People
in a remote corner of Arunachal Pradesh made a pilgrimage to Christ the Light
Shrine, Miao on 10 March praying for peace in the World.
Around 300 people between the age group of 7
and 70 walked from Neotan, a small village in Changlang District of Arunachal
Pradesh, to Miao covering a distance of around 16 Kilometers. The walk was
aimed at praying for peace in the World, in India and in Arunachal. “The world
needs peace more than ever”, said Fr. Felix Anthony organizing the event. “Our
walk today is a response to Pope Francis’ call for prayer for peace in the
world especially in the Middle East, South Sudan and Uganda, regions that have
seen unprecedented violence and killing.”
On
Friday 9 March, Pope Francis initiated the fifth edition of “24 Hours for the Lord”
event to organize all the people across the world to spend a day in prayer to
pray for personal peace and for the peace in the world. The Mossang sub-tribe
of Tangsas of Neotan village responded to this call of Pope Francis by
organizing Adoration and Confession in their village on 9 March and concluded
the day with pilgrimage to Christ the Light Shrine, the Cathedral Church of Miao
Diocese on 10. The 15.4 KMs walk began at 5am and the pilgrim reached Miao at
9.30 am.
Bishop
George Pallipparambil SDB, the Bishop of Miao Diocese, appreciated the people
for responding to the call of the Holy Father and for giving a visible
expression of their response by walking a long distance. “What you have done is
a concrete expression of your faith. By holding a Cross each and taking every
step with a prayer for peace on your lips, you have walked your faith today. I
join with you all for praying for peace in the world’, he told the pilgrims.
The
pilgrims covered the distance with 27,351 steps.
The
people, though tired, expressed happiness at the end of the Pilgrimage. “We
know we cannot solve all the problems but God can. We hope God will have mercy
on us and on the whole world and that there will be peace in every heart and
every corner of the world”, said Mr. Chomjung Mossang, the village leader from
Neotan.
The
pilgrimage concluded with the pilgrims making Way of the Cross at the life-size
Stations of the Cross erected around the Shrine.
No comments:
Post a Comment