Below is an excerpt from a report in the Irish Catholic about the cost of refurbishing Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See in order to accommodate the Ireland’s Italian Embassy.

“The Government could have to spend as much as €1m refurbishing Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See (Vatican), according to sources close to the renovation project which is being undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Government announced the closure of the embassy last November citing economic reasons based on saving less than half a million for the closure.

A spokesman for the DFA confirmed that ”alterations will be necessary so that the Villa Spada can accommodate the embassy to Rome”.

An inside source close to the discussions has told The Irish Catholic that the DFA is drawing up plans to spend in the region of €1m to move the Embassy of Italy to the historic but protected structure of the Villa Spada that had served as Embassy to the Holy See from 1929 until earlier this year.

However, a senior diplomatic source speculated that the actual cost could be considerably more.

”€1m seems quite a small estimate to me given the fact that we are talking about a 17th Century building,” he said.

This new expenditure comes just a few years after the Government spent €1.4m renovating the Villa Spada.

However, the building will now need another overhaul to make way for the Irish Embassy to Italy.”

By Michael Kelly

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Below is an excerpt of an article in CiNews about the return of the relics of the True Cross to Holycross Abbey, after they were stolen late last year.

“We have our identity back” were the poignant words of the parish priest of Holycross in County Tipperary on Sunday morning last as the relics of the True Cross on which Jesus died, which had been stolen last October, were once again processed through the Abbey.

In his homily, Fr Tom Breen (pictured) told the packed congregation that the relics had been in Holycross for nearly 900 years, and that the second relic of the true cross had been given to the Abbey by Pope Paul VI in 1975 when it was being restored.

He said that when he visited a local school last Christmas and asked a local girl where she was from, she told him she used to be from Holycross but now that the cross is gone, I don’t know what to call home.

“Now we have our parish identity back, “said a delighted Fr Breen.

He thanked everyone who had prayed for the return of the relics and he especially thanked the Archbishop of Cashel & Emly Archbishop Dermot Clifford who, he said, “had never pointed the finger of blame at anybody.”

Fr Breen outlined to the congregation that from now on the relics would be stored in a specially designed alcove in the church.  While they will be visible to the public through the glass in the alcove, they will not be able to touch them.”

By Sean Ryan

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Below is an excerpt from an article in CiNews about a new organisation set up to train a team of lay people to speak about the Catholic faith in the media.

“A new organisation, based on the successful Catholic Voices model founded in Britain in the run-up to Pope Benedict’s visit in 2010, has been formed in Ireland.

Catholic Comment will prepare a team of lay people to speak about the Catholic faith in the media.

The organisation has been established by a group of lay Catholics, including independent Senator Rónán Mullen, former management consultant Catríona Curran, theology student Maura Garrihy and barrister Lorcán Price.  Other founding members include solicitor Declan Moylan, teacher Gene Dalton, university lecturer Dr Gearóid Barry and barrister Maria Steen.

In a statement announcing its establishment, Catholic Comment said it aims to provide authoritative and accurate communicators of the Church’s mission and teaching that will complement the work of Church leaders and assist the media.

According to project co-ordinator, Petra Conroy, the style of communication will be similar to that of Catholic Voices.

“We hope to communicate our values while respecting the goodwill, sincerity and intelligence of others.”

By Sarah MacDonald

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Below is an excerpt from a report on the irishtimes.com website about the new papal nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown, presenting his papers of credence to President Michael D Higgins yesterday.

“The new papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles John Brown, has pledged to do everything in his power to “solidify and strengthen” as well as “confirm and deepen” the relationship between the Holy See and Ireland.

Presenting his letters of credence to President Michael D Higgins in a ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin, Archbishop Brown said Pope Benedict had asked him to convey his personal esteem to the President as well as his “best wishes and sincere affection” for the Irish people.

The conciliatory message from the smiling nuncio came after a period of prolonged tension in the relationship between the two states, culminating in the Government’s decision last November to close the Irish embassy to the Vatican, citing reasons of cost.

“It is an honour, indeed a source of joy, for me to bring you heartfelt greetings from his holiness Pope Benedict XVI,” the nuncio said, reading a prepared statement.

“The holy father has asked me to convey in a particular way his esteem for you as President of this great nation as well as his best wishes and sincere affection for all the people of Ireland.”

By DEAGLÁN de BRÉADÚN, Political Correspondent

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Below is an excerpt from an article in the Catholic Herald about the upcoming Catholic Youth Ministry Flame Congress next month.

“The Catholic Youth Ministry (CYMFed) is hoping to fill out the 11,000 capacity Wembley Arena for the Flame Congress next month.

“The organisers have already sold 7,000 tickets for the event, which will be hosted on March 24 and will link sport and faith before the London Olympic Games this summer.

The event was inspired by the success of the Papal Visit of September 2010, in which large numbers of young people at Westminster Cathedral, Hyde Park and at “the Big Assembly” at Twickenham were active.

There will be ten bishops at the event, as well as Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, and among the speakers will be Sister Catherine Holum, a former Olympic speedskater, Barry and Margaret Mkizen and Paschal Uche, who spoke at the Papal Visit. There will be talks on the themes of “friendship, excellence and respect”, while the music will be composed by Edwin Fawcett, who was heavily involved in the music for the Papal Vigil.”

By Ed West

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Below is an excerpt of an article from CiNews about the announcement of the theme for this years International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin.

“The organisers of June’s 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin have announced that it will explore the theme of Communion in Suffering and Healing through a special celebration of the anointing of the sick and a Mass celebrated by Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem on June 15.

The announcement was made in a statement marking World Day of the Sick, on Sunday and IEC2012 General Secretary, Fr Kevin Doran said the Congress would also address the issues of the exclusion and isolation of the sick.  Fr Doran said the healing ministry of Jesus was not just about curing people physically, but also about drawing them back into full participation in the life of the community from which their illness often excluded them.

“Suffering has a way of isolating people.  This is sometimes because of their own physical frailty and sometimes because we who are well, are often unsure of how to respond to suffering,” he commented.

“It is an essential element of the mission of the Church today that we continue to seek ways of keeping people in communion even when they are no longer visible in the community on a daily basis.  This remains a challenge for the Church both on a social and on a pastoral level,” Fr Doran said.

In his Message for the World Day of the Sick, which falls on the Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Benedict said he wished to renew his spiritual nearness to all sick people who are in places of care or are looked after in their families.  The Pontiff highlighted the sacraments of healing, particularly the anointing of the sick, which have their natural completion in the Eucharistic communion.  Eucharistic Communion is the focus of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.”

By Sarah MacDonald

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Below is an excerpt of an article from CNA about the launch of a new internet based Center for Child Protection to provide online training for professionals involved in responding to the sexual abuse of minors.

“An international symposium addressing clerical sex abuse concluded on Feb. 9 with the announcement of a new internet-based Center for Child Protection.

“If the Church is now once again taking on its task of being a sign and sacrament of God’s love, and putting the protection and promotion of the life of children at the very center of its interests then such actions and work are a decisive contribution towards evangelization,” said Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich at the launch press conference in Rome.

The global “e-learning center” provides online training for professionals involved in responding to the sexual abuse of minors.

It’s being coordinated by the Ulm University in Germany, the Archdiocese of Munich and Rome’s Gregorian University, hosts of the “Towards Healing and Renewal” conference that took place Feb. 6-9.

The effort has an initial budget of $1.6 million dollars to cover its first three years from 2012 to 2014. The training package is delivered in modules, takes a total of 30 hours to complete and is available in four languages – English, Spanish, Italian and German.

“As a clinician who has some experience in medical education, I know that these e-learning tools are very strong tools if you really want to spread out knowledge,” Professor Jörg Fegert of Ulm University’s Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy told CNA. “

By David Kerr

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Below is an excerpt from a report from CNA about the unveiling of the logo for WYD 2013

“Brazil’s coastline, its Sugarloaf Mountain, and the iconic “Christ the Redeemer” statue are all part of the logo World Youth Day unveiled Feb. 7 for its 2013 celebration in Rio de Janeiro.

“In the faith of the nations the heart has a major role,” World Youth Day said in a note explaining the heart-shaped logo.

It represents Brazil’s welcome to the world “as a nation of generous heart and hospitable people,” while also conveying the faith of “the disciples who carry Jesus in their hearts”

Excitement surrounded the unveiling of the 2013 World Youth Day logo, which took place at an event hosted by Rio de Janeiro’s Archbishop Orani João Tempesta.

Social media lit up on Tuesday with discussion of the image, as the Twitter hashtag “#logoJMJ” made the network’s list of trending topics among Brazilians for several hours.

A 25-year-old Brazilian man, Gustavo Huguenin, submitted the winning logo design in a contest held by organizers of the international Catholic gathering, which will take place July 23-28, 2013.”

By Benjamin Mann

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Below is an excerpt from an article in the Irish Times which outlines that impact the economic downturn has had on religious and non-profit organizations in Ireland. The figures are highlighted in a new report Irish Nonprofits: What Do We Know? , that is published today.

“The economic downturn has had a heavy impact on religious organisations in Ireland, with income down from donations, church collections, legacies and other sources.

A detailed analysis of the thousands of non-profit organisations and charities shows overall income for religious congregations and churches dropped from about €43 million in 2008 to €39 million in 2009, a drop of 10 per cent. But the decline was sharpest in the area of legacies and bequests, which fell from €3.2 million to just under €1 million, a 70 per cent fall.

Religious groups reliant on membership subscription or sponsorship saw this income drop by 66 per cent, while fees from trading activities fell by just under 20 per cent and investment income was down by 17 per cent. Church collections were also hit with income falling from just under €5 million to €4.6 million, a decline of about 6 per cent.

Among the areas where the religious organisations recorded an increase was in income from corporate donations (up 24 per cent) and use of tax reliefs (up 6 per cent).

The figures are contained in a report to be published today, Irish Nonprofits: What Do We Know? , published by the Irish Nonprofits Knowledge Exchange. It is the most detailed analysis to date of the estimated 12,000 non-profit organisations in Ireland.

Non-profits generated an income of almost €6 billion, mostly from grants, donations and trading activity, and hold a combined total of about €3.5 billion in assets. Overall, they form a significant part of the economy and employ more than 100,000 people.”

By Carl O’Brien

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Below is an excerpt of a report from Vatican Today about the ongoing conference on ‘Towards Healing and Renewal’, which aims to provide a coordinated response to the sex abuse crisis.

“An international conference on how Churches around the world should be dealing with sexual abuse by clergy opens here in Rome on Monday evening at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Bishops conferences from across the globe have sent representatives to the four day meeting which hopes to draw up a coordinated response in preventing the crime of abuse and supporting survivors. The superior general of the Society of Jesus, Fr Adolfo Nicolas will welcome participants at the inaugural session, followed by a keynote address from Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Many Church leaders in Europe, Australia or North America have been dealing with the sex abuse crisis for many years and most of them have already drawn up guidelines on how to prevent, educate and support the victims of such abuse. Here in the Vatican too, some church leaders have increasingly been working towards a more consistent response to the problem, most notably in a letter sent last May by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to all bishops’ conferences on how to ensure that appropriate action is being taken in dioceses throughout the world.

That includes spiritual, practical and psychiatric support for victims, awareness raising in parish, schools and other places where children or vulnerable adults are at risk, better training in seminaries and religious institutes – all issues that will be tackled during the closed door symposium for bishops and religious superiors. “

From Vatican Today

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