Thousands of Catholics gathered at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Mariam Dham, in Jalandhar Cantonment, Punjab, northern India, on November 1 to celebrate the annual feast of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, with prayers for harmony, reconciliation and unity amid growing social divisions.
The celebration brought together clergy, religious and lay faithful for a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Jose Sebastian Thekkumcherikunnel of Jalandhar. He urged families to confront social challenges, particularly drug addiction among young people, and turn to Christ through the intercession of Mary.
Addressing the congregation, the bishop described protecting children from drugs and other social evils as one of the most urgent responsibilities facing parents. He called on families to provide young people with moral values, proper guidance and loving support, while praying for their protection and well-being.
Reflecting on increasing hostility and divisions in society, Bishop Sebastian emphasized the need to restore the values of peace, forgiveness and fraternity. He encouraged the faithful to seek Mary's intercession to heal broken relationships, overcome differences and strengthen bonds of brotherhood among communities.
Swarna, a Catholic laywoman from Kandhamal in Odisha who now lives in Punjab, reflected on Mary's maternal presence in Christian life. She encouraged the faithful to draw inspiration from Mary's faith, humility and trust in God and become messengers of peace, love and reconciliation in their families and communities.
The annual celebration was preceded by nine days of novena prayers and a church convention, providing an extended period of spiritual preparation. Special prayers were offered for the intentions and protection of the faithful, as well as for peace and harmony in society.
The Catholic community also remembered the late Monsignor Alban Swarbrick and Bishop Symphorian Keeprath, honoring their contributions to the Church.
Among the priests attending were Fathers Peter Hans, Samuel, Robin Azad, Xavier, Robert Thomas, Thomas Keeprath and Sahil Hans. Community representatives included former Sarpanch Suraj Masih of Phulriwal, Ravi Masih of Phulriwal and former chairman Tarsem Masih.
Pargat Singh, a Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly and president of the Punjab Congress, also attended the celebration. He met Bishop Sebastian and conveyed his greetings to the Catholic community, reflecting the spirit of mutual respect and goodwill among people of different backgrounds.
The Diocese of Jalandhar, also known as the Diocese of Jullundur, has a distinctive missionary history, having developed in northern India in the aftermath of the 1947 Partition. Its pastoral and social mission extends across Punjab and parts of neighboring Himachal Pradesh, with a presence in education, health care and social services.
The diocese comprises 147 parishes across 18 districts, served by 214 priests and 897 religious sisters.
The celebration concluded with a renewed appeal for families to become centers of faith and young people to embrace lives of dignity and responsibility. The faithful were reminded that peace begins in families and grows through compassion, forgiveness and recognition of the dignity of every person.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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