Nepal Church Bombing

Two persons, including a minor, were killed and 15 other injured when a powerful bomb went off at the Roman Catholic Church of Assumption in Lalitpur (a town near Kathmandu) on Saturday morning. The bomb exploded with about 100 people praying inside the church. Investigations are under way to determine who planted the bomb. The deceased have been identified as Cilesi Joseph, 15, and Deepa Patrick, 30.

A statement from the Anglican Church of Nepal:

We are shocked and saddened by the violence used against Christians while worshipping in Nepal this morning. We deplore the use of terror and the targeting of innocent civilians in this atrocity. May God comfort the families of the deceased in their grief and may they sense the presence of Jesus Christ with them in their sorrow and loss. We will keep them and the injured in our prayers. We extend our condolences to them, to the Roman Catholic community of the Church of the Assumption and to the wider Catholic community in Nepal. We are also aware that this leaves many other Christian Churches in Nepal in an unsettled and anxious state. We extend to all our prayers for peace and for safety.

The Revd Norman Beale

Dean

Anglican Church of Nepal

Prayer for the Persecuted Church:
Almighty and everlasting God, hear the cries of your people as we call to you for your suffering church throughout the world. As you heard the cries of your ancient people in bondage in Egypt and came down to deliver them, so now hearken to the suffering of the persecuted church in our time. Give bread to those who are hungry, comfort to the imprisoned, strength to the tortured and all for the sake of Jesus who lived and died for us, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.