Tales of a seminarian

21/04/2025

Rest in Peace Holy Father

29/03/2025

Facts About Laetare Sunday

Laetera Sunday is usually the fourth Sunday of Lent. Popularly known as Laetare Sunday: Laetare meaning Rejoice in English.

Laetera taken from the latin translation of Isaiah 66: 10-11

Laetare Jerusalem et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam; gaudete cm laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis, ut exsultetis et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae.

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem; and be ye glad for her, all ye that delight in her: exult and sing for joy with her, all ye that in sadness mourn for her; that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations.

Laetera Sunday sets the mood for a joyful anticipation of Easter, which we will experience in no distant time.

Traditionally, weddings (otherwise banned during Lent) could be performed on this day.

Rose colored vestment can be used during Mass. The term "rose" is used to describe this lighter shade of the color violet in the Roman Rite.

Musical instruments can be used during the Mass. The Altar for the celebration of the Mass can also be decorated.

This Sunday also or during the week should be the final period of preparation of Catechumens for the sacrament of initiation by proper catechesis, enlightenment, purification and sanctification.

The Sunday is considered a day of relaxation from normal Lenten rigours; a day of hope with Easter at last within sight.

Is there any other fact you know about Latera Sunday; You can share with us.

29/03/2025

Chinese Bishop Arrested for Celebrating Mass Without State Approval ✝️🇻🇦.

Wenzhou, China – March 6, 2025
Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin, 61, of Wenzhou, was arrested by officials from China’s National Security Office for refusing to pay a fine of 200,000 yuan (approximately US$27,000). The fine was imposed after he celebrated a Mass on December 27, 2024, attended by over 200 faithful, to mark the opening of the Holy Jubilee Year. Authorities claim the gathering violated Article 71 of China's Religious Affairs Regulations.

Bishop Shao, appointed Coadjutor Bishop by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and who succeeded the late Bishop Vincenzo Zhu Wei-Fang in 2016, has consistently refused to join the state-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. His rejection of the fine is based on his position that the celebration of Mass was a lawful religious activity.

As of this report, Bishop Shao’s location remains unknown, and his detention is expected to be prolonged. Due to his refusal to align with the Patriotic Association, Chinese authorities do not recognize him as the legitimate bishop of Wenzhou, instead declaring the episcopal seat vacant and endorsing Fr. Ma Xianshi—a government-approved priest—as the diocesan administrator.

Bishop Shao has faced repeated arrests over the years. The Wenzhou Catholic community, considered part of the “underground” Church loyal to Rome, has launched a prayer campaign for his release and safety. Notably, shortly before his latest arrest, on February 25, 2025, Bishop Shao publicly requested prayers for Pope Francis.

In addition to his arrest, reports indicate growing interference in Church activities across the region. A planned pilgrimage by the Cangnan parish was recently obstructed by local authorities, and children are increasingly barred from entering churches. Surveillance and restrictions on priests have also intensified, with some clerics prohibited from celebrating Mass.

Source: Shalom World News

28/03/2025

150𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑶𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓
The Largest Catholic Missionary Order, founded by a young German priest, Arnold Jansen is celebrating the 150 years of its existence. A society active in 79 different countries and home to more than 5700 missionaries.

A society whose mission is to preach the Gospel and live its message by helping the disadvantaged communities, known for their commitment to service, working for the good of the orphaned children, victims of Hiv/Aids and also victims of war.

Theologians, missionaries and activists have all gathered in Rome for a conference to commemorate the anniversary which will be a two day programme. This conference is focused on the mission of God or “missio Dei” in today's world. The key four aspects of this mission of God is centered on; Healing Wounds, Challenged by Postmodernity, Learning from Cultures and Inspired by Religions.

28/03/2025

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑯𝑶𝑳𝒀 𝑭𝑨𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹'𝑺 38𝑻𝑯 𝑫𝑨𝒀 𝑶𝑭 𝑳𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑷 𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑴 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑯𝑶𝑺𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑳: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝑶𝒇 𝙋𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒓

Amid personal illness and global pandemic of Covid-19, the Holy Father Pope Francis has continued to show his presence as the guiding figure of the church. The pope even in the midst of grievous sickness, has never been absent, instead he remains present in spirit and in action.

Even while recovering, he continued to guide the church through its challenges. During his reflections after the daily Angelus, he continues to spit out the absurdity of war and appeal for peace consistently in Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, the Middle East, Myanmar and Sudan, urging the international community to act.

Despite being physically sick, Vatican News has reported that the Holy Father has remained active in administration of the church, that over his 38 days in the hospital, he has made 44 appointments including new Bishops, Nuncios and Vatican officials. He also signed important documents such as the establishment of a commission to promote donations to the Holy see designed to support Vatican projects and initiatives.
For the future of the church, the Holy Father initiated a three-year preparation process for the 2028 ecclesial assembly.

The Holy Father as the principal representative of Christ in the church has shown us the way we should act even in the face of trials or ordeals of life.
We as Christians ought to follow in the examples of the Holy Father to offer ourselves wholly and entirely for Christ and the Church especially in this season of lent.

25/03/2025

25/03/2025

This journey is not for everyone..
For many are called, few are chosen
Matt 22:14.
Lord we need your grace!!!

25/03/2022

THE ANNUCIATION OF THE LORD.

FIRST READING: ISAIAH 7:10-14, 8:10b

SECOND READING: LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 10: 4-10.

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 1:26-38.

THEME.

A VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE AND YOU BEAR A SON AND YOU SHALL CALL HIM EMMANUEL, WHICH MEANS 'GOD WITH US'.

Talesofaseminarian.

24/03/2022

THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 7, 23-24
GOSPEL READING: LUKE 11, 14-23

THEME:
A CALL TO REPENTANCE.

A season of lent is always a season of total self renewal, time to go within oneself and know how far you have gone in your spiritual journey.

A season laden with interior self decoration, if you wish. There have so many lenten seasons since you were born, and yet no improvement.

Aside of spiritual journey, is a time of self recognition, know yourself and know peace.

Tales

23/03/2022

TODAY'S REFLECTION.

FIRST READING: DEUTERONOMY 4, 1.5-9
GOSPEL READING: MATTEW 5, 17-19

THEME:
You are a medium for the passage of the gospel.

Moses received the message and passed it on to the Israelites and urges them to pass it on to the next generation.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus Christ urges us that whoever breaks the law and urges others to do so will be called list in the kingdom of God.

Just know that your conscious action and unconscious action is a Gospel message to someone somewhere, just be careful not to be a source of downfall to anybody.

Talesofaseminarian

22/03/2022

Ukraine: Caritas Poland continues providing vital aid thanks to funding

Thanks to generous donations, Caritas Poland is continuing to provide vital support to those fleeing Ukraine, and is transporting aid inside the war-torn country.

Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly a month ago, Caritas Poland has continued to provide ongoing aid to Ukrainian refugees who have fled.

Thanks to people's generosity, 130 Caritas centres are giving out up to 47 thousand meals a day.

Hundreds of thousands of people left Ukraine with just the clothes on their back, and Caritas is now providing them with basic goods, such as food, water, clothes, blankets, pillows, and linen.