PRAY FOR MARAWI

PRAY FOR MARAWI
Father Paul Glynn
Cagayan De Oro, Mindanao

Peace,
I am here in Mindanao at the moment coordinating what little help we can give, as Columbans, to the over-whelming number of people evacuating from the war in Marawi.

Saturday June 3, 2pm

Overwhelmed by the stories of horror in the Marawi War and overwhelmed also by the huge influx of evacuees to Cagayan de Oro, the Interfaith Forum Cagayan de Oro held an Interfaith Gathering to pray for Peace in Marawi. About 40 Muslim clerics (many of whom had fled the war in Marawi) and about 40 priests, sisters, pastors and lay people attended. One imam was overwhelmed by tears as he expressed his gratitude for the number of Christians present to support the Meranaos (Muslims) in their time of grief. Archbishop Ledesma (Cagayan de Oro) shared about trying to organize as much relief as possible for the 200,000 or so evacuees.

Columban, Enrique Escobar was asked to give an update of the 3,000 or so Meranaos who have evacuated to his parish and Paul Glynn was asked to pray for the Christians who were abducted, including Fr Chito Suganob and about 150 others who have not been released. He prayed that their lives will be spared and that Allah will change the hearts of the terrorists from stone to flesh.

A Muslim mufti evacuee from Marawi shared that when his relatives tried to help Christians escape they were executed first, as ‘traitors’ before the Christians were also killed. This mufti said that no Islamic theologian could ever justify such terrorism. “They are definitely not Muslims”, he emphasised. After the event he shared with me (Paul Glynn) his fear. “If any member of this terrorist group hears that I called them non-Muslims maybe they will hunt me down and kill me”. Sensing my worry at hearing me he added: “at least if they kill me I will die proclaiming the truth”. This touched me deeply.

The Columbans were well represented at this gathering. As well as Enrique Escobar and Paul Glynn, lay missionaries, Ana Flores, Va Ratu, Lili Maafu and Heidi Muller were there, along with Louie Ybanez.

Monday June 5, morning:

As the war in Marawi continues and the helicoptors keep flying overhead there is still no word of Fr Chito and the other hostages. We continue to pray that they are alive. As the battle between the armed forces and the terrorists moves out of Marawi City to the neighbouring town of Ramain, more evacuees are arriving in Cagayan de Oro. Many are taking refuge in the city mosques.

This morning, Ana Flores, Louie Ybanez, Enrique Escobar and I (Paul Glynn) brought sacks of rice and canned goods to 3 of the city mosques with the most evacuees. The imams (whom we know) and the evacuees themselves were, indeed, very appreciative of our help, but, most importantly, our show of solidarity. They hugged us profusely. One man said: “you brought us a lot of food; but even if it was only one kilo of rice, we will never forget your kindness as Christians to us Muslims, when so many people hate us because of what is happening in Marawi”.

Tomorrow, Louie, Heidi, Va, Lili and Ana will pack 1,000 packs of relief goods to be sent to the evacuation centres in Balo i and Iligan, much closer to to war zone and to refugees who are
most desperate. They have no homes to return to. Marawi City has been flattened to the ground.

 

Paul Glynn