Asia

• 5 November 2004
  ASIA/TAIWAN - Archbishop Joseph Cheng gives mission command to 33 volunteers at the end of a special Course in Evangelisation Taipei (Agenzia Fides) -Recently during solemn Mass to mark the end of a Course in Evangelisation Archbishop Joseph Cheng of Taipei gave the mission command to 33 new volunteer missionaries who had completed their format ...
• 30 October 2004
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Indonesian law courts tackle question of Islamic fundamentalism: tricky situation for new government Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - “We will see from the outcome of the trial of extremist leader Abu Bakar how Indonesia’s new democracy intends to deal with the presence of Muslim fundamentalist groups. This is an important ...
• 30 October 2004
  ASIA/NORTH KOREA - Caritas aid to North Korea: detailed report from Kathi Zellweger, head of international cooperation Caritas Hong Kong Hong Kong (Fides Service) - “Caritas has been supporting the North Korean people since Autumn 1995, initially with humanitarian aid only, but some time ago a gradual shift to rehabilitation and more long-term developme ...
• 30 October 2004
  ASIA/TAIWAN - New church opened, thanks to generosity of local Catholics Taipei (Fides Service) - On 23 October Bishop Joseph Wang of Tai Chung diocese had the joy of consecrating a new church in Da Li. “The new church was built thanks to the generosity of local Catholics”, parish priest ...
• 28 October 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, president of Bishops’ Conference, visits Fides: “We are not afraid of attacks on Christians by Hindu fundamentalists: this only strengthens our faith and we view the future of the nation with optimism” New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - At a time when Hindu attacks on Christians in India continue, the Catholic Church in India continues to bear witness to Christ and looks ahead with Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Archbishop of Ra ...
• 28 October 2004
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - “Mission Sunday with Missionaries” celebration in Seoul Cathedral. “The authentic Christian is always missionary” Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - “On Mission Sunday with Missionaries” was the title of a Meeting for representatives of male and female religious congregations in South Korea held in Seoul Cathedral on 24 October Mission Sun ...
• 28 October 2004
  ASIA/CHINA - “Ai Min Hospital” built and managed by German Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing Beijing (Fides Service) - The latest missionary endeavour of the Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing (Germany) is the well equipped modern Ai Min Hospital in Mei he kou, a town in north eastern China in Ji Lin on ...
• 28 October 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - “Thank you Holy Father for your words of comfort: you have strengthened our faith and hope” Baghdad (Fides Service)- “Iraqi Christians are grateful to the Pope for his words of encouragement which strengthen our faith and hope amidst so much hardship and suffering” Fr Nizar Semaan, a Catholic priest in Mosu ...
• 26 October 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - “Not only bombs blasts kill”. Christian girls targeted. Strategy evident: frighten Christians and chase them from Iraq Baghdad (Fides Service) - After a week’s strike to protest threats and violence against Christians on the part of Islamic fundamentalists (see Fides 21 October 2004) Christian university students in Mosul have returne ...
• 26 October 2004
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Unexploded bombs found near a church: police alert, concern among Christians in the Moluccas, but people believe in peace Amboina (Agenzia Fides) - “A new explosion of violence must be prevented at all cost. Christians are concerned but they are confident that the local police will manage the situation” Father Carl Bohm, head of Amboina ...
• 26 October 2004
  ASIA/THAILAND - More than 80 people killed and many injured in clashes between militant Muslims and police - Some 1.300 arrests, fear of infiltration of radical elements Bangkok (Fides Service) - Tension in southern Thailand where a Muslim minority group has created disorder in recent months exploded yesterday 25 October when a group of about 2,000 attacked a police station in Tai Bai ab ...
• 25 October 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ Lay Christian in Baghdad calls for help: “This is civil war and if it continues Christianity could very soon disappear from Iraq. Many Christian families have fled Baghdad where Christians are forced once again to worship in catacombs” Baghdad (Fides Service) - “We have Mass in the crypts of our churches, the only places which are safe. Our lives are in danger. We ask the international community and the universal Church to help us” 30 year old Chri ...
• 25 October 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Accidental fire in Good Jesus Church shortly before for ten yearly exposition of St Francis Xavier’s relics Goa (Fides Service) - A month before a long awaited showing of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier, a great evangeliser in India, an accidental fire in the Catholic Basilica de Bom Jesus in Goa on October 21 caused widesp ...
• 25 October 2004
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Lay people give indispensable helping hand with pastoral work Hong Kong (Fides Service) - Lay Catholics in Hong Kong are increasingly aware of their role in the local Church and community which is becoming indispensable. According to the diocesan Office for the Formation of the Lai ...
• 22 October 2004
  ASIA/THAILAND - Salesian Father appointed chairman of South East Asian Catholic Press Association Bangkok (Fides Service) - Indian born Salesian George Plathottam from Guwahati, a priest and journalist, was elected chairman of the South East Asian Catholic Press Association during the 20th International Catholic Pre ...