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Benedict attending – happy to see a beloved father
Amid all the news, speculation, reading and thinking about the new encyclical and the forthcoming canonisation of Pope’s John XXIII and John Paul II, I was still mostly touched by this photo (and...
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In Liège, a new “watchman” over the faithful
On Sunday, Jean-Pierre Delville was consecrated as the 92nd Bishop of the Diocese of Liège. Although the consecration of a new bishop in the Church of northwestern Europe is always and clearly a major...
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Cardinal watch: Cardinal Pimenta passes away
On Friday, Simon Ignatius Cardinal Pimenta passed away. The Indian prelate was 93 and lived at the Clergy Home for retired priest in Mumbai. Born in 1920, Simon Pimenta attended St. Pius X seminary...
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In Namur, a new – and very young – basilica
On Thursday, the “upper church” of the Belgian Marian shrine at Beauraing was elevated to the dignity of basilica minor. The building, built in addition to the original chapel built on the site after...
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“In faith, hoping against hope” A look at Bp. Wübbe’s motto
This afternoon will see the consecration of Bishop Johannes Wübbe, who will be auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Osnabrück and titular bishop of Ros Cré. The Mass, in which the new bishop will be...
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“Two hands reaching out”– the consecration of Bishop Michael Gerber
“It is God who enters into a relationship with us, who holds out his hand to us, and therefore invites us to open ourselves to Him and enter into the covenant with Him.” Words from Archbishop Robert...
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20 years as a bishop – Bishop Wiertz
Happy anniversary to Bishop Franciscus Jozef Maria Wiertz, who today marks the 20th anniversary of his consecration as bishop. Bishop Wiertz is the bishop of Roermond. On 25 September 1993 he was...
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An “advocate for heaven and earth”, Bishop Puff consecrated in Cologne
A bit late, but I wanted to look back at the consecration of Bishop Ansgar Puff, last Saturday, as auxiliary bishop of Cologne and titular bishop of Gordus. Doing the consecrating honours were Joachim...
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Cardinal Eijk sanctions a priest for excessive liturgical creativity, so why...
Cardinal Eijk is the media’s bad guy again. He sanctioned a priest for ‘forgetting’ a few words at Mass. Well, as it often is when secular media try to report on Church business, reality is a bit...
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Shepherds for life – the Church’s longest-serving active bishops
Recently, I read about the appointment, in the United States, of Bishop Salvatore Matano as Bishop of Rochester. He succeeds Bishop Matthew Clark, who headed the diocese since his appointment in 1979....
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Archbishop in Africa – Dutch priest appointed as Nuncio
On Saturday Pope Francis appointed Dutch Msgr. Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen as Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan. A high-profile appointment, certainly for a Dutch priest. Msgr. Bert van Megen is a priest...
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Changing of the guard in Essen
Yesterday Pope Francis accepted the retirement of one of the three remaining German bishops who were still active past their retirement age: Bishop Franz Vorrath, auxiliary of the Diocese of Essen...
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“Everything for everyone”– Herwig Gössl consecrated in Bamberg
In a full cathedral basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul and St. George, Archbishop Ludwig Schick consecrated the new auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Bamberg, Herwig Gössl, at 47 Germany’s...
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From journalist to juggler, and now bishop – Stefan Oster comes to Passau
Msgr. Klaus Metzl called it the most beautiful day of the year so far, and well he might. The Diocese of Passau, located where Germany meets Austria and the Czech Republic, had been without a bishop...
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A week away – details of the next making of a bishop
The Diocese of Roermond has published the details of the consecration of Archbishop Bert van Megen, a week from tomorrow. The archbishop-elect has been appointed as Papal Nuncio to Sudan, the first...
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Loving the Lord – Cardinal Parolin’s homily at the consecration of Archbishop...
Below is the full text of the homily that Pietro Cardinal Parolin gave yesterday at the consecration of Archbishop Bert van Megen, in the cathedral of Roermond. He gave his homily in English, but since...
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“We have learnt that God is with you”– New bishop of Passau looks ahead
As Germany’s youngest ordinary came into his own, he outlined the goals and direction of the Church in the Diocese of Passau. Bishop Stefan Oster was consecrated on Saturday by Cardinal Reinhard Marx,...
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From the courts, a new archbishop for Freiburg
Eight months after Archbishop Robert Zollitsch retired as archbishop of Freiburg im Breisgau, and was immediately appointed as Apostolic Administrator of that see, a successor has been found. In the...
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In Germany, double consecrations
Double duty for the German bishops today, as they have two consecrations of new bishops today to choose from. In Essen, the diocese of the Ruhr, Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck will consecrate Bishop...
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Looking backwards and forwards – Archbishop Burger begins
Following his consecration yesterday afternoon, Archbishop Stephan Burger looked both back and forward in his closing remarks. He first addressed the questions addressed to him between the...
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