RVA News Recap

Welcome to the special edition of Radio Veritas Asia News. Here are the top special news from Asia and around the world.

1.    Pope Francis sends condolences to Japan after deadly earthquake
Pope Francis extends his condolences to the people of Japan after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake generated waves up to a meter in height along parts of the Sea of Japan coast on the evening of New Year's Day and killed more than 48 people. In his message, the pope expressed his support in various forms to all those affected by the disaster, encouraged the civil authorities in their role, and invoked all the Divine blessings of comfort, relief, and strength.

2.    Myanmar's military airstrikes kill 17 people, including children
Myanmar’s military attacked churches in villages by airstrikes and killed 17 people; more than 30 people were injured on January 7 during a church service in Kanan town near the Indian border around 9:55 AM. The military government denied responsibility for the attacks, saying it was fake news coming from an online news outlet that supports the anti-military resistance.

3.    Filipinos celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene three years after the pandemic
Following a three-year hiatus brought on by COVID-19, more than six million Filipino devotees attended the religious procession of the Black Nazarene image from Quiapo Church in the Philippines, which draws followers to the miraculous image of a dark-skinned Jesus carrying the cross in life-size form. The Rector of Quiapo Church, Father Jun Secson, informed the public that the status of Black Nazarene as a national Feast has been proposed to the Vatican,  which the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) approved during its 126th Plenary Assembly in July 2023.

4.    Malaysian Cardinal invites Asians to evangelize with an energetic spirit
Cardinal Sebastian Francis invited all Asians to evangelize with an energetic spirit during the Thanksgiving Mass for the elevation of the College of Cardinals at the Minor Basilica of St. Anne in Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia, on January 8. Cardinal Sebastian said, “It sees mission as addressing all social issues, including poverty, inequality, discrimination, dominance, manipulation, and corruption,” and “it reflects on an evolving understanding... of the role of faith in contemporary society.”

5.    Indonesian Bishop Postpones Ash Wednesday Rites Due to National Elections
Bishop Siprianus Hormat of Ruteng postponed Ash Wednesday services on February 15, 2024, to Thursday, February 16, 2024, due to Indonesia's national election day. Ash impositions at substations could also take place on Sunday, February 19. The bishop  encouraged the people to exercise their right to vote freely, responsibly, and with a conscience to elect leaders committed to the common good and to determine the best candidate for our national leaders in the upcoming elections."

6.    Pakistani human rights activist receives International Religious Freedom Award
Peter Jacob, a human rights activist and a Catholic layman from Pakistan, together with his NGO Center for Social Justice or CSJ, received the International Religious Freedom Award from the U.S. Department of State Office of International Religious Freedom for his faithful efforts to help religious minorities in Pakistan on January 19. He made it his mission to advocate for the rights of marginalized religious communities and religious freedom.

7.    Antipolo Cathedral in the Philippines declared as an international shrine
The Antipolo Cathedral or the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in the Philippines, was declared Southeast Asia's first international shrine and Archbishop Charles Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, presided over the ceremony, which was attended by more than 80 bishops from across the country on Friday, January 28. In his homily, the Archbishop said, "For us Catholics, it is not a matter of choosing the sacramental life of the Church versus popular piety... it is never a question of choosing one."

8.    Catholic Institution in Bangladesh celebrates its 75th anniversary
The Catholic Education Institution Notre Dame College celebrated its 75th foundation anniversary at Arambagh in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 25 to 27 and as part of the festivities, past and present students, guests, and individuals who have played a role in the institution's success gathered at the venue under the theme "Seventy-five bright with conviction." The college claims to be Bangladesh's best higher secondary school since the 1980s.

9.    Collaborative research organized to improve Cambodian student's social skills
St. Paul Institute, in collaboration with Caritas Cambodia Project BMZ and Caritas Germany, organized the research seminar on "Research-based Teaching and Learning" in the Social Work and Inclusion Degree Program in Tramkak district, Takeo Province, from February 5 to 9. The Director of the St. Paul Institute, Sophal Phon, said, "Students and participants created small projects in research according to their institutions at the end of the workshop." It is a Catholic Educational Institution that offers five major subjects: information technology, tourism, agriculture, English literature, and social work.

10.    Catholic school suspends an Indian nun on suspicion of making anti-Hindu remarks
Sr. Prabha is suspended after parents and students accused her of making derogatory remarks about Hindu gods, the Hindu religion, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Moral Science lesson on February 12 at St. Gerosa High School, a Catholic school in South India. Vedavyas Kamath, an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP, led Hindu groups to march to the school, demanding the immediate suspension of Sister Prabha, who had been a teacher in the school for more than ten years.