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4+ min ago (639+ words) Reading 1 Isaiah 4:2-6 On that day, The branch of the LORD will be luster and glory, and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor for the survivors of Israel. He who remains in Zion and he who is left in Jerusalem Will be called holy: every one marked down for life in Jerusalem. When the LORD washes away the filth of the daughters of Zion, And purges Jerusalem's blood from her midst with a blast of searing judgment, Then will the LORD create, over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her place of assembly, A smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming fire by night. For over all, the LORD's glory will be shelter and protection: shade from the parching heat of day, refuge and cover from storm and rain. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. Let…...

9+ min ago (181+ words) The Sunshine West Community in Melbourne celebrated the feast of Saint Andrew the First-Called with deep devotion and joy, in services presided over by Bishop Evmenios of Chora. The celebrations began on Saturday evening, 29 November, with the Festal Great Vespers. On Sunday morning, the faithful gathered for the Archieratical Divine Liturgy, followed by the traditional procession of the holy icon around the church, in a vibrant atmosphere of prayer and unity. In his homily, Bishop Evmenios highlighted the apostolic character of Saint Andrew, noting that he never kept the faith to himself but always led others to Christ'whether his brother Peter, the young boy with the five loaves, or the Greeks who sought to see the Lord. He encouraged the faithful to imitate this openness and generosity of spirit: to strengthen one another, to open paths for others, and to…...

14+ min ago (58+ words) MEIZHOU, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 1 December 2025 - From November 23rd to 25th, the 7th World Hakka Conference was held in Meizhou, Guangdong. With the theme The Wisdom Derived from the Great Migration: Hakka Medicine - The Unique "Medical Epic" of the Hakka People The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. You May Also Like...

24+ min ago (159+ words) Pope Leo XIV became today the first Bishop of Rome to ever visit the tomb of one of the greatest Catholic miracle-workers, Saint Charbel.Excerpt from his words:Saint Charbel has never ceased to intercede for us before our Heavenly Father, the source of every good and grace. Even during his earthly life, many went to him to receive comfort, forgiveness and advice from the Lord. After Saint Leo XIV at the Tomb of Saint Charbel, the Miracle-Worker: "Saint Charbel has never ceased to intercede for us." Pope Leo XIV became today the first Bishop of Rome to ever visit the tomb of one of the greatest Catholic miracle-workers, Saint Charbel. Leo XIV at the Tomb of Saint Charbel, the Miracle-Worker: "Saint Charbel has never ceased to intercede for us." Pope Leo XIV became today the first Bishop of Rome…...

27+ min ago (573+ words) A few days later, the Moon sextile Jupiter on the 11th adds calm confidence to your emotional life. You see your feelings without judgment. You accept what you want without trying to negotiate yourself out of it. And for a sign that often prefers motion over introspection, this is a rare kind of comfort'one that allows you to feel at home in your own story. The energy shifts again on the 16th, when the Moon forms a trine with Jupiter. This day brings stability, encouragement, and a renewed belief in your own path. You may find yourself reconnecting with motivation you thought you'd misplaced. If you've been waiting for a moment to re-enter a project, a goal, or a dream, this transit gives you the momentum you need. The Moon opposes Jupiter on the 21st, and you might feel torn between two desires'action…...

33+ min ago (467+ words) BEIRUT, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Pope Leo will meet with leaders from Lebanon's diverse religious sects on Monday, where he is expected to urge them not to flee the country despite years of conflict, political paralysis and economic crisis that have prompted waves of migration. Leo, the first U.S. pope, will visit Lebanon's Christian community before hosting an inter-religious dialogue with members of Lebanon's Sunni Muslim, Shi'ite Muslim and Druze communities, as well as migrant workers. The pope, in the country on what he has described as a mission of peace, urged Lebanon's political leaders on Sunday to persevere with peace efforts despite facing a "highly complex, conflictual and uncertain" regional situation. Leo, 70, is visiting Lebanon until Tuesday on the second leg of his first overseas trip, which started in Turkey. POPE'S VISIT 'RAISING OUR HOPE' He has a crowded itinerary on Monday....

34+ min ago (930+ words) Priestly sex abuse scandals, scammy televangelists and partisan pastors. In today's environment the list of reasons why people don't trust religion like they used to is on the tip of the tongue of every pundit, and there is no shortage of people willing to armchair quarterback their own take on the problem with a seemingly ailing religion in America. And they may have a point " to a point. Confidence in religion is not what it used to be. Every year the General Social Survey asks respondents about their trust across different areas of society, including "organized religion." In 1973, only about 16% of Americans exhibited "hardly any confidence" (the lowest option offered) in religion. Nearly 50 years later, in 2024, over one-third or 35% of Americans had this same lack of confidence. So what happened? One thing that data shows is that the decline of…...

34+ min ago (1469+ words) I don't know any little old ladies," Chris Hanna observes about stepping away from religious participation 20 years ago. And I don't know kids or teenagers whose lives I can celebrate and contribute to as they grow." Lack of what he calls the forced familial relationships of a ward" doesn't mean he's without friends. But it leaves a community gap when I only hang out with who I want," he says, not people who differ in interests, ages and in other ways." Not so fast, say Hanna and others who've gone down the secular road and discovered that other questions, along with unforeseen challenges, arise. Hanna has friends, a graduate degree, a successful job and a girlfriend. But with loss of faith comes difficulty finding meaning and transcendence, a sometimes challenging search for community, and forfeited opportunities. But still, she writes,…...

39+ min ago (212+ words) The General Secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Apostle Emmanuel Okuley, has urged calm and dialogue in the ongoing debate over religious rights in schools, stressing that issues such as fasting among underage students must be handled with caution and parental involvement. Speaking on Channel One TV's The Big Issue on Saturday, November 29, Apostle Okuley stressed that schools have a responsibility to protect students' well-being, especially since most second-cycle students are minors. He explained that the long-standing restrictions on fasting in some schools were not designed to target Muslim students but were originally instituted to safeguard the health of Christian students, particularly those from Pentecostal and charismatic backgrounds who frequently observe prolonged fasts. Apostle Okuley further called for constructive dialogue between parents and mission school authorities, especially in schools where large numbers of students may belong to…...

39+ min ago (279+ words) The first Advent Sunday of the year was marked over the weekend, with households across Estonia lighting candles to celebrate the occasion. Worshippers at St. Mary's Cathedral (Tallinna Piiskoplik Toomkirik) in Tallinn wished each other a happy new year this weekend. According to the church calendar, the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the new church year. The time of waiting, or Advent, is marked on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. "Each Advent somehow purifies and tells you that some things must be left behind to make room within yourself for something new. That is, for what is eternally enduring and lasting'love, hope, faith, and, of course, the ability to see beyond and into things that are invisible. There are things that remain eternal even through the temporal," said Dean Arho Tuhkru. In the evening,…...