Media Release
Bangalore, Dec 23: The Prison Ministry of India recently celebrated Christmas at central prison, Bangalore. This central prison has more than 4,000 prisoners.
Dr Bernard Moras, archbishop of Bangalore was the chief guest for the programme. Krishna Kumar, superintendent of central prison presided over the programme. Dr Anita and D S Hatti, assistant superintendents of central prison and Fr Sebastian Vadakumpadam, national coordinator PMI were the guests of honour.
Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras gave the message of Christmas to the inmates of the central prison. In his message he told that Jesus gave the message of peace, love and coexistence. He expressed his wish that everyone experiences the message of peace, love and coexistence in his or her life.
He also quoted passages of bible: “Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? And so first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
He also said that we are all brothers and sisters because we are all created in the image and likeness of God and so he called upon all the prisoners and all those who gathered there to come out of all the bad habits, sinful life, be clean and become holy and blameless before God.
The superintendent of central prison in his presidential address said that all the great and spiritual leaders and founders of different religions like Mohammad Paigamber, Jesus, Buddha and so on worked for the upliftment of the people and dispel the darkness of their life giving light to them. He appreciated the works being done by the prison ministry of India especially in the field of counselling, legal aid, surety, getting bail, looking after the sick people etc. Also he hailed the services rendered by the Christians through quality education, giving services to the schedule tribe, schedule caste, marginalized through social work all over India and wished that the Lord Jesus bless all the Christian missionaries that they may continue to serve the people and that all the prisoners may be realised using the services of PMI and join their families.
The national coordinator of PMI Fr Sebastian Vadakumpadan gave brief message of Christmas.
He thanked superintendents for having given permission to do the service inside the prison and conduct different programmes. Also thanked all the officials and the prisoners for their whole hearted cooperation.
Ida was the MC of the programme, Fr Anthony D’Souza cmf welcomed the guests and the audience. Francis delivered thanks giving speech.
There were many colourful dances and a skit by the children of different schools. The carol singing and Bharatanatyam by the blind children of Jyothi Seva School of Bangalore was well appreciated.