkaravalayil SJ, who is currently Professor of Canon Law at [the] Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome.”

In the meantime, “Archbishop Andrews Thazhath will continue to administer the Archeparchy in his capacity as the Apostolic Administrator.”

Born in 1965 in Košice, Slovakia, Archbishop Cyril Vasil' was ordained a priest in 1987. After a doctorate in Canon Law, he taught at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, later serving as its rector.

In 2009 he was appointed secretary of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches and ordained archbishop. Eleven years later, he was appointed apostolic administrator of the Eparchy of Košice, becoming its second bishop in 2021.

Archbishop Vasil’ also represented the pontiff at the funeral of the late major archbishop, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, in 2011.

In January 2018 he spoke at the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church and participated in the Assumption of the Office of the bishop of Shamshabad.

Pope urges young people to be a ‘sign for peace’ in the world and unafraid

Pope Francis celebrated the final Mass of the 37th World Youth Day (2-6 August), on the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord, at Parque Tejo, Lisbon, in the presence of local authorities, cardinals, bishops, priests and a huge crowd of faithful, of every age (which yesterday evening topped a million and a half).

In his homily, the pontiff said that Jesus knows “the heart of each one of you" and today he tells you, "be not afraid, be not afraid, take heart.”

Francis mentioned Saint John Paul II in both his homily and Angelus message, thanking him "obrigado" (in Portuguese) for establishing World Youth Day. Likewise, he extended his thanks (obrigado) to young people, government authorities, Church leaders, volunteers, and the city of Lisbon, which young people will remember “as a house of brotherhood and city of dreams".

Young people, Francis went on to say are a "sign for peace in the world", saluting those who were unable to make the journey because of war and conflict. His thoughts once again turned to "dear Ukraine”, which “continues to suffer a lot”. For him, it is up to young people “of every nationality” to "build peace" together with Mary Queen of Peace and Jesus.

The pope reserved one final "obrigado" to grandparents who "passed on the faith to us" who, together with the WYD, "point to the horizon of life”. The WYD constitutes a "seed" that must be remembered and cherished so that one can be prepared for "hard days", while remembering can boost "experience and grace”

Marked by an event that brought "so much joy to the heart," the pope asked those present, young and old, what gifts they will bring "upon their return to the valley of daily life?" In answering his own question, Francis cited the Apostle Peter on the Mount of the Transfiguration, mentioning three verbs: “to shine, to listen, and to be unafraid.”

Christ, he said, “knows you; he knows what is in your heart;” he loves and walks by your side; for this reason, every "fear" can be overcome.

Explaining the meaning of the verb to shine, the pope extolled the transfiguration of Jesus. “His  face shines like the sun" after his passion and death on the cross, "shattering" the image of a powerful and worldly Messiah.

Jesus takes "Peter, James and John, and leads them up the mountain where he  is transfigured". We, too, need "some dazzling light" and "hope" to face the darkness of the night, Francis noted, this time speaking off the cuff after putting away his prepared text, something he did a few times during the WYD,

To the crowd, he said: "God has enlightened our eyes, our hearts, our minds, our desire to do something in life.” This is why, enlightened by Christ, we too "are transfigured" and “radiant” young people have the task of bringing the light of the Gospel everywhere.

Being radiant does not mean being in the spotlight, showing off a perfect image; it means learning "to love like Him", when we live a life that takes risks for love:

Be aware, the pope warned, “We shall become light when we do works of love,” while “when we look at each other selfishly, the light goes out".

The second verb is “to listen”, a verb that indicates what must be done in a Christian life.

"Jesus and our heart must be listened to" because "they teach the path of love. With good will, we make paths of love,” but then “selfishness disguised as love" emerges. This is why only Christ knows how to show the "path" and why we must "listen to Jesus".

"Shine, listen and, finally, be unafraid,” Pope Francis said, citing Jesus when he tried to encourage his frightened disciples.

In the last part of the homily, the pontiff spoke again without his prepared text, to remind people that they have lived a form of “glory”.

“As young people you have great dreams,” Francis explained. “Sometimes you can think that you are not up to the challenge, and you may be tempted to lose heart, to think you fall short, or to disguise your pain with a smile.

“As young people, you want to change the world and work for justice and peace.” The Church of the world needs you young people for “your energy and creativity [. . .] as much as the Earth needs rain. Jesus now speaks to you, dear young people, who are the present and the future of our world. To all of you, he says: ‘Do not be afraid!’”

At last evening's vigil, the pontiff talked about the meaning of life; “joy is missionary,” he said, and must be brought to others, thanks to people who are "rays of light" like parents and grandparents, priests and nuns, catechists, youth leaders and teachers.

Everyone should “think of those who have given us something in life, who are like the roots of our joy”.  Indeed, “we have roots of joy’” and “we too can be roots of joy for others”.

Such joy is “not to be found in a locked library, even though study[ing] is necessary!” it “has to be found in dialogue with others, [. . .]. And this, at times, is tiring.”

The vigil took place in the presence of local authorities as well as pilgrims, local parish groups and young people from all over the world, families and parents with small children, and seniors.  Everyone listened attentively to the Pope's words and took part in silence and prayer in the moment of adoration, which was followed by songs and more.

The pope spoke about being "tired," of letting go, of stop walking and falling. In his view, this is not a “failure”; instead, one must "get back up", as the Alpini (Italian Alpine troops) say in their songs. “In the art of climbing the mountain, what matters isn’t not to fall, but not to remain fallen. This is beautiful!”

“Those who remain fallen have already withdrawn from life, have shut down [. . .]. And when we see any friends of ours who have fallen, what are we to do? Lift them up.” That is “the only time that we are allowed to look down upon others when we are offering to help them up.”

Diocesan Changes 2023 - Dromore (July 2023)

 

Archbishop Eamon Martin, apostolic administrator of Dromore has announced clergy changes in appointments for the diocese, effective as of 1st October 2023.

Very Rev Brendan Kearns, Parish Priest St. Peter's Parish Clonallon, Warrenpoint and St. Mary's Parish Clonallon, Burren to continue leave of absence on medical grounds.

Rt Rev Mgr. Hugh Connolly, Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Clonallon, Mayobridge to also be Parish Priest of St. Peter's Clonallon, Warrenpoint and St. Mary's Clonallon, Burren.

Rev Eusebius Chukwuemeka Obasi, (MSP), to be CC in the parishes of St. Peter's Parish Clonallon, Warrenpoint, St. Mary's Parish Clonallon Burren and St. Patrick's Parish Clonallon Mayobridge.

Rev Maciej Zacharek, CC (Archdiocese of Armagh) to be on loan as CC in St. Peter's Parish and St. Paul's Parish, Lurgan.

Rev. Colm Murphy, CC St. Anthony's Moyraverty and Seagoe Parish in addition to be Diocesan Advisor Religious Education to Post Primary Schools.

Rev Callum Young CC Cathedral Parish of Newry and Saval Parish to return to the Archdiocese of Armagh.

Rev Carlos Esteban Rojo, newly ordained (Archdiocese of Armagh) to be on loan as CC in Cathedral Parish Newry and Saval Parish and a member of chaplaincy and on call teams at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry.

Rev Deacon Michael Rooney, Seapatrick Parish to be a member of the chaplaincy team at Craigavon Hospital.

Please pray for all those who are moving this September and offer a Mass in the coming days for their intentions and for the intentions of all in the Diocese of Dromore.

Most Rev Eamon Martin
Apostolic Administrator
Diocese of Dromore

Diocesan Changes 2023 - Cloyne (August 2023)

Most Rev. William Crean has accepted the resignation from office, on the grounds of retirement, of the following priest in the Diocese of Cloyne to come into effect at noon on Saturday, 2nd September 2023.

• V. Rev. William O’Donovan, PP, Conna and take up residence in Doneraile

• V. Rev. William Winter, PP Banteer to be PP Conna 

• Rev. Patrick Corkery, CC Fermoy to be CC Charleville 

• Rev. Thomas Lane, CC Mallow to be CC Mitchelstown 

• Rev. Paul Bennett, CC Cobh to be PP Banteer 

• Rev. Anthony Sheehan, AP Charleville to be CC Mallow 

• Rev. Gerard Cremin, CC Youghal to be CC Cobh 

• Rev. Patrick O’Donoghue, CC Mitchelstown to be CC Youghal 

• Rev. Roman Biletskyy of the Diocese of Kyiv-Halych, Ukraine to be CC Fermoy and
serving the pastoral area of Fermoy/Kilworth.

Diocesan Secretary for Primary Education: Mr. Dan Leo to retire and be replaced by Mr. Michael Walsh.

I, as Bishop, and the people of the diocese are deeply grateful to our priests for their
generosity of spirit and commitment. 

As Fr. Billy O’Donovan retires from full time ministry, we are grateful to God for his
ministry in the various parishes he served. We pray the blessing of serenity upon his
retirement. 

We pray too, for those taking on new assignments. Transition always brings its own demand. 

We pray the blessing of contentment upon them.

 + William Crean

Bishop of Cloyne

Diocesan Changes 2023 - Kilmore (August 2023)

Most Rev. Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore, announces the following diocesan appointments, effective from 1st September 2023:

• Very Rev. Fr. John Cusack C.C. Ballinamore-Drumreilly Lower to retire and reside in Lavey. 
• Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Fagan P.P. Knockbride to retire and reside in Bailieborough. 
• Very Rev. Fr. Charles O’Gorman P.P. Killeshandra-Arva to be P.P. of Knockbride. 
• Very Rev. Fr. Donal Kilduff P.P. Denn (Crosskeys) to complete his term as Chancellor, Diocesan Secretary and Diocesan Communications Officer. 
• Very Rev Fr. Gabriel Kelly, Chaplain to Cavan General Hospital to be Parish Priest Kilmainhamwood-Moybologue and Chancellor of Kilmore Diocese. 
• Very Rev. Fr. Paul Prior P.P in addition to being Parish Priest of Mullagh & Cross to be Diocesan Secretary. 
• Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Tully, P.P Lavey to be P.P. of Killeshandra-Arva. 
• Very Rev. Fr. Darragh Connolly P.P. in addition to being Parish Priest of Killinkere to be Diocesan Communications Officer. 
• Rev. Fr   Peter Okpetu MSP, C.C. Cathedral Presbytery, Cavan to be P.P. Lavey.                                         

We pray in thanksgiving for the calling of priesthood.  We pray for all our priests; for those who have retired after years of faithful ministry and service to the Diocese of Kilmore as well as for those who take up new appointments among and together with us as the People of God.  We give thanks for the vocation of each person, those who participate in the life of our parish communities and all those people called to leadership in the service of the mission of the Diocese of Kilmore.  In this Year of Prayer for Vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood we pray, in the light of the ongoing need for priests, that the life, integrity and authenticity of the calling of priesthood may continue to be celebrated among us with the help of the Good Lord. 

 

Yours in Christ. 

 

+ Martin Hayes

Bishop of Kilmore