Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, urged parishioners to take care of the neediest and most distressed in Nicaragua.
“What future will the Lord—Jesus Christ—find in Nicaragua? Are we taking care of the most fragile of our society, of our people? The suffering faces, unprotected and anguished, are people of flesh and blood who have their life, their history and especially their fragility, “said the prelate.
The religious, during his homily from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Estelí, affirmed that the most unprotected people in Nicaragua “are the ones that the gospel invites us to defend, care for and serve.”
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Regarding the political prisoners and the victims of the repression in Nicaragua, the bishop said that “let us think about the conditions of the prisons and of those deprived of liberty, let us think about the homeless, those without work, those without food, what do we do for them?” asked the priest.
He also called to think and pray for all the exiles who leave Nicaragua in search of better opportunities. And our hidden, exiled brothers? Pilgrims seeking new and better ways of life, but find violence, kidnapping, death.
“Let us think of those sick by COVID-19”
On the other hand, the also apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Estelí asked for the dozens of patients due to the pandemic of the COVID-19 In Nicaragua.
“May the brothers and families who have become ill with the pandemic also come to our thoughts. The consequences, the debts acquired by seeking health and those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. Our prayers and services must be available to them.”
“It is the great solidarity between all Nicaraguans, Catholics and non-Catholics, believers and non-believers, agnostics and skeptics, one and the other; sensitivity to the pain of the brother and good will is enough », he added.
Álvarez emphasized that the Catholic Church is renewing “its strong call” to always defend the dignity and centrality of every person; in respect of fundamental rights.
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“We are all invited to take charge of each other. Let’s shoulder our brothers, let’s shoulder the homeland (…) We are called to bear the fruit of fraternity, peace, justice and freedom », he urged.
In reference to the “faith” professed by the Ortega government, the bishop mentioned that the true strength of the Christian is fraternity, it is the strength of truth and love that calls to renounce all violence. «Faith and violence are incompatible, instead faith and strength go together. The Christian is not violent, but he is strong ».
“Human rights are not handouts from states”
In the homily, the priest recalled that human rights are not handouts or gifts from the States; “They are first of all divine rights that must be respected.”
“Justice is recognizing the other as a person or as an object, with fundamental and inalienable rights (…) May a chain of commitment to peace join all men and women of good will. Peace is a good that overcomes any barrier because it is a good for all humanity », she affirmed.
«May God bless Nicaragua and every Nicaraguan with an abundant harvest of good fruits. May God, through the intersection of Sister María Romero (…) intercede for us », he concluded.
