04/17/2014VATICAN Pope: A priest’s "joy", "anoints", is "incorruptible", "missionary" and guarded by poverty, obedience and loyalty Pope Francis celebrates the Chrism Mass with "his" priests. The priestly joy only flows “when the pastor is in the midst of his flock". Even in "in those moments of listlessness and boredom which at times overcome us in our priestly life (and which I too have experienced), even in those moments God’s people are able to “guard” that joy; they are able to protect you, to embrace you and to help you open your heart to find renewed joy" Vatican City ( AsiaNews ) - Priestly "anoints" but it does not "grease", making us unctuous, sumptuous and
presumptuous, it is a joy which is "imperishable" and "missionary" and "it
is also guarded...
04/17/2014INDIA Easter among India's Christians, a challenge and a mission of hope by Nirmala Carvalho Through AsiaNews, Card Telesphore Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, calls on his community to bear witness with their lives to the light of Christ. "The Church's task is to defend man's dignity, especially that of the most vulnerable".
04/17/2014CHINA Beijing blogger sentenced to 3 years for "spreading rumors" online Qin Zhihui is the first victim of the law passed in September 2013 against micro-blogs, increasingly active in denouncing corruption and scandals . The courts have handed down the sentence without investigating allegations of defamation brought against the blogger .
04/17/2014MYANMAR Chrism Mass in Yangon: The joy of priesthood is the antidote to clericalism by Francis Khoo Thwe The archbishop of Yangon and 80 priests led the celebration before 1,400 worshippers. The prelate highlighted the "happiness" of being in the service of the community and the "strong relationship" with God. He also noted the importance of community involvement in the practice of faith and parish life.
04/17/2014BANGLADESH Bangladesh, tribal Catholic gang raped: Christians and Muslims demand justice by Sumon Corraya The rapists were four Muslim youths. The victim , 21, survived and reported her rapists , "I want them to go on trial". Student activist denounces : "When it comes to tribal women police do not want to deal with the case ."
04/17/2014MALAYSIA - PHILIPPINES MERS first victim in Asia: A Malaysian returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca It is similar to SARS, but with a higher mortality rates: 50 % compared to the previous 10 % . The victim was 54 years old and had contracted the virus Saudi Arabia. First case in the Philippines, a nurse returning from the UAE and now in solitary confinement with family members. WHO estimates speak of 238 infections in 10 different countries, 92 victims so far.
04/16/2014HOLY LAND For Christian religious leaders in Jerusalem, Easter brings hope for peace in the region In their traditional Easter message, Christian religious leaders in the Holy Land emphasise that true peace "springs from the Cross and is vindicated by the Resurrection." If peace "does not seek to abolish discrimination between different communities [it] is no peace at all." In their appeal, the religious leaders call on "people of good will" to pray for a resolution to the conflicts.
04/16/2014CHINA Dongguan: 40,000 workers down tools again Strike hits Yue Yuen, a company that works for giants such as Nike, Adidas and Timberland. Workers complain about the level of payments for pensions, want higher wages, better medical insurance, and injury compensation.
04/16/2014IRAQ Iraqi government closes Abu Ghraib prison Justice Ministry announces the transfer of 2,400 prisoners to other facilities, raising concerns among lawmakers on the Security and Defence committee of Iraq's parliament. For them, the move sends the wrong message.
04/16/2014INDIA Narendra Modi's right hand man stopped for inciting hatred against Muslims Election Commission bars Amit Shah from any meeting or election speech in Uttar Pradesh. In early April, he had asked people not to vote for Muslim candidates because Muslims had raped, killed and humiliated Hindus. Modi, an ultra-nationalist Hindu, has been blamed in connection with the 2002 communal massacres in Gujarat, when almost a thousand Muslims were killed.
04/16/2014JAPAN Japan’s whalers want to return to sea "soon" The Japanese organization for whalers proposes a change in program to international community to in exchange for the resumption of activities. They also seek an injunction against the environmental movement Sea Shepherd, which follows the whalers to boycott them at sea.
04/16/2014PHILIPPINES Good Friday in Manila: a "journey of penance" to protect the country from natural disasters The Special Way of the Cross will start at 5 am in Pasay City and end in front of Manila Cathedral. All of the capital's 500 parishes will send a delegation. Prelates from areas affected by typhoons and quakes will all attend. Card Tagle calls for "solidarity" with the victims, to be one with those who suffer.
04/16/2014MYANMAR Benedict Rogers: My Easter in Myanmar, the land where I became a Catholic by Francis Khoo Thwe The Asian director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide speaks of his special bond with the country and the Archbishop of Yangon. Water as an element of purification, which unites Catholics and Buddhists who are celebrating major holidays together in 2014. The universality of the Church "does not mean uniformity", but appreciation of the local culture. The Burmese Church is "a vibrant Church".
Before the tomb, something completely new and unexpected happens, they draw near and they do not find the Lord's body, What was a simple act, done surely out of love - going to the tomb - has now turned into an event, a truly life-changing event. Nothing remains as it was before, not only in the lives of those women, but also in our own lives and in the history of mankind. Jesus is not dead, he has risen, he is alive! He does not simply return to life; rather, he is life itself, because he is the Son of God, the living God! Jesus no longer belongs to the past, but lives in the present and is projected towards the future; Jesus is the everlasting "today" of God. This is how the newness of God appears to the women, the disciples and all of us: as victory over sin, evil and death, over everything that crushes life and makes it seem less human. How often does Love have to tell us: Why do you look for the living among the dead? Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness... and that is where death is. That is not the place to look for the One who is alive!
Pope Francis
AsiaNews wishes all our friends and readers a Happy Easter 2014
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