Orthodox archbishop converts to Catholicism
A former archbishop of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church of the Kharkiv-Poltava diocese, Ihor Isichenko, one of the country’s most eminent religious leaders, joined the Greek-Catholic Church of Ukraine in communion with Rome earlier this year. He was followed by a good number of his parishes, which now form part of the Ukrainian Catholic Exarchate of Kharkiv and the Archieparchy of Kiev.
His seven-year conversion process began when he realized that union was not feasible among the Orthodox, in view of the deep divisions among them. It was then that he decided to join the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, assuming the status of Archbishop emeritus and being placed at the head of a branch of the Ukrainian Catholic University.
Catholic majority in Northern Ireland
The census published on September 22 by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency pointed to a historic change: for the first time since the island’s division, Catholics outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland. The 2021 Census data shows that 42.3% of the country’s population declare themselves Catholic, while the Protestant figure is 37.3%.
Another important element of the information published in the census is the relationship between religion and the age group of the population: 54% of those who call themselves Catholic are under thirty-five years of age.
Brazilian highways provided with Blessed Sacrament chapels
Truck drivers and travellers using Brazilian highways now have an “oasis” on their route: chapels with the Blessed Sacrament, giving them access to Eucharistic adoration, Mass and Confession. The construction of these oratories began in 1992, on the initiative of Janeth Vaz, owner of a petrol station chain. Today there are seven such chapels in four states of Brazil: Pará, Goiás, Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais.
The chapels are dedicated to different invocations of Our Lady, and in all of them the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and weekly Mass is held. Among the graces received by those who frequent the chapels, Janeth recounts two episodes of truck drivers who, due to various difficulties, were considering taking their own lives and desisted when they entered one of the oratories.
Church in Myanmar is blanketed with anti-personnel mines
As a result of the civil war between the national army and the People’s Defence Force, which has plagued Myanmar for decades, the Church of the Mother of God, located in the small town of Moebye, was invaded by Burmese troops on September 8. The occupation lasted four days and resulted in the desecration of the church and the destruction of several images. In addition, the soldiers scattered anti-personnel mines in and around the sacred edifice: on the floor, in the pews and even behind liturgical books.
After the departure of the military, parishioners and volunteers offered to carefully deactivate the mines and restore the site. Since February 2021 several churches, convents and hospitals have been targeted by the army.
Brazilians want to be “deleted” from the internet
A survey conducted in August by NordVPN, a VPN service provider, revealed that about 20% of Brazilians would like to be deleted from the internet.
According to the survey, 32% of the population believe that their personal data has been exploited by companies, and 30% do not trust the internet. To have their information deleted, 46% of those interviewed would pay up to five hundred reals, and 3% even more than five thousand. Finally, 40% of Brazilians believe that digital platforms take up too much of their time.
Marian march through towns in Brittany
From June 18 to September 11, the inhabitants of various cities in Brittany in western France were able to take part in a great Marian procession: the Troménie de Marie.
For twelve weeks, a statue of Our Lady of France, transported in a horse-drawn carriage from Nantes, visited two hundred towns and the main Marian shrines of Brittany, following a route of 1,100 kilometres. The final destination was the Shrine of St. Anne d’Auray.
The initiative, which aims to spread devotion to Our Lady, came from a group of lay people and enjoys the approval of the local ecclesiastical authorities.
Colombian cathedral is target of vandalism
The Primate Cathedral of Colombia, located in Bogota, was the target of an attempted arson attack on September 28. Hooded feminists, who were taking part in a demonstration for the legalization of abortion, threw flammable liquid on the wooden doors of the church and then set it alight. The assailants also covered the exterior walls with offensive graffiti. The quick intervention of the police prevented further damage.
This is not the first time the cathedral has been the target of attacks. On March 20, a group of women interrupted the celebration of Holy Mass, climbing on the pews and shouting slogans against the Faith.
Eucharist Found Intact
in Burned Church
On the night of September 16, armed men broke into and set fire to St. Mary’s Church in the locality of Nchang, Cameroon. The criminals also kidnapped five priests, a nun and three lay people.
However, in the midst of this tragedy, a discovery was made that brought hope to the faithful. In a video released by the foundation Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo of the Mamfe diocese is seen walking through the rubble to the tabernacle of the church and retrieving a ciborium containing consecrated Hosts, which had remained intact despite the fire.
Rome hosts Thomistic congress
From September 19-24, the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome hosted the XI International Thomisic Congress. The theme of the event, which was attended by more than 300 theologians from various countries, was: The Resources of the Thomistic Tradition in the Current Context.
Thomists from all over the world rejoiced at the success of the Congress, since the last gathering of this magnitude organized by the Angelicum took place in 2003.
Pilgrimage gathers 300 thousand youths in Argentina
The 43th edition of the Youth Pilgrimage of Northeastern Argentina, held in September, brought together more than three hundred thousand people this year at the Basilica of Our Lady of Itatí.
Delegations from ten Argentine dioceses participated in the pilgrimage. The young people, accompanied by support vehicles, walked over seventy-two kilometres – the distance that separates the cities of Corrientes and Itatí. The solemn Mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Andrés Stanovnik, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Corrientes.
