Pope Benedict XVI opened the Year for Priests in St. Peter’s Square on Friday, June 19. He called for the special year to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, who was famed for his priestly ministry. The year hopes to celebrate the life, mission and vocation of priests, the Church’s spiritual fathers.

Jeremy Stanbary has found a unique way to celebrate the Year for Priests. Stanbary, founder and executive director of the Minneapolis-based Epiphany Studio Productions, is performing his one-man play called Lolek. The drama is a stirring portrayal of Karol Wojtyla, the man who later became Pope John Paul II. Known as “Lolek” to his closest friends, Wojtyla was ordained to the priesthood on November 1, 1946 and elected Pope on October 16, 1978.

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THE need for a protest to address the issue of pay parity for women was “shameful”, several hundred demonstrators heard on the steps of Parliament.

“I can’t believe it’s 2009 and we’re back here and we still have to protest for something as simple as getting a fair wage,” Students’ Associations co-president Sophia Blair told the crowd, who braved wintry weather to protest against the government’s decision to shut the Labour Department’s employment equity unit.

Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said there was growing concern around the Government’s plans to cut the unit.

continue reading "Hundreds turn out to back ’shameful’ protest in New Zeland"

The Navy encourages active-duty Sailors to participate in a sexual assault study to assess the effectiveness of the Navy’s Sexual Assault Victim Intervention (SAVI) program.

The Office of the Naval Inspector General (IG) is conducting the survey, which is available at www.ig.navy.mil/sastudy.htm. The survey was designed for active-duty personnel, is confidential, anonymous, and will be available for participation through Sept. 30.

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