Monday 3 February 2020

Archdiocese Celebrates Christian Unity Octave

FRANCIS GANPAT

Kolkata: Christian Unity Octave was well organised in the Archdiocese and City of Joy like other years. The theme this year given jointly by the WCC (World Council of Churches) and the Vatican was “They Showed Us Unusual Kindness”(Acts 28/2).

On 18th Jan Sat, the first day of the Octave was celebrated at the Salvation Army Chapel, Lenin Sarani for the first time. Major T. Massey with his team had organised the program very well. We experienced very inspiring prayer, preaching, singing. Major S. Macwan and Col Mani Kumari Dasari preached very powerfully.

Prayers were offered by Captain Sonia and others. Very lively singing was provided by the Youth. 19th Jan Sunday was the Ecumenism Sunday. Special Mass for Unity among all Christians was taken up in many parishes.

On 20th Monday we gathered at Sacred Heart Church, Lenin Sarani. Fr G. Peppin, Director of Family Commission, organised a very lively service most efficiently, ably supported by Fr Hansel
D’Souza, PP. Rev Martin Pakhare very strongly and clearly helped the congregation to understand
our efforts for unity and our responsibilities as Christians. Fr Dipak Gomes SJ helped with the prayers here and in many other Churches.

On 21st Tuesday it was in AG Church, Park Street organised by Rev Patrick Joseph, Rev Jacob Mathews and the Youth. Lively Preaching and Prayers by Rev Cynthia Fernandez and Pastor Krishna Pitts and other City Pastors and short acting by the Youth gave us the experience that was very deep
and lasting indeed, as always that happens here.

On 22nd Wednesday it was at St Thomas Church (CNI) Free School Street organised so well by Rev S. Mohanty and Rev Martin Pakhare. The preaching on Multiplication of the Loaves by Rev Prakash T was a memorable experience indeed.

On 23rd Thursday at Fatima Church, CIT Road, Fr Amar CSsR, PP and Fr Timir with Albert Rodrick, Sharmila Das and team organised the Ecumenism Prayer Service cum Mass that was widely
participated and very well appreciated.

On 24th Friday at BMS/Baptist Missionary Society, AJC Bose Road, we experienced a transforming experience animated by Pastor Benjamin Francis who made us realise that we are one Church, one Body of Christ. In his preaching Rev Anjan Singh, the President of BMS, made us aware of the importance of unity and our identity as Christians.

On 25th Saturday, the final day, Feast of St Paul’s Conversion, Rev Abir Adhikary and Rev Stephen Nag organised a very lively and inspiring Service at St Paul’s Cathedral. Homily by His Lordship the Rt Rev Dr Paritosh Canning on unity and other related points were very personal, warm and educative. The Choir of the Bishop’s College put us in the proper spirit of prayer by creating the required ambience.

At the end, on behalf of the organisers, Fr Timir and Rev Martin Pakhare thanked all the venue pastors and their teams for doing their best to bring glory to God by inspiring us to be united in the name of Christ. Thanks to Fr F Sunil Rosario, Archdiocesan Secretary for Inter-Faith Dialogue and Migrants, the Unity Octave Service was organised at Chandannagore by Fr Stephen Raphael, PP, for Howrah- Hooghly Deanery on 18th Jan; at Proggaloy by Fr F. Sunil Rosario, Fr Shyam Mandi, Fr Xavier Kujur for North 24 Parganas Deanery on 19th Jan; and in Midnapore Deanery on 20th January. Rev Martin Pakhare, Fr Gnana Peppin, Fr Dipak Gomes, Fr Timir, Fr Dominic Gomes-VG,
and the faithful band of about 25 committed lay persons from various parishes led by Francis Ganpat and Jayashree Piper were in attendance every day.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Blog Archive