News

‘No religion’ in Australia overtakes number of Catholics

13/07/2017

  • Australians who declared in last year’s Census that they had “no religion” have overtaken the number of Catholics for the first time, although Christianity is still the religion of more than half the population.

    Figures released recently from the Census held last August showed that 30 per cent of Australians reported that they had no religion in 2016, with Catholics making up 22.6 per cent of all Australians – more than 5.2 million people – down from 25.3 per cent in the previous Census in 2011…

    • Read more »

The Church reiterates her commitment in favour of marriage between a man and a woman

13/07/2017

  • The Maltese Parliament yesterday approved the Marriage Act and other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2017. This law appropriates the meaning of marriage and applies it also to relations between people of the same sex.

    In spite of what the law says, that considers the same even that which is not the same, marriage will always remain the exclusive bond between a man and a woman, that is open to the procreation of children…

    • Read more »

Mother Teresa’s white and blue sari becomes a registered trademark

11/07/2017

  • Mother Teresa’s blue striped white cotton sari is now a registered trademark.

    The typical Indian dress, which the Missionaries of Charity have worn around the world since 1950, is now under intellectual property rights held by the congregation founded by the saint of Kolkata.

    “The Trade Marks Registry [. . .] has granted the registration of the trademark for the pattern of blue border of sari,” intellectual property attorney Biswajit Sarkar said…

    • Read more »

No change in the hosts currently used by coeliacs

10/07/2017

  • With reference to media reports regarding the Vatican circular sent to Bishops, on the bread and wine for the Eucharist, the Curia Communications Office confirms that no changes are being made in the hosts which are currently used by coeliacs.

    The circular of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments confirms the norms issued in 2003, which are also observed by the authorised retailers of hosts in the Archdiocese of Malta…

    • Read more »

Letter to bishops on the bread and wine for the Eucharist

10/07/2017

  • At the request of Pope Francis, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is writing to diocesan bishops to remind them that it falls to them above all to duly provide for all that is required for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. 

    Below find the English language translation of Circular letter to bishops on the bread and wine for the Eucharist:

    1…

    • Read more »

Former Manchester United footballer ordained as priest

10/07/2017

  • The former Northern Ireland footballer Philip Mulryne has been ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the Dominican Order.

    Fr Mulryne, who is reported to have once earned £600,000 a year, has also taken a vow of poverty.

    He was ordained in Dublin on Saturday by Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, who had travelled from Rome for the ceremony…

    • Read more »

The importance of religious education

08/07/2017

  • Il‑Knisja f’Malta tfakkar lill‑ġenituri Kattoliċi li fl‑għażliet li jagħmlu fl‑edukazzjoni ta’ wliedhom, huma għandhom id‑dover li fl-iskola jagħżlu t‑tagħlim tar‑reliġjon. Dan ġie spjegat f’ċirkulari maħruġa mill-Kurja, li ser tinqara fil‑knejjes fi tmiem din il‑ġimgħa.

    L‑Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna jfakkar lill‑ġenituri fir‑responsabbiltà li għandhom, li minn meta l‑ulied ikunu għadhom żgħar, jgħinuhom biex jikbru fil‑fidi bl‑eżempju u bil‑kelma, u billi jaraw li jirċievu l‑formazzjoni meħtieġa…

    • Read more »

Pope Francis’ message to G20 summit in Germany

07/07/2017

  • To Her Excellency
    Mrs Angela Merkel
    Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

    Following our recent meeting in the Vatican, and in response to your thoughtful request, I would like to offer some considerations that, together with all the Pastors of the Catholic Church, I consider important in view of the forthcoming meeting of the G20, which will gather Heads of State and of Government of the Group of major world economies and the highest authorities of the European Union…

    • Read more »

Holy See: ‘Elderly people deserve special attention’

07/07/2017

    • The Holy See has called for greater attention to the needs of elderly people in respect for their inherent dignity.

      Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the UN, made the appeal during a working group on Ageing, entitled “Measures to enhance the contribution of Older Persons to Social Development”.

      “A greater focus on the contribution of older persons to development should be combined with an enhanced attention to their needs,” he said…

    • Read more »

Two prestigious British choirs to perform in Malta this week

07/07/2017

  • The choirs of Jesus College and St Catherine’s College, both from the University of Cambridge, England, will perform a selection of choral masterpieces, at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta and at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Mdina.

    As part of their summer tour, the choir of Jesus College, directed by the international award-winning Richard Pinel, will perform at St John’s Co-Cathedral on Saturday 8th July at 6:00 p.m…

    • Read more »