By Nirmala Carvalho

Mumbai: Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, on October 29 presided over a Mass where ten people took vows as the ‘Friends of the Divine Master,” a lay association founded by Blessed James Alberione a century ago.

“You have one master, one teacher, one father God Jesus,” Cardinal Gracias said in his homily during the Mass in the chapel of “Prarthanalaya” (house of prayer) managed by the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master at Band Stand, Bandra, a Mumbai suburb. It conducts Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament round the clock.

The day also marked the feast of Jesus, the Divine Master, a major feast for the Pauline Family founded by Blessed Alberione.

During the Mass the new “friends” pronounced their vows and received from the cardinal a prayer book, a rosary, a scarf and a certificate. Other members of the association also renewed their vows on the occasion.

The cardinal urged the “new friends” to commit themselves to encountering Jesus and experience the joy of encountering Christ, the Divine Master, who teaches, empowers and gives life. “Allow Jesus to live in you and you in Him. Following what He says,” he added.

The prelate commended the nuns for spending hours in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament following the Indian tradition of the disciples sitting at the feet of the master.

Quoting Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium’ (joy of the gospel), the cardinal said, “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. This is the Joy of encounter.”

The cardinal, a member of the Pope Francis’ advisory council, asked the gathering to wake up the world with the light of the Gospel. He also wants them to spend time to know Christ, understand and love Christ more. “This is a calling for every Christian,” he added.

“Being a friend means that we deepen everyday our relationship with Jesus, Talking to Him, Accompanying Him,” he added.

The ceremonies began with a procession with the icon of Jesus Divine Master in front followed by the ten new “friends,” acolytes and concelebrants led by Cardinal Gracias. The chapel was bedecked with embroidered altar cloths, stained glass lamps and floral arrangement.

“This is a marvelous grace of God,” said Sister Patricia, a member of the Prarthanalaya while welcoming the congregation and the ten new ‘friends.’

The nun, a member of the Pious Disciples of the Master explained the significance of the association of friends of the Divine Master. “This devotion is not limited to a simple prayer or some hymns, rather it takes in the whole person,” she explained quoting their founder.

During Communion, Siddharth Meghani, who is known as Mumbai’s Elvis Presley, sang the famous hymn “How Great Thou Art.”

The cardinal thanked the Pious Disciples of the Divine Masterf for supporting the archdiocese through their Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and dedication to the liturgy.

He also thanked the sisters for their services at the Clergy Home for retired and indisposed priests of the archdiocese.

The Pious Disciples is one of the five religious congregations founded by Blessed Alberione, who also started four secular institutes and a lay association.

While the Pious Disciples call their lay organization “the Friends of the Divine Master,” another congregation started by the saintly Italian priest, the Daughters of St Paul, call theirs Pauline Cooperators.

The Friends of the Divine Master was founded in 1917.

Following the Mass, Meghani took to the stage, belting out hit number, a fusion of classical, jazz and western melodies all in praise of Our Divine Master.

The students of the Divya Kala Kendra (divine art center) put up a classical dance. The Pious Disciples nuns started the Kendra in 2014 as part of their liturgical apostolate in Prarthanalaya.

It trains people to use music and dance to make divine worship more relevant and meaningful.

Blessed Alberione, who died in 1971 at the age of 87, founded religious congregations for both men and women to use modern media technology and publish materials to spread the word of God and help in personal devotions. Saint Pope John Paul II beatified him on April 27, 2003.