India: Thousands of Catholic Faithful Participate in Jubilee Year Closing Ceremonies in the Archdiocese of Imphal
Thousands of Catholic faithful participated in the solemn closing ceremonies of the Jubilee Year in the Archdiocese of Imphal, northeast India, on 28 December, the last Sunday of the year.
The Holy Door of the Jubilee Year was solemnly closed at two locations, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Imphal, and Good Shepherd Parish, Lamka, marking the official conclusion of the Jubilee Year for the Archdiocese. Large numbers of the faithful gathered at both venues to witness the historic moment.
Two solemn Eucharistic celebrations were held simultaneously. While the main diocesan celebration took place at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Imphal, a separate Jubilee Mass was celebrated at Good Shepherd Parish, Lamka, for the Kuki-Zo Catholic community. This arrangement was made in view of the ongoing ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since 3 May 2023.
At St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the Holy Eucharist was presided over by Emeritus Archbishop Dominic Lumon. During the solemn ceremony, the Holy Door was closed and the Jubilee flag was taken down, officially marking the end of the Jubilee observance in the Archdiocese of Imphal.
Meanwhile, at Good Shepherd Parish, Lamka, the Jubilee Year closing Mass was presided over by Fr. Athew Mathew, parish priest, and concelebrated by seven priests from within and around the Kuki-Zo Catholic community of Churachandpur district.
Delivering the homily, Fr. Martin Joseph, a research scholar priest from Bangalore, reflected on the historical roots of the Catholic Church and the deep significance of the Jubilee Year in the life of the faithful. He urged the congregation that, although the Jubilee Year had formally concluded, its spirit must continue through lives marked by hope, peace, prayer, and conversion.
He further reminded the faithful that the journey of conversion does not end with the Jubilee celebrations but continues in everyday life, as believers return to their communities as true “Pilgrims of Hope.”
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