s is our
custom at this time of the year, we send you Easter greetings and the
news about the baptisms that will be celebrated in our mission
communities, in praise of the Risen Lord: "…because you were sacrificed,
and with your blood you bought men for God of every race, language, people and
nation and made them a line of kings and priests …" (Rev 5:9-10).
AFRICA
Burundi: 980 baptisms: Gatumba 190, Gasura 310, Bugwana 250, Kamenge
230.
Cameroon-Chad: more than 1157 baptisms: Bongor 120, Gounou Gaya 150,
Djodo-Tagal 150, Koumo 100; Gobo 283, Yaoundé 100, Douala-Boko 120,
Bafoussam-Koptchou 134.
Democratic Republic of Congo: almost 1480 baptisms: Luvungi 140,
Kavinvira 49, Kitutu 450, Ngene 35, Shabunda 250, Goma 50, Mater Dei 260, Cahi
240, S. Bernard 6.
Mozambique: about 930 baptisms in the four parishes in which the
Xaverians are working.
Sierra Leone: about 350 baptisms.
ASIA
Bangladesh: on Easter night, 51 people of the village of Chuknogor (39
of whom are adults) will be baptized in the Cathedral of Khulna. The candidates
prepared for baptism during the catechumenate, which lasted for more than three
years, under the guidance of Fr. Germano.
Taiwan: on Easter night, a mother and her three children will be
baptized.
Japan: 61 people will be baptized in the communities in which the
Xaverians are working.
Indonesia: more than 150 baptisms: Sikabaluan 70, Siberut 10, Toasebio-Jakarta
42, Padang Baru 16, Bukittinggi: 10 adults will be baptized and 10 people from
other Christian denominations will be received into the Catholic faith. Bintaro: there will be no baptisms at Easter; 43 adults
were baptized at Christmas.
COLOMBIA
Buenaventura: of the original 38 candidates who began the catechumenate in July last year, 19 have been admitted to baptism: "every year we are making further improvements to the catechumenate in fidelity to the Gospel and the tradition of the early Church; at the same time we are attentive to the needs of today's society."
(From Xaverian News)