AFRICA/MALAWI - A church desecrated, it is the third in two months; "The government must do everything to protect us"

Monday, 12 October 2020 persecutions  

Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) - "We expect the government to do everything possible to protect the citizens of Malawi, including the Catholic Church. However, I know that the government and the police cannot protect every private home", said His Exc. Mgr. Montfort Stima of Mangochi, after a series of attacks on parishes and assemblies in his diocese.
The last armed bandit attack occurred on the night of October 7th. The Nsanama community in Machinga was targeted. The bandits stole cash, a laptop, cell phones and the Holy Eucharist.
According to Fr. Matthew Likambale, parish priest in Nsanama, the intruders attacked the guard before entering the premises. "I want you to know that we had a terrible night after the thieves attacked the Convent of the Canossian Sisters. They were looking for me. They pressured the nuns to reveal where I was, but they kept saying that I was not in the convent", said Fr. Likambale in a message to the parishioners.
"They broke into the convent after beating and handcuffing the guard with a metal rod and machete. Then they entered the convent, opened the Tabernacle, took the Blessed Sacrament (Eucharist) and then went to the nuns' rooms", continues Fr. Likambale.
This is the third major attack on Catholic institutions in two months, first the Catholic parish of St. Patrick in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe; then the parish of Kankao in the diocese of Mangochi; and now parish of Nsanama, also in the diocese of Mangochi. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 12/10/2020)


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