Aid to the Church in Need
The power of God’s love
Christians in India are being Persecuted
Orissa
The remains of a church set ablaze in Kandhamal district, Orissa.
Blessed are those who are persecuted... for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
Aid to the Church in Need
Contents Page Introduction - Fr. Martin Maria Barta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................................ 2 A letter of Introduction - Johannes Freiherr Heereman. ................................... 3 “Loving till it hurts” - in China and Iraq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................................... 4 Winning friends for Christ - in Tunisia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................................ 5 The marvel of Samir’s homecoming - Good News from Pakistan. .................... 6 In the heart of the city, in the midst of the people - Vienna. ........................ 8 A LOOK IN THE
ACN’s Look at India II - An Introduction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................................... 10 Christian Solidarity with the “Untouchables”. . . . . . ....................................... 13 Indian Bishops and the problem of Religious Freedom and “Prohibited Conversions”.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................................... 14 Christianophobia in Goverment.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................................... 15 Pope Benedict XVI - Proclaiming the Gospel a priority for Bishops. .................. 16 Protestant Pastor beaten for screening a film about Jesus. ........................ 18 Christian suffering is not in vain Sr. Meena Barwa reflects upon her humiliation and Christian witness. ................ 18 Archbishop John Barwa - “I am a tribal, I will console my people”................... 19 A Christian Witness in Mangalore - Good News from Karnataka State. .......... 21 Evangelising the Globe - Good News from India. . . . ........................................ 22 The Indian Bishops - “The Church has a crucial role in the country’s future”. .... 23
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Dear Friends, Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has raised ACN to the status of a Papal Foundation. This honour confirms our charity in its worldwide mission of helping to establish the Kingdom of Christ’s love everywhere. Actually the Church is in her own way a foundation, founded in the blood of Jesus, which He poured out in love on the cross in order to redeem us all. That is why loving sacrifice is the true inheritance of the Church. Father Werenfried used to say that ACN’s mission is to administer not just the money but above all the love of our benefactors.
catholic and apostolic... But then their bishop would always add: “There is something important you have forgotten – the Church of Jesus Christ is always the persecuted Church as well.” In other words, trials and persecution are part of the ‘normal state’ of the Church. They are her ‘certificate of genuineness’.
This capital – your love for our brothers and sisters – is increased and expanded through the treasury of graces of the Dear Friends, during the Lenten season let us unite together suffering of countless martyrs and confes- The Church of Jesus Christ with suffering Christians throughout the world, sors of our faith. Only is always the persecuted and let us likewise offer a Christian who truly Church as well. our own daily ‘drops of gives himself can be blood’ for the Church a convincing proof of the genuineness of faith. The story is and for the conversion of the nations. sometimes told of Pope Saint Pius X who, May the contemplation of the Way of as Bishop of Mantua, often used to attend the Cross be a source of grace for us the final examinations of his seminarians from which we can draw strength to turn and frequently liked to put questions the difficulties and suffering of our own to them himself. One of his questions everyday life, through love, into blesswas this: “Tell me, what are the essen- ings. Above all in the holy hour of 3pm tial characteristics of the Church of – the hour of Our Lord’s death – we can Jesus Christ?” Naturally enough, the obtain all things. This is precisely what candidates found it easy to answer Jesus promised to Saint Faustina Kowalthis quite elementary question: ska: “In this hour I will refuse nothing The Church of Christ is one, holy, to the soul that asks Me through My
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Passion... You can ask everything for yourself and for others... Strive at this time to make the Stations of the Cross. But if that is not possible for you, then go for a while to the chapel and adore My Heart... and if not even that is possible for you, then immerse yourself, however briefly, in prayer, wherever you happen to be.” Each of us can do something. Each of us can love. We thank you, dear benefactors, for your prayers and your gifts of
love. Moved by your spirit, which is the spirit of Christ, we intend to distribute these gifts wherever the Church is truly in need. I bless you, in profound gratitude,
Fr. Martin Maria Barta Ecclesiastical Assistant
Dear Friends, As Executive President of ACN I am chairman of an executive committee that will implement the resolutions of the new Administrative Council of our Foundation and supervise the use of the money entrusted to us by you – in accordance with the Spiritual Guidelines of Father Werenfried. I thank you with all my heart for this trust. In the Mirror you will see how together we are helping persecuted and oppressed Christians. In the future I will use this column to keep you informed about important events and meetings in our daily life and work in Rome and Königstein. As for myself, I am a lawyer who spent 30 years heading the Knights of Malta, a major aid organisation with 50,000 volunteer and full-time staff. For the past 42 years I have been married to a lay theologian –perhaps that is the reason
why four of our six children are now studying theology. We also have four grandchildren, with whom I would really love to be able to spend more time now. But clearly, Divine Providence had other plans in mind for me. And so I am delighted and privileged to be able to serve in this great and wonderful work, in the spirit of Father Werenfried.
Johannes Freiherr Heereman,
Executive President of ACN International
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Loving till it hurts For Father Werenfried our persecuted brothers and sisters were“the elite of the Church”. To show solidarity with them is a commandment of love and, in his own words, “a matter of honour”. They are an elite that is growing ever more numerous – and yet living in secret, for example in China. We cannot give names or places, but there are many projects – ranging from support for religious sisters, scholarships for seminarians, training catechists, printing Bibles, through to building new chapels, repairing old ones and funding vehicles for pastoral work. Last year there were 69 projects, ranging in cost from 900 to 38,000 euros. And the number will grow. For despite the renewed repression, “the Gospel is exploding in China,” as even the more cautious observers acknowledge. This, of course, fits perfectly with what Father Werenfried always said, “The Church is nowhere more flourishing than where she
Back to the bare stones – Archbishop Nona in a bombed-out church in Mosul.
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Shepherds in Iraq – a dwindling flock, but hope in the Good Shepherd endures.
suffers persecution for the sake of Christ.” Yet it is still a blossom that needs to be nurtured by our love. “Love until it hurts.” This was the motto of Mother Teresa. True love, she said, is always tested by suffering, and often by persecution. This might last a lifetime – or it might cost us our life. This is the situation facing priests in Iraq. They know that at any moment they might be killed by a bomb attack or abducted and murdered by Islamists. The number of Christians in the land of Abraham is shrinking; hence it is all the more vital that those who do remain should experience our solidarity and their bishops be helped to strengthen their brethren. They are, in fact, doing just this – by organising ongoing training courses at which their priests can exchange not only theological insights but also their life experiences – which are not infrequently ‘survival experiences’ aswell.
In this way they can pray together, gather together around the Lord in the Eucharist, strengthen one another and pass on this strength to the people in their parishes. The transport and accommodation costs
for these meetings stretch further than one might think. And they bring joy, not sorrow. It would be good to have more of them. •
Visiting the “elite of the Church”. FrWerenfried in 1961, with Chinese Christians who had fled to Hong Kong.This was the beginning of our help for the Church in Asia.
Winning friends for Christ – in Tunisia Christians in Tunisia are a tiny minority, and their situation is precarious. There are fears about where the country, or society, is heading under the current Islamist dominance. It’s the old story of the mustard seed. They have to remain discreet and yet effective. They do this by their example, bearing witness to the Good News by the testimony of their lives, building bridges between cultures, welcoming others with open arms and showing them that Christ is both their friend and their hope – for only in this way can the non-Christians come to know the God of love. Their archbishop has encouraged this in his pastoral letter, but to do this they also need places to meet. They need them for the parishes
‘Ut cognoscant te’ – that they may come to know You. This is the episcopal motto of Archbishop Maroun Lahham of Tunis.
themselves, for special occasions, for pastoral work. We are helping the archbishop and his faithful co-workers by part-funding the construction of a multipurpose hall in the pastoral centre. It will be a place of the Good News. •
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The marvel of Samir’s homecoming - Pakistan The fact that Samir is still alive is, in itself, a miracle. Never before in Pakistan has an abducted child been returned to his family. Just a week after his homecoming Samir made his First Holy Communion. More than anything, nine-year-old Samir loves playing with his kite. He’s always flying it on the road outside the Catholic Cathedral in Lahore. That is what he was doing on that fateful 23 October. But on that day his parents waited for him to return home in vain. A security camera, that had been installed to protect the cathedral, showed him being abducted by a bearded, white-robed man. His parents were beside themselves, for Samir’s little
sister had already been killed in an earlier bomb attack on the cathedral. The whole parish prayed fervently for a miracle, but they all knew that children abducted like this are taken to Afghanistan to be used as suicide bombers. Either that, or their limbs are hacked off so that they can be used to extort money by the Mafia. Not one such victim has ever returned alive. But Father Andrew Nisari believes in miracles. He kept encouraging the parents, saying “Your son will return!”
The whole parish prayed for a miracle. Samir himself can remember only the sponge that was held over his nose. Then everything went black. Ten days later he found himself with his abductor beside the River Indus, somewhere in the region of Peshawar on the frontier with AfghaniFull of life and back in the heart of his community. Little Samir with his kite, and with Father Andrew, who never gave up hope.
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stan. “Let’s just see how deep the water is,” the man said to him. “I’m afraid; I don’t want to die,” the youngster replied. “No, I’ll hold your hand”, said the kidnapper. Then, as Samir continued to struggle, the man simply threw him into the water and made off. Father Andrew believes that his abductor just wanted to get rid of the boy, since the case had been publicised on television and the business was getting too dangerous for the man. But little Samir did not drown. He was able to cling to some bamboo stems and drag himself back onto dry land. Then he ran and ran. On a house in Peshawar he saw a poster with a picture of Mariamabad,
the Pakistani Marian shrine. “Please take me there, to those people”, he said to a Muslim mullah, who had stopped to help him. Around midnight that night the phone rang at Samir’s family home. Soon they were all beside themselves with joy. That same night his father set out to fetch his son from Peshawar. As they were still on their way home, Samir telephoned Father Andrew. “What about my First Holy Communion?”, he asked him. The next day Samir arrived home. The whole parish turned out to meet him and everyone was in tears, even Father Andrew. A week later Samir made his First Holy Communion. This year he will once again be able to join the parish pilgrimage to Mariamabad to sing Our Lady’s praises. Last year everyone had missed the sound of his voice. • Eva-Maria Kolmann The cathedral of Lahore. Sunday catechism class, summer camp for young people, instruction for women and girls. ACN is helping the Catholic Church in Pakistan in many different ways.
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In the heart of the city, in the midst of the people Their habit is simple – a lavender blue smock, with a dark blue headscarf. But they are also recognisable for the work they do, their solidarity with the poor, their concern for young people, friendship towards all. The Little Sisters of the Lamb hope in these ways to show forth the love of God in society.
male and female communities. Today the community is present in eight other countries and numbers 130 sisters and 30 brothers. Their way of life radiates a spirit of joy and poverty.
In Vienna’s 20th District, an overwhelmingly Muslim part of the city, the Little Sisters are now building a convent of their “Many people have been wounded and own. They had long been seeking a suitso no longer have any contact with the able site, but for the most part they Church; they have long encountered “great since walked away. An example of God’s love. resistance from the visibly Through our begging, the secularised population”. Church can once more reach out to them.” However, in Vienna’s Bezirk 20 they were In these striking, but modest, words one actually welcomed, and the neighbours sister describes the impact of their com- encouraged them to build. Both the munity in Vienna. They have been present leader of the district council and the local in the Austrian capital since 1996, as a parish priest welcomed the project, while branch of the Dominican order, founded Christians in the area felt encouraged. in 1983 in France and now including both The Archdiocese made a building plot available, and the foundation stone was laid in June 2011. By now the foundations have been laid and the walls are being built up. In building it the sisters are closely following the rule of Saint Dominic, which demands a plain and simple structure as a sign of poverty and A new convent for Vienna – a place of silence, adoration and mission. humility. The new
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Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna has been the responsible bishop for both branches of the community – sisters and brothers – since 1996.
pear in the urban landscape; in fact quite the contrary. “Our experience in Vienna in recent years has shown us just how necessary it is to live in the heart of the city and to have a place that is accessible and open to all”, the sister explains. “A place of prayer, of hospitality, of liturgical celebration, a place of missionary presence among the people.”
Although the convent is surrounded by multistorey buildings, it will not disap-
“The contemplative, yet missionary outlook is precisely what is needed today by the age and by the Church,” writes Cardinal Schönborn, assuring us of his support. ACN is also helping with a contribution. The convent is being funded entirely by private donations. In fact there is no other way, for the sisters have nothing – only your generosity and their own trust in God. • Reinhard Backes
The winters are bitterly cold in Buchach, in Western Ukraine. In the churches your breath freezes when the heating doesn’t work. Their glorious Byzantine Liturgies are long – and when the heating fails it is not only the children and old people who suffer. And that is exactly what did happen in the not-quite finished cathedral of this young diocese. “Beyond repair”, was the verdict of the experts. But the construction of the cathedral had emptied the coffers over the past few years and so the purchase of a new boiler was impossible. Then late last autumn, newly-ordained Greek-Catholic Bishop Dmytro Hryhorak
turned to ACN for help. We said yes; now he thanks you with all his heart. But perhaps the best thanks we can have is the fact that both choir and congregation can now sing out the praises of the Lord without shivering and sneezing.
convent will be a simple single-storey building with space for 10 sisters, a publicly accessible chapel, a refectory, two inner courtyards with green spaces, plus an enclosure and chapel for the sisters.
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A LOOK IN THE
ACN’s Look at India II A Chairde, In this Mirror we continue our look at the Church in India: its sufferings and its successes. (Copies of the previous Mirror can be downloaded from our website www.acnirl.org)
land of great cultural, religious and ethnic diversity, Catholics constitute a tiny but significant minority. Unquestionably this tiny Catholic minority is experiencing persecution and suffering heroically as some of the short news items presented below make abundantly. Equally clear however are the great successes of the Catholic Church in India in spreading the good news within the subcontinent and abroad.
When one speaks of India, one speaks of a country which is well on the way to becoming the most populous nation in the world with over 1.2 billion people (17.5% of the world’s population) crowded into 2.4% of earth’s landmass. Of these 1.2 billion, about 80% are Hindu and around 12% are Muslims. Christians constitute about 2.3% of the population (approx. 25 - 28 million). In a historic
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor Archbishop emeritus of Westminster, upon returning from an official visit to India in early 2011 was delighted to remark upon how the Catholic Church in India is “confident, strong and vibrant”. 25 years previously on a visit to India in 1986, Blessed John Paul also noted how Catholics in India constituted “a very tiny minority” but had “a very special part to play” in the life of this great country and the same remains true today.
Archbishop John Barwa SVD will visit Ireland in February 2012
What special role the Catholic Church should play in building a better India was a core theme of a meeting of bishops from India’s 168 dioceses which was held in February 2012. Of course such a question as to the special role which the Catholic Church role is expected to play in building a better nation is not limited to India nor to this time: always and everywhere the Church has had the special role of bearing witness to the Truth in Charity. Viewed from afar the Catholic Church in India certainly appears to be doing just
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this and doing it magnificently. Here one simply has to consider that although Catholics make up less than 2% of the population they provide nearly a quarter of all health-care services and employ one third of all Indian health-care workers. In education also the Catholic Church is very visible, operating more than 14,000 colleges and schools and almost 1,100 training institutes. In all these social services the Church bears bodily witness to the Gospel Truth that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God and as such is equally-deserving in dignity regardless of class, colour, ability, age or gender. Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, referred to the Catholic Church in India being “confident, strong and vibrant” but what does it mean to be a “confident, strong and vibrant” church and how is such a church created and sustained?
Archbishop Barwa’s diocese in Orissa was the epicentre of a violent anti-Christian pogrom in the summer of 2008 when an estimated 500 Christians lost their lives and mob violence drove 54,000 Christians out of their 4,640 homes to live in make-shift camps. Indeed some of you may recall that it was during this period that Archbishop Barwa’s niece, Sister Meena Barwa was publicly raped, beaten and humiliated. Sr. Meena’s short reflection on this episode (see below) beautifully exemplifies the authentically heroic Catholic witness and understanding which is being called for by the Catholic faithful in every situation where the church is being persecuted and suffering acutely for the love of God. Manifesting Grace is the definitive Christian response to persecution and
These are some of the questions which Archbishop John Barwa SVD of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar will reflect upon during his thanksgiving visit to Ireland at the end of February.
Destroyed Church in Orissa, India
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by prayer and in particular by the Eucharist, ‘the summit of all our prayer’*. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the life and mission of the Church and Archbishop Barwa’s visit to Ireland will be focused upon celebrating the Eucharist here in thanksgiving for all the material support and prayers which ACN benefactors have offered to the Church in Orissa during its time of great need.
Provincial Map of India
suffering and that Grace is God-given. Prayer, the sacraments and the Word of God are the means through which we acquire and grow in Grace individually and communally. Prayer, personal and communal, is not therefore an optional extra but an essential core of Catholic discipleship because we cannot give what we have not got. Moreover we know from experience, both personal and communal. that good works without prayer are fruitless and meaningless while prayer without good works is insincere and shallow. There can be little doubt that the mighty work of Catholic social services throughout India, throughout the world and throughout history has been built and is being sustained
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The truth of course is that as one body, as one holy catholic and apostolic Church their need is in fact our need, our need is their need and it is in giving we receive. Throughout this International Eucharistic Congress year, through our ACN media, our Bulletins and Mirrors (all of which are available for download from www.acnirl. org) we will keep our focus on the Eucharist, on the centrality of prayer in giving witness to Charity in Truth and remember in our prayers the suffering and persecuted Church in India and throughout the world. Beannachtaí daoibh go léir
J F Declan Quinn Director - Ireland * Wednesday 11th January 2012, General Audience.
Christ’s solidarity with the “Untouchables”* Christians in India celebrated Dalit Liberation Sunday on the 11th December last by renewing their commitment to those of Dalit origin who still suffer from the traditional practice of untouchability. In traditional Hindu thinking, Dalits are not quite human: they are denied the right to enter the temple, read, or eat with members of other castes. Moreover a person who touches a Dalit must immediately purify himself. Sadly as was pointed out by one Christian Missionary: “When it comes to social life, they are untouchable. For rape however they are touchable.” Within the traditional Hindu mindset, to be Dalit is much worse than being poor. No matter how much education or wealth a Dalit acquires she or he will always remain polluted and a shame on the face of the earth. In many respects Dalits are like biblical lepers, except that while lepers are cured in the bible, within mainstream Indian culture, Dalits cannot be healed. Notwithstanding the fact that India’s economy is large, fast growing and in many sectors highly competitive, poverty is widespread. India in fact has a dual econ-
omy on the one hand, modern technological and fast-paced, on the other, traditional, agrarian and poorly educated. More than 40% of the Indian population are living below the poverty line. According to World Bank estimates, one third of the entire world’s poor live in India. Dalits accounting for somewhat over 15% of the total Indian population (between 150 and 160 million people) are numbered amongst the poorest of these poor. Dalit Christians of Chengara, Kerala
Dalit Liberation Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday nearest to International Human Rights Day, Dec. 10. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India in association with the National Council of Churches in India strongly supports this annual celebration.
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In a statement released by the Catholic bishops to mark Dalit Liberation Sunday 2011, note was made that “Indian society is still under the grip of caste culture that perpetuates ethos, attitudes, structures of inequality and dehumanizing untouchable practices.” “Contrary to the Gospel vision of Christ, the ‘caste mentality’ violates the Godgiven dignity and equality of the human person. Human dignity and respect are
due to every human person and any denial of this is a sin against God and a disservice to humanity.” A ‘confident, strong and vibrant’ Catholic Church in India is actively engaged in trying to transform a dominant culture which seeks to deny millions of people of their God-given dignity which is the fundamental basis of all human rights. • * Article is an amended version of a Zenit News Agency article.
Indian Bishops and the problem of Religious Freedom and “Prohibited Conversions”* Indian Bishops assembling in Bangalore in February 2012 debated the issues related to “prohibited conversions”, discrimination against Christians and the limitations of religious freedom. Bishops, in the working groups, pointed out that India has approved a series of laws to prohibit the conversion, primarily by Christian missionaries. The first state to pass a “Law on Freedom of Religion” (which in fact is a law that prohibits conversions) was the state of Orissa in 1967, followed by Madhya Pradesh in 1968 and by Arunachal Pradesh in 1978. Subsequently the government of the Hindu nationalist “Bharatiya Janata Party” (BJP), introduced it in Gujarat in 2003 and in Chhattisgarh in 2006, the year in which it entered into force in Himachal Pradesh. Based on these laws, many missionaries
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have been accused of “c a r r y i n g out conve rs i o n s ” and have been prosBishops Meeting in ecuted. Bangalore T o d a y extremist groups use such allegations to attack Christian leaders and faithful. Conversion to Hinduism is not considered a crime, and Hindu groups continue to openly convert tribal people to Hinduism. According to Suhas Chakma, Director of the “Asian Centre for Human Rights”, based in New Delhi: many organizations of Hindu religious groups receive grants from the Ministry of Social Justice, the Ministry for the Development of Human
Resources and from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, for the construction of schools and social centres, in favour of members of lower castes or tribal people. In this context, the role of the state is clearly partisan”. “Religious faith is a personal matter and should not be regulated by the state. It is widely known that many Dalits, even Christians, legally identify themselves as Hindus in order to obtain social benefits reserved for Hindus and denied to Dalit Christians, in a discriminatory manner. Such denials of fundamental rights are violations of the Constitution.” While it is clear that under the Indian Constitution all Indian citizens, are guaranteed the right to:-
• To profess their religious beliefs • To propagate them and • To change them, the on-the-ground reality, particularly among the poor and dispossessed is that these rights are being denied. Suhas Chakma suggests that this practical denial of basic human rights makes India appear to the outside world as Christianophoblic, fearful of Christianity. Here one must ask how could this be the case in the world’s largest democracy whose national motto is ‘Truth alone triumphs’ which accords so well with the core Christian message that ‘the Truth will set you free’ (John 8: 32). Only those who fear the Truth, the Truth told in Charity need fear the Good News of the Christ’s gospel. • *Based upon an article provided by Agenzia Fides.
“Christianophobic in government”* In a note sent to the Fides news agency by a grouping of Christian and Non-Christian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) the claim was made that “Secular India suffers from Christianophobia, a disease that is deeply rooted and well established, but not publicly recognized by the state and society”. In their note the NGOs point out the puzzling statements of a Federal Minister for Renewable Energy, Janab Farooq Abdul-
lah and former Prime Minister in the state of “Jammu and Kashmir”, who has publicly expressed his support for the decision of an Islamic court in Kashmir to issue a deportation order for three missionaries, two Protestants (the Pastors C.M. Khanna and Gayoor Masih) and a Catholic (Father Jim Borst) all of whom have been falsely accused of “fraudulent conversion”. Federal Minister Janab Farooq Abdullah went on to request “the immediate removal (of the three missionaries) on behalf of the government”.
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According to the NGOs which includes the “Global Council of Indian Christians”, “a federal minister, who has a legal obligation to respect the Constitution of India, has endorsed the unconstitutional actions of an Islamic court which has expelled Indian citizens”. Such decision-making, it is feared, may lead to “a ‘fatwa’ against Christians in Kashmir and perhaps in all of India, which could be supported by a federal government Minister, whose presence in government gives a “legitimacy to anti-constitutional, anti-secular and antinational forces”. Among the organizations that speak of “Christianophobia”, denouncing the excessive political and social space granted to Hindu and Islamic extremist movements,
is the renowned “Asian Centre for Human Rights”. , based in New Delhi. Their director, Suhas Chakma, remarked to Fides that even the British colonists (who ruled India from 1757 to 1947) “did not impose the Christian religion, but during post independence, in an India which calls itself secular, many Indian state have approved a series of ‘Laws on Religious Freedom ‘ which in fact limit the freedom of religion and conversion”. “These measures, however - notes the Director - do not apply to Hindus, who continue to convert the tribals and aboriginals” • * Based upon an Agenzia Fides news article.
Pope Benedict XVI Proclaiming the Gospel a priority for Bishops* In an address to a visiting group of Indian Bishops, Pope Benedict reminded the prelates that “among the more important responsibilities of bishops, the proclamation of the Gospel is pre-eminent.” The Church, the Pontiff stated, “grows by constantly hearing, celebrating and studying that word.” He encouraged the bishops to “ensure that the fullness of God’s word, which comes to us in the sacred Scriptures and the Church’s apostolic tradition, is made readily available to those who seek
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to deepen their knowledge and love of the Lord and their obedience to his will.” “Every effort should be made to stress that individual and group prayer is, by its very nature, born of, and leads back to, the wellspring of grace found in the Church’s sacraments and her entire liturgical life,” he added. Benedict XVI continued: “Nor can it be forgotten that the word of God not only consoles but also challenges believers, as
individuals and in community, to advance in justice, reconciliation and peace among themselves and in society as a whole. Through your personal encouragement and oversight, may the seeds of God’s word presently being sown in your local Churches bear abundant fruit for the salvation of souls and the growth of God’s kingdom.”
human relations at every level.” “Insofar as families are attentive to prayer, meditate on the Scriptures, and participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church, they will help nourish that “unconditional love” among themselves and in the life of their parishes, and will be a source of great good for the wider community,” he added.
Noting the “impressive signs of the Church’s charity in many fields of social activity,” the Holy Father urged the bishops to “persevere in this positive and practical witness, in fidelity to the Lord’s command and for the sake of the least of our brothers and sisters.”
In response to some concerns expressed by the bishops regarding the various challenges threatening the family, the Holy Father suggested “a sound catechesis which appeals especially to those preparing for marriage will do much to nourish the faith of Christian families and will assist them in giving a vibrant, living witness to the Church’s age-old wisdom regarding marriage, the family, and the responsible use of God’s gift of sexuality.” •
“May Christ’s faithful in India continue to assist all those in need in the communities around them, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or social status, out of the conviction that all have been created in God’s image and all are due equal respect,” he added. Charity, Benedict XVI continued, “is first experienced by most of us in the family home.” Families, the Pope continued, “are to be examples of that mutual love, respect and support which ought to animate
* Based upon a Zenit News Agency article.
Pope Benedict XVI greets Indian Bishops at Castle Gandolfo, 2011
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Protestant Pastor beaten for screening a film about Jesus* Pastor Rajendra Masih’s “fault” was to have organized the screening of a film about Jesus with the faithful of his community. Pastor Rajendra Masih, 35, who works in Rajnandgaon district in the state of Chhattisgarh (central India) was beaten and injured by a group of radical Hindu extremists belonging to the “Bajrang Dal” organisation, accusing him of “fraudulent conversion”. The incident, according to the NGO “Global Council of Indian Christians” shows how “religious intolerance toward Christians is alarming”. The Pastor had chosen to show the film in Hindi language. At the end of which 9 Hindu militants stormed into the room,
destroying all the equipment, including the screen, the DVD player and speakers. They then set upon Pastor Rajendra and started beating him severely, causing lacerations and bruises on his face and seriously injuring his left eye. The attack, with shouts and insults, lasted for over an hour, while the faithful present, including several children, were terrorised. The Hindu radicals then called the police, accusing the pastor of fraudulent conversions of Hindus to Christianity whereupon the police took the Pastor into custody to conduct further investigations. The pastor gave his version of events he was later released without charge. • * Based upon an Agenzia Fides article.
Christian suffering is not in vain - Sr. Meena Barwa reflects upon her humiliation and Christian witness* “I am sure the Christians in Orissa have not suffered in vain. Our suffering has borne fruit: we grow in faith and the love for God”, says Sister Meena Barwa, the Religious Sister raped during the anti-Christian massacres in Kandhamal district in Orissa in August 2008. While there are still cases of Christian leaders murdered and while many of the faithful await justice, Sr. Meena said “Priests, religious and lay people have
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suffered and fought together. The Lord knows our ordeal, but there is no hatred Sr. Meena Barwa
in our hearts. We believe that unspeakable pain inflicted on us has not been useless”. In fact, Sister Meena continues, “we know that in suffering we experience God’s blessing and the pain has borne fruit: today we have become stronger in faith and the love for God”. With regards to her experience in Orissa, Sister Meena says: “I feel part of the community in Kandhamal and I have never thought of leaving this place. We have come a long way and we have a long way to go together. In this path, God is our strength and our stronghold”.
“Today”, Sr Meena continues in her witness, “we survive thanks to faith. God is our protection and He is with us always. We cannot stop to look back because there are significant challenges ahead of us: the Lord has kept us alive and now we are called to face these challenges with hope, confidence and conviction”. She concludes with a thank you: “I am deeply grateful to all those who did not lack in giving us, in the past and until now, support, encouragement and prayers”. • * Based upon an Agenzia Fides article.
Archbishop John Barwa “I am a tribal, I will console my people”* The Archbishop of Cuttack Bhubaneshwar, Msgr. John Barwa is the uncle of Sr. Meena Barwa, the nun who was raped during the anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal in 2008 and was interviewed shortly before assuming his Archepiscopal office in early 2011. “Unworthy though I am, it is He who has manifested his Great Love through the journey of my life, from my humble tribal origins to the call to serve as a priest, then a provincial, Bishop and Archbishop. It is through the Loving Mercy of God and the accompaniment of his Blessed Mother, who has accompanied me on my journey in Faith and Service to the Church and my People”.
The Archbishop pointed out that the announcement of his appointment as Archbishop was made on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and that the Blessed Mother has been his constant companion in the Via Crucis of his life, his family and his people.
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Just before the announcement, he was in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, praying to the Father and the Blessed Mother, “to guide me, in this new responsibility to lead my people”. Through his prayers he “felt empowered by the Holy Spirit” and that the Holy Spirit would guide him in leading his people. Referring to Sr. Meena the Archbishop remarked “Sr.Meena was one of the first who greeted me and she was bubbling with joy , “Uncle” she joyfully said, “God is so kind to our family. My heart sings of the Greatness of God , Uncle, you will lead our people in truth, justice and peace. All my sufferings, pain and humiliation I offer for you and your mission as archbishop. God will lead you and Mary will protect you. I
will continuously pray for you. This is for our people and our Church a sign of God’s continued blessings.” Thus the Archbishop added that “the sufferings of Meena are bearing fruit for the Church, for the people of Orissa and for my family.” The Archbishop is well aware of the difficulties inherent in the situation: “My motto is: ‘Thy Kingdom Come’. The Kingdom of God is peace, justice, love as opposed to hatred and injustice, and it is the love of Christ that prompts us to works of justice and truth.” The Archbishop said “I know the pain, anguish and sufferings of my people. I understand humiliation and suffering and I have practical experience of the resurrection and the victory of life over death. This knowledge, this understanding and this experience will help me better serve the Church in Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar and console its faithful.” • * Based upon an AsiaNews article.
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A Christian Witness in Mangalore Good News from Karnataka State A Catholic businessman marked India’s 2012 Republic Day (26th January) by establishing a small community in a Karnataka state village for poor people from different religions.
handed over house keys to 11 Hindu, 11 Catholic, nine Muslim and three Protestant families during a special ceremony. These families were chosen by a lottery among 650 applicants.
“Poverty has no caste or creed barriers. Similarly, values of caring and sharing have no religious borders,” said Eric Correa, founder of Sauharda Nagara (village of harmony), a hamlet comprising 34 homes, in Muragoli, near Mangalore. Mr. Correa
Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore, who blessed the houses, hailed Correa’s gesture as a “model message” to those trying to divide people along religious lines. Bishop D’Souza also remarked that peace and harmony used to prevail in Karnataka until about 10 years ago. “But in recent years the state has become a land of mutual hatred and attacks.” Indeed with 49 cases of violence and hostility against Christians in 2011, Karnataka remained the state with the highest incidence of persecution against Christians for the third consecutive year.
Eric Correa being greeted by Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza
Karnataka, in the south of the country, has seen several attacks on Christians by rightwing Hindu groups during the past few years. Correa said he decided to establish
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the community after becoming frustrated with the tension existing among people on account of religion. “If poor families could come together they would be better disposed to share and care for each other,” he explained. Mr Correa, who runs an electrical generator business, has spent approx. €500,000 on the project, says he is driven by “an internal call of conscience” to help the homeless and now has plans to build a further 64 houses in another village. •
Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza blesses the new built houses at Sauharda Nagara
Evangelising the Globe - Good News from India* India, long regarded as mission territory, has become one of the countries that sends most missionaries abroad. Eglises d’Asie, the news agency of the Foreign Missions of Paris, reported that according to Indian Father Balthazar Castelino of the Foreign Missions of Paris, himself currently on mission in Madagascar, India’s missionaries today are present in 166 countries. The missionary, who is also administrative secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar, believes the number of Indian missionaries at present is about 15,000. A figure that “far from being exaggerated” looks like it will increase in the near future, said Father Castelino, who pointed out that today more than 214 religious congregations send members of
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Indian nationality to missions abroad with the great majority of these missionaries working primarily in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific area. • * Based upon a Zenit News Agency article
The Indian Bishops - “The Church has a crucial role in the country’s future”* “The Church plays a crucial role for the future of the country and will continue the path of dialogue and cooperation with the state, institutions, with civil society”: this is what His Exc. Mgr. Albert D’Souza, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference said during the 30th Assembly of Indian Bishops, which was held in Bangalore, Karnataka, on the theme “The role of the Church for a better India”. In his conference report Mgr D’Souza notes that in India “there is a great desire for: • transparency in public life, • better opportunities for growth and development, • a strong and vibrant nation”. This will be possible, said the Mgr. “only with a collaborative effort by all the forces present in the country”, including the Catholic Church. For his part the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Pennacchio highlighted the pluralism of the Indian Church, where the Catholic community is able to “work together for the development of the nation through its large network of service institutions and organizations”. “It is important to preserve this precious heritage of the Church in India. Archbishop Pennacchio recalled in
particular the Church’s task to “encourage small Christian communities, befriend the poor and marginalized and in this context especially the Dalits Christians so that they secure their constitutional rights to equality under the law.’ Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the pontifical council for Justice and Peace remarked that if the Church in India wants to work “for a better India”, it must gain “the trust of all Msg Albert D’Souza people and become trustworthy”, so the Bishops have to “be as reliable as Moses”, a man of God who the people could place their trust in. Recalling that the Assembly is an important moment of reflection and planning, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President of the Episcopal Conference, urged the Church to “not be afraid to admit their mistakes”. The Cardinal expressed serious concern over the emerging stark reality of “the two Indias”, a rich India, and the other poor and marginalized, even noting the growing tendency of religious intolerance: these issues, he said, represent an opportunity and a challenge for the Church. • * Based upon an Agenzia Fides article.
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Editor: JĂźrgen Liminski Publisher: Kirche in Not / Ostpriesterhilfe, Postfach 1209, 61452 KĂśnigstein, Germany. De licentia competentis auctoritatis ecclesiasticae Printed in Ireland - ISSN 0252-2535 www.acn-intl.org
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Thank you from Aid to the Church in Need Each year thanks to the • Donations • Legacies and • Mass offerings of its benefactors in Ireland and around the world ACN is able to • Provide sustenance and the means of survival for approx. 20,000 Priests • Support approx. 18,000 seminarians and religious and • Distribute approx. 1.5 million catechetical books for children in 160 languages. Heartfelt thanks for all your prayers and support provided to Christ’s suffering and persecuted Church. May the Good Lord continue to bless you and your family, past and present, now and always.
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Need, love and thanks – Your letters An “apostolate of charity” The mission of ACN in our turbulent times, in a sick society that is far from goodness, is an act of charity on our earth. ACN is promoting peace and spreading the Good News. May God help you in your “apostolate of charity” and may the Holy Family strengthen you in pursuing all your plans and projects for the future. A benefactress in Portugal A birthday offering For my 70th birthday I asked my family and friends not to give me presents but instead to make a donation for the needy. Now I have great joy in sending you €330. May God bless your work! A pensioner in Austria Posters for Sudan The children in our local mission school have really got involved in helping for Sudan. They are constantly coming up with new ideas. Today we painted posters that were put up all over the school. They have also produced leaflets and put them under the windscreen wipers of cars. We want to remain always open to the needs of the Church. Please let us know how we can help. A religious sister in Poland