AKASH BASHIR, MARTYR

AKASH BASHIR, MARTYR - 15 MARCH

SERVANT OF GOD AKASH BASHIR, MARTYR

Pakistani Catholics have begun praying for the intercession of the first Servant of God and martyr from the overwhelmingly Muslim nation.

HE OFFERED HIS LIFE TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE CONGREGATION

"A great day for the Catholic Church in Pakistan. He offered his life as a sacrifice to save the lives of the Christian community at St John's Catholic Church, Youhanabad, Lahore," said Vicar General of the archdiocese, Father Francis Gulzar on the announcement of the title "Servant of God" for Akash on the Feast of St John Bosco in 2022.

Born on June 22, 1994 in Risalpur, Nowshera, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Akash died a martyr at the age of 20.

THE FAITHFUL WERE GATHERED INSIDE THE CHURCH

On March 15, 2015, two suicide bombers exploded themselves near St. John’s Catholic Church and the nearby Christ ‎Church of the Church of Pakistan in Lahore’s predominantly Christian neighbourhood of Youhanabad, as the faithful were gathered inside for Sunday worship during Lent.‎ The attacks, claimed by the terrorist group called Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaatul Ahrar, killed 17 people and injured more than 70.

HE SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER SECURITY GUARD

Akash, an alumnus of Don Bosco Technical Institute who served as a volunteer security guard, prevented a suicide bomber from entering St. John’s Catholic Church. "I will die but I will not let you go in," were his words as he confronted the terrorist strapped with explosives. The attacker detonated the bomb, instantly killing himself, Bashir and 2 others outside the church packed with over 1,000 faithful, thus preventing a large-scale carnage.

"I WILL DIE BUT I WILL NOT LET YOU GO IN"

Pope Francis was quick to denounce the terror attacks. "Dear brothers and sisters, with sorrow, with much sorrow, I learned of today’s terrorist attacks on two churches in the city of Lahore, Pakistan, which caused many deaths and injuries," he said hours later at the midday Angelus prayer that day.

"OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE SPILLING THEIR BLOOD SOLELY BECAUSE THEY ARE CHRISTIANS"

"They are Christian churches. Christians are being persecuted. Our brothers and sisters are spilling their blood solely because they are Christians," he lamented. "While I assure the victims and their families of my prayers, I ask the Lord, I implore the Lord, source of all goodness, the gift of peace and accord for that country; may there be an end to this persecution of Christians, which the world tries to hide, and may there be peace," the Pope added.

(Information from - https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-02/pakistan-church-first-servant-god-akash-bashir-lahore.html)

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