COVID 19 outbreak has caught all of us unawares. In a bid to contain the spread of CORONA VIRUS the government has decided on total lockdowns, self-quarantine and forced isolation. We are witnessing uncertainty at best and insanity at worst. The feelings are mixed. It has changed our lives. Our mental and social wellbeing are affected. Confirmed cases of virus infected are rising rapidly.
After the launch of the human rights review “Papua: the Neglected Paradise” the book has been presented to the Holy Father, Pope Francis and to the Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin.
The climate crisis is an emergency which needs an immediate attention. Our hotter planet is already hurting millions of people. We need to act right now to stop burning fossil fuels and ensure a rapid energy revolution with equity, reparations and climate justice at its heart.
On the past 2nd of October, West Papua Network in Rome, in which the SVD is a member, organized the seminar “West Papua, a neglected heaven —justice and human rights based on the Gospel value-” at Augustinianum in Rome. The main purpose of the seminar was to address the issue of human rights violation of indigenous West Papuan people. The local Catholic church of the five dioceses in West Papua and some religious congregations working in West Papua recently published the three-year human rights report, and the English translation was launched during the seminar.
Being encouraged by Fr. Andrews Obeng, SVD from Ghana province, my then novice master, to consider the JPIC dimension of our Congregation, and having all the opportunities given by the Congo province regarding this dimension, I chose to have my pastoral experience at Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi. A passion for justice, a desire for peace and non-violence and a concern for the integrity of all creation moved my person to go forward in my choice despite the discouragement and the difficulty that working in a refugee camp can present.
Please watch the video
On Sunday 16th June we celebrated the African Child Day in our parish here in Maputo as part of the parish program for animating children. Most of these children are in the group called “Infancia Missionária” (infant missionaries).
Between November 20 and 23 of the current year, the Social Week and the 5th Peace Walk were held in the Santa María neighborhood of the city of Aracaju / SE, Brazil. This walk was the fifth one made in the neighborhood, with the clear objective of promoting peace, security and, above all, respect for human dignity.
After the Zonal Coordinators' meeting in Tchitchao - Kara, some JPIC coordinators had an opportunity to visit the Immaculate Conception Parish of Badjoudé in Benin. They are Father Daisuké, the JPIC General Coordinator, Brother Benediktus Uran Wuwur, JPIC Coordinator of the Afram Zone and Father Enfrid Kowot Ujan, JPIC Coordinator of the Province of Botswana and myself as JPIC Coordinator of Togo-Benin Province.
The World Adivasi (tribal) Day was celebrated on Sunday, 11th August, 2019, at St. Theresa’s High School, organized by St. Arnold Youth Group and Urban Community Development Centre (UCDC), Bandra (West). There were about 700 participants; around 600 adults/youth and 100 children. World Adivasi Day is the most looked forward event by the Tribal domestic workers and the unorganized laborers. The entire Event Management was planned by the Adivasi youth group.
Representatives of the Club of Roma Foundation arrived in a multi-disadvantaged region of Hungary on March 28, 2019. They together with the assistance of JPIC office of SVD dealt out 24 tons of can food to the residents of three villages. Inhabitants of Kiscsécs, Girincs, Köröm were very pleased to receive the donation.
