Doubts cast over probe into Chinese priest's mysterious death

Father Yu's strong faith remembered during memorial Mass in Hong Kong.

Cardinal Joseph Zen celebrates the memorial Mass held for Father Pedro Yu. (Photo by ucanews.com)

Hong Kong:  More than 200 Hong Kong Catholics attended a memorial Mass for an "underground" priest in China who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in early November.

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing were among the priests who concelebrated the Mass at St. Andrew's Church on Dec. 30 for Father Pedro Yu Heping, also known as Wei Heping.

Chinese police informed Father Yu's family on Nov. 11 that his body had been found in the Fen River, a tributary of the Yellow River that flows through Shanxi province. Father Yu's body was first discovered on Nov. 8. He was supposed to have arrived in northeastern Liaoning province the previous day.

During the homily, Cardinal Zen read out part of Father Yu's unpublished article on China-Vatican relations "Time belongs to Him," wherein the priest questioned if the China-Vatican dialogue would bear fruit.

"We cannot give up real religious freedom in exchange for the agreement. We can wait," read Cardinal Zen from Father Yu's article.

"But while waiting, we can still work quietly. No one can hinder us from preaching the Gospel of Jesus, to be salt and light," he said.

Father Yu's article was written before the second round of China-Vatican talks, which began last October, a church source told ucanews.com.

Cardinal Zen said that Father Yu had words of wisdom for Holy See officials. "He said, 'Do not give up what we should do to appease the Chinese government but to give spiritual support to consolidate the bishops, priests, parishioners who are loyal to the pope,'" Cardinal Zen said.

Police investigation raises concerns

The cardinal also cast doubt on the police investigation, wondering why authorities could not provide answers when there are surveillance cameras everywhere in China. Even if there were an answer from Chinese authorities, the cardinal said it would be difficult to be certain that it is true.

During the homily, Cardinal Zen also revealed that in the past year, security officers had warned Father Yu not to contact him.

"In fact, I never took the initiative to contact him, and he seldom came to Hong Kong to meet me," the retired cardinal said.

Chinese police are still investigating Father Yu's death and have called for anyone who was in contact with him on Nov. 6 to notify them, according to a notice on Tianzhujiao Zaixian, a Catholic website of which Father Yu was a co-founder.

"There is not yet any result from the autopsy. However, the police clarified that they never determined that Yu died because of committing suicide," the notice said.

Source: UCAN

Philippines opens sainthood process for Italian Jesuit

Seventeenth century priest Fr. Francesco Palliola 'died for his faith'.

An image of Father Francesco Palliola, an Italian Jesuit missionary who died in Mindanao in the 1600s.

Dipolog City:  The southern Philippine Diocese of Dipolog has launched the first step toward the beatification and canonization of an Italian Jesuit missionary murdered in Mindanao in the 1600s.

The diocese began the process for the cause of martyrdom for Father Francesco Palliola on Jan 6.

"Padre Palliola might have been Neapolitan, an Italian by birth, but he showed love for God and great passion for his mission and care for the people, particularly Subanen tribal people," said Bishop Severo Caermare of Dipolog.

If declared a saint, Palliola could be the third from the Philippines after St. Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila and St. Pedro Calungsod of Cebu, and the first from Mindanao.

Diocese spokesman, Father Patrick Dalangin, said an investigation into the life and death of Palliola found the missionary was killed because he defended his Catholic faith.

"He was killed because of the killer's hatred of the Catholic Church," said Dalangin, adding that the investigative process will continue to ascertain the authenticity of the Jesuit's life, the renown of his sanctity, and the miracles attributed to him.

Born into nobility in Naples, Italy, on May 10, 1612, Palliola joined some 40 Jesuits on an expedition to the Philippines on Jan. 2, 1644, beginning a mission in Mindanao that would take him to the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Tampilo, a Subanen tribesman, killed Palliola in the village of Ponot on Jan. 29, 1648, while the priest was trying to persuade the tribal leader to renew his faith.

Tampilo has earlier been baptized a Catholic, but had left the church.

Work on Palliola's sainthood has been a collaborative effort involving the Diocese of Dipolog, the Jesuits in the Philippines, and the Augustinian Recollects who had worked extensively in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Source: UCAN

Two charged in attack on priest, temple in Bangladesh

Suspects belong to banned Islamic militant group, police say.

Christians in Dhaka protest against attacks and death threats on Christian clergy on Nov. 21. (File photo by Stephan Uttom)

Dhaka:  Two members of a banned Islamic militant group have been arrested and charged for the shooting of an Italian missionary priest and the bombing of a Hindu temple in Bangladesh last year.

Muhammad Sarwar and Abdur Rahman, alleged members of the Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh, were arrested Jan. 4 and appeared before the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Dinajpur two days later, a police official said.

"Abdur Rahman has confessed his involvement in the temple bombing before the court," Redwanur Rahim, Dinajpur police spokesman, told ucanews.com.

Rahim said he expects more arrests in the cases will be forthcoming.

On Nov. 18, three attackers shot Italian Father Parolari Piero, 64, of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, on the outskirts of Dinajpur town.

Father Peiro, a doctor, worked in Bangladesh for more than three decades. He was flown to the capital Dhaka the same day and then to Italy on Nov. 30 for treatment and recovery.

Initially, the group that calls itself the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the shooting. However, the government and police officials pointed finger at local militants.

Father Silas Kujur, parish priest of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Church in Dinajpur, filed a case against unknown attackers on behalf of the diocese Nov. 18.

Since the attack on Father Piero, more than three dozen priests, two bishops, protestant ministers and Christian aid workers have received death threats from alleged Islamic militants through mail, phone calls and text messages.

On Dec. 10, about nine people were hurt when 15 armed attackers detonated four crude bombs and opened fire on worshippers at a Hindu temple in Kaharul.

Police arrested two alleged militants, Shariful Islam and Muhammad Musabbir, the following day for the attack after local villagers captured them with firearms.

On Dec. 17, Islam confessed to police that beside the temple attack, he also masterminded and personally carried out the attack on Father Piero.

Meanwhile, foreign missionaries in Dinajpur continue to live under police protection in fear of further attacks.

"We have a good number of foreign priests in the diocese and they have been forced to live in confinement since the attack on Father Piero. They are well protected, but church activities are hampered over security fears," Father Anthony Sen, secretary of Justice Commission in Dinajpur, diocese told ucanews.com.

"The police probe is slow and the masterminds behind the attacks have not been identified yet. Still, we wait and hope that justice will prevail and all minorities including Christians can live in peace in the country," added Father Sen.

Source: UCAN

Goa wakes up to celebrate Christmas again - the Russian way

Russians account for at least 50 percent of the entire tourists that are arriving in Goa.

Panaji:  Seven days into the new year, Goans woke up on Thursday to feel it's Christmas once again. This time it's about traditional Russian Christmas, celebrated 13 days after December 25 when it is observed in the rest of the world.

This is because the Russian Orthodox Church observes the Julian calendar. Over the last few years, the increased influx of Russian tourists in Goa has started a trickle of interest about the belated (for the followers of the Gregorian calendar) Russian Christmas.

For tourists like Sergei Levchenko, holidaying in Goa for the first time, it's an opportunity to celebrate the festival and obviously miss home a bit.

"I generally do not miss a Christmas at home. But my holiday was scheduled suddenly. It is strange to know that people here do know about Russian Christmas," Levchenko, who hails from Moscow and is here on a winter break, told IANS.

According to Victor Albuquerque, the honorary Russian consul for Goa, Russians account for nearly 60 percent of the inbound foreign tourists, which in turn has resulted in a lot of tourism industry stakeholders tweaking their hospitality methods to suit Russian needs.

"Russians account for at least 50 percent of the entire tourists that are arriving in Goa," Albuquerque said.

Traditionally, celebration of Russian Christmas mirrors with the practices of rest of the Christian world, with families attending a midnight mass, followed by a feast at home, which includes traditionally cooked meat and sweets.

Park Hyatt Goa, in Arossim in South Goa, which has been organising a Russian Christmas every year has a celebration lined up this time, replete with music, food and decor, all set to Russian tastes.

"The theme for the evening is Starry White Christmas and it will be held at the Magical Forest. We have delightful festive buffet spread with live entertainment - Russian dancers and a DJ playing Russian tracks to add to the Magical experience," a hotel spokesperson said.

According to the five star resort's Chef de Cuisine Trivendra Rawat, the food offering too would appeal to Russians away from home as well as international travellers.

"Our offerings in menu will have choices of soups with assortment of breads, cured meat and cheese. Live grill counters, which consist of a wide array of sea food, red meats, dairy and vegetables; carving station with suckling pig and big joints of meat and whole turkey with their classical accompaniments," Rawat said.

Apart from some Asian preparations, there would be pasta counters and Indian food to cater to international travellers,
he added.

"There will be huge display of desserts consisting of some classical Russian desserts such as open and closed end pie, cakes, local sweets, exotic fruits and international array of sweets to pamper each guest as an individual to mark this auspicious eve known as birthday of Jesus," Rawat told IANS.

Goa is one of the top beach tourism destinations in the country and draws over three million tourists, half a million of whom are foreigners.

Goa's conventional tourist season starts in October and winds up in March, when the mild winter sun works as a good break for travellers from Russia, Britain, Germany and other European countries from the harsh winter.

IANS

Specter of violence haunts Christians in Odisha

Christian leaders ask government to provide protection against Hindu mobs.

India:  Christian leaders have appealed to authorities for protection against Hindu hardliners who continue to threaten their communities in eastern Indian Odisha state that has witnessed major anti-Christian violence.

Father Manoj Kumar Nayak, director of Cuttuck-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese's social work department, said tensions continue in Kandhamal district, epicenter of violence seven years ago.

Christian leaders are now appealing to state authorities to act against anyone who block roads and tries to restrict the movement of local Christians and clergy.

Christian leader Amir Nayak said mobs have been blocking roads in the tribal-dominated district that witnessed several instances of violence against Christians, the worst being four-months of violence that broke out in September 2008. Rampaging Hindu mobs that month burned down Christian houses, convents and churches and raped women. At least 100 people were killed and some 50,000 were displaced.

Fearful 2015 Christmas

During the most recent Christmas season, mobs again blocked roads in the area. Using a strike that called for tribal rights as a pretext, the mobs blocked roads on Christmas morning with logs and stones in several villages.

Although police later cleared the roads, "Christmas was celebrated under trembling fear and sadness," Amir said.

Father Santosh Digal from Cuttuck-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese said the roadblocks always create panic among local Christians because of past experiences. Hindu hardliners mainly block roads to ensure that villagers were unable to get any help during an attack, he said.

Since the 2008 violence, similar acts have been regularly carried out.

During Christmas, Amir said that in Kellapada village there were around 200 people in open vehicles waving red flags and shouting slogans hailing Hindu lord Ram.

"But the presence of police at almost all of the churches ensured nothing happened," Amir said.

"We have heard that they made a route map to attack different churches but given the police presence any attacks were deterred,” he said.

"But at any time violence might break out in Kandhamal," said Amir.

In a further effort to get help to end the threats they face, Amir and other Christian leaders have written a report about the issue which will be submitted to state chief minister Naveen Patnaik and to the National Human Rights Commission.

Source: UCAN

Saint Julian and Saint Basilissa Martyr († 313)

Saint Julian and Saint Basilissa

Martyr
(† 313)

Saint Julian Martyr and Saint Basilissa

Saint Julian and Saint Basilissa, though married, lived by mutual consent in perpetual chastity. They sanctified themselves by the most perfect exercises of an ascetic life, and employed their revenues in relieving the poor and the sick. For this purpose they converted their house into a kind of hospital, in which they sheltered up to a thousand poor people. Basilissa attended those of her sex in separate lodgings, and Julian, who for his charity is known as the Hospitaler, cared for the men.
Egypt, where they lived, was in those days blessed with persons who, either in the cities or in the deserts, devoted themselves to the most perfect exercises of charity, penance, and mortification. Conversions were numerous, and persecutions by furious pagans followed as the numbers of Christians increased. Basilissa, after having survived seven of those, died in peace, foretelling to her husband that he would die a martyr. Julian lived afterwards for a number of years, but eventually received the crown of a glorious martyrdom in 313. His interrogation and his tortures were accompanied by astonishing prodigies and numerous conversions.
With him died thirty-one other persons, including a priest named Anthony, a new Christian named Anastasius, Celsus, the seven-year-old son of the judge who sentenced Julian, Marcianilla, the mother of Celsus, who when she came to visit her son was won over to the faith, and many other Christians. Spared by fire and wild beasts, Saint Julian finally was decapitated. His tomb became illustrious by many great miracles, including the cure of ten lepers on the same day.
Many churches and hospitals, in both the East and in the West, bear the name of one or another of these martyrs. Four churches at Rome and three in Paris are dedicated to Saint Julian.

Kidnapped priest released in Syria

Franciscan friar reported in good condition following six months captivity.

Syria:  Franciscan Father Dhiya Aziz, kidnapped in Syria in July, has been freed, reported Vatican Radio.

"The situation remains very grave and dramatic in Syria, though we are doubtless happy and relieved that Father Dhiya has been released," Franciscan Father Pier Battista Pizzaballa, custos of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, said Jan. 4.

The custody had received no news on the whereabouts or condition of Father Aziz since his July 4 kidnapping. He reportedly was treated well during his captivity, Vatican Radio said.

"The custody does not forget that other religious are still missing in Syria and it invites everyone to continue praying for peace in [that] country," the custody said in a statement, Vatican Radio reported.

Source: UCAN