Malawi getting ready for first-ever Eucharistic Congress 

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 11, 2025 / 14:23 pm

Here’s a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.

Malawi getting ready for first-ever Eucharistic Congress 

Plans are underway for the first ever Eucharistic Congress to take place in Malawi, a country in southeast Africa, according to ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner.

The Congress, called “Eucharist: Source and Summit of Pilgrims of Hope,” will take place Aug. 5-9 as a part of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB)’s efforts to “renew faith” and foster “ecclesial communion” as Catholics there celebrate the ongoing Jubilee Year of Hope. 

MCCB National Pastoral Coordinator ​​Father Joseph Sikwese said the event, held in the country’s Lilongwe archdiocese, will “be a profound moment of spiritual renewal for the Church in Malawi.”

Angola bishops denounce persecution of catechists

Catholic bishops in Angola are fighting back against the persecution of catechists accused of witchcraft, urging the government to address failing social infrastructure in remote parts of the country according to ACI Africa. 

Catechists in the Diocese of Benguela have been the subject of “alarming acts of persecution…particularly in areas where belief in witchcraft remains widespread,” Bishop António Francisco Jaca said, adding: “They are accused by their own communities of being sorcerers and subjected to trials with no legal basis. No one has the right to take justice into their own hands.” 

Youth meeting in Ankawa, Iraq launches with focus on vocations

The Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil launched the eighth edition of the “Ankawa Youth Meeting 2025” this week, bringing together more than 600 young Christians from across Iraq, CNA’s Arabic language news partner, ACI Mena, reports.

The event called “I Will Give You Shepherds” opened at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul where Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda welcomed participants. 

Over three days, attendees will take part in a program designed to help them discern their personal call, whether to priesthood, religious life, or lay ministry. Since its inception in 2018, the Ankawa Youth Meeting has become Iraq’s largest Christian youth gathering, fostering solidarity and faith at a time of ongoing challenges.

Syria’s Catholic schools seek united voice amid crisis

Catholic school leaders from across Syria gathered for the first time this week at the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus, in a meeting convened by Patriarch Youssef Absi and supported by French officials, according to an ACI Mena report. 

The gathering addressed pressing challenges facing Catholic education in the country — from security concerns and economic hardship to preserving curricula and values. Participants voiced the need to form a national association of Catholic schools to strengthen advocacy and cooperation with the state.

Father Fadi Najjar of Aleppo highlighted in the report the pioneering work already underway in his city, where nine Catholic schools operate under a newly formed local association. Discussions also focused on improving infrastructure, providing teacher training, and reclaiming schools confiscated decades ago, while reinforcing Syria’s francophone heritage. 

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Restored Dominican monastery reawakens in Mosul

The iconic Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of the Hour in Mosul has officially reopened after extensive restoration led by UNESCO, symbolizing resilience and spiritual revival for Iraq’s Christians, ACI Mena reported. 

The monastery, famous for its clock tower and historic church dating back to the 19th century, was left severely damaged by ISIS during its brutal occupation of the city. A special ceremony earlier this year handed the restored site back to the Dominican friars, with local faithful already resuming prayers and liturgies.

Bavarian judge orders the removal of a crucifix from high school gym 

The Bavarian Administrative Court has ordered the removal of a crucifix from the main entrance of the Hallertau Gymnasium in Wolnzach, Upper Bavaria. Two students requested its removal, citing the legal right to not belong to any religion, CNA Deutsche reported on Thursday. 

“The plaintiffs were forcibly and repeatedly confronted with the crucifix because of compulsory schooling and with regard to its positioning without (reasonable) alternative possibility,” the court said in a press release following the decision, adding that “The large crucifix was placed in a very exposed place and was characterized by a figurative representation of the corpse of Jesus.”

Camillian order launches rehab center in Georgia 

The Camillians, or the Order of St. Camillus, in Georgia — a country in the Caucasus region on the coast of the Black Sea — has launched the St. Camilus Rehabilitation Center in Kutaisi, the second-largest populated city in the country, dedicated to serving those in need, including children with special needs and their families, according to a report from Agenzia Fidez. 

The center will provide a broad range of services, including therapy, psychological support, and educational activities to the community, according to Fidez, “where resources are scarce and poverty is widespread.” 

The Camillians, also known as “Ministers of the Sick,” are a religious order founded in 1586 by Italian priest St. Camillus de Lellis.