"Adopt a Christian from Mosul": Archbishops' thanks as first aid arrives
by Amel Nona
Msgr. Amel Nona, the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, who is also a refugee himself, thanks all the donors to the AsiaNews campaign. The situation is increasingly difficult given the huge number of refugees and the arrival of winter and snow, making outdoor shelters and tents impossible. The crisis, an occasion that activates the faith of Christians.
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Rome (AsiaNews) - Msgr. Amel Nona, the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, who is currently a refugee in Kurdistan, has written us a letter thanking us for the first consignment of aid, which he accepted as President of the Bishop's Committee for aid distribution . The letter is addressed to AsiaNews, but the Archbishop thanks "every single donor" - and there are thousands - who have witness solidarity with their situation. This solidarity is important not only in economic terms, but also spiritually, because it means people understand the importance "that the Christians of this country have the right to live like other men, with dignity and in freedom".
The situation on the ground is still very dramatic and is becoming increasingly difficult: from the abject poverty to the dwindling of meagre resources, from the lack of housing for tens of thousands of people, to the onset of winter, with plummeting temperatures and snows which make any outdoor shelter or temporary tents uninhabitable.
Msgr. Nona and the Church in Kurdistan are making a huge effort to meet these needs, stretching themselves beyond all means given that the Church "is not a powerful international humanitarian organization." The Archbishop is hoping that a solution for the refugees may soon be found that will allow them to return to their homes taken over by the Islamic State militia. But he is particularly aware that prayer can transform "our crisis" into "an opportunity to unite all Christians, making us active in our faith".
Faced with the continuation of this emergency, we feel we must continue our campaign "Adopt a Christian from Mosul". To help us help them all you have to do is click here and follow the instructions. Below, please find the text of Msgr. Amel Nona's letter:
Fr. Bernardo Cervellera
Editor
AsiaNews
"I want to let you know that September 9, 2014 I received the sum of 279,219 Euros sent by you through the "Adopt a Christian from Mosul" campaign to help our Christians in Mosul and the Nineveh plain who are now refugees in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
As head of the bishops' committee that organizes humanitarian aid to Christians refugees, on my own behalf and on behalf of all the bishops who are members of this committee - Catholics and non-Catholics - I thank you and all the donors who have witnessed the reality of the Christian faith towards the human person, through the gift that you have offered to support the Christians of Iraq, in their dignity, in their lives.
Our situation is really dramatic, because all of these people, our faithful have been stripped of everything: houses, property, jobs, churches, .. And have arrived in Kurdistan with nothing.
Such a situation can be endured for a short period, but with the passage of time, without a solution to the area controlled by ISIS, many problems and difficulties emerge.
People have lost confidence in the nation, in their own land, in their neighbors, in the authorities ...
Humanitarian aid is dwindling with each passing day and the refugees feel increasingly in need. It is no longer possible to go on living in tents, or in public parks, or in schools because the season is changing and winter is knocking at the door. We have a lot of homeless people and not even a roof to cover them.
We are trying to find a solution to the housing problem, but we cannot accommodate everyone because the numbers are huge: we are not a powerful international humanitarian organization, although all our Christians insistently ask us to help them.
Our possibilities are limited because the whole country is going through a difficult phase of religious and ethnic division, accompanied by a real civil war and mutual distrust among the political and social parties.
Ever since the first day of the crisis the Church has been doing everything possible to find a true and worthy response for her children. And we thank God that despite many difficulties we have organized at least for a while 'aid for our people, trying to give them the minimum to live as human beings, always hoping for a quick and just solution for our land.
Your participation in solidarity, gives us strength not only because it helps us physically - and this is important - but also because we feel that we have Christian brothers and sisters close to us, who comprehend just how important it is that Christians in this country have the right to live like other men, with dignity and freedom.
Once again I thank you all, praying to the Lord that our crisis is an opportunity to unite all Christians, making us active in our faith.
May the Lord bless you
+ Amel NONA
Archbishop of Mosul of the Chaldeans
September 14, 2014
by Amel Nona
Msgr. Amel Nona, the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, who is also a refugee himself, thanks all the donors to the AsiaNews campaign. The situation is increasingly difficult given the huge number of refugees and the arrival of winter and snow, making outdoor shelters and tents impossible. The crisis, an occasion that activates the faith of Christians.
Rome (AsiaNews) - Msgr. Amel Nona, the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, who is currently a refugee in Kurdistan, has written us a letter thanking us for the first consignment of aid, which he accepted as President of the Bishop's Committee for aid distribution . The letter is addressed to AsiaNews, but the Archbishop thanks "every single donor" - and there are thousands - who have witness solidarity with their situation. This solidarity is important not only in economic terms, but also spiritually, because it means people understand the importance "that the Christians of this country have the right to live like other men, with dignity and in freedom".
The situation on the ground is still very dramatic and is becoming increasingly difficult: from the abject poverty to the dwindling of meagre resources, from the lack of housing for tens of thousands of people, to the onset of winter, with plummeting temperatures and snows which make any outdoor shelter or temporary tents uninhabitable.
Msgr. Nona and the Church in Kurdistan are making a huge effort to meet these needs, stretching themselves beyond all means given that the Church "is not a powerful international humanitarian organization." The Archbishop is hoping that a solution for the refugees may soon be found that will allow them to return to their homes taken over by the Islamic State militia. But he is particularly aware that prayer can transform "our crisis" into "an opportunity to unite all Christians, making us active in our faith".
Faced with the continuation of this emergency, we feel we must continue our campaign "Adopt a Christian from Mosul". To help us help them all you have to do is click here and follow the instructions. Below, please find the text of Msgr. Amel Nona's letter:
Fr. Bernardo Cervellera
Editor
AsiaNews
"I want to let you know that September 9, 2014 I received the sum of 279,219 Euros sent by you through the "Adopt a Christian from Mosul" campaign to help our Christians in Mosul and the Nineveh plain who are now refugees in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
As head of the bishops' committee that organizes humanitarian aid to Christians refugees, on my own behalf and on behalf of all the bishops who are members of this committee - Catholics and non-Catholics - I thank you and all the donors who have witnessed the reality of the Christian faith towards the human person, through the gift that you have offered to support the Christians of Iraq, in their dignity, in their lives.
Our situation is really dramatic, because all of these people, our faithful have been stripped of everything: houses, property, jobs, churches, .. And have arrived in Kurdistan with nothing.
Such a situation can be endured for a short period, but with the passage of time, without a solution to the area controlled by ISIS, many problems and difficulties emerge.
People have lost confidence in the nation, in their own land, in their neighbors, in the authorities ...
Humanitarian aid is dwindling with each passing day and the refugees feel increasingly in need. It is no longer possible to go on living in tents, or in public parks, or in schools because the season is changing and winter is knocking at the door. We have a lot of homeless people and not even a roof to cover them.
We are trying to find a solution to the housing problem, but we cannot accommodate everyone because the numbers are huge: we are not a powerful international humanitarian organization, although all our Christians insistently ask us to help them.
Our possibilities are limited because the whole country is going through a difficult phase of religious and ethnic division, accompanied by a real civil war and mutual distrust among the political and social parties.
Ever since the first day of the crisis the Church has been doing everything possible to find a true and worthy response for her children. And we thank God that despite many difficulties we have organized at least for a while 'aid for our people, trying to give them the minimum to live as human beings, always hoping for a quick and just solution for our land.
Your participation in solidarity, gives us strength not only because it helps us physically - and this is important - but also because we feel that we have Christian brothers and sisters close to us, who comprehend just how important it is that Christians in this country have the right to live like other men, with dignity and freedom.
Once again I thank you all, praying to the Lord that our crisis is an opportunity to unite all Christians, making us active in our faith.
May the Lord bless you
+ Amel NONA
Archbishop of Mosul of the Chaldeans
September 14, 2014