In the World, not of the World: Pastoral Letter 2020

On 6 August 2020, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Bishop Paul Hinder has released his Pastoral Letter titled, “In the World, Not of the World”. Addressed to all the faithful in the Apostolic Vicariates of Northern and Southern Arabia. The letter focuses on dealing with the present situation of Covid-19.

The Bishop reflects on the passage from the Gospel of John where Jesus prays for his disciples in the evening of the Last Supper. Jesus does not ask the Father to take them out of the world, but to 'protect them from the evil one' (John 17:15).

Though we are living in this world, the Bishop reminds us that we are citizens of Heaven. Living amidst the realities of the world with all the trials and difficulties that accompany it, we are called to be people with a difference, who are “sanctified in the truth”. The letter encourages us to be thus transformed without conforming to the standards of the world, and to be salt for the earth and light for the world, drawing strength from the Risen Lord.

Download the Pastoral Letter 2020 
[ENGLISH:   PDF | Mobile Version (EPUB) ] [ ARABIC]