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Saint Augustine Cathedral
Second Sunday of Advent
December 6, 2015
Parish Mission Statement
Inside This Issue:
The Catholic Community of St. Augustine Cathedral,
nourished by the Eucharist and guided by the Holy Spirit
are sent forth to proclaim the Good News of God’s love for
all people.
As a Parish Community we will put this into action by
continuously developing a Pastoral Program that reaches
out to meet the needs of our Parishioners and community.
Weekly Parish Information
2-3
Liturgical4-5
Prayer List
5
Parish News
6-7
Diocese News
8
World News
9
Feature Article: “At Grand Mosque In CAR, Pope Denounces
Violence Perpetrated In Name of Religion or God”
192 S. Stone Ave. • Tucson, Arizona 85701 • Tel (520) 623-6351 • Fax (520) 623-0088 • cathedral-staugustine.org
Parish Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9 - 5 / Friday 9 - 4
ST. AUGUSTINE CATHEDRAL
CLERGY & STAFF DIRECTORY
Rector: Rev. Gonzalo Villegasx115
Parochial Vicar:
Rev. Showri Raju Narra
x117
Capuchin Priests: Rev. Robert Kose • Rev. John Francis Samsa
Deacons:
Keating Ackerley • Salvador Carmona,
Charles Gallegos • Jesse Soto
Office Manager: Margie Marrufo
x102
Secretary: Norma Madril
x101
Receptionist: Cecilia Metzx118
Compliance Officer: Terry Gill
x116
Diocesan & Cathedral Director of Music:
Carlos Zapienx114
Maintenance: Gloria Ramos • Cecilia Metz
Nick Gomez
Rectory Housekeeper: Norma Pinedo
Bulletin & Website Editor: Patty Alcala
REGULAR MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday
5:30 pm
English Vigil Mass - Organist
(Fulfills Sunday obligation)
Sunday
6:30 am
8:00 am
10:00 am
12:00 pm
5:30 pm
English Mass - No Music
Spanish Mass - Mariachi
English Mass - Choir
English Mass - Choir
Spanish Mass - Coro
Weekday English Masses
7:00 am & 12:00 pm Monday - Friday
Holy Days (except Christmas & New Years)
7:00 am
12:00 pm
5:30 pm
English Mass
English Mass
Spanish Mass
Sacrament of Penance
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Saturday
2
ORGANIZATIONS &
COMMITTEES
Altar Server Society: Sylvia Kamei &
Sandra Smith
Docent/Hospitality: Leilani Gomez
Eucharistic Ministers: Liz Aguallo
Events Fundraising: Leilani Gomez
Finance Council: Joe Ladenburg
Guadalupanos: Juan Carlos Martinez
Keep Cathedral Grounds Beautiful: John Jacome
Knights of Columbus: John Badilla
Pastoral Council: Liz Aguallo
RCIA:Deacon Charles
Gallegos &
Gene Benton
St. Vincent de Paul: Justin Castillo
Usher Society:
Luis E. Kamei
Youth Group:
Matt Yanez & Ariana Varelas
COLLECTIONS
November 22, 2015
Sunday Collection Received:
$6,280.35
2nd Collect: $1,293.08
Today’s 2nd Collection: Diocesan Priests’ Retirement
Thank you for your continued and
generous support of our parish.
God bless you!
SAINTS AND SPECIAL
OBSERVANCES
Sunday:
Second Sunday of Advent;
Hanukkah begins
Monday:
St. Ambrose;
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Tuesday:
The Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday: St. Juan Diego
Friday:
St. Damasus I
Saturday:
Our Lady of Guadalupe
PARISH INFORMATION
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday/Domingo12/6/15
6:30am
7:00am-2:00pm
8:00am
10:00am
12:00pm
3:00pm
5:30pm
4:45pm
6:30pm
7:00pm
English Mass
People of the Parish
CHRISTMAS FAIR
Spanish Mass †Francisco Jose Bolanos y
†Orlando Bolanos
English Mass †Johnny, Juan, Lupe Bracamonte
English Mass †Yolanda Y. Bonn
U OF A CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Spanish Mass
†Isabel & Pete Rea
NOVENA FOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
YOUTH GROUP IN PARISH HALL
U OF A CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Monday/Lunes 7:00am
12:00pm
5:30pm
7:00pm
12/8/15
OFFICE CLOSED
NO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASS
7:00am
Immaculate Conception Mass
12:00pm Immaculate Conception Mass
5:30pm
Misa de Imaculada Concepción
†Charles Gallegos
†Mary Pacheco
†Gerald Straccia
Wednesday/Miercoles12/9/15
7:00am
12:00pm
5:30pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
Daily English Mass
†Desiderio Carreon
Daily English Mass
†Desiderio Carreon
NOVENA FOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MEETING IN DINING ROOM
LADY OF GUADALUPE PRACTICE
Thursday/Jueves
7:00am
12:00pm
5:30pm
6:00-9:00pm
Friday/Viernes
7:00am
12:00pm
6:00pm-Midnight
10:30pm
12/10/15
Daily English Mass
Health of Robert Gallegos
Daily English Mass
†Doris Denick
NOVENA FOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
MASS & CHRISTMAS CONCERT - YOUTH GROUP
WEBSITE
If you are interested in
placing an
ad/link for your
company on our
website, please contact
the parish office.
BULLETIN
12/7/15
Daily English Mass
Health of Robert Gallegos
Daily English Mass
†Nellie F. †Herry C. Pain
NOVENA FOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
LADY OF GUADALUPE PRACTICE
Tuesday/Martes
ADVERTISE
YOUR BUSINESS
WITH US!
If you are interested in
placing an ad for your
company in our Bulletin,
please contact
Claudia Borders at
(520) 298-1265
VISIT OUR
WEBSITE!
cathedralstaugustine.org
VISIT US ON
/staugustine
cathedral
12/11/15
Daily English Mass
†Jose Luis “Guapo” Rincon
Daily English Mass
†Richard M. Ochoa Jr.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CELEBRATION
SPANISH MASS
Saturday/Sabado
12/12/15
NO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASS
9:00am
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE MASS - ALL STUDENTS
& PARENTS INVITED
5:30pm
English Vigil Mass
†Guadalupe Renteria
7:00pm
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass
†Gerald Straccia
7:00pm
SPANISH BAPTISM CLASS
PARISH INFORMATION
3
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
DECEMBER 6, 2015
God has commanded
that every lofty mountain be made low.
— Baruch 5:7
lejana. En este segundo Domingo de Adviento,
Pablo y Juan saben que esta gloria se acerca. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
TODAY’S READINGS
First Reading — Stand on the heights, Jerusalem;
see your children rejoicing that they are
remembered by God. A merciful and just God
leads Israel in joy (Baruch 5:1-9).
Psalm — The Lord has done great things for us;
we are filled with joy (Psalm 126).
Second Reading — May your love increase in
knowledge to discern what is valuable that you
may be blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians
1:4-6, 8-11).
Gospel — John proclaims a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All flesh
shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:1-6).
The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997,
International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
A BUSY MOTHER
VÍSTETE DE GOZO
Hoy Baruc nos habla del esplendor que se
acerca para la ciudad de Jerusalén y para todos
nosotros, sea donde fuere nuestro hogar. Despójate
de conflictos, nos dice, y vístete de gozo. Como una
vieja cobija favorita, el gozo nos queda a la medida,
y qué bien nos mantiene calientes, por muy frío que
sople el viento.
Pablo sabe de ese gozo cuando escribe su
carta a los filipenses, orando para que crezcan en
su habilidad de discernir lo que es bueno y justo. Y
Lucas nos habla de Juan, el que fue anunciado por
Isaías y que canta una canción parecida: “Preparen
el camino del Señor” pues la salvación está al llegar.
Hombre adelantado a su época, Baruc se
pasó la vida alegremente esperando una gloria
PERDÓN
Dios perdona como la madre que besa
la ofensa en un perdón sin fin.
—Henry Ward Beecher
4
Only after the Last Judgment will Mary
get any rest; from now until then, she is
much too busy with her children.
—St. John Vianney
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday:
Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9-14; Lk 5:17-26
Tuesday:
Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6,
11-12; Lk 1:26-38
Wednesday: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10;
Mt 11:28-30
Thursday:
Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9-13ab;
Mt 11:11-15
Friday:
Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19
Saturday:
Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a,
10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38
or Lk 1:39-47, or any readings from
the Common of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, nos. 707-712
Sunday:
Zep 3:14-18a; Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6;
Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18
LITURGICAL
TREASURES FROM OUR
TRADITION
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR
PARISHIONERS
By now, trees are beginning to appear in
living rooms throughout the parish. To a complete
outsider to our culture, it must seem an odd thing
indeed. The “roots” of this custom are in liturgical
drama: religious plays performed in the churches
and town squares of medieval Europe. The favorite
theme for this time of year was the “Paradise Play,”
a dramatic history of the human race from the
Garden of Eden to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
The language and music varied from place to
place, but one feature was always in place: a great
tree decorated with apples. As a prop, it provided
lots of material for the actors: the temptation,
shelter for the manger, and a reminder of the
wood of the cross. Soon people began to bring
“paradise trees” into their homes, decorating them
with gifts and lighted candles.
Many Germans give credit to Martin
Luther for transforming the “Paradise Tree” into
the evergreen Christmas tree. Walking home on a
starry Advent night, he was so awed by the beauty
of the night that he hauled a pine tree inside and
decorated it with lighted candles. Americans were
holdouts. It took until 1856 for the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts to decriminalize Christmas
decorations, the old Puritan dislikes falling before
the waves of Irish and German immigrants with
traditions firmly in hand! —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Please call the office to remove your
loved one’s name when well. Thank you!
ST. AUGUSTINE GIFT SHOP
The St. Augustine Gift Shop in the Cathedral Office
has expanded their religious merchandise!
Come visit us!
LITURGICAL
Francisca Aguirre
Margaret Aguirre
Esther Alba
Carlos Alegria
Ruben G. Amado
Rene Anaya
Angela
Altagracia Araiza Valdez
Lee Leon Baker
Ernesto Barnet
Antonio Beltran
Benjamin F.A. Bicknese
Alma Rosa Bombilla Lopez
David Bombilla Fregoso
Terry Rico Bracamonte
Betty Brichta Garcia
Jenny Wren Brichta
Steve Brooks
Alma Caballero
Carmen Cardenas
Irma Carmona
Msgr. Arsenio Carrillo
Omar Casas Varela 11yrs
Javier Chavez
Eric Cline
Pete Confrey
Lourdes Cortez Hernandez
Margarita Cota
Walter Cruz
Theresa Cuestas
Edwin Demons
Lillian Doe
Vicki Duarte
Panchita Duran
Diego & Nubia Federico
Jerry Federico
Evelyn Feyth Sausedo
Jose Fimbres
Jose Lluly Fimbres
Ursula Fimbres
Carmen FraIde
Maria Galvan
David Garcia
Marco Antonio Garcia Avila
Christine Gill
Frank Chapo Gomez
Veronica Gomez
Roberto Grijalva
Daniel Harkey
Erica Harper
Andy Heredias
Romelio Heredia
Ofelia Hernandez
Sonia Hernandez
Rudy Ingels
Agustina Iñiguez
Jesus Jaquez
Jesus Jaquez, Jr.
Elliot Janacek
Robin Kirk
Denise Lara
Angelica Lopez
Dora Lopez
Isaac Lopez
Michelle Lopez
Curtis Lucas
Socorro Macedo
Javier Marrufo
Bertha Dolores Martinez
Christina Molina
Jana Montione
Sara Miller Sidi
Denise Moreno
Julieta Moreno
Fernando Muñoz
Nuria’s Dad
Nancy O’Connor
Neal O’Connor
Santiago Orozco
Carmen Pinedo
Mother Preciado
Ernesto Quijada
Edelina Quiroz
Victor Manuel Rendon
Fred Riesgo
Bertha Romero
Ed Romero
Leonel Romero
Jaime Roybal
Evelyn Sandoval
Maritza Silva
Millie Smith
Daniel Smyers
Gracie Soto
Deacon Jesse Soto
Howard Spence
Christine Stern
Mary Stern
Joe Szleszinski
Amie Tetlowski
Armando Valenzuela
Barbara Valenzuela
Monica Verdugo
Teresa Verdugo
Rona Anne Ward
Lydia Yanez
Lessie Yang’s Mom
Gabriella Kenosha Zemont
5
WONDERFUL MUSIC IN A
BEAUTIFUL, SACRED SPACE
EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF
MERCY
Wonderful Music in a Beautiful, Sacred Space is
the theme of the 2015-2016 Cathedral Concert Series
set for St. Augustine Cathedral under the direction of
Carlos Zapien, St. Augustine Cathedral and Diocese
of Tucson Director of Music. All of the events are
scheduled for Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM. Continuing with On Wings of Song, December 15,
2015 featuring Carlos Zapién, Tenor and Alexandr
Pashkov, piano; Piano Recital, January 19, 2016
featuring Claire Huangci, piano. The final event of the season is the Misa
Criolla, February 16, 2016 with the Cathedral and
Community Chorus with Jessica Pierpont, Conductor.
December 8, 2015 - November 20, 2016
St. Augustine Cathedral
192 S. Stone Ave. Tucson, AZ 85701
520-623-6351
General Donation: $25
Student Donation: $10
www.tucsoncathedralconcerts.org
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
NOVENA
Our Lady of Guadalupe Novena will be starting
on December 5th through the 11th (see times on
calendar p. 3).
La Novena de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe será a
partir del 5 hasta el 11 de
diciembre (mira horario en
el calendario p. 3).
These front doors of St.
Augustine Cathedral are
designated as the Holy Door,
the Door of Mercy during this
Extraorindary Jubilee Year of
Mercy. It will be closed until the
beginning of the Year of Mercy.
On December 13th throughout
the world, the Door of Mercy will
be opened in Rome and all the
Cathedrals and designated Churches throughout the
world. From this day they become a Door of Mercy
through which anyone who enters will experience the
love of God who consoles, pardons and instills hope.
The season of grace, which is the Jubilee of Mercy,
will naturally be characterized by the possibility
of obtaining the plenary indulgence through
certain pious exercises culminating in entering
through the Holy Door, the Door of Mercy. These
pious exercises will accompany the prayer and
celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation and
the Eucharist as concrete signs of conversion and
immersion in the mercy of the Father. Details of
the conditions for receiving this indulgence will be
published at the opening of the Year of Mercy.
This Holy Door, the Door of Mercy at St. Augustine
Cathedral will be opening on Sunday, December 13,
at the Mass at 12:00 noon. Please plan on coming.
Prayer for the Year of Mercy
11 diciembre, 2015
10:30pm en Español
Lord, Jesus Christ, you have taught us
to be merciful like the Father.
Let us be your visible face in the world,
a face of compassion and mercy.
Let all who approach in this Year of Mercy
find love, forgiveness and mercy.
May this jubilee of mercy renew your Church
and compel us to bring good news
to the poor and marginalized.
Give us the heart and the means
to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty,
clothe the named, shelter the homeless,
visit the imprisoned; visit the sick
and comfort those who mourn.
December 12, 2015
9:30am Mass in English
We ask this of you, Lord Jesus Christ,
ever merciful and forgiving
now and forever. Amen.
CELEBRATION
December 11, 2015
6:00pm - 12:00am
MASSES
6
PARISH NEWS
SLEIGH BELLS RING, ARE YOU LISTENING………
St. Augustine Cathedral Pastoral Council invites ALL of our parishioners to our Hospitality
Sunday on Sunday, December 13, 2015 that will take place on the south side of the
church after the following mass times: 6:30 am; 8:00 am; 10:00 am; and 12:00 noon
masses. Please stop by for fellowship and community spirit to enjoy a cup of coffee, hot
chocolate, delicious donuts, and other goodies. It has also been confirmed by the North
Pole that Santa and his elves will be stopping by on or about 9:00 am.
Bishop Gerald Kicanas will officially begin the Jubilee of Mercy (please read the parish
bulletin for information regarding the Jubilee of Mercy.) here at the Cathedral for
the Diocese of Tucson on Sunday, December 13th at the 12:00 noon mass. The
Pastoral Council will be accepting donations of travel size toiletries (shampoo,
soap, deodorant, , toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotions, etc.) this same day (Sunday,
December 13th) after all the masses that will be taken to the Sr. Jose Women’s Homeless
Shelter located in the downtown Tucson area.
YA ESTÁN SONANDO LOS CASCABELES DE LOS TRINEOS,
¿LOS OYEN?
El Consejo Pastoral de la Catedral de San Agustín tiene el agrado de invitar a
TODOS los miembros de nuestra parroquia a nuestro evento Domingo de
Hospitalidad que se llevará a cabo el domingo 13 de diciembre de 2015 en la
lado sur de la iglesia después de las siguientes Misas: 6:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 10:00
a.m., y 12:00 del mediodía. Los invitamos a compartir en el espíritu comunitario
disfrutando una taza de café o chocolate caliente, y deliciosas donas. Hemos recibido
confirmación del Polo Norte que Papá Noel y sus duendes nos harán una visita alrededor de
las 9:00 a.m.
El domingo 13 de diciembre, durante la Misa de las 12:00 del mediodía aquí en la Catedral, el Obispo
Gerald Kicanas iniciará oficialmente el Jubileo del Año de la Misericordia (remítase al boletín parroquial
para más detalles) para la Diócesis de Tucson. Ese mismo día (13 de diciembre), el Consejo Pastoral aceptará
donaciones de artículos de tocador de tamaño para viaje (champú, jabón, desodorante, cepillos de
dientes, pasta dental, loción, etc.) después de todas las Misas. Los artículos recolectados se donarán al
albergue Sr. Jose Women’s Homeless Shelter ubicado en el área del centro de Tucson.
PEDIMOS DONACIONES
A nombre del grupo de la Asociación Guadalupana,
les damos las gracias por su apoyo en la compra
de los boletos de la rifa del cuadro de la Virgen de
Guadalupe. El ganador fué el Señor Alberto Espinoza.
Queremos pedirles su ayuda una vez mas...
necesitamos donaciones de: platos hondos para
servir el menudo, cucharas, vasos, servilletas,
azucar, y café.
Las donaciones se pueden entregar una semana
antes del 12 de diciembre en la oficina.
Muchas gracias de antemano por su generosidad!
St. Augustine
Christmas Fair
December 6th
-La Mesa Directiva del Grupo de la Asociación Guadalupana
PARISH NEWS
7
YEAR OF MERCY ART SHOW
Artists with works reflecting “the realities that call
us to social change” will be in a show at Most Holy
Trinity parish on Saturday, December 5th from
9am to 8pm and Sunday, December 6th from
8am to 6pm.
Dedicated to the “Year of Mercy”, this show is for
everyone. Local, International, Multi-faith artists
with a variety of mediums will inspire all of us.
Some of our well-known diocesan artists, priests
and religious, will be participating. For more
information: [email protected].
GET THE CREDIT
Your contribution to CTSO makes an
outstanding Catholic education possible.
The first encyclical of Pope Francis, named Laudato
Si is a discussion about caring for our earth and the
need to reform the negative effects of pollution
and exploitation of natural resources on the world’s
poorest residents. Bishop Gerald Kicanas will be
offering presentations on this historic encyclical
around the diocese on the following date:
• Sunday, Jan. 24 from 2-4pm at St. Anthony of
Padua Parish in Casa Grande
Join with Bishop at one of these sessions and see
how, together we can live this message from Pope
Francis! There is no charge for the event.
With your help, deserving students receive a quality
education that emphasizes excellent teaching,
a supportive learning environment, academic
achievement, and faith-filled values. You can request
that your contribution go to a particular school or
to the general fund, and you have the satisfaction of
knowing that your tax dollars stay in Arizona giving
deserving kids an outstanding Catholic education.
• CTSO provides more than 5,000 students with
tuition scholarship assistance each year.
• 100% of the scholarships are based on financial
need.
• 86% of the scholarships go to low income
families, and 38% are single family households.
• 63% of students enrolled receive financial
assistance.
It’s clear. You are investing in your community
in a very important way when you contribute to
CTSO. Thanks!
RELIGIOUS VOCATION
MINI-RETREATS
FOR WOMEN
CON NUESTRO CORAZÓN,
WITH ALL YOUR HEART:
GREATER MISSION
LEARN MORE ABOUT
LAUDATO SI
Thursday, December 10th from 6-9pm
Bishop Moreno Pastoral Center
111 S. Church Avenue
Come for a light supper
and Advent prayer for
ongoing discernment and
vocation information.
Please RSVP at least 3 days
prior to the event to Sr.
Jeanne Bartholomeaux,
SC at 838-2524 or
jbartholomeaux@
diocesetucson.org
8
“Love the Lord your God with all
your heart, soul, mind and strength”
(Mk 12:30). What is your heart drawn
to? Is it prayer? Maybe it’s service, or
witnessing. Maybe you have a heart
that’s meant for sharing. We are all naturally drawn
to different aspects of Catholic life because God
made us that way. The Greater Mission project is
a stewardship program at the Cathedral, focused
on prayer, service, sharing, and witnessing in order
to build community. We invite you to come to our
bilingual informational New Year dinner and kick
off for the program on Friday, January 8th from
6:00pm-8:00pm.
DIOCESE NEWS
AT GRAND MOSQUE IN CAR,
POPE DENOUNCES VIOLENCE
PERPETRATED IN NAME OF
RELIGION OR GOD
Speaking to Muslims, Says Muslims
and Christians Are Brothers, Sisters;
Acknowledges Recent Violence Not
Grounded in Properly Religious Motives
continent, as well as prove a positive influence helping
to “extinguish the smoldering tensions which prevent
Africans from benefiting from that development, which
they deserve and to which they have a right.”
The Holy Father also invited them to pray and work
for reconciliation, fraternity and solidarity among all
people, and concluded, praying that God bless and
protect them.
Bangui, November 30, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Deborah Castellano Lubov | © Innovative Media Inc.
Pope Francis has said that Christians and Muslims
POPE MAKES UNEXPECTED
together, must say no to hatred, to revenge and
VISIT TO PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL
to violence, “particularly that violence which is
perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself.”
IN CAR
The Holy Father stressed this point this morning
Francis Met With Young Patients,
when speaking to Muslims in the Grand Mosque of
Staff; Brought Medicine for Children
Koudoukou in the Central African Republic’s capital of
Bangui, reminding those gathered that God is peace.
from Rome’s Bambino Gesu Children’s
Pope Francis made his first Apostolic Visit to Africa,
Hospital
visiting the capitals of Kenya, Uganda, and CAR, and is
Despite even more protective security than normal,
due to land in Rome this evening.
given he was visiting an active war-zone, Pope Francis
“Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters,” the
was not deterred from making a brief, unscheduled
Pope stressed, after noting it was a joy to be with the
stop at a children’s hospital in Central African
Muslim community. “We must therefore, consider
Republic’s capital of Bangui, reported Vatican Radio.
ourselves and conduct ourselves as such.”
During the visit last night, the Pope met with some
Those who claim to believe
of the young patients and
in God must also be men and
staff, and delivered to them
women of peace, he said,
several boxes of medicines for
acknowledging, ‘We are well
the children there, provided
aware that the recent events
by Rome’s “Bambino Gesu”
and acts of violence which have
pediatric hospital.
shaken your country were not
Pope Francis’ visit to Africa
grounded in properly religious
concludes today, after a busy
motives.” He also recalled
morning of meeting with
that Christians, Muslims and
Muslims in Bangui’s Central
members of the traditional
Mosque, followed by a Mass
religions have lived together in
marking the feast of St. Andrew
peace for many years.
in the city’s sports stadium. The
Image from The Associated Press
Given this, he continued, they
Holy Father is due to arrive back
ought to “remain united in
in Rome shortly before seven o’clock tonight.
working for an end to every act which, from whatever
The Central African Republic, which gained
side, disfigures the Face of God and whose ultimate
independence from France in 1960, is one of the poorest
aim is to defend particular interests by any and all
nations in the world. It has been plagued by ethnic
means, to the detriment of the common good.” and religious violence over the past two years. Tens
In these dramatic times, the Pontiff lauded that Christian
of thousands have been forced to flee the country to
and Muslim leaders have sought to rise to the challenges
neighboring nations due to this war between majority
by working together to play an important role in reMuslim Séléka forces and the majority Christian antiestablishing harmony and fraternity among all.
Balaka. The United Nations has warned that there was
high risk of the country descending into genocide.
The Pontiff also strongly urged those present to make
their country ‘a welcoming home’ for all its children,
Pope Francis’ visit to Kenya, Uganda, and Central
regardless of their ethnic origin, political affiliation or
African Republic, marks his 11th international trip and
religious confession. If they do this, he explained, the
his first visit to the continent. (D.C.L.)
Central African Republic, situated in the heart of Africa,
Bangui, November 30, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Staff Reporter | © Innovative Media Inc.
will then prove a stimulus in this regard to the entire
WORLD NEWS
9