Latest news with #EasterVigil
Herald Malaysia
5 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Record number of adults baptized in Dublin as faith grows among young Irish
Thirty-year-old Mahon McCann was baptized during the Easter Vigil Mass in his parish of Rathfarnham in Dublin this year. Jun 05, 2025 Easter Vigil in Dublin, Ireland. | Credit: Archdiocese of Dublin By Patrick J. Passmore Thirty-year-old Mahon McCann was baptized during the Easter Vigil Mass in his parish of Rathfarnham in Dublin this year. He was one of 70 adults baptized into the Catholic faith that evening in the Dublin Archdiocese, the largest number of adult baptisms recorded there. The recent upturn in the number of people being received into the Catholic faith in Ireland can be partly explained by young adults who are seeking and searching, people who are looking for a home, somewhere they can be accompanied and grow in faith, according to Patricia Carroll, director of the office for mission and ministry in the archdiocese. 'The new Irish are coming from other countries. Then the others are Irish,' Carroll told CNA. 'A lot of parents here decided that they wouldn't bring their children through the sacraments. So that generation is starting to come to the fore, seeking and searching, looking for something.' Carroll highlighted one development she considers integral and essential. 'In our diocese, our youth and pastoral teams have focused a lot on training catechists. That means places are growing where you can come to get your catechesis.' In Dublin in May, 52 laypeople received certificates as catechists. The archdiocese offers a dedicated course in catechetics for those who feel called to the ministry of catechist, including people already doing some parish catechesis and members of parish sacramental teams. Auxiliary Bishop Donal Roche of Dublin speaking at the Presentation of the Diocesan Certificate in Catechesis Our Lady of Victories Church in Ballymun said: 'We are making great progress in the task of opening the hearts and minds of those who have come to the door of the Church to look in, not sure who or what they will encounter inside.' Speaking at the 800th anniversary of the canonization of Laurence O'Toole in France in May, Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell directly referenced the phenomenon of faith resurgence happening in Ireland. 'Beneath the surface in Dublin, another story emerges, albeit faintly,' the archbishop said. 'Small numbers of young adults are discovering their faith and gathering to celebrate it. Dublin had the largest group ever seeking adult baptism during this Jubilee of Hope. Most of these people are young adults who have come to Ireland, and it is among the new Irish that renewal is most evident.' McCann is one example of that. 'I was raised as an atheist, not just with no religion but in opposition to religion,' he said. 'In the sense that there was no God; Christianity was a lie. Catholicism was a lie. It was kind of something we would get past or get over. I never went to Mass and would have gone to a few funerals. I had no real experience with Catholicism or any institutional religion at all.' When McCann was growing up in Dublin, the percentage of people answering 'none' to the question of their religious denomination was in the single digits; now it has ballooned to about 25%. Carroll told CNA that there is a noticeable increase among adults seeking baptism. 'Since Easter, I get two or three calls per week from young persons who want to become Catholic and wonder what they are to do,' she said. 'So what we do is direct them to parishes where there are catechists so that they can accompany them.' 'That is a kind of spin-off of two years now of catechist training,' she continued. 'Diocesan catechism in our RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, now called OCIA in the U.S.] is becoming more alive and more intentional. So I think those are all factors explaining why the numbers have gone up.' Carroll is optimistic for the future. 'I expect the numbers to continue to go up because I think in the city of Dublin itself, there are a lot of what I would call 'seeking and searching' young people, and they're looking for a home, they're looking for somewhere they can be accompanied and grow in faith. So that's a very hopeful kind of story, really, for us, and it counteracts that story of the Church is dying. The Church is not dying. The Church is not going to go back to the way that it was. And that would be regressive anyway. There is a new Church emerging.' Carroll outlined the typical journey these new Catholics take when it comes to joining the Church. 'It's a process of accompaniment,' she said. 'First of all, there's a whole period of inquiry. And that's not about filling in a form; that's about that spiritual search moment. Depending on the person, that can be a long, extended period, or shorter. After that, they are then into the catechumenate. They need to more intentionally be accompanied, to understand the sacramental life, the Church, and the creed. Those were two big things, and once they've done that, they're ready for the Easter Vigil.' There are many positive stories elsewhere. In the Diocese of Dromore, Tyrell Scarborough recently underwent the journey of seeking faith, culminating in his baptism. 'Many of my friends throughout my life have been Catholic, and I've always been curious about Catholicism. Everyone, except for myself, was Catholic, and I was like, I just felt like the odd one out every single time I would go to events.' He told CNA: 'I thought would it hurt for me to also, like, look into delving into this, this religion I've always felt a close association with. So I was like, right, why not at least look and see what this journey would be like, or would it be like for me to become that?' 'I was just recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. They call it the lonely disease because it is, like, not working anymore. I needed a sense of community again, and the Church has provided it for me,' he shared. In Dublin, McCann's faith journey continues: 'Obviously, I've never done any of this stuff before, so I'm working off the kind of five stones or five pillars: trying to go to Mass every week, prayer, a bit of fasting, you know, reading Scripture, and also just trying to meet other people who are on a similar journey, getting a sense of community, and then, you know, giving back in any way I can.'--CNA
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: Readers have mixed feelings about what it means to have an American pope
To the editor: It would be difficult not to find columnist Gustavo Arellano's observations and suggestions authentic, accurate and admirable ('In the election of Pope Leo XIV, a call for Americans to be great again,' May 10). How much Dramamine did Vice President JD Vance need after reading it? Ted Rosenblatt, Hancock Park .. To the editor: Many readers will applaud Arellano's opinion piece. It is indeed inspirational. But, as often happens with these inspirational pieces, the writer gets carried away in places. For example, he gushes that the U.S. remains 'the greatest country on Earth." Oh, really? Does military-economic hegemony add up to the greatest? The U.S. is a great nation and offers opportunity to many immigrants. But when factors like healthcare satisfaction and infant mortality are considered, we don't rate so highly. Juan Bernal, Santa Ana .. To the editor: Arellano, rather than merely express his elation over the election of Pope Leo XIV as the first American pope, manipulates the occasion to submit another polemic against President Trump. Realistically, Robert Francis Prevost's election as Pope Leo has nothing to do with his charitable virtues and 'peace of the risen Christ.' It has everything to do with political motivations. The Catholic Church has always been immersed in politics, which have constantly been its guiding light. Giuseppe Mirelli, Los Angeles .. To the editor: Thank you for your beautiful article about our new pope. For months, the citizens of America have lived in darkness experiencing the vindictive hatred the president has for the poor, underprivileged and foreign born. As we see on Easter Vigil, the light of Christ resurrected eliminates the darkness. I finally have hope for my country. Joan Andersen, Apple Valley .. To the editor: In his column about the newly elected pope, Arellano writes, 'I'm not sure how many of us — Catholic or not — will heed Pope Leo's invitation to embrace peace and reflect on what we can do to better us all.' I have a question for Arellano: Will he also heed the pope's teachings on abortion, homosexuality, traditional marriage and gender ideology? I'd be willing to bet my mortgage that he won't. Sam Chaidez, Mission Hills This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: Readers have mixed feelings about what it means to have an American pope
To the editor: It would be difficult not to find columnist Gustavo Arellano's observations and suggestions authentic, accurate and admirable ('In the election of Pope Leo XIV, a call for Americans to be great again,' May 10). How much Dramamine did Vice President JD Vance need after reading it? Ted Rosenblatt, Hancock Park .. To the editor: Many readers will applaud Arellano's opinion piece. It is indeed inspirational. But, as often happens with these inspirational pieces, the writer gets carried away in places. For example, he gushes that the U.S. remains 'the greatest country on Earth.' Oh, really? Does military-economic hegemony add up to the greatest? The U.S. is a great nation and offers opportunity to many immigrants. But when factors like healthcare satisfaction and infant mortality are considered, we don't rate so highly. Juan Bernal, Santa Ana .. To the editor: Arellano, rather than merely express his elation over the election of Pope Leo XIV as the first American pope, manipulates the occasion to submit another polemic against President Trump. Realistically, Robert Francis Prevost's election as Pope Leo has nothing to do with his charitable virtues and 'peace of the risen Christ.' It has everything to do with political motivations. The Catholic Church has always been immersed in politics, which have constantly been its guiding light. Giuseppe Mirelli, Los Angeles .. To the editor: Thank you for your beautiful article about our new pope. For months, the citizens of America have lived in darkness experiencing the vindictive hatred the president has for the poor, underprivileged and foreign born. As we see on Easter Vigil, the light of Christ resurrected eliminates the darkness. I finally have hope for my country. Joan Andersen, Apple Valley .. To the editor: In his column about the newly elected pope, Arellano writes, 'I'm not sure how many of us — Catholic or not — will heed Pope Leo's invitation to embrace peace and reflect on what we can do to better us all.' I have a question for Arellano: Will he also heed the pope's teachings on abortion, homosexuality, traditional marriage and gender ideology? I'd be willing to bet my mortgage that he won't. Sam Chaidez, Mission Hills
Herald Malaysia
25-04-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
France sees record surge in youth-led baptisms this Easter
In an unexpected development, France saw a record wave of adult baptisms this Easter, with over 17,800 catechumens — 10,384 adults and more than 7,400 adolescents — baptised during the Easter Vigil on April 19, according to the French Bishops' Conference. Apr 25, 2025 The Catholic Church in France welcomed a record number of adults into the faith in 2025, with particularly strong growth in the numbers of young adults and teenagers, according to newly released statistics from the country's Conference of Bishops (CEF). (French Bishops' Conference) PARIS: In an unexpected development, France saw a record wave of adult baptisms this Easter, with over 17,800 catechumens — 10,384 adults and more than 7,400 adolescents — baptised during the Easter Vigil on April 19, according to the French Bishops' the first time, young adults (18–25) make up the largest group of adult converts, surpassing the 26–40 age group. Around 42 per cent are students or young professionals, indicating a generational shift and a deepening spiritual hunger among youth in secular France.'This is not a passing wave,' said Archbishop Olivier de Germay of Lyon, urging parishes to treat baptism not as an end but the beginning of discipleship. He emphasised the Church's role in welcoming and guiding new secularism's dominance in public discourse, the Church notes a spiritual countercurrent, especially among the young. Urban parishes report booming attendance — St Maurice in Lille had nearly 1,000 people on Ash Wednesday, many of them first-time young baptisms are also rising sharply, with a 33 per cent increase over last year. The Jubilee of Young People in Rome is seen as a key opportunity for these new believers to connect baptisms in France have grown 160 per cent in a decade, from under 4,000 in 2015 to over 10,000 in 2025. Cécile Eon, national delegate for adult catechumenate, called it 'impressive and sustained,' highlighting the pressure on diocesan teams to expand formation movement is diverse — some catechumens have Christian roots, others come from non-religious or alternative spiritual backgrounds like Buddhism or esotericism. A 2021 study found 17 per cent had prior spiritual experience outside make up 63 per cent of adult converts. After two years of rural growth, urban parishes are now seeing the fastest France's revival reflects wider trends. In the US, Christian identification is stabilising, with 62 per cent still identifying as Christian, according to Pew Research. While secularisation continues, grassroots, youth-driven, sacramental movements are reshaping the spiritual landscape. As Archbishop de Germay noted, the varied paths to faith show the personal work of God in each journey. 'If the Church is listening,' he said, 'this Easter could mark a resurrection of hope where faith had long seemed dormant.'-- Zenit
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Who will be the next pope? Some hints to watch for
The Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin looks on at the end of the Rosary for Pope Francis at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), following the death of the pontiff, in Rome, Italy, April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Susana Vera Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presides over the Easter Vigil in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 19, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Greco Who will be the next pope? Some hints to watch for VATICAN CITY - No one knows who the world's Catholic cardinals will choose to succeed Pope Francis as the new leader of the global Catholic Church. But for those watching attentively, there are sometimes hints about who might emerge as the next pontiff. The process to choose a new pope is long and secretive. Most of the world's 252 cardinals are coming to Rome to take part. Those under the age of 80, about 135 prelates, are preparing to enter into a conclave to elect the next pontiff. Once it starts, which by Church law should be no earlier than May 6, the cardinals will be completely shut off from the modern world until a new pope is named. In the meantime, they can attend public events and give interviews about what they are looking for in the next leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. "Reading the pre-conclave signs to identify papal candidates is tricky, because the signs are usually very subtle," said John Thavis, a Vatican correspondent who covered three papacies. Francis died on Monday aged 88. There is no clear frontrunner to succeed him. As the pope was recovering from pneumonia over the Easter weekend, he asked retired cardinals over the age of 80 to preside in his place at the Vatican's various celebrations of the holiday, possibly because he did not want to signal any favourite successor. The pope's funeral, on Saturday, April 26, will be the first big moment to watch for signs of who might be next. Tens of thousands, including dozens of world leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, are expected in St. Peter's Square for the ceremony. Millions more will be watching across the globe. The cardinals attending will listen closely to the sermon given by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the ceremonial leader of the College of Cardinals and a retired Vatican official. At the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, the sermon was delivered by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who offered what many thought was a stirring elocution on the late pope's life and legacy. Eleven days later, Ratzinger would be elected as Pope Benedict XVI. Re is 91 years old, cannot enter the conclave and is not a papal contender. But insiders expect he might still try to offer a guide for his confreres to follow in the way he chooses to describe Francis' papacy, or in any words he uses to describe the needs of the Catholic Church today. HINTS EMERGING SLOWLY The papal funeral marks the first of nine days of mourning for the global Church. Another Mass of mourning will be held in St. Peter's Square on Sunday. That will be led by Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, often cited as a leading papal contender. "The cliche … is he who enters the conclave a pope leaves a cardinal," said Christopher Bellitto, an historian at Kean University in New Jersey who specializes on the Church. "Only prophets know what is going to happen." Other hints for possible successors to Francis will likely come out more slowly. In 2013, as the cardinals gathered in Rome after Benedict's surprise resignation, some of the U.S. prelates preparing to take part in the conclave started giving press conferences. The wider group of the world's cardinals later asked them to stop doing the briefings. Even if there are no press conferences this time, cardinals spending time in Rome often celebrate Masses at churches across the city. The sermons they offer on those occasions could give indications of what they are thinking. "Any signs will come in bits and pieces, or phrases used to describe what cardinals are looking for in the next pope," said Thavis. "Words like 'openness' and 'reform' may fit certain cardinals, while 'administrative skills' and 'solid theology' may describe others," he said. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS The biggest hints will come in the daily meetings the cardinals have in the week leading up to the conclave. In these meetings, known as "general congregations", the cardinals have an opportunity to speak freely and even, perhaps, to offer a vision for a future papacy under their own leadership. In 2013, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio offered a short reflection at one of those meetings. He said the Church, beset by sexual abuse and financial scandals, had become "sick" and too "self-referential", according to a text that was later published. He said the Church needed to do a better job of trying to open itself up to the modern world. A few days later, Bergoglio would be elected as Pope Francis. The final deliberations about who should follow Francis will take place in conclave. The cardinals who enter the Sistine Chapel to vote will be sealed off from the world, forbidden from reading newspapers or speaking with the outside world. As they enter their deliberations, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, who leads the Vatican's liturgical celebrations, will shout, in Latin, "Extra omnes!" (Everyone out!) REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
