No 4 • May 2016 Published eight times per year

The blessings of the mission – Anointing of the Sick in “A true missionary, Uganda. who never ceases to be a , knows that walks with him, speaks to him, breathes with him, works with him.”

Pope Francis, apostolic letter Evangelii Gaudium

from all earthly things; instead he is estab - and Patroness of the lished by God the Father as the Head of the Missions: “I cannot perform amazing “All authority in heaven and on earth has Church (Eph 1:22). He is living in her works. I can neither preach the nor been given to me. Go therefore and make through the Sacraments, the Eucharist, His shed my blood. But what does that matter? disciples of all nations, baptizing them in Word, His Spirit. We should not shrink Others are labouring in my place... And I the name of the Father and of the Son and away in fear from Christ’s Spirit in the love them. Yet how will I express my love, of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to ob - Church, as it provides the answer to the so that it is demonstrated through works? serve all that I have commanded you. And deepest longings of the human heart. That I have no other way of proving my love to behold, I am with you always, to the end is why anyone who witnesses to Christ Jesus than by strewing flowers. That means of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20). that I will allow no little sacri - fice, no glance, no word to es - With these, his last words be - We can all be cape me, so that I can draw fore his Ascension, the risen good from even the smallest Lord asserts his absolute sover - missionaries of love! things by doing them with eignty over all mankind and all love.” ages. By the power of this au - thority he sends out his disciples. The di - must first be filled with the Holy Spirit. It Dear Friends, little sacrifices, little vine commission to baptize all nations and is this that enables them to love Christ and things… in this sense we can all be mis - proclaim the Gospel not only applies to to follow all that He has taught. sionaries of love – and then our faith in Church but to each one of us. But can the Jesus will indeed spread to the ends of the Church embody such a universal mission - Love of Christ is the heart of the Church Earth. ary authority to the political powers, cul - and the power that sustains her universal, tures and religions of this world without or “catholic” mission. Without love, the With my grateful blessing on you all, appearing presumptious and arrogant? It is Church would cease to be Church and because of her world-embracing and time- would indeed be simply an arrogant and transcending mission that she is so often power-hungry human enterprise. Only be - reviled and attacked. cause Our Lord is with us always can we dare to take on this seemingly impossible The risen Christ is Lord of all, the Ruler of universal mission, whose roots are hidden the universe. But he is no otherwordly in simple works of mercy. We are taught Father Martin Maria Barta “cosmic Christ”, raised up and detached this especially by Therese of Lisieux, Ecclesiastical Assistant

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Painstaking and time-consuming – the walk back down into the valley. We must learn before we can teach – meeting again in the catechetical centre. Taking the Gospel to all nations

The Latin word movere has a double meaning: to move, and to motivate, or Kaigama has put up €8,000 towards the cost set in motion. And your love does just that – it sets motors running, pedals of the bus, but he can not afford any more. turning, wheels rolling – to the very ends of the Earth. He places great importance on the catechet - ical centre, not least as it is a beacon for the At 13,000 feet (4000 m), high up in the seed of God’s Word could fall more plenti - dignity of women – in a region where Is - Andes, where most of us would be gasping fully upon this mountain soil. The shining lamists are trampling on that dignity. We for breath, the missionary sisters of Mother example of the sisters and their work help - have promised €53,000 for the bus and for Laura Montoya (the Lauritas , or Missionar - ing with education and health care are al - the work of the catechists. The Gospel of ies of the Immaculate Mary and Saint ready preparing the soil and making it Christ must know no boundaries, encom - ) go visiting the indige - fertile. We have promised them a more mod - passing both human dignity and the truth of nous Indians. They journey on foot, since ern form of a mule – a four-wheel-drive the Word. • the paths are steep and difficult in this poor Suzuki – at a cost of €15,600 . diocese of Abancay in Peru . In the past they travelled on horses or mules when they had A jeep alone is no longer enough for the heavy loads to carry. Most of the indigenous team of female catechists in Jos, Nigeria , peoples live in small, far-flung hamlets. however. Ten years ago we gave them a There is a public bus service that sets off be - pickup truck. But now it is getting unreli - tween 2 and 4 a.m., able, and in any case and the sisters are it can only carry happy to make use No frontiers for the five people. These of it, but this only women have done runs twice a week Gospel of Christ. wonderful mission - and only to specific, ary work, and the fe - central locations. And the sisters simply male catechists’ centre – a rarity in itself – cannot visit everyone on their mission jour - has flourished. Women from 43 different neys. But Jesus ordered his disciples to go parishes now take part in the two-year train - out to all nations – and that includes the In - ing programmes at the centre, which is dians high up in the Andes. Fortunately, around 25 miles (40 km) from Jos. What there are some tracks – not proper roads, but they need now is a sturdy 30-seater driveable – leading through the steep moun - minibus. The ones in the country are not tain slopes and valleys. With a vehicle the cheap, but the import duty and the blatant No way without the bike – a catechist Lauritas could indeed visit “all the peoples ” corruption in the port of Lagos would make on the way to “his ” villages in at this particular ‘end’of the earth. Then the an imported vehicle still dearer. Archbishop Mozambique.

2 Any donation you kindly give will go to support these, or similar ation ngelis w eva The ne Now they can openly live their faith again

The history of Christianity in Kosovo goes all the way back to the Apostle Paul. In his Letter to the Ro - mans (Rom 15:19) he writes that during his travels he has pro - claimed the Gospel to the people of this region.

History has not always been kind to the Kosovans; they have suffered persecution, “Crypto-Catholics ” no longer – “I am with you always, until the end of oppression, expulsion. But many remained Bishop Dodë with young Kosovans. the age.” Easter Mass in Pristina. faithful to Christ throughout the centuries, even during the worst times of the Ottoman understanding of religious freedom and want to raise awareness of her message of Empire, and again under the communists. tolerance. But during the war of independ - love and tolerance”, says Bishop Dodë. Today the in Kosovo has ence a more radical strand of Islam, spon - “We see all men as our brothers, including around 66,800 faithful, 57 priests and 87 re - sored by Saudi Arabia, entered the those who see the world differently.” ligious sisters in its 24 parishes. Bishop country, leading to new tensions. Dodë Gjergi knows many of them person - In the face of the refugee crisis in the ally. He has observed a very special form Blessed embodied this tra - Balkans, his words do not just apply to the of the new evangelisation here. “It is a re- dition of tolerance and love of neighbour. Kosovans. This is bringing new challenges Christianisation”, he says. “For many peo - As a young woman on the threshold of life- to the impoverished Church in Kosovo – ple were once baptised, and now they want changing decisions, she came to the shrine and we are standing by the Church in her to publicly return and openly profess their of Our Lady of Letnica in Kosovo. “We mission. • Catholic faith. It is not that they are leaving Islam behind them, but rather they realise that they were never truly Muslims. But Teach them to observe all that I have commanded ... only now can they openly say this.” “A book for every pupil, a Bible for every catechumen” – this is the goal of the During the centuries of oppression, the Missionary Brothers of Saint Paul in the Democratic Republic of Congo . majority of Kosovo Albanians were pres - sured to outwardly convert to Islam. All Three quarters of the people in the diocese of that was required of them was to publicly Kisantu, in the Democratic Republic of recite the first sura of the Koran. Yet Congo, are Catholics. Yet Christian school - within their own homes many of them se - books, Bibles and catechisms are hard to cretly continued to practise their Catholic come by, since there are no bookshops. In any faith, clinging to the hope that one day case, the 30 parishes and the schools are scat - they would once again be able to publicly tered throughout towns and villages. Many of pray the Our Father and openly attend the roads and tracks are almost impassable, Holy Mass. They are known as “crypto- owing to the deep sand and mud. So the mis - Catholics”. Now they want to bring their sionary brothers are taking books to the hidden religious practice out of the twi - pupils and their teachers wherever they are. light of history and into the daylight. This But without a jeep they cannot do it. We are hidden religious life has forged a particu - helping them with €22,200 – so that there lar characteristic of the national identity in Treasured possession – may be no obstacle to the spread of the Good Kosovo, which can be seen in their special schoolchildren with books in Kisantu. News. • projects, and enable the pastoral work of Aid to the Church in Need. 3 n lisatio nge They help the spiritually ew eva The n struggling back onto their feet.

A field hospital of love

“I see clearly, that the thing the Church needs most today is the abil - ity to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs near - ness, proximity. I see the Church as a field hospital after battle.”

Father Andrés Jaramillo has made these Lopez, who had lost her only daughter, felt We have promised funding for the ground words of Francis very much his own, utterly broken, torn apart, annihilated. “I floor ( €50,000 ). It will represent the first and in Girardota, in , after the simply couldn’t stop weeping. I forgot to stage of the ‘field hospital of the Good decades of civil war, he has established a eat, to sleep, to live. ” Father Andrés and his News’. • fraternity that is intended as a “field hospi - community invited her to spend some time tal ” for wounded souls. The Brotherhood of with them, to pray and talk. “They didn’t the Sacred Heart aims to be a place of ask questions, they didn’t demand anything. refuge and consolation for the despairing, They took me by the arm and smiled at me. ” the wounded, the lost and those over - Eventually Lola got back on her feet. “Love whelmed by spiritual suffering. There are has overcome death ”, she says. “This love centres and resources available for many without measure, selfless and undemand - other groups – the elderly, the children, the ing, this is what healed my wounds. ” war victims, the poor, the homeless and refugees. But for ordinary people in spiri - There are many other Lolas. Now the fra - tual need there is nothing. It might be a ternity wants to build a house, a mother young student, a housewife, a manager, an house for many such field hospitals in the In the warmth of the community, many office worker... any one of us in fact. Lola future, both within and outside Colombia. find their way back to life again. Good News in the prisons

“There is no place that the Mercy eyes to the Lord, in a chapel, in the where you have provided Father Innocent of God cannot reach, no place and Bible. with the money for prayerbooks and hymn no one that it cannot touch.” books, Bibles, catechisms, videos and You are making this possible in a number other study books for the 150 prisoners spoke these words to of different prisons. For example in Liv - there ( €4,800 ). the inmates of Ciudad Juarez prison, ingstone, Zambia , where you have sup - in Mexico, back in February. Without plied 120 Bibles for Father Roman, the After serving their time, some of these in - help from outside, it is unusual for prison chaplain ( €1,100 ). Or in Maua, mates want, and are able, to show their prisoners to find their way to a new Kenya , where you are helping Father gratitude, by serving the Church as trained beginning and to inner conversion. They Jediel to build a chapel dedicated to Saint lay catechists. The ways and workings of need something; they need tangible signs Jude, the of lost causes the Good News know no frontiers. They of love, they need to be able to turn their (€12,000 ). Or again in Mbeya, Tanzania , are the ways of mercy. •

4 Any donation you kindly give will go to support these, or similar ar gasc Mada “And you visited me”

“Someone who suffered the great - est pain and (so to speak) experi - enced hell can become a prophet in society”. (Pope Francis).

In many prisons the inmates do indeed experience hell. Many are left to languish behind bars without trial, in inhuman conditions – overcrowded cells, rubbing shoulders with hardened criminals, drink - ing from half-filled tin cups in sweltering tropical heat. In Miarinarivo, in Mada - gascar , the sisters of the Congregation of the of Niort visit them. Many of the prisoners cannot read; Devoting their lives to the needy – they signed the indictment against them the tireless sisters of Miarinarivo. with a thumbprint, without even under - standing the charge. sisters, Lucie can now go to school and live a relatively normal life. Despite this One particularly tragic case is that of family tragedy, she will still know what Agnes. Her husband was murdered. After love is. the funeral, a member of his family came to Agnes with a written document, telling Others have been imprisoned simply for her they knew who the murderer was. taking a piece of bread to save themselves Agnes need only sign the document, they and their families from starvation. They said, to show she supported the case. She were caught and dragged before the “signed ” with her thumbprint. In fact it courts. Now the sisters bring bread for was a fake confession, stating that she them, and for others – and the Word of had murdered her husband herself. She God. They also help to bring peace and Thanks to the sisters, Lucie has was brought to trial and sentenced to 15 reconciliation with their families, as escaped an uncertain future. Happy years imprisonment for murder. The sis - many families in Madagascar simply now and close to Jesus. ters have taken care of her little daughter want nothing to do with them after Lucie, along with other children whose prison. The sisters also care for orphaned girls, give them schooling and provide mothers are also in prison. Thanks to the children and young abandoned street care for the homeless. They have been working in this thorn-filled vineyard for many years now. Some 60 years ago, when their congregation first came to Madagascar, the sisters made their home in what was already then an ancient house. It has constantly needed repairs. Now the tornadoes and gales have done their work and it is close to collapsing; it needs to be completely rebuilt – which is too much for the sisters. And yet they need this place of prayer and community in order to gather strength for their diffi - cult work and continue to be prophets of love, so that Lucie and the other children In the prison school – can see the smiling face of God. We are learning basic literacy. helping with €50,000 . • projects, and enable the pastoral work of Aid to the Church in Need. 5 h c

A year ago the Church in y r e S

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Prague went out onto the u k a J Freiherr streets – led by their Cardinal © Archbishop Dominik Duka. Heereman, Although Prague is an ancient Executive President, ACN (International) European city of culture, a cen - tury of communism and athe - ism drove the Church under - ground and then pushed it to De  F  nd , the margins of society. Now the The pictures from Syria and Iraq Catholics want to show the city the life of the Church and the experience are shocking. They haunt us. Many of Christ’s presence, and “break down the prejudices about the Church people in Europe are fearful of radi - and Faith”. Thanks to your help, they have succeeded. For a week the cal islamists. That is entirely under - churches were thrown open, Masses were celebrated and prayers were standable – but not for Christians. said with the young people in the streets. Posters on the buses and trains Jesus said: “Do not fear those who proclaimed the joy of God’s presence. Cardinal Duka sends you his kill the body but cannot kill the soul. heartfelt thanks. And he recalls that “we have all received a variety of Rather fear him who can destroy both gifts and graces from God, yet none of us has been given a grace of in - soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28). difference or aloofness.” And the benefactors of ACN are the living proof Nothing and no one can kill the soul of this. that clings fast to Christ. In Him we have the truth and the joyful message that God is always with us. To profess Need, love and thanks − your letters this truth joyfully is our mission, and part of that mission is to support all My first salary for Syria Thanks and prayers for a better who are persecuted, especially those I am happy to be able to share my first world suffering now in Syria and Iraq. pay cheque with ACN – for Syria. I wish to thank ACN for more than A young benefactress in France 30 years cooperation and for valuable More and more frequently I hear projects undertaken during my time of Muslims who are astounded For your wonderful work as Bishop. I pray that ACN may con - that they are being persecuted by Some students of Sts. Peter and Paul tinue to successfully contribute to a bet - their own fellow Muslims, whereas Catholic School in Waterloo, recently ter world. the Christian “infidels” are behaving held a Children’s Rummage Sale for the A retired bishop quite differently towards them. Many missions. They wanted ACN to receive from Papua New Guinea of them want to know more about some of the proceeds. Please use it to this God of Love. We can help them help needy children. Keep up your won - It tugs at my heartstrings in this. The God of Love has revealed derful work! Everytime I open the Mirror it tugs at himself to all men in Christ. As From the pupils my heart strings and I’m called to do - long as we witness to this truth by at a Catholic school in the USA nate in my small way – particularly now our lives and by our deeds, we need that so many Christians are suffering have no fear that Europe might be - Helping for 25 years now and dying as martyrs. Just as the perse - come Muslim. I’m sending you $100 to help relieve cuted and forgotten need our prayers the suffering. For 25 years now I have and help we too in the selfish and mate - been working with and praying for rialistic West need their prayers to save ACN. our souls. A longstanding benefactor in Canada A benefactor in Australia

How to make your contribution to the Church in Need: Editor-in-chief: Jürgen Liminski Responsible Publisher: 1. Go to our Head Office website: www.acn-intl.org Kirche in Not, Postfach 1209, 2. Click the donate now button D-61452 Königstein 3. Either: Go to the National Office of Aid to the Church in Need De licentia competentis in your country. auctoritatis ecclesiasticae 4. Or: Make an online donation (if you live in a country without an ACN National Office). www.acn-intl.org

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