Day of Adoration for the Indian Church: people should “put their supreme trust in the Lord”
Prayers and moments of contemplation are meant to offer support to the pastoral work of bishops, priests, nuns and the laity. In New Delhi’s parish of St Alphonsa, most of the faithful are tribal migrants. In August, several events are reminder of the "joys and responsibilities" of Christians.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Today Catholics celebrate the Day of Adoration for the Indian Church across the country. Various initiatives have been planned at the diocesan level. The purpose of the event is to pray for bishops, priests, nuns and the laity, some faithful and Church leaders told AsiaNews.
In the Carmelite monastery of Prem Jyot, Baroda (Gujarat), the Blessed Sacrament is on display from 5 am to midnight tonight. The cloistered nuns gathered in prayer and Eucharistic adoration for the duration of the display.
In the parish of St Alphonsa in New Delhi, the parish priest, Fr Frederick D'Souza, former executive director of Caritas India, has convoked the faithful to take part in the Day of Adoration.
"The St Alphonsa Church has around 400 families,” he noted. “It is a mixed community of tribal people who are recent migrants and people from Kerala and Mangalore. We decide to pray for the Church and for our beloved nation. Importantly, we are calling for a special intercession for the Missionaries of Charity, who will join us in Adoration."
In the Archdiocese of Mumbai, Card Oswald Gracias organised a similar event to pray "for all the priests of India involved in the pastoral ministry.”
The goal is to make people “aware of the great dedication, commitment and generosity with which our priests work for our people and the courage they display in facing the numerous challenges involved in their ministry."
The cardinal was to lead a special prayer for the Church in India and the universal Church, "so that all priests and faithful may put their supreme trust in the Lord, who is stronger than any obstacle they face and that they may continuously strive to be more effective in their pastoral work: growing in holiness, leading our people wisely, and giving a clear thrust to our apostolate."
The cardinal also invited "all to pray for good vocations" and announced that he is “restructuring the Commission for Vocations”. He also noted that “we will begin regular prayers for vocations in all our parishes.”
According to Mgr Franco Mulakkal, bishop of Jalandhar (Punjab), "the month of August reminds us of great joys and responsibilities. On 4 August we celebrate the feast of St John Vianney, Clergy Day, and the first anniversary of my installation as Bishop of Jalandhar. On 15 August, it will be Independence Day and the Assumption of Mary, and the martyrdom of several saints, especially Maximilian Kolbe and St John the Baptist."
The prelate, who is at the centre of a scandal of alleged sexual abuse, puts full trust in God's plan. "We may be slow to understand God's plans and purposes but the prayers of hundreds of thousands of priests, religious and faithful and the loving mercy of God will surely reveal His loving plan in these times of suffering.”
"I consider this as God's plan and surrender myself to his designs and request your prayers for me and the Church. It is a time of intense prayer to save the Church from the attack of the evil one through individuals who become prey to his divisive plan. We trust in the goodness of God and entrust ourselves to His mercy.”
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07/02/2019 17:28
