Monthly newsletter for dioceses and parishes. Issue 19 – July 2015
Laudato si – Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis
The Vatican has published the text of the much anticipated Encyclical Letter from Pope Francis which is called Laudato si. The Encyclical takes its name from the invocation of Saint Francis of Assisi, “Praise be to you, my Lord” which in the Canticle of the Creatures reminds us that the earth, our common home “is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us”. In the encyclical Pope Francis reminds us that “this sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her”. Her cry, united with that of the poor, stirs our conscience to “acknowledge our sins against creation”.
The encyclical is available to download as part of a special feature on www.catholicbishops.ie which also includes reaction from the Irish Catholic Church to the encyclical as well as a video highlighting some of the key themes. Laudato si is also available in booklet form from Veritas stores nationwide and online at veritas.ie.
Pope presents pallium to Archbishops Martin and O’Reilly
Pope Francis blessed and presented the ‘pallium’ to Archbishop Eamon Martin and to Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, after concelebrated Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on 29 June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The pallium is a white woollen strip, worn around the archbishop’s neck, which symbolises the bond and union between an archbishop and the Pope. The archbishops will be formally vested with the pallium by the Apostolic Nuncio at a subsequent ceremony in their own archdiocese – Archbishop Eamon on 4 July and Archbishop O’Reilly in the Autumn.
New religious education curriculum for Catholic schools
A new Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum – the first ever written for Ireland – for use in the 3,349 Catholic primary schools on the island will be in place from next September.
The first two books in the new religious education programme Grow in Love, based on the new curriculum, have been published and will enable teachers and others involved in religious education at primary level to implement the vision of the new curriculum. See veritas.ie for more information.
News SNIPPETS
- The Summer General Meeting of bishops concluded in Maynooth on 10 June. To read the press statement please see catholicbishops.ie. During their meeting the bishops heard about the plight of persecuted Christians from a delegation from the Archdiocese of Mosul led by the Syrian-Catholic Archbishop of Mosul, Yohanna Petros Mouche.
- The annual pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick will take place on Sunday 26 July – Reek Sunday.
- Lough Derg is open for the 2015 Summer Pilgrimage Season. Pilgrims can begin their three-day pilgrimage on any day up until 13 August 2015.
- This year’s Mission Sunday will take place on 18 October in the context of the Year of Consecrated Life. The theme of Pope Francis’ message therefore highlights the bond between faith and mission.
Pope Francis Tweet of the Month: “In the Sacrament of the Eucharist we find God who gives himself.” Follow Pope Francis on Twitter @Pontifex and on @news_va.
Produced by the Catholic Communications Office. See www.catholicbishops.ie for more information.
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