Yousaf Benjamin

The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), a Catholic Church human rights body in Pakistan, brought together about 80 lawyers, civil society representatives, human rights defenders and journalists on August 21 to strengthen cooperation in defending religious freedom and minority rights.

Veteran priest Fr. Bonnie Mendes of the Diocese of Faisalabad celebrated his 90th birthday on August 20, with Church leaders, religious and parishioners honoring more than six decades of his priestly ministry and service to human development and social justice.

More than 200 children, including boys and girls aged 10 to 12 dressed in white, received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, on August 16, 2026.

A former seminarian who spent a decade working as a teacher and faced the prospect of a comfortable life in the United States has returned to the priesthood after a 20-year journey, saying he could not ignore what he believed was his true calling.

A Catholic parish in Punjab province, eastern Pakistan. has signed an agreement with a local college to provide tuition concessions for Christian and other minority students, seeking to expand access to higher secondary education for young people from low-income families.

Catholic dioceses, parishes, religious communities and healthcare institutions across Pakistan marked the country’s 79th Independence Day on August 14 with celebrations highlighting national unity, youth empowerment, interfaith dialogue and public service.

Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw has urged young Catholics in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province to deepen their lives through Scripture, prayer and the sacraments as they respond to their baptismal call to mission.

Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Hyderabad, has called for electoral reforms, greater political representation and equal constitutional rights for religious minorities during a National Minorities Day conference in Hyderabad, southern Pakistan.

Archbishop Khalid Rehmat Lahore visited Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Phool Nagar, also known as Bhai Pheru, on Aug. 9, where he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 152 young people and led the groundbreaking ceremony for a new church building.

Catholic leaders in Pakistan have highlighted the Christian community’s longstanding contributions to education, health care, public service, and peacebuilding as the country prepares to mark National Minorities Day on August 11 and Independence Day on August 14.