ISAAC HAROLD GOMES
Kolkata: An Interfaith Prayer for Peace & Harmony was held at Mother House, Missionaries of Charity Headquarters, Kolkata on 10th September 2019, at 4.30 pm, commonly known as ‘Inspiration Day’. In his welcome address and brief introduction to Prayer for Peace, Fr Francis Sunil Rosario, Director of Diocesan Commission for Dialogue & Ecumenism – Archdiocese of Calcutta said 10th September is a historic day, for on this day Mother Teresa received special inspiration to her new mission to work for the downtrodden and the dying destitute. This inspiration gradually resulted into the birth of Missionaries of Charity. The day also coincided with festival of Muharram.
The programme began with Invocation ‘Asato Ma Satgamaya’ by Mrs Paromita Chatterjee, followed by ‘Sangachadhwam’ by Ms. Saswati Basu Mullick and group. This was followed by Lighting of the Lamps around the tomb of St. Teresa of Kolkata, by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza and Sr. Prema, Superior General, Missionaries of Charity. Representatives of various faith communities also joined in lighting the lamps. Mr O.P. Shah - Forum for Peace said, “Peace is much desirable and urgently required.” He said all saints worked for peace and we all need to work hard for promoting peace. For this Indians need to practise Secularism in the true sense. This means respect for all religions and for the sensibilities of each citizen. He said throughout her life, Mother Teresa preached equity and justice to promote peace. Gandhiji said when there is doubt about a particular course of action, if one thinks of how the action will impact the poorest of poor, peace will be promoted automatically.
Mr Irfan Sher, a veteran Muslim spoke on the significance of Muharram in building peace. He gave a biblical interpretation to the celebration of Muharram. Mr Pritpal Singh Bedi, before starting Kirtan said all religions have the same DNA. With his team, he rendered a very inspiring devotional song on peace. Host of others who sang at this Interfaith Prayer were Mr. Dilip Rozario and his choir, Mr. Amitava Dutta, Ms. Sandipta Bhattacharya, Lavinia Girls and Mrs. Paramita Chatterjee. Two significant testimonies were given of the miracles through the intercessions of St. Teresa of Kolkata, a couple Mr. & Mrs. Murray who had their first baby boy after many years of their marriage and Ms. J. Brenger who gave testimony to the miraculous cure of two cancer patients in her family. Both those testimonies were a moving experience for the entire assembly at Prayer service.
Archbishop Thomas D’Souza said Mother Teresa must be very glad to see the afternoon’s reflection on peace by representatives of different faiths taking place at her house. It was on this day in 1946 she heard deep in her heart a very personal call from Jesus to be a light in the lives of the poorest of the poor. Mother said yes to this call and the rest is history. Rev Martin Pakhare, member of Church of North India (CNI) said “Today was the first time he visited Mother’s House and her tomb. Although in his college days he had worked in Mother Teresa’s projects in Madhyamgram, he felt honoured by this invitation to pray for peace.
Representatives from Ahmeida Muslim, Maulana Muslehuddin Saadi and Buddhist monk, Bodhipala emphasised on the importance of peace and that Peace and Mother Teresa were two sides of the same coin. The common strain was the absolute need for all leaders of faith and their followers to sit together frequently so as to promote peace. Sr Prema Superior General of Missionaries of Charity said Mother Teresa must be present in each of us today to fill us all with humility. Let us ask Mother to teach us humility and purity of heart. Archbishop Thomas said the final prayers and gave all his blessing. In today's world, particularly in India, there is an urgent need for more frequent interfaith dialogues and putting the deliberations into practice.
Kolkata: An Interfaith Prayer for Peace & Harmony was held at Mother House, Missionaries of Charity Headquarters, Kolkata on 10th September 2019, at 4.30 pm, commonly known as ‘Inspiration Day’. In his welcome address and brief introduction to Prayer for Peace, Fr Francis Sunil Rosario, Director of Diocesan Commission for Dialogue & Ecumenism – Archdiocese of Calcutta said 10th September is a historic day, for on this day Mother Teresa received special inspiration to her new mission to work for the downtrodden and the dying destitute. This inspiration gradually resulted into the birth of Missionaries of Charity. The day also coincided with festival of Muharram.
The programme began with Invocation ‘Asato Ma Satgamaya’ by Mrs Paromita Chatterjee, followed by ‘Sangachadhwam’ by Ms. Saswati Basu Mullick and group. This was followed by Lighting of the Lamps around the tomb of St. Teresa of Kolkata, by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza and Sr. Prema, Superior General, Missionaries of Charity. Representatives of various faith communities also joined in lighting the lamps. Mr O.P. Shah - Forum for Peace said, “Peace is much desirable and urgently required.” He said all saints worked for peace and we all need to work hard for promoting peace. For this Indians need to practise Secularism in the true sense. This means respect for all religions and for the sensibilities of each citizen. He said throughout her life, Mother Teresa preached equity and justice to promote peace. Gandhiji said when there is doubt about a particular course of action, if one thinks of how the action will impact the poorest of poor, peace will be promoted automatically.
Mr Irfan Sher, a veteran Muslim spoke on the significance of Muharram in building peace. He gave a biblical interpretation to the celebration of Muharram. Mr Pritpal Singh Bedi, before starting Kirtan said all religions have the same DNA. With his team, he rendered a very inspiring devotional song on peace. Host of others who sang at this Interfaith Prayer were Mr. Dilip Rozario and his choir, Mr. Amitava Dutta, Ms. Sandipta Bhattacharya, Lavinia Girls and Mrs. Paramita Chatterjee. Two significant testimonies were given of the miracles through the intercessions of St. Teresa of Kolkata, a couple Mr. & Mrs. Murray who had their first baby boy after many years of their marriage and Ms. J. Brenger who gave testimony to the miraculous cure of two cancer patients in her family. Both those testimonies were a moving experience for the entire assembly at Prayer service.
Archbishop Thomas D’Souza said Mother Teresa must be very glad to see the afternoon’s reflection on peace by representatives of different faiths taking place at her house. It was on this day in 1946 she heard deep in her heart a very personal call from Jesus to be a light in the lives of the poorest of the poor. Mother said yes to this call and the rest is history. Rev Martin Pakhare, member of Church of North India (CNI) said “Today was the first time he visited Mother’s House and her tomb. Although in his college days he had worked in Mother Teresa’s projects in Madhyamgram, he felt honoured by this invitation to pray for peace.
Representatives from Ahmeida Muslim, Maulana Muslehuddin Saadi and Buddhist monk, Bodhipala emphasised on the importance of peace and that Peace and Mother Teresa were two sides of the same coin. The common strain was the absolute need for all leaders of faith and their followers to sit together frequently so as to promote peace. Sr Prema Superior General of Missionaries of Charity said Mother Teresa must be present in each of us today to fill us all with humility. Let us ask Mother to teach us humility and purity of heart. Archbishop Thomas said the final prayers and gave all his blessing. In today's world, particularly in India, there is an urgent need for more frequent interfaith dialogues and putting the deliberations into practice.
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