Monday, I met with Bishop Jude, now the shepherd of the Diocese of Ondo, Nigeria, who served here in the archdiocese as pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Elmsford.
I gathered as well many priests from Nigeria who so generously serve here. Together, we listened as Bishop Jude described the ongoing persecution of the Church in Nigeria; priests and sisters taken hostage, tortured, and killed; faithful wounded and murdered; churches attacked and set aflame.
Nigeria is a young, vibrant, growing, prominent Church. Along with the Philippines and India, it is the fastest-growing Church on the planet.
Yes, fanatics and some in the government see it as a threat that must be crushed. The Church, of course, has been there before.
I presented Bishop Jude with $100,000 from you, the people of the archdiocese.
You recall that periodically I ask for a special second collection to the aid of the Church suffering from a natural disaster, or persecution. Remember we had one a couple of months ago to assist the earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey. It’s from that fund that I draw to help the Nigerian Church.
Thanks for allowing us to do this. Pray, please, for those attacked for their faith in so many countries of the globe.
You can watch Msgr. LaMorte’s homily from this morning's Mass here.
05/4/2023 |
Cardinal Dolan updates us on the ongoing pilgrimage with the Knights of Malta from a crossroads in the village of Lourdes.
05/4/2023 |
Scouts will attend the 2:00 p.m. Mass and receive their emblem.
05/3/2023 |
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†Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York