On the shore of this vast lake lies the Catholic Prelature of Juli. Almost 90 percent of the 450,000 people within its territory are Catholics, yet currently there are just 12 priests available to minister to them. That is scarcely an adequate number in this beautiful yet rugged, poor and underdeveloped region.

So it is that Father Clemente Ortega Obregón of the Parish of San Pedro de Juli has to minister to no fewer than 110 small villages and settlements, some at an altitude of over 13,000 feet. Altogether, his parish has 11 small churches and chapels, and where there is no church available he has to celebrate Sunday Mass in the local school. And where not even this is possible, then Holy Mass has to be celebrated in the open air.

Because of the extreme weather conditions in the region, nine of the 11 chapels are in need of renovation. At the same time Father Clemente wants to build more small chapels. In fact, he has already managed to complete two of these; now he hopes to be able to add two more each year and at the same time to renovate one of the existing chapels. The local people, most of whom are Aymara Indians, have promised to support him. “It is very important to them to have a church of their own,” Father Clemente emphasizes.

The great bulk of the work will be done by the local Catholics themselves, and they will even supply as much of the building materials as possible. But of course their financial means are very slight, and so the parish is dependent on outside support. Father Clemente has turned to Aid for the Church in Need for help, and we have promised him a contribution of $8,200 for this year (Project Code: 234-01-19).

Interested in supporting this project? Click here.

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala’s comments come barely three months ahead of Sudan’s all-important referendum on possible secession of South Sudan to form a separate country in its own right.

In a statement to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Hiiboro described how South Sudan is under threat of renewed violence amid signs of a breakdown in preparations for the vote, due in early January.

The Bishop of Tombura-Yambio, on South Sudan’s border with the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, wrote that he would like to “ring the alarm bell regarding the situation in the Sudan.”

Writing amid reports of his diocese being terrorized by Uganda-based rebels the Lord’s Resistance Army, the bishop added: “There is a real and imminent threat to the security of the people of Sudan and indeed the whole region.”

Bishop Hiiboro outlined concerns that the referendum may prompt disaster.

He stressed that as ‘guarantors’ of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement which ended Sudan’s 20-year civil war, the international community was duty-bound to intervene to prevent renewed violence.

The bishop wrote: “If it goes well, the referendum will bring peace to a country which has suffered almost five decades of brutal civil war… but if not then Sudan will descend into violence and instability which will affect the whole region.”

He added: “The CPA guarantors – especially the UK, EU, USA, UN and the whole international community – need to demonstrate a renewed political will and commitment to enhance their engagement not just until the referendum but throughout the coming months and years of transition.”

Bishop Hiiboro and other bishops have repeatedly warned of Sudanese politicians’ lack of commitment to agreed CPA pre-referendum guidelines – especially voter registration, involvement of diverse political factions and groups and raising awareness among the people about the vote and its implications.

It comes amid fears that, rather than working towards a long-term peace accord, some political groups and factions are preparing for war, thereby risking a return to the civil war that killed more than 2.5 million people.

Bishop Hiiboro writes: “Opportunities to encourage success or prepare adequately for failure are rapidly dwindling. There is no time to waste.”

The bishop is expected to spell out his concerns to a number of Catholic charities, government officials and Church leaders in the months ahead.

In his message to ACN, Bishop Hiiboro also re-iterated long-held fears of his fellow Christians that a continuation of a united Sudan – with continuing political direction from President Omar al Bashir’s Khartoum-based Islamist regime – would herald a return to intimidation and persecution of non-Muslims.

He wrote: “We have been witnesses of acts of unimaginable violence and contempt for mankind.”

“How can we talk about a peaceful referendum without recalling with concern the persistent persecution of Christians which the Sudan has experienced? Have not the brutal facts not crushed any commitment to voting for a united Sudan.”

The bishop went on to praise the benefactors of Catholic charities, including Aid to the Church in Need, saying he would like thank “Aid to the Church in Need and all her kind benefactors for the enormous support you have ever offered to the suffering masses of the Sudan. “

“Thank you and God bless each and every one of you.”

This increase has happened within little more than 10 years since the Franciscans of the Emmanuel first got started in the West African country.

Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Franciscan Brother Denis-Antoine explained that of the order’s 75 members, about 60 are now based in Cameroon.

Br. Denis-Antoine described how the order began in the African nation in 1999 after a diocesan priest from Nkongsamba city, west Cameroon, read about the Franciscans of the Emmanuel in a newspaper and requested that they help a group of parishioners wanting to live out the spirituality of St. Francis.

The brother, who explained that the order was set up in Montreal, Canada, in 1985, said, “At the request of the [diocesan] bishop, we came and started to form a fraternity of lay members. With time, the groups have expanded, established themselves and multiplied.”

Soon several of the young lay members asked to become friars.

He continued, “So in 2005, I came with a young lay brother from Canada to Cameroon to start the foundation of this first house of formation.”

During his interview, held at ACN’s international headquarters in Germany, he said, “With the help of benefactors, including ACN, the brothers built the friary with 18 bedrooms and the facilities for the community and its mission.”

Since then, the community has grown in Nkongsamba and there are now 17 friars in formation on their way to becoming consecrated members, and eight are already professed.

The young brothers are being trained to take up responsibilities in health care, catechesis, agriculture and farming.

At the request of the bishop, the Franciscans of the Emmanuel also set up a Spiritual Center which hosts retreats and formation sessions for groups from across Cameroon.

ACN provided support for both the Franciscans of the Emmanuel’s first friary in Cameroon and the Spiritual Center.

As well as being involved in parish work, especially youth and prison chaplaincy, the community ministers to the poorest members of society.

Br. Denis-Antoine described how the order’s work has expanded into the neighboring Dioceses of Bafoussam and Douala.

In Douala, the order recently started a local lay fraternity, mostly consisting of young adults, and there are plans to open a friary next year.

Explaining their mission in this area, Br. Denis-Antoine said, “They will help with our regular mission and they will also take charge of an existing orphanage of 30 children which needs managing and supervising.”

The Franciscans have also been working towards setting up a dispensary and maternity house in one of Douala’s poor neighborhoods.

Br. Denis-Antoine said, “The main message that we want to leave to you is that we are there, present with the people, hoping to give them this testimony of the life of the Gospel in the footsteps of our father, St. Francis.”

He also said, “Our fraternities of lay members are involved in solidarity with the poor and destitute in order to improve their situation.”

“This is why we believe that a spiritual commitment to the evangelical life has a deep social impact, especially in the life of the individuals who make this choice, but also in the life of the society.”

The brother went on to offer ‘heartfelt gratitude’ for ACN’s help. He said, “Being a Franciscan community, we are poor and in real need for financial support, like that provided by ACN, for the good accomplishment of our Franciscan mission in the Church.”

“Thanks to ACN and all the benefactors for the previous help received and for listening to this new call for support, giving us the opportunity to be your hands and heart to the people of Africa.”

Launched in parishes on Tuesday, September 21^st, to coincide with World Peace Day, the 101 Days of Prayer is an initiative of the Catholic Church in Sudan encouraging people of all faiths to pray for peace in the run-up to the vote on the political future of South Sudan, due on January 9^th, 2011.

The appeal for prayer comes at a time of mounting political tension as debate intensifies between those – especially in the north – advocating a united Sudan and others pressing for separation.

In a country ravaged by Africa’s longest-running civil war (1983-2005), political and Church leaders have already warned that the run-up to referendum could test the country’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to breaking point.

Sporadic fighting has been reported in different parts of the country, including attacks by militant groups including the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur of Khartoum said the 101 Days of Prayer could play a crucial part in ensuring the country remains committed to peace.

He said, “The message which comes out of this prayer initiative is that of reconciliation and forgiveness. All of those involved – both those who vote and everyone else – should be in dialogue rather than giving into feelings of tension and predicting violence ahead of time.”

“We need to look at this [referendum] process as a peaceful journey, a time which is above all accompanied by prayer, putting God first in each of our lives for the good of our country.”

Involving each of the nine Catholic dioceses in Sudan, the 101 Days of Prayer looks at the theme ‘Change your heart, change your world’ which was discussed in Masses celebrated in parishes yesterday at the start of the prayer campaign.

Each week participants will be invited to meet together to look at particular issues – justice, peace, community-building and forgiveness, with ideas and suggestions fed back to priests and bishops.

A booklet has been prepared with daily quotations and prayers for each of the 14 weeks of the initiative.

The Prayer of St. Francis, which underlines the importance of peace, is also being distributed to parishes, as well as to justice and peace committees and prayer groups.

Bishop Adwok said, “What we want people to think about are the obligations of living in peace, that everybody has to be involved in the process and that we need to reflect on what Pope John Paul II said that if you want peace you have to seek justice.”

Bishop Adwok explained that the prayer initiative was the idea of religious orders – Sisters and priests – working in Sudan and that it coincides with a similar program being organized by the country’s Anglican Church.

About 30 community leaders made up of senior clergy and government representatives put their signature to a communiqué calling on national and international leaders to do more to prevent attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and the Central African Republic.

The declaration calls on the countries’ governments to work together to quell the LRA threat, demanding that further pressure on the four nations be applied by the EU, the US and the UN.

Further articles outlined in the document include an appeal for more humanitarian support to help refugees and displaced people and there is a plea for a resumption of peace talks to bring the LRA threat to an end.

In an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, who organized the conference, stressed the continuing threat posed by the LRA.

Speaking Tuesday, September 14^th, at the end of the four-day meeting, Bishop Hiiboro underlined the need for international pressure to step up security in the region.

He told ACN, “We have been forgotten by our own government, forgotten by the international community and this means the LRA think they can do anything they like.”

“Think of the number of people who have fled their homes, the number of people who have lost their lives and the number of people left as orphans.”

“The whole state [of Western Equatoria] is living in panic – not just in South Sudan but in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. It is just too much.”

Bishop Hiiboro said a reminder of the LRA threat came just days before the conference got underway last week when eight people were hacked to death by machetes.

A further 14 were badly wounded, some seriously, during the attack which took place in Yambio, the regional capital of Western Equatoria State where the bishop is based and where the conference was held.

Stressing the gruesome violence typical of LRA attacks, Bishop Hiiboro said, “The impact of the LRA is terrible. There are huge numbers of refugees and displaced people trying to escape attack.”

“They destroy property, leave children as orphans and, with so many leaving, there are no schools or social services.”

But, underlining the limitations of a military response to the LRA threat, he said, “We have seen what happens by following the military way.”

“People continue to suffer and die. We want to say that we need another option – an option for peaceful dialogue.”

A year ago, the remains of six people were discovered nailed to a tree close to Yambio in an atrocity that was likened to a crucifixion scene. Again the LRA was implicated.

Amid widespread reports pointing to LRA collusion with Sudan President Omar al Bashir’s Islamist regime in the capital, Khartoum, Bishop Hiiboro said it was unclear who was backing the insurgents.

He added, “There are people who give them weapons, food and enable them to have telephone communications.”

“It is difficult to say who helps them. It is obvious that they receive significant support because they are so very well equipped.”

The LRA issue is expected to have a major bearing on the outcome of the long-awaited referendum on the possible cessation of South Sudan, due in January.

At a time of continuing fear of attacks, reports have shown that voters are likely to be swayed by the government – be it the semi-autonomous administration in the south or the Khartoum-based government of national unity – best placed to bring the LRA threat to an end.

The Chapel Boat set off on Monday, September 13^th, transporting across Russia the relics of eight saints from the age of the undivided Church.

The ship carrying the relics is called ‘Fr. Werenfried’ after Aid to the Church in Need’s founder, who spearheaded the initiative to convert boats into chapels to allow services to be celebrated in places that have no church.

The relics are a gift from the Catholic Church to the Russian Orthodox Church.

ACN’s Russia expert Peter Humeniuk, who was involved in the organization of the project, said he believes that it will have a profound symbolic impact.

“Since the earliest days of Christianity, the Church has been seen as a ship, an ‘ark of salvation.’”

“On board the vessel, the relics of those saints from the era of the still undivided Church will be a powerful reminder of precisely those times when this image of the Church was first formed and when Christians were still united.”

The relics being carried are those of saints who are important to both Churches. The saints are Saint John the Baptist, Saint Anne, Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, the martyrs Saint Stephen and Saint Lawrence, Saint George, Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Cyril, the missionary to the Slav people.

The boat, whose ecumenical journey has received the blessing of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, will travel some 1,900 miles from the mouth of the River Volga to Moscow.

On the way the ship will stop at various towns and cities, including Saratov, Kazan, and Novgorod, as well as many smaller places, to enable as many people as possible to venerate the relics it is carrying.

There will be an Orthodox priest on board at all times to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the boat’s chapel, dedicated to St. Vladimir, who baptized Russia.

The ship’s voyage will include stops in regions that suffered from drought and wildfires in July and August.

The Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, sent a letter expressing his hopes that those in the affected regions will find comfort and consolation through this visit.

[Sunday], September12^th, a service was held on the quayside in Kirovskij harbor, Volgograd.

It was led by Russian Orthodox Metropolitan German of Volgograd and Kamyshin.

Msgr. Visvaldas Kulbokas, the first secretary of the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciature to the Russian Federation, also took part in the service and carried the relics on board the chapel boat.

In order to make its epic journey from the Volga delta to the upper reaches of the river, the chapel boat will first of all travel south, visiting the regions of Kalmykia and Astrakhan.

From there it will travel northwards along the river called “Highway of Russia.”

The chapel boats, which are still in use on the Volga and Don rivers, were called the “flotilla for God” by ACN’s founder Fr. Werenfried van Straaten.

The Church source, who cannot be named, described a deliberate failure to shore up key sections of the Indus River overlooking areas in the south-east Sindh province with a high density of tribal communities – minority religious groups made up of Christians and Hindus.

Speaking in an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), he said that local government figures in Sindh province conspired with prominent land owners to bolster the river bank running through their property and others deemed important at the expense of other regions which were left vulnerable to flood waters.

The Church source, a long-time key figure in the Sindh region, went further to claim that gravel and other minerals were even taken from poor areas to shore up the river bank in areas earmarked as a priority for flood protection.

He said, “It was not just incompetence on the part of the authorities to protect the poorest of the poor from potential floods, it was their deliberate intention that they should suffer if floods were to take place.”

He spoke of his shock traveling around the region to find the river “unbelievably full” and yet big canals nearby were “relatively empty” leading him to suspect that the flood waters were diverted to areas of low importance.

The source went on: “Charities and other organizations have to step up their efforts to help the disadvantaged people because they are the ones who have suffered most from these floods. They have been ignored for far too long.”

He said a high concentration of minority groups is the one common denominator in many of the regions worst affected by the floods, including areas around Jacobabad, Sibi, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Thatta and Ranipur.

In a country 95 percent Muslim, the Sindh province has a disproportionately high number of minority groups with tribal communities, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs able to practice their faith more freely than elsewhere.

The Church source’s comments coincide with news that Aid to the Church in Need is considering options for an emergency aid payment for flood victims in the region.

So far, ACN has given $70,700 to Pakistan flood victims.

The charity recently dispatched a $50,800 aid package split between Multan, in the south of the Punjab province, and Quetta, in western Baluchistan province, where thousands of flood victims have been sent by the government.

Soon after the emergency broke, ACN agreed to aid of $19,900 for distribution by Sisters helping homeless people in Nowshera, a town west of the capital, Islamabad.

The source went on to warn of the emergency crisis deepening after September 10^th when the Islamic season of Ramadan comes to an end, meaning that Muslims will be less likely to give alms and other aid to people in need.

He stressed the urgent need for clean drinking water, food and shelter as well as mosquito nets.

He added, “The suffering of the poor is increasing every day. We Christians should be helping, we should be playing our part.”

Police chiefs have been under pressure over the past few days to tighten security across the country in response to Muslim fury sparked by Florida Pastor Terry Jones’ ‘International burn a Koran’ day, timed to mark the anniversary of 9/11.

In an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (CAN) on Friday, Sept. 10, Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad warned that the proposed Qur’an burning would have dire consequences for the local Christian community.

Speaking by telephone from Faisalabad, Bishop Coutts said, “Muslims have huge respect for the Qur’an and there is always the risk that the emotional reaction of people here would be to hit out at the nearest Christian.”

Amid increased tension among Christians concerned about possible retribution, Bishop Coutts held a series of meetings late into the night with police chiefs and Muslim leaders to stave off the threat of possible violence against his flock.

But, after hearing that the Qur’an burning was now ‘on hold,’ Bishop Coutts said, “It is a relief to hear what has now happened.”

“We need to remember the difference between talking about burning the Qur’an and actually carrying it out.”

“If the pastor carried it out, it would light a touch paper, potentially causing a lot of damage.”

He also said. “If he were to burn the Qur’an, we would have to pay the price.”

Noting widespread anti-US feeling in Pakistan, he compared the planned Qur’an burning to a Protestant walking into a Catholic church at the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland and desecrating the Blessed Sacrament.

He said his concerns were heightened by increased Muslim sensitivity and religiosity coinciding with the Islamic festival of Eid, which has just begun.

Bishop Coutts spoke to ACN minutes after a meeting with Faisalabad Christian leaders at which they had agreed to reach out to disgruntled Muslims by stepping up plans to greet Islamic leaders to mark Eid complete with banners and gifts.

Crisis-stricken people in Multan, in southern Punjab province, are to receive $31,700 from ACN, and a grant of $19,100 has been sent to Quetta, in remote Baluchistan province, where vast numbers of displaced people have been assembling, desperate for help.

The aid package for Multan comes after the grant for Quetta, which went out on Friday, August 27^th.

In the earliest days of the emergency, the charity gave $19,900 for distribution by Sisters helping homeless people in Nowshera, a region west of the capital, Islamabad.

In all three cases, the grants provided by the charity for persecuted and suffering Catholics goes towards food, clothing, tents and other forms of shelter.

Medical aid was also listed as a top priority amid growing concerns of a cholera outbreak.

Bishop Andrew Francis of Multan, who is overseeing key ACN emergency aid in the region, wrote: “On behalf of the Diocese of Multan and especially the flood victims, I am deeply grateful to you at ACN for your kind concern and compassion.”

“Certainly, this tragedy is very huge and requires extraordinary assistance in order to save life and human dignity.”

ACN stands ready to make a further emergency grant to Sindh, the south-east province where the River Indus burst its banks with devastating consequences.

Regina Lynch, ACN’s director of projects, said, “We have been overwhelmed with donations and messages of support from ACN benefactors anxious to help the suffering people of Pakistan.”

Stressing the need for ongoing support long after the media spot light has shifted elsewhere, she said, “On behalf of the flood victims and those trying to assist them, especially the bishops, I urge the friends of ACN not to forget our brothers and sisters in Pakistan.”

“We ask that they continue to offer help in whatever way they can, especially through prayer and action.”

Reports from Multan stress the need for high energy biscuits, dry milk biscuits, washing soap and powder, medicine kits, mineral water and tents.

In Quetta, ACN’s aid will support emergency work carried out by Salesian priests and brothers who have identified 800 families most in need including large numbers of children and elderly.

Again, they have highlighted the need for medicine and clean water.

The Salesians want to provide a month’s supply of food including flour, cooking oil, lentils, sugar, tea as well as basic medical aid to combat fever, constipation and diarrhea.

The government organized a massive relief operation to bring flood victims to Quetta, a region left largely unscathed by the disaster.

Fr. Varghese Vithayathil, Provincial Superior of the Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), described the importance of education in Bijnor Diocese and the surrounding area in north India in an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

There were no Christians in Bijnor until three priests from the CMI arrived in Bijnor in 1972 – Fr. Vithayathil estimates there are now more than 36,000 Christians in the diocese and around 70 priests, not including priests working in outlying provinces.

Most converts to Christianity are dalits – the very lowest caste in Indian society – historically referred to as ‘untouchables.’

Fr. Vithayathil said, “The message of Jesus is directly addressed to them [i.e. the dalits] – peace, forgiveness, love – they are more attracted to Christ than the upper caste.”

He described how development work among the dalits is one of their priorities, as the government is not providing much help for them.

He said, “It is our task to teach them about their rights, develop them – education is the most important thing.”

“We are having many schools, because without a school there is no development.”

Fr. Vithayathil explained how schools are also vital in catechetical and evangelization work.

He said, “There we can communicate the message of Jesus very easily, a message of peace and harmony.”

Currently they have both Hindi and English-medium schools.

Fr. Vithayathil said, “Parents want English-medium schools – it is the computer age and the internet is seen as very important – without English no future, so English education is becoming very important.”

There are 14 schools in Bijnor Diocese helping approximately 20,000 children – 9 of these employ English as the language of instruction and the other 5 use Hindi.

There are also 8 English-medium schools in the provinces teaching about 15-16,000 children.

For many children, English is new to them and has to be mastered.

He said, “It is difficult in the beginning but they pick it up, in 7^th or 8^th standard [age 12-13 years] they can speak English fluently.”

“Even village people, they want to send children to school, but have to send children to work in the field to support the family – far off villages.”

He described how they are hoping to start more schools in rural areas, but need the money to set them up and dedicated personnel to run them.

The Church is making a big impact in the area, where there is currently only 40 percent literacy; this figure has grown by 8-10 percent since the Church started its schools.

Fr. Vithayathil explained how the founder of the CMI, Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, ordered priests to have schools attached to their parishes in Kerala – “He said without schools there is no parish.”

The CMI is Part of the ancient Syro-Malabar Church, which traces its lineage back to the Apostle Thomas.

It was the first indigenous religious congregation in the Catholic Church in India.

Aid to the Church in Need is helping the CMI’s education work by supporting the order’s priests through Mass stipends.