By Matters India Reporter
Kanpur, Jan 23, 2022: Sister Nathalie Becquart, the Under Secretary of the Synod in Rome expressed appreciation for the ecumenical initiative of St Patrick’s Church, Kanpur.
In her message, the member of the Congregation of Xavieres said,” I wish you a fruitful spiritual experience of being one Body of Christ. May this initiative also help you in involving the brothers and sisters of other churches and ecclesial communities in the current synodal process? I appreciate your efforts towards the unity of all Christians and pray to God to bless you and the church in Kanpur.”
The occasion was an ecumenical prayer service with the theme of “That they may be one” (Jn 17:21) organized by St Patrick’s Church, Kanpur, on January 20.
It was held during the Church Unity Octave, a joint initiative of the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, begun in 1966 and held ever since. Pope Francis’ emphasis on ecumenism in the synodal process has breathed new life into this effort.
More than 100 clergy, pastors, laity, religious and youth from a dozen Churches attended the service. Father K K Antony, the parish priest, while welcoming the gathering, said that Christians must make real the last passionate prayer of Jesus for unity among his disciples.
In his introduction, chhotebhai said that those days are gone when we proclaimed “There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church.” Today the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church promulgated by Vatican II clearly states that all Christians are united in one baptism.
The convener of the Indian Catholic Forum drew attention to the earlier statement of Sister Nathalie that “Once the Church stops, she is no longer Church, but a lovely pious organization, thereby keeping the Holy Spirit in a cage”.
Another message from Rome was received from Father Gilbert Aranha, executive secretary, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, Office of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs.
He said that “Selfishness and Pride have caused these divisions in the Church and impeded the spreading of the Gospel. Unity among Christians is a sine qua non for the evangelisation for which the church exists. Christians in India are not at all responsible for the historical painful divisions in the Church, but unfortunately have inherited them.”
These messages were read out by parishioners K V Vincent and Shitika Pare. Reverend Abhishek Lyall of the Methodist English Church read Psalm 133 on the beauty of brothers dwelling in unity, while Reverend Nitin Cutting of All Soul’s Church (Church of North India) read the Gospel (Jn 17:20-26) on Jesus’ prayer for unity.
In his homily, Father Deepak D’Souza of St Xavier’s Church cited several scriptural instances to show how Jesus recognized the goodness of the “other” like the grateful leper and Good Samaritan.
Intercessory prayers for various intentions were led by John Elias of the Model Intermediate College, Ivan Luther of Methodist High School, Reverend Jitendra Singh, president United Christians Committee Kanpur, Ursulines of Mary Immaculate Sister Mary Thecla and Reverend Samuel Singh of the Church of Christ.
The program also honored three Covid Warriors – Ursulines of Mary Immaculate Sister Maria Phillip, administrator, Mariampur Hospital, Matron Veena Dolly Singh of the largest government hospital, and Rose Williams (posthumous), matron of a private hospital.
Reverend J.J. Oliver of LLJM Methodist Church led the clergy in a joint benediction and Father Walter D’Souza, principal St Aloysius College, thanked those associated with the service.
The parish choir led by Praveen Dungdung sang relevant hymns. The gathering resolved to have more such ecumenical gatherings and to guide people in the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh state elections that were crucial for communal harmony.