austraLasia
1392
Cricketer's conversion
to Islam brings another closer to his Catholic
faith
ISLAMABAD: 15th January 2006 --
There is a follow-up to a story we ran a month or so back, after the conversion
of a prominent Pakistani cricketer, Yousef Youhana to Islam. It takes
place in our own context, at Lahore.
The national motorway
joining Islamabad and Lahore, constructed with the aid of
Korean engineers, is a thing of pride in Pakistan, as are the Highway Police who
patrol it. They have a reputation for being amongst the most incorruptible
of a sometimes corruptible national police force. They even fined the
Spanish Ambassador some weeks ago. It is difficult, well nigh impossible,
for a Christian, let alone a Catholic, to enlist. But one has, by dint of
sheer perseverance, obvious capacity, and much affirmation from his mentors
which include those of Don Bosco Centre in Lahore, of which the young man is a
past pupil. He found himself at first depressed by the conversion of
Youhana, then discovered he was under the same pressure - constant
discrimination aimed at conversion. Now he has decided to do something
about his own attitude and has sought the essential spiritual help and guidance
that he first knew at 'Don Bosco'. As he puts it: "One night I finished
the Rosary at home, and saw, attached to Mary's picture, the small picture of
Don Bosco I received when I was at school. I felt the urge to strengthen
my faith and receive spiritual direction. Don Bosco is bringing me back
home to remain strong in my struggle to keep the faith".
A
simple story, but they are often the most touching. The conversion of one
Catholic to Islam brings another closer to God. Is it not a miracle of
faith?
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