Appeal For East Africa

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East Africa Famine 2012

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Bangladesh. A people, desperately poor, with more than a third of the population living on less than $1 a day. A people, many in the low-lying country vulnerable to flooding and cyclones, fearful that global climate change could cause a major environmental disaster in their homeland.

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The Church in Bangladesh – young and a small minority, less than one percent of the population. Among the 160 million people about 90 percent are Muslims, eight percent Hindu, and the rest belonging to other religions, including Buddhism and Christianity. According to the 2011 Bangladesh Catholic Directory, there are some 344,000 Catholics in the country; almost half that number are tribal peoples. Of the seven Catholic dioceses receiving help from the Pontifical Mission Societies, five have been established in the past 60 years; one diocese – Sylhet – just founded in July 2011. Help offered by Catholics to the Church in Bangladesh provides for the work of parishes and schools, as well as for the formation of local priests, religious and lay catechists who will lift up the poor through concrete efforts and the life-giving message of the Gospel. In fact, although the size of the Church in Bangladesh is small, its works make a significant, hope-filled difference in the lives of the poor.

In mid-January, National Director Father Andrew Small, OMI made a journey across the world to walk with our mission family in this Asian nation. As he witnessed the good accomplished by your prayers and sacrifices, he saw also hope in faith offered to children, to the sick and dying, to workers and families, and through the work and witness of priests, religious and catechists. Travel with Father Andrew on our website grateful to be joined together as "one family in mission."

The Pontifical Mission Societies are grateful for the collaboration of UCA News in bringing you reports from Father Andrew's mission visit to Bangladesh.

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Kids Draw Kenya

HCA members receiving the Advent issue of our It's Our World newsletter were asked to design posters in support of our Appeal for East Africa for their schools and parishes. Some students even shared their artwork with us! Click here to take a look.

UPDATE: November 22, 2011

We continue to appeal for financial help for the Church in East Africa to support the network of diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies engaged in ongoing pastoral work, supporting their outreach to those most affected by this crisis.

Father Celestino Bundi, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Kenya, wrote in mid-November with gratitude for the help sent to the Church in East Africa through the generosity of U.S. Catholics. The support sent for local priests, religious and lay catechists serving those in greatest need was a “very humbling, yet consoling act of charity as ‘one family in mission,’” he noted.

Complicating the devastating effects of drought and famine are ethnic clashes and other fighting in the country, spurred by inadequate resources of food, water and grass for animals. As a result of this insecurity, many families living in the area have abandoned their homes and all schools have been closed.

Bishop Anthony Ireri Mukobo, IMC of Isiolo reports that some 700 people have camped at two parishes in the diocese. He, with local priests and Sisters, conduct reconciliation events, and prayer services for the children. Help sent from generous donations to the Church in East Africa Appeal has enabled the Pontifical Mission Societies team in Isiolo to get food for the children, and provide for some basic other needs of families there.

“We are still struggling with unreliable food distribution,” Father Celestino explained. Other challenges include a rise in related illnesses, including pneumonia and malaria, tensions within families, and the issue of children dropping out of school to find food.

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Click here to download this information featuring additional photos and more details about the Pontifical Mission Societies and the Church in East Africa.

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