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Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 94 No. 41 April 5, 2017 René Fumoleau, OMI But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your saviour. — Isaiah 43:103 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS April 5, 2017 UN’s top official visits camp for Syrian refugees By Dale Gavlak Guterres, a former Portuguese Guterres, 67, is no stranger to inquiring about the appropriate sup - well in school so they can one day prime minister, told reporters at the camp, having served as the port systems available to help them. return to Syria and perhaps be - ZAATARI, Jordan (CNS) — the camp on the eve of a summit UN refugee agency’s high com - He empathized with another come members of parliament. As the UN secretary general visit - gathering Arab leaders on the missioner for a decade, visiting woman requesting the need for One told him that she wanted ed the world’s biggest camp for shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan. the dusty desert facility numerous family reunification. Her husband to become a psychologist when Syrian refugees in late March, he “This has not only become a times. He headed UNHCR when and a son are now in Germany; she grew up, to help her people made an impassioned plea: Stop tragedy for the Syrian people, but the Syrian conflict broke out in another son is in Turkey; she and traumatized by the conflict. Syria’s devastating war. it has become a threat to the sta - March 2011. But this visit was two other sons are in Zaatari camp. Guterres told the teen that his “I want to make a strong bility of the region, a global secu - different, now as the UN chief, “This is not good. It would be wife and sister are psychiatrists. appeal to the parties of the conflict rity threat for the world, as terror - coming with the burden of Syria’s much better if everyone could be “Psychiatrists do very important and those who have an influence ism is benefiting from the crisis in grinding war on his shoulders. reunified,” Guterres told her. things. They make people feel on (them) to understand that we Syria and other crises in the “I remember six years ago at “When I was head of UNHCR, happy again.” must make peace,” Antonio world,” he said. the border, when I saw the first we discussed family reunification a “He is very open about his Syrian refugees coming lot. It always seemed like the right Catholic identity,” said Msgr. to Jordan. How sad it is, thing to do. But, unfortunately, a Robert Vitillo, secretary general how terrible it is, that lot of countries are still not willing of the Geneva-based International today we still have to do it. But we will see what we Catholic Migration Commission. Zaatari camp . and that can do,” the UN chief said. “I have always found him so pas - the tragedy of Syrians is Guterres’ face lit up as he visit - sionate and compassionate for going on and on and on,” ed a boisterous classroom of refugees and how he tries to find a he said. fourth-grade refugee children solution. Syria’s war has killed learning English. He encouraged a “While visiting refugee camps, more than 320,000 people special book club and information he isn’t someone who goes off in and has forced 4.9 million technology forum, dubbed the a suit and tie. He went as someone people to flee their coun - “Tiger Girls,” to keep pursuing who really wanted to listen. You try. their dreams. could see that he is someone who Guterres is a practis - The adolescent girls are cham - cares a great deal. This is what ing Catho lic and clearly pioning reading and are consid - impresses me most about him,” demonstrates his com - ered role models for their commu - passion for people. He nity. He encouraged them to do — STRONG STAND , page 5 listened carefully to the concerns of refugee Congo’s bishops give women battling family violence and early mar - CNS/Paul Haring riage in the camp of some up on peace mediation CANADIAN BISHOPS IN ROME — Seamus McKelvey of Winnipeg crashes a 80,000. group photo with Canadian bishops in front of St. Peter’s Basilica March 27. “These things are very KINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — He added that the politicians From left are Archbishops Richard Smith of Edmonton, Richard Gagnon of worrying. Are there people Catholic bishops in Congo have involved had failed to prioritize Winnipeg, and Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Diocese of New to listen and solve the abandoned attempts to arrange a the nation or the people’s welfare. Westminster, B.C. The bishops were making their ad limina visits to the Vatican. problems?” he asked, government-opposition power- “The bishops’ conference can - sharing agreement, amid rising not mediate endlessly. It will now violence. be up to President (Joseph) Kabila Western Canadian bishops meet with pope Archbishop Marcel Utembi to find quick ways to implement Tapa of Kisangani, the bishops’ agreement on a national unity gov - conference president, said the lat - ernment that can lead the country By Carol Glatz the Assembly of Western Catholic culties with the church or don’t est round of political negotiations to presidential and parliamentary Bishops, and another two dozen like the church: talk to them, listen were not satisfying the Congolese elections.” VATICAN CITY (CNS) — bishops from Western Canada to them and go forward with that.” people. He said bishops had con - The bishops’ conference “That’s your bishop!” a woman made their ad limina visits and pil - Smith said the pope “is not tinued working with both sides launched a mediation bid after shouted to Seamus McKelvey of grimage to Rome and the Vatican. afraid to say he doesn’t have imme - until March 27, but that all parties opposition leaders accused Kabila Winnipeg, as he leaned in for an Gagnon said the major con - diate answers” and therefore, nei - were pulling back from a consen - of seeking to retain power after the impromptu picture with three cerns and issues the group brought ther should the bishop. But that does sus on issues previously agreed Dec. 20 expiration of his second prelates posing for a professional to the table for discussion includ - mean there is “a need for deep, sus - upon. and final term. portrait with St. Peter’s Basilica in ed the Catholic Church’s relation - tained prayer, because the protago - “This lack of sincere political Under the Dec. 31 accord, the the background. ship with the indigenous people nist in all of this is the Holy Spirit will did not allow for an agree - president was to remain in office McKelvey was with a large and how to minister to them in leading us to Christ.” ment,” the archbishop said at a pending elections by the end of group of tourists from Western their communities. For example, The only way to discern and March 28 news conference. 2017, alongside a government Canada that just happened to be the decline in religious vocations accompany people properly, he “We are therefore bringing the headed by an opposition-nominat - crossing the large boulevard in means that diocesan bishops said, is being “men of prayer, deep political impasse in these discus - ed prime minister, but it also had front of St. Peter’s Square when he “need to integrate more fully into prayer, and listening to where the sions to national and international to comply with constitutional pro - decided he would crash the lineup that missionary mode” for indige - spirit is leading.” attention — as well as the lack of visions barring him from a third and jump right in for his own sou - nous peoples. Gagnon said that during their political goodwill and the incapac - term. venir snap with Arch bishops Smith told CNS that the pope lengthy conversation, Pope Francis ity of the political and social However, press reports said the Richard Gagnon of Win ni peg, spent “a lot of time talking about displayed “a powerful openness.” actors to find a compromise.” accord’s implementation had been Richard Smith of Edmon ton, and immigration,” reaffirming that “Certainly his pastoral style is Utembi said the bishops left in doubt since the Feb. 1 death Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of people from other lands and cul - such where people feel affirmed believed power-sharing negotia - of opposition leader Etienne the Ukrainian Diocese of New tures “are a gift” that should be and assured that there is a listen - tions, which followed a Dec. 31 Tshisekedi, who was to have head - Westminster, B.C. It was a prize integrated. He said the pope told ing ear,” he said. church-brokered peace accord, ed a 28-member National Transi - picture with the prelates dressed in them, “Migration is a human phe - There was “a feeling like we were now “in a state of failure.” tion Council. their finest, fresh from a meeting nomenon, don’t be afraid, trust in were talking with our brother,” with Pope Francis March 27. the Lord, welcome people.” Nowakowski said. The day started “in a rather Nowakowski said the pope Gagnon said Pope Francis left spectacular way” with an early reminded them to listen to young them with a strong message of not morning mass at the crypt at the people, to understand their per - giving up, despite the challenges.