Church call for Special prayer for peace and safety on borders

Special prayer for peace and safety on borders

CAMIL PARKHE | Monday, 10 October 2016 AT 11:24 AM IST

    

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Catholic Bishops, CBCI, prayer, Catholic church, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, religious event, Pune,Camil Parkhe

PUNE: The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has called for a day of prayer all over the country on Sunday, October 16, in view of the ongoing religious events of various communities and the ‘extraordinary challenges’ on the country’s borders.

The CBCI is the apex body of the Catholic Church in the country.

CBCI President Cardinal Baselios Cleemis has issued a circular to the church hierarchy in the country, asking them to conduct special religious services for the nation on October 16.

Cardinal Cleemis in his circular has referred to Dasara festival on October 11, Muharram, a day of special significance to the Muslims, on October 12, and the birth of Guru Granth commemorated by the Sikhs on October 20 and the forthcoming Diwali festival.

“Amidst all these festivals, our beloved country is going through extraordinary challenges especially on its borders. The Catholic church prays for our beloved country, for justice, peace, prosperity and welfare, harmony and unity,” Cardinal Cleemis said.

While urging the church leaders to conduct special liturgies and prayers for the nation on this day, the CBCI President has also invited people of goodwill to join in praying for the country.

“May every place of worship chime with prayers for our beloved nation, its leaders and its people,” the cardinal has said.

Ghar Wapsi: Catholic Church asks PM to intervene

Ghar Wapsi: Catholic Church asks PM to intervene

Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Friday, 30 January 2015 AT 10:21 PM IST

    

Ghar Wapsi, reactions, Catholic Church, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Catholics Bishops Conference of India, CBCI, Narendra Modi, intervention

Pune: The Catholic Church in the country has issued letters to all its dioceses, asking the Christians to be firm in their faith in the wake of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign and also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene urgently to prevent incidents threatening unity of the secular nation.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, President of the Catholics Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the apex body of the Catholic Church in the country, has issued a pastoral letter, following a CBCI meeting held in New Delhi on January 20 to discuss the reconversion and other issues.

The CBCI chief has said, Christians in the country need an assurance from the government that they are protected, secure and safe in their motherland.

In his letter, Cardinal Cleemis said, “The untoward incidents in the country in past few months have wounded the sentiments of the minority community especially the Christian community and has shaken the faith in the secular fabric of our nation.”

“The Ghar Wapsi programmes, the ‘saffronisation’ of education and culture, and the demands for a Hindu Rashtra are again posing challenges to the secular ethos of our beloved country,” he added.

The pastoral letter has said, “Conversions of a religious nature are an exercise of one’s free will and one’s constitutional/fundamental right and freedom of conscience and of religion. Ghar Wapsi is a political process, carried out by the powerful exponents of religious nationalism - much against the principle of secularism.”

Christianity has roots in India for 2000 years
CBCI chief Cardinal Baselios Cleemis said that Christianity has its roots in Indian soil for almost 2000 years. Christians in the country have been selflessly serving the people in the fields of education and health care without any discrimination on the basis of caste or religion, he said. 

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Diago Almeida - Sunday, 1 February 2015 AT 07:49 PM IST

At last we are seeing the writing on the wall. Thanks the cbci chief for taking up strongly with the government. President Obama has already worned the country and it's politicians of the draw back.

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Pope not coming to India disappoints people

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Pope not coming to India disappoints people
Camil Parkhe - Sakal Times Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - 12:09 AM IST
Tags: Pope Francis, Catholic Church

Pune: The official confirmation by the Catholic Church that Pope Francis will not visit Goa and other parts of India, during the forthcoming exposition of relics of St Francis Xavier in Goa, has disappointed Christians here.

It was widely believed that Pune, having major church institutions, will be a part of the Pope's itinerary if he decides to visit the country.

Goa Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao had announced in Panaji, Goa, last week that there are no plans for the visit of Pope Francis during the exposition of the relics of the Jesuit Spanish saint Francis Xavier. The decennial exposition will be held from November 22 this year to January 4, 2015.

Incidentally, Pope Francis is also the first Jesuit, a member of the Society of Jesus congregation, elevated to the papacy. Therefore, it was believed that he may visit Goa and other parts of India during the exposition of the relics of a fellow Jesuit. 

Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre has said, “It is natural that Christian devotees will be disappointed that the Holy father is not visiting India.” 

Speaking to Sakal Times, the bishop, however, clarified that Pope Francis' India visit was not planned as the Government of India had not extended a formal invitation to the head of the Catholic Church.

He said that the Catholic Bishops Conference of India delegation had met the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh some months ago to seek extending an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India during the exposition period.

"However, the Government of India did not make any move and therefore, no plans were made for the Pope's visit,” Bishop Dabre said. Peter D'Cruz, an activist and leader of the local United Christians Front, has said that even now, the Government of India can initiate steps to arrange for the Pope's visit during the exposition.

“The BJP government at the Centre and also in Goa State should expedite the formalities to invite the Pope, the leader of the largest religious community in the world, to India. The exposition of relics of St Francis Xavier, held once in a decade, is a major event for the Christians in the country.” D'Cruz said. 

Church renews call to elect secular govt

Church renews call to elect secular govt

- CAMIL PARKHE Sunday, 13 April 2014 - 07:08 PM IST

Pune: On Palm Sunday, just three days before the Lok Sabha polls, the Catholic Church in western Maharashtra renewed its call to people to vote for the parties promising a secular, democratic government in the country. 

The appeal to elect secular parties committed to safeguard interests of the minorities was read out in all churches in Pune diocese during the anticipatory masses on Saturday evening and on masses held on Sunday morning and evening. 

Pune bishop Thomas Dabre has issued the appeal in keeping with a recent circular issued by Catholic Bishops Conference of India.

In a pastoral letter issued in February this year, the then CBCI president and Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias that the “Catholic Church does not identify herself with any political party. But we have a responsibility as bishops to urge every eligible citizen to vote and do so prudently, carefully and judiciously. All our parish priests are urged to impress on the people their obligation in this regard.”

The letter added,” The Catholic Church earnestly hopes that the general elections will give us leaders who understand the anxieties of the people. We need leaders who will uphold the secular character of our nation and promote communal harmony and a spirit of inter-religious dialogue.,care for the minorities and weaker sections of society, safeguard the rights of tribals and grant equal rights to dalit Christians, equal to those given to other dalits.” 

Major Archbishop of Trivandrum Cardinal Baselios Cardinal Cleemis who was elected CBCI president 

had endorsed Cardinal Gracias' appeal and also called special prayers on April 6 to enable “citizens of India to elect best persons who will stand for the moral values and principles in public life and uphold the democratic and secular character of our great nation.” 

For clean politics

Catholic Association of Poona president Diago Almeida said that the Church's appeal did not mean canvassing for any party or candidate but seeking election of non-corrupt and secular representatives. 

Pune churches to join June 2 prayers to set world record

Pune churches to join June 2 prayers to set world record
- CAMIL PARKHE Saturday, 1 June 2013 - 11:09 AM IST Sakal Times, Pune
Tags: prayer, Bishop, catholics, christian community, Corpus Christi, world record, Pune Camil Parkhe

PUNE: Bishop Thomas Dabre will lead Catholics in Pune diocese in prayers on the feast of Corpus Christi on June 2, as a part of the simultaneous global prayers to be presided over by Pope Francis at the Vatican. The feat is likely to create a world record.

Parishes in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, along with parishes all over the world, are slated to simultaneously hold prayers on that day.

Pope Francis will lead the prayers to mark the feast of the body and blood of Christ at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Sunday evening. In India, churches have been asked to join the prayers on Sunday at 8.30 pm to coincide with the Roman clock (5 pm local time).

Bishop Dabre will celebrate a mass at St Xavier's Church in Pune Camp on June 2 at 5.30 pm, followed by an adoration service at St Anthony's Shrine.

Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) president, Mumbai's Cardinal Oswald Gracias has appealed to Catholics in the country to join in the prayers. The global prayer is also being held to celebrate the ongoing Year of Faith and the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council which introduced many reforms in the 2000 year-old church.

The Feast of the Corpus Christi is observed to commemorate Jesus Christ's suffering with bread and wine that symbolise his body and blood.