News from Home, World and the Vatican

The image of the shepherd and his sheep is part of Biblical folklore from the very first pages of Genesis.

Abel was a shepherd, as was Abraham and the other patriarchs. King David came from a pastoral background, and the best loved psalm of all is “The Lord is my shepherd”.

Jesus himself often uses the imagery of the ‘lost sheep’ and ‘sheep without a shepherd’ in the course of his public life. Read more »

The two banners of the two soon-to-be saints now hang on the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica, and the final countdown toward the highly anticipated canonizations has begun.

With just one day to go before the canonizations of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, the stream of pilgrims into Rome continues.

Civil security forces are in position, city roads have been closed to traffic and the subway system will run nonstop this weekend to accommodate the influx of pilgrims. Read more »

It was reported on 2 April 2014 that the Selangor State Government had advised the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) to write to the Attorney General to request for the release of Bibles seized from its premises on 2 January 2014.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) is disappointed by this apparent attempt on the part of the Selangor State Government to wash its hands off the matter. Read more »

Irene Fernandez, a champion of the oppressed in Malaysia whose indefatigable advocacy for better treatment of foreign migrant workers prompted her government to denounce her as a traitor and human rights groups to shower her with awards, died on March 25 in Serdang, Malaysia. She was 67.

The cause was heart failure, Human Rights Watch said. Read more »

In Luke’s Gospel, there are two annunciations: the angel Gabriel foretells the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zachary, and announces the birth of Jesus to his mother Mary.

No Gospel scene, with the possible exception of the birth of our Lord, has inspired so many artists and poets as the Annunciation.

Luke’s verses have since become the core of the most beloved prayer in the world, ‘the Hail Mary’, which evokes this scene every time it is uttered. Read more »

Rupert Colville, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, gave the following press briefing on Central African Republic, Malaysia and Ukraine:

1) Central African Republic
Although the security situation seems to have recently improved in some parts of the Central African Republic, we are very concerned about the critical situation prevailing in Boda, a town located some 190 km west of the capital. Read more »

Today is Ash Wednesday which begins the season of Lent, that time of the year when we open ourselves to grace, to the meaning of repentance, death and resurrection.

Lent prepares us for the gifts of the Spirit at Easter.

All religions have times for prayer and penitence, for fasting and almsgiving, and these are often conducted in public. Jesus is firmly against all such ostentatious behaviour. Read more »