Latest news with #HolyMass
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Unified Holy Mass: Circular read out in most parishes of Ekm-Angamaly archdiocese
Kochi: Syro-Malabar Church's circular outlining a set of guidelines to resolve the row over implementing the uniform mode of Holy Mass in Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese was read out in churches on Sunday. The circular was issued with a directive to be read out during Sunday mass on June 29. The priests of the archdiocese, who were on a warpath with the official leadership, would ignore circulars from bishops until recently. However, the latest circular was read out in most churches, sources said. As per an agreement following discussions, the Church appointed a new curia for the archdiocese. Fr Jimmy Poochakatt, Fr Anto Cheramthiruthi, Fr Jose Puthiyedath, Fr Antony Vazhakala, Fr Paul Meledath and Fr Thomas Vaikathuparamban are the new curia members. According to the circular, a unified Holy Mass should be offered in all parish churches on Sundays and other days of obligation. This arrangement is to commence on July 3, starting from the feast of Dukrana. The uniform Holy Mass should be conducted between 5.30am and 10.30am or between 3.30pm and 6.00pm. In all churches and during all Masses, a Bema should be used as prescribed in the Holy Mass text too. The circular promised that the issues concerning priests, currently subject to disciplinary actions, would be amicably resolved considering canonical legal possibilities.
The Star
22-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Corpus Christi procession unites Penang's parishes
Always faithful: Catholics following the float from the Church of the Assumption (right) in George Town. — JEREMY TAN/The Star GEORGE TOWN: Over 1,200 Catholics from various parishes in Penang took part in the Corpus Christi Eucharistic procession. From the Church of the Assumption in Farquhar Street, they travelled along Penang Road, Burmah Road and Kinta Lane, before reaching the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Macalister Road. Most held candles and were in good spirits as they followed the beautifully-adorned processional float carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance yesterday evening. The 2km procession was a joint effort by five Catholic churches across the Penang Island Deanery, according to City Parish assistant priest Father Desmond Jansen. 'The celebrations this year coincided with the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 as declared by the late Pope Francis, thus it was a celebration of hope amid the challenges and difficulties in life. 'Corpus Christi is a good opportunity for Catholics to celebrate the love of Jesus through his presence in the Eucharist. 'This walk of faith symbolised our unity as Catholics, as we journeyed together as one people of God,' he shared. Father Desmond earlier led Holy Mass at the church, which was conducted in four different languages to cater to parishioners of different ethnic backgrounds. Also present were City Parish priest Father Edmund Woon, Church of the Risen Christ parish priest Friar Esmond Chua and Deacon Paul Kang. The celebration ended with the Blessed Sacrament being elevated at the altar of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows for Benediction. This was the 10th procession since 2011. After a couple of breaks, including during the pandemic, the event resumed in 2023. Corpus Christi, which is Latin for 'Body of Christ', is also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It holds great significance in the Roman Catholic calendar as it commemorates the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese: Kerala HC orders police cover for meeting of priests
Kochi: High court has directed the Kochi city police to ensure maintenance of law and order at the Renewal Centre at Kaloor in Kochi where a meeting of the priests of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese is scheduled to be held on Thursday. The meeting, called by archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany, is aimed at finding a solution to the dispute over the mode of celebrating the Holy Mass in the archdiocese. HC further directed the city police commissioner and station house officer of Ernakulam North police station to ensure that ingress and egress to the Renewal Centre are not obstructed. Justice N Nagaresh issued the order on a petition filed by Fr Joshy Puthusserry, director of the Renewal Centre, seeking police protection for the meeting. The petition has been adjourned to July 17. Around 450 priests from various churches under the archdiocese are expected to attend the meeting. The petitioner alleged that certain people are planning to blockade the venue and prevent the priests from entering the venue.
Herald Malaysia
21-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
South Korean Catholic convert finds strength in Legion of Mary
Even at 94, Helena Heo Yung-ja continues her life of witness and prayer with a smile May 21, 2025 Heo Yong-ja, the 94-year-old head of the Legion of the Central Episcopal Parish of Jeonju Diocese. (Photo: SEOUL: For 94-year-old Helena Heo Yung-ja, her time at the Legion of Mary has been an inseparable part of her daily life and a testament to her faith. 'I always say, 'now is heaven,' because I live with God, Jesus, and Mary in my heart,' says Heo, who converted to Catholicism in 1957 at the age of 26. 'When I think about that, it makes me humble and careful, and I try to live a life that is pleasing to them,' adds Heo. But her association with the Legion of Mary is as old as her faith. She has been a member of the Legion of Mary Hope of Sinners Presidium for 68 years. A regular at presidium meetings A regular face at presidium meetings, Heo has only missed a few of them following a hospitalization due to leg surgery. Heo says she would hurry home after visiting her children, who were staying in other parts of South Korea, to ensure she did not miss the Legion meetings. 'We are the Legionaries of Mary, so how can we miss the [Legion] meetings?' Heo says when asked about the enthusiasm and dedication she exhibits for the Legion. As a result of her consistent dedication, Bishop Sun Tae Kim of Jeonju awarded Heo a certificate of appreciation as part of the 70th anniversary celebration of the introduction of the Legion of Mary in the diocese on May 17. However, her dedication was also acknowledged by her appointment as the presidium director at the Cathedral Church, a position that Heo says she initially declined. 'At the age of 94, I was asked to preside over the Legion, and although I refused, I accepted when they asked me to preside at the beginning of the meeting,' says Heo. The presidium in Jeonju started in 1955, about two years after Columban Father Harold Henry introduced the Legion of Mary to South Korea at Kwangju's Kyong-dong and Sanjong-dong parishes in 1953. Frank Duff, a layperson and civil servant, founded the Legion of Mary in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921. The Marian movement, an international association of lay members of the Catholic Church, now has more than 10 million members across 170 countries. The Legion aims to glorify God through the holiness of its members, through prayer and active cooperation in the Church's work. Daily Mass and Rosary recitations For Heo, another activity that bolstered her faith life was attending daily Mass at the church. She says that she used to attend Holy Mass daily since her baptism, but had to discontinue a few months back due to health concerns. A regular at the church, Heo even has a seat that is reserved for her. Heo says she loves to recite the Rosary as a small contribution to Mother Mary, whom she believes prays tirelessly for the world and remembers each individual. She says she does not have a favorite Rosary, pointing out that 'they are all the same, a tool to pray to the Holy Mother.' She claims that she used to recite up to 100 decades, equivalent to twenty cycles of the complete Rosary, in a day. However, due to her advancing age, she has reduced the numbers to 70 decades a day. More than 60 converts to Catholicism For Heo, her faith and steadfastness also led more than 60 people to the Catholic faith, for which she received the Legion of Mary Award for Mission Excellence in 2014. But Heo recalls that bringing her husband to the Catholic faith was the most challenging ordeal she faced. 'I had a hard time because of my husband, but I left it all to Mary,' says Heo. Heo recalls how her husband would come home from time to time and ask for a divorce, which was painful for her. She often prayed in tears in front of the statue of Our Lady in the cathedral, seeking divine help in mending the relationship with her husband. The Pieta, which depicts Mother Mary holding the body of Jesus, reminded her that the suffering she faced was nothing compared to Mary's, she says. 'Whenever he came home, I would treat him with all my heart, and he eventually relented and was baptized and confirmed at the age of 80,' says Heo. Heo says her husband's conversion happened with the help of her children, the parish priest, and nuns. She said she is happy that her husband received the Sacrament of the Sick before he died peacefully. At 94, Heo continues her life of witness and prayer, with a smile for
RNZ News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Pope Leo XIV takes charge of Catholic Church at inaugural Mass
By Joshua McElwee, Crispian Balmer and Philip Pullella, Reuters Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd from the popemobile before a Holy Mass in St Peter's Square. Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI Pope Leo XIV rode into St Peter's Square on a 'popemobile' for the first time on Sunday, as tens of thousands of people - including dozens of world leaders - celebrated him as the new leader of the world's 1.4. billion Catholics. Crowds crammed the square and surrounding streets in Rome in the biggest gathering at the Vatican since the funeral of Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, on 26 April. Wellwishers carried US and Peruvian flags to cheer the first pope from the United States, who celebrated his inaugural Mass later on Sunday morning (local time). Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd from the popemobile. Photo: AFP / Pool / Jacquelyn Martin Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old pontiff spent many years as a missionary in Peru and also has Peruvian citizenship, meaning he is also the first pontiff tied to that South American nation. One person in the crowd shouted out "White Sox, White Sox", referring to the Chicago baseball team at the bottom of the American League standings. Leo has never abandoned the team, despite their recent lacklustre performance, and his fellow diehard fans hope his support can lift them out of the doldrums. People chanted "Viva il Papa" (Long Live the Pope) and "Papa Leone", his name in Italian. The open-topped popemoble was surrounded by more than a dozen security guards, as it drove through the square and down the long boulevard that leads to the Tiber River, for Leo's first ride. The vehicle moved quickly, but briefly stopped twice, so Leo could bless three babies. The popemobile stopped twice, so Leo could bless babies. Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI Robert Prevost - a relative unknown on the world stage, who only became a cardinal two years ago - was elected pope on 8 May, after a short conclave of cardinals that lasted barely 24 hours. He replaces Pope Francis from Argentina, who died on 21 April, after leading the church for 12 often-turbulent years, during which he battled with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalised. US Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert who clashed with Francis over the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies, led a US delegation, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic. Usha Vance, right, and Vice President JD Vance are greeted by Bruno Pasquino from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Monsignor Christopher Washington of the Holy See Secretariat. Photo: AFP / pool / Jacquelyn Martin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended and was happy to meet other leaders, a top aide said, as he did at Francis' funeral, when he had face-to-face talks with US President Donald Trump in St Peter's Basilica. Zelensky last met Vance in February at the White House, when the two men clashed fiercely in front of world media. Also expected at the Vatican ceremony were the presidents of Peru, Israel and Nigeria, the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Australia, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Many European royals were also be in the VIP seats near the main altar, including Spanish King Felipe and Queen Letizia. In various sermons and comments since his election as pope, Leo has praised Francis repeatedly, but has not offered many hints about whether he will continue with the late pontiff's vision of opening the Church up to the modern world. Pope Leo addresses the crowd from the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time. Photo: AFP His first words in an appearance to crowds in St Peter's Square on the night of his election were "Peace be with you all", echoing words Catholics use in their celebrations. In a 14 May address to officials of the eastern Catholic Churches - many of whom are based in global hotspots such as Ukraine and the Middle East - the new pope pledged he would make "every effort" for peace. He also offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts, saying war was "never inevitable". Sunday's Mass would feature prayers in several languages, in a nod to the global reach of the 1.4-billion member Church, including Latin, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Polish, and Chinese. As part of the ceremony, Leo would also formally receive two items, as he takes up the papacy - a liturgical vestment known as a pallium, a strip of lambswool that represents his role as a shepherd, and a special band known as the fisherman's ring. The ceremonial gold signet ring is specially cast for each new pope and can be used by Leo to seal documents. It features a design of St Peter holding the keys to heaven and will be broken after his death, marking an end to his papacy. - Reuters
