I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and secure during these difficult days.
As you may know, members of our CNEWA team in New York and Ottawa are working from their homes, as our administrative offices in the U.S. and Canada are closed. Thank God, everyone is doing well, and we’re able to continue to carry out the important work of CNEWA under these challenging circumstances. Please know that I’m praying for each of you and all the members of CNEWA’s extended family, and fervently hoping everyone remains healthy!
I wanted to take a moment to keep you posted.
Above all, be assured that the vital mission of CNEWA with the local churches is continuing. While many of us are now sadly having to keep a distance from one another, and from gathering in public places to pray, there is no distance between our love for God’s people and our desire to serve them in any way possible. We remain united with so many of our brothers and sisters around the world at this moment, and remain close to them in prayer and in faith.
In the days ahead, I hope to share news from the places we serve as we receive it. Obviously, the situation is changing by the day, even by the hour.
What isn’t changing, of course, is our unwavering commitment to those we serve, and our continuing efforts to accompany the local churches as they cope with challenges they never imagined or expected — the Gospel lives!
Please join all our CNEWA family around the world in praying for a swift end to this crisis, and pray our father in heaven will be close to all who call on him.
Pope Francis has invited the world to join him in prayer this Friday, 27 March, when he will offer an extraordinary blessing at 6 p.m., Rome time.
“In these trying days,” he said, “while humanity trembles due to the threat of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices towards heaven.”
I can only echo his humble invitation — and assure you of my continued prayers for you and those you love.