Istanbul refugee center prepares to welcome Francis

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Istanbul refugee center prepares to welcome Francis

People at the refugee center that Pope Francis will visit this coming Sunday are learning to seek a future, the director of the center told CNA Nov. 27.

“Pope Francis will come here because we are not a school, we are a refugee center, we are a center of learning that kids can use for the future. And they are searching for the future,” Fr. Andrés Calleja Ruiz emphasized.

A Salesian hailing from Madrid, Fr. Calleja has been directing the center, situated in the vicinity of the Holy Spirit Cathedral, for five years.

Previously, Fr. Calleja served in Indonesia, and he was chosen to go to Turkey for his “experience with the Muslim world.”

He will accompany the children hosted by the refugee camp to meet the Pope Dec. 30.

He recounted that “the Pope will meet with about 100 children, though we still have to decide whether he will come to us, or whether we will go to him.”

The refugee center is just behind the Holy See nunciature in Istanbul, a few steps from the Holy Spirit Cathedral where the Pope will sayMass Nov. 29.

The cathedral has been entrusted to Salesians since 1989, and – beyond the refugee center – they boast a youth center, a hospital, and a primary school.

“Most of the people coming here are Christians, but there are also Muslims, though they are quite a few. We welcome everybody, and everything is given for free. All our work is completely sustained by donations, which mostly come from foreign countries. The Catholic community is only 0.02 percent of the population, and it is very poor,” Fr. Calleja stressed…Read More

Source and Original Content by CNA

UK Archbishop calls for Church to lead Ebola response

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UK Archbishop calls for Church to lead Ebola response

The Archbishop of Canterbury says the Ebola virus “strikes straight into the heart” of what it is to be human.

In a video recorded for a World Council of Churches (WCC) consultation on the Ebola response, Most Revd Justin Welby stressed the “absolutely crucial” contribution of churches and other faith communities in responding to the crisis.

He also spoke about a visit to West Africa last month in which he met with the Chief of Staff of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) in Accra, Ghana.

Speaking about the virus, he said: “You’re infected by the people you love most, and grieve for most – they are most dangerous to you when they’ve died.”

“This is a challenge to the very heart of what it is to be human.”

Archbishop Justin is praising the work of churches on the ground helping people affected but raised concern over the pressure they’re under: “They’re dealing with a quantity of bereaved people, of orphans, of widows, of those really emotionally traumatized to an extraordinary extent, at a scale that they are not easily able to do. They’re dealing with their own fears.

“And I think therefore that for the churches we come back, as we always do as Christians, to prayer. To the person of Jesus Christ, who goes into the worst of all possible places, in the worst of all possible conditions, and does so through our hands and feet and eyes and ears. But also does so by his Spirit.”

“Prayer is something that is incomprehensible outside the church and essential within it. The church is called to be courageous but it will be courageous when it is prayerful.”

The WCC is today holding its second consultation in 60 days on the Ebola crisis.

The meeting, held at the WCC’s Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, brings together representatives of Christian health, development and aid organizations and UN agencies to learn from each other and seek ways of collaboration to escalate their efforts

Source and Original Content by Premier Christian Radio

Incorruptible Bodies Of The Saints;Amazing, Beautiful, And Other-Worldly

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Incorruptible Bodies Of The Saints;Amazing, Beautiful, And Other-Worldly

Saints with incorrupt bodies, through no scientific reason, have been miraculously preserved after their death, defying decomposition. They are not mummies, because their skin is soft and limbs pliable, unlike the dry, skeletal remains of the former. Usually nothing has been done to preserve the bodies of the Incorruptibles. Many of them give off a sweet, unearthly scent, while others produce oils or blood.

#1 Saint Bernadette Soubirous
In September 22, 1909, when Saint Bernadette Soubirous’s body was exhumed, they found it to be incorrupt. Her skin had the exact color as that of a living person. After another exhumation in 1919, Saint Bernadette was found in a similar state. Afterwards, she was placed in a gold and glass reliquary at the mother-house of the Sister of Nevers, where she looks like she is still sleeping to this very day (since her death in 1879).

saint-bernadette-soubirous-france

#2 Blessed Imelda Lambertini
Blessed Imelda Lambertini (1322-1333) is the Patron of a fervent First Holy Communion. Her incorrupt body can be found in the Church of San Sigismondo in Bologna, Italy.

blessed-imelda-lambertini-italy

#3 Saint Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney
Saint Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney’s body was exhumed in 1859 because of an impending beatification and was found to be incorrupt. He is the Patron of all priests who have the care of souls.

saint-jean-marie-baptiste-vianney-france

#4 Saint Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart
Saint Teresa Margaret lived her life quiet and hidden. Even though she performed no attention-grabbing deeds, she spent her life living quietly and with virtue. Her body has not decayed and has been miraculously preserved over hundreds of years since her death in 1770.

saint-teresa-margaret-of-the-sacred-heart-germany

#5 Saint Vincent de Paul
Saint Vincent de Paul died in 1160 and was canonized on June 16, 1737. He is Patron to the Sisters of Charity.

saint-vincent-de-paul-france

#6 Saint Silvan
Little is known of Saint Silvan, who died in 350—only that he was killed for his faith. His body, thousands of years old, is remarkably preserved…Read More

saint-silvan

Source and Original Content by BoredBug

Pastor Sells Prized Possession to Raise Money for Charity

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Pastor Sells Prized Possession to Raise Money for Charity

A Welsh pastor waited and saved for 20 years to buy the classic car of his dreams. Now he has decided to give it away to raise funds for charity.

Clive Owen, pastor of Wellspring Christian Fellowship Church in Langstone near Newport in South Wales, and married with two daughters and four grandchildren, had vowed never to sell the 1971 Gilbern Invader Mark II he bought in Bournemouth last year.

According to the South Wales Argus, just 287 models of the Invader Mark II were made at Gilbern’s factory in Llantwit Fardre in Pontypridd. Launched at the 1970 British Motor Show, the Mark II featured an improved front chassis design, with modified suspension locations, and the Watt’s linkages were replaced with Panhard rods.

The name, Gilbern, combined the name of co-founder Giles Smith, a butcher from Church Village near Pontypridd, and that of Bernard Friese, an engineer from Germany and former prisoner of war.

The company was founded in 1959 and the cars were considered expensive for the time. The Argus reports that because of VAT being put on kit cars, the price went up and finally, production stopped in 1973.

Mr Owen, who has been “born again” for 33 years and earlier this year raised £1,000 for charity with his grandson by climbing the “three peaks”, Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell, in three days, paid £3,600 for the car 14 months ago.

It is now worth between £8,000 and £10,000. He wants offers of £10,000 or more to raise funds for three charities. Eden Gate is a homelessness and drug and alcohol rehab charity in Newport, there is also a Uganda charity, Life Ministries Trust Kampala, supporting 125 churches plus schools and hospitals, and the third is Shevet Achim, a UK charity dedicated to saving the lives of Arab children, mainly from Gaza, Iraq and Syria, born with congenital heart defects by funding their treatment in Israeli hospitals.

“As we speak there are two Syrian babies that have come through Jordan to Israel and are having their operations this week,” he said.

He had waited two decades to buy the car and when he purchased it, vowed that he would never sell it. He told Christian Today: “I am not selling it, I am giving it away, to anyone who will give me £10,000 for the three charities I support. I will be heartbroken to lose it.”

His mind was made up on his latest visit to Israel seven weeks ago, when he was at the main hospital in Tel Aviv. A little baby from Syria had just come out of the operating theatre. “As I looked at him he just gave me the most beautiful smile. I thought to myself, I’ve got to do more for these children. I thought, what do I love more than I love the life of a child? The answer was, nothing, not houses, cars or reputation, nothing. I went home and went walking, and thought, I will give the car away.

“I love that car. I waited 20 years for it. But if we don’t practise what we preach, they are empty words. Christmas is a greedy time. We call it greedmass. On one side of the line, people have more than they want. On the other side, they have nothing.

At this time of year we must take stock of what we do. If we say, all for God, it must be all for God. If one person in the world realises by my selling my car that perhaps they can do something good, sell something, give something away, then it’s been worth it. My heart will rejoice and I won’t be sad.

Source and Original Content by Christianity Today

Patriarch and Pope to Face World Challenges Together

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Patriarch and Pope to Face World Challenges Together

A common declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew on the issues of ecology and poverty would be natural is foreseeable for the future, a theological advisor of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Costantinople told CNA Nov. 28.

“Today, there is no excuse for indifference or inaction. A joint response between Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew can prove both powerful and permanent,” said Fr. John Chrissavgis, who works for the partriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Fr. Chrissavgis spoke on the eve of Pope Francis’ voyage to Turkey, scheduled Nov. 28-30.

During Pope Francis’ Nov. 28-30 trip to Turkey, he will meet with Patriarch Bartholomew for an ecumenical prayer on Saturday night at the Phanar, the Headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

According to Fr. Chrissavgis, there are thre three main challenges that both the Papacy and the Ecumenical Patriarchate can face together.

First, both should foster “a sense of humility and repentance for the arrogant suspicion and hostile polemics of the past. We should no longer be tempted by isolationism and fanaticism that characterized relations between the two Churches in previous centuries.”

Second, “we should honestly examine the theological differences that continue to separate us, especially the issue of authority and primacy, as well as infallibility and collegiality. Pope Francis has already demonstrated his willingness and openness to explore the common tradition of the early, undivided Church on these matters.”

And finally – Fr. Chrissavgis maintained – “even as we discuss doctrinal matters, we should not ignore the global problems facing people everywhere, including poverty, war, injustice, and the ecological crisis.”

Pope Francis has proven to be very attentive to ecological matters: he already announced he will issue an encyclical on ecology by the beginning of the next year, and often mentioned the notion of human ecology in his speeches – the last time Nov. 25, speaking in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

“The Pope’s love of the poor and vulnerable in society makes him equally sensitive to the natural environment,” said Fr. Chrissavgis.

On the other hand, Patriarch Bartholomew has “worked tirelessly for the awakening of people’s conscience about climate change. Hence the title that he has been given by journalists: ‘the Green Patriarch.”

Fr. Chrissavgis noted that “it is true that natural and human ecology are inseparably linked. The way we treat people, and especially the poor, is directly reflected in the way we respond to environmental issues; and the way we respect God’s creation is manifested in our attitude toward human beings created in the image of God. Indeed, both visionary leaders can discern this truth.”

“It would be wonderful – and natural – for the Pope and the Patriarch to stand together on this issue and sign a common declaration, just as Patriarch Bartholomew co-signed the Venice Declaration with Pope John Paul II in 2002. I can certainly foresee this happening in the near future.”

Source and Original Content by CNA

Church Gives 1,000 Thanksgiving Dinners to the Homeless

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Church Gives 1,000 Thanksgiving Dinners to the Homeless

More than 100 volunteers distributed 1,000 meals to homeless and homebound people in Detroit on Thursday through Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit.

The fifth-annual meal distribution also included passing out bottled water, hand sanitizer and personal hygiene kits, according to church spokeswoman Laydell Harper.

The menu was turkey, dressing, green beans and cake.

“The reason we go find the hungry is because what we discovered is that a lot of the folks can’t get to the shelters and various places that are serving,” Harper explained. “That’s our way of giving back to the community and we do that in all different ways.”

Source and Original Content by BCNN1

Christmas Concert Organizers Ban Carols

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Christmas Concert Organizers Ban Carols

A town orchestra says their audience will only get secular festive tunes this year.

Northampton Concert Band says it’s been gathering feedback from the community over the years.

It claims a survey of last year’s programme showed that carols scored consistently low in terms of audience enjoyment.

It says it doesn’t want people to feel ‘press-ganged’ into singing.

So this year their concert, held at the Holy Sepulchre Church, will consist of instrumental seasonal songs, such as ‘Walking in the Air’ and ‘Fairytale of New York’.

Concert Manager, Brian Crutchley, says church goers felt pressured to sing along, making them ‘uncomfortable’:

“I can understand that a lot of people do not enjoy singing in public, even with such a great band accompanying them.

“With the feedback we’ve had from our survey, we thought we’d drop carols from the concert altogether, which leaves room for other popular music for our audience to listen to.

He added, “If people want to sing carols, they’re better off going to a carol service.”

Stephen Bell, the band’s musical director promised they wouldn’t be “short-changing” their audience:

“They will still get two hours of top entertainment. The band will be performing some ‘lighter’ repertoire along with some well-known seasonal music.”

The band has 40 members and was originally formed by a group of First World War ex-servicemen in 1919.

Source and Original Content by Premier Christianity

Nigerian Christian Chibok Schoolgirl Prays That Militants Will Find Salvation

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Nigerian Christian Chibok Schoolgirl Prays That Militants Will Find Salvation

An 18-year-old Christian Nigerian schoolgirl who escaped during terror group Boko Haram’s attack on the village of Chibok in April recalled her ordeal in an interview in the U.S., and said that she prays the Islamic militants will turn to God and renounce their violent ways.

“In the Bible, God says that He can talk to people, even in their dreams,” Mercy Paul told NBC News in an interview. “I pray that they find that God is forgiving and merciful and that they stop doing what it is that they’re doing.”

Paul was one of the 276 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in the attack on Chibok. She managed to escape, however, and is now studying at a boarding school in Canyonville, Oregon.

Recalling the attack, Paul noted that militants set the girls’ school on fire, before forcing the students onto trucks and driving them into the forest.

“I jumped,” Paul said, “not knowing if I would be able to walk or whether I would die.”

Although dozens of other schoolgirls also managed to escape, more than 200 remain captured by Boko Haram. Despite an international campaign calling for their release, and the Nigerian army’s efforts to find the girls, they have not yet been found. Boko Haram’s leaders have said that the girls have been converted to Islam and sold off as brides.

The Islamic terror group has waged war on the Nigerian government for over five years now, raiding and taking over a number of towns. Earlier in November, the militants came back to carry out another raid in Chibok, and proclaimed that the town is under its Islamic caliphate.

Christians have been heavily targeted by the terror group, which has carried out bombings of churches and shot up entire congregations.

Boko Haram has also carried out several violent attacks on schools, with a suicide bomber killing 48 students in the northeastern city of Potiskum earlier this month.

The Nigerian government reported in October that it had reached a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram and was negotiating for the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls, but those hopes were dashed when it was revealed that the parties it was in contact with were not part of the real Boko Haram leadership.

Non-profit groups have been reaching out to help victims in Nigeria, however, and Paul’s relocation to the U.S. was made possible by Christian group The Jubilee Campaign.

The organization is also raising funds to help all 57 schoolgirls who escaped Boko Haram to come to America and finish school.

Source and Original Content by Christian Post

Real Madrid Logo looses Cross to Please Muslim Supporters

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Real Madrid Logo looses Cross to Please Muslim Supporters

A cross which is part of the Real Madrid club crest is being removed in an apparent move to appease Muslim supporters.

The European Champions, from the Spanish capital have signed a new lucrative sponsorship deal with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

Local newspaper reports suggest the change of the badge was brought in to make sure no offence was taken in the Islamic United Arab Emirates, where a marketing drive will take place.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez called the deal a “strategic alliance with one of the most prestigious institutions in the world”.

The change in design hasn’t formally been announced but it was seen at the launch of the new deal where a number of the club’s stars, including Welsh international Gareth Bale, were in attendance.

Premier has contacted Real Madrid but is yet to receive a response.

Source and Original Content by Premier Christianity

US Church Commences ‘Drive-Thru’ prayers

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US Church Commences ‘Drive-Thru’ prayers

Busy drivers in California can now be blessed by a pastor through their car window.

The first drive-thru service at the car park of the Holy Spirit Church in Fremont was held on 17th November.

Around 35 cars arrived within the first hour.

It’s proven so popular that it will now be repeated every weekday evening, during the ‘rush hour’ period.

The church itself is one of the oldest in the area, having been founded in 1886, but Pastor Rev Matthew Vellankal was keen that they should adapt to fit around modern, busy lifestyles.

He said he was inspired after hearing about a similar scheme in Florida, as well as Pope Francis’s comments that ‘we should go where the people are’.

They don’t spend any money on advertising, as a parishioner simply holds a sign saying ‘Drive Thru Prayer’ at the intersection of Fremont Boulevard and Central Avenue during rush hour.

The aim of the scheme, Rev. Vellankal says, is to offer comfort and solace to people who are very busy.

He adds: “We live in a fast-paced society and if people don’t have an hour to pray, they might have a few minutes”.

Each driver spends a few minutes with the pastor.

Services are between 5 – 6pm every weekday evening.

Source and Original Content by Premier Christianity

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