News

• 9 May 2006
  ASIA/HONG KONG - In Hong Kong and Macao Caritas trained pastoral workers help hardened betters give up gambling Hong Kong (Fides Service) - According to Caritas Macao with regard to the training of pastoral workers to help gamblers quit, Caritas Hong Kong has more experience, “because it started this ministry before we did” sa ...
• 9 May 2006
  EUROPE/SPAIN - “Life is a gift from God. It is the unavoidable duty of everyone to protect, defend and promote life”: Europe for Life International Congress conclusions Murcia (Fides Service) - “The Congress increased our awareness that we are the People of Life and with God’s help we are committed to announcing to the world the Gospel of Life” participants affirmed in a statement ...
• 9 May 2006
  EUROPE/ITALY - There are 19,564 Jesuits in the world: statistics confirm falling numbers of priests and brothers, slight rise in numbers Africa, Asia and Oceania Rome (Fides Service) - According to statistics compiled by the General House of the Society of Jesus on 1 January 2006 there were 19,564 Jesuits in the world, (13,735 priests - 231 less than in 2005) 3,067 scholastics (+ ...
• 9 May 2006
  EUROPE/RUMANIA - Prayers, communion and proclamation interwoven in popular missions in Târgu Jiu Târgu Jiu (Fides Service) - From 30 April to 7 May the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate OMI took part in a poplar mission in Târgu Jiu, at the request of parish priest Fr Petru Husariu of St John of Capestrano pa ...
• 9 May 2006
  VATICAN - General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies: “Let us make this meeting an apostolic Upper Room” says president Archbishop Henryk Hoser Rome (Fides Service) - Today May 9 the President of the Pontifical Mission Societies Archbishop Henryk Hoser opened the second part of the Annual General Assembly during which 114 national directors will listen to report ...
• 9 May 2006
  ASIA/MYANMAR - Memorable event for the Church in Myanmar: ordination of Bishop Felix Lian Khen Thang auxiliary in the remote diocese of Kalay Myo Kalay Myo (Fides Service) - On May 5 in Kalay Myo, diocese of Hakha (north of Yangon, close to the border with India) crowds of people, Catholics, other Christians, and members of other religions welcomed Archbishop Salv ...
• 8 May 2006
  VATICAN - At the Regina Caeli the Pope prays “for a growing number of people who respond to Christ’s call to follow Him on the path to priesthood or consecrated life... and that that the seeds of vocation which God sows in the heart of the faithful may mature and bear fruits of holiness in the Church and in the world” Vatican City (Fides Service) - On Sunday 7 May Pope Benedict XVI addressed thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to pray the midday Regina Caeli prayer. “On this 4th Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunda ...
• 8 May 2006
  EUROPE/ITALY - Holy Childhood children messengers of Hope in Europe. Following in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II Rome (Fides Service) - Italian children members of the Pontifical Society for Holy Childhood will set out as messengers of Hope in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II along the roads of mission from 24 June to 1 July 200 ...
• 8 May 2006
  ASIA/CHINA - Catholics pray for vocations and for those entrusted with the formation of future priests Beijing (Fides Service) - In communion with the universal Church, Catholics in Beijing celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday, May 7, 4th Sunday of Easter as the Day of Prayer for Vocations. Chinese Catholics are deeply aware o ...
• 8 May 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI receives in audience participants at the Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies: “I encourage you to work to help Christians grow in awareness that the spiritual dynamic of baptism involves them in missionary activity gathering them in communion around Christ to participate in his mission” Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning in the Sala Clementina in the Vatican the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI granted an audience to the participants at the Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Socie ...
• 8 May 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI ordains 15 new priests: “the priest is totally inserted in Christ so that starting from him and acting in view of Him and in communion with him he may carry out the service of the one Shepherd Jesus, in whom God made man, wishes to be our Shepherd” Vatican City (Fides Service) - In St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday 7 May, the 4th Sunday of Easter and annual Day of Prayer for Vocations Pope Benedict XVI presided Mass and ordained 13 deacons of the diocese of Rome and ...
• 6 May 2006
  AMERICA/PERU - National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies confirmed Vatican City (Fides) - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples on 26 April 2006 confirmed National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Peru for a second five ye ...
• 6 May 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI presides special Mass for the 5th Centenary of the Foundation of the Pontifical Swiss Guard: “To be a Swiss Guard means to be loyal without reserve to Christ and the Church and ready to give one’s life for this” Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning, May 6th 2006, in St Peter’s Basilica Pope Benedict XVI presided a special concelebration of Mass to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Swis ...
• 6 May 2006
  VATICAN - PMS General Assembly: “Being credible witnesses to the Risen Christ, with respect for others, seeking dialogue but above all loving as we are loved by Christ” Rome (Fides Service) - Concluding the first two days 4 and 5 May of the Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies during which national PMS directors from all over the world reflected on missionary acti ...
• 5 May 2006
  VATICAN - “Buddhists and Christians at the service of humanity”: the Message of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious dialogue for the Day of Vesakh 2006 Vatican City (Fides Agency) - The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sent a message to the Buddhists for the Day of Vesakh, the most important Buddhist celebration. This year the countries of Theravada tradit ...