The “confession boom” reported to be hitting Roman Catholic parishes in England and Wales does not yet fully seem to have reached New Zealand. With the exception of the Auckland Cathedral, where the priests report an increase in young people attending the sacrament, a ring-around survey, yesterday, of several New Zealand parishes showed most recorded no Read more
For all Il Papa’ssocial media encouragement the last few years, the Roman Catholic Church continues to struggle with digital ministry practice, particularly where new media intersects the church’s medieval sacramental structure. In 2011, a new smartphone app aimed to support preparation for and the practice of confession ended up generating more confusion than contrition when Read more
The link between respecting the environment and the sacramental life of the church is inseparable according to Bishop Bernard Unabali of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. He says he considers the link to be so unfaltering that when he baptizes a new member of the church or confirms someone or even when he ordains a priest, he Read more
The incoming head of the Swiss bishops’ conference has suggested that allowing remarried divorcees to receive communion and lay people to deliver homilies is a “pragmatic” course of action. The Swiss bishops elected Bishop Markus Buechel of St Gallen to be the next president of the Swiss bishops’ conference, replacing Bishop Norbert Brunner in January. Read more
The Bishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, has used strong language to criticise priests who refuse to baptise children born to single mothers. Almost apologising for the actions of some priests, Bergoglio recalled the story of a young unmarried mother who had the courage to bring her child into the world and who then Read more
Over 172 German priests and deacons in the Archdiocese of Freiburg have openly stated they regularly give communion to divorced and remarried couples. “In our communities, remarried divorcees take communion and receive the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick, with our approval,” the priests say on their website. Calling their actions a Read more
Do we see the importance of our Baptism? Do we ever stop and think that on our Baptism day we were signed with the Oil of Catechumens? Do we ever see ourselves as a gift of holiness for our family, friends, work colleagues………do we know that we light up the world with our kindness, joy, Read more