St Joseph’s Advocate Ireland – Autumn 2020
Autumn 2020
India: Bishops of Jharkhand Support Recognition of Tribal Religion
“We are campaigning for the cause of the Sarna code and our people are going from village to village to make people understand the importance of this campaign,” Santosh Tirkey, general secretary of Ranchi’s Kendriya Sarna Samiti, told UCA News. “There are around 150 million followers of Sarna in India and we have been demanding recognition…
Basankusu DR Congo: Ordination Patrick Lonkoy Bolengu MHM
Today, Sunday 20th September 2020, the Catholic community of Basankusu, DR Congo, joyfully celebrated the priestly ordination of Patrick Lonkoy Bolengu MHM together with diocesan candidate Sillas Bangamba Bondola by the local ordinary, bishop Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku. The ordination took place at the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul in Basankusu, DR Congo. Two local…
Getting the Point: The Parable of the Labourers in the Vinyard
One thing we have to realise often about the parables Jesus tells is that he is not necessarily approving of the behaviour of the lead character in the story, far less adopting the political, economic or social policy which the central figure may be shown to be putting into practice. Jesus might identify God with…
Malaysia: Floods Wreak Havoc in Sarawak
It has happened again: exactly 10 years down the line. And it has come without mercy. The last time Sarawak experienced heavy floods like the current one was in September 2010. Indeed the flood in most parts of Sarawak wreaked havoc and rendered many homeless and without basic needs. Most of the places that are…
A Healing Community
While all Christians are called to follow Jesus, some communities have been brought deeper into the Paschal Mystery of death and resurrection through unjust and unrelenting collective suffering. Dr. Diana L. Hayes, an African American Catholic theologian and scholar, describes the “wounding” of the African American community and their faithful courage which has brought forth…
Season of Creation: Laudato Sì Celebration Song
It is difficult to match the irresistible Jerusalema of Master KG, but the Waka Waka Band from Kenya delivere a catchy anthem for the anniversary year of the encyclical of the same name: Laudato Si ‘Celebration Song. Pope Francis’s call for an environmental, social and economic turnaround cannot be confined to words. Waka waka means…
Season of Creation: Hearing Creation’s Song, Cry and Call
‘Sign the Laudato Si Pledge, then live it’. That was the final message from Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila, on film at the end of the Global Catholic Climate Movement’s four-hour-long Season of Creation Laudato Si’ virtual interactive Retreat on Saturday 12 September 2020. “To sense each creature singing the hymn of existence is to…
Kenya: Rediscovering the Church as Family of God
In the Gospels, we hear much of Jesus spending time in people’s homes and houses. At those occasions he either taught or healed people. The response of those whose houses were visited was conversion. The Apostles must have been used to house visitations so that when they began their ministry after the experience of the…
Season of Creation: Everything is Gift
Living as a creature means knowing you are dependent on a Creator. Which is not obvious if you have been taught all along that you are your own creator. We used to talk about someone being a “self-made millionaire”; these days we are told we can be entirely self-made, reinventing ourselves from scratch. But creatures…
Anglophone Crisis, Cameroon: ‘I See Some Glimmers of Hope’ – Bishop George Nkuo
“My prayer is that this crisis will be over. We see some glimmers of hope and I sincerely hope that things continue to improve and that whatever it takes, let those who are responsible for this crisis take the challenge and bring about peace in our land,” the Local Ordinary of Kumbo said. He also…
25 Years ago: Epic Centenary Walk from Mombasa to Kampala
Sixty Mill Hill mission pilgrims who trekked from Mombasa to the Buganda King’s court at Mengo arrived at Bulange to a rousing welcome from Lukiiko members and a cross section of people. Prince Lincoln Abraham Ndawula, Kabaka Mutebi’s uncle, received the pilgrims on behalf of the King who was out of the country. The pilgrims,…
MILL HILL MISSIONARIES