His Holiness Pope Francis releases the prayer intention for the month of August, inviting everyone to work for a transformation of the Church - a work that begins with “a reform of ourselves” through an experience of prayer, charity and service, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

In his video message for his prayer intention for August, His Holiness Pope Francis reminds the faithful that “the vocation of the Church is evangelization,” and even more, “the Church’s identity is evangelization.”

The following is the Prayer of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude Patriarch John X:

On this exact day last year, hearts were agitated by the tragedy at the port of Beirut. This tragedy ravaged our Lebanese reality and took away our loved ones. Today, we pray to the Father of lights, for Him to admit them to His heavenly light, to anoint them with the kindness of His mercy, and to soothe the hearts of their families with condolences.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. May His grace and mercy rest upon us, from now and forevermore. Amen.
Sermon Highlights:
~ 4 main reasons why we rejoice
~ St. Paul: Before and after Christ – all our past credentials become meaningless
~ 3 ways to attain personal, experiential knowledge of Christ
~ Our only goal and single purpose: to Know Him.

His Holiness Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I is invited as a keynote speaker at the G20 Interfaith Forum. HH Catholicos Aram I will speak about: “The role of religious leaders and institutions in responding to crisis in the Arab Region”.

The G20 Interfaith Forum will take place between September 12-14, 2021 in Bologna, Italy.

JORDAN – On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), voted to inscribe the Jordanian city of Salt (As-Salt) as “the Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality”, on the World Heritage List. Salt is home to the first Latin Patriarchate parish that was established in Jordan by Patriarch Vincent Bracco in 1866.

In his homily on the first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, His Holiness Pope Francis insists on the importance of young and old coming together in a covenantal sharing of life.

By Christopher Wells

As the Church marked the first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, celebrated Holy Mass in the Basilica of St Peter, standing in for His Holiness Pope Francis, who is still recovering from surgery.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, participated in the Divine liturgy on Sunday, July 25, 2021, in the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand (Lebanon). At the end of the Liturgy, he addressed the faithful by saying: “Dearly Beloved, after the event that took place yesterday here in Balamand, I mean the commencement ceremony of our university students at the end of this academic year, we must give it further attention, for it is not an ordinary event for us, the members of the Orthodox Church, and for Lebanon in general.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. May His grace and mercy rest upon us, from now and forevermore. Amen.
Sermon Highlights:
Lessons we learn:
~ Spend more time focusing on what is positive (as St. Paul spent more time speaking about Timothy and Epaphroditus, faithful disciples)
~ Contemplate the relationship between true joy and humility, obedience to God, and discipleship
A Quick Review
Two weeks ago we began a series contemplating joy, through a study of St. Paul the apostle’s Letter to the Philippians; a letter characterized by its message or spirit of joy.

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan conveys well- wishes to His Majesty King Abdullah II, to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein, to the extended Jordanian family, and to Muslims around the world marking the advent of Eid Al-Adha.

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, affirmed that the Temple Mount – Al-Haram Al-Sharif and its’ Al-Aqsa Compound – is the exclusive right and property of Muslims, and that attacking this sacred place or the right of Muslims to freely pray there is an attack on freedom of worship, as guaranteed by international laws, charters and human morals.

His Holiness Pope Francis publishes a motu proprio on Friday to redefine the use of the pre-Vatican missal granting the decision to allow its use the local bishops. Groups attending the pre-Vatican liturgy must not deny the validity of the liturgical reform dictated by the Second Vatican Council and the magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs.

By Vatican News

After consulting the bishops throughout the world, His Holiness Pope Francis has decided to modify the norms regulating the use of the 1962 missal granted 14 years ago by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, as the “extraordinary form of the Roman Rite”.

On July 13, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem IIو Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, inspected the construction work of “Mor Selwanos Boutros Al-Nehmeh” Orphanage in Zeydal, Homs - Syria.

In a telegram sent through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his spiritual closeness to all affected by a fire at a Covid isolation ward of al-Hussein hospital in Nasiriyah, Iraq.

Pope Francis has expressed his sadness over the fire at a Covid isolation ward at the Iraqi hospital al-Hussein hospital in Nasiriyah and offered prayers for the victims and their families and friends mourning their loss.

On Monday, 29 June/12 July 2021, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Holy glorious and chiefs of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

On this feast, the Church commemorates these two Apostles and their missionary work for Christ. The Church commemorates that Apostle Peter preached Christ Crucified and Resurrected, to the circumcision, namely to the Jews, while Apostle Paul preached to the nations and both of them became pillars of the Church, with the cooperation of the other Apostles.

An interview with Reverend Najla Kassab from the Evangelical Church in Lebanon, prepared by the The Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW).

Wenn sich Gerechtigkeit, Toleranz und Rechtsstaatlichkeit im Mittleren Osten durchsetzen, haben Christinnen und Christen auch für sich und ihre Kinder die Hoffnung auf ein gutes Leben in der Region. Deshalb müssen sie gesellschaftliche Verantwortung übernehmen. Und die Kirchen müssen zum rechtschaffenen Vorbild für die Gesellschaft werden, stellt Najla Kassab fest. Die 57-jährige Pfarrerin ist Präsidentin der Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen und lebt im Libanon.

On Sunday, July 11th, 2021, the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ was marked at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian.

Maintenance workshops in the ancient town of Maaloula in the countryside of Damascus are busy rehabilitating Mar Takla “Faj”, the most prominent Christian pilgrimage site there, in the hope of attracting visitors and tourists again, after it was damaged and neglected during the years of war.

Maaloula, known for its ancient churches and monuments, and its caves dug in the rock, is located in the mountainous Qalamoun region on a strategic road linking Lebanon with Damascus. Narrow between the two ends of a tall mountain.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. May His grace and mercy rest upon us, from now and forevermore. Amen.
Sermon Highlights:
~ Phil 2:1 – The 4-part pattern for comprehensive service ministry:
“1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy.” One teaching - the Bible.

Balamand, Lebanon: July 9, 2021
Following the visit to the Vatican, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, contacted the Muslim Religious Leaders in Lebanon: the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Darian, Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, First Deputy-head of the Supreme Shia Council, and Sheikh Akl of the Druze Naim Hassan. His Beatitude conveyed the love of His Holiness, Pope Francis to the Muftis and put them in the ambience of the meeting of prayer and meditation for Lebanon, which was held in the Vatican on the first of July.

His Holiness Pope Francis sends his first tweet since last Sunday thanking well-wishers for their prayers and concern over his health and recovery.

Vatican News staff writer

His Holiness Pope Francis sent a tweet at 1:30 pm Rome time on Wednesday thanking people around the world for their kind messages and care regarding his health, as he continues his recovery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital following his surgery.