Bishop Joseph Zhu Baoyu of Nanyang Catholic Bishop in China overcomes coronavirus
A retired priest in China has made a remarkable recovery from the coronavirus just days after being diagnosed with the epidemic. Bishop Joseph Zhu Baoyu of Nanyang, who is 98 years old, fell ill with pneumonia from Covid-19 on February 3.
On February 12 he tested negative, but two days later discovered his lungs were no longer infected.
Monsignor Zhu Baoyu, who had other illnesses such as arrhythmia and pleural effusions, was cured thanks to a thoracic drainage catheter.
Doctors and epidemiologists say his case is “exceptional” as the virus is proving fatal for elderly and patents with clinical conditions.
Thousands celebrate birth centenary of Bangladesh saint candidate
Thousands of Catholics celebrated the birth centenary of Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly – Bangladesh’s first candidate for sainthood.
Masses and memorial services were held at three churches in Dhaka to pay tribute to Archbishop Ganguly on February 18.
The process for his canonisation started in 2006 when he was declared the country’s first Servant of God and since documents were submitted to the Vatican in 2018, the decision is still pending.
“We are eagerly waiting and praying for the day when Archbishop Ganguly would be declared ‘venerable’ and move toward being declared a saint one day,” said Holy Cross Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario.
Bishops urged to launch Greece refugee relocation projects
Three leading Cardinals have called for relocation projects for refugee families in Lesbos and other camps in Greece in a letter to EU Episcopal Conferences.
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, asked the Church “not to remain indifferent” and give hope to more than 20,000 adults and 1,100 unaccompanied minors living in precarious and overcrowded structures.
The two other signatories are Cardinal Michael Czency of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of Papal Charities.
“If Europe still wants to use the adjective ‘Christian’, now is the time to show it through active charity, opening humanitarian corridors for migrants,” said Cardinal Hollerich.
Philippine Catholics told not to clap or touch at Mass
Catholics in the Philippines have been told to abstain from clapping or making any physical contact with each other at Mass.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan warned by clapping, prayer “becomes an audience in need of entertainment; liturgical ministers become performers; and preachers become erudite toastmasters. It should not be so.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has already asked the faithful not to hold hands during the ‘Our Father’ and not to shake hands during the sign of peace.
They advise priests to distribute the Eucharist in hands and change the holy water regularly due to concerns over spreading the coronavirus.
Iraqi churches destroyed by ISIS to be rebuilt
Two Catholic churches left in ruin by ISIS attacks in Iraq are to be rebuilt, UNESCO has announced.
Al-Tahera Church in Mosul, founded 1862, and the Dominican Al-Saa’a Church, founded 1973, were severely damaged during the invasion of June 2014.
The reconstruction of the churches is part of the UN heritage agency’s “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative.
ISIS destroyed at least 28 religious sites in the city with reports of militants forcing Christians to convert to Islam or be killed.
Despite ISIS being driven out of Mosul in 2017, many Christians fled the city and few have returned due to fears of insecurity.