Harare, Zimbabwe, Dec 31, 2019 / 03:12 pm (CNA).- As severe drought conditions continue in Zimbabwe, close to 7 million people are facing food shortages, a Catholic aid agency warned this week.
“Families have run out of options to put food on their tables,” said Dorrett Byrd, Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) regional director for Southern Africa.
With repeated droughts over the past five years, many of Zimbabwe’s small farmers have found themselves unable to feed their families. The United Nations estimates that nearly half of the 16 million people in the country are urgently in need of food aid, and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network ranks the country as experiencing a “Phase 3 food crisis,” signifying widespread acute malnutrition.
The droughts have increased in frequency and intensity due to climate change, Byrd said. In addition to widespread crop failure, inflation has decimated many families’ savings.
Byrd warned that the struggle to find food has led many young people to leave the country, adding, “Migrating parents often leave their young children behind with grandparents who struggle to provide for them.”
Catholic Relief Services is working with farmers in Zimbabwe to teach soil and water conservation methods. The agency is also offering drought-resistant crops to farmers and is cooperating with the government in a notification system warning farmers about threats to their harvest.
Even with these steps, however, Byrd warned that more action needs to be taken in order for the people of Zimbabwe to recover.
Other countries in the region are also facing an escalating hunger crisis. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that more than 45 million people in Southern Africa are currently faced with food insecurity.
“This area of the world needs help and it needs help now,” Byrd said. “We hope the economic situation improves soon, but if climate change is not addressed, countries like Zimbabwe will continue to suffer.”
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Local Christians pray the rosary during a prayer service hosted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem. / Credit: Marinella Bandini
Jerusalem, Oct 16, 2023 / 14:13 pm (CNA).
This past weekend, Franciscan friars in Jerusalem gathered together with the faithful for two prayer services dedicated especially to peace, marking one week since war erupted between Israel and Hamas.
A moment of silence at the Way of the Cross, held in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The first took place on Friday, Oct. 13 — the Via Crucis. This is a tradition that Franciscans have carried on for centuries, walking through the Old City of Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa every Friday: from the Sanctuary of the Flagellation (where Jesus’ condemnation to death and flagellation is remembered) to the Holy Sepulchre, which encompasses the sites of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
This tradition continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this time the Via Crucis was held inside St. Saviour’s Church for security reasons. This was a rare occurrence and has only happened before during crises of public order.
A Franciscan friar who carried the cross during the Way of the Cross held in St. Saviour’s Church in Jerusalem on Friday, Oct. 13. The cross bore symbols of Jesus’ Passion: the sponge that was soaked in vinegar, the crown of thorns, and the spear. Credit: Marinella Bandini
A small procession — formed by the custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, the master of ceremonies, and two friars — walked along the perimeter of the church, stopping at each station. The cross at the front of the procession bore symbols of Jesus’ Passion: the sponge, which was soaked in vinegar and brought to Jesus’ lips when he said “I thirst”; the crown of thorns with which Roman soldiers crowned him as king to mock him; and the spear that a Roman centurion used to pierce his side to ensure his death.
Praying the Way of the Cross, held in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Inside the church, the community of the friars of St. Saviour along with some nuns and a few faithful joined in prayer. Before the final blessing, a moment of silence was observed — as before the tomb of Jesus in the Holy Sepulcher’s edicule — to invoke the gift of peace.
A small procession, formed by the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, the master of ceremonies, and two friars, walked along the perimeter of the church, stopping at each station of the Way of the Cross. Here, they stop before the 8th station. Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Then on Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Church of St. Saviour a special time of prayer took place with the recitation of the rosary for peace at the feet of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
The Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, standing before the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, during the “Rosary for peace” in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
In addition to the friars and religious men and women, there was significant participation from the local Christian community.
The five mysteries meditated upon were chosen based on an observation by Pope John Paul II in his 2002 apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae.
The parish priest of St. Saviour’s Latin parish in Jerusalem and the assistant priest pray the rosary at a prayer service organized by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
“The rosary is by its nature a prayer for peace,” the late pope wrote. He explicitly mentioned five rosary mysteries: the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (joyful mysteries), the proclamation of the kingdom of God (mysteries of light), the death of Jesus on the cross (sorrowful mysteries), the glory of the risen Christ, and the crowning of Mary as Queen of Peace (glorious mysteries).
After the singing of the Salve Regina and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prayer for Peace by St. John Paul II was recited: “Look with special attention upon the land in which you gave birth to Jesus, a land that you loved together with him, and that is still so sorely tried today. Pray for us, mother of hope!”
The Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land promoted a special “Rosary for peace” in St. Saviour’s Church in Jerusalem, on Saturday, Oct.14. The prayer was presided over by the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The prayer service concluded with the final blessing and the song “Sub Tuum Praesidium.”
This Tuesday, Oct. 17, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace. This will be a time of Eucharistic adoration presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and will be held in the church of the Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem’s co-cathedral.
A Franciscan friar prays the rosary during a prayer service promoted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Oct. 14, 2023, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem.
In the sanctuaries of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem) and the Nativity (Bethlehem), celebrations will also be held according to the Status Quo with a specific intention for peace. (The Status Quo is an understanding among religious communities regarding the holy sites.)
In the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed throughout the day and a special program of prayer for peace will take place, including Masses, Eucharistic adoration, the recitation of the rosary, and the divine mercy chaplet.
Local Christians pray the rosary, during a prayer service hosted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem. Credit: Marinella Bandini
During the Angelus prayer on Oct. 15, Pope Francis invited all believers to join the day of prayer and fasting for peace, stating: “Prayer is the meek and holy force to oppose the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism, and war. I invite all believers to join with the Church in the Holy Land and to dedicate next Tuesday, 17 October, to prayer and fasting.”
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