By Rabeel Asalm
SARGODHA, October 25, 2026: Thousands of Catholic faithful from across Pakistan gathered at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Parish to celebrate a landmark 60th Annual Marian Feast focused on spiritual renewal, unity, and youth empowerment.
Held from Oct. 16 to Oct. 18, 2026, under the uplifting theme “Our Lady of Perpetual Help,” the three-day convention served as a major national spiritual event.
Devotees, families, and youth delegations traveled from various cities, towns, and dioceses to fill the parish grounds alongside local parishioners.
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Parish stands as one of the largest and most prominent parishes within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.
Built on a rich legacy of missionary zeal, the early evangelization and pastoral foundation in the region were pioneered by the Capuchin Missionaries, followed by decades of dedicated service from the Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM) who nurtured the growth of the diocese.
Over the decades, the parish has developed into a major hub of Catholic life, educational excellence, technical empowerment, and healthcare.
The expansive complex houses key institutions, including Presentation Convent High School, providing “quality academic and moral formation”; Sargodha Catholic High School, dedicated to the “academic uplift of local children”; Sargodha Institute of Technology (SIT), established by the Mill Hill Fathers in 1958 to provide “vital technical education and vocational skills to empower youth”; and Fatima Hospital, a prominent diocesan medical center delivering “compassionate healthcare and essential wellness services to thousands in the region.”
The celebration opened with a solemn procession and Holy Rosary that filled the surrounding avenues with hymns of praise. Local school children showcased their talents through educational, cultural, and spiritual performances, highlighting values of “harmony, moral, and spiritual growth.”
The event also featured healing prayer services, Eucharistic adoration, and continuous moments of reflection.
A major highlight of the feast was the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation to 283 young boys and girls, empowering them to become “active, courageous, and responsible leaders in their community.”
The event reached its climax with the main Eucharistic Mass presided over by Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.
Highlighting the archdiocese’s pastoral commitment to the Year of Children, he emphasized that young people represent the “future and strength of the Church,” urging parents, teachers, and parishes to invest heavily in their “education, moral formation, and spiritual upbringing.”
Reaffirming the diocesan priority on youth empowerment, Archbishop Joseph called on the young generation to pursue higher education alongside technical and vocational skills through institutions like SIT so they can “stand on their own feet with dignity.”
He reminded believers that Mary constantly intercedes for “peace, protection, and healing.”
Quoting Mary’s response, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word,” he urged families to face life’s challenges with courage, build unity, reject harmful habits like slander, and empowered the 283 newly confirmed youth as “missionaries of hope and soldiers of Christ.”
Parish Priest Father David John emphasized that the event is a powerful spiritual celebration “uniting faithful from all corners of Pakistan,” where families anchor themselves in faith, “heal from life’s hardships, and experience divine intercession.”
He concluded with a prayer that the spiritual graces received would bring “enduring peace, reconciliation, unity, and divine protection to families across Sargodha and throughout Pakistan.”