Church in Asia

Caritas Bangladesh, the social action arm of the Catholic Church, held a special prayer service for peace in Ukraine and Russia via Zoom video conferencing on March 2.

Thousands of Caritas Bangladesh workers joined virtually to pray for peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, SDB, send out an “earnest appeal” to resist the risk of nuclear war, promote peaceful dialogue and bring global healing. “The world stands at an existential crossroads,” said Cardinal Bo, the President, Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), in a statement issued on March 4.

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Timor Leste in 2022. The Vatican's Apostolic Nuncio to Timor-Leste, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, has confirmed this information, as released by Tatoli News on March 1, 2022.

The new leader of the Conference of Religious in India (CRI) suggests starting a “grievance cell” to accompany nuns without judgment. The nun called for more lay participation and to stop blaming “patriarchal systems and clergy suppression.”

An Indian nun working in Ukraine has managed to rescue people including medical students from India and other parts of the world to safer destinations.

On Ash Wednesday, Cardinal Charles Bo echoed the words of Pope Francis and quoted the Galatians: Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6: 9-10).

Bangladesh’s Episcopal Commission for Youth and Christian Communication Centre (CCC) jointly organized the 29th National Christian Writer's Workshop at RNDM Renewal Centre, Mohammadpur in Dhaka, on February 17-19.

Sri Lankan Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo met Pope Francis at the Vatican on February 28 to raise international awareness and obtain justice for the Easter Sunday 2019 attacks victims.

Pope Francis announced the appointment of Father Maurice Nyunt Wai as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Mawlamyine in Mon State of Myanmar on February 22.
According to the bishop-elect, the Episcopal Ordination will be held in April 2022.

Ash Wednesday begins on March 2, marking the 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving within the Catholic Church. Christian leaders have urged the faithful to pray for people suffering due to the war in Ukraine while calling for an unconditional ceasefire.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, SDB, celebrated the thanksgiving mass to mark the 125 years of the St. Francis Xavior congregation on February 28, in Hmaw Bi town, about 44 km (27 miles) north of Yangon.

Bangladesh Rajshahi City held a pre-production filmmaking workshop for media workers to create movies with public interest at Hotel Mukta International, Rajshahi, on February 24-26.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, coordinators and volunteers for Pastoral Care for Children (PCC) - Philippines continue to visit families in various dioceses. The coordinators shared their experiences, especially in this time of the pandemic, and how they continue to do the activities in the program.

Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the Filipino public to be more critical about the information received especially through social media and to ensure its veracity.

An eminent Indian theologian who promoted reading and reflecting the Bible in a context on February 27 died. He was 92.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Apparition celebrated their 175 years in Mandalay, Myanmar, on February 26. Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay led the thanksgiving jubilee mass.

The Archbishop of Seoul, Jeong Sun-taek, issued a Lenten pastoral letter with the theme "Reconcile with God now is a very gracious time" based on 2 Corinthians 5:20; 6: 2.

The Catholic Church’s Commission for Social Services for the Poor in the Seoul Archdiocese feeds 800 homeless, elderly, sick, and disabled people at Myongdong Restaurant in Seoul, South Korea.

Hong Kong's Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan called Catholics to pray for Ukraine. "Russia's attacks on Ukraine are deeply disturbing to us,” says Hong Kong's Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan in a pastoral letter dated February 25.

Talitha Kum Bangladesh held a webinar to create awareness against child trafficking on February 26. The webinar focused on preventing human trafficking by ensuring the well-being of children eliminating early and forced marriages.