Restoring Sight to 100 Blind Africans

MISSIONARY NEWS AGENCY, March 11 — In an ambitious plan called“Restoring Light,” the Fatebenefratelli Association for the Sick Abroad (AFMAL) performed 100 operations in 10 days to restore sight to 100 African men, women and children suffering from cataracts.

The Missionary News Agency reported on the project, which took place this month the city of Gao, Mali. Specialists arrived from Italy carrying diagnostic and surgical equipment and treated the patients, then trained local medical personnel in post-operative care.

“The AFMAL will return to Mali for a second mission in November,” said Brother Benedetto Possemato, vice-president of AFMAL. “The Malians are an extraordinary population. We were profoundly touched by their great dignity in facing such extreme poverty that marks their every day lives and in withstanding the suffering of their illnesses, such as blindness. They have nothing, but are always ready to smile,” he said. The news site noted that in sub-Saharan Africa millions of people face blindness due to ordinary medical problems such as malnutrition, non-potable water, and other factors of poverty. The Fatebenefratelli Association for the Sick Abroad is a Catholic charity founded in Rome in 1537.

Pakistani Christian and Muslim Students Join in Fast

FIDES, March 8 — St. Lawrence Catholic School in Lahore, Pakistan, was recently the scene of an unusual ecumenical initiative, according to Fides, the Vatican's missionary news service.

For one day in Lent, Christian and Muslim students conducted a joint fast and then shared a meal together afterward.

The Lenten gesture mirrored a 2003 joint fast held for one day during the Muslim holy season of Ramadan.

“The initiative taken by the Muslim pupils with regard to Catholic pupils was deeply appreciated,” said Father Francis Nadeem, secretary of the Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue of the Pakistan Bishops' Conference. “This sharing will bring God's blessings upon all, and it will help us to live our shared values, which bring us closer to each other and to God.”

Speaking for the Christian students, Tariq Faiza thanked the Muslims who took part, saying that Christians wanted to work alongside them to “build a country that is tolerant, liberal and moderate.”

Churches Use The Passion to Attract Worshippers

REUTERS, March 9 — Four Anglican parishes in the Archdiocese of Canterbury are using Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ to draw worshippers into their churches, Reuters reported. In fact, they're offering free movie tickets.

The four Kent parishes have bought almost $40,000 worth of tickets to give away in the hopes of attracting new parishioners.

“Gay bishops being thrown out of the church is not the sort of publicity we need,” said Russ Hughes, director of worship at one of the parishes. “Hopefully this will put the emphasis back on Christ. … This is the greatest opportunity for the Church in the last 30 years, and if we did not use it, we may not get such an opportunity again.”