The Pacific Conference of Churches is inviting Christians to skip one meal a day between 28 October and 6 December to join the people of West Papua, Kanaky (New Caledonia) and Maohi Nui (French Polynesia) in their hunger for justice and peace in our region. The call comes as news emerged of the shooting of Catholic catechist Rupinus Tigau by Indonesian soldiers in West Papua. Meanwhile, the Chair of the Indonesian Bishops Conference, together with two Bishops from dioceses in West Papua have met with the Security Minister concerning violence in West Papua.
Secretary-General of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Rev James Bhagwan, explains:
“We are calling for members (of Christian Churches) to skip at least one meal a day to ‘hunger for justice and peace’ during these 40 days. In particular we are humbly asking if the Wednesdays of 28th October, the 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th of November and the 2nd of December could be set aside as fasts from sunrise to sunset as part of this time of prayer and reflection. Please join us as we ‘hunger for justice and peace’ and pray for our Pacific.”
Action
Pray and fast with the Pacific Conference of Churches.
Read the Pacific Conference of Churches’ 2018 General Assembly Statements on West Papua, Kanaky, and Maohi Nui here (scroll to the bottom of the posts).
Find out about West Papua Flag Day.
Read about the human rights situation in West Papua.
Read about the recent referendum in Kanaky.
Research the independence movement in Maohi Nui.