“Do You Believe This?” Theme Marks End of Unity Octave 2025 in the Archdiocese of Bhopal

Bhopal, January 28, 2025: The eight-day prayer service for Christian unity came to an end at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Jehangirabad, Bhopal. Held annually from 18 to 25 January, this prayer gathering aims to foster unity among Christians worldwide. This year, the service was organised at various churches across Bhopal, including Christ Church-Govindpura, The Christian Church-Harshvardhan Nagar, Zion Church-Kolar, St. Joseph Church-Barkheda, Bethlehem CNI Church-Barkhedi, St. John’s-Govindpura, and Assumption Church.

Archbishop Dr. Sebastin Durairaj S.V.D., in his address, reflected on the significance of Saint Paul, saying, "Today, on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, we celebrate a pivotal moment in the history of our Church. The radical transformation of Saul, the zealous persecutor of Christians, into the Apostle Paul, the ardent preacher of the Gospel, serves as a powerful reminder of God's boundless mercy and the transformative power of His grace. He also underscored the importance of unity, stating, “In a world facing countless challenges, collective prayer is essential. It empowers us and instills courage.”

On the concluding day, the opening prayers were led by Fr. Hermon and Deacon Amalraj, while Fr. Alfred D’Souza, PRO, conducted the prayer service and introduced the theme for this year, “Do You Believe This?” Representatives from different churches also offered intercessory prayers. At the conclusion of the service, the Archbishop honoured the priests and pastors for their support throughout the event by offering a scarf imprinted with the Jubilee 2025 logo. Fr. P. Soosai, Secretary of Ecumenism and Dialogue, extended a warm welcome and expressed gratitude to all attendees. The occasion was graced by the presence of pastors, priests, nuns, and laity.

By Mr. Sunil