WCC NEWS: WCC expresses solidarity with Caribbean churches as volcano erupts

World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent a prayerful letter to churches in the Caribbean as they face daily challenges from the continued eruption of La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent. Natural disasters in the Caribbean (Huriccane Flora, 1963), Photo: WCC Archive 15 April 2021 Sending Easter greetings, Sauca said the joy of the season, for residents of St Vincent, the Grenadines, St Lucia and Barbados, is accompanied by fear as eruptions have forced more than 16,000 people to evacuate. “This unfortunately comes at a time when communities are already grappling with containing the spread of the coronavirus as well as the recent upsurge in the number of dengue cases,” wrote Sauca. “Yet, in the face of these seemingly insurmountable challenges, we stand with you in solidarity and encourage you to not lose hope.” Sauca prayed that the light that emanates from the empty tomb may illumine the hearts of the people. especially during these challenging times. “Might the presence of the ashes even as they temporarily hide the bright beams of the sun, be a reminder to you that the canopy of God’s divine protection is also present and permanent,” he wrote. “We pray that love of the resurrected Christ will motivate believers everywhere to be in prayer for you and to also be a source of help and strength to you at this time.” See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland