New Prior of Taizé is welcomed

THE new Prior of the Taizé Community was introduced at a service on Saturday: Brother Matthew succeeds Brother Alois. At the service, 5 church representatives, together with the Bishops of Reading and Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham and the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, have been requested to say a prayer for Brother Matthew’s begin as “servant of communion” within the Community.

Bishop Curry recovering after surgical procedure

THE Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church within the United States, the Most Revd Michael Curry, is recovering after surgical procedure carried out since he fell whereas visiting New York and suffered a mind bleed. A information launch from the Church’s Office of Public Affairs stated that the surgical procedure was “successful”. In September, Bishop Curry, who’s 71, underwent surgical procedure to take away an adrenal gland and a non-cancerous hooked up mass, after therapy earlier for episodes of inside bleeding, the Episcopal News Service reviews.

IS claims accountability for bombing of mass

A BOMB assault on a Roman Catholic mass being provided in a gymnasium in Mindanao State University, in Marawi, the biggest Muslim metropolis within the Philippines, killed 4 individuals and wounded 42 others on Sunday. The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed accountability for the assault, based on the AFP information company. In a telegram to the Territorial Prelate of Marawi, the Most Revd Edwin Angot de la Peña, Pope Francis wrote of praying “that Christ the Prince of Peace will grant to all the strength to turn from violence and overcome every evil with good”. In 2017, town endured a five-month siege by pro-IS militants (News, 2 June 2017). Photos launched by information businesses present Filipino Muslims “gathering in solidarity with the victims of the attack, praying for them and condemning the blast”, Vatican News reported.

Donors sought as Syria faces cuts to meals support

THE World Food Programme will finish its predominant help programme to Syria in January, owing to funding cuts, it introduced on Monday. A press launch from Refugees International stated: “These cuts leave the most vulnerable with few lifelines after a year marked by deep tragedy and suffering as a result of the February earthquakes, economic deterioration, and ongoing violence in many parts of the country. Families across Syria are already making trade-offs between buying food or affording healthcare, school, or fuel. These cuts will plunge Syrians into severe hunger—and could push many to flee Syria altogether.” It is asking on donors, together with USAID, to spend money on the programme.

Burmese Cathedral attacked

THE Roman Catholic Christ the King Cathedral, Loikaw, in Kayah (Karenni) State, Burma, was attacked by the Burmese army on 26 November, the Bishop, Mgr Celso Ba Shwe, has reported. In an announcement issued the next day, he stated that 80 individuals had been sheltering within the compound, amid “intensifying armed conflicts”. The army had made three makes an attempt to “take over” the compound, however had been persuaded to spare it. On the night time of 26 November, nonetheless, forces had “intentionally shot” on the compound, and the ceiling had been “destroyed by the artillery shells”. The army have been now occupying the constructing. Since a army coup in 2021, overthrowing Aung Sang Su Kyi, battle has been waged between the army and numerous insurgencies, with 2.5 million individuals displaced and “flagrant human-rights violations” dedicated by the army, together with whole villages set ablaze, based on the UN.

Ethiopian Churches comply with type council

DELEGATIONS from the three largest Ethiopian Churches — the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, and the Ethiopian Catholic Church — agreed final week to determine a council of Churches, the World Council of Churches reported. Minutes from the assembly, which came about on the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, spoke of “responding to humanitarian needs and in promoting peace and social cohesion in Ethiopia”, amid a humanitarian disaster by which about 20 million individuals require meals support.

New Lent useful resource on trendy slavery

A NEW useful resource to assist communities to reply to modern slavery has been launched by the World Council of Churches and the C of E’s Clewer Initiative (News, 19 May 2017). Structured round Galatians, and designed for use in Lent, the useful resource affords weekly explorations with Bible reflections, dialogue questions, modern-slavery information, world case-studies, and factors for motion which will be tailor-made to nationwide and regional contexts worldwide. According to Anti-Slavery International, the variety of kids in trendy slavery is greater than 12 million. A webinar is deliberate for January 2024. truefreedom24.com