Interior of Sacred heart Cathedral, Lahore [Wikipedia]

An update from Columban Fr Liam O’Callaghan in Pakistan

[We published a report from Fr O’Callaghan on 17 March.]

Lahore situation. The situation continues to be bad and quite tense. On Tuesday outside Township Church (which is in St Columban’s parish where we worked up until last July) there was firing on the police on duty outside the church by two men on a motorbike as they rode by. Two passersby were injured, it is not clear what the motive was but it has certainly spread fear.

In Yohannabad the situation is still very bad and many people have left their houses to stay with relatives in other areas. The lynching and burning alive of two Muslim men has come back to haunt the Christian community in a big way. The Police have arrested over 100 Christians on suspicion of being involved in it, spreading fear and resentment that the suicide bombings are almost forgotten about in comparison with the focus on this issue.

Each year, Archbishop Sebastian Shaw OFM (above) and all the priests of theArchdiocese of Lahore gather for a recollection day on the Wednesday of Holy week. This year, it has been decided that it will be held in Yohannabad as a sign of solidarity with the people there and to pray for peace. A Mass will be celebrated for the victims of the recent violence. Columban Fr Joe Joyce and I will attend. So it might be an opportunity for suggesting a Columban Society-wide prayer time for peace on Wednesday in solidarity with those who have suffered here – Muslims, Christians and other minorities.

Sunday 15 March 2015, Yohannabad, Lahore