Posts Tagged ‘Evangelisation’

Memory of Christian hope and values can’t be guaranteed

Thursday, November 9th, 2023
Erik Varden

The presbyterate of the Prelature of Trondheim met in the Brigittine convent of Tiller 22-24 October 2023. This talk was given by way of introduction. Forgive me if I set off from a few personal remarks. ‘Three years have passed since I was consecrated bishop. When I arrived here, I had spent thirty years abroad. Read more

Think laterally, be imaginative NZ Diocesan priests told

Monday, October 16th, 2023

Diocesan priests assembled last week in Rotorua were told they should think laterally and reach out in new and imaginative ways like they have never done before. Speaking for a second time to the Assembly, Brisbane’s Archbishop Mark Coleridge reflected on the experience in Australia and asked what the Church is learning. “This is the Read more

Sharing ‘love of God’ is evangelisation in China

Monday, October 2nd, 2023
evangelisation in China

Hong Kong Cardinal Stephen Chow has spoken about his vision for evangelisation in China. He emphasised sharing the love of God without the primary goal of converting individuals to Catholicism. “I think it is important that we say that Pope Francis made a distinction. Evangelisation is really to help people to understand the love of Read more

The fading Japanese Church – the Growing Church in Japan

Monday, September 11th, 2023
synod

The number of foreigners living in Japan has reached an all-time high. According to the country’s Immigration Services Agency, more than three million aliens were living in Japan at the end of 2022. In fact, the agency’s count of 3,075,213 is lower than the actual number because there are undocumented aliens in the country in Read more

Church blessing – all creatures great and small

Thursday, September 7th, 2023
blessing creatures

Blessing creatures, great and small, is a much loved tradition at St Mary’s Church in Timaru. Last Sunday, the church’s pews were filled with cats and dogs along with their human friends for the Blessing Of The Animals Service. The annual service – accompanied by a children’s choir – is a highlight for many says Read more

Why does Bishop Barron keep attacking Pope Francis allies?

Monday, September 4th, 2023
Bishop Robert Barron

Recently, I criticised comments made by Bishop Robert Barron, known for his “Word on Fire” ministry and the bishop of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, in which he complained about the Catholic faith being “dumbed down. I found his comments a-historical and thought they suggested that only very smart, well-informed and well-read Catholics could qualify as good Catholics. Read more

Billboard protest removed at WYD capital

Thursday, August 3rd, 2023

Pope Francis’ hope for the Church to offer the Portuguese community a more cohesive opportunity through World Youth Day (WYD) is being met with some strong challenges. Hours after he touched down in Lisbon on Wednesday, one of three huge billboards erected by activists to raise awareness of sexual abuse by clergy was removed, says Read more

Basic church communities growing again in Brazil

Monday, July 31st, 2023
basic church communities

Small or basic church communities are back in vogue in Brazil, and Pope Francis is stepping in to revive them, cranking up young people’s support and interest. The once powerful Brazilian basic church communities have declined since the 1990s. Last week, 1,000 Brazilian basic church community leaders gathered to discuss Brazil’s most pressing issues, from Read more

Controversy enflames WYD buildup

Monday, July 17th, 2023
WYD Controversy

Controversy has enflamed WYD preparations as conservative Catholics get the wrong end of the evangelisation story. Regardless of his impending cardinal appointment, Bishop Robert Barron has made it clear to Américo Aguiar that he intends to evangelise during his visit to Lisbon. Aguiar, a youthful 49-year-old auxiliary bishop of the Patriarchate of Lisbon, is the Read more

Secrets of the dying

Thursday, July 6th, 2023
Secrets of the dying

If there’s one patient I’ll always remember with special fondness, it’s Ron. Ron was in his late 80s, a bushman who valued his independence. He wouldn’t let Hospice visit him at home because he didn’t want the neighbours to know he was sick. But he did agree to me visiting him at the pub, so Read more