B'lore: Archbishop of Canterbury Accorded Traditional Welcome, Honoured
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
 
Bangalore, Oct 21: It was a rare confluence of hearts and minds of Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, C S I Believers and other denominational Christian Churches at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, the aptly named Paalana Bhavana, in Bangalore on Wednesday October 20.

The occasion was the visit of Canterbury Archbishop Rowan Douglas Williams with his entourage of bishops and religious men and women on the invitation of Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore.

The head of England’s Anglican Church was earlier accorded a traditional Indian welcome 'Aarti’, fragrance billowing from incense sticks and a poorna kumb by saree-clad Catholic women.

The Archbishop of Bangalore later led the entourage to the Chapel where all gathered for an ecumenical prayer service conducted by Fr Jacob Brito.

While the Methodist bishop Taranath Sagar commenced the Introductory Prayer (Litany of the Presence of Christ), bishop Vasant Kumar, moderator of Church of South India and bishop of Karnataka Central Diocese, recited the Opening prayers followed by a gospel reading by bishop Samuel Mathews of the Believers Church.

After a short Reflection by the Bangalore Archbishop and Intercessory prayers by bishop Tony Robinson, Brother Devamani, Rt Dr Devanesan, Fathers Arokia Swamy and Paul Puthengady, Dr Jane Williams, wife of Rowan Williams, read out the Responsorial prayers.

The concluding prayers were read out by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bangalore Archbishop said the Prayer of Blessing and the prayer service concluded with the hymn, ''Bind us Together Lord.”

Later, a formal felicitation programme with appropriate cultural events and dance recitals was organized in honour of the visiting dignitary. Msgr S Jayanathan, Vicar General of Bangalore Archdiocese, introduced the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Douglas Williams, a poet and translator who is well-versed in 11 international languages including Greek and Latin. He also introduced Dr Jane Williams, wife of the Anglican Archbishop, whose father had served in Palayamkottai and Tirunelveli of Tamil Nadu, India.

The Bangalore Archbishop presented a Mysore silk shawl, garland, memento and a copy of RSV Bible, Archdiocesan Pastoral Handbook and Directory to the visiting dignitaries.

The Archbishop of Bangalore traced its history to 1940 and the vast strides that it has made over the years and explained its progress over the years. There were presently 136 Parishes with a total Catholic population of 4,10,604 and an equal number of other denominational Christians. Bangalore had emerged as a growing city on the world map and considered as India’s Silicon Valley. With its myriad religious Institutions, manned by various religious, he said Bangalore is proudly called as “Rome of the East.”

Bishop Vasant Kumar of Karnataka Central Diocese recalled the various meetings he had with Bangalore Archbishop while forming the Karnataka United Christian Forum. He felt it was a great honour for him to be felicitated by kind hearted Dr Bernard Moras. He thanked everyone for that rare opportunity and also the Archbishop of Canterbury for making his efforts bear fruit.

The Archbishop of Canterbury adorned the Bangalore Archbishop with a special shawl and garlanded him as a mark of respect from the Anglican and other Churches. He said that it was a great honour and that he was touched by the love and affection showered on him and his entourage by the Archdiocese of Bangalore headed by Bernard Moras. He recalled his meeting with the head of Universal Roman Catholic Church Pope Benedict XVI at Lambeth Palace, London in September 2010 where they both led a prayer service and had mutual discussions about the Universal Church and the shape it is taking in the present changing world.

He spoke about the spiritual ecumenism which he called a discovery of heart and discovery of God and being God’s devotees and called upon all to face the challenges unitedly with the assistance of service and prayers. He said the metropolis Bangalore was shaping up as a centre of world’s technological and economic growth.

Msgr C Francis, the other Vicar General of Bangalore Archdiocese, proposed the vote of thanks. While the prayer service at the Chapel was compered by Fr Cyril Victor, Fr Edward David conducted the proceedings during the felicitationprogramme.

Later at around 6 pm, a formal public reception was organised at Bishop Cotton Boys' School, for which the chief guest was governor H R Bhardwaj.