MALAWI – “Hunger is a silent war that is killing Malawi” A Monforte missionary describes the critical situation in Malawi, a country affected by the drought that has exacerbated the poor economic conditions caused largely by poor governance. “It’s hard to keep track. It happens in every town with more and more frequently. Funerals with...
PHILIPPINES – Bishops call for justice as war on drugs escalates Over 2000 people are reported to have been killed – 900 by police allegedly while resisting arrest and over 1000 by vigilantes – in the last three months as a result of President Rodrigo Duterte’s merciless war against drugs. The President has implied impunity...
SOLOMON ISLANDS – If the people cannot go to the Holy Door, the Holy Door will go to the people The diocese of Gizo on the Solomon Islands is celebrating the Jubilee in a very special way: with the pilgrimage of the mobile Holy Door “It is beautiful when people are able to forgive and...
CONGO – Phenomenal growth in vocations in the “country of 100 seminaries” The Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo grew a lot since the arrival of the first missionaries, Today this African country has the largest number of Catholics, no less than 41 million, and in keeping with the growth of the Church,...
PAKISTAN – Christianity flourishes in Khushpur, the”Pakistani Vatican” Khushpur is the largest Catholic village in all Pakistan, sometimes jokingly referred to as the “Pakistani Vatican”. It is around 25 miles (40 km) south of Faisalabad and was first established in 1902 by Belgian missionaries. At that time there was absolutely nothing here, no medical care,...
SYRIA – “Stop extremists entering Europe” Syrian leader of ancient Eastern-rite Church calls for action to tackle Islamist threat to Europe EUROPE needs to take tougher action to stop fundamentalists entering the region, according to the Syria-based leader of an ancient worldwide Church, who warns of the threat posed by a new generation of...
RUSSIA – First Christian leader arrested as new law banning evangelisation takes effect The first Christian leader has been arrested in Russia following the passing of new anti-terrorism laws that ban evangelism outside of churches. Sergei Zhuravlyov, a representative of the Ukrainian Reformed Orthodox Church of Christ the Savior, was arrested recently while he was...
MONGOLIA – First priest ordained in this small Catholic community The small Catholic community of Mongolia had cause for celebration on the occasion of the ordination of Fr Jose Enkh-Baatar, the first priest to be ordained from this region. Celebrating his first Mass on Sunday 28 August, Fr Enkh-Baatar said: “This Mass, the Eucharistic...
“Middle East Christians feel betrayed by the West” – Patriarch Ignatius Youssef Younan Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch has again issued a strong warning about the future of the region’s Christians, saying “My friends, the very existence of Eastern Churches, those churches that are from the apostolic...
PHILIPPINES – “Afraid to go to Mass” “Until recently the Philippines were a paragon of interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims,” said Brother Sebastiano D’Ambra, an Italian missionary in Mindanao. “But now people are even afraid to go to Mass.” Brother Sebastiano D’Ambra sounds tired when we call him on behalf of Aid to the...
