New Delhi: Catholics in Delhi conducted a night vigil on the eve of the first anniversary of a mysterious fire that ravaged a church on the eastern extreme of the national capital.

The fire at St Sebastian’s Church, Dilshad Garden, on December 1, 2014, was the first of a series of attacks on churches in Delhi that made international headlines.

“It is one year since we lost our beautiful church. We felt more prayers are required as the probe into the fire has not reached anywhere,” Dilshad Garden parish priest Father Antony Francis told Matters India as some 200 people prayed before the Blessed Sacrament inside the parish hall adjacent to the church that is now under reconstruction.

Claretian Father Tomy and his team from Bangalore conducted the vigil.

Fr Francis said they were praying for not for Christians but also for the police so that they have “the grace and guts to expose the culprits.”

He regretted that nothing has come out of the police probe. “I doubt they will ever come out with the report,” he added.

Fr Francis said they also prayed for Christians in Syria and humanity in general that “is in bad shape now.”

Several priests of Delhi Latin archdiocese and Faridabad Syro-Malabar diocese joined the prayers. The church was used by members of both the rites.

Archdiocesan chancellor Father Mathew Koyickal told Matters India that the administration had promised to rebuild the church, but nothing was done so far.

Fr Kurien Kochettonnil, pastor of the local Syro-Malabar Catholics, too said the government has not kept is promises.“They had promised us that we could have our Christmas Mass this year in the new church,” he added.

The Missionaries of St Thomas priest said he suspected the present government is not supportive of religious minorities in the country.

“Government has proved much serious cases in the past. If it wanted, it could have found out the real culprits behind this incident,” he told Matters India.

He said the government’s failure to prove the case has led lots of misunderstanding among people.

He said the prayer service was part of the Christian trait of forgiving even the enemies. “We also pray for those who attack us,” he added.

According to him, the incident has left a wound in people’s heart that would long time to heal. “However, we believe God has a plan to allow incidents to happen,” he added.

Fr Francis said the Delhi archdiocese decided to reconstruct the church as no aid came from the government. “We are not waiting for any aid to come from the government. The church is our need. It is a need for government,” he added.

Fr Francis also said the original church was built with the contribution of Catholics. “We are rebuilding the church with their generous help,” he added.

The work is expected to be completed within a year.

Abraham Mathew, a parishioner and director of the company conducting the repairs, says the work will cost be around 10 million rupees. He says he was involved when the church was built and it was difficult for him to accept, after it had been torched.

“Each time I see the church I feel a deep loss,” he says, adding that the incident has been hard on the entire community.

Christians and others had suspected foul play in the fire but the municipal administration dismissed it as the result of short circuit.

K. A. Thomas, a parish trustee, says he never imagined their church would meet such a fate. “It was shocking and sad to look at the charred crucifix at the altar.

The retired federal employee says they had waited eight months for the government to fulfill its promise to restore the church. Repairs finally began in July, although the works were sponsored by the archdiocese.

Reviewing the parish life in the past year, Fr Francis said it would take time for the sadness to go.

He said the tragic incident had not affected the faith life in the parish. “Nothing was canceled. In fact, we had Mass and procession on that day itself,” he added.

He said the presence of so many people for the night vigil on a working day proved that the incident helped increase the parishioners’ faith. “We have lost materially, but gained so much spiritually. Faith has doubled,” he added.