By Matters India Reporter

Kolkata,Dec 26, 2019: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended the Christmas night services on December 24 at the Cathedral Church in Kolkata.

On her first visit to the cathedral for Christmas, Banerjee inaugurated the crib – traditional nativity scene of Jesus birth.

Banerjee has served as the eighth and current chief minister of West Bengal since 2011, the first woman to hold the office. She founded the party All India Trinamool (grassroots) Congress in 1998 after separating from the Indian National Congress, and became its chairperson.

Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta presided over the Christmas night services at the cathedral.

“Jesus is born for all people of good will, to bring them love, peace and joy,” said cathedral parish priest Father Siluvai Pitchai recalling the message of angels who announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds.

The traditional nativity scene at the church entrance this year wore a modern look with an art work depicting the Holy Family of Nazareth – the family of Jesus with Mother Mary seated and teaching boy Jesus while his foster father Joseph puts his hand lovingly over the shoulder of Jesus.

“The art work highlights the teaching role of the mother in the family with the nurturing and loving presence of the father in the wholesome education of the child,” said Church Art Kolkata founder Subrata Ganguly.

The life size representation will be on display all through the Christmas and New Year season.

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary, commonly known as the Portuguese Church, in Kolkata, is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta. It is also known as the Murgihata Church and was founded in 1799. The Portuguese arrived in Bengal in the 1530s, starting a trading post in Bandel, now a town in the Hooghly district of West Bengal and establishing the oldest church in eastern India – historic Bandel Church established in 1599.

UNtil 1834, the cathedral was under the care of Augustinian Friars, followed by Jesuits and from 1928 under the pastoral care of Salesians of Don Bosco. In 1972 it was handed over to diocesan Clergy.

The other historic landmark church in Calcutta is St. Paul’s Cathedral, a Church of North India Cathedral of Anglican background in Kolkata, noted for its Gothic architecture established in 1847.