In Macau, non-Chinese Catholics partake in cultural practices of their Chinese brothers and sisters in faith as the Lunar New Year ushers in a jubilant celebration, blending ancient traditions with the spirit of unity and hope. Catholic communities are also engaging in outreach and charity initiatives to support causes that align with the spirit of the Lunar New Year.
Reflect, today, upon this leper. Try to understand his isolation and loss. Try to understand his humility and faith. And seek to imitate the way that he comes to our Lord. Do not be afraid to humble yourself before God as you acknowledge the sins and other needs you have….He will not let you down.
In Macau, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of China on the first day of the Lunar New Year; however, our diocese is unique in observing this feast, as other places around the world celebrate it on the Saturday preceding the second Sunday.
In Ecuador, escalating violence has placed its youth in perilous circumstances, with many becoming unwitting casualties of the conflict. Amidst this turmoil, the Catholic Church has sounded the alarm and taken action, providing crucial aid and support to the victims of this widespread violence.
The Apostolic and Sub-apostolic Fathers worked to defend the faith and explain it. As the Church grew, there was a need to make a more systematic, all-encompassing and precise exposition of the Faith to teach the new converts. This saw the formation of theological schools.
In a historic moment for the Philippines and Southeast Asia, the Antipolo Cathedral, officially known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, has been elevated to the esteemed status of an International Shrine. This unprecedented recognition, declared on January 26, 2024, marks the cathedral as a beacon of spiritual significance not only within the Philippines but across the entire region.
Jesus begins a journey, breaching that early attempt at domesticating his spirit to the frames of the expectation of the people, to the ends of the world. He continues, traversing times, caring, healing, and transforming the mindset of people, even today.
Drawing inspiration from biblical narratives like Samuel’s prophetic calling and the disciples’ immediate response to Jesus, Fr. Fausto Gomez OP explores the essential steps of a vocation and emphasizes the centrality of following Christ in various life paths.
We will recall that the Gnostics claimed to have secret knowledge accessible only to a few. Irenaeus argued that these false intellectuals were not the real teachers of the Faith.