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St. Louis was born to King Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile, at Poissy on April 25th 1215. Louis was made King at only 11 years of age, and was the father of 11 children. He led an exemplary life, bearing constantly in mind his mother's words: "I would rather see you dead at my feet than guilty of a mortal sin." His biographers have written of the long hours he spent in prayer, fasting, and penance, without the knowlege of his people.
The August 23-25 National Eucharist Congress in Madagascar, the third in the country, can help the Indian Ocean Island nation “achieve” peaceful co-existence, a Catholic Archbishop in the country has said. In his homily during the opening Mass of KEN 2024, Archbishop Benjamin Marc Balthason Ramaroson underscored the need for spiritual renewal and highlighted the role of the Eucharistic Congress in achieving fraternity in Madagascar as important. “This congress will help us achieve fraternity in our country and the world. The world is already destroyed in every way and needs healing,” Archbishop Ramaroson said, and added, “If we want fraternity to reign in this world, we must first change ourselves.” To achieve this transformation, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana said, participants in the Eucharistic celebration that was held at Kianjasoa stadium needed to arm themselves with three essential virtues: “generosity, service, and truth.” On his part, President Andry Rajoelina expressed his gratitude and that of the State for the Catholic Church's contribution to society. “It is only fair that the State supports the actions of the Church in return, as it does a lot for the well-being of the population,” President Rajoelina said. He said fraternity is “important and worthy of consideration for us to take on the tasks and challenges we will face, for the development of the country.” The President of the Indian Ocean nation donated a 5-hectare land to the Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana. The Malagasy Metropolitan See plans to build facilities on this land to assist the residents. President Rajoelina also promised to contribute to the construction of the St. Francis of Assisi Church. Meanwhile, in his message to participants of the Eucharistic Congress, the President of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity and Pastoral Care at CEM, Archbishop Jean de Dieu Raoelison, called for staying “away from anything that may cause division and strife because Christ has united us all as one in Himself on the Cross.” “Take advantage of this Congress to gain strength to approach all people and to approach God,” Archbishop Raoelison said. He implored, “May faith in Jesus Christ in the Eucharist fill our hearts and be reflected in our lives.” The Malagasy Catholic Archbishop further implored, “We wish a holy pilgrimage for all of us participating in this National Eucharistic Congress and may this great celebration bring good results for our souls. May the Blessed Virgin Mary help and support us to examine carefully in our hearts.” Organized under the theme, “Fraternity to Heal the World: You are all brothers and sisters (Mt 23:8),” the August 23-25 Eucharistic Congress aims to restore the value of fraternity among the people of God in the Indian Ocean Island nation.
Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has released new guidelines for Eucharistic Adoration in response to the theft of a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament during exposition on Tuesday, August 20.
Secular influences have made maintaining a Catholic identity in Kenyan Catholic schools a challenging task, Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe, one of the three Auxiliary Bishops of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN), has said.
The Parish Priest of St. Joseph Praia Parish in Cape Verde’s Catholic Diocese of Santiago has expressed his joy and gratitude for the increase in the number of the faithful under his care in just four years.
Saint Bartholomew is one of the Twelve Apostles, mentioned sixth in the three Gospel lists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14), and seventh in the list of Acts (1:13). The name (Bartholomaios) means "son of Talmai" which was an ancient Hebrew name.
Pope Francis is in spiritual solidarity with participants in Madagascar’s 3rd National Eucharistic Congress (KEN 2024) taking place in the country’s Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana.
The newly elected president of the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) has, in her acceptance speech, called for synergy among members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) in the region.
John Luchembe, the Lector, who collapsed while taking the First Reading at Holy Mass in Malawi and later died at a hospital has been remembered for dedicated commitment to Catholic faith.
Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Musiè Ghebreghiorghis from the pastoral care of the Eparchy of Emdeber in Ethiopia and appointed Bishop Lukas Teshome Fikre Woldetensae as his successor.
More than ever before, the Laity in Africa is seeking more involvement in the Church, the Vice Superior of the Ghana Province of the Society of African Missions, (SMA) has said, noting that lay people on the continent are no longer satisfied with being “mere consumers of sacraments”.
The Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, has raised fears that a Yemeni, who fled to Egypt after he converted to Christianity now risks being deported to his home country where his life may be in greater danger.
On August 23, the church celebrates the first saint of the New World, St. Rose of Lima. Isabel Flores de Oliva was born in Lima, Peru on April 30, 1586, daughter of Gaspar Flores and Maria de Oliva. She was baptized in the parish of San Sebastián in Lima by the priest, Fr. Antonio Polanco. She was confirmed in the village of Quives de Manos by the then Archbishop of Lima, St. Toribius de Mogrovejo.
Archbishop Benjamin Marc Balthason Ramaroson of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana in the Indian Ocean Island nation of Madagascar has urged young people in the country to emulate Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo, a Malagasy laywoman who devoted her life to the poor and the sick.
A Catholic Nun has raised concern about a shortage of “competent” formators in the Eastern and Central African region, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize specific professional training of personnel in the region.
The Archbishop of Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has appealed to heads of Catholic primary schools in Kenya to prioritize the needs of their pupils to equip them for life's challenges.
Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, the first Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City Archdiocese in Nigeria, has been remembered as a faithful pastor who contributed to the growth of the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Claudio Dalla Zuanna of the Catholic Archdiocese of Beira in Mozambique has called on politicians to ensure that the electoral campaign, set to begin on August 24, is centered on the presentation of political “proposals” rather than “verbal aggression.”
Archbishop Luzizila Kiala of the Catholic Archdiocese of Malanje in Angola has underscored the importance of supporting and guiding children in the ways of the Church.
In this feast, particularly cherished by the Popes of modern times, we celebrate Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth.