Mangaluru, ecumenical celebration beneath the Cross

Catholics and Anglicans of the Church of South India together for a Lenten initiative promoted in the church of Saint Francis Xavier in Bejai. The parish priest Father Saldanha: "The Cross gathers us together as a single community to meditate on its message"

Mangaluru (AsiaNews) - Christians of different confessions gathered together this Lent before the Cross. The ecumenical initiative was promoted by the association of elders belonging to the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Bejai, in the city of Mangaluru (Karnataka).

The elders of the local parish and some members of the Church of South India – Southern diocese, the local Anglican denomination, gathered together for a meeting, entitled "Come let us Adore the Cross of Christ". The event was promoted to reflect on how the mystery of the Cross unites Christians of all denominations in a single community.

Speaking of the significance of this ecumenical initiative, the parish priest of Bejai, Father J.B. Saldanha, observed that “that we need to venerate the Cross beyond our denominational differences. This Holy Cross of Christ is the symbol of Unity and it us brought us together as one community to reflect and meditate on it”.

Reverend Goldin Bangera, presbyter of the Hebich Memorial Church Gorigudda of the Church of South India, in his sermon emphasized how much each of us can learn from the cross of Christ, a symbol of God's love for us. “It is not sign of defeat but of victory. The Cross of Christ should inspire us to lead a good Christian life.”

Similarly, Fr Vishwas Misquith SJ, in his talk stressed that Christ has brought meaning to the Cross. “As we venerate the Cross, - he explained -  it should be a sign of God’s love, God’s victory, symbol of hope; symbol of God’s power. Christians should learn to walk in the shadow of the Cross, suffer with Christ”.

Reverend Adrian Deepak, assistant presbyter of the Shanti Cathedral of Balmatta in Mangaluru, helped the assembly to pray with his melodious hymns, accompanied by the choir singing in both English and Kannada. Connie Saldanha, Juliet Mascarenhas Pereira and Oswald Rodrigues led the liturgical animation, the welcoming of the faithful and the final greeting. The meeting ended with a convivial moment.

• India
• Mangaluru
• Karnataka
• church
• Catholics
• Anglicans
• ecumenism
• Lent