Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, defying his suspension from exercising priestly functions, has conferred minor orders on 30 students at his Traditionalist seminary at Econe, Switzerland.
The archbishop was suspended from all exercise of his preisthood by Pope Paul last summer after he ordained a group of seminaries to the priesthood without fulfilling the requirements of Church law and in defiance of direct papal orders.
Many Lithuanians remain faithful
About 30 per cent of the Lithuanian people listen regularly to Vatican Radio, including somc Lithuanians deported to Siberia who listen on their knees, Vatican Radio said last week. The Jesuitrun radio station made the announcement in its monthly bulletin.
According to Vatican Radio, the 30 per cent figure applies to habitual listeners, or those who tune in at least once a week. It includes Lithuanians not only in Lithuania but in other parts of Europe. The radio said its estimates were based on information from "clandestine sources" which could not he revealed for fear of recriminations.
London petition for Soviet prisoners
Concern is mounting about the welfare of three Soviet Christians who were imprisoned in October, 1974, by the authorities after the discovery of a secret printing press in Latvia.
The three men, V. Pidchenko, V Pikalov and Y. Gauer. had been involved in printing and distributing New Testaments and other Christian literature. A petition calling for their release will be handed in to the Soviet Embassy in London on March 19.
Irish Boy Scouts' international camp
More than 8,000 Boy Scouts will converge on Mount Melleray, Co Waterford, at the end of July for "Jamborora '77," the international camp of the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland.
The highlight of the camp will bc "Fionns Trail", an ambitious 24hour hike over the Comeragh and Knockmealdown Mountains.