Team Herald
MARGAO: Heads of various religions from across the country will participate in a collective action for dialogue and social harmony on the theme “Youth of India: Looking Forward” at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on April 5, from 3.30 pm onwards.
The meeting organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in collaboration with the Agnel Region of the Society of Pilar aims at connecting people of goodwill to come together to promote tolerance, respect for each other and further the protection of constitutional values in the face of forces of hatred working to bring division.
Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao will be the chief guest for the function, while other guests include CBCI Secretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, Superior General of the Society of Pilar Fr Sebastiao Mascarenhas and Regional Superior of Agnel Region of the Society of Pilar Fr Alarico Carvalho.
The panel of acclaimed speakers drawn from various religions and from across the nation, include Sushil Goswamy Maharaj (President of Bharatya Sarv Dharm Sansad), Paramjeet Singh Chandok (Chairman of Bangla Sahib Gurudwara), Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi (President of imam Council of India), Vivek Muni (President of International Mahavir Jain Mission) and Bikku Sanghasena (Founder of Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Ladakh).
The Catholic Church along with the Bharatiya Sarva Dharma Sansad wishes to bring all men and women of goodwill together, for collective action to preserve and further social harmony, with the belief that intellectuals, spiritual leaders, men and women from all sections of society can unleash a positive energy that can lead the country towards an inclusive integral human development.
At the press briefing, CBCI Secretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas said, “The Goa model of the harmony of Goa has to be passed on, which is also a reason for holding the dialogue here. The general body meeting of CBCI has decided to have positive values and traditions to be upheld and this is the effort to do so.”
“Common discussion is on the Constitutional values to be upheld, which have been brought by the forefathers of our nation. Will be taking this discussion and hosting similar ones in 19 to 20 different places in the country,” he added.
