Channel Islands' religious leaders pay tribute to Pope Francis
Religious leaders across the Channel Islands have paid tribute to Pope Francis who has died after 12 years as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican confirmed the Pope, 88, died at 07:35 local time (06:35 BST) on Monday, after being recently discharged from hospital having had weeks of treatment for an infection.The Catholic Dean of Jersey, Canon Dominic Golding said the late Pope had "a great heart for others".The Catholic Dean of Guernsey, Canon Christopher Rutledge said the island's Catholic community would mourn the death of Pope Francis.
Canon Golding said: "I think he will be remembered as a man who had a great simplicity of life."He chose not to live in the Vatican apartment. He lived in three rooms, I gather, in a papal guesthouse."But above all he was a man who had a great heart for others."Canon Rutledge said: "The Catholic community in Guernsey mourn the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis. May he rest eternal with our blessed Lord this Easter time."
The Bailiff has requested that all Jersey's government, public and parish buildings, where possible, should fly Jersey flags at half-mast from now until 20:00 BST on Tuesday as a mark of respect.Sir Timothy Le Cocq said: "I was saddened on receiving the news of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis."His selfless devotion to his faith and to all of those of good intent made him a much loved and respected figure who will be missed not only by the Catholic community but all who admired his work."In Guernsey, a memorial service for the late Pope was held at St Joseph and St Mary Catholic Church at 09:30 BST on Monday.
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Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Religious history 'rewritten' with 'greatest discovery since Dead Sea Scrolls'
The Megiddo Mosaic, discovered by an inmate at Megiddo prison in northern Israel, has been hailed as "the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls" by experts An ancient inscription hailed as "the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls" has been uncovered beneath an Israeli prison floor, naming it the earliest known testament of Jesus as God. A prisoner chanced upon the 1,800 year old mosaic at Megiddo jail featuring the Greek inscription: "The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial." Believed to be part of the world's inaugural prayer hall from around 230 AD, this 581-square-foot mosaic provides irrefutable evidence of the early Christian belief in Jesus as the son of God. Dubbed the Megiddo Mosaic, the artefact also showcases some of the most primitive artistic depictions of fish, hinting to biblical teachings like the one in Luke 9:16 where Jesus miraculously multiplies two fish to feed thousands. Concealed under Megiddo prison since its initial unveiling in 2005, the historic floor has presently been lent to an exhibition in Washington DC, only until the following month, reports the Mirror US. Carlos Campo, CEO of the showcasing museum, extolled the mosaic as "the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls," adding that colleagues believe it to be "the most important archaeological discovery for understanding the early Christian church." During the exhibit launch, Campo said: "We truly are among the first people to ever see this, to experience what almost 2,000 years ago was put together by a man named Brutius, the incredible craftsman who laid the flooring here." The Megiddo Mosaic is temporarily on view at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC until its return date in July 2025. Alegre Savariego, the exhibition's curator, said: "The mosaic presents groundbreaking physical evidence of the practices and beliefs of early Christians, including the first archaeological instance of the phrase, 'God Jesus Christ.'". Discovered in the Jezreel Valley, an area steeped in Christian lore as the site for the apocalyptic battle of Armageddon, the Megiddo Mosaic has caused a stir among historians and theologians alike. The four-year dig by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) unearthed the 581-square-foot mosaic floor, which intriguingly includes the name of the Roman officer who commissioned it during Judea's occupation. The find has sparked discussions about a potential period of coexistence between Romans and Christians, challenging the traditional narrative of constant conflict. An inscription on the mosaic reads: "Gaianus, a Roman officer, having sought honor, from his own money, has made the mosaic." Adding to the evidence of a harmonious relationship is the discovery of a nearby Roman encampment. The prayer hall or church was likely hidden away when the Roman Empire's Sixth Legion moved to Transjordan, suggesting a complex interplay of cultures and faiths in the region. The mosaic, which features the names of five women – Akeptous, Primilla, Cyriaca, Dorothea, and Chreste – whose significance remains a mystery, has been hailed as one of the most significant archaeological findings in comprehending the ancient Christian church. Bobby Duke, the Museum of the Bible's Scholars Initiative director, said: "This is arguably one of the most important archaeological discoveries for understanding the early Christian church." The artefact includes some of the oldest images of fish representing Christianity, mirroring the story in Luke 9:16 of Jesus feeding 5,000 with just two fish. Duke explained the importance of the discovery further: "For example, the mosaic underscores the crucial role of women in the early church by the fact that five women are mentioned in it by name,". The museum's expert compared the find to the historic impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on biblical scholarship: "Truly, the mosaic presents a wealth of new data for church historians, like the Dead Sea Scrolls did for Bible scholars." The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) noted the peculiar nature of this request for remembrance of individuals, particularly since it is rare for God to be asked to remember specific people. The IAA elaborated on the significance of the women featured saying, "While they were clearly important to the community, the inscription does not tell us whether they were patrons of the community (like Akeptous), or martyrs, or honored for some other reason." After unearthing a significant find, the IAA meticulously cleaned and preserved the mosaic. The floor was then delicately dismantled, with pieces stored in 11 crates that were shipped off to the US earlier this year for an exhibition titled 'The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith'. "You couldn't just lift the whole floor up," Duke said. "So ... they very intricately cut different pieces of the mosaic so that they didn't destroy any of the artwork. So, not all the pieces were the same size. So, even one of the crates that came into this gallery was about a thousand pounds." Once the exhibit is over, the Megiddo mosaic will be returned to Israel for a permanent display at its original discovery site. When the mosaic is repatriated, the inmates at Megiddo will be moved to a different prison. Additionally, the museum had to own up to the fact that several supposed Dead Sea Scroll fragments within their collection were actually recent frauds. "While some of the founders and actions of the museum are questionable, and the museum clearly has a very ideological agenda, I don't think a 'purist' agenda is very helpful here," stated Prof. Aren Maeir from Bar-Ilan University in a discussion with "As long as everything is done by the letter of the law, I see no problem."
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Raising school fees torments many Africans. Some expect the Catholic Church to do more to help
A crying parent with an unpaid tuition balance walked into the staff room of a Catholic private school and begged the teachers to help enroll her son. The school's policy required the woman pay at least 60% of her son's full tuition bill before he could join the student body. She didn't have the money and was led away. 'She was pleading, 'Please help me,'' said Beatrice Akite, a teacher at St. Kizito Secondary School in Uganda's capital city, who witnessed the outburst. 'It was very embarrassing. We had never seen something like that.' Two weeks into second term, Akite recounted the woman's desperate moment to highlight how distressed parents are being crushed by unpredictable fees they can't pay, forcing their children to drop out of school. It's leaving many in sub-Saharan Africa — which has the world's highest dropout rates — to criticize the mission-driven Catholic Church for not doing enough to ease the financial pressure families face. Legacy of Catholic education across Africa The Catholic Church is the region's largest nongovernmental investor in education. Catholic schools have long been a pillar of affordable but high-quality education, especially for poor families. Their appeal remains strong even with competition from other nongovernmental investors now eying schools as enterprises for profit. The growing trend toward privatization is sparking concern that the Catholic Church may price out the people who need uplifting. Akite hopes Catholic leaders support measures that would streamline fees across schools of comparable quality. Firm fee ceilings need to be set, she said. Kampala's St. Kizito Secondary School, where Akite teaches literature, was founded by priests of the Comboni missionary order, known for its dedication to serving poor communities. Its students come mostly from working-class families and tuition per term is roughly $300, a substantial sum in a country where GDP per capita was about $1,000 in 2023. Yet that tuition is lower than at many other Catholic-run schools in Kampala, where many students report later in the term because they can't raise school fees in time, Akite said. Late starts, long lines, extension requests One of the most expensive private schools in Kampala, the Catholic-run Uganda Martyrs' Secondary School Namugongo, maintains a policy of 'zero balance' when a child reports to school at the beginning of a three-month term. This means students must be fully paid by the time they report to school. Tuition at the school was once as high as $800 but has since dropped to about $600 as enrollment swelled to nearly 5,000, said deputy headmaster James Batte. On a recent morning, there was a queue of parents waiting outside Batte's office to request more time to clear tuition balances. Daniel Birungi, an electrical engineer in Kampala whose son enrolled this year at St. Mary's College Kisubi, a leading school for boys in Uganda, said the emerging risk for traditional Catholic schools is to cater only to the rich. There is hot water in the bathrooms, he said, describing what he felt was a trend toward levels of luxury he never imagined as a student there in the 1990s. Now, students are prohibited from packing snacks and instead encouraged to buy what they need from school-owned canteens, he said. That has 'put us under a lot of pressure,' he said. Tuition at St. Mary's College Kisubi is roughly $800 per term, and Birungi doubts he will be able to regularly pay school fees on time. 'You can go there and see the brother and negotiate,' he said, referring to the headmaster. 'I am planning to go there and see him and ask for that consideration.' The effects of a private education system The World Bank reported in 2023 that 54% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa rank the issue of paying school fees higher than medical bills and other expenses. That's partly because education is largely in private hands, with the most desirable schools controlled by profit-seeking owners. Schools run by the Catholic Church are not usually registered as profit-making entities, but those who run those schools say they wouldn't be competitive if they were run merely as charities. They say they face the same maintenance costs as others in the field and offer scholarships to exceptional students. Regulating tuition is not easy, said Ronald Reagan Okello, a priest who oversees education at the Catholic Secretariat in Kampala. He urges parents to send their children to schools they can afford. 'As the Catholic Church, also we are competing with those who are in the private sector,' said Okello, the national executive secretary for education with the Ugandan bishops conference. 'Now, as you are competing, the other ones are setting the bar high. They are giving you good services. But now putting the standard to that level, we are forced to raise the school fees to match the demands of the people who can afford.' Across the region, the Catholic Church has built a reputation as a key provider of formal education in areas often underserved by the state. Its schools are cherished by families of all means for their values, discipline and academic success. In Zimbabwe, the Catholic Church operates about 100 schools, ranging from dozens in impoverished areas where annual tuition is as low as $150 to elite boarding schools that can charge thousands of dollars. But a legacy of inclusion is under pressure in the southern African nation due to fee increases at boarding schools and efforts by Catholic leaders to fully privatize some schools. Many boarding schools already charge tuition fees between $600 and $800, prohibitive for the working class in a country where most civil servants make less than a $300 per month. Privatization will raise tuition fees even higher, warned Peter Muzawazi, a prominent educator in Zimbabwe. Muzawazi, who attended Catholic schools, once was the headmaster of Marist Brothers, a top Catholic school for boys in Zimbabwe. That school in Nyanga is among those earmarked for privatization. 'I know in the Catholic Church there is a lot of space for reasonable fees for day scholars, but for boarders there is need to be watching because the possibility that they would be out of reach for the vulnerable is there,' he said. The church needs to be actively engaged, he said. 'How do we continue to guarantee education for the poor?' Efforts to privatize church-founded schools have sparked debate in Zimbabwe, which for years has been in economic decline stemming in part from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and others. Authorities say privatizing these schools is necessary to maintain standards, even as critics warn Catholic leaders not to turn their backs on poor people. 'Schools have now turned into businesses,' Martin Chaburumunda, president of the Zimbabwe Rural Teachers' Union, told The Manica Post, a state-run weekly. ' Churches now appear only hungry for money as opposed to educating the communities they operate in." Rather than privatizing old mission schools, the church should invest in building new ones if it's useful to experiment with different funding models, said Muzawazi, a lay Catholic who serves on the governing council of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe. 'The bright people who advance the cause of countries are not the rich ones,' he said. 'We want every church and every nation to tap the potential of every person, regardless of economic status.' ___ Mutsaka reported from Harare, Zimbabwe. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Fire at ancient Anglesey church nearing end of £2.3m upgrade
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Concerns for an ancient Anglesey church were raised when smoke was seen billowing high into the sky. St Cybi's in Holyhead is undergoing extensive redevelopment and parishioners feared a fire could jeopardise next month's scheduled reopening. It's understood vandals set light to portaloos being used by workers refurbishing the church, which dates from the 6th century and is built into Holyhead's Roman wall. The fire spread to adjacent timber stacked ready for use inside the building. Smoke was seen rising from the churchyard at around 6.30pm on Thursday, June 5. Although firefighters extinguished the blaze before causing serious damage, it's believed a section of the church's exterior wall was left charred and blackened. This is expected to weather and disappear over time. "It could have been a lot worse," said one observer. St Cybi's and its adjacent 14th century chapel, Eglwys y Bedd, are currently being redeveloped as part of a £2.3m project funded by UK Levelling up money. The church will reopen as a 'more accessible' multi-use community hub with a social enterprise cafe. The chapel, built on the site of St Cybi's original cell, is being extended using Anglesey limestone, quarried in Moelfre. In the plans are some exciting innovations designed to appeal to a younger demographic. Five ancient churches in the Diocese of Bangor are being upgraded as part of the Llefa'r Cerrig - Stones Shout Out initiative. Air source heat pumps are being installed to provide underfloor heating, and solar panels placed on south-facing roofs. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now St Cybi's is one of the five beneficiaries, with a shop and children's play area also planned. But the work hasn't been without controversy. Some parisioners were unhappy on learning that traditional old pews were being replaced by pews that can be moved to facilitate events and meetings. There was also anger over the transfer of St Cybi's organ to another church that can afford its estimated £200,000 repair bill. Critics claimed the heart of St Cybi's was being 'ripped out of it'. Meanwhile, the project timeline slipped when skeletal remains were discovered under the church and in the churchyard. In a pit beneath the chancel near the altar, a 'large collection of unarticulated human remains of unknown date' were found in summer 2023. They were buried beneath the church's 'Victorian layer', laid by architect Gilbert Scott during his reordering of the church in 1876-1879. It's suspected they had been reinterred, probably from multiple graves within the churchyard. All remains removed were due to be reinterred within the churchyard. Excitingly, other archaeological digs revealed what is believed to be part of the original footpath laid by Roman settlers at the site thousands of years ago. It's hoped St Cybi's can reopen in late July. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Holy Island Ministry area were approached for a comment. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday Find out what's happening near you
