Pope Francis: To ‘go out’ as Missionary Disciples
This year World Mission Sunday will be celebrated on 23rd October. In his Message, Pope Francis said the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy invites us “to consider the missio ad gentes – the mission to the world – as a great, immense work of mercy, both spiritual and material”. The below are excerpts from his Message. On […]
Uganda: Between Gestures and Words
The greeting gesture has great importance among the Karimojong of Uganda. It has to be performed with the right hand, which is considered the noble hand, while verbally wishing long life, eternal friendship, and wealth. Karimojong greetings consist of gestures and words. The most common greeting gesture is the handshake. Everyone shakes hands, even with […]
European Justice and Peace commissions call for “bridges of justice rather than walls of fear”
European Justice and Peace commissions issued the following statement at the end of their Workshop and General Assembly in Luxembourg last week, which examined security across the continent. We, delegates from 21 European Justice & Peace Commissions, came together in Luxembourg from 30 September to 3 October 2016 to fulfil our responsibility to explore the […]
Auxiliary Bishop of Juba, South Sudan: “There is no peace without justice”
Bishop Santo Laku, the Auxiliary Bishop of Juba in South Sudan, has recently commented on the fraught situation in the country: “There is no need to tell lies. They do not help us. This country is sinking. We need to get up and stand strong and say God help us to carve a new way, […]
Colombia: After the referendum, the Bishops promote a “culture of encounter”
Following the results of the Colombian Referendum on the Peace Agreements, held on October 2nd, with “No” emerging victorious (50.2% to 49.8% against) on a very low turnout (37.4% of registered voters), the Colombian episcopate have invited political leaders and the entire population to overcome polarisation and divisions. The statement of the Bishops’ Conference of Colombia (CEC), […]
Pope Francis and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby: “Our continuing common journey”
Pope Francis met on October 6th with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and 35 Primates of the Anglican communion, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey of Canterbury. During the meeting, the Pope said: “It is a beautiful sign of fraternity to see the […]
Uganda: The Karimojong Prophets
In the Karimojong group living in north-east Uganda, the prophet (ekadwaran) is an important figure. The status of prophet is the highest possible status an elder can attain, and therefore demonstrates the significance of the elder to his people. Akidwar means to foretell and to prophesy; adwaris indicates a capacity to prophesy in a particularly accurate manner; and ekadwaran stands […]
Republic of Congo: Oil Does Not Flow for the Poor
The Republic of Congo ranks among the top five oil producers on the African continent. The oil and resource extraction, however, has strained a parched landscape, caused deforestation, polluted rivers and impoverished communities – all while the profits of such activities enrich foreign companies and local governments. Huge trees, tropical plants, and dense vegetation soaked with […]
Uganda: Justice and Peace Centre
The John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre (JPIIJPC) is a consortium of five religious institutes: Missionaries of Africa, Mill Hill, Comboni Missionaries, Holy Cross, Jesuits, and Comboni Sisters. Reflecting on church life in the country, the major superiors of these congregations in Uganda recognised that the people of God in Uganda were still affected […]
South Sudan: When Life Can Be Beautiful
In spite of the horrors of war, life is beautiful in South Sudan, when children play together as brothers and sisters and do not see others as their enemies and threats – as some adults often do. This is the experience of Bill Firman, De La Salle Christian Brother and Executive Director of Solidarity of […]