Hundreds of young people go on pilgrimage for Holy Week in the Diocese of Miao (photos)

The 17 km walk lasted four hours. Catholic youth organised the event via social media whose aim was individual penance and group prayer for India.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Hundreds of young Catholics, and youth from other religions, went on a pilgrimage in the Diocese of Miao (Arunachal Pradesh) to prepare for Holy Week, said Fr Felix Anthony, spokesman for the Catholic Church in northeastern India, speaking to AsiaNews.

The 17-kilometre walk “was a moment of penance and spiritual meditation, experienced with the typical joy of the new generation," said the clergyman. Participants came together thanks to social media, and several Protestants helped in the organisation.

The event took place last Saturday in Changlang District, and lasted about four hours, from 5.30 am to 9.30 am, providing an opportunity to pray for the India’s election, which is currently underway.

Along the way, the faithful enlivened the prayers with songs, hymns and the recitation of the Rosary.

The starting point was Sacred Heart Church in Neotan, where Fr Felix is parish priest. From there, the pilgrims walked to the Christ the Light Shrine, the diocesan cathedral in Miao.

Another 200 people of all faiths and ages joined the 200 young Catholics, who ranged in age from 7 and 76.

For Junem Langching, a youth leader who organised the event, "The pilgrimage had two purposes: a journey of penance to prepare us to experience Holy Week the right way and an opportunity to pray for our country at election time.”

James Mossang echoes such words. On his Facebook profile, he wrote: “A small act of penance. Being humble and thankful for His love and sacrifice.”

(Photo credit: Diocese of Miao)