Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
MI
Maumere (Agenzia Fides) - "On March 25, the priests of the diocese and representatives of the 45 religious institutes of our Diocese of Maumere, were deeply and spiritually united with Pope Francis during a solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Cathedral where the Bishop Ewaldus Martinus Sedu read the prayer of consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Here we often speak about the difficult situation between these two peoples and pray for them", says Italian missionary Father Luigi Galvani (MI), who lives and works in Flores.
"In this long period, the Covid 19 pandemic has given us the opportunity to start some new charitable initiatives", says the Camillian of the activities of the missionaries on the island. "Providence has not abandoned us. We have been able to offer food support to a few hundred families in need, medicine for the mentally ill and even a small school support to several dozen students".
"We were also rekindled by the recent invitation by Indonesia's Muslim Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, to Pope Francis to visit Indonesia next year" (see Fides, 18/3/2022). "We await him on our island of Flores", he continues, "which is like the 'promised land' for religious and priestly vocations. Especially here in our diocese, the Theological and Philosophical Seminary run by the Verbite Missionaries, with its approximately 1200 students, is seen as the "little Vatican" of the Indonesian Church (see Fides, 18/1/2021). Pope John Paul II was also there during his visit in 1989”. This good starting position in terms of enthusiasm for priestly and religious vocations gives "joy and a lot of hope for the coming years", the missionary concludes. (LG/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 1/4/2022)
