The University of Saint Joseph will be welcoming students from Portugal’s largest educational institution for socially disadvantaged children and youth as soon as next year. The program was confirmed to “O Clarim” by Álvaro Barbosa, Vice-rector for Internationalization and Academic Affairs of USJ. Macau’s Catholic university signed a collaborative agreement with Casa Pia de Lisboa just before Christmas.
In his usual Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, on the occasion of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which, according to the liturgical calendar currently in force in the Catholic Church, marks the end of the Christmas season, Pope Francis made the following statement: “the face and voice of God are revealed through the human side of Jesus”.
This prayer of the priest appears before my eyes in a hallucinative glow on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: “May the mingling of this water and wine bring us to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity.” The celebrant of the Eucharist utters this prayer under breath while mixing a drop of water into wine in preparation for the offertory. When I said this prayer during my first mass, the baptism scene of Jesus came to my mind without any prior meditation, and it stayed on with me.
The Catholic Church’s teaching on the male priesthood is often misunderstood. It is not a statement of male superiority or exclusion but a theological reflection of Christ’s role as the bridegroom of the Church. While ordination is reserved for men, the Church celebrates the indispensable contributions of women in leadership, ministry, and spiritual life. Understanding the priesthood through its theological foundation helps us move beyond misconceptions rooted in societal assumptions.
The Diocese of Macau rejoices in the ordination of two new priests, Father Adriano Serro Agostinho and Father Chan Pak Lam Bosco, on August 31, 2024. Surrounded by family, friends, and the faithful, the ordination was marked by profound moments of prayer, dedication, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit.
Ten months after the devastating attacks on Jaranwala’s Christian community, hostility lingers, affecting children’s education. The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation steps in with vital aid, from housing to psychological support. Meanwhile, fresh blasphemy accusations in Sargodha spark more violence, critically injuring Nazir Masih. As authorities and religious leaders demand thorough investigations and better protection, the call for justice and interfaith dialogue grows louder.
On Pentecost weekend, the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Macau celebrated Confirmation for its Chinese, Portuguese, and English communities, led by Bishop Stephen Lee. This sacrament strengthens Catholics with the Holy Spirit to build up the Church and witness Christ. The celebrations underscored the importance of Confirmation in Christian initiation and its connection to the Eucharist.
During Holy Week, we too, far from being holy, want to stand at the foot of the Cross with the un-haloed centurion and fix our eyes on Jesus. We too, like him, desire to discover God’s presence and mercy in the darkest corners of our hearts and of our world. And by doing so, step-by-step, as Mark taught us and as the catechumens have done in their journey toward baptism, we will enter Christ’s Resurrection.
Crucifixion was a punishment given to them by the governor. In contrast, that voluntary decision made by Jesus to undertake the suffering is what made it salvific. For suffering to become salvific, it must be voluntary and for love!
“This year we are especially mindful of those who, in the midst of war, in the midst of illness, in the midst of unemployment, and in the midst of grief over the loss of a loved one, are unable to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones, but must do so nonetheless.”
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