Remote Indian village joins
Pope in“24 Hours for the Lord”
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| A faithful at the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Miao Diocese, India on March 29, 2019 |
The “24 Hours for the Lord” is an annual Lenten initiative
that invites the faithful to immerse in God’s mercy.
By Robin Gomes
A remote Indian diocese on Friday joined Pope Francis in
observing the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative. Miao Diocese in
Arunachal Pradesh state in the northeastern corner of India joined the
worldwide initiative with Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
The “24 Hours for the Lord” is an initiative of the
Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization that
takes place annually on the Friday and Saturday preceding the Fourth Sunday of
Lent.
A church in every diocese around the world is kept open for
24 consecutive hours in spiritual union with the Holy Father in order to offer
each faithful all the possibility of a personal experience of God’s mercy.
The motto of the sixth edition this year is taken from the
Gospel of John: “Neither do I condemn you” (Jn 8:11).
Pope Francis himself presided over a penitential service on
Friday evening in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, opening the “24 Hours for the
Lord”.
Leading the service at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Neotan,
the biggest Church in Arunachal Pradesh, Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Panipitchai of
Miao invited the people to experience the embrace of God in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. “Make this opportunity as a unique occasion to return to the
Father”, he said.
The evening service at the village Church saw the participation
of more than 300 faithful from around the village. Some of them had to walk a
few kilometres from neighbouring villages to join this Lenten spiritual
exercise.
“It is a meaningful spiritual journey back the Father during
this Lenten season”, said a teary-eyed participant at the end of the
Eucharistic Adoration. (Source: Miao Diocese)
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