MIL EU Ngin

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Headline: ASIA/SRI LANKA – Day of indigenous clergy and contribution to the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle

Colombo – “You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and summoned from its far-off places, You whom I have called my servant, whom I have chosen and will not cast off”: is the theme of the special Day of the indigenous clergy inspired by the Biblical passage of Isaiah which, organized by the National Directorate of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Sri Lanka, will be celebrated tomorrow July 25 and intends to raise awareness on vocations to priesthood and on the formation of young people on their path to priesthood. “You are my servant, chosen”, reads the poster drawn up by the Sri Lankan PMS and spread throughout the dioceses of the country. The faithful, despite the hard times marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, will attend churches, gathering in prayer for indigenous vocations.

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Headline: ASIA/LEBANON – One year after the explosion, Caritas Lebanon takes stock of the situation as well as aid

Beirut – One year after the tragic explosion in the port of Beirut, which killed more than 200 people, injured more than 7,500 and left about 300 people homeless, Caritas Lebanon has organized a Seminar during which various interlocutors will alternate to testify what has been done so far to help the population so tragically affected .

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Headline: AFRICA/NIGER – The religious of the Society of African Missions launch a new project to help children go back to school

Niamey – “We are in contact with the rural areas of the diocese of Niamey, in particular with the two areas most affected by terrorism: Makalondi, on the border with Burkina Faso and Dolbel, a region on the border with Mali. Thousands of children and teenagers who live here have dropped out of school. This project aims to help them continue their studies, ensuring a minimum of school fees and a contribution to health and the cost of room and accommodation”. This is what Father Mauro Armanino, missionary of the Society of African Missions told fides, speaking of the new school project that the religious of the institute founded by Mgr. de Brésillac are carrying out in collaboration with the diocese of Niamey. “In recent years – says Fr. Mauro – hundreds of schools have been closed due to threats to teachers and to the educational institution in general, considered a ‘Western’ vehicle. This – he continues – has caused not only distancing of the population from the areas considered at risk, but also an impoverishment of peasant families, who have been forced to abandon their agricultural and pastoral activity: it is estimated that at least 3 million people, in Niger, are at risk of famine. In this situation, the first to pay the price of this situation are children and young school age children: “Many of them – Fr. Armanino – had to flee elsewhere, and their parents do not have the means to guarantee them the completion of their educational process. Our commitment – he says – is little more than a drop in an ocean, but it wants to be a sign of solidarity to give hope to those who simply want to live and learn”. According to the missionary, the difficult condition in which the school system in Niger finds itself is also the result of wrong political choices that have been made in the past: “In the 1980s – notes the religious – the dismantling of almost everything that was public: investments in safety have been at the expense of social services and this has also involved the education sector. Following the important demographic growth, the decrease in investments for training and incentives for teachers completed the disaster. To date – reports Fr. Mauro – a positive signal comes from new president Mohamed Bazoom, who said that the school will be at the center of his priorities, also in reference to the birth rate. In fact, the construction of at least three boarding schools for girls in Niamey is planned. The more the girls are followed at school – he concludes – the more they will be able to ‘choose’ the moment of their first pregnancy”.

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Headline: ASIA/MALAYSIA – Young people, “creative evangelizers” during the time of the pandemic

Kota Kinabalu – May young people be “creative evangelizers” during the time of the pandemic: this is the invitation expressed by Msgr. John Wong, Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu, speaking at the “Sabah 5” Youth Day, an event which, organized virtually, began on July 19 and ended yesterday, July 23. As reported to Fides, the Archbishop exhorted young people connected online “not be discouraged although they were only meeting virtually for the biggest celebration of Catholic faith in Sabah, but to be more creative and have more initiative to reach out to one another”. The Archbishop suggested to young people to “maximize the use of modern technology”, keeping in contact with others, “by organising formations and help others, especially those who are affected by the COVID-19, in a spirit of brotherhood to encourage each other”, he said. “As Catholic youth in this modern era, keep in touch with reality. Dear youth, use your talents for the glory of God so that you are able to move on, no matter what era you are in”, he said. And then continued: “Be convinced that the Lord is with you, He will guide you. Be convinced in your faith, be a true and active witness of Christ. Be on fire for God”. The Prelate wished: “Be the salt and light wherever you are. Be creative evangelizers”. Previously, Archbishop Wong presided over the opening mass of the celebration in the Catholic Archdiocesan Center, in a mass broadcast live online via Facebook and via the Sabah Catholic Youth website. Prayer meetings, formation and catechesis meetings, concerts – which saw the virtual participation of more than 2,500 young people – have followed one another until today, July 23, when the closing liturgy and the sending of youth missionary will take place.

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Headline: EUROPE/ITALY – Breaking the circle of human trafficking: “care can make a difference”

Rome – The global network Talitha Kum, — which gathers more than 3,000 Catholic sisters and collaborators, launches the #CareAgainstTrafficking campaign in view of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons which will be celebrated on July 30. Founded in 2009 by UISG , Talitha Kum International coordinates 50 networks in more than 90 countries. As the note sent to Agenzia Fides recalls, in 2020 Talitha Kum networks around the world took care of 17,000 people who survived trafficking, offering safe homes, education and job opportunities, support to access justice and compensation, and health and psychosocial assistance. In the same period, nearly 170,000 people benefited from the prevention and awareness activities organized by Talitha Kum.