Benedictine monks kick-off footballing youngsters' team dream
Leicestershire, U.K, Nov.17,2007 (CINS/totalcatholic) - An order football-fan monks can be said to have scored an own goal – and they’re delighted.
For the 36 monks of Mount St Bernard Abbey, near Coalville, Leicestershire, are not only soccer-loving Benedict ines, but they have also reached their goal of helping youngsters living on one of the East Midlands’ most deprived estates, by giving them the cash to start their own football team.
The once-extinct Greenhill FC has been resurrected after the monks came forward to help out after hearing about the youngsters’ ambition.
A sum of £3,000 was handed over to kick-start various projects, with the proud new football club being right in the scoring line.
Fr Joseph, Abbot at St Bernards, said: “We heard that a group of youngsters had approached a local youth worker saying they wanted to start a football team on the park.
“We’re all football fans, but six of our community are really dedicated to the game and support Everton, Leicester City and other leading clubs.
“So we thought this was an excellent way of helping the estate’s youngsters – and giving us another team to support.”
The donated cash has been spent on a full green and white soccer strip, rent for the pitch for the season and entrance fees to the North Leicester League.
The remainder of the money will secure the club’s future, says manager Paul Thacker.
“What the monks have done is fantastic,” said Paul. “The kids were all in that difficult stage between school and work, but have been given the focus they needed.
“Some are as young as 15, but most of the rest are now working and I’m proud to say we have one of the best disciplinary records in the league.”
And it’s not just the discipline that’s good. At the moment the club – which was disbanded in the early 80s after crowd trouble and fighting at games – is riding high at joint top of the league, which is made up of adult teams.
Some of the players went along to meet the monks at Mount St Bernards and were greeted by the Abbot and Fr Denis, the bursar.
Team member Chad Gage, 17, said: “I was really surprised when they told us they were into football – I didn’t think they would be so down to earth.”
But as much as the monks would love to be able to go along and support Greenhill FC, the brothers can’t.
“We’re a contemplative order, and so we wouldn’t be allowed to go,” said Fr Joseph.
“And although we can’t watch our favourite teams on the TV, we find out about what’s happening to them as best we can!”
La Repubblica : Pope Benedict's next encyclical arrives before Christmas
Rome, Italy, Nov 15, 2007 (CINS/CNA).- The Italian newspaper La Repubblica revealed today that Pope Benedict XVI has finalized his second encyclical on the subject of Christian hope, and that it should be published before Christmas, during Advent.
Benedict’s first encyclical, “Deus Caritas est”, was signed on Christmas Day 2005 and by the following month had been published in eight languages. His second encyclical is tentatively titled "Spe Salvi” (Saved by Hope) and takes its inspiration from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, the newspaper reported. The potential title comes from the 24th verse of the eighth chapter of St. Paul's letter, which reads: "Because we have been saved by hope."
According to La Repubblica, the Holy Father wants to "reach the hearts of Christians and invite them to have hope, without being thrashed by pessimism."
The document, according to the same source, is being translated into several languages and could be signed by the Holy Father on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the anniversary of the close of Vatican II.
Pope Benedict's first visit to the United States April 15-20
Vatican City, Baltimore, U.S.A, Nov.12, 2007 (CINS/CNA).- Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., has announced that Pope Benedict will be making his first visit to the United States April 15-20. The plans for the five day voyage will include an address at the United Nations in New York and a stop in Washington D.C.
The Pope’s itinerary will begin with an April 16 meeting with President George W. Bush at the White House, followed by a gathering with the U.S. bishops at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
On Thursday, April 17, the American public will have its first chance to see Benedict XVI at a Mass to be held at the new Washington Nationals stadium. Later in the day the Pope will also take place in an inter-religious event at the John Paul II Cultural Center.
The New York leg of the papal visit will begin with a historic address to the UN on Friday.
Cardinal Edward Egan of New York expressed the delight of Catholics in New York upon learning that Pope Benedict will be coming to visit. “When our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, told me last July that he would be visiting…I was delighted with the news and shared it with the People of God of the Archdiocese of New York…The response of all was both rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord for the great grace of the presence of the successor of St. Peter in our midst.”
One group that is close to the heart of Pope Benedict is young people. The Holy Father has made sure that time is set aside for them by scheduling a meeting with them at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers on Saturday.
The Holy Father will conclude his visit with two very significant stops. In what is sure to be a moving moment, he will pay his respects at Ground Zero and then say farewell to the American Church with a Mass celebrated in Yankee Stadium.
Should the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and the Dalai Lama go ahead?
Beijing, China, Nov.02,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – The Chinese government yesterday warned the Vatican of “serious repercussions” to bilateral relations if the Pope meets with the Dalai Lama, who is due in Rome on December 13th. Currently there are no diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Beijing.
Liu Jianchao, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Minister, said: “We hope the Vatican will not do anything to hurt the Chinese people’s feelings and will show sincerity to improve relations with China by taking concrete actions”.
Beijing has always maintained that the Dalia Lama is not a religious leader, but a dangerous separatist who is seeking independence for Tibet, invaded by Chinese troops in 1950. In this light, the Chinese government has condemned recent meetings between the Tibetan leader and political leaders from the United States, Canada and Germany within the last 12 months.
Moreover the American government has recently conferred the Dalai Lama the Congress Gold Medal award, the nation’s highest honour. In response, Liu said that “those countries, who decide to deal with the Tibetan separatists, tarnished their own image”.
Holy Father Benedict XVI receives president of Bosnia Herzegovina
Vatican City, Oct.27,2007 (CINS/VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today:
"This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Zeljko Komsic, president of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The president subsequently went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, for the exchange of the instruments of ratification of the Basic Agreement and the Additional Protocol between the Holy See and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also present was Cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop of Vrhbosna.
"During the cordial discussions consideration was given to questions concerning the implementation of the Agreement itself, and in particular to the Church's commitment in the fields of education, social and charitable activities, and pastoral assistance to the Catholic faithful. The Catholic community's contribution in favor of the peaceful coexistence of the various ethnic and religious groups in the country was also underlined.
"President Komsic invited the Holy Father to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina."