Fides News - English

ASIA/MYANMAR - UN report: Banking system finances equipment to continue conflict in Myanmar

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:00:52 +0200

Yangon - Financial institutions must do more to prevent the Burmese military junta from acquiring weapons, said the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, citing Thailand as the main new source of military supplies Myanmar receives through the international banking system. The Thai government responded that it would look into the UN report and emphasized that Thai banking institutions follow the banking protocols of the global financial system.
In the report titled "Banking on the Death Trade: How Banks and Governments Enable the Military Junta in Myanmar", Andrews points out that many Western governments have imposed sanctions on the Burmese junta, which came to power in a coup in 2021, and notes that the international community's efforts to stop the flow of arms have also had some success in this regard. The supply of arms and technological production equipment to Myanmar through the international banking system has fallen by a third, from $377 million in 2022 to $253 million in 2023, but the ruling military junta has sought to circumvent the restrictions while "Myanmar's armed forces systematically assault Myanmar civilians using powerful weapons of war obtained from abroad," Andrews said in the report. Ways used to circumvent restrictions include: varying suppliers of arms and military assets; exploiting some loopholes in the sanctions system; changing financial institutions; and taking advantage of the lack of clear political will on the part of some governments. These are all moves "to circumvent measures taken by the international community," said the rapporteur, who cited as examples two nations bordering Myanmar-Singapore and Thailand.
Meanwhile, Singapore, a major supplier of military equipment with close trade ties to Myanmar, has "formulated a clear policy of opposition to arms transfers", in line with the UN General Assembly resolution passed by a large majority after the 2021 coup. Exports of arms and related materials by Singapore companies or entities have dropped from $120 million in 2022 to $10 million in 2023.
Thailand, on the other hand, has no explicit stance against arms transfers to Myanmar, Andrews said, adding that exports from Thai-registered entities or companies have more than doubled in the same period, from $60 million to around $130 million. Among the military equipment purchased "are Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters used for airstrikes on civilian targets," he reported, calling Thailand "the regime's main source of military supplies purchased through the international banking system." Had Thailand responded in the same way as the Singapore government, "the Burmese military's ability to attack the Myanmar people would have been severely curtailed," he noted.
Andrews called on countries that support peace and respect for human rights in Myanmar to halt arms sales by their companies and urged financial institutions to freeze their relationships with Myanmar's state-owned banks.
The UN Rapporteur confirms that military exports from Russia and China to Myanmar have also decreased, while exports from India have remained constant, noting that some of the procurement of military equipment from these countries may have been shifted to informal channels or a market unregistered by the banking system.
Aside from the illicit trade considerations, however, Andrews' comments were mainly directed at the banking system, which allows the regime to buy goods and equipment for the continuation of the war through registered trade. According to the report, 25 banks have provided banking services to Myanmar's state-owned banks since the coup. "Banks have a fundamental obligation not to support crimes - and that includes war crimes and crimes against humanity," the report said.
"The good news is that the junta is increasingly isolated," said Andrews, who took stock of the civil war in Myanmar, which has been going on for over three years: more than 5,000 civilians killed, 3 million displaced and more than 20,000 political prisoners.
Pope Francis has spoken out several times in recent months about the conflict in Myanmar and the supply of weapons. "It is terrible to make money from death", but "unfortunately, the most profitable investments today are the arms factories", he said at the end of the general audience on May 1, in which he launched another appeal for efforts to achieve peace. The Pope had also warned at the 2024 Easter Mass: "Do not give in to the logic of weapons and armament. Peace is never made with weapons, but by stretching out our hands and opening our hearts".

AFRICA - Illegal financial flows: African countries lose over 88 billion dollars every year

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 11:47:08 +0200

Tunis - More than 88 billion dollars are lost illegally to African countries every year. This was denounced yesterday, June 27, by the Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , Olanipekun Olukoyede, in his speech at the Pan-African Conference on Illicit Financial Flows in Tunis.
In his speech entitled "The African tax agenda to combat illicit financial flows: from words to action", the EFCC chief emphasized the serious challenge that illicit financial flows pose to Africa's economic stability and development. He pointed out that more than 88.6 billion US dollars are illegally siphoned out of the continent every year, money that could otherwise go towards critical infrastructure, health and education.
The violent protests in Kenya these days are fueled not only by the announcement of a major tax increase in the Finance Bill, which was later withdrawn , but also by the population's awareness that these financial resources are being siphoned off by the state through corruption.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , headed by Olanipekun Olukoyede, was established in 2003 in response to rampant corruption in Nigeria under pressure from the country's international creditors, who feared that their loans would not be repaid with the interest due if the looting of state coffers was not curbed. In his speech at the conference in Tunis, the EFCC boss referred to the successes of the agency he heads, including the repayment of USD 311 million from the United States in 2020, which former President Sani Abacha had embezzled during his presidency . This repayment was achieved through cooperation with international partners and was used for important infrastructure projects such as the second Niger Bridge and the Lagos-Ibadan highway.
Olukoyede pointed out the technical, legal and political obstacles that make it difficult to trace, freeze and repatriate illicit funds. He therefore emphasized the need for African countries to have a solid legal framework in place and called for greater coordination and cooperation at national, regional and international level. He also advocated the use of advanced technologies such as data analytics, blockchain and artificial intelligence to improve asset tracing and repatriation. Above all, however, he called for strong international pressure to ensure cooperation between tax havens and low-tax countries.
The Pan-African Conference on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation, which began in Tunis on June 26 and concludes today, June 28, aims to address the challenge of illicit financial flows from Africa, which undermine economic development and the ability of governments to provide answers to populations largely made up of young people who see their futures threatened by corruption and bad governance.

ASIA/MACAO - Cardinal Tagle: This is why the "Primum Concilium Sinense" is still relevant

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 11:19:55 +0200

Macao - Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization , has sent a video message to the international conference "Primum Concilium Sinense : History and Significance" organized by the University of Saint Joseph in Macao from 26 to 29 June on the occasion of the centenary of the First Council of the Catholic Church in China .
We are publishing Cardinal Tagle's video message to the conference participants in English, the full text of which is reproduced below:

CARDINALE LUIS ANTONIO G.TAGLE:
Dear brothers and sisters,
In the name of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, the Section for First Evangelisation and Young particular churches, I send greetings to each one of you from the Palace of Propaganda Fide in Rome, as you come together for days of study, dialogue and discernment centered on an ecclesial event that took place one hundred years ago: the First Council of the Catholic Church in China , which was held in Shanghai from May 15 to June 12, 1924.

The Shanghai Council was a turning point in the journey of the Catholic Church in China. The concerns it addressed and the responses it gave are, in many ways, still relevant today. Allow me to share four points.

1) The Shanghai Council can be considered a new beginning, a fresh start, in the sense of bringing us back to the authentic source and the true nature of the Church’s apostolic work and overcoming the misunderstanding that seemed to prevail during the period of Colonialism. This misconception, that was present even in China, tended to identify Christianity as a religious doctrine imposed by other civilizations, with instruments of political, social or cultural pressure. This misunderstanding became an obstacle to the proclamation of the Gospel, and often fueled distrust, hostility and even hatred toward the Church and missionaries.
The Shanghai Council followed the directions contained in the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud in which Pope Benedict XV reiterated that faith in Christ "is foreign to no nation". For the liberation and healing brought by Jesus is a gift for everyone and for all, as Pope Francis always repeats. The Shanghai Council shows how the mission of proclaiming the Gospel is not identified with one civilization and one culture, and precisely because of this it protects and promotes the riches of individual peoples and their cultures. Thus documents of the Shanghai Council contain reminders to openness to the values of Chinese culture and society.
We are living in a time of global opposition, with some sectors fueling the so-called "Clash of Civilizations." The Shanghai Council indicated another way: the possibility that cultural traditions are not closed in on themselves, not opposed to one another, but remain open to mutual encounter and exchange.

2) When the Shanghai Council took place, the bishops present in China were all missionaries who had come from other countries. The Council laid the foundation for a fully Chinese Catholic Church to flourish, led by Chinese bishops. And even this direction was not driven by human tactics or calculations, but by the mystery of the Church in its pilgrimage of the world.
The fruit of the proclamation of the Gospel and of any authentic apostolic mission is always the birth of a local Church, fully immersed in its historical, social and cultural context. But this immersion, this immanence of the Church in the different contexts never makes the local Church an isolated, self-sufficient reality closed in on itself. Each local Church is always in communion with the other local Churches and with the whole universal Church.

3) The Shanghai Council also represents a realization of synodality, which is being re-proposed so powerfully to us in our time as well, thanks to the magisterium of Pope Francis.
The Apostolic Delegate Celso Costantini, who presided over the Council at the behest of Pope Pius XI, compared the Shanghai Synodal Assembly to the Council of Nicaea, where "those who were far apart saw themselves gathered together."
Even at the Shanghai Council, the Fathers who participated in the Council experienced that synodality is not a secondary, but a constitutive and indispensable dimension of the Church's life.
Pope Francis, in the Video Message sent to the Conference on the Concilium Sinense organized in Rome on May 21 by the Pontifical Urbanian University in collaboration with Fides News Agency, said the participants in that Council "lived an authentically synodal experience and made important decisions together. The Holy Spirit brought them together, made harmony grow among them, led them along paths that many among them would not have imagined, overcoming even perplexity and resistance. So does the Holy Spirit who guides the Church." Pope Francis addressed the participants at that conference, among whom was also the Bishop of Shanghai, Joseph Shen Bin.

4) Let me also pay tribute to Cardinal Celso Costantini, who as the first Apostolic Delegate to China was on a human level the great director of the Shanghai Council.
Costantini, moving in the footsteps of Matteo Ricci, implemented Maximum Illud. We can learn much from this prophetic and creative figure. Pope Francis, in his video message to the Conference on the Council of Shanghai held at the Pontifical Urbaniana University, emphasized that "In the Council of Shanghai, also thanks to the work of Celso Costantini, the communion between the Holy See and the Church that is in China manifested itself in its fruitful fruits, fruits of good for all the Chinese people."
I pray that, in the light of the Primum Concilium Sinense, you may see more clearly the paths on which we can travel together with our Chinese brothers and sisters, so that in our common witness to our faith in Jesus Christ, "fruits of good for all the Chinese people" may grow. May God bless you!

AFRICA/KENYA - "Protests against the finance bill triggered something bigger"

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:25:42 +0200

Nairobi - "The impression is that the withdrawal of the tax law is now totally insufficient to stop the anger of the people", says an observer from church circles in Nairobi, where yesterday, June 26, President William Ruto was forced to withdraw the finance law passed by parliament after demonstrations turned violent .
"I have listened carefully to the Kenyan people who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with the Finance Bill 2024 and I yield to that so I will not sign the Finance Bill 2024 which will be withdrawn as a result," the Kenyan president said live on television.
However, the popular march announced for today, June 27, has been confirmed. Some of the demonstrators are now demanding Ruto's resignation. The center of Nairobi is occupied by a strong police presence to protect the parliament, the presidential palace and other government buildings.
"At the moment, one gets the impression that the protests against the Finance Bill, which provides for new taxes, were the trigger for something bigger: People are rejecting the system that has governed political and economic relations in Kenya so far," says the observer, who requests anonymity for security reasons.
"It is a popular revolt led by the so-called Generation Z, who are well aware of the corruption and mismanagement in the country. They have not given themselves their own leadership, perhaps out of fear that they could be arrested by the authorities," our source continued. "Calls to revolt to change the system that has ruled Kenya for 60 years are piling up on social media and messaging apps. It's not always clear who is posting these calls, but they are helping to fuel tensions that are already high due to the deaths in recent days ."
"Ruto has sent a contingent of Kenyan police to Haiti, but he doesn't realize he has conditions like Haiti at home. At least one and a half million people live in the slums around Nairobi. What could happen if they get into an uproar?" the observer asks in conclusion.

ASIA/THAILAND - Resignation of Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangkok

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:22:34 +0200

Vatican City - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangkok presented by Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij.

ASIA/JAPAN - Proclamation of faith in the Japanese context

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:21:33 +0200

by Paolo Affatato

Tokyo - "In Japan you can clearly see that the focal point for the Christian is the crossroads. The moment one crosses the other's existence, there is room to witness one's faith and proclaim the Gospel. If we carry Jesus in our hearts at that moment, we can share Jesus with the person we meet, touch, pass by or bump into," Andrea Lembo, an Italian from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions , who was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Tokyo by Pope Francis in September 2023, told Fides. The 50-year-old missionary, former regional superior of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in East Asia, emphasizes that "in the Japanese imagination, beauty is not so much a state as a transition, as is the case with the short ten-day period of cherry blossom, sakura". "In this transition," he notes, "there is room to give the gospel to Japanese culture and society. If we see Christianity as a 'religion', it will not enter the hearts of the Japanese. If, on the other hand, it is a way in which the baptized share the experience of Christ, then we understand that Japan is close to the Gospel, we rediscover Christ, who is already present in this culture," he emphasizes.
The auxiliary bishop talks about the experience of "Shinsei-kaikan", the Catholic cultural center that he has been running since 2021 and which is located in one of the central districts of Tokyo: an open and welcoming space where young university students, including non-Catholics, are offered the opportunity to "walk together" by participating in cultural activities, Bible courses, meetings on art and culture or social issues.
The name of the center means "life and truth". It was founded in 1934 by diocesan priest Soichi Iwashita as a dormitory dedicated to St. Philip Neri: "He understood that Japan, as a highly militarized imperialist country, was heading for a world war and wanted to instil the seeds of Christian spirituality in young people. At that time, the aim was to promote the growth of young people and root them in Christian values. Today, Shinsei-kaikan is open to all people, especially those who are looking for meaning in their lives or who find themselves in difficulties," he reports.
"We are a small meeting place near the large headquarters of the Soka Gakkai, the Buddhist association. We fulfill our mission primarily among young people, in the midst of disturbing social phenomena," he says. One of these phenomena in Japanese society is "cosplay" . So "young people dress up and live the life of this cartoon character; it becomes a form of escape from a reality, from a very rigid mentality - which puts children into a system of strict rules from elementary school onwards. These people start to live a life that is not real, but becomes real life. They can express what they have inside them and put it into a costume that becomes their new identity, a double life and a network of double contacts. This can lead to psychological and social imbalances".
A second serious phenomenon is suicides, according to the bishop: "The number of suicides is still very high, especially among young people, it is an incredible scourge: we have reached 36,000 per year, a very high number". The phenomenon of the "hikikomori" - the young person who locks themselves in their room and never goes outside - is often the antechamber to depression and suicide, he explains: "The root is the fear of society, the fear of not being successful in life, or a relationship problem that you have suffered at school, like bullying. I call this the 'anorexia of Japan', a psychological anorexia, i.e. the cutting off of all the basic ties of life.
Bishop Lembo explains: "We have accompanied so many of these young people, and we have to work very hard to bring them out of their shells, to spend days with them, to talk to them and hope that they will at least want to do something outside their own homes. They are very scared and exhausted. Recently, one of our teenagers took his own life a few days before Christmas. The son of famous doctors, whose older sister was also studying medicine, he had to study out of a kind of moral obligation to his family. He made it to graduation in March last year and then collapsed. The boy was supposed to be baptized at Christmas, but it didn't happen. These are sad stories. But even out of such tragedies, the Lord can give new hope to families: the parents began a path of psychological support and also a deepening of the Christian faith and were baptized."
The center was transformed from a dormitory into a youth cultural center that offers evening courses as an introduction to the Christian faith and the Bible. About 30 years ago, the center also started offering courses for adults and today - as the bishop explains - the institution is active in four basic areas: "The first is Christian education for young people and adults, we talk about the catechism and the history of the church; another pillar is the study of Japanese society: we invite academics and sociologists to present the challenges and general issues that are of interest to everyone; there is also the area of Christian culture, which touches on art and sacred music: I hold a course on 'Art and the Bible', for example, which attracts a lot of interest; finally, there is the area of Christian heritage, which is the approach, study and reflection on the Church Fathers."
The center is open from Tuesday to Sunday and offers morning and afternoon classes. Every evening there is an activity dedicated to students being together, such as a prayer, a meeting or a meal together. "Shinsei-kaikan" aims to be a place of learning, friendship and relaxation. "We accompany young people to rediscover the beauty of their hearts, to experience the joy of fraternity, to promote trust in people and balanced development. On this path, we present the person of Jesus through the stories of the Gospel, we proclaim his message of love".
At a legal level, the center is not directly subordinate to the diocese. Thanks to the intuition of former Tokyo Auxiliary Bishop Kazuhiro Mori, who developed the center, a different form was chosen: "Mori preferred and recommended making it a social institution, and we were able to obtain this certification from 2021, which gives it a far-reaching possibility of openness and welcome.
According to Bishop Lembo, the center remains "a work of evangelization of culture, in culture, with the means of today's culture. We are also online, we have social media. The way is to bring the faith into a dialog with Japanese culture, a great culture that has the substrate of Shintoism, which is essentially life, in which there is a whole relationship with nature, a relationship with beauty. There is also Buddhism, which stands for silence, cleanliness, kindness and patience. In Japan, look at the finesse and art of Zen gardens, a world full of meaning and a true spiritual experience. Christianity moves in this context in order to be able to proclaim the Gospel. That is why one of the fundamental points is art, and we are building a bridge to Japanese art". The Auxiliary Bishop concludes: "In this Japanese finesse can also lie the Christian 'field of tension', the love of Christ on the cross. Jesus can be conveyed using Japanese categories. At the 'Shinsei-kaikan' center, we walk a path together. And on this path, every person can discover that there is something else, that there is Christ.

ASIA/CHINA - Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang takes up office in Hangzhou: He had been appointed by Pope Francis on June 12

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:14:03 +0200

by Marta Zhao

Hangzhou - Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang took office today, Thursday, June 27, in the episcopal see of Hangzhou, the capital of the Chinese province of Zhejiang. Bishop Yang was transferred from the episcopal see of Zhoucun to Hanghzhou by appointment of Pope Francis. Last Saturday's bulletin of the Press Office stated: "In the context of the dialog on the application of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang as Bishop of Hangzhou on 12 June 2024 and transferred him from the Episcopal See of Zhoucun ".
According to information available to Fides, the ceremony for the installation of the new bishop was presided over by the Chancellor of the diocese, Rev. Paul Zheng Jiamao, while Rev. Joseph Yang Yu read out the letter of recognition from the Chinese bishops. The bishop of Shanghai, Joseph Shen Bin, and the bishop of the diocese of Ningbo , Franz Xaver Jin Yangke, took part in the service.
In his address, Bishop Joseph Yang affirmed that he would unite and guide priests and laity to promote a healthy transmission of the Catholic faith and proclaim the Gospel in Hangzhou. "Among other things," Bishop Yang said, "we will contribute to the growth of Zhejiang Province, the sinicization of religious practices and the modernization of the administration of religious affairs."
Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang was born in Boxing on April 11, 1970, as reported in the bulletin of the Vatican Press Office on Saturday, June 22. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Holy Spirit Seminary in Shandong and at the Sheshan Seminary in Shanghai. He was ordained a priest on June 15, 1995. After serving as a pastor, he was sent to the National Seminary in Beijing for further training. He later worked as a lecturer at the Holy Spirit Seminary, where he himself had been trained. He was appointed Bishop Coadjutor of Zhoucun, consecrated on November 15, 2010 and succeeded Bishop Ma Xuesheng as head of this episcopal see on February 8, 2013. On June 12, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Joseph Yang Yongqiang as Bishop of Hangzhou.
Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, is one of the most economically and technologically developed cities in the country. It has been at the top of the Chinese gross domestic product rankings for several years in a row. Today, Hangzhou has rapidly transformed from a tourist and cultural city into an industrial city of international importance and has been chosen to host events such as the 2016 G20 Summit and the 2022 Asian Games. Industrial development and the associated restructuring continue to offer the city opportunities for growth. Jack Ma Yun also started his digital business from here with the founding of "Alibaba.com", which later became the "Alibaba Group".
The Catholic community of Hangzhou can look back on a long history that includes extraordinary Jesuit missionaries such as Matteo Ricci, Lazare Cattaneo and Nicolas Trigault. In this line, the figure of Martino Martini stands out above all: the city attaches great importance to the mausoleum in a park dedicated to the great Italian Jesuit historian, geographer and cartographer who lived from 1614 to 1661.

ASIA/CHINA - Catholic Charities in relief of flood-affected populations

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:39:39 +0200

Meizhou - On behalf of Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing and Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai, the Catholic Relief Services network is once again at the forefront of the relief efforts for the victims of the floods and landslides that have struck the city of Meizhou in Guangdong province, causing heavy losses.
Since June 21, the Catholic relief team led by Joseph Liao Hongqing, Bishop of Meizhou, in coordination with the local authorities, has reached out to the areas most affected by the floods to provide spiritual comfort to the population and distribute some relief goods donated by the Guangzhou Diocese and others collected by the Catholic charity organization "Jinde Charities" in Shijiang, the capital of Hebei Province.
At the same time, "Jinde Charities" is working closely with the Bishops' Council of Guangdong Province, in particular with Joseph Gan Junqiu, Bishop of Guangzhou, and Joseph Huang Bingzhang, Bishop of Shantou, who have contacted various parishes in the affected areas and the local authorities to assess the extent of the disaster and initiate the relief plan.
According to first-hand information from Bishop Joseph Huang Liao, who keeps traveling to the various affected areas, the most urgent task is to clear the mud and provide people with drinking water, food and other relief supplies. Some schools in the region have also been badly damaged.
Catholic communities across the country are praying and mobilizing for the people in the affected areas and for relief efforts.
The diocese of Meizhou was founded in 1850 thanks to the preaching of the Gospel by French missionaries. In 1925, the pastoral care of the region was entrusted to the Maryknoll missionaries.
After the revival of church life in 1978, pastoral, charitable and social work in the diocese flourished. Today, the Catholic community has over 50,000 baptized people, dozens of priests, 15 sisters of the diocesan congregation of the Missionaries of the Holy Mother of God and 45 churches and chapels.

AFRICA/KENYA - "People are taking to the streets because they are desperate"

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:34:22 +0200

Nairobi - "It was a real popular protest, initially peaceful, even if provocateurs and thugs mingled with the demonstrators", Father Alfonso Poppi, of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, from Nairobi told Fides. In the Kenyan capital yesterday, June 25, protests against the new finance law led to violent riots, while demonstrators managed to enter parliament and the governor's office. According to hospital reports, at least 13 people died in the clashes with the police.
"Now the situation seems to be calm again," reports Father Alfonso. "It should be emphasized that for the first time, the Kenyan people have not taken to the streets at the behest of a political leader, but spontaneously, following calls on social media." "People are really desperate because of the high cost of living and the new taxes in the Finance Bill only worsen the situation." "People feel betrayed by President William Ruto, who made miraculous promises about job creation during the election campaign. But they also feel betrayed by the opposition MPs who voted for the Finance Bill. That's why the people, especially the youth, have decided to take matters into their own hands and take to the streets," says Father Alfonso.
"The people's anger is exacerbated by rampant corruption, which leads to taxpayers' money being wasted on luxury goods that benefit the 'commoners'," the missionary continued. "The attack on parliament, even if it was carried out with the help of criminal elements, is a symbol of the despair arising from the rift between the population and a ruling class that is perceived as corrupt and indifferent to the fate of ordinary people."
The situation is well illustrated by the message read out live on television by the bishops entitled "God save our beloved country".
"The Finance Bill 2024-2025 has elicited negative reactions from Kenyans. If passed in its current form, it will cause additional suffering to many families who are already suffering the consequences of the previous Finance Bill 2023-2024," the bishops write. "The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops has recently formally expressed its concerns about the Finance Bill to the Government and we welcome that important amendments have been made to the Bill. However, we believe that other important demands have not been addressed. We emphasize that if every Kenyan has to pay taxes, the government should not tax citizens excessively." "There is no denying what is meant by over-taxation: the country is bleeding dry and we therefore call on the government to reflect on the issue with the seriousness it deserves," the Bishops' Conference emphasizes.
Recalling the predominantly youthful participants in the protest, the bishops say they "understand why Generation Z has taken to the streets to express their anger at the government. The new generation is experiencing the negative impact that excessive taxes have on their lives. The government needs to face the burning truth that families are suffering tremendously. Young people have reached a point where they are expressing their anger at the government's insensitivity to unjustified taxes that are driving up the cost of living," he said. "The government must listen to the suffering of citizens. Ignoring them only means increasing tensions in the country and plunging the youth and citizens into despair. We call on the President to listen to the voice of the many suffering people and to respond concretely to the current situation caused by the financial law," they concluded.

ASIA/INDIA - First session of the new parliament: Violence in Manipur still on the agenda

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:26:01 +0200

Imphal - In the first session of the parliament that emerged from the recent elections in India, MPs re-elected politician Om Birla, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party , the ruling party of President Narendra Modi, as Speaker. In his first speech, Birla called for "meaningful and constructive discussions" in the assembly and called for cooperation with the opposition. The first session of parliament coincided with peaceful protests in the state of Manipur in north-east India, an area that has been rocked by inter-ethnic conflict over the past year. The Meitei community, one of the two warring groups that make up the majority, protested against the "retrogression" in the matter. The Meitei are demanding to be included in the group of Scheduled Tribes and a court verdict in 2023 had ruled in this direction. This judgment provoked a reaction from the Kuki-zo, who objected to this inclusion and, as a minority group, feared losing the land reserved for them. A later ruling by the Supreme Court overturned the previous ruling and restored the "status quo antea". But this solution is not accepted by the Meitei.
On the other hand, the Kuki tribes reiterated their demand for a separate administration in Manipur, pointing out the need for a secure territory for tribal communities that have ethnic links with tribes in neighboring Mizoram and also in the Burmese state of Chin in Myanmar.
Apart from their respective demands, a common theme of the demonstrations on both sides was the demand for an end to the violence that has been dragging on for over a year. The protesters demanded that the Manipur issue should be discussed in Parliament and resolved as soon as possible before more lives are lost. Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh said that peace would return to his state in two to three months as the new government of Narendra Modi was giving priority to resolving the crisis. "Violence in Manipur has reduced in the last seven months, schools and stores have reopened," Singh said, reporting that an action plan had been drawn up after a recent meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah. In Imphal Valley, the state capital, hundreds of women marched silently demanding the government to ease militarization of the area and remove checkpoints so that normal life can resume, partly because militant groups signed a ceasefire pledging to stay in certain areas and keep their weapons in closed and controlled camps.
In the Kuki majority districts, hundreds of people gathered to participate in marches and demonstrations. They called on the government to unite all Kuki areas in Manipur, a demand raised primarily by the Kuki Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum , which is calling for an "urgent political solution" to the ethnic crisis in Manipur. The political demand is the creation of a new Union Territory with legislative powers under Article 239 of the Indian Constitution.
"If the government wants peace, then it must come here and find peace. We have been knocking on the doors of the central government in our quest for peace," said Paolienlal Haokip, one of the Kuki leaders and a member of the Manipur state assembly. Mayanglambam Bobby, chairman of the influential civil society Meitei group "People's Alliance for Peace and Progress", on the other hand, commented on the origin of the violence: "The violence in Manipur began when Kuki militants set fire to Meitei houses and properties on May 3, 2023". This was followed by the reaction and a general conflict. He suggests that "the Kuki must apologize for the attacks on the Meitei to make peace; then the Meitei groups will reciprocate. This is the mechanism for settling disputes". According to R.K. Nimai, a senior official with extensive experience in dealing with the complex social problems in Manipur, "the crisis in Manipur is very sensitive, both communities are hurt by the central government's inattention". It is a matter of restoring trust, preventing new violence and initiating a dialog through mediation that is accepted by both sides.
Since the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo on May 3, 2023, more than 225 people have been killed and around 62,000 displaced. The internally displaced people who are suffering the most are those who are most eagerly awaiting a step towards reunification.

ASIA/LEBANON - Cardinal Parolin to religious leaders: amid conflict, Lebanon must remain a model of coexistence

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:14:56 +0200

Beirut - "Lebanon today must remain a model of coexistence and unity in the face of the ongoing crises and wars," said Cardinal Pietro Parolin to high-ranking representatives of the Churches and religious communities present in Lebanon, whom he met on Tuesday morning, June 25, in Bkerké, the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate. "I am here today," the Cardinal added in his brief address to those present, referring to the institutional crisis in which the Land of the Cedars finds itself, "to try to contribute to a solution to the crisis in Lebanon, which does not elect a president, and to try to find solutions that are good for everyone, and I hope that today we can all find a solution to the current crisis."
The meeting with the heads of the Lebanese Christian and Muslim communities in Bkerké was convened by the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai. Among others, the Armenian Orthodox Catholicos Aram I, the Armenian Catholic Patriarch Rafael Minassian, the Melkite Patriarch Youssef Absi, the Grand Mufti of the Republic Abdul Latif Derian and the head of the Alawite Islamic Council, Sheikh Ali Kaddour, also took part in the meeting. No Shiite representatives were present in the meeting, while Christian politicians such as Gibran Bassil from the "Free Patriotic Movement", the chairman of the "Marada" movement, Suleiman Frangieh, and a representative of the president of the "Lebanese Forces", Samir Geagea, were present.
At the beginning of the meeting, Maronite Patriarch Rai said that the "Lebanese family" is "going through a very difficult phase" today. "I hope that we will launch an appeal on the importance of praying for peace and an end to the wars that the region and Lebanon can no longer endure," he emphasized.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin arrived in the Lebanese capital last Sunday at the official invitation of the Order of Malta.
The program of his visit to Lebanon also includes meetings with the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and the interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Latin American bishops concerned about the impact of drug trafficking: "We must not give up"

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:10:14 +0200

Bogotà – "The fact that drug trafficking manages to infiltrate and corrupt the power of the state, the police, the armed forces, the media, businesses, in short, all the institutions of democracy, is a cause for great concern", this urgent appeal comes from the Presidency of the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in the region, which is celebrated every year on June 26th.
In their message, which is available to Fides, the bishops lament the fact that these illegal activities "have found complicity in the financial systems, evading controls and inspections and even using decentralized financing through cryptocurrencies".
"Drug trafficking promotes the dissolution of states, the replacement of the rule of law with another law, that of the strongest. It is a sign of the collapse of Western civilizatio. How can we not express our concern today?" the Latin American and Caribbean bishops lament, recalling that every life is sacred and encouraging all members of the Church and the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean not to give up and to continue working for the protection of life, placing it above power and money. "Wherever we embrace those who suffer, wherever we create the conditions for integral human development, wherever we extend the table so that everyone can eat, hope is born," they emphasize in this context.
Drug trafficking networks are gaining more and more ground, to the point of forming their own armies, gangs and violent groups to control territories. Added to this is the damage they cause to young people who lose their lives through the consumption of these substances, as well as to families who are broken by this painful reality.
Two years ago, CELAM created the Latin American Office for Pastoral Care and Prevention of Addiction "to place ourselves once again at the service of life and to bring together all the spaces in the region that are committed to protecting it," explain the bishops, who conclude their message with a prayer for the victims of drug trafficking and ask for the intercession of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of the Americas, so that she may bless the lives of all peoples and encourage them to find paths of peace that lead to full life.

ASIA/LEBANON - An international theological colloquium to revive the ecumenical vocation of the Melkite Church

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:57:38 +0200

Beirut - As the Melkite Greek Catholic Church celebrates the 300th anniversary of the restoration of full communion with the Church of Rome , a high-level international theological colloquium aims to discuss the ecumenical value and vocation of this ecclesial communion and the other Eastern Catholic Churches, at a time when geopolitical conflicts are also affecting sister Churches of the same tradition, such as the Churches of Orthodoxy.
The colloquium organized by the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate began on the afternoon of 24 June with a short address by Melkite Patriarch Youssef Absi and will end on Wednesday 26 June. The proceedings of the colloquium entitled "The Greek Melkite Catholic Church, the Union with Rome and New Perspectives" will take place at the "Center Liqaa" in Raboueh .
According to the text presenting the colloquium, the union of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church with Rome represents a turning point in its history: "Antiochian, Calcedonian, of Byzantine tradition and Arab culture, open to the civilizations of Eastern and Western Europe, its affiliation with Catholicism is due to numerous factors that have shaped its own identity over time".
The Second Vatican Council provided the Greek Melkite Church with a "unique opportunity to recall, within the Catholic Church, the richness of Eastern Christianity, the sense of catholicity, the urgency of unity, and to define and define the role of the Eastern Catholic Churches."
The ongoing Colloquium in Lebanon vindicates for the Melkite ecclesial structure the role of "bridging Church" and emphasizes its leading role in the field of ecumenism, which is well represented by the initiatives of the Melkite bishops and patriarchs to restore full communion with their Orthodox brothers in the Patriarchate of Antioch. In the joint study days, reference is made to the famous project of the "Zhogby" initiative, named after the great Melkite Archbishop Elias Zoghby , who repeatedly sought ways after the Second Vatican Council to restore full communion with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and wished that such an initiative would pave the way to full communion between the Catholic Church and all Orthodox Churches of the Byzantine tradition.

Among the most qualified talks scheduled at the Raboueh Colloquium are those by Archimandrite Elisée Marzi, from Université Saint-Joseph, on "The Melkite Church as an Ecclesiological Laboratory," and Father Gaby Hachem, theologian from Université Saint-Esprit in Kaslik, on "The Melkite Patriarchate at the Second Vatican Council and in the Synodal Process."

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Parliament condemns lynchings and calls for respect for the rule of law

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:56:27 +0200

Islamabad - The Pakistani Parliament has adopted a resolution addressing and condemning the serious practice of "lynching", which has recently hit the headlines due to several incidents such as the events in Sargodha and Peshawar . The resolution adopted on June 23 reaffirms the importance of enforcing the rule of law and underlines the urgency of protecting minorities. The Pakistani media has pointed out that it is a significant step in the area of legislation to combat violence and ensure the safety and rights of all citizens. The resolution, initiated by Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, emphasizes that the right to life is the most important right enshrined in the Pakistani constitution.
"Every person shall be treated in accordance with the law and not otherwise," it reads. The Pakistani Parliament has expressed serious concern over the lynching of citizens accused of blasphemy offenses in Swat and Sargodha, noting with grave concern that such incidents are on the rise. "Such actions cannot be tolerated in any civilized society," the minister said. The text then urges both the federal and provincial governments to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, including religious minorities and other vulnerable segments of society, and calls for immediate measures to identify, investigate and prosecute those involved in these incidents.
The resolution was supported by all political forces. It calls for strict measures to prevent lynching and to curb the misuse of blasphemy laws to protect the lives of innocent people. During the parliamentary debate, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that these are not just isolated incidents but a worrying series of violent acts committed in the name of religion. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif agreed and called on MPs to take a clear stance on the issue. Justice Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, who along with other MPs was instrumental in drafting and introducing the resolution in the Assembly, reiterated the government's commitment to justice and the protection of human rights.
A similar resolution was also presented and unanimously adopted by the regional parliament of Punjab province yesterday, June 24. The text strongly condemns incidents of blasphemy and calls for protection for all citizens. Initiated by Muslim MP Raheela Khadim Hussain of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the resolution states that "incidents of violence over alleged blasphemy are extremely worrying and must not be tolerated or go unpunished". Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan said that such violence and lynchings were a blatant violation of the Constitution, which guarantees the rights of all citizens.
The two resolutions at the federal and provincial levels were supported by various MPs, including Christian MPs. Their support and commitment to this cause has been instrumental in bringing the issue to the forefront to tackle mob violence and protect vulnerable communities.
According to Pakistani civil society organizations, this is "an important step towards promoting justice and equality in the country". The courage of the politicians who have started discussing this law in parliament must be appreciated. There is a growing awareness that the continued abuse of the blasphemy law must be stopped, and this resolution is a glimmer of hope that this discussion will not end here, but that "concrete solutions will be found to save innocent lives", emphasizes Nasir Saeed, director of the non-governmental organization "Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement" . "These resolutions pave the way for broader legal reforms that will hopefully lead to tangible changes on the ground and ensure that the rights of all citizens are respected. The government and lawmakers now have the task of implementing these resolutions effectively and working for a more just and inclusive society," he states.
Meanwhile, in Peshawar in the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police launched an investigation into hundreds of people who attacked a police station and killed a man suspected of desecrating the Quran. With the help of videos circulated on social media, police have been trying to identify the people who attacked and burned down the police station in Madyan, a popular tourist spot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on June 20 and killed Mohammad Ismail, who was accused of blasphemy. However, the police have not yet arrested any of the attackers.

AFRICA/KENYA - Further protests against the draft budget

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:46:51 +0200

Nairobi - New protests are underway this morning, June 25, against the financial bill presented by the Kenyan government that includes the introduction of new taxes .
In Nairobi, security forces deployed to protect parliament and the presidential palace clashed with demonstrators, firing tear gas canisters. Demonstrations are also underway in other cities, such as Mombasa and Kisumu.
Although the authorities have reiterated that they want to respect the right to demonstrate enshrined in the constitution, some human rights organizations have accused them of illegally arresting at least a dozen protesters who are mainly active on social media. They were allegedly picked up by the police at night and taken to unknown locations.
The draft budget aims to raise an additional USD 2.7 billion in taxes to pay off Kenya's large debt to international creditors such as the International Monetary Fund; interest payments alone consume 37% of annual government revenue.
The government has already made concessions and promised in amendments to the bill to remove the proposed new taxes on bread, cooking oil, car ownership and financial transactions. However, this is not enough to satisfy the protesters, who are calling for the entire bill to be scrapped.
The protests are mainly being led by young people. The chairman of the Kenyan Catholic Bishops' Conference, Maurice and Archbishop of Kisumu, Muhatia Makumba, addressed the demonstrators and called on them to refrain from violence and beware of provocations. "Do not be influenced by people who have ulterior motives and want to create chaos," he said in his sermon at the mass last Sunday, June 23.
Archbishop Muhatia then called on the government to respect Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to demonstrate, and turned to President William Ruto, whom he urged to meet the demands of the young generation.
Despite the high level of debt, the Kenyan economy is showing signs of recovery with a growth rate of 5.6 percent in 2023, driven by the agricultural sector after several years of drought, and the services sector. Inflation has also fallen and stood at 5.1% in May 2024.

ASIA/INDONESIA - Diocese of Labuan Bajo established and first bishop appointed

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:39:37 +0200

Vatican City - On June 21, Pope Francis erected the new diocese of Labuan Bajo on part of the diocese of Ruteng, placing it under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Ende as a suffragan diocese and appointing the former rector of the Catholic University of St. Paul in Ruteng, Father Maksimus Regus from the clergy of the diocese of Ruteng, as the first Bishop of Labuan Bajo.
Bishop Maksimus Regus was born on September 23, 1973 in Woang in the Manggarai regency in what is now the diocese of Ruteng. He attended the Pontifical Roman Minor Seminary "Pius XII" and studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Major Seminary "St. Peter-Ritapiret" in the diocese of Maumere. He was ordained a priest on August 10, 2001.
After his ordination to the priesthood, he held the following positions and completed further studies: Parish Vicar of Christus König ; Chairman of the Diocesan Commission for Youth Work and member of the Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue ; university studies at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of the "Universitas Indonesia" in Depok ; studies in Social Sciences at the "Erasmus Universiteit" in Rotterdam and studies "ad doctoratum" at the "Universiteit van Tilburg" ; since 2018 he has been a lecturer at the "Catholic University of St. Paul" in Ruteng, and Dean of the Faculty of Education and Educational Sciences ; since 2020 Coordinator of the Diocesan Priests of Ruteng.

Link correlati :STATISTICAL DATA

ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - A total of 1,413 masses for peace and reconciliation: "We need new hope"

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:31:38 +0200

Seoul - It is a message of peace and reconciliation that the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon-taick Chung, is launching in view of the anniversary of the Korean War. It is a message of hope and unity that confirms the ongoing commitment by the Committee for Reconciliation of the Korean People of the Archdiocese of Seoul and the corresponding "National Committee for Reconciliation" within the Korean Bishops' Conference: a commitment of a spiritual nature and material nature, to act as peacemakers," according to the logic of the Gospel.
On the eve of the anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War - on June 25, 1950 and the beginning of a conflict that lasted from 1950 to 1953 and ended with an armistice that is technically still in force - and on the eve of the "Day of Prayer for the Reconciliation and Unity of the Korean People" established by the Korean Bishop in 1965, the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon-taick Chung, calls for a renewed commitment to peace and reconciliation and emphasizes "that it is crucial not to pass on the legacy of hatred to future generations".
In the homily of the Mass celebrated today, June 24, at Myeongdong Cathedral to mark this special day, Bishop Chung said, "Although the situation between the two parts of Korea may seem bleak, we Christians must not remain in despair. Instead, in this time of growing hostility, our prayers can illuminate this time with a greater light."
The Archbishop recalled the teachings of the Gospel and said: "Jesus himself showed that peace cannot be achieved by acting according to the 'eye-for-an-eye' principle. Peace can only be achieved through dialogue". He called on the faithful not to pray for the transformation of others, but for everyone to "imitate God's boundless mercy and patience and choose the path of peace".
Referring to the resilience of the Korean people, the Archbishop said: "Our people had the hope that we could overcome poverty, which led to our economic development; they had the hope that we could overcome dictatorship, which led to the attainment of democracy. Now we must hold on to a new hope, that of overcoming division. This hope will surely bring true peace to the Korean peninsula. At the end of his sermon, Bishop Chung called on all people on the Korean peninsula to "choose the path of forgiveness and reconciliation and not the path of hatred and bitterness".
Since 1965, the Korean Bishops' Conference has celebrated June 25 as the "Day of Prayer for the Church in Silence". In 1992, the name was changed to "Day of Prayer for the Reconciliation and Unity of the Korean People".
In 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Korea, the Archdiocese of Seoul founded the Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People to renew a commitment that is seen as crucial for the future.
The committee organizes spiritual moments as well as material and humanitarian initiatives. Every Tuesday at 7 pm in Myeongdong Cathedral, a mass and a prayer for peace are held. To date, a total of 1,413 services have been celebrated, underlining the Committee's tireless commitment to promoting peace and unity through prayer, reflection, culture and action. The committee carries out various educational and research projects, supports aid programs for North Korean refugees and organizes trips to the border areas as part of the "Winds of Peace" program.
This commitment is also shared by the "National Committee for Reconciliation" within the Korean Bishops' Conference. Bishop Simon Kim Ju-young, chairman of the episcopal committee, said on the occasion of June 25: "We must look into our hearts and see whether we really treat the people in the North as brothers and sisters. We must embark on a new path with a humble heart and firmly believe in the ministry of reconciliation: those who believe in the peace given by Christ never lose hope. Lord, graciously hear our prayers and grant us peace in this time".

AFRICA/NIGERIA - Father Mikah Suleiman kidnapped

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:26:26 +0200

Abuja - The parish priest of St. Raymond's Church in Damba in Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria, Mikah Suleiman, was abducted by armed men who broke into the rectory on Saturday, June 22, at around 3 a.m.
"It is with sadness in our hearts that we inform the public of the abduction of one of our priests, Rev. Mikah Suleiman. This sad event occurred in the early morning hours of today, Saturday, June 22, at the rectory. Mikah Suleiman is the parish priest of St. Raymond Catholic Parish in Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State," says a statement from the Diocese of Sokoto. "We call on all believers in Christ and all men and women of good will to pray earnestly for his immediate and safe release. We entrust him to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his immediate release from the hands of his captors," the statement continues.
Father Mikah Suleiman is the third priest to be kidnapped in Nigeria in June. Father Gabriel Ukeh, parish priest of St. Thomas Church in the parish of Zango Kataf in Kaduna State, was kidnapped on Sunday, June 9 and released on June 10 . On the other hand, Father Christian Ike, parish priest of St. Matthew's Church in Ajalli, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, who was abducted together with another person on the morning of June 16 , is still in the hands of his abductors. In May, at least two other priests were kidnapped and released after a few days .

ASIA/HOLY LAND - Gaza schoolchildren are denied exams and a future

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:10:16 +0200

by Father Ibrahim Faltas ofm*

Jerusalem - These days, around 39,000 pupils in Gaza would have had to take their school-leaving exams. Like many other Palestinian students, like many other Israeli students, like many other students around the world. The graduation exam is important, it marks a stage in life, it is the transition to adulthood.
There would have been 39,000 students, but nobody can know who didn't show up for the exam because they are no longer there or because their body is still under the rubble.
How many of them have suffered injuries and trauma? How many have lost their parents and are suddenly responsible for the family that previously supported and protected them? How many have lost friends and schoolmates with whom they shared the good years of their youth?
Through my experience as director of the schools of the Custody of the Holy Land, I have come to know the children and young people of this country well. I see them enter the kindergarten rooms anxiously, first clinging to their mothers and then smiling and running joyfully into the arms of the teachers. I see them grow and hear how they overcome insecurities and difficulties with commitment and determination. I accompany them in their fears and worries, which, together with the teachers and parents, I try to transform into an awareness of their abilities and into confidence and hope for the future, the future that begins with the Abitur exam and the first decisions in life. These are the days when students complete fifteen years of education, often in the same school and with the same friends, and these are the days when the closeness of a look, a smile and encouragement is needed.
There will be no high school exams in Gaza this year: They have already been canceled with the destruction of so many schools, and there will be none next year either, interrupting the growth and development of these generations.
Schools, like hospitals and places of worship, are sacred places, places that have fundamental functions for the healing of body, mind and soul. Respect for these places means respect for the lives they protect.
After 260 days, violence and hatred are still the main actors in the Holy Land, and as always, they are the cause of all wars. Even in the West Bank, the clashes do not stop, causing deaths, injuries, destruction and arrests.
The past is withheld from the children and young people of this country, the present is obstructed, the future is obscured.
The children of this land are denied the past, the present is hindered, the future is obscured.
Children need the strength of the trees planted by their ancestors on this earth, they need their firm roots and branches full of new leaves.
Roots do not only represent the past and the strength of the family bond, they are the history of every human being. The branches are a sign of rebirth and new life, a visible sign of spring that pushes the branches towards the sky and, for our children, they represent the hope of a better future.

* Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land

AFRICA/KENYA - Some will be waiting for Sister Ida at the door of heaven

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:38:38 +0200

by Pascale Rizk

Nairobi – "Sister Ida left us suddenly on Sunday, June 16 shortly before 7 p.m. After praying the vespers together with the community in Nairobi, she felt sick suddenly in the kitchen and left us in less than 20 minutes. All rescue efforts were in vain," writes Sister Fulgenzia Biasiotto, of the Dimesse Sisters.
Sister Ida Lagonegro was 23 years old when she arrived in Kenya in December 1967. She left this world at 82, in the land she loved so much and where she spent more than 57 years in mission. They had arrived from Padua on April 21, 1965, the first 3 sisters along with two "Fidei Donum" priests to settle in the Catholic mission in North Kinangop, Nyandarua County. It was the Bishop of Padua who had given them the assignment to become missionaries in Kenya, where the Dimesse Sisters had, first of all, to learn Kikuyu, the language of the country's largest ethnic group. A course of study that included as many as 11 classes.
"I believe so much in God's plan for each of us; I had no cultural background. After learning the language, we started assisting women in small things." So she told me exactly one year ago when I met her in Nairobi.
And it was from there that the story of a long missionary life began, dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel in both small everyday things and great works.
Throughout the time she lived in Kenya, Sister Ida had moved to different remote places where, one by one, small missions were founded to meet the needs of all: Manunga, North kinangop, Anjabin, South Kinangop and Rumuriti. It was here that her back problems, which accompanied her throughout her life, began. To anyone who asked her, "Sister Ida, how are you doing?" she would reply, "The head is there but the legs are not holding up."
After a period of convalescence in Italy, she was sent back to Gangemi, one of Nairobi's eight slums. "There, anything happens. Everything you can think of, happens," she told me.
After the early days, the Superior General wanted to take her back to Italy to finish her studies, but at the time the priests were adamant in saying "we really don't care about the accademic titles, Sister Ida is iactive and does a lot of good. Just send her to London to learn English." "And so after a period in London, I came back and a second school for girls had been established, there were 320 girls in their full teens. I went to Mass on Sundays with an Italian scooter, the 'Ciao,' and then went to read the Gospel to a blind woman, who lost her sight because of how much she had grieved after the death of her daughter. The Lord is great, and there I was changed. After that, I went to Taboril."
From one mission site to another, despite her advancing age, Sister Ida was very proud of the workshop she had founded where some 15 women of all ethnicities work, a project she wanted under the motto Empowering Women to give marginalized, raped, single mother, ex-serve women independence.
The biggest culture shock was great poverty. Also giving her strength was an encounter with a dying lady, the mother of one of the female students who attended the school of the Dimesse Sisters. The woman told her, "You know, I will not live long, however, I bless you now, and you will live a long time here. And when I go to Heaven, I will say to the Lord: Leave me by the door, waiting for Mother Sister." "This," Sister Ida said, "has been the key to the missionary drive for me." And she told of the many urgencies also related to the tribal way of life, sexual problems and superstitions.
She would go to the streets to buy fruit. Everyone greeted her: Anglicans, Protestants and Muslims. "I speak the language, Language is the way to the heart" , said Sr. Ida.
In her lifetime, Sr. Ida was operated on 11 times, but all that did not stop her. Between community, office and traveling from place to place, Sr. Ida was an ever-active volcano, full of ideas, and always looking to develop them with the help of many benefactors who trusted in what the Lord was accomplishing through her.
The funeral is being held today, Monday, June 24, at the Center of Hope in Gatundia in Laikipia, where she had begun construction of a home for the elderly and where part of the land has been reserved from the beginning as a cemetery for the Dimesse Sisters. "After the Holy Mass, celebrated under the tents a few kilometers from the Equator, Sister Ida will be the third to be buried after an Italian and an African, the Dimesse Sisters of the first group. It was Sister Ida who prepared the granite headstone for the first two as is done in Italy, and made sure that the plants and flowers in the small cemetery were taken care of. She wished to die in Africa and the Lord granted her. The area is about 230 km away from Nairobi, the climate is sunny, chosen especially for a retirement home," Sister Fulgenzia, also of Padua origin,who arrived in Kenya 49 years ago because "there was a missionary fire" as she described in our meetings last year. "We feel a great void, and at the same time everything continues to be alive, we are in full swing," adds Sister Fulgenzia.

The mission of the Dimesse Sisters Daughters of Mary Immaculate developed in various Italian dioceses until the Second Vatican Council, when their congregation opened up to mission outside Europe. It was precisely in the 1950s that a great missionary enthusiasm flourished in the Diocese of Padua, supported also by Bishop Girolamo Bortignon and Fr. Moletta, director of the Padua Missionary Office. That missionary awakening had also taken its cue from Pius XII's encyclical "Fidei Donum" , which called on priests, religious men, women religious and lay people to arouse let themselves be infected by a passion for apostolic work, with a special focus on supporting the journey of the young Churches in Africa.