By Jhinuk Mazumdar
Kolkata: Pastors, priests, heads of schools and parishioners from various parts of Kolkata participated in an Easter Rally that was organized on April 4 evening.
The rally with 1,100-odd participants started from Bishop’s College and culminated with a thanksgiving worship service on the grounds of St James’ School.
The rally included participants from Catholic, Church of North India, Assembly of God and Baptist Churches.
“A year ago we faced the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the churches were closed but our faith sustained us and this year the churches have opened. For Easter, the message is of hope and peace,” said Catholic Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta.
“Love brings unity and peace destroys hatred and even in hopelessness we should not be in despair… and not give up. We must live as good Christians and good citizens.”
Also present on the occasion was Church of North India Bishop Paritosh Canning of Calcutta, and Reverend Ivan Satyavrata, senior pastor of the Assembly of God Church.
“The rally brings different Christian organizations together and at a time when there is so much turmoil in society, we have to be united,” said John Ghosh, the secretary of the he Church of North India’s Calcutta diocese.
The Easter Rally has been organized for about 10 years. It could not be held last year because of the pandemic.
“We have been doing this procession as something to unite Christians from different denominations. The message is that we need to be positive and hopeful,” said Father Dominic Gomes, the vicar general of the archdiocese of Calcutta.
Source: telegraphindia.com