Holy Week clouded in ‘terrorized’ Pakistan

CHURCH leaders in the eastern archdiocese of Lahore have urged Catholics to bring good news to “terrorized citizens” in their Easter messages as Pakistan copes with a range of catastrophes.

Holy Week this year is set against a backdrop of the “war against terror” and suicide bombings.

Workers at several Catholic institutes have died and many have lost their houses in recent bomb blasts across country.

There are also the worst power shortages the country has ever seen, which workers at Catholic schools and hospitals told UCA News are seriously impacting their operations.

On top of that, price hikes are making it harder for the poor to meet their daily needs.

With the country in the grip of these crises, low profile Easter celebrations are being scheduled in Catholic parishes.

Palm Sunday processions were limited and kept inside church compounds all over the country.

Auxiliary Bishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore has asked Christians to keep their faith in God amid the war-like conditions in the country.

In the March 16-31 edition of Catholic Naqeeb, Lahore archdiocese’s Urdu-language bimonthly, he wrote, “Let’s see how we can become a source of good news for the worried people of our times as we celebrate the feast of the glorious resurrection of Jesus in 2010. Every person is insecure and worried today.”

‘People feel insecure in their homes’
Bishop Shah noted that “people are feeling insecure in their houses and colonies amid dearness, unemployment, suicide attacks and shortage of basic commodities.”

He urged Christians to become the “bringers of good news” for their sad, depressed and terrorized brothers and sisters. “No matter what the circumstances, keep your faith in God and highlight the importance of life in the desperate society.”

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