IRAQRetreat days for 1200 young Church volunteers Every year the Archdiocese of Erbil organises a series of retreat days for young people. They are aimed in particular at those young adults who for the whole year are profoundly engaged in the life of the parishes, for example in catechetical work, in [...]
Another 18 church crosses removed in Zhejiang province by state authorities last month Towards the end of 2013 Chinese authorities started a campaign to remove or demolish crosses from churches, ostensibly because they violated regulations against illegal structures. However, human rights groups declared that removal of crosses from churches is in [...]
CHINALeading Christians who opposed removal of crosses from churches arrested Zhejiang, on China's eastern coast, is known for its large Christian population. The two most prominent Christian leaders who spoke out against and tried to prevent removal of church crosses have both been arrested and are currently thought to be held [...]
The Vatican has released Pope Francis's Lent message on the theme of Mercy for 2016 “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” (Mt 9:13)The works of mercy on the road of the Jubilee1.Mary, the image of a Church which evangelises because she is evangelisedIn the Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee [...]
‘Teenagers can be radicalised by ISIS within a month,’ Cardinal Nichols warns teachers’ conference The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, warned delegates at the Secondary Leaders’ Conference of the Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges about the dangers ISIS recruiters pose to vulnerable secondary school students. He stated that [...]
CUBA – Historic meetingRussia Orthodox head to join Pope in asking for end to Christian persecution The Vatican and the Moscow Patriarchate have both announced that Pope Francis will stop in Cuba on 12 Feb on his way to Mexico to meet with Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox church. [...]
Melkite Greek-Catholic Church Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem Dear sisters and brothers,I address this message to all of you who are helping us through ACN. I send you my greetings and my blessing from Syria, the cradle of Christianity.For five years now we [...]
Fast and pray on Ash Wednesday for Iraq and Syria - Carry the cross for one day with them “Aid to the church in need” embraces the appeal of the patriarchs from Syria and Iraq. Under the slogan “Will you carry the cross for one day with them? Fast and pray [...]
