Young Dominican Vietnamese priest stabbed to death while hearing confession | SW NEWS | 444
Young Dominican Vietnamese priest stabbed to death while hearing confession It was a day of mourning on January 29 for Catholics in Vietnam after a young Dominican priest was stabbed to death in the Diocese of Kon Tum. Father Joseph Tran Ngoc Thanh, OP, who was serving the parishes of Sa Loong and Dak Mot, was fatally stabbed while he was hearing confession in the evening before Holy Mass at the mission of Dak Mot. According to the diocese, Police have arrested a suspect. The Dominican came to the mission in Dak Mot, about 40 miles northwest of Kon Tum in the highlands soon after his priestly ordination in August 2018. His requiem Mass was held at the Dominican monastery in Kon Tum on Sunday with Bishop Aloisio Nguyên Hùng Vi of Kon Tum presiding. The priest’s mortal remains will be laid to rest today at St. Martin's Chapel in Biên Hòa. May he rest in peace. Michigan health department to continue cooperating with Catholic charity After a three-year legal struggle, the state of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services has been directed to cooperate with St Vincent Catholic Charities. The Department of Health and Human Services will also pay $550,000 to St Vincent Charities to cover legal charges. A lawsuit was filed when the department enforced regulation mandating agencies to allow same-sex couples to adopt children. However, the Catholic establishment said it could not do so as it infringed on its right to religious freedom. The Lansing-based Catholic charity then went to court seeking protection for the right to religious freedom. On Tuesday, child welfare officials in Michigan said they will renew contracts with establishments that do not work with same-sex couples. The Catholic establishment is one among 76 agencies in the state that are entrusted with placing children in foster and adoptive homes. Nebraska in USA recognizes flag of pro-life movement The US state of Nebraska has made yet another pro-life move. On Friday, acting Governor Mike Foley inked a proclamation to recognize the flag designed by the Pro-Life Flag Project as the official design for the movement that supports the rights of the unborn. This comes five years after legislation mandating a “Choose Life” license plate was passed by the state. The proposed flag that unites all pro-life organizations has two thick lateral pink and indigo blue stripes, with a circle on top. Within the circle is a minimalist set of hot pink-coloured hands around a set of footprints. Pope lauds Italian President Sergio Mattarella on being re-elected The Holy Father Pope Francis has lauded Sergio Mattarella who was re-elected as the president of Italy. The pontiff said the Italian statesman’s service is essential to ensure unity and serenity in the nation. He also offered his prayers so that he may continue to support the Italian people in building an ever more fraternal coexistence. Archdiocese of Seoul witnesses the ordination of 23 young priests The Church in South Korea is exulting over the ordination of nearly two dozen young priests. The springtime of vocations continues in the Asian country and on January the 28th, 23 deacons were ordained priests in the Archdiocese of Seoul. The ordination ceremony was presided over by Archbishop Peter Chung at the Myeongdong Cathedral. According to the Archdiocese's Office of Communications, the ceremony took place following the COVID protocols. The Archbishop expressed his thankfulness to God for the gift of these new workers for the harvest. Mexican episcopate mourns the death of 13 pilgrims who perished in accident Bishops in Mexico have conveyed their condolences and prayers to the bereaved families of 13 pilgrims who died in an accident on January the 29th. The pilgrims were from the Toluca State of Mexico and they were on their way to the shrine of the Virgen de la Candelaria when their truck collided with another vehicle and overturned. Armed men gun down Protestant clergyman in Pakistan’s Peshawar In Pakistan, a Protestant clergyman was gunned down by gunmen on a motorcycle on Sunday. The attack took place in Peshawar in the north-western part of the country as Father William Siraj and a friend were driving home after Sunday worship. The 75-year-old priest, who belongs to the Church of Pakistan of the Anglican Communion, died on the spot. His friend is in hospital where his condition is said to be stable. Insecurity affecting survival of private universities: Nigerian archbishop Condemning the bandit attacks and abduction spree in Nigeria, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Ignatius Kaigama has said that these insecurities threaten the education sector, especially private universities. The prelate spoke of the crisis at the Holy Mass for the 10th anniversary of Veritas University in Bwari, Abuja. Archbishop Kaigama stressed his concern over private universities as the persistent attacks might jeopardize their sustainability.