tks =============== On Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:24:19 +0530 wrote > > > > >----- Forwarded Message ----
>Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 7:39:28 PM >Subject: Fwd: FW: We need your prayers for Christian families in Karachi > > > > >---------- Forwarded message ---------- >From: TREVOR COUTINHO > > > > >Unbelievable but true - we have no idea of what goes on in Pakistan and we >really do >need to pray for our Christian brethren there - they are a minority and have >very little on their side. > >________________________________ > > >________________________________ > > >Dear Friends, > > We need your prayers for these faithful people. > > A decade of your Rosary, A Mass , any other form of mortification or > sacrifice, prayers / penance, for the faithful in Pakistan . Please pass on > this message to your family, friends so that prayers be offered for this > cause. > > They are taking a bullet for Christ. Can't we offer a Mass? Rosary for them? > > God Bless, > Fr.. Osie Dsouza . > >KARACHICHRISTIANS "LOCKING THEMSELVES IN HOMES" > > May 04, 2009 > >Christian families in Karachi , Pakistan are locking themselves in their own >homes following escalating violence against them in recent weeks, Catholic >Mission Pakistan director, Fr Mario Rodrigues has said. "Last week, six >families' homes were burned to the ground, along with shops, and a number of >churches in the locale of Taiser Town , Karachi ," Catholic Mission Australia >reports. > >Describing the violence, Fr Rodrigues said the perpetrators had "misbehaved >with the women and asked them to accept Islam otherwise they will kill them." >"They burnt the Holy Bibles and the worst, they have killed people (when) a >group of 35 to 40 men armed with AK47, TT pistols, repeaters, and rifles and >fired indiscriminately at the Christian community," Fr Rodrigues said. > >Prior to the violence, vandals had left messages on the Church walls which >included - "Long Live the Taliban" and "Long Live Al Qaeda". Women were beaten >on the streets and dragged by their hair, and many people were injured, Fr >Rodrigues reported. > > An 11 year old boy was killed, after being shot in the head. He died days > later in hospital. Police reportedly recovered an arms cache of >semi-automatic pistols and a Kalashnikov assault rifle. > >Martin Teulan, National Director of Catholic Mission Australia said he was >surprised by the lack of coverage and shocked by the turmoil of not only >properties destroyed, but lives lost. "This is shocking news, and our prayers >are with Fr Rodrigues and all the people affected by this senseless >violence," Mr Teulan said. > >"We must be mindful of this as a sad reality for many people around the >world, living with daily threats, not only to their livelihood, but to their >lives. We call for Australians to gather in prayer for our friends in >Pakistan , and particularly for those who have lost loved ones." > >The Pakistani Government advised the National Assembly earlier this month >that 1,400 people have been killed in terrorist attacks in the last 15 months >in this area. > >Fr Rodrigues pleads with us: "So this is a request to stay in prayer at your >own homes. I believe that God will listen and he will not bring us to the >test." > >Martin Teulan is calling for all Australians to be prayerful for the people >of Pakistan . This follows reports from Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf Mani, Director of >the National Justice and Peace Commission of the Pakistani Bishop's >Conference who also visited the areas affected by the violence. > >Fr Emmanuel encouraged the community not to lose hope and to continue in >constant prayer, without responding to the violence with violence. The >people, he says "are mainly poor families, the working class and farmers who >lead a simple and tranquil life." > > >________________________________
