200 years of Oblates of Mary Immaculate, part 1
On Monday, Feb. 25, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate reached a milestone in their history – the 200 years of their founding. The story of the OMI begins amidst the ashes of the great upheaval of the French Revolution which has had repercussions worldwide. It was an era when the Catholic Church in France was devastated and held in contempt and ridicule. Nevertheless, on Feb. 25, 1816 in Aix-en-Provence in southern France near Marseille, a handful of zealous priests headed by their leader Eugene de Mazenod committed themselves to serving the lost, the least and the last, bringing them the Good News of Jesus. That group of evangelizers, which later came to be known as the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, today has some 4,000-members worldwide. To know about the OMI and their 200 years, we talked to Sri Lankan Oblate Father Shanil Jayawardena, the director of communications and webmaster of the OMI here at the order’s headquarters in Rome. Fr. Jayawardena begins the first of
Possible papal visit to Auschwitz
(Vatican Radio) “It is very likely that Pope Francis will visit the concentration camp at Auschwitz,” during his visit to Kraków, according to Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., the head of the Holy See Press Office. He noted that every Pope who has gone to Kraków has later travelled to the notorious World War II death camp.
Message for 2016 World Day of the Sick presented in Vatican
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ message for the 2016 World Day of the Sick was officially presented at a press conference in the Holy See’s Press Office on Thursday. The main speaker was Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Workers, who reminded his listeners that the main Eucharistic celebration of this year's Day of the Sick (marked annually on February 11th) will take place at Nazareth in the Holy Land.
Lesotho delegate: IEC demonstrates active Mass participation
(Vatican Radio) The biggest difference between African and Filipino Catholics discovered at the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu, Philippines, is in the way Mass is celebrated. That is the view of Father Meshack Maine Phenethi - National Delegate from Lesotho, in southern Africa.
Pope: The Christian has a big heart that welcomes all
(Vatican Radio) The heart of the Christian is magnanimous because we were born of a loving Father and our arms should be open wide to welcome everyone with generosity – that’s what the Pope said at Thursday morning’s Mass at the Santa Marta guesthouse in the Vatican. Among those attending the Mass was a number of priests who celebrated with the Pope their 50th year of ordination.
