Indian Bishop: in the Year of Faith, pray with your children and read the Gospel
Vijayawada (AsiaNews) - Read the Gospel, enhance family prayer and do charity within the community. These are the counsels that Msgr. Govindu Joji, Bishop of Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), gave to the faithful of Christurajapuram parish, on the feast of Christ the King. For the occasion, during the liturgy, the prelate confirmed 20 youths and gave first communion to 30 children.
In his homily, Mons. Joji addressed the parents, explaining that in the Year of Faith "children need to see their parents pray, and pray the rosary together every day." In addition to the Mass, the community also celebrated the anniversary with various types of choral songs, including ancient hymns and bhajans (songs typical of the Indian tradition, similar to mantras, ed.) The day culminated with a procession through the main streets around the parish.
The church of Christurajapuram is one of the oldest in Vijayawada, and was founded in 1955 by the parish of St. Peter. In the city, Christians account for more than 10% of the population (about 1 million people). The diocese has more than 145 religious congregations, with more than 1,000 consecrated men and women.
*Missionary of the Immaculate Conception, a women's congregation linked to the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME).
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