Archive - May 2008

The Columbans have a particular interest in Myanmar (Burma) since the first groups of Columbans went to the northern part of the country, the Kachin State, in 1936. There are two diocesan priests from the country working with the Columbans in Peru. Archbishop Paul Grawng of Mandalay, the current President of the Bishop's Conference of Myanmar, was born in 1938 in the area assigned to the Columbans and was one of the first, if not the first, diocesan priest in Myitkyina, the original diocese there.

Pope's Address to Myanmar Bishops

VATICAN - WORDS OF DOCTRINE by Rev. Nicola Bux and Rev Salvatore Vitiello - Abortion: the silence of life

The English translations from AGenzia Fides, www.fides.org, aren't always the best. The 'famous Law 194' in the opening sentence should be 'the infamous Law 194'.

Pope Benedict will start his visit to Australia with a few days of vacation. He is now 81 but has quite often spoken of the importance of such breaks in our lives. The Vatican Information Service yesterday announced his itinerary for World Youth Day. Let us continue to pray that WYD will be a time of great grace for all there, including the Holy Father himself.

VATICAN CITY, 30 MAY 2008 (VIS) - The programme of Benedict XVI's forthcoming apostolic trip to Sydney , Australia , for the 23rd World Youth Day was made public today. The trip is due to take place from 12 to 21 July.

Three emails came in today, from Italy, Australia and the USA, all dealing with the dignity of the life of those not yet born.

The email of the Vatican-based Agenzia Fides www.fides.org carried a report of Pope Benedict’s talk to members of the Italian Movement for Life on 12 May. The occasion was the 30th anniversary of the legalization of abortion in Italy. Here are some points the Holy Father made. Highlighting is by your editor.

Holy See's Commitment to Protecting Ozone Layer

www.zenit.org 7 May 2008

VATICAN CITY, MAY 6, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the declaration attached to the Instrument of Accession to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and to its four amendments, deposited by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations.

* * *

Why Are You Staring at the Sky?
http://www.zenit.org/article-22466?l=english

Gospel Commentary for Feast of the Ascension

By Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

ROME, MAY 2, 2008 (Zenit.org).- In the first reading an angel says to the disciples: "Men of Galilee, why are you staring at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken up from among you and assumed into heaven, shall one day return in the same way in which you saw him go to heaven."

The Gift of the Law
Fr Martin R. Ganeri OP

1 June 2008 Ninth Sunday of the Year (A)
Fr Martin Ganeri suggests that the New Law of Christ is our only refuge from the storms of life.

There are times in our lives when we can feel utterly overwhelmed by the difficulties that beset us. There are times when we can feel that we have lost control and that life has become chaotic. There are times when we can feel bewildered about how our lives have turned out and uncertain about how we might make any sense or progress in them.

Full text at http://torch.op.org/preaching/sermon/1227