Every three years I move from one district of Bangladesh to another. In this year's message, I'll describe happenings in Chandpur, where I lived for 10 of the 12 months, and in Munshiganj during the other two months.
Christmas: For years Maryknoll Fr. Bob McCahill has been sending a letter to friends at Christmastime, chronicling his experience among the people of Bangladesh. This year, he reports, "Trust is growing, being built."
The United Nations has voiced concern that refugees be allowed to make a "free and informed decision" about whether to relocate to the island in the Bay of Bengal.
Catholics in Bangladesh are mourning the death of Chittagong Archbishop Moses Costa, whose pastoral ministry and leadership gifts made him a beloved and revered figure throughout the country.
Refugees and displaced persons live under conditions ideal for the spread of COVID-19: packed together in tents or crowded into housing where social distancing is impossible.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament on Feb. 6 that Indian Muslims had nothing to fear from a new citizenship law and accused opposition parties of toeing rival Pakistan's propaganda to create fear.
India's top court on Jan. 22 began hearing dozens of petitions seeking the revocation of amendments to the citizenship law following nationwide protests and a security crackdown that led to more than 20 deaths.
An island in Bangladesh that was regularly submerged during monsoon seasons is ready to house 100,000 Rohingya refugees, but no date has been announced to begin relocating people from crowded and squalid camps on the country's border with Myanmar, officials said Jan. 16.
Pope Francis recently quoted Pope Paul VI: "If we want to be pastors, fathers and teachers, we must also act as brothers. Dialogue thrives on friendship, and most especially on service." A more fitting declaration about our mission among Muslims would be hard to find.
