The Soeurs de Notre Dame celebrated the first 50 years of their orphanage in Central Java province. “We are here and serve the most unfortunate children thanks to the generosity of so many people in this city,” says the Superior for Indonesia. God gave the nuns “the passion to love these unfortunate children and the patience to always listen to them."
The Soeurs de Notre Dame celebrated the first 50 years of their orphanage in Central Java province. “We are here and serve the most unfortunate children thanks to the generosity of so many people in this city,” says the Superior for Indonesia. God gave the nuns “the passion to love these unfortunate children and the patience to always listen to them."
Forced to flee Pakistan in 1986, for 15 years bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir Ali chose Catholicism last year. He tells AsiaNews, "The persecuted will renew our Churches. The Synod? We must be on guard against outside pressure groups and listen to yesterday's believers as well."
As politics once again leaves a power vacuum, the Lebanese people are gripped by an unprecedented economic crisis. The Maronite bishop of Batroun points the finger at politicians and corruption. Catholic schools, however, have seen an increase in enrollment. "When the time for change comes, we want to be ready," he tells AsiaNews.
The network brings together various experiences in order to raise awareness that the two continents face the same environmental challenges together. Its message to the COP27 that opens today in Sharm el Sheik is to heed “small local communities” since “negotiations between governments” have failed.
Msgr. Peter Chung Soon-taick wants to bring World Youth Day to Asia: "It would be an extraordinary opportunity to revive youth ministry in a country struggling with a demographic winter and an education system dominated by competitiveness." An announcement that in these hours is intertwined with the dramatic news about the hundreds killed and injured in the stampede for the Hallowen festivities in the Itaewon district.
Next Sunday, the Church around the world celebrates the day that focuses on the proclamation of the Gospel to those who have not yet known Jesus. The director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in India offers his reflection on what missionary conversion means today amid the wounds of the Church’s scandals and the hostility of fundamentalists.
After the opening day at the meeting promoted in Bangkok by the Federation of Bishops' Conferences, the Church of each country presents the joys and challenges of its experience. Card. Gracias: "The experience of Latin America with the Aparecida document a model for renewing and revitalising our pastoral experience".
Located in a district that covers Bangkok’s port, Klong Toey is home to 100,000 people, many of them internal migrants. Here, the Sisters recently began providing meals to people further impoverished by the pandemic. With their school “only a few blocks away from the biggest slum,” the Sisters heeded Pope Francis’s call to “serve the poor at the borders of our society”.
His remains transferred to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He was the pastor of the Synod of the local Church and the Bridge to Mainland China .
In the last 15 years , the number of foreigners in the country has grown fourfold. The bishop of Incheon released a message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which is marked today by the Churches of the whole world. “Our hearts and actions are what God wants us to do in order to further build a great future in which no one is left out,” the prelate writes.
In Dinajpur, Bangladesh, the anniversary celebration of her arrival at the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration monastery. Originally from Kerala, she built and guided the community of cloistered nuns. "I pray for world peace and the welfare of all."
The Vatican delegation and Chinese authorities met in a city with no official bishop since 2005. Archbishop Celli was able to meet 92-year-old underground Bishop Melchior Shi Hongzhen. Meanwhile, a report to the National Assembly of Chinese Catholic Representatives puts the number of Catholic churches in the country at 4,202 with 110,000 new baptisms in the last six years.
The superior of the Missionaries of Charity describes how sisters around the world will mark the 25th anniversary of the foundress' death on Sept. 5. Tomorrow on Park Street in Kolkata, a new center for street children will begin operations. "Pray that we will carry on Mother Teresa's legacy: to do freely all the good we can for the love of God and our brothers and sisters."
After the listening process involving the individual Churches, the General Secretariat will draw up a synthesis from Rome by the end of October on which a continental consultation will take place. A number of Asian theologians will also be on the commission charged with drafting it. By the end of March 2023 a synodal meeting of the Churches in Asia will be held in which not only bishops but also priests, laity and religious will take part.
On Aug. 22 the inaugural session of the Bishops' Conferences of Asia at the shrine of Blessed Nichola Kitbamrung. 250 bishops, priests, religious and laity will participate in the meeting-which will have its focus Oct. 12-30. Adjunct Secretary Msgr. Allwyn D'Silva: "We will reflect on how to proclaim the Gospel to Asia today and what contribution our communities can make to the universal Church."
The Catholic community in Raishahi has not forgotten the PIME missionary who was shot to death by bandits on 14 August 1972 at a time when he was helping war refugees returning from India. His legacy includes the St Joseph’s School and College he had founded in Bonpara together with Fr Verdelli, which today has more than 2,000 students.
South Korea is debating the closure of large residential facilities that still house 25,000 patients. Parents fear their children might lose the care and assistance they need. For Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, all “situations are not all the same”. The most appropriate solutions should be provided for each.
After the execution of Tomohiro Kato, coincidentally with that of Myanmar dissidents, the Justice and Peace Council of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan warns that, “The violence of the death penalty can never build a peaceful society. It is a barbarity that goes against the times and creates new violence.”
From July 26 to 28 the Indian Church gathers in Bengaluru to draft the synthesis that will be sent to Rome after diocesan reflections on the synodal journey. Conversion, new social challenges and the struggle to really listen to the laity and youth: some voices from the path taken so far.
Patrash Soren, from the Diocese of Dinajpur, still goes from village to village to preach the Gospel and prepare others for their baptism. Among the tribal people, “There is a great opportunity to touch the hearts of non-Christians”, many of whom “love our way of life, our culture, and Christ’s teachings," Soren explains.
In a recent interview, Pope Francis expresed his hopes for the renewal of the accord due to expire in October. Since it came into force, six bishops ordained (two appointed previously) and six more have taken possession of their dioceses. But throughout China - despite the Agreement - at least 36 dioceses have no bishop.
On 3 July, feast day of Saint Thomas, Indian Christians of all denominations celebrate a day to remember that Christianity is not a foreign religion in their country. This year takes on a special significance since it is the 1,950th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Apostle in Chennai. “May Saint Thomas the Apostle help us to be strong in our faith,” said Archbishop Poola, chosen by Pope Francis to be a new cardinal.
A Christian and Muslim, married for 20 years in a country where officially mixed marriages are not allowed. At the World Meeting of Families in Rome they brought their testimony, "We had to face a lot of resistance from those around us. After three years of marriage I accepted Agnes' choice to become Catholic again, and from that moment I also decided to accompany her to church."
Ahead of the Pope’s Day of Charity, which will be celebrated next Sunday, 26 June, the Vatican released financial data showing that South Korea is the fourth donor country. Of the € 9.8 million allocated by the pontiff to projects for the communities most in need, more than a quarter went to Asia.
In the face of the increasingly evident shrinking of spaces of freedom in Hong Kong, the bishop's reflection published in the diocesan weekly: "God's love and light are found in all things, even in the cracks. Accepting change does not mean approving of it, but learning to discern new possibilities. The tougher the conditions, the more resilient life will be."
For the first time Asia will have more cardinal electors than Africa, some relatively young. In total, 15 Asian countries are represented compared to seven in the conclave that elected Pope Francis. In addition to first timers, some countries like Vietnam will lose their cardinal electors.
The CBCB marked the milestone of half a century in the service of the Catholic communities in the country with a ceremony in Dhala. The contribution of schools and social services for all. A commitment equality and enhance recognition of female leadership in the life of the Church.
The beatification in Lyon of the foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith is an opportunity to rediscover the roots of this association serving the mission and the proclamation of the Gospel in China and the rest of Asia. Blessed Jaricot promoted prayer for Christians in China and knowledge about their communities. Today Asian Churches are no longer just recipients of support but also provide it to the mission on other continents.
Bishop Mumbiela Sierra of Almaty, Kazkistan, was elected a few weeks ago as the first president of the new Conference of Catholic Bishops of Central Asia. He speaks to AsiaNews: 'An experience of fraternity that is important for the growth of our communities. We are a periphery that bears witness to God's love for the whole world".
