he following
news, gathered by Xaverians in the field, inform on the baptisms that will be celebrated during Easter in our
missions around the world: to the honor and glory of God.
BANGLADESH: In every parish there is always someone who becomes a Christian by "assimilation"... the Hindů girls who has been married for some time to a Christian and who lives in Christian surroundings … the child of a Christian not on the registers... someone who has moved to another village and who now lives with Christian relatives and who may wish to marry a Christian … That’s it! There will certainly be no Muslims, nor an entire village lining up to join the Church.
TAIWAN: In comparison with the baptisms in Africa, in our parish of St. Francis Xavier, we will celebrate… one baptism. The candidate is a university student who has completed the catechumenate. She brought three friends along and these may be baptized next year.
INDONESIA: 31 adults will be baptized during the Easter Vigil in the Chinese parish of Toasebio, Jakarta. In all the city parishes during Holy Week, large tents are set up in front of the churches to accommodate the huge crowds, which are normally three times the capacity of the churches.
In Bintaro there are 4 catechumenate courses with 90 adult catechumens. Baptism is celebrated when the candidates are ready, after about one year of preparation.
17 adults will be baptized in the parish of Padang baru (Padang); 17 in Pekanbaru; 37 adult baptisms in Siberut and 30 in Sikabaluan.
CAMEROON - CHAD:
The communities animated by the Xaverians will have the joy of welcoming 1930 adult and adolescent catechumens into the Christian community.
This celebration represents an abundant reward for the missionaries’ efforts. Alleluia.
CONGO: Considering the problems with e-mail and contacts with our various parishes, we can only give details of the parish of Bunyakri, in the diocese of Bukavu: it's an "abandoned parish," so to speak, and at the end of Holy Week, 200 adults and 50 children will be baptized.
BURUNDI:
Baptisms: 609 in Gisanze, 401 in Kamenge, 200 in Gatumba, 151 in Gasura.
Perhaps this baptismal river will extinguish the fire of war! We hope and pray that the transition of power takes place peacefully with no more innocent victims.
MOZAMBIQUE: 200 people will be baptized in Dondo.
(From Xaverian News)