I wrote on Monday that, due to so many commitments, meetings, symposiums, interviews, etc., this page might be “Joan’s Rome” lite this week. I apologize for the “empty” page yesterday but am sure that today’s column will more than make up for that, in content and photos.
“VATICAN INSIDER”: ARCHBISHOP BERNIE HEBDA ON CARITAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
My special guest on Vatican Insider this weekend is Archbishop Bernie Hebda, coadjutor of Newark, New Jersey, who was in Rome for Caritas’s 20th general assembly on the theme “One Human Family, Caring for Creation.” He has been on the Caritas board and talks to us about his work as well as the current meeting. (photo from archdiocesan website: http://www.rcan.org)
I attended Pope Francis’ Mass Tuesday evening that opened the Caritas general assembly as well as one of the sessions on Thursday. In the following story, I feature some of the photos I took at the Mass, at the Caritas conference and at the beautiful center that hosted this meeting.
As you know, in the United States, you can listen to Vatican Insider on a Catholic radio station near you (there is a list of U.S. stations at www.ewtn.com) or on Sirius-XM satellite radio. If you live outside the U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” Vatican Insider airs Saturday mornings at 9:30 am (Eastern time) and re-airs Sundays at 4:30 pm (ET). Check for your time zone. Past shows are found in Vatican Insider archives:http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=7096&pgnu=
CARITAS HOLDS 20TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT
The 20th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis was opened on Tuesday during a Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s basilica by Pope Francis for the members of this international Vatican-based organization. The assembly ends Sunday when members return to their respective countries and report on the meeting’s theme, “One Human Family, Caring for Creation.”
In his homily at Tuesday’s Mass, Pope Francis called for local parishes to get more involved in Caritas and its projects, from its charitable works to providing food to those in need. He said, “We must do what we can so that everyone has something to eat, but we must also remind the powerful of the Earth, that God will call them to judgement one day and there it will be revealed if they really tried to provide food for Him in every person. And also if they did what they could to preserve the environment so that it could produce this food.” Francis said, “We cannot forget our Christian brothers and sisters who have been violently deprived of food for their bodies and their souls. They have been driven from their homes and their churches, some even destroyed. I renew the appeal not to forget these people or these intolerable injustices.”
Speakers at the Caritas General Assembly included, among others, outgoing Caritas President Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Dana Shahin of Caritas Jordan, Vatican officials Cardinal Peter Turkson and Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, a message from U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Caritas Secretary general Michel Roy.
Speeches may be read online and downloaded: http://www.caritas.org/ga2015/#speakers
My guest on an upcoming “Vatican Insider” will be Dana Shahin from Jordan. I spent six days in Jordan after Pope Francis’ trip to the Holy Land last year and spent part of one day at the Amman Caritas office – an experience that touched my heart and endeared me enormously to Caritas workers – wherever they are – and to Jordanians. You can read Dana’s address and her appeal by clicking on the above link – and you will be as moved as I was!
I was at the Caritas General Assembly on Thursday morning and it was only hours later that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila, the Philippines, was elected as the new president of Caritas Internationalis.
Caritas sent out a brief statement on his election, noting that Cardinal Tagle, speaking on the phone from the United States, told delegates from over 130 member organizations from all over the world: “Buona sera a tutti! Thank you for your trust. I’m limited in my capacities but with all of you, with the love that Jesus has poured into our hearts and in the name of all of the poor people in the world, I accept this election. Let us together strengthen the church of the poor so our witness can help guide us to a world of understanding, justice, true freedom and peace.”
Where you’ll find Caritas:
Senegal:
Peru:
Niger-Mali border:
Philippines:
Haiti:
Darfur:
Pakistan:
The Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda:
Cardinal Tagle is the first Caritas Internationalis President to be elected from Asia. He succeeds Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, who is stepping down after serving two terms. Cardinal Maradiaga, who is also a member of the C9, the Council of Cardinals who advise the Pope, offered his congratulations and warm support.
The meeting was held Domus Mariae, Villa Carpegna, also called the Church Palace:
And yes, when in Rome…..
TWO NEW PALESTINIAN SAINTS, HOPE FOR THE HOLY LAND
Today at 1:00 in the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Rifat Bader, Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Amman, Jordan held a briefing to present two of the Blesseds who will be canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday, May 17 in St. Peter’s Square: Marie-Alphonsine, founder of Palestine’s first congregation, the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem, and Mary of Jesus Crucified Baouardy, the founder of the Carmelite Convent in Bethlehem and India.
Following is Fr. Bader’s presentation in English (he later answered questions in English and Italian):
“Pope Francis will announce next Sunday the canonization of four nuns. Two of them are Palestinians, namely Marie-Alphonsine, founder of Palestine’s first congregation, the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem, and Mary of Jesus Crucified Baouardy, the founder of the Carmelite Convent in Bethlehem and India. One French and one Italian nun are also being canonized. (photo from site of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: lpj.org)
“The pontifical Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican by His Holiness Pope Francis in the presence of cardinals and archbishops from the Vatican and around the world. In attendance will be Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches; Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
“The participants in the Mass include a delegation from the Holy Land – Jordan, Palestine and Israel – consisting of 2,124 people led by His Beatitude, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal in his capacity as president of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. Also present will be the Archbishop of Acre for the Melkites Georges Bacouni, the Maronite Archbishop of Haifa and the Holy Land Moussa el-Hage, and bishops from Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Cyprus. They will be joined in fellowship by priests, men and women religious and faithful from various churches.
“During Mass, the superior general of the Rosary Sisters Congregation, Mother Anyes Al- Ya’qoub will carry the relics of the new saint Alphonsine, accompanied by Sister Braxid Sweidan and relatives of the Jerusalemite saint Nawal Daniel Mzayyid and Patrick Daniel. The relics of St. Baouardy will be carried by Carmelite sisters Anna Diplomas, Ferial Qarra’ and Jocelyn Ferro, together with the saint’s relative, Mr. Rizeq Baouardy. Furthermore, Emile Munir Elias and his mother will be at the Mass, as he had been healed through the intercession of St. Alphonsine. An Italian family will also hold the relics of St. Baouardy as their son was healed through her intercession. Rosary Sister Mariam Ba’bish will also say a prayer in Arabic for peace and justice.
“Upon departure for the Vatican, Patriarch Twal said: ‘The declaration of sainthood of the two nuns from Palestine is a spiritual event of prime importance for the citizens of the Holy Land, amid the difficulties we are experiencing, as the two saints enlighten our path. As the Holy Land, wrecked by violence and dissent, has for sometimes had a tarnished image, our two saints emerge to restore its sanctity, reminding us that sanctity is possible even in the most difficult circumstances’.
“The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem said, ‘the canonization of the two girls from the East during these dark times is an invitation from His Holiness Pope Francis to pray, knowing that only prayer can miraculously help save our faith in the midst of these times of trial’. He added, ‘Now, we have two new saints who represent a model of perfection for Christians, as well as for Muslims and Jews alike. They are both named Mary, and this name is widespread and commonly used among all three traditions. It is a sign of our modern time which suggests that we can talk about the three religions without any discrimination’.’
“Having received the joyful news last February, the Holy Land gives thanks to Almighty God for the blessing of canonization, especially for the community of believers in the land the Lord Jesus blessed through His presence. The Churches of the Holy Land convey heartfelt gratitude and thanks to His Holiness Pope Francis, who always states that, “the Middle East without Christians, is not the Middle East.” (Apostolic Exhortation).
“We view this grand event, which takes place for the first time since the days of the apostles, as a message of solidarity and encouragement to the Christians of the Holy Land, especially to the Christians and parishioners in all other Middle East countries, and to (those) who have been forcibly displaced and deported from their home countries, to all those who suffer from persecution, and whose persecutors sometimes think that by “killing they are offering a sacrifice to God,” as Jesus himself warned.
“The new saint, Mary of Jesus Crucified, was during her life subjected to acts of extremism and an attempt on her life in an attempt to force her to change her religion. She now intercedes for those who are being killed because of their religion and of their religious affiliation. Her life and intercession are a cry urging respect for religious and ethnic differences as well as acknowledging human beings as creatures who are made in the image and likeness of God.
“The new saint Marie-Alphonsine succeeded in gaining the support of the religious authorities to set up the first local Arab religious congregation, and placing the Arab world on the map in the fields of education and religious teaching. Furthermore, the rosary schools affiliated with this Arab religious congregation have a prominent and influential presence in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, the Gulf States and Rome. We realize that during the late 19th and early 20th century this religious congregation contributed to giving increasing the role of Arab in culture, social awareness, spiritual guidance, and education of generations of both men and women. Illiteracy has been eliminated in many parts of the Middle East as a direct result of the active contributions of nuns and Church congregations to literacy education.
“The two saintly nuns, whose canonization coincides with the Church celebrations of the year of consecrated life and the blessed Marian Month of May, pray that the Lord would bring peace and calmness to our hearts and minds, and that we will return to worshipping the Almighty God – Who alone is worthy of our worship and thankfulness. We view the consecration of the founder of the Rosary Sisters as an invitation to intensify the daily Rosary prayers in churches, houses, and parish groups to bring peace, love and mutual respect among all the people of the Middle East.
“The vigil of the canonization will be a prayer vigil at 5:30 pm in the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome. On Monday, May 18h, His Beatitude Patriarch Twal will preside over the Mass of Thanksgiving at St Mary Major Basilica, The Mass and songs will be in Arabic for the members of the delegation coming from the Holy Land.”
(To learn more about the future Palestinian saints, the miracles credited to them and other details, click here to see a letter about the two nuns from Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal: http://en.lpj.org/2015/03/23/patriarchs-letter-for-the-canonization-of-the-two-palestinian-nuns/)
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