Monthly Archives: November 2014

Pope Francis: I seek communion with Orthodox Churches

  • In an address upon conclusion of the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Orthodox Church of St. George in Istanbul, Pope Francis said “the one thing that the Catholic Church desires and that I seek as Bishop of Rome…is communion with the Orthodox Churches.”

    Below, please find the complete text of the Holy Father’s address:

    When I was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, I often took part in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox communities there.  Today, the Lord has given me the singular grace to be present in this Patriarchal Church of Saint George for the celebration of the Feast of the holy Apostle Andrew, the first-called, the brother of Saint Peter, and the Patron Saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate…

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First Sunday of Advent

  • First Reading
    Book of Isaiah 63:16b-17.19b.64:2b-7

    You, Lord, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever.
    Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Too long have we been like those you do not rule, who do not bear your name…

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Pope issues letter for Year of Consecrated Life

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  • Pope Francis issued a letter for the Year of Consecrated Life, which will start throughout the universal Church on the first Sunday of Advent, 30 November. The observance will end on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, 2 February 2016. In his message, the Pope underlined the aims of the Year of Consecrated Life, namely to look to the past with gratitude, to live the present with passion and to embrace the future with hope…

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New Procedures for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

  • Il-Knisja f’Malta qed tippublika proċeduri ġodda għall-ħarsien tat-tfal u l-adulti vulnerabbli, li jinkludu l-proċedura għall-każijiet ta’ abbuż sesswali f’attivitajiet pastorali. L-enfasi tal-proċeduri hi fuq l-edukazzjoni u l-prevenzjoni biex l-abbużi ma jsirux, u jekk isiru jiġu nvestigati fl-iqsar żmien possibbli, skont il-liġi tal-Pajjiż u skont il-liġi tal-Knisja. Ir-reviżjoni tal-proċeduri saret fuq talba tal-Isqfijiet ta’ Malta u Għawdex, u tas-Superjuri Reliġjużi.

    Il-proċeduri l-ġodda jsaħħu l-impenn tal-Knisja li toffri għajnuna psikoloġika u spiritwali lill-vittmi ta’ abbuż sesswali, kemm minuri kif ukoll adulti vulnerabbli. 

    B’riżultat ta’ din ir-reviżjoni qed titwaqqaf Kummissjoni għall-Ħarsien mill-Abbuż Sesswali (Safeguarding Commission) ffurmata minn professjonisti kompetenti li fost affarjiet oħra jkollha d-dover tesprimi valutazzjoni dwar ir-riskju f’kull każ…

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The Gospel of the day – 29th November

  • Saint Luke 21, 34-36

    Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” 

    Saturday in Honour of Our Virgin Mary

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Pastoral Message for Advent 2014 – Welcoming the light of Jesus

  • I greet you, people of God of the beloved Diocese of Malta, at the beginning of Advent 2014.  As the Apostolic Administrator of Malta, until a new Archbishop is appointed, it is my privilege to address you at the onset of this important season which prepares us for the great feast of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the infant Jesus…

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Pastoral Message for Advent 2014 – Welcoming the light of Jesus

  • I greet you, people of God of the beloved Diocese of Malta, at the beginning of Advent 2014.  As the Apostolic Administrator of Malta, until a new Archbishop is appointed, it is my privilege to address you at the onset of this important season which prepares us for the great feast of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the infant Jesus…

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A delegation from the Maltese Association of Autism and from ‘Id-Dar tal-Providenza’ attend an International Conference at the Vatican

  • Delegazzjoni mill-Assoċċjazzjoni Maltija tal-Awtiżmu u mid-Dar tal-Providenza kienet fost il-madwar sitt mija u ħamsin parteċipant minn seba’ u ħamsin pajjiż li attendew għad-29 Konferenza Internazzjonali li saret fis-Sala l-ġdida tas-Sinodu fil-Belt tal-Vatikan bit–tema: “Il-Persuna bl-Awtiżmu. Nibnu t-tama”. Il-Konferenza kienet organizzata mill-Kunsill Pontifiċju għall-Ħaddiema tal-Qasam tas-Saħħa u saret bejn l-20 u t-22 ta’ Novembru.  Din il-konferenza ntemmet b’laqgħa mill-isbaħ tal-Papa Franġisku mhux biss mal-parteċipanti kollha imma wkoll ma’ għadd kbir ta’ persuni bil-kundizzjoni tal-awtiżmu u l-ġenituri tagħhom…

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Pope at Santa Marta talks about depression and hope

  • Reality can be ugly, but despite the suffering, corruption and indifference in today’s world as Christians we must hold our heads high in hope said Pope Francis at Mass Thursday morning in Casa Santa Marta.

    Listen to our report: 
     
    Basing his reflections on the Readings of the Day, Pope Francis spoke of the fate of the two cities of Babylon and Jerusalem…

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Human trafficking: Churches call on the EU for action on a wider front

  • An estimated 800,000 women, men, and children are victims of human trafficking within the EU today. Up to 60% of the victims originate from EU states. The EU and its member states urgently need to implement the legal framework already in place and to intensify cooperation with civil society and church organisations that work with victims at the grassroots level. This was one of the main messages of the Dialogue Seminar organised by COMECE and the Church and Society Commission of CEC in cooperation with CCME in dialogue with the EU Commission on 27 November…

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