The Catholic News

Bao Ding (Agenzia Fides) - The first Cultural Festival organized by the Cathedral of the Diocese of Bao Ding, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, took place on July 2, on the day of the 106th anniversary of the founding of the church, after an impressive work restoration, the most challenging undertaken since its foundation, which dates precisely to 1905. According to information gathered by Fides, the pastor explained that this initiative intends to "re-launch mission of this centuries-old church through religious culture.

So people get to know the Mystery of Salvation, promote evangelization among Catholics, strengthen their faith, and to bring Jesus and the Church to the non-Catholics. "During the Cultural Festival it was possible to visit an exhibition that featured hundreds of photographs on 106 years of the church's history, liturgical garments used for Mass in the 1930s and 1940s, photographs of pilgrimages taken by parishioners in recent years; paintings by Catholics and non-Catholics who describe the Church according to their way of thinking. A concert of sacred music also attracted the attention of many people, not just Catholics. 

Skawina (Agenzia Fides) - “Gift of the Heart” opened its doors to eight adolescents and children entrusted to the Guanellians by a court in Krakow. The children are aged 4 to 17 years. “Gift of the Heart” is the family home which has just opened in the territory of Skawina, Poland. The property is located in the 'Centrum Don Guanella' that for 15 months now has been operating in the area witnessing to the Guanellian charism. “The idea was John Paul II's, who urged us to go to Poland to share Don Guanella's charism for the poor. Providence then did the rest,” said a statement by the spiritual director, Father Wieslaw Baniak, issued by the Guanellians and received by Fides. “Today, our chapel,” he adds, “welcomes hundreds of people for prayer and Sunday Masses.” The Center welcomes congregations, prayer groups, associations or movements in the area for formation or retreats in the summer months. (AP) (9/4/2011 Agenzia Fides)