27 December 2020 – Sunday in the Octave of Christmas: Holy Family – BLK 2:22-40 Fr. Jijo Kandamkulathy CMFClaretian Publications, Macau Mary and Joseph were two humble parents bringing their little firstborn to present to God fulfilling the Jewish law. This little family has already weathered out many storms in their lives. There was a divorce attempt even before the…
Aurelio Porfiri I am sure that if someone were to ask you what memories from 2020 you would like to carry forward, I guess there will be nothing positive, especially if you lived in places which were strongly affected by the pandemic. Writing from Italy, you will know that my perspective is strongly influenced by the situation that we are…
Carlos M. Frota The year 2020 is approaching the end and we don’t want to look back! Isn’t it true? Exceptional year, this one! For one and half years not visiting children and grandchildren in Europe, summer time avoiding to go out … and … and it was safe! And the discipline bore fruit. And for many months we have…
Aurelio Porfiri I think that a few will understand how different Christmas is this year, as do people living in countries strongly affected by the pandemic, like Italy. Our government has imposed measures that basically will limit a lot the possibilities of movement and gathering, especially on the days of festivities, because of course, it is more dangerous from the…
Robaird O’CearbhaillHong Kong Correspondent The United Nations-backed International Migrants Day every December 18, on its 21st this year, broadcast the theme “Reimagining Human Mobility” and underlined how “migrants play a critical role in the front lines of our fight against Covid-19, caring for the sick, working to maintain essential services.” Furthermore, their “dedication and entrepreneurial spirit” will be an integral…
Fr Leonard Dollentas Its Christmas time and we might probably be asking ourselves how can we possibly be expected to be rejoicing in the midst of the COVID-19 global crisis? How can we rejoice when so much has been taken away from us, when Christmas parties are banned by the government in almost all parts of the world, when we…
Miguel Augusto (*) This year, the Vatican’s nativity scene received criticism for its postmodern artistic aspect, which, according to Elizabeth Lev, an art specialist, is not just a “poorly thought-out choice” that generates “division and damage” but would reflect the “strange and modern hatred and rejection of our traditions.”
Joaquim Magalhães de Castro The time has come for us to mention the name of António Galvão, captain of Ternate and “Apostle of the Moluccas,” given his fervor in the evangelization of the geographical space of what is now Indonesia and that in the unexplored upstream islands inevitably had a word to say.
(VATICAN NEWS) On the night of 12th December, a group of unidentified vandals entered the Church of Our Lady of Valvanera, in the city of Pitalito, in the southeastern part of Colombia.
(Vatican News) Christmas in officially recognised as an official, annual holiday in Iraq, just months before Pope Francis is due to visit the country on his Apostolic Journey.