Dubai: St. Mary’s Church Konkani Community Entreats for Peace in Karnataka

by Jerina Lewis
Pics by S. J. Lewis

Dubai, Sep 26: The Church considers the Holy Mass as the most perfect way to offer adoration, offerings and entreaties to God. On 25th September 2008, vast number of Konkani speaking people of Dubai gathered in the St. Mary’s Church Dubai for the Monthly Konkani Holy mass in the evening at 8:00 pm, prayed fervently  for the  restoration of peace and protection for all  Christians against any communal mayhem in their home land.   

Never has the question of communal accord and social integration raised such a wide range of painful emotions as today in Karnataka State, specially in Mangalore, a model city of religious harmony.   St. Mary’s Konkan parishioners took this opportunity to pause and reflect on what God asks of us at this perilous moment, chose to pray and offer mass for the natives those suffered for their faith.  

Fr. Freddy D’Souza, Asst. Parish Priest in his homily stressed on the religious basis of peace which links to the Holy Gospel.  Fr. Freddy narrated that the Gospel invites us to live our life in truth and justice.  Always there will be two categories of people in the society,  the first category of people those are able to recognize their mistakes, ready to accept the mistakes and set to change their lives.  But the second category of people feel that they are perfect, no requirement of change in life and obedience remains out of their life.  Jesus is the perfect example for obedience who emptied Himself, offered His life on the Cross. Fr. Freddy invited the congregation to live our life after the example of Christ. 

During the mass, special prayers were recited so as to stress even more the need for peace and for the enlightenment of persecutors.  

As the mass concluded,  an Eucharistic Adoration was performed by Fr. Freddy D’Souza who offered insistent prayers for religious harmony. The whole congregation again converged in unity and implored for universal peace.

After the mass, members of St. Mary’s Konkan Community (SMKC) Dubai collected signatures from the attendees for the petition which will be submitted with the memorandum to the Consul General of Dubai Indian Consulate in due course, requesting peace and justice in Karnataka State. 

St. Mary’s parishioners stand today and forever with God who blesses peace.  We,  the Konkani community at Dubai reiterate that, may we and our nation may experience the blessings of God bestowed upon the meek, the merciful, the justice seekers and the peace makers.