* Original message posted in: VATICAN.
* Crossposted in: IN_CATHOLIC.

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE

TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 16
ENGLISH
TUESDAY, 25 JANUARY 2011

SUMMARY:

- Celebrations to Be Presided by the Pope: February-April
- All the Baptised Must Communicate the Gift of the Gospel
- Condolences for Victims of Bomb Attack in Moscow
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE: FEBRUARY-APRIL

VATICAN CITY, 25 JAN 2011 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today published the calendar of celebrations due to be
presided by the Holy Father between February and April.

FEBRUARY

Wednesday 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the World Day of
Consecrated Life. At 5.30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Vespers with members
of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life.

Saturday 5: At 10 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Mass and episcopal
ordination.

Monday 21: At midday in the Concistory Hall, concistory for certain causes
of canonisation.

MARCH

Wednesday 9: Ash Wednesday. At 4.30 p.m. in the basilica of Sant'Anselmo,
"statio" and penitential procession. At 5 p.m. in the basilica of Santa
Sabina, blessing and imposition of the ashes.

Sunday 13: First Sunday of Lent. At 6 p.m. in the "Redemptoris
Mater" Chapel
of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, beginning of the spiritual exercises of the
Roman Curia.

Saturday 19: At 9 a.m. in the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, conclusion of the
spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia.

Sunday 20: Second Sunday of Lent. At 9 am, Mass and dedication of the new
Roman parish of "San Corbiniano all'Infernetto - Casal Palocco".

APRIL

Sunday 17. Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord. At 9.30 a.m. in St.
Peter's Square, blessing of palms, procession and Mass.

Thursday 21. Holy Thursday. At 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Chrism
Mass. At 5.30 p.m. in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, beginning of the
Easter Triduum with the Mass of the Last Supper.

Friday 22. Good Friday. At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, celebration of
the Lord's Passion. At 9.15 p.m. at the Colosseum, Way of the Cross.

Saturday 23. Holy Saturday. At 9 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Easter vigil.

Sunday 24. Easter Sunday. Mass in St. Peter's Square at 10.15 a.m. At
midday, from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, "Urbi et Orbi"
blessing.
OCL/                                                                    VIS
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ALL THE BAPTISED MUST COMMUNICATE THE GIFT OF THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, 25 JAN 2011 (VIS) - Made public today was the Pope's Message
for the eighty-fifth World Mission Day, which falls this year on Sunday 23
October. The theme of the document is: "As the Father has sent me, so I send
you".

  The call to take the Gospel to everyone, "with the same enthusiasm as the
early Christians", as the Venerable John Paul II wrote in the Jubilee Year
2000, "resounds every year in the celebration of World Mission Day", says
Benedict XVI in his Message.

  "The announcement of the Gospel is destined for everyone", the Pope
writes. The Church "exists to evangelise", he says. "Her activity, in
conformity with the word of Christ and under the influence of His grace and
charity, becomes fully and truly present in all individuals and all peoples
in order to lead them to faith in Christ.

  "This task has lost none of its urgency", he adds. "We
cannot rest easy at
the thought that, after two thousand, there are people who still do not know
Christ, who have not yet heard His message of salvation.

  "What is more, there are growing numbers of people who, though having
received the Gospel announcement, have forgotten or abandoned it and no
longer identify themselves in the Church; and many environments, even in
traditionally Christian societies, are reluctant to open themselves to the
word of faith. A cultural shift is taking place, which also draws
nourishment from globalisation, from new schools of thought and from the
prevailing relativism; a shift which leads to mentalities and lifestyles
that ignore the Evangelical message as if 
God did not exist, and which exalt
the search for wellbeing, easy earnings, career and success as the goal of
life, even at the expense of moral values".

  The Holy Father recalls how "the universal mission always involves
everyone and everything. The Gospel is not the exclusive prerogative of
those who received it, but a gift to be shared, a piece of good news to be
passed on. This gift-commitment is entrusted not just to the few, but to all
baptised people".

  "Evangelisation", he writes, "is a complex process and
includes various
elements. Among these, missionary activity has always given particular
attention to solidarity, ... sustaining the institutions necessary to
establish and consolidate the Church, ... and contributing to improving the
living conditions of people in countries most affected by problems of
poverty, malnutrition especially among children, disease, and lack of
healthcare and education services. This too is part of the mission of the
Church. In announcing the Gospel, she embraces human life in the fullest
sense of the term".

  The Pope continues his Message: "It is unacceptable, as Servant of God
Paul VI said, for evangelisation to overlook questions associated with human
development, justice, and liberation from all forms of oppression, though
obviously while respecting the autonomy of the political sphere. Ignoring
the temporal problems of humanity would mean 'forgetting the Gospel lesson
of love for our suffering and needy neighbours'. It would not be in keeping
with Jesus' own behaviour Who 'went about all the cities and villages,
teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and every sickness'.

  "Thus, by responsible participation in the mission of Christ, Christians
become builders of the peace and solidarity that Christ gives us, and they
collaborate in achieving God's plan of salvation for all humankind",
Benedict XVI concluded. "May World Mission Day revive in everyone the desire
to 'go out' to meet humankind, bringing Christ to everyone".
MESS/                                                                   VIS
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CONDOLENCES FOR VICTIMS OF BOMB ATTACK IN MOSCOW

VATICAN CITY, 25 JAN 2011 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone S.D.B. has sent a telegram of condolence, in the Holy Father's name,
to Dimitry Anatolevich Medvedev, president of the Russian Federation, in the
wake of yesterday's bomb attack at Domodedovo airport in Moscow, which left
many people dead and injured.

  Benedict XVI expresses "profound suffering and firm condemnation at this
serious act of violence", and his desire "to transmit his sentiments of
spiritual closeness and deep condolence to the relatives of the victims".
TGR/                                                                    VIS
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 25 JAN 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Ildo Augusto
Dos Santos Lopes Fortes, "fidei donum" priest, chancellor of the diocese of
Mindelo, Cape Verde, and pastor of the parish of "Sao Vincente", as bishop
of Mindelo (area 2,230, population 166,000, Catholics 149,230, priests 19,
religious 58). The bishop-elect was born in Sal, Cape Verde in 1964 and
ordained a priest in 1992.
NER/                                                                    VIS
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 - Origin: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede (1:396/3) 
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