8/17/20: Nigerian Defenders Make Time For Sunday Mass

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/2020-08/after-a-week-fending-off-boko-haram-nigerian-military-joins-in.html

In Nigeria, the Madagali community is vulnerable to Boko Haram’s attacks because it is located near the Sambisa forest where Boko Haram has been hiding and operating. Recently, between heavy rains and the evil terrorists, the area has been essentially cut off from much of the rest of the country.

Thankfully the Nigerian military has been working hard to defend the area. And on the Feast of the Assumption, a “sizeable” number of soldiers attended Mass in the diocese! It was a much-welcomed sight for those feeling ignored by the government.

“The weak but faithful Christians here in the north (of Nigeria) have nothing much to say or do other than seek the intercession of our Mother of Hope -as prayed by the Holy Father. This is the only lifeline left for our people in a country where our political leaders seem to have fallen asleep at the wheel and have taken their eyes off the ball,” 

Fr. Sunu, Malagalı parish priest

Please continue to remember Africa in your prayers, and for God’s will to be done!

8/19/20: Zimbabwean Bishop Facing Wrath From Government

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/2020-08/southern-african-catholic-bishops-express-solidarity-with-zimbab.html

Bishop Sithembele Sipuka states that the Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa stand “in unconditional solidarity” with the Bishops of Zimbabwe, as they face hostilities by the Zimbabwean Government.

After Archbishop of Harare, Robert Christopher Ndlovu detailed conditions and abuses the government ignores to the people’s detriment, the Archbishop became the subject of personal attacks. These attacks have been executed by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa.

“Your Pastoral letter of Friday 14 August 2020 clearly describes the hardships and problems faced by Zimbabwe, and analyses the causes, which those in authority do not want to hear. Your voice of encouragement to the people of Zimbabwe is what they needed to hear in this time of their greatest need.”

Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, President of Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference

Please pray for justice and God’s will be done!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

8/10/20: Christians in India Protest Discrimination

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-08/india-dalit-christians-black-day-protest-discrimination.html

India’s Dalit Christians came together to observe what’s known as “Black Day”, to remind their countrymen that Dalits who believe in the Lord have been facing a constitution-based discrimination. 

“Dalit” is derived from Sanskrit, and means “broken” or “downtrodden”. It’s reserved for the untouchables, so low in ‎social status ‎that they are considered outcasts in the rigid Hindu caste system. As a result, for centuries, Dalits have suffered extreme exploitation and inhuman treatment. They also endure atrocities and severe poverty.

Their cries have gone unheard by the government since the 1950s. Since 2009, the “Black Day” protest has been organized annually by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the National Council of Churches in India and the National Council of Dalit Christians.

“God has treated everybody as equal.”

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President, CBCI

Please pray for justice and God’s will to be done!

8/8/20: Nigerian Bishops Decry Wave of Murders

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-08/bishops-decry-insecurity-in-northern-nigeria.html

Catholic Bishops of Nigeria call on the government to stop all the killing of innocent people in their country.

“We continue to hear of increasing insecurity and unabated acts of terrorism in Northern Nigeria. We are all tired of this situation…Our hearts are bleeding, and we are more troubled when we hear of the massacre presently going on in Southern Kaduna.”

Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria

Fulani militia and Boko Harem are suspected to be behind the violence. The current government promised to provide more security and stability but have failed to act.

“There will never be sustained development built upon the bloodshed of innocent people brutally murdered by religious fundamentalists without any recourse to justice for the victims…the faithful are to pray the five decades of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary “for God to save Nigeria.”

Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria

Pray for peace, and for God’s will to be done!

8/01/20: Catholic Cathedral Firebombed in Nicaragua.

https://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/nicaragua-catholic-cathedral-attacked-with-firebomb-in-calculated-terrorist

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-angelus-closeness-to-nicaraguans-for-crucifix.html

“This was a planned act, very calmly planned…So I want to say it clearly: it is a terrorist act, an act of intimidating the Church in her mission of evangelization.”

Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes of Managua

Inside the Cathedral, a chapel housing a 382-year-old image of the Blood of Christ, a depiction of Jesus Christ crucified, was severely damaged.

The perpetrator has yet to be identified.

Please pray for justice and God’s will to be done!