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Salalah (Agenzia Fides) - More than a thousand people took part in civil ceremonies and liturgical celebrations that took place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December in the Sultanate of Oman, on the occasion of the inauguration of a new Catholic church. The place of worship is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, patron of the missions, and is located in the city of Salalah, governorate of Dhofar. The first stone of the church was laid in February 2018, and the construction of the entire place of worship was completed in just 18 months. The church has a capacity of...

December 3, 2005Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest Psalm: Saturday 51 Reading IIs 30:19-21, 23-26 Thus says the Lord GOD,the Holy One of Israel:O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,no more will you weep;He will be gracious to you when you cry out,as soon as he hears he will answer you.The Lord will give you the bread you needand the water for which you thirst.No longer will your Teacher hide himself,but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:“This is the way; walk in it,”when you would turn to...

HOT TOPICS: Fatima Interfaith Congress and Shrine St. Francis Xavier Against Archbishop Fitzgerald: Those Outside the Catholic Church Need to Convert Gary Morella It seems that many who call themselves "Catholic" today are more than a little lukewarm when it comes to spreading the Gospel. Read on as St. Francis gives the modern Church an idea of what constitutes "proper evangelization." It contrasts strongly with the message that conversion is no longer necessary that was preached by Archbishop Fitzgerald and Fr. Jacques Dupuis at the Interfaith Congress at Fatima in October 2003. A Letter from St. Francis Xavier St....

IKITSUKI JOURNAL Once Banned, Christianity Withers in an Old Stronghold By JAMES BROOKE Published: December 25, 2003 Masafumi Yamamoto for The New York Times A paper scroll once hidden, now on display in Ikitsuki's museum Masafumi Yamamoto for The New York Times Three "hidden Christians" taking a walk in the Ichibu area. The community survived three centuries of bannings, burnings and beheadings. IKITSUKI, Japan — In 1865 a group of 15 Japanese peasants cautiously approached Bernard Petitjean, the first Christian missionary to work in Nagasaki since 1614. Speaking in the sanctuary of the new church, the peasant leader confessed, "Our...

December 3, 2003Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest Psalm: Wednesday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IIs 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hostswill provide for all peoplesA feast of rich food and choice wines,juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.On this mountain he will destroythe veil that veils all peoples,The web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever.The Lord God will wipe awaythe tears from all faces;The reproach of his people he will removefrom the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said:"Behold our God, to whom we...

Celebrating the Apostle’s comingK. R. N. Swamy The X-mas this year is being celebrated as the 1950th year of Apostle St Thomas coming to India St Thomas Museum, Chennai THE two-month-long celebration, that started on November 17 this year in Cochin, commemorating the 1950th year of Apostle St. Thomas’ arrival in India, was symbolic of Indian culture. A hundred thousand- strong congregation of Christians, presided over by the erudite Muslim President of India, Abul Kalam, so steeped in Hinduism. Three major Christian organisations, (representing the 22-million-strong Christian community), the Evangelical Fellowship of India with more than 100 church groups, the...

December 3, 2002Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest Psalm: Tuesday Week 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Families Schools Adults Reading IIs 11:1-10 On that day,A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,and from his roots a bud shall blossom.The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him:a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,A Spirit of counsel and of strength,a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord,and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.Not by appearance shall he judge,nor by hearsay shall he decide,But he shall judge the poor with justice,and decide aright for the...