Vatican norms insist on ‘generous’ approval for use of Tridentine rite By John Thavis Archbishop Barry Hickey gives first Holy Communion on the tongue to a young boy kneeling at the ‘second re-opening’ of St Anne’s Church in Belmont on 25 July 2010. Fr Michael Rowe (at left), chaplain of Perth’s traditional Latin Rite Catholics, and his community spent much time renovating the church aft...

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - In a world marked by new forms of slavery and injustice, the Church must evangelise constantly and fearlessly - even in the face of persecution, Pope Benedict XVI said. The Pope, addressing directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies on 14 May, said Catholic activity at every level needs to be infused with the missionary spirit. “All the sectors of pastoral life...

Liturgy needs tradition and progress, Pope says Pope Benedict XVI holds his pastoral staff as he celebrates Mass on the feast of the Epiphany in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on 6 January. Photo: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY - The Second Vatican Council’s renewal of the liturgy wasn’t so much about changing texts or ...

ROME (CNS) - At the door of the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University, priests and seminarians prepared to welcome former Vatican officials and other important guests. Inside the auditorium, the rector checked the final details of the three hour long multimedia tribute to Pope John Paul II. Fr Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, greets Pope John Paul II in...

By Mark Zimmermann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON - As a 37 year old priest, then-Fr Donald W Wuerl witnessed the election of Pope John Paul II in 1978, as reportedly the only non-Cardinal allowed into that conclave. The book Cardinal Donald Wuerl wrote inspired by Pope John Paul II. Photo: CNS He was priest-secretary to US Cardinal John Wright, who was then in frail health...

By John Thavis Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY - As Church officials keep emphasising, Pope John Paul II is being beatified not for his performance as Pope, but for how he lived the Christian virtues of faith, hope and love. Pope John Paul II prays during midnight Mass at St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican early on 25 December. During his annual urbi et orbi address later in t...

By Anthony Barich HUNDREDS packed out to overflowing churches across the Archdiocese as a number of Masses were offered celebrating the beatification of the “indefatigable” Pope John Paul II on 1 May. Archbishop Barry Hickey offers Mass with Perth and visiting Franciscans at Our Lady Queen of Poland Chapel in Maylands to celebrate the beatification of Pope John Paul II, with...

To be holy is to love God, others, Pope says at audience       By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY - Everyone is called to holiness, which is simply striving to imitate Christ, particularly in loving God and loving others, Pope Benedict XVI said. Ending a long series of general audience talks about saints and Doctors of the Church, the pope s...

Scholars see benefits for all faiths in Pope’s second ‘Jesus’ book Brenda Chicas, 17, holds a Bible study guide while attending a New Testament class at St Luke Church in Brentwood, New York in 2008. The class was part of a free two-week summer Bible course for teenagers sponsored by the Office of Faith Formation of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. Photo: CNS...

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Vatican released a three-day schedule of events for the beatification of Pope John Paul II, and warned against people selling counterfeit tickets to the beatification liturgy, which is free and open to all. Pope Benedict XVI will preside over the beatification Mass at 10 am on 1 May in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican said. Immediately after Mas...