News

• 10 June 2003
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - 203,000 DISPLACED PERSONS CAMPED IN BUTEMBO-BENI DIOCESE WATCH WITH FEAR APPROACHING COMBAT Kinshasa (Fides Service) – As the peacekeeping force sent by the European Union deploys in Bunia, in the Ituri region, north-east Democratic Congo, ever more critical is the situation of displaced persons sheltering in ...
• 10 June 2003
  EUROPE/CROATIA - THE POPE CONCLUDES HIS 100TH APOSTOLIC JOURNEY: “WORDS AND EXAMPLE OF MARY A SUBLIME SCHOOL OF LIFE FOR FORMATION OF APOSTLES YESTERDAY AND TODAY” Zadar (Fides Service) – “As my Apostolic Journey to Croatia draws to an end, I am happy to join you, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Zadar and neighbouring areas, here in Forum Square, in the shadow of the Cathedr ...
• 10 June 2003
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - A COWARDLY WAR: VIOLENCE ON WOMEN! WE PUBLISH AN E-MAIL MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM CONGO Rome (Fides Service) – Here is a moving story of the courage and fidelity to the Gospel of a young woman who gave her life rather than succumb to violence by guerrillas. The tale was sent to Fides Service by the Peace ...
• 10 June 2003
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - LAY EXAMPLE AND COMMITMENT IN THE CHURCH CAN BUILD BRIDGES TO NEIGHBOUR JAPAN AND DISTANT AMERICA Seoul (Fides Service) – The Catholic Church in Korea is striving to build ever closer relations of communion with the Church in the United States and in Japan. New agreements have been reached with regard to the pastor ...
• 10 June 2003
  ASIA/INDIA - CHRISTIANS TARGETED IN KASHMIR ACCUSED OF FORCING CONVERSIONS: BISHOP DEFENDS FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND RELIGION Jammu (Fides Service) – “We fear for the future. Christianity has been present in Kashmir for 200 years and has never had any difficulty with Muslims or Hindus. The Catholic Church has always been accepted and apprec ...
• 10 June 2003
  EUROPE/SPAIN - PROMOTE MISSIONARY SPIRIT AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO ARE THE HOPE OF HUMANITY: PMS SPECIAL SUMMER EVENTS Madrid (Fides Service) – It is important to promote among children and young people a spirit of mission to plant the seed which will enable them to become the missionaries of tomorrow: “We must promote the missionary ...
• 10 June 2003
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - CAPUCHIN MISSIONARIES FIGHT MICRO BACTERIA WHICH CAUSES BURULI SKIN DISEASE: AFRICA’S NEW LEPROSY Zouan-Hounien (Fides Service) – Capuchin Friars in Ivory Coast continue to work to organise monastery turned hospital centre where they assist thousands of people affected by Buruli tropical skin disease which devours ...
• 9 June 2003
  EUROPE/CROATIA - THE POPE VISITS OSIJEK/CEPIN: “AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM GOD IS CALLING BELIEVERS, AND THE LAITY IN PARTICULAR, TO A RENEWED MISSIONARY OUTREACH” Osijek/Cepin (Fides Service) – A vibrant call to respond with generosity to the missionary vocation proper to every baptised person was launched by the Pope during the solemn concelebration of Mass which he presided on ...
• 9 June 2003
  EUROPE/CROATIA - THE POPE SAYS: THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS ALWAYS GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM IN PRAYER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, DRIVEN BY THE POWERFUL WIND OF THE SPIRIT, SHE IS ALWAYS ON THE STREETS PREACHING Rijeka (Fides Service) – On Sunday 8 June, Pope John Paul II went to Rijeka’s Delta Square which takes its name from the delta of the Rifecina River, where he presided the celebration of the Mass of Pentecost. “The ...
• 9 June 2003
  AFRICA/CHAD - RADIO DUJI LOKAR CALLS FIDES TO HELP STOP THE SLAUGHTER OF CENTRAL AFRICAN REFUGEES IN CHAD MOWED DOWN BY FAMINE Moundou (Fides Service) – There is alarm for the situation of Central African refugees sheltering in Chad, Radio Duji Lokar in Moundou (southern Chad) tells Fides Service. At least 22,000 people are camped in the borde ...
• 9 June 2003
  EUROPE/SPAIN - “LAY CHRISTIANS BUILDERS OF PEACE”: BISHOPS’ MESSAGE FOR DAY OF CATHOLIC ACTION AND LAY APOSTOLATE Madrid (Fides Service) – “To make the Church, the home and school of communion (Novo Millennium Ineunte 43) is the challenge facing us as Christians if we want to be faithful to God’s plan and respond to the greate ...
• 9 June 2003
  AFRICA/MAURITANIA - AFTER THE ATTEMPTED COUP FIGHTING CONTINUES. ISLAMIST EXTREMIST BEHIND THE COUP? Nouakchott (Fide Service) - The situation is still confused in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania after an unsuccessful coup to oust President Maaouiya Ould Taya. Fighting continues between special forces faithful to the ...
• 9 June 2003
  ASIA/MALAYSIA - BORNEO, CROSSROADS OF CIVILISATIONS, PEOPLES AND TRADITIONS: JESUITS WORK TO PRESERVE THE CULTURE OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE Kuala Lumpur (Fides Service) – Every year in May the people of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo hold their traditional Rice Feast, when they thank their ancient rice spirit for a good harvest in their customary way. The prese ...
• 9 June 2003
  ASIA/MIDDLE EAST - ECUMENICAL NETWORK FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR AND THE MARGINALISED IN THE MIDDLE EAST Amman (Fides Service) – To foster ecumenism is the aim of the Middle East Council of Churches, based in Amman Jordan. MECC represents the various Christian confessions present in the region. During a meeting in May hel ...
• 9 June 2003
  AMERICA/GUYANA - DIALOGUE AMONG CULTURES AND RELIGIONS: JESUITS OPEN NEW INSTITUTE Georgetown (Fides Service) – In Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, the Jesuits Fathers have opened an Institute for Dialogue between Cultures and Religions. Jesuit Superior in Guyana Father Joe Chria explains: “commi ...