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By Robin Gomes As Myanmar saw its worst bloodbath on Sunday, with more than 30 protesters shot dead by security forces, the Catholic Church in the troubled nation once more raised its voice calling for peace and condemning the brutal force and bloodshed against the people. Blood of brothers and sisters “As the leaders of the Myanmar Catholic Church,. we urge all parties in Myanmar to seek peace,” wrote Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon on Sunday in an open letter to all the people of the nation, including the elected jailed leaders and the military. “This crisis will not be resolved by bloodshed,” he said, stressing, “The killings must stop at once. So many have perished.” “The blood spilled is not the blood of an enemy,” he argued, adding, “It is the blood of our own sisters and brothers, our own citizens.” ....
By Ngoc Lan During the current pandemic, the Diocese of Nha Trang in southern Vietnam is increasing its outreach towards people in need, especially the poor, regardless of their religion. Parish branches of Caritas are leading the way in providing services in local communities. in areas where medical services are inadequate, the Catholic charity has become involved after years of talks with local authorities. This is the case in one village, Võ Cang, on the outskirts of the city of Nha Trang, where Caritas opened a medical clinic on 20 October 2018 in Bình Cang parish, near the convent of the Sisters of the Pure Heart of Our Lady, a diocesan congregation that has trained doctors, nurses and pharmacists to serve patients. ....
By Amedeo Lomonaco After ten years of conflict, Syria’s ongoing civil war has exacted a heavy toll: more than 400,000 victims, 12 million persons displaced, and 12.4 million people suffering from food insecurity. Amid such darkness, the light of authentic peace has yet to be found. The way of peace Peace does not demand winners or losers, but rather brothers and sisters who, for all the misunderstandings and hurts of the past, are journeying from conflict to unity. Let us ask for this in praying for the whole Middle East. Here I think especially of neighbouring war-torn Syria. The way of peace is not possible without sharing and acceptance. These are the words that sum up the greatest hope for Syria, expressed by Pope Francis on 6 March during the Inter-religious Meeting in the Plain of Ur, in Iraq, in the land of Abraham. ....
COLOMBO: In a gesture of goodwill, the Indian government will provide temporary housing units to pilgrims heading to the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, in the Diocese of Mannar, northern Sri Lanka. India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay gave the green light to the unprecedented measure last week. The decision was welcomed with feelings of deep joy and gratitude by faithful and devotees, who praise Indian authorities for taking this step. According to information provided by the Indian High Commission in Colombo, last Thursday New Delhi gave the green light to build 144 intermediate housing units, in the area in front of the church, for pilgrims going to Marian shrine. ....
By Jacinta Fernandez (ASAYO youth minister) Members of the Malaysian Catholic Youth Ministers’ Committee (MCYMC) met as a family (virtually of course…) for the first time in 2021 to touch base and share on the various initiatives taking place all around the country. The meeting was held on the second day of March via Zoom and was attended by youth and campus ministers from the arch/dioceses in Malaysia Keningau, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Malacca-Johore, Miri, Penang, Sandakan and Sibu. The Bishop in-charge of the Episcopal Commission for Youth & Campus Ministry of Malaysia, Archbishop Simon Poh, was also in attendance. ....