Canada: Mangalorean Association Holds Solidarity Prayer Meet
By Gerry D’Mello, Bendur
Daijiworld media network, Canada
Canada, Sep 21: A Prayer Service and a Holy Mass was organized by the Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at Sts.Martha & Mary Church, Mississauga, Canada, for peace in India and as a sign of solidarity towards our Christian brethren suffering in Mangalore.
The theme of the Mass was forgiveness. Fr. Edwin D'Souza, Spiritual Director of MAC and the Parish Priest of Sts. Martha & Mary Church was the celebrant. Ronald Fernandes, the Vice-President of the Association, welcomed the gathering. Lydia Lobo, Janet D’Souza & Ronald D’Souza were the lectors during the Holy Mass.
The Mass was well attended by a large crowd and there was a prayerful and devotional ambience in the Church. The melodious Choir was arranged and well conducted by Merlyn Rodrigues.
At the end of the Mass, the President Maxim D'Mello delivered a key note message and assured the gathering that an Appeal would be initiated, signed and forwarded to the Indian Consulate in Toronto and the Canadian Authorities ASAP for ACTION! He thanked everyone for attending the Holy Mass & showing their solidarity.
After the Holy Mass everyone was invited for a reception at the Knights of Columbus’ Hall for refreshments. It was truly heartening to see that the Indo-Catholics were rushing to sign the Appeal. The Appeal addressed to the Hon. Prime Minister of India emphasized on:
• Ensuring justice to the perpetrators of this abhorrence and brutality; especially the guardians of our society, the police.
• Protecting the constitutional and religious rights of Christians in Mangalore, Karnataka and throughout India.
• Providing compensation to Churches and Schools that were rampaged and damaged and also to all the victims that were assaulted.
• Initiating measures to prevent this catastrophe from reoccurring in any minority groups all over India.
Hats off to Maxim D’Mello, the dynamic President of Mangalorean Association of Canada & all the Executive Committee members for their spirit-filled hard work in organizing a prayer service of this kind in such a short span. The support rendered by the Indo-Catholics who attended this service in large numbers showing their solidarity to their motherland India was really praiseworthy.
Protest Against Church Attacks: