VATICAN CITY, SEP 21, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Holy Father to Bishop Gastone Simoni of Prati, Italy on the 350th anniversary of the institution of the same diocese on September 22, 1653 by Pope Innocent X.
In the Message, dated September 8, feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Pope recalls that this year also marks the 500th anniversary of the founding of the monastery of the Dominican Sisters of Sts. Vincent and Catherine of Ricci. May the memory of this "great mystic of the 16th century," St. Catherine, in addition to that of other saints and blesseds "who have enriched the Church in Prato, continue to be an example for the entire diocesan community and a stimulus for those who are looking for truth and also for those, too worried about worldly matters, who do not know how to raise their gaze to the heavens."
"In the current social and cultural context," he continues, "the affluence of material goods, the exasperated care of self, and the needs created by a consumeristic society risk obscuring the interior voice of God Who constantly invites us to keep strong our personal alliance with Him. Today there is the danger of reducing the faith to a religious sentiment lived out only in private, and forgetting that being Christian means accepting the commitment to be apostles of Christ in the world."
John Paul II concludes by expressing the desire that this anniversary be "a providential occasion to understand better that the vocation to sanctity is for everyone and that we must propose it with courage and patience to the younger generations."
Keys: MESS;DIOCESE PRATO;...;SIMONI;VIS;20030922;Word: 280;
Monday, September 22, 2003
AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, SEP 22, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:
- Seven prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Juan de Dios M. Pueblos of Butuan.
- Bishop Honesto Pacana, S.J., of Malaybalay.
- Bishop Antonieto D. Cabajob of Surigao.
- Bishop Nereo P. Odchimar of Tandag.
- Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I., of Cotabato.
- Bishop Romulo G. Valles of Kidapawan.
- Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez of Marbel.
- Archbishop Francesco Pio Tamburrino of Foggia, Italy, with family members.
On Saturday September 20, the Holy Father received in audience 15 prelates from the Uganda Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga of Mbarara, accompanied by Bishop Emeritus John Baptist Kakubi.
- Bishop Egidio Nkaijanabwo of Kasese.
- Bishop Deogratias Muganwa Byabazaire of Hoima, accompanied by Bishop Emeritus Albert Edward Baharagate.
- Bishop Robert Muhiirwa of Fort Portal, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop John Magenyi Sabiiti and Bishop Emeritus Paul L. Kalanda.
- Bishop Callistus Rubaramira of Kabale, accompanied by Bishops Emeritus Robery Gay, M.Afr., and Barnabas R. Halem 'Imana.
- Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu.
- Bishop Frederick Drandua of Arua.
- Bishop Martin Lulunga of Nebbi.
- Bishop Joseph Oyanga of Lira.
AL; AP;...;...;... ;VIS;20030922;Word: 190;
- Seven prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Juan de Dios M. Pueblos of Butuan.
- Bishop Honesto Pacana, S.J., of Malaybalay.
- Bishop Antonieto D. Cabajob of Surigao.
- Bishop Nereo P. Odchimar of Tandag.
- Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I., of Cotabato.
- Bishop Romulo G. Valles of Kidapawan.
- Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez of Marbel.
- Archbishop Francesco Pio Tamburrino of Foggia, Italy, with family members.
On Saturday September 20, the Holy Father received in audience 15 prelates from the Uganda Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga of Mbarara, accompanied by Bishop Emeritus John Baptist Kakubi.
- Bishop Egidio Nkaijanabwo of Kasese.
- Bishop Deogratias Muganwa Byabazaire of Hoima, accompanied by Bishop Emeritus Albert Edward Baharagate.
- Bishop Robert Muhiirwa of Fort Portal, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop John Magenyi Sabiiti and Bishop Emeritus Paul L. Kalanda.
- Bishop Callistus Rubaramira of Kabale, accompanied by Bishops Emeritus Robery Gay, M.Afr., and Barnabas R. Halem 'Imana.
- Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu.
- Bishop Frederick Drandua of Arua.
- Bishop Martin Lulunga of Nebbi.
- Bishop Joseph Oyanga of Lira.
AL; AP;...;...;... ;VIS;20030922;Word: 190;
Friday, September 19, 2003
BE COURAGEOUS IN THE MIDST OF DAILY DIFFICULTIES
VATICAN CITY, SEP 19, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today welcomed to Castelgandolfo 180 participants in a course of formation for English-speaking bishops in mission lands that was organized by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He greeted the congregation's prefect, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, as well as all priests, religious, catechists and lay people of the dioceses entrusted to these bishops.
In his talk to them in English, the Pope stressed that "missionary activity throughout the earth ... is still an urgent apostolic undertaking in our day, and you are called to be its courageous and tireless supporters in the midst of daily difficulties and trials."
He noted that in his Encyclical Letter "Redemptoris Missio", he wrote that the Church must be committed "to a new evangelization and to the mission 'ad gentes'. No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church, can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples."
"Among your duties," added the Pope, "is that of transmitting the gift of faith and encouraging your communities to be evangelizers. There is room for everyone in the Lord's vineyard. No one is so poor that he has nothing to give. No one is so rich that he has nothing to receive.
"May your soul every day hear the echo of the Redeemer's exhortation: 'Duc in altum'! This is an invitation to cast 'spiritual nets' into the sea of the world. In turn, those who trust in the Divine Master experience the wonder of the miraculous catch of fish."
The Holy Father urged the bishops to "be holy. On different occasions I have noted that holiness is the urgent pastoral need of our times."
"No activity, no matter how important, should distract you from this spiritual priority that sets the tone for the apostolic mandate received with episcopal ordination. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, makes you His associates in serving the Cristian people as fathers, teachers and pastors."
Pope John Paul concluded by inviting the prelates to imitate the memories of saints, martyrs, confessors of the faith of their communities. "Follow in their footsteps! Be pastors who, by their example more than by their words, honor the Gospel and inspire in those around them the desire to know it better and to put it into practice."
AC;MISSION BISHOPS;...;SEPE;VIS;20030919;Word: 380;
In his talk to them in English, the Pope stressed that "missionary activity throughout the earth ... is still an urgent apostolic undertaking in our day, and you are called to be its courageous and tireless supporters in the midst of daily difficulties and trials."
He noted that in his Encyclical Letter "Redemptoris Missio", he wrote that the Church must be committed "to a new evangelization and to the mission 'ad gentes'. No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church, can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples."
"Among your duties," added the Pope, "is that of transmitting the gift of faith and encouraging your communities to be evangelizers. There is room for everyone in the Lord's vineyard. No one is so poor that he has nothing to give. No one is so rich that he has nothing to receive.
"May your soul every day hear the echo of the Redeemer's exhortation: 'Duc in altum'! This is an invitation to cast 'spiritual nets' into the sea of the world. In turn, those who trust in the Divine Master experience the wonder of the miraculous catch of fish."
The Holy Father urged the bishops to "be holy. On different occasions I have noted that holiness is the urgent pastoral need of our times."
"No activity, no matter how important, should distract you from this spiritual priority that sets the tone for the apostolic mandate received with episcopal ordination. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, makes you His associates in serving the Cristian people as fathers, teachers and pastors."
Pope John Paul concluded by inviting the prelates to imitate the memories of saints, martyrs, confessors of the faith of their communities. "Follow in their footsteps! Be pastors who, by their example more than by their words, honor the Gospel and inspire in those around them the desire to know it better and to put it into practice."
AC;MISSION BISHOPS;...;SEPE;VIS;20030919;Word: 380;
AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, SEP 19, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences two prelates from the Uganda Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" vist:
- Bishop Henry Apaloryamam Ssentongo of Moroto.
- Bishop Denis Kiwanuka Lote of Kotido.
;VIS;20030919;Word: 40;
- Bishop Henry Apaloryamam Ssentongo of Moroto.
- Bishop Denis Kiwanuka Lote of Kotido.
;VIS;20030919;Word: 40;
LOOK FOR WAYS FOR DEEPER COMMUNION
VATICAN CITY, SEP 19, 2003 (VIS) - Today at Castelgandolfo the Pope received a group of priests of the Greek Orthodox Church and recalled his visit with His Beatitude Christodoulos, archbishop of Athens and all Greece, and the Greek Orthodox Church during the Jubilee Year.
"We must continue to build on solid foundations the fraternal and evangelical ties that we experienced on that occasion. Your visit to Rome is a valid initiative in that sense in order to get to know and appreciate each other better and to advance relations that facilitate communion."
John Paul II assured them that he asked the Lord "constantly to prepare us to open our hearts to His prayer that 'all may be one', and to make us capable of genuine obedience to His will in order to look together for ways for closer collaboration and an ever-deeper communion."
He concluded by saying: "I hope that your visit to the holy sites of Rome, with gatherings, conversations, occasions of dialogue, may be a positive and useful experience for your priestly life. May the Holy Spirit always accompany your ministry and strengthen the testimony that each one of you gives to the Gospel of our common Lord."
AC;...;...;GREEK-ORTHODOX PRIESTS;VIS;20030919;Word: 220;
"We must continue to build on solid foundations the fraternal and evangelical ties that we experienced on that occasion. Your visit to Rome is a valid initiative in that sense in order to get to know and appreciate each other better and to advance relations that facilitate communion."
John Paul II assured them that he asked the Lord "constantly to prepare us to open our hearts to His prayer that 'all may be one', and to make us capable of genuine obedience to His will in order to look together for ways for closer collaboration and an ever-deeper communion."
He concluded by saying: "I hope that your visit to the holy sites of Rome, with gatherings, conversations, occasions of dialogue, may be a positive and useful experience for your priestly life. May the Holy Spirit always accompany your ministry and strengthen the testimony that each one of you gives to the Gospel of our common Lord."
AC;...;...;GREEK-ORTHODOX PRIESTS;VIS;20030919;Word: 220;
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