In a gesture somewhat reminiscent of the meeting of priests from various English-speaking countries which took place in Niagara Falls (Ontario) in early September (see posts in this blog from Monday, September 7 to Friday, September 11, 2009), the delegates to the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops were invited today to present a variety of the problems that their local churches are currently experiencing.
After his intervention, the Bishop of Bukavu (Democratic Republic of Congo) told the assembly Tuesday that while they were gathering in Rome to discuss the situation of the Church in Africa, a parish in his diocese was burnt down, his priests were attacked, and two were abducted and held for ransom.
He explained that he would be leaving the Assembly in order to return home so that he could spend time with the grieving and comfort the sorrowing. Following his explanation, many of the gathered prelates expressed words of personal support and prayer.
Even in our modern day, there are martyrs being born. May they intercede for the people of their own homelands, and for those who struggle in other parts of the globe to spread the Word of God to ears that have been blocked to the Good News.
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