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“God asks each one of us to welcome Him, to make available to Him our hearts, our bodies, our entire existence, so that He can dwell in the world.”
The Rev. Fr. John Dear stood silent as he received the 2010 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award at St. Ambrose University, Davenport, USA, for his worldwide peace-activist efforts. The award, presented by Bishop Martin Amos of the Diocese of Davenport, admits Dear, a Jesuit priest, into a prestigious fellowship that ranges from Mother Teresa of Calcutta to President John F. Kennedy. Dear, who has contributed several times to World Mission, just said: “I certainly don’t fit into this community. I feel like a novice peacemaker.” The award was inspired by Pope John XXIII’s 1963 encyclical, Pacem in Terris, or Peace on Earth.
“God forbid they find oil in our country.” This is the sentence written by an African journalist during the “Workshop: Media and Africa,” summing up the perception of the African people on the bad use of the material resources of the continent, which has transformed from blessing into curse, especially due to the serious environmental damage caused by mining activities.
We have the means to end worldwide poverty, says the Holy See delegate to the United Nations, but the question is whether we have the will to accomplish it. Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, permanent observer to the United Nations, underlined: “Whatever the form it takes, poverty is an insult to our common humanity – so many people around the world continue to suffer from it.”
Cuban President Raul Castro (pictured) attended the opening of the “Seminario de San Carlos y San Ambrosio,” the first building of the Catholic Church in more than half a century. The official ceremony, presided by the Cardinal Archbishop of Havana, Jaime Ortega y Alamino; and the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC), Archbishop Dionisio Garcia, was attended by some 300 guests, including many bishops of the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Italy, and the Bahamas. Among them was also the Apostolic Nuncio in Havana, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu.
“Iraqi Christians are now terrified and in shock. They are faced with a terrible dilemma: emigrate and save the lives of their loved ones, or stay in the country and witness to the faith, risking death,” said Fr. Vincent Van Vossel, CSSR, Superior of the Redemptorists in Baghdad, after the massacre that took place October 31 in the Syrian Catholic Church of Our Lady of Salvation (pictured). A commando of terrorists stormed the church, crowded with the faithful during the Mass, taking those present hostage. Iraqi security forces made a raid to free them, but the militants reacted with a massacre that left 58 dead, including two priests, and about 70 wounded. The killers, nine armed men, claimed to belong to the Islamic state of Iraq, a Sunni-militant group that is allied with Al-Qaeda, Later on, the group announced that Christians and Shiites are their targets because both are “infidels.”
Within minutes of the Japanese Environment Minister, Ryu Matsumoto, ending the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP 10) at the UN Conference on Biodiversity (CBD), commentators were highlighting its successes and failures. What is at stake is the future of life on Earth. Numerous studies from scientists paint a grim and challenging picture. One such study is entitled The Evolution Lost report. It was prepared by a group of 100 leading zoologists and botanists and published on the eve of the Nagoya conference. It found that populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish have declined worldwide by an average of 30% in the past forty years.
As financial crisis hits the world, people are now worried that they may not be able to celebrate Christmas lavishly. Without too much fanfare and festivity, I think Filipinos could now celebrate Christmas as it should be. Christmas is celebrated because of Jesus Christ and not because of food, gifts and drinking.
The Incarnation is truly a profound mystery. By her consent to be the Mother of Jesus Christ, Mary gave an extraordinary demonstration of faith. She expressed her acceptance of the divine gift of salvation, not only for herself but for all humankind. In God’s design she was to continue to be intimately involved in the great saving mission of her Son. She was to be His Mother – even in His role as Redeemer of humanity. Mary’s faith bears a marvelous fruit: the Word is made flesh!
Mary is a real woman who knows how to reflect and speak, listen or take the initiative, weep or rejoice. In short, her history brings her nearer to us. It is in Mary’s own struggles and her journey in faith that many people today find strength and consolation.
