CHURCH CONSECRATION

First church in India dedicated to teen saint Carlo Acutis consecrated in Kerala's Palikkara
On the day Carlo Acutis was canonised, a church dedicated to the "millennial saint" opened in Palikkara, near Kochi. Varapuzha Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil initiated the church for the new generation, completed in a few months and houses relics of the saint. The church will hold prayers every Tuesday and Sunday for around 140 families.

Restoring faith, not digging up the past
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopened last Saturday. A ceremony marked the completion of restoration work after the 2019 fire. The cathedral's altar was consecrated. The church's history dates back to 1163. It inspired Victor Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'. The novel's popularity led to an earlier restoration. The cathedral stands on the site of a Roman temple.

Indian priest George Koovakad elevated as Cardinal by Pope Francis
Indian priest George Jacob Koovakad was elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica. Koovakad, hailing from Kerala, becomes the sixth Indian cardinal. The ceremony was attended by a delegation from India, including Union Minister George Kurian, and celebrated by the Indian Christian community.

What did the archaeologists unearth at Jerusalem's holy church? Why is it significant?
Hidden behind a stone slab covered in graffiti, archaeologists at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre found a long-lost altar from the Crusades. It was discovered that the altar, which had Cosmatesque artwork on it, had been destroyed in a fire in 1808.

Oppn skips Ram temple event; Rahul protests after being stopped from visiting Assam temple, Mamata leads all-faith rally
Leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, and Arvind Kejriwal, observed different approaches to the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. While BJP leaders projected it as a moment of national pride, some leaders, like Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, criticized the state's involvement, stating the line between religion and state is thinning.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee begins all-faith harmony rally in Kolkata
Clad in her trademark white and blue bordered cotton sari with a shawl wrapped around her neck, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was seen greeting people and onlookers on both sides of the road with folded hands. Banerjee began the rally after offering puja and prayers at the iconic Kalighat temple in the city.
Opposition plans alternate temple events on Jan 22
Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray have turned down the invitations for January 22 consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
Ram Mandir Holiday Bengal: BJP requests CM Mamata to declare holiday for consecration ceremony
Ram Mandir Holiday: The BJP has sent a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to announce a holiday on January 22. Various central government offices, including government banks, PSU insurance companies, financial institutions, and regional rural banks (RRBs), are closed for half a day. Additionally, several states, such as Assam and Odisha, have also proclaimed a half-day holiday to commemorate this significant event.
Didi to lead 'harmony procession' on Mon from Kalighat
"On January 22, I will organise a rally in the city. Ahead of this, I will offer my prayers to Goddess Kali at Kali Temple. I will walk in this special 'harmony procession' which will end in Park Circus, where there are churches and mosques," the chief minister said.
Here's why this NYC pastor was disciplined over pop star Sabrina Carpenter's racy video
After pop singer Sabrina Carpenter filmed a controversial video in a Brooklyn church, Monsignor Jamie J. Gigantiello faced discipline, stripped of duties following its release. The video, viewed 11 million times, depicted Carpenter in provocative scenes within the church. Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan conducted a mass to restore the church's sanctity. Gigantiello sought forgiveness, claiming unawareness of the video's provocative nature.
Russia's attack on Odesa kills one, injures 18: Ukraine officials
Kiper earlier said that according to preliminary information, 14 people were hospitalised, including three children. Russia has been pounding Odesa and other Ukrainian food export facilities nearly daily over the past week after Moscow withdrew from a United Nations-brokered sea corridor agreement that allowed for the safe shipment of Ukrainian grain.
Charles to be crowned King with holy oil from Jerusalem
The Chrism oil will be symbolically touched to the 74-year-old monarch's head, chest and hands as part of the religious ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London during his coronation as King Charles III.
On the occasion of the 'Feast of Annunciation', Catholics are allowed to eat meat on Friday
For the Feast of the Annunciation, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has proclaimed that the Catholics are allowed to eat meat on Friday despite the Lenten obligation. This is due to the Lord's Solemnity of the Annunciation, falling on 25th March.
30-year-old US church to be converted into temple
The Swaminarayan temple sources said that Virginia has an estimated population of 10,000 Gujaratis, mainly hailing from North Gujarat, Charotar in Central Gujarat and Kutch.
50-year-old US church building begins new spiritual life as Swaminarayan Temple
Bhagwatpriyadas Swami, mahant of the sansthan, said the sanctum sanctorum has idols of Lord Swaminarayan, Abji Bapashree along with Hanuman and Ganpati.
Sasikalaa makes political mark, Lankan president heeds her plea on Katchatheevu church festival
The Lankan government had initially agreed to allow only 20 fishermen to attend the consecration ceremony of the newly-constructed St Antony's Church in Kachchativu Islet.
A look at 10 most-prominent churches in Bengaluru
As Bengaluru dives into the spirit of Christmas, here are some of the oldest churches in the city and the stories behind them.
Church of England consecrates first female bishop Reverend Libby Lane
Rev Libby Lane was ordained as new Bishop of Stockport at York Minister, one of largest cathedrals in northern Europe, amid opposition from traditionalists.
China offers Vatican a say in Bishop appointments to mend ties
China insisted that it has the sole authority to appoint Bishops while the Vatican's stand is that bishops can only be appointed by the Pope.
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