Mission World - September
Pontiff wants peaceful use of nuclear energyItaly (ZENIT) - Benedict XVI urged nuclear disarmament, suggesting that resources saved could be used to help the poor. His address recalled the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Benedict XVI continued, "The epochal changes of the last 50 years are evidence of how, in the difficult crossroads at which humanity finds itself, the commitment to encourage the nonproliferation of nuclear arms, to promote a progressive and agreed-upon nuclear disarmament, and to favor the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technology for authentic development - respectful of the environment and always attentive to the most disadvantaged populations - is always relevant and urgent."
The Bishop of Rome citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, re-emphasised how in the place of "the arms race there must be substituted a common effort to mobilise resources toward objectives of moral, cultural and economic development, redefining the priorities and hierarchies of values."
He added, "Resources that are saved could be used in benefiting the poor."
Young workers abandon farming and adjust to factory life
Philippines (UCAN) - Myrna Salvador was 14 when she left her farming community and began making figurines and picture frames.
"I faked my age because I got tired of school," she admitted to UCA News. Myrna was born in Naic town, Cavite, 25kms southwest of Manila. She lived in boarding houses near factories that have mushroomed in an export processing zone (EPZ).
These days, she helps her husband, a labor organiser, at Workers' Assistance Centre, Inc. The centre was launched in 1995 as a socio-pastoral program of Most Holy Rosary Parish in Rosario and offers legal aid, labor education and training to EPZ workers in Cavite.
Salvador told UCA News, "I've spent 13 years at the export processing zone, more than half my life!" Moving near the zone and out of her family home not only changed her life, she pointed out, but also helped her grow "more confident" about supporting her own family.
"We cannot last at the export processing zone," she said, so the
Church can help workers by offering affordable loans to start small businesses.
Cardinal calls for prayers for rain during dry spell
Manila (UCAN) - Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales of Manila has called Catholics to pray for rain as power outages hit cities and farms report losses amounting to millions of pesos due to low rainfall.
He called on priests and school directors in his archdiocese to lead prayers to implore "the Master of all creation" to "send us rain."
The prayers ask God to "hasten to send the rain we badly need, especially in Luzon, so that the damage to crops and other livelihood and an impending power shortage may be averted."
Luzon, the largest Philippine island, forms most of the northern part of the country. It accounts for 57% of rice and 32% of corn production for national consumption, according to 2005 Department of Agriculture records.
Farmers do not plant because they will not gain much profit with a "big expense in drawing water," explained village chief Rodolfo de la Cruz. He said, "This is the first time that we experienced this kind of dry spell," he said. He said villagers decided to pray because prayers have brought rain in the past.
The Catholic community in Japan takes small steps forward
Tokyo (FIDES) - The Catholic Church in the Land of the Rising Sun continues her journey of day to day living in pastoral work and initiatives for evangelisation slowly growing in numbers and in faith.
During 2006 there were 7,193 baptisms with 5,400 catechumens preparing for baptism. At the end of 2006 the local Church had 1,553 priests (926 Japanese and 627 missionaries), 38 deacons and 138 seminarians. There are 6.060 women religious (372 foreigners), 201 Brothers (147 local, 54 foreigners).
Japan has 360 missionaries, priests, religious and lay persons, in various parts of the world. This figure reveals the missionary vitality of the small Catholic community (450,000 in a population of 127 million).
Mission Intention for September
That following Christ joyfully, all missionaries may know how to overcome the difficulties they meet in everyday life.
