John Mulderig One promising way to get in the holiday mood is to watch a Christmas-themed movie. And, since yuletide films naturally tend to qualify as family-friendly, they can also provide an opportunity to gather the clan, make some popcorn and relax together. Following, in alphabetical order, are capsule reviews of eight such pictures with…
Christina Rosetti’s poem, In the Bleak Midwinter, is a Christmas classic. “In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. . .” As Advent begins and the first wintry weather sets in, those words come to mind. As I write, today is such a day – gusty…
Dear Editor, Christians in Bethlehem are facing immense challenges amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The uncertainty and fear that has gripped the region has taken a toll on the lives of the residents, especially those who depend on tourism for their livelihoods. Bethlehem is not only a spiritual home but also a…
A Catholic priest can bless a gay or other unmarried couple as long as it is not a formal liturgical blessing and does not give the impression that the Catholic Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage, the Vatican doctrinal office has said. The request for a blessing can express and…
Paris (KNA): A cockerel is once again watching over Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. At the weekend, the archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, blessed the figure, French media reported. The golden cockerel filled with relics was then placed on the 96-metre-high spire above the nave of the church. A cockerel, the heraldic animal of the French…
Jerusalem (KNA): Representatives of almost all Christian churches have prayed for an end to the war and for hope at an ecumenical prayer for peace in Jerusalem. High-ranking representatives of the Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Anglican and Protestant Churches attended the service on Wednesday evening. In hymns and intercessions, the Christians prayed for God’s help for…
Luca Attanasio Five years have passed since the historic beatification of the 19 martyrs of Algeria celebrated at the shrine of Notre-Dame of Santa Cruz in Oran, Algeria. On the occasion of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, on 8 December 2018, in a church packed with people including many Muslim believers and religious leaders,…
Warsaw (KNA): For the first time, the Polish parliament will not only invite catholic clergy to its Christmas celebrations this year. Protestant and Orthodox clergy will also receive an invitation to the traditional celebration this time, the president of the Sejm lower house of parliament, Szymon Holownia, said in Warsaw. If there are to be…
Yes, it’s that time of year again and already the advertisements are on the air, the shops have opened Special Gift Department areas and Kevin the Carrot, and the Elf on the Shelf are waiting in the wings! All these are undeniably fun, but they are not what Christmas is about. If you want to…
World Mission Sunday 2023 – Celebrating and Supporting the Legacy of Irish Missionary Work During the summer of 2022, Misean Cara CEO John Moffett travelled with staff to South Africa and Zambia to visit a range of projects run by Irish missionaries demonstrating innovation in tackling gender-based violence, access to education for migrant children, protecting…