Prayers in churches on Ghar Wapsi

Bishops and priests in India remembered the threats the faithful faced from fundamentalist groups that initiated programs like Ghar Wapsi, targeting basically Christians.

File photo

Chennai:  A Papal call for a day-long prayers in Churches across the world against the backdrop violence against Christians turned out to be an occasion for Indian Christians to include ‘Ghar Wapsi’ in the prayers.

As Catholic churches kept their doors open for the prayers from 9 am to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, parishioners flocked in to pray to the Lord for peace and harmony in the world, primarily remembering Christians affected by the Islamic State group’s activities in countries like Syria, New Indian Express reported.

However, bishops and priests in India remembered the threats the faithful faced from fundamentalist groups that initiated programs like Ghar Wapsi, targeting basically Christians. All Catholic churches in Chennai were opened for the prayers, which were attended by people from all walks of life.

Speaking on the ‘24-Hours for the Lord’ event, which is a Lenten initiative, Pope Francis had said, “Flooded with news reports and troubling images of human suffering, we often feel our complete inability to help. What can we do to avoid being caught up in this spiral of distress and powerlessness?”

“Let us not underestimate the power of so many voices united in prayer,” he added, giving the call for the prayer initiative.

Source: New Indian Express