News: Nanu Marol
Pics: Samuel Fernandes
Udupi, Jan 20: Church of South India Ebenezer Church Malpe, United Basel Mission Ebenezer Church Malpe and St Anne Church Thottam jointly organized a prayer for Christian unity, Ecumenical prayer service on January 19 at St Anne Church Thottam.
Fr Valerian Mendonca, rector Milagres Cathedral Kallianpur Edwin Joseph, pastor CSI Ebenezar Church Malpe and Kumar Salins, pastor UBM Ebenezer Church Malpe and Pastor Prashanth Jattanna of Big J TV were present.
The Holy Bible was brought to the altar in a ceremonial way. Fr Denis Desa, parish priest St Anne Church Thottam welcomed the gathering and spoke on the importance of arranging such ecumenical prayer service.
Stephan Rodrigues, deacon in his introductory speech said, “There are many sects with Christianity. But prayer brings us all together. This prayer shows our unity and our association with Jesus Christ”.
Edwin Joseph, pastor CSI Ebenezar Church Malpe in his address said, “Even though we did not get birth in the same womb, we all united in Christ. Our worship ritual may be different, but there is a need that we utilize the opportunities where we can show up our unity”.
Kumar Salins, pastor UBM Ebenezer Church Malpe in his message to the gathering said, “There will be opposition naturally when something good is happening. Even Jesus Christ faced this opposition. But if we have a heart like Jesus no one will be able to break our unity”.
Fr Valerian Mendonca, rector of Milagres Cathedral in his words said, “Even though there is a large Christian population globally, there are very few in India. Jesus Christ has sent us to this world with a mission. He has told us to love each other the way he loved others. Today’s this ecumenical unity prayer is a good example for Christ’s love”.
Prasthanth Jattanna, pastor, congratulated the organizers for such a unique programme and said, “It is the plan of Jesus Christ to organize such a programme. We need to change our mindsets and start loving each others.”
Choir troupes of St Anne Church, Thottam and UBMC Church Malpe assisted in choir.
Gilbert Pinto, convener Commision of Ecumenism proposed vote of thanks.
Gracy Pinto compered the programme.