SOUTH SUDAN – On the brink of civil war Church leaders appeal for end to violence as thousands take refuge in churchesHeavy fighting has erupted again in Southern Sudan on the five year anniversary of the formation of the world's youngest nation, raising fears of a return to the civil war that [...]
THAILAND - Year of Mercy Jubilee for sick and disabled people The Catholic church in Thailand organised a special Jubilee to mark the Year of Mercy. Hundreds of sick, aged and disabled people from many parishes of the diocese took part in a procession and passed through the Holy Door of the [...]
VENEZUELA - ‘The People Are Afraid’ Venezuela was once the country of dreams—but those dreams have turned into nightmares. Such is the verdict of one of the country’s bishops.Case in point, Bishop Jaime Villarroel of the Diocese of Carúpano, told international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need: "Most of the [...]
EGYPT - New hope of resuming dialogue between Vatican and Al-Azhar There is renewed hope that dialogue will be relaunched between the Vatican and Egypt’s Al-Azhar University. Relations between them have been strained since 2011 when the Egyptians claimed that Pope Benedict XVI had “interfered” in Egypt’s internal affairs by condemning [...]
Year of Mercy – Rio cardinal celebrates his birthday with the homeless Inspired by the Year of Mercy, Cardinal Orani Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro wanted to show his personal commitment to the Pope’s initiative. He decided to celebrate his 66th birthday in a special way by spending time with a [...]
Emergency aid for victims of the severe flooding in parishes of the Turkana region The Turkana region of northwest Kenya has since time immemorial been home to nomadic or seminomadic peoples. Many of them have now become settled today, but the majority still find themselves forced by shortage of water [...]
Chicken rearing project makes Sisters in Kisa self-sufficient The parish of Kisa in the diocese of Mbeya was established in 1927. It has around 3500 Catholic faithful, who are ministered to by two priests, five religious sisters of the local congregation of Our Lady Queen of Apostles, and 25 catechists.In 2009 [...]
Patriarch Louis Sako, head of Chaldean Church celebrates Mass at St Joseph chapel. “We must turn the Karrada massacre into a collective stance for peace” Below is the speech of the Chaldean Patriarch Louis R. Sako during the prayers for the victims of the Karrada Massacre:Sisters, Brothers,There is a spiritual, [...]
CHILE - Arson attacks on Christian churchesIn recent years, Araucanía, a region in the south of Chile, has been the focus of violent attacks. Hundreds of people have been victims of the so-called “Mapuche conflict” ” named after indigenous people in southern Chile. According to official figures, more than half [...]
Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart inspects the damage in Christian quarter of Aleppo Letter from Aleppo: Eyewitness account of latest rocket attack There were 25 of them - 20 children, three priests and two lay volunteers - gathered after Mass the evening of July 2, in the Al-Wouroud School, next to the parish Church [...]