Joining the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the Archbishop has asked the priests, religious, the laity, and the people of goodwill in the archdiocese to pray for peace in our land, specially on the Indian border.
Peace has always figured among humanity’s highest values, whether it is seen as an absence of conflict or as an abiding state of harmony and tranquility. The fragile peace along the Indian border with neighbouring Pakistan is being regularly disturbed by exchange of fire and other forms of violence. The state of hostility and suspicion between the two countries has, of late, caused lot of deaths and invited surgical strikes by India.
The Archbishop has requested prayers so that the two neighbouring countries leave the suspicion behind and share linguistic, cultural, geographical and economic links.
In view of the continuous tension on the border, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India had issued a circular asking to set aside October 16 as a day of prayer. The Archbishop has joined the CBCI to appeal to the members of the archdiocese to mark October 16 as a special day to pray for India.
The Archbishop has requested the parish priests, religious and lay leaders to conduct special prayers for the nation on Sunday, October 16. He has also called upon members of other religious communities in to join in praying for India.
“It is significant that, beginning with Gandhi Jayanti, our nation will be celebrating during this month various festivals, promoted by different religious communities, and geared for the achievement of peace among peoples.”
May all these festivals, celebrated in the right spirit of praising God, the source of all peace, help us to be ever greater witnesses of peace, harmony, understanding and reconciliation,” appealed the Archbishop in a circular.
