The Maronite Church is entering a week of prayer, celebration, and preparation ahead of the beatification of Patriarch Elias Hoyek, a defining figure in both Maronite and Lebanese history.<\/p>\n
Celebrations will include the screening of the film \u201cPatriarch Elias, God Provides,\u201d a solemn beatification Mass on Saturday in Diman, the transfer of the new blessed\u2019s relics to his tomb in Ibrine, a concert by the Lebanese National Philharmonic Orchestra, and a Mass of thanksgiving on Aug. 1, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported on Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Maronite Patriarchate called on the faithful in Lebanon and the diaspora to prepare spiritually for what it described as \u201ca historic moment for the Church\u201d ahead of the beatification. The patriarchate invited Catholics to unite in prayer and light candles Friday evening as a sign of faith, hope, and ecclesial communion, and asked churches across Lebanon to ring their bells as the beatification Mass begins.<\/p>\n Egypt\u2019s Ministry of Youth and Sports has intervened in what has been described as an unprecedented case involving alleged discrimination against a young Christian soccer player, ACI MENA reported Thursday<\/a>.<\/p>\n The case began after the mother of 13-year-old Makary Younan said her son was excluded from the youth team at Alexandria\u2019s Al Ittihad Club after a coach learned his name and allegedly said, \u201cThis name does not work here.\u201d The club later said Makary had passed the tryouts and would be signed, but the ministry opened an investigation. <\/p>\n After hearing witnesses and reviewing the incident, officials said the violation had been established, ordered the club to investigate the coach within 48 hours, and referred the file to the public prosecutor. The ministry said it would not tolerate discrimination inside sports institutions and promised transparency in announcing the final penalty.<\/p>\n P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights to overturn the Finnish Supreme Court\u2019s ruling<\/a> in March that found her guilty of hate speech over a pamphlet she wrote more than 20 years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cAppealing my conviction is about much more than a fine or a decades-old church booklet,\u201d R\u00e4s\u00e4nen said after filing an appeal this week, according to an Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International press release Friday<\/a>. \u201cMy case stands to determine whether the fundamental rights of religious freedom and free speech are still protected in Finland and across Europe, and whether these societies are still willing to stand up for the rights of all \u2014 even those they disagree with.\u201d<\/p>\n Irish Catholic priests have called on their government to take a firmer position on Gaza, urging a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, and stronger accountability under international law, ACI MENA recently \u62a5\u9053<\/a>.<\/p>\n Priests Against Genocide, a network of more than 2,400 priests \u2014 including 26 bishops and cardinals across 62 countries \u2014 called on members of Parliament in Ireland to advocate for accountability through the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice regarding Gaza. <\/p>\n The group also urged the government to advocate for humanitarian aid and increased diplomatic efforts to bring lasting peace to the region. The letter further underscored a growing moral concern within parts of the Irish Church over the humanitarian toll of the war and the need for political action that goes beyond statements of concern.<\/p>\n Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku of the Diocese of Wau in South Sudan praised improved security in the country, which he said has allowed the Catholic Church to expand its pastoral ministry.<\/p>\n \u201cI thank the government because you can move day and night freely. There is no insecurity. So in the diocese, there is security that allows the bishop to do his pastoral work freely,\u201d Adam told ACI Africa<\/a>, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, at the 21st plenary assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. \u201cThere is a good understanding between the Church and the state, and we are collaborating very well.\u201d<\/p>\n Samar al-Maarrawi, a Lebanese widow, mother, grandmother, theology student, catechist, and longtime member of the Focolare Movement, shared with ACI MENA<\/a> that she has been healed from cancer through the intercession of St. Rafqa, a Lebanese Maronite nun who was known for her mysticism, holiness, and devotion to the Eucharist. <\/p>\n First diagnosed in 2017, al-Maarrawi said the illness returned in 2022 in her glands and bones. Doctors said her time was limited. <\/p>\n Al-Maarrawi said she turned to St. Rafqa, took soil from the saint\u2019s tomb, and later received medical results showing no trace of the disease. She also recounted a dream in which St. Rafqa told her she had been healed not from one cancer but from seven. According to al-Maarrawi, her doctor later confirmed that there had been seven affected areas, though she had only been told of three. She said she continues to live in gratitude, entrusting her life to God and asking the Virgin Mary to accompany her.<\/p>\n Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo called on the Catholic Church not to be passive while fighting against violent threats to human life.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must not merely stand by and watch helplessly in the face of a raging storm of violence but strive to continue sowing good wheat even more widely,\u201d Kikuchi said in a reflection on July 19, according to Licas News<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThe dominance of violence and the tragic reality of life, a precious gift, being in peril, are so glaringly obvious that one cannot help but wonder if God condones the existence of evil,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt is the Church\u2019s duty to look at events in the realities of society that are hindering the realization of the world God desires, to read the signs revealed therein from an evangelical perspective rather than being swayed by what is happening, and to speak with the common good in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n The Catholic school group Edmund Rice Education Australia has agreed to allow the large property holdings it received from Christian Brothers to be liquidated for abuse payouts.<\/p>\n The Trustees of the Christian Brothers announced the news in a Friday press release<\/a>, noting that funds from the sale of the properties will go to a scheme fund that will in turn be used to pay creditors and abuse survivors.<\/p>\n The Christian Brothers transferred millions of dollars\u2019 worth<\/a> of property to the school group over the course of a decade in a series of $1 exchanges. Abuse victims had argued that the properties should be subject to the overall settlement scheme.<\/p>\n The Christian Brothers announced in June<\/a> that its organization would come to an end in Australia amid the pending abuse settlement.<\/p>\n Speaking from the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya on the feast of St. Charbel, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai said holiness does not need noise to be known but rather fidelity in order to bear fruit.<\/p>\n Reflecting on St. Charbel\u2019s hidden life and worldwide spiritual influence, Rai connected Lebanon\u2019s survival to truth, peace, and the intercession of its saints, ACI MENA reported Sunday.<\/a> He also renewed his call for the full and precise implementation of Lebanon\u2019s framework agreement, saying it is essential for strengthening state sovereignty, extending legitimate authority across the country, preserving stability, and protecting Lebanon\u2019s national rights.<\/p>\nEgypt moves against alleged discrimination toward young Christian athlete<\/h2>\n
Finish parliamentarian appeals \u2018hate speech\u2019 conviction to European Court of Human Rights<\/h2>\n
Irish priests press Dublin for stronger action on Gaza<\/h2>\n
Improved security enables pastoral growth in South Sudan<\/h2>\n
Lebanese woman claims healing through St. Rafqa\u2019s intercession<\/h2>\n
Japanese cardinal urges Church to stand up against violence<\/h2>\n
Catholic school group in Australia says it will participate in abuse payouts<\/h2>\n
Patriarch Rai urges Lebanon to fully implement framework agreement<\/h2>\n