Vicariate Day of Istanbul celebrated in the Haghia Triada Greek Orthodox Church- Taksim

The Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul H.E. Monsignor Massimiliano Palinuro, made his first official visit to the Haghia Triada Church of Taksim with the priests who accompanied him and the members of the community of the Latin Catholic Church of Istanbul.

The meeting took place as part of the preparations for the theme of Synod on Synodality that His Holiness Pope Francis initiated on 10 October 2021.

The Catholic Bishops of Turkey convened in Izmir

The 113th General Assembly of the CET

The Catholic Bishops of Turkey convened in Izmir to celebrate the 113th General Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Turkey in 13 – 15 January 2022.

During the meeting the important issues for the benefit of the local Church in Turkey were examined as Synod of Bishops, protection of minors and the vulnerable persons, legal situation of the Church, the commissions and delegates of the CET, formats of the magazines Maranatha and Presence.

In addition, a project that initiated by Archdiocese of Izmir, aimed to form a catechism that can help our Church introduced. This document will be a good instrument for who intends to know and deepen the Christian faith. Then the study approved for a new translation and edition of liturgical books of Latin Rite (Messale e Lezionario)

At the end of the study, the Bishops signed a declaration that the statute of the house of Mary (Meryem Ana Evi) as “National Shrine” reaffirmed. The first reading and analyzing of the Statute that intended to provide this place as a place of worship in the future also performed. This document must approved later.

On Saturday 15th of January 2022, the Bishops went to the Sanctuary to thank the Lord and invoke the intercession of the Mother of God for whole Church in Turkey.

Special Prayer for Mons. Ruben Tierrablanca for the First Anniversary of his Passing

Dear all, 
tomorrow, on 22.12.2021, for the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Mons.Ruben Tierrablanca OFM, I also want to invite you to the cemetery in Feriköy where at the tomb of the Friars Minor at 17.00 a special prayer in memory of Mons.Ruben will take place with the blessing of the tomb and deposition of flowers. 
After this prayer, the Holy Mass will be celebrated in the cathedral at 6.00 pm, as has already been announced.

fr. Pawel Szymala OFMCap

60th anniversary of Vatican diplomatic relations with Turkey

Istanbul Aydın University provides great service to history researchers by publishing the edition “Türkiye ile Vatikan Diplomatik İlişkilere Doğru (Towards Turkey-Vatican Papacy Diplomatic Relations)” of Rinaldo Marmara has written under the light of Vatican Ministry of Foreign Affairs archive. The edition is the first documented catalog book in Turkey of the history of Turkey-Vatican relations.