The Catholic Hakha Chin refugees in Indianapolis came to the United States after fleeing violence, bloodshed and destruction in their homeland of Myanmar due to civil war. When Bishop Lucius Hre Kung of Hakha, Myanmar, visited St. Barnabas in 2017, there were six families in the parish. But there was no priest to say Mass or perform sacraments in their language. So, through the efforts of both dioceses, a priest from Myanmar arrived in 2018. When Bishop Lucius returned to the parish this past August, he greeted about 200 members of the Hakha Chin community, who are thriving at the parish. The bishop said, “There is now a lot of joy and confidence and integrity in the community. There is a big difference, you can read it in their faces.” In addition to being active in parish life, about 50 children from the refugee community are now enrolled in the parish school.

Pope Francis convenes Pan-Amazon Synod in October

Bishops from around the world will gather in Rome this month to participate in the Pan-Amazon Synod. As Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, announced in June when the preparatory documents were released: “Although the theme refers to a specific territory, such as the Pan-Amazon region … the reflections that concern it go beyond the regional context, because they regard the whole Church and also the future of the planet … This great ecclesial, civic and ecological project allows us … to redefine pastoral lines, making them suitable for today’s times.”

Pope Francis’ monthly prayer intention for October

A Missionary “Spring” in the Church:

“That the breath of the Holy Spirit engender a new missionary ‘spring’ in the Church.”

@Pontifex Aug. 28

“We ask for the grace not to be lukewarm Christians, living on half measures, letting love grow cold.”