Miao: The diocese of Miao on India’s northeasternmost extreme Tuesday dedicated a Marian grotto to the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy that Pope Francis launched earlier in the day.
The grotto is situated in Sacred Heart Parish, Neotan, a major Christian center in the diocese that covers the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh diocese.
Pope Francis launched the Jubilee Year of Mercy on December 8, the feast of Immaculate Conception, the day that commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birth without the Original Sin.
Miao diocese plans to hold a series of spiritual events throughout the year to celebrate the jubilee.
Blessing the grotto, Bishop George Palliparampil of Miao invited the people to contemplate more on the merciful face of God. “Jesus Christ is the merciful face of God our loving Father. This Grotto today invites us to contemplate how God made His Face visible through Jesus Christ, born of Virgin Mary,” the Salesian prelate added.
He invited everyone to recite one extra chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer during the jubilee year.
The grotto is constructed solely on the contribution made by the Catholcs of Neotan parish. Parishioners Nongkhum Mossang and Tumman Mossang contributed most expenses and a few others too contributed their share.
“I am very happy to be a part of this great event of the Catholic Church by my small contribution,”, said Mossang told Matters India. Tumman Mossang thanked God for giving him a chance to celebrate the jubilee.
Fr. Felix Anthony, the diocesan secretary and pastor of Neotang, thanked the donors for their generosity. “The Jubilee of Mercy is not ended with this grotto; it only starts today,” he said and repeated the bishop’s request of reciting at least one chaplet of Divine Mercy prayer everyday in the families.
Neotan is in Changlang district and the people belong exclusively to the Tangsa, a prominent tribe in the state.