By Nirmala Carvalho

Mumbai, Nov 20, 2019: A parish in Mumbai observed the third World Day of the Poor by feeding destitute of all religions through its 16 small Christian communities.

“We wanted the Day to be a time of sharing in society, so that it became an inclusive celebration for the faithful of all religions. I proposed my idea of an interreligious ceremony and all the Christian communities immediately accepted the initiative. So we offered more than 1,000 meals,” Jesuit Father Vincent Vaz, parish priest of the Holy Family Church of Chakala, Andheri East suburb, told AsiaNews.

The World Day of the Poor was first observed on November 19, 2017, with the theme, “Let us love, not with words but with deeds.”

In his message for that first World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis said that “the Our Father is the prayer of the poor.” He held a special Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a free lunch in the adjacent Paul VI Hall, in several Catholic colleges, and in other Vatican venues.

The day was also observed in countries such as India, Poland, and Canada, with special Masses, free meals for the poor, and other initiatives.

This year the day fell on November 17.

Father Vaz said the 16 communities under his parish began preparations two weeks ahead, collecting donations.

“People’s generosity has overwhelmed us. The Holy Spirit moved our people to go further, for the good of others. Some communities that have more funds have donated them to those that have less. This is the work of the Holy Spirit,” he explained.

Four Jesuit priests and sisters of four convents who work under the parish went to all 16 communities and shared a meal with the poor. Father Vaz said they not only served food to the poor, but also ate with them, sharing in solidarity, following the Pope’s exhortation to show Christian charity through more actions than words.

“It was touching to see that people sent their servants, drivers, guardians, and they all ate together,” he added.

The day began in each community with Our Father. A priest blessed those present before the distribution of food.

“In some places the food was so abundant that volunteers went around the streets and invited passers-by to join the meal sharing. A community of nuns working with rag pickers, involved them in the ceremony. The enthusiasm with which our parishioners joined was the work of the Holy Spirit,” Father Vaz added.

Roshan D’Souza, a parishioner, said “the members of the parish went through the streets, markets and shops, inviting all those in need. Construction workers, servants, slum dwellers, beggars and street vendors flocked.

A community set up the meal in a Hindu temple, with its cook taking care of the menu. Another gathered the ingredients from the inhabitants of the neighborhood and then served the dishes in an open field adjacent to a shopping center.

Father Vaz said the parish wanted an opportunity to meet “our brothers of every creed and show them our solidarity. Christ not only helped, healed and dined with the Jews, he did it with people of all faiths. The poor were especially dear to him, regardless of ethnicity, race or religion.”

He said his parish was happy to be a symbol that brings all faiths in harmony at a time when religion divides people. “With this gesture, we hope to create awareness, attention and unity with the poor,” he added.

Source: asianews.it