By Matters India Reporter
Miao: People in a remote corner of Arunachal Pradesh on March 10 undertook a walking pilgrimage to a Catholic shrine to pray for world peace.
Around 300 people between the age group of 7 and 70 walked from Neotan, a village in Changlang district to Miao covering 16 km away. They ended at Christ the Light Shrine, Miao.
The walk was aimed at praying for peace in the world, India and Arunachal Pradesh. “The world needs peace more than ever,” said Fr. Felix Anthony organizing the event. “Our walk today is a response to Pope Francis’ call for prayer for peace in the world especially in the Middle East, South Sudan and Uganda, regions that have seen unprecedented violence and killing.”
On Marc 9, Pope Francis initiated the fifth edition of “24 Hours for the Lord” event to organize all the people across the world to spend a day in prayer to pray for personal peace and for the peace in the world.
The Mossang sub-tribe of Tangsas of Neotan village responded to the call of Pope Francis by organizing Adoration and Confession in their village on March 9 and concluded the day with pilgrimage to Christ the Light Shrine, the Cathedral Church of Miao Diocese on 10. The 15.4 KMs walk began at 5am and the pilgrim reached Miao at 9.30 am.
Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao appreciated the people for responding to the call of the Holy Father and for giving a visible expression of their response by walking a long distance. “What you have done is a concrete expression of your faith. By holding a Cross each and taking every step with a prayer for peace on your lips, you have walked your faith today. I join with you all for praying for peace in the world’, he told the pilgrims.
The pilgrims covered the distance with 27,351 steps.
The people, though tired, expressed happiness at the end of the Pilgrimage. “We know we cannot solve all the problems but God can. We hope God will have mercy on us and on the whole world and that there will be peace in every heart and every corner of the world”, said Chomjung Mossang, the village leader from Neotan.
The pilgrimage concluded with the pilgrims making Way of the Cross at the life-size Stations of the Cross erected around the Shrine.