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The panorama of Christian communities across Asia does not present a coherent picture to the outside observer, and the persecution of Christians is varied in these countries. It is difficult to generalize, except within national boundaries.
After the communist party assumed power in China (October 1, 1949), the authorities unleashed a season of persecution and suffering against Catholics, both foreign missionaries and local clergy, religious and faithful. It was the time of the most violent persecution.
The identity of the Baclaran Church lies on the intimate relationship between devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help and mission. The Shrine renders various services to the thousands of devotees who come every Wednesday for novenas and masses.
At the core of the Baclaran devotion is the perpetual novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The novena stresses the social and missionary dimensions, urging the devotees to pray for the community and society and be actively involved in evangelization.
Baclaran Church went through several stages of growth in becoming home to the biggest shrine in the world dedicated to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Today, 150,000 devotees flock to the National Shrine every week seeking God’s mercy through the Blessed Mother.
For its decade-long advocacy that culminated in the adoption of a landmark global treaty to ban nuclear weapons, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Will the treaty pave the way for the elimination of one of the greatest threats to human existence?
In recent history, a few committed citizens contributed a great deal to the cause of peace. They are inspiring examples to the world. The memories of their prophetic personalities should remain alive as a reminder for all of the need to work for peace.
To be an authentic peacemaker, inspired by the Gospel and a nonviolent approach, requires special skills. Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil shares a few lessons that he has learned working for peace in Northeast India, in the context of ethnic conflicts.
No strangers to natural calamities, Mexicans once again had to pull up their human resources to face head-on the latest devastating earthquake that brought the country to its knees. In times of crises, the words of the Virgin of Guadalupe echo in the hearts of people as an assurance and consolation.
Guadalupe is the pulse and heart of the Mexican people, a profound reality that has accompanied its Christian and social history from its beginnings to today. It is the DNA of the social, cultural and religious identity of the nation.
