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News The Church Around the World
Russians hopeful of Papal visitBook on John Paul II's Fatima link launched in Moscow A new book describing John Paul IIs deep connection with Fatima was presented in Moscow last October. On 16 October, the 23rd anniversary of John Paul IIs pontificate, Aura Miguel, the most prominent Portuguese journalist in the Vatican press corps, presented her book The Secret That Leads the Pope in Moscow. "Events like this one [the presentation of the book] make the visit of the Pope to Russia even more likely," said Russian journalist Alexej Bugalov, correspondent for Tass news agency at the Vatican. Opening the ceremony, Bugalov spoke of the Pope's recent visit to Kazakhstan, recalling one of the banners at the papal Mass that proclaimed: "Holiness, we are waiting for you in Russia." "Even if these words have not yet been pronounced by the Russian Orthodox Church, they are pronounced by the simple faithful," Bugalov observed. The thesis of Miguel's book is that John Paul II's papacy is mysteriously sustained - led, as the title says - by the Secret of Fatima. By presenting her book in Russia, Miguel has revealed a link between the life and work of John Paul II and the Secret of Fatima that most Russian people had never heard of, until now. In a brief address, Viktor Popkov, director of the book's Russian publishing house said that many Russian Christians looked with hope to the mystery of Fatima, which speaks of a Russia which must "free herself from her errors." Zenit News Agency Rapid increase in British Muslim worshippersDue to overtake practising Catholics, says Christian Research Muslims who worship regularly in mosques will soon outnumber Catholics who go to Sunday Mass in Britain, according to new projections. Figures released in November by Christian Research, the organisation that collates religious statistics, show that the number of practising Muslims is rising rapidly. In 2000, there were about 620,000 in Britain and there will be an estimated 750,000 by 2005, according to its analysis. If present trends continue, the number of active Muslims will outstrip practising Catholics by 2013, said Dr Peter Brierley, a former government statistician who is the executive director of Christian Research. By that date, he predicted, there will be about 800,000 practicing Muslims, the same as the total of Anglicans across the country who are in church on Sunday. The 2005 figures, published by Christian Research, show the respective proportions of all UK religious practitioners as 31 percent Roman Catholic, 26 percent Anglican, and 43 percent for all other smaller denominations. A spokesman for the Council of Mosques told the newspaper that Muslim worship was thriving. "Every Friday most mosques are full and they are full of young adults," he said. Catholic World News Centre for Thomistic Studies, Sydney, initiativeDegrees to be linked with Legionaries of Christ The Centre for Thomistic Studies Inc, Sydney, in addition to the classes it gives on Thomistic philosophy and theology, is entering an association with a religious order founded in recent times, the Legionaries of Christ, in whose name the Centre will be able to offer academic degrees in Theology and Religious Studies. The Centre is noted not only for its adherence to the doctrine of Thomas Aquinas, but also for its orthodoxy in religious matters. The Centre hopes to be able to commence the new classes by the beginning of March next year. Details of this are to be posted on the CTS Web site, www.cts.org.au. Kenyan missionaries' major roleCentenary of Consolata Missionaries celebrated in Nairobi In a colorful ceremony held at the Consolata Shrine, 12 new Kenyan missionaries were sent out to the world to evangelise. The African agency CISA reported that two nuns, two religious brothers and eight priests received a mandate to leave their country to proclaim the Gospel. The celebration was presided over by the newly consecrated Bishop Virgilio Pante of Maralal and marked the conclusion of the centenary celebrations of the foundation of the Consolata Missionaries. Started in 1901 by now-Blessed Joseph Allamano in Turin, Italy, the Consolatas reached Kenya in 1902, where they officially began their mission among the Kikuyu. Their work, characterised by a well-balanced combination of evangelisation and human promotion, has given birth to eight new dioceses in Kenya, the first being Nyeri and the latest, Maralal. The Nairobi celebration gathered the four Consolata bishops: Ambrose Ravasi of Marsabit, Peter Kihara of Murangia, Auxiliary Anthony Ireri of Nairobi, and Virgilio Pante of Maralal. It also included the ordination of Consolata Missionary Father Joseph Otieno, of Nairobi's Kahawa West parish. There are more than 250 Kenyan missionaries around the world. Two of the new missionaries are going to Korea and will be among the first African missionaries sent to Asia. Zenit News Agency Japanese Catholics' China exchangeAim to heal 1930s wounds with China Japanese Catholics are trying to mend the deep wounds caused by their nation's 1930s war with China. A group of priests, religious and laity from the Nigata and Urawa dioceses in Japan travelled to Beijing and Nanjing in October to pay homage to the victims of the massacres committed by the Japanese Imperial Army during the Sino-Japanese war. The visit was part of an exchange program fostered by the Diocese of Urawa between Japan and other Asian nations including China. Bishop Tanu Daiji of Urawa explained that the program is directed primarily at youth, to promote friendly relations between Japan and the Asian countries that suffered military occupation during the 1930s. In addition to rendering homage to the victims of the massacres perpetrated by Japanese troops, the group met with the auxiliary bishop of Nanjing, with whom they exchanged pastoral experiences. The "rape of Nanking" cost 300,000 Chinese lives in 1937-38 and was one of the most tragic and bloody events of the war. Zenit News Agency International Catholic boys' boarding schoolDue to open in France in 2002 for US, UK and Australasian students An international English language Catholic boarding school is being established at Chavagnes in the Diocese of Luon, in the heart of the intensely Catholic Vendée region of France. Students will be drawn from the UK, the USA and Australasia in the 9 to 18 age range. They will benefit from education in an authentically Catholic tradition and culture while enjoying the maturing and broadening experience of being educated with UK and USA classmates. The college will be offering a number of generous bursaries and scholarships, particularly for boys with a gift for music. Teaching will be in English (except for French and French literature). The fine buildings of Le Collège de Chavagnes will welcome the first students in September 2002. Previously they housed the minor seminary of the Luon Diocese founded in 1801. The impressive buildings overlook the parish church of this small village (renowned for its Catholic fervour) and the rolling French countryside. The college will have at least one chaplain and the project enjoys the blessing of Bishop Marc Santier of Luon and the support of the Bishop of the adjoining Angers Diocese. The college will have the services of a world-renowned choir- master who intends to develop a cathedral-standard boys' choir. The students will experience Catholic liturgy of the highest standard, making full use of the Church's treasury of Gregorian Chant and sacred music. The founders of the college are at present seeking prayerful support, prospective pupils and financial assistance. Funds are required for acquisition and development as well as for bursaries and scholarships for those lacking in financial means. For further information contact Mr Tony Dixon on (07) 3376 0105. Brazilian breakaway group in Rome talksJohn Paul II keen to restore Lefebvrist groups to full communion A breakaway traditionalist group in Brazil is close to an agreement with the Holy See that could result in its reunion with Rome. The Fraternity of St John Vianney, a Lefebvrist group located in the Diocese of Campos, Brazil, is engaged in active discussions with Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. The Cardinal has received a mandate from Pope John Paul II to explore ways of receiving Lefebvrist groups back into full communion with the Church. To date, the Vatican has been unable to reach any substantive agreement with the largest of the breakaway traditionalist groups, the Society of St Pius X; leaders of that group have insisted they cannot accept the reforms of the Second Vatican Council - a condition set by the Vatican for their return to the fold. The Fraternity of St John Vianney, however, is an independent group, with 20 priests, led by Bishop Liciano Rangel, who received his episcopal consecration from the four bishops who were ordained by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, in defiance of orders from the Vatican. Relations between Bishop Rangel and the Campos Diocese had been frosty until recently, when Bishop Gomes Guimaraes was installed as the new leader of the Diocese. The subsequent warming of relations led to talks between the Fraternity of St John Vianney and the Vatican. While the episcopal ordination of Bishop Rangel was illicit, it was valid, and the Holy See accepts his status as a bishop. A simple canonical agreement, lifting his excommunication, would regularise his status and restore full communion. Catholic World News Scottish Cathedral to closeFirst Catholic cathedral in Britain to do so since the Reformation The Good Shepherd Cathedral in Ayr is to become the first Catholic cathedral to close its doors in Britain since the Reformation more than 400 years ago. The cathedral - the focal point for Galloway, Scotland's oldest diocese - is suffering spiralling costs and falling congregations. Bishop Maurice Taylor of Galloway has written to parishioners pointing out that the cost of repairing the roof alone is beyond the Church's resources. "Given this state of affairs," he said, "we cannot just do nothing. The overwhelming majority of priests in the diocese recommend closure and, apart from the cathedral parishioners, the few lay people who replied to my invitation to comment were in favour of closure." One parishioner, however, told The Sunday Times: "The congregation is not at all happy. The last place you expect to close is the actual cathedral ... The diocese said it was too costly. We tried raising money but we couldn't get enough. When I started going there 20 years ago there were between 300 and 400 people on Sundays. Now there are about 150. It really is very sad." The Diocese of Galloway is 1,600 years old, making it the oldest Catholic diocese in existence in Britain. The Good Shepherd Cathedral was built in the 1950s with seating for up to 750, but it is now struggling to fill its pews. The congregation has dwindled to about 100 in recent weeks. Catholic World Report
Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 11 (December 2001 - January 2002), p. 4 |
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