St. Anthony’s Holy Relic Installed at St. Anthony’s Shrine/ St. Joseph’s Chapel, 19, Market Street, Kolkata – 700087

JOHN BROWN

Kolkata: A First-class Relic (a part of the Saint’s body) of Saint Anthony of Padua is now permanently housed at St. Anthony’s Shrine/St. Joseph’s Chapel.

The Holy relic was solemnly blessed and installed on 13 June 2019, the Feast Day of St. Anthony of Padua, at a solemn and moving Eucharistic celebration presided over by Rev. Fr. Dominic Gomes, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Calcutta, in the presence of hundreds of devotees who had flocked the shrine from all over Kolkata.

This historic shrine is the only shrine in the city to house a First-class Relic of St. Anthony of Padua, the Wonder Worker. The 156 year old shrine is known for its miracles and spiritual powers and divine assistance by the powerful intercession of St. Anthony and it attracts hundreds of devotees from all faiths and walks of life throughout the year.

“The Holy Relic which is permanently installed at the shrine for the sake of the devotees will certainly boost the already existing devotion of people to St. Anthony and deepen our faith in God,” says Mrs. Maya D’Souza, one of the regular visitors to the shrine.

United Christian Prayer for India (UCPI) convenes State-Level National Engagement Meeting in Kolkata

DOMINIC AZAVEDO

Kolkata: Nearly 100 leaders from ten denominations gathered for a two-day meeting on unity, prayer and action on 27th – 28th May 2019 at Calcutta Boy's School, organized by United Christian Prayer for India (UCPI). Established in 2014, UCPI is a voluntary movement of churches across the nation that seeks to bring together the whole Church in India in united prayer and action. 

 

Participants heard presentations and biblical messages, engaged in table and small group discussions, and participated in corporate prayer and worship.The vision was cast that church members be envisioned, engaged, sent and supported by their leaders to pray for the nation and so that every person in India may be prayed for by name (and hear the Gospel in a way they can understand).

UCPI is organizing State-Level National Engagement Meetings(SLNEMs) in about 15 states, and meetings have already been convened in Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab, among others. 

Most Rev. Thomas D'Souza gave the welcome message. Fr. Gilbert Aranha, the Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism and the Co-Convener and Secretary of the UCPI Theological Forum, presented on “Why Now? Why You? Why UCPI?” giving the background and urgency of the movement (Participant's Book pp. 6-7, and Statement of Agreed Truths, p.4). 

Rt. Rev. Chacko Thottumarickal, Bishop of Indore Diocese and Convener of the UCPI Advisory Forum, shared his testimony of his involvement with the movement, including the result of requesting the priests in his diocese to distribute UCPI prayer cards to every parish member to pray for up to 10 people or families who don't yet know Jesus.

Pr. Arun Philip of the UCPI Central Team, Delhi, gave Biblical Message #1 on unity and prayer (John17) and Biblical Message #3 on the parable of the minas (Luke 19:12-27). He also served as facilitator with Mr.Abishek Sharma, Manager of Church Development of Jatiyo Khristiyo Prochar Samity, who translated.

Sr. Christina Sheela, UCPI Central Team Liaison for the UCPI Volunteer State Team – West Bengal, presented on the UCPI Vision Statement key terms and Common Ground, and onChristian Contributions to Nation Building. Mrs. Bina Nathan, of the Jabez Fellowship, gave Biblical Message #2 on John 17 and the UCPI 5 Action Steps. 

Mr. Raja McGee, Executive Secretary of the Bengal Regional Conference, MCI, Principal of Calcutta Boys' School, and member of the UCPI WB SLNEM Core Planning Team, officiated the inaugural lamp lighting ceremony and presented the invitation to give, including sharing how MCI, including Calcutta Boys' School and Lee Memorial School, have supported the UCPI movement and why. 

Rev. Sukamal Mohapatra, Assistant General Secretary of the Baptist Churches' Council of Eastern India (BCCEI) presented the case study of how the BCCEI had conducted a National Day of Prayer on 2nd October in Kharagpur. For the first time, they partnered with the Roman Catholic church to organize the event and invited members of the community, including members of the government and the armed forces, to participate and be prayed for. 

Pastor Enosh Nazary, Founder/Director, North East Vision, Pastor, Vision Baptist Churches Association of Assam, and Senior Volunteer of the UCPI Volunteer Regional Team–North East India, presented the case study of how the Boro Baptist Church Association had journeyed from their senior leader first catching the vision at a UCPI National Meeting, to sharing the vision and strategy throughout the association through ICMs and trainings, to church members being equipped and sent to pray and share the Gospel. 

The Formiees of Prerona Missionaries of St. Paul, residing in Krishnanagar, contributed songs throughout the program. Morning praise and worship sessions were led by Rev. Nilav Kolay and his team from Kolkata Christian Fellowship.