Ulster rugby players to speak on Christian faith
Three well-known Ulster Rugby players – Ruan Pienaar, Wiehahn Herbst and Paul Marshall – will be talking about their faith at a service in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on Monday, January 25, at 8pm.
Ruan Pienaar has 88 caps for South Africa and played for the South African team that won the World Cup in 2007. He joined Ulster in 2010 and is a devout Christian.
“I have always believed, with my Christianity, that there’s so much more to life than rugby. Being here gives me an enormous sense of purpose. I am not just here for rugby. I’m here to touch lives.”
The three players will be interviewed by the BBC’s Mark Simpson. Shane Logan, Chief Executive of Ulster Rugby, will also talk about his faith.
Irish pilgrims celebrate Mass ahead of IEC
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin celebrated Mass in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth on Saturday for Irish pilgrims who will be attending the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu, Philippines at the end of the month. A total of 26 pilgrims, representing 11 Irish dioceses, will travel to Cebu with the majority of this delegation departing Ireland on Thursday, January 21.
Saturday’s Mass was part of a final preparatory meeting hosted by Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin. Bishop Doran was secretary general of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which was hosted in Dublin in June 2012.
Bishop Doran will be the main celebrant for the English language Mass on Wednesday, January 27.
www.iec2016.ph
Nepal thanks Meath diocese
Bishop Paul Simick, Vicar Apostolic in Nepal, has written to the people of the Diocese of Meath to thank them for their generous donations following an earthquake last year.
An “incredible” donation of €63,625 was raised in a number of parishes in Meath diocese which was sent directly to Bishop Simick who sent a Christmas message to Bishop Michael Smith thanking the diocese “wholeheartedly for your impressive response to the disaster” and confirming that “your help is reaching to those are in dire in need”.