Global Church News
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Blessed Lazarus is the first Indian lay person on the path to Sainthood
Feb 28, 2020
A married man who converted to Christianity, he died as a martyr because he refused to give up his faith. In his native region, he is known as Devasag
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Mgr Zhao: Fighting the virus by raising hearts with the Resurrection of Jesus
Feb 28, 2020
The apostolic administrator of Harbin issued a pastoral letter. The epidemic brings out fear of death, anxiety, and fragility. The resurrection of Jesus “changed the fate of human beings enslaved by death.” People should be “witnesses of joy” in society, especially to the sick and infected. Don Bosco is an example. The Virgin Mary will protect.
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Coronavirus: Prayers and help for Son Loi, a municipality isolated for the past 14 days
Feb 28, 2020
Six of Vietnam’s 16 cases are in this town. Some 1,300 Catholics live in the municipality of more than 10,000 people. A young priest volunteered to help. The faithful are praying for the end of the world-wide emergency. “We hope that these sacred moments will not only heal bodies, but also our souls,” says parishioner.
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Lent, a period of spiritual transformation in Bangladesh
Feb 28, 2020
Tejgaon parish celebrated five masses on Ash Wednesday with some 16,000 people attending. Some 7,000 boxes with offerings were collected for the poor. Parishioners pledge to save money on meat, fish and rickshaw travel on Lenten Fridays.
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'Lent of solidarity' for Christians in Mosul and the Nineveh Plain
Feb 27, 2020
For Fr Paul Thabit Mekko, solidarity is the "key word" that inspires deeds and actions among the faithful concerned not only for the local reality, but also the whole country. In Karamles a new community centre will see the day by Easter, providing as place to meet and share. Hope for a new model of living together is rising in Mosul, once an IS strong hold.
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Korean Bishop You on prayers, fasting and charity to fight the coronavirus emergency
Feb 27, 2020
The Bishop of Daejeon looks at the situation in South Korea which just had its largest one-day increase. For the Church, scaremongering is feeding fear. All 16 dioceses have suspended open Masses. A pseudo-Christian sect is one of the sources of the outbreak. Some of its members were in the epicentre of the outbreak in China.
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Card Tong: Lent in the coronavirus wilderness
Feb 27, 2020
In his Lenten Letter, the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong refers to wilderness and temptation in the distrust of people after the battle against the extradition bill. Many acts of selfishness have occurred alongside many acts of “generosity” by those who treat the sick and donate surgical masks and supplies "to those in need". Lent is a "training school”.
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Relics of Ss. Louis, Zelie Martin find home in parish named for daughter Therese
Feb 27, 2020
Fr. John Fain is getting the 19th-century family of St. Therese back together.
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Card Bo: The tragic coronavirus embodies our fragile and mortal nature
Feb 27, 2020
The president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences released a letter on the Covid-19 emergency. In it he writes that “Natural disasters, pandemics are grim reminder of our restricted existence. We are powerless in the face of a invisible microbe attack despite stockpiling lethal arsenal of arms.”
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Pope Francis prays for Iraqis as Vatican confirms no papal visit in 2020
Feb 27, 2020
Pope Francis said Wednesday that he is praying for the people of Iraq, and repeated his desire to visit the country.
Sunday Reflection
Embracing the wisdom of the human heart
Reflecting on our Sunday Readings with Fr George Vaithynathan