Lahore: January 26, 2015. (Fr. Inayat Bernard) January 18,2015: “From 1908 till date the church is celebrating the unity Octave from 18th January to 25th January every year”. Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM of Lahore was talking to the gathering of fathers, sisters, catechists, seminarians and the faithful gathered at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral. In an augural prayer service, Archbishop said in his presidential address that the present society is being intolerant, angry and going towards hatred against one another. In this situation our presence will bring peace and respect amongst us. He said that each human being is precious in the hands of God and when we realize that I am precious and others are precious too, then I will respect them because each one is made in the image of God. He said that we have to be united to fight against the powers of evil and become the heralds of peace and this way we shall be called sons of God.
He ended by saying that to be real follower of Jesus, I need to become the promoter of peace and unity so that through me the society and the world will become a place to live in a peaceful world. He appreciated the efforts of the Ecumenical Solidarity Committee and the Council for interfaith Dialogue for their efforts to promote unity among Christian denominations.
Church of Pakistan Irfan Jamil, Bishop of Lahore said that we live in a world of uncertainty sand hopelessness. But we are people of God who gives us hope in our life. The church unity is not only to have meetings and prayer services but to see things actually happening in a united way. We are different parts of the same body of Christ and he is our head. We may be different in our administration but we are followers of the same Lord Jesus Christ who is our binding force.
Bishop Irfam Jamil continued that by such programs we shall come close to each other and each ones’ way of life and practices of faith which will help us to grow in our unity and that will begin peace of heart and mind for the church leaders and the faithful. He wished that the unity will go on during this year as well.
In his homily Rev. Emmanuel Khokhar, the vicar general of the church of Pakistan diocese of Raiwind said that the initiative of Jesus Christ to ask water from the Samarian woman is an example for us to go outside our church structures and make efforts to come close to each other. He said that we need to open the doors and windows of our hearts to have the courage to listen to one another and then grow the sense of encouragement and appreciation of the other churches. He said the apostles were astonished to see Jesus and it became for them an example that the good news is to be preached to the non Jews as well. He said that in the last three years we have become close to each 4 mainline churches and we recognize the voice on phone and meet often which has helped us to appreciate one another.
He ended by saying that in our day today life we need to invite one another to our churches to listen and benefit from the talents each one of us has.
On behalf of the coordinator Fr. Francis Nadem OFM Cap, introduction of the program was given by Fr. Inayat Bernard, Rector of St. Mary’s Seminary who said that “Today we are gathered here at the invitation of the Ecumenical Solidarity Committee and Council for interfaith dialogue to participate in an inaugural prayer service during international unity Octave.
It was October 2012 that some of the representatives of the 4 main line churches met to organize unity week 2013. The unity Octave was going on regularly in the past years but it was stopped for some years. So we re-organized it and have had two unity Octaves in 2013, 2014 and now is the third unity week.
During the year we organize Alleluia Conference on the 2nd Saturday after Easter Sunday. The first of its kind was organized at St. Joseph Church Lahore Cantt. in 2013 and the second one was at the Cathedral of the Resurrection in 2014 and this year’s alleluia conference will be at the Salvation Army headquarters.
Besides that we agreed to fix the date 14th December for Ecumenical Christmas Carol .The first program was at the Praying hand cathedral Waris Road in 2012, the second was at St. Joseph Church Lahore Cantt. in 2013 and last year 2014 was at the Salvation Army headquarters.
The topic for this years’ weekly celebration is based on the chapter 4 of the Gospel of Jesus according to St. John. Jesus Christ goes beyond his Jewish barriers and talks to a Samaritan and a women. By this he shows that the salvation is not only for the Jews but for all humankind. He asks to give me a drink.
The message of Jesus is for all nations of the world and in our day today life we go beyond our religious barriers and include everyone in the plan of salvation for God loved the world so much that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life”.
The first reading from Isaiah 52:7-10 was read by Presbyterian pastor Rev. Amjad Niamat while the Gospel was ready by Fr. William Basharat OFM Cap from the Gospel of John 4:7-14. Salvation Army Major Saleem Yousaf said an inaugural prayer. The prayers of the faithful were read by Peter Percy (Church of Pakistan diocese of Lahore), Major Amjad of the Salvation Army, Francis Saudagar of the Presbyterian Church in Pakistan, Mrs. Shakila Emmanuel of the church of Pakistan diocese of Raiwind and Sr. Abida of the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Lahore.The choir of St. Mary’s Seminary sang hymns and psalms under the guidance of Sr. Rukhsana Murad O.P.
Church of Pakistan Pastor I. B. Rocky read out the weekly program to be held at different churches of the 4 mainline denominations and invited the faithful to participate in all united prayer services.
Shahid Meraj the dean of the Church of Pakistan diocese of Lahore of Cathedral of the Resurrection introduced the members of the Ecumenical Solidarity Committee. They are Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap (ESC coordinator) and other members are Rev. Shahid Meraj, Rev. Emmanuel Khokhar, Fr. Francis Sabir OFM Cap, Rev. Amjad Niamt, Lt. Col Washington Daniel, Fr. Henry Paul OFM Cap, Fr. Inayat Bernard, Rev. Saleem Khokhar, Pastor I.B. Rocky, Fr. Samson Dilawar and Fr. William Basharat OFM Cap. He also thanked the Church heads and the audience.
Fr. Joseph Shahzad , Rector of the Sacred Heart Cathedral thanked all who participated in the unity service. He made a special mention to the three guests who participated from the Anglican Church from the diocese of Manchester. They were Canon Phil Rowling, Mr.Michael Chesterton and Rev. Dave Henson.
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