China’s one-child policy takes toll on vocations

BEIJING (CNS) -- China's one-child policy, begun nearly 30 years ago, still provides pastoral challenges and is taking a toll on vocations, said some Chinese church leaders. Auxiliary Bishop Paul Pei Junmin of Liaoning said that, in the past, the diocese used to have 20 young men and women enter the seminary and convent each...
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Seminarians, nuns need formation directors

BEIJING (CNS) -- As Chinese Catholic seminaries and religious communities work to train a new generation of priests and nuns, many religious leaders say their greatest need is for people to learn religious formation -- how to accompany a candidate in religious life. "We still have a great need for formation work," said Auxiliary Bishop...
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Diocese works to eliminate stigma of AIDS

SHENYANG, China (CNS) -- For World AIDS Day, the nuns leafleted the train stations in Liaoning province, and members of parish youth groups handed out information at parishes. But while many agencies offer AIDS awareness programs for World AIDS Day each Dec. 1, the Diocese of Liaoning offers such programs year-round, said Immaculate Heart of...
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Chinese church offers social help

NANJING, China (CNS) -- About two dozen students clad in red sweat suits danced around the small room, twirling brightly colored fans in rhythm with the music. The students ranged in age from 13 to 43, but their mental capacity did not surpass age 12. Thirty-two students attend the Ark-Nanjing Special Education Center, run by...
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Chinese Catholics struggled to keep faith alive

FUSHUN, China (CNS) -- Ninety-year-old Sister Peter has worked in a bus factory, built houses, reinforced river embankments and spent time in jail and a mental institution. Bishop Pius Jin Peixian of Liaoning, 83, spent 10 years in prison and later was sent to a work farm. In 1966, at age 19, Cecilia Tao Beiling...
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China steps up pressure on new generation

BEIJING (CNS) -- As China's veteran bishops die, the government appears to be stepping up pressure on the new generation of church leaders. Many of the older bishops spent time in prison during the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution and found the strength to resist government pressures once China began allowing Catholics to practice their faith in...
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Catholic Church in China: ‘Two faces’ expressing one faith

BEIJING (CNS) -- Sometime after Easter, Pope Benedict XVI will issue a letter to Chinese Catholics that many hope will call for reconciliation and unity between those who have registered with the government and those who have not registered. In some places in China, that might cause surprise -- but for different reasons in different...
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‘Saint in the cellar’ attracts 12,000 visitors a year

Some come in search of physical healing. Others seek a deeper connection to God. Still others want to deepen their knowledge of one of the Catholic Church’s most revered figures of 19th century America. Each year, more than 12,000 visitors – mostly from the East Coast, travel to the National Shrine of St. John Neumann...
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Alumna funds NDP library collection

Dr. Diane Dippold MacIntosh wanted to give something back to her high school because, she said, it gave so much to her. That’s the reason she funded a collection of books and library materials for the Mother Philemon Doyle Library in Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson. The collection by, for, and about women consists of...
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Average age of priests to be ordained in ‘07 is 35

WASHINGTON – Results of a survey released April 30 show that the average age of the 475 priests expected to be ordained in the United States this year is 35 and one-third of this year’s new priests were born in another country, primarily Vietnam, Mexico, Poland or the Philippines. The national study of the ordination...
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Bishops encourage efforts to combat poverty

LONDON – Catholic bishops from four continents are appealing to leaders of the world’s richest countries to honor their commitments to combat extreme poverty. The eight church leaders met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair April 30 and were scheduled to meet with government leaders in Germany and Italy before meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.
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Catholic High Cubs command respect in lacrosse this year

After a heartbreaking 11-10 overtime, sudden-victory loss in the 2006 IAAM C Conference lacrosse finals, The Catholic High School of Baltimore is on a mission to get back to the finals game and walk away with title honors this year. The Cubs are undefeated on the season, 13-0 overall and 9-0 in conference play. They...
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