Aid to the Church in Need Is Sending 250,000 Euro in Food Aid to Lebanon BEIRUT
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I am speaking the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit — that I have great sorrow an unceasing anguish in my AUGUST 9, 2020 heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the TERHAD PP 8460/11/2012(030939) sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according ISSN: 1394-3294 to the flesh. Vol. 27 No. 31 THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY Rom. 9:1-3 Do not be afraid! Direct your hearts to Jesus and trust in Him ENINGAU: Sabahans As followers and disciples of encouraged to pray, to partici- identity as the people walking have been urged to Jesus I believe that we always pate in the celebration of Holy together in Jesus Christ, com- look to Jesus as they listen to the advice of Church Mass, Adoration, Holy Hour, mitted to the Mission we live to K leaders so that in following Je- Prayer Service and Commun- put God first, and to prioritise prepare to vote in the state elec- sus our gaze is always focused ion, prayer groups, devotions, the needs of our fellow man and tions. on Jesus so that, we are safe in etc. so that the Holy Spirit can God’s creation, confident that In a pastoral letter released today, Au- His protection and love. help, teach and remind us of the only Jesus is the Way, the Truth gust 9, Rt Rev Cornelius Piong, Bisop The experience of St Peter teachings of Jesus (John 14:26) and the Life, our lives are al- of Keningau Diocese, wrote on how the and the disciples of Jesus in the In terms of Faith Forma- ways directed to Jesus. So let us Church is a channel of Jesus’ presence to Gospel today (August 8, 2020) tion, we have the Word of God set our gaze to Him (John 14:6). help her people focus on Him. teaches us how to be fearless, to to read, to listen and to meditate May we not be deceived by sa- “The current COVID-19 pandemic is direct our hearts to Jesus and be- on. We also have the teachings tanic deception, lies, and death very worrying for many people. Eco- lieve in He who saved Peter and of the Church, seminars, recol- (John 8:44). nomic conditions are unstable and many the disciples from the danger of the leaders and the people. Will lections, retreats, various cours- In whatever situation we face have lost their jobs. Parents are worried death in the middle of the sea. the elections be conducted fairly es to improve our spiritual etc whether it is related to politics, about their children’s future. As with Peter’s experience, and democratically or conduct- so that we shall have firm faith, disease, natural disasters, etc., “In Sabah, we are currently preparing we too have experienced how ed as usual where the power of witness and strength in enduring let us practice and nurture the for the state elections. There are many terrifying life can be, how it can money is used to buy votes as trials. culture to always go to Jesus, things worrying the leaders and the peo- lead us to sink in constant fear well as other moves and strate- In terms of Social Respon- listen to His Word and do His ple. Will the elections be conducted fair- and numbness if our focus and gies that are unfair and dishon- sibility, we as members of the will (Luke 6:47-48). This prac- ly and democratically or conducted as attention are concentrated more est? Church, through the Sacrament tice will unite us with Jesus and usual, where the power of money is used on the problems of the world As followers and disciples of of Baptism participate in the His Holy Spirit so that we can to buy votes as well as other moves and rather than on Jesus, our Sav- Jesus, we need to be confident Prophetic, Kingly and Priestly understand and do good and strategies that are unfair and dishonest? iour. that He is with us and accom- nature of Jesus. We are required right in every situation we face “We must remain always proud of our The current COVID-19 pan- panies us in whatever circum- to participate in the fight for (John 15: 4-5). identity as the people walking together demic is very worrying for many stances we face throughout our peace, justice and love. Like salt in Jesus Christ, committed to the Mis- people. Economic conditions life and faith. and light we carry the good in- Thank you. sion we live to put God first, and priori- are unstable and many have lost The Church, as a channel of fluences and values of the king- tise the needs of our fellow human be- their jobs. Parents are worried Jesus’ presence always helps us dom of God where we are, (Mat. Togetherness is Happiness ings and God’s creation, confident that about their children’s future. to be awake and motivates us 5: 13-16; 25:40), so that our only Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the In Sabah, we are currently to always focus our hearts on hearts, minds and actions are Life.” preparing for the state elections. Jesus. motivated by the love of Jesus. +Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong l See right for the full text There are many things worrying In terms of worship, we are Being always proud of our August 9, 2020 Aid to the Church in Need is sending 250,000 euro in food aid to Lebanon BEIRUT. Lebanon: International Catholic area of Beirut is “completely devastated,” nomic crisis in decades, with corruption national community for aid. charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) with at least ten churches destroyed. and financial mismanagement leading to an “Beirut is a devastated city. Beirut, the has announced an emergency 250,000 euro “In one second, more damage was done to unprecedented devaluation of its currency, bride of the East and the beacon of the West, food aid package for victims of the massive the Christian area of Beirut than during the hyperinflation, rising unemployment and is wounded,” he said. “It’s a war scene: August 4 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. long years of the civil war. We have to re- banking restrictions. The health system is there is destruction and desolation in all its The ACN grant will focus on poor fami- build everything again from the ground up.” also in crisis. Power outages and street pro- streets, its neighbourhoods and houses.” lies most affected by the explosion, which ACN estimates some 300,000 people tests had rocked the country a few months Aid to the Church in Need also called for devastated the port area of the Lebanese have been left homeless. Additionally, before the coronavirus pandemic broke out. prayer for all those affected by the explo- capital and the adjacent regions of Mar Ma- many offices, schools, hospitals, and shops In recent years, Lebanon has been hosting sion and facing other challenges. roun and Achrafieh. were completely destroyed in the explosion. large numbers of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, “We pray for the victims and their fami- At least 135 people died and another The priest stressed that amid the coun- many of them Christian, as well as Pales- lies and we pray for Lebanon so that, with 5,000 were injured when a warehouse stor- try’s prolonged economic crisis and the tinian refugees. According to official data, the commitment of all its social, political ing some 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Lebanon Lebanon currently hosts almost 2 million and religious components, it can face this exploded Aug 4 evening. Officials are in- is ill-equipped to face this new emergency. refugees, representing about a third of its tragic and painful moment and, with the vestigating the cause of the explosion. International aid is urgently needed to meet total population. help of the international community, over- Fr Samer Nassif, a Lebanese priest, told people’s basic needs, they said. Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, Maronite come the serious crisis it is going through.” Aid to the Church in Need that the Christian Lebanon is currently facing its worst eco- Patriarch of Antioch, has called on the inter- — CNA 2 FORUM / REFLECTION HERALD August 9, 2020 The hidden cost of corruption ecent events have thrust corruption This alone shows how tough the lives scandals into the global headlines. Sunday Observer of the fisherfolk were during the time of RBut what may not be easily seen is Jesus, and the weariness of the fisherfolk- that there is a hidden cost to corruption. By Apostles comes through in the pages of the Corruption drains the public coffers, Gospels. erodes trust in leaders and deprives the Anil Netto When he sat down to observe people put- public of funds that could have eased their [email protected] ting money in the treasury, Jesus observed suffering. It undermines community soli- a widow donating two small coins, all that darity as well, when the public are cheated she had. Immediately before that episode, of funds that could have been used for their or customs duties, launder the proceeds of while you will not listen; to cry, ‘Violence!’ in Mark 12: 38-40, Jesus had condemned benefit. criminal activity, circumvent currency con- in your ear while you will not save? the scribes: “Beware of the scribes who like For example, if it costs say RM15 to pro- trols and hide profits offshore.” “Why do you make me see wrongdoing, to walk about in long robes, to be greeted vide a person with a couple of decent meals By comparing figures in bilateral trade why do you countenance oppression? Plun- respectfully in the market squares, to take per day, then RM1bn in public funds could with 36 advanced economies, GFI estimates dering and violence confront me, conten- the front seats in the synagogues and the finance the meals for 182,000 people for that Malaysia had a value gap of US$36.7bn tion and discord flourish.