NEWS

On Jan. 26, Anglican archbishop of York John Sentamu laid hands on the Rev. Libby Lane in an ordination ceremony. In this photo, Sentamu speaks as Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion looks on during the Church of England's General Synod at Church House in central London Nov. 20. The Church of England's law-making body voted in favour of female bishops that day, a move that ended a 20-year impasse and could see women ordained as senior clergy.

First female bishop ordained in Church of England amid ongoing controversies

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CANTERBURY, England - More than 1,000 people watched as Uganda-born Archbishop of York John Sentamu, laid hands on the Rev. Libby Lane Monday (Jan. 26), making her the eighth bishop of Stockport and the first woman bishop in the Church of England.

Msgr. John Kozar, president of the U.S.-based Catholic Near East Welfare Association, and Bishop Lionel Gendron of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, Quebec, celebrate Mass at St. Charbel convent in Annaya, Lebanon, Jan. 19. Msgr. Kozar, Bishop Gendron and other officials spoke with Catholic News Service at CNEWA's Beirut office about their Jan. 19-23 visit to Lebanon

CNEWA officials look at long-range needs of Lebanon's refugees

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BEIRUT - Officials of a pontifical aid agency said they saw much that needed done in Lebanon -- if they could get beyond crisis mode.

Locals run with items from a shop in Soweto, South Africa, Jan. 22. Local media reported that violence broke out Jan. 19 after a 14-year-old South African was allegedly shot dead by a foreign shop owner.

Jesuits say violence continues South African history of xenophobia

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa - A week of violence targeting foreign nationals and their businesses in Soweto and other Johannesburg townships is a national disgrace and "continues South Africa's shameful history of xenophobia," said The Jesuit Institute South Africa.

Pope Francis arrives to lead ecumenical vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome Jan. 25. The service marked the closing of the Week of Prayer for Christian unity as well as the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

Persecuted for faith, Christians are united in bloodshed, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Christians are united in bloodshed as they suffer from violence and persecution in various parts of the world, Pope Francis told Christian leaders.

This year’s closing liturgy for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Toronto drew an extraordinary number of archbishops, bishops and national church leaders. Among those leading the prayers were: the general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, Lutheran bishop Michael Pryse, Toronto Anglican archbishop Colin Johnson, Roman Catholic archbishop Thomas Collins, Coptic Orthodox bishop Mina, Catholic Slovak bishop John Pazak and Assyrian Church of the East bishop Emmanuel Joseph Mar-Emmanuel.

Toronto Christian unity service filled with hope

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TORONTO - Dave Williams happened into the closing liturgy for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity entirely by chance. He wandered into Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, saw what was happening and immediately called his wife, Beverly John.

By the end of the service, Williams and John were convinced they had stumbled into something important.

Men start reconstruction on a church in Niamey, Niger, Jan. 23 that was destroyed in violent protests against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. Archbishop Michel Cartateguy of Niamey said the church would rebuild after rioters destroyed places of worship during an assault on local Christians.

Archbishop says church in Niger will rebuild after riots

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OXFORD, England - An archbishop in Niger said the church would rebuild after rioters destroyed its places of worship during protests over cartoons mocking depictions of Muhammad by the French satirical newsweekly Charlie Hebdo.

University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., seen Jan. 21, is readied for Super Bowl XLIX, the Feb. 1 match between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Catholic Charities of Arizona is preparing to serve an increased number of sex-tra fficking victims arrested by local police in the days surrounding Super Bowl Sunday.

Increase in sex trafficking expected during Super Bowl, golf tournaments

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PHOENIX - Catholic Charities of Arizona is preparing to serve an increased number of sex-trafficking victims arrested by local police in the days surrounding Super Bowl Sunday.

St. Joseph the Worker parishioners from Thornhill, Ont., raised money and lent their labour to fund the building of homes for the poor in San Felipe de Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Mission-vacation concept takes hold at Thornhill parish

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THORNHILL, ONT. - In 1987 Elio Madonia, then in his 50s, sold his business, retired and with his wife went on vacation to the Dominican Republic with plans to continue enjoying retirement in Florida.

CSJ Office for Systemic Justice director Sr. Sue Wilson.

St. Joe’s Sisters spearhead call to protect migrants

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TORONTO - Pope Francis called for “the globalization of charity and co-operation” on the 101st World Day of Migrants and Refugees, but the Sisters of St. Joseph may have beaten the Pope to it with their submission to a United Nations commission in early January.

Victor Alcantara, a religion teacher at St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Dumfries, Va., hands a test in 2014 to Myles Sherman, a Baptist who says the Catholic high school has enriched his faith.

Non-Catholics choose Catholic schools for values, not just academics

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ARLINGTON, Va. - When Felicia and Ethan Carr began searching for a high school for their eldest son, they wanted a school with a top-notch college preparatory program.

But the Carrs, who are Baptist, sought something else as well.

Gillian Fernandopulle left her Sri Lankan homeland as a refugee at age six. Despite being in Canada for the past 20 years, she says being a refugee is something that never leaves you.

A refugee is always an outsider

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TORONTO - At 20 Tarak has been divorced from everything — his family, his home, his childhood and a future that once seemed assured.

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