Even though it is one of the most secularised nations in the world, Sweden is one of the few countries in Europe where the Catholic Church is growing, said the country’s first cardinal.
The group Friends of the Sisters in Bloemfontein archdiocese held an event to pay tribute to religious Sisters. This included Mass, lunch, a talk by Dr Nontando Hadebe, nail treatments, and songs and dancing.
Pope Francis prayed Mary would help Christians develop the “antibodies” needed to fight the modern diseases of indifference, hypocrisy and fear of foreigners.
Waterwise worker priests Fr Aaron Gabela of Durban archdiocese (right) and Fr Chris Chatteris SJ installed a new roof tank at St Francis Xavier Seminary in drought-ravaged Cape Town. The tank was donated by Archbishop Stephen Brislin as a gift of Cape Town archdiocese.
No doubt traditions at Christmas, like much else in life, has changed. My own childhood memories are of setting up our family crib, without the baby until Christmas night of course, as well as music and singing.
It might have been the best thing I’ve seen on TV this year — and it was a reality show. The British television four-parter Bad Habits: Holy Orders could easily have resulted in something banal. It turned out to be uplifting and moving.
The papal exhortation Amoris Laetitia “seemed to open the possibility—in certain cases and after the discernment process—of allowing them [persons who have divorced and remarried civilly] to receive absolution and Communion, even without promising to abstain from sexual relations with their new partner”.
Catholics have hailed the National Day of Prayer for South Africa at Soccer City (or FNB Stadium) in Johannesburg, with the bishops’ communication officer saying the event was a clear sign that God comes first in the lives of many people.
