Ecumenical Prayer Service Held in Diocese of Vasai

Vasai, January 28, 2025: The Diocese of Vasai commemorated the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18 to 25, 2025. Members of the faithful from parishes across the diocese offered prayers for Christian unity during Holy Masses held during the week. A notable highlight of the week’s celebrations was a special prayer service held on January 21, 2025, at the Church of St. Gonsalo Garcia in Barampur. Under the guidance of His Lordship Bishop Thomas Dsouza, the service brought together over 600 pastors and faithful from various Christian denominations.

The service commenced at 6:30 PM with a solemn candlelight procession led by Fr. Joe D’Monte, creating a spiritually uplifting atmosphere as the congregation entered the church. The choir set the tone with a hymn, followed by Taizé chants sung by the youth of Yuva Darshan, a youth association from the diocese.

The gathering in the church was warmly welcomed by Fr. Joel D’Cunha. Following this, the First Reading was proclaimed by Pastor Johnson John of the CNI Church, while the Second Reading was delivered by Pastor Joshua Abraham. Pastor Richard Roger offered a thoughtful reflection based on both the readings.

His Lordship Bishop Thomas Dsouza delivered the central teaching on the Gospel, emphasizing the theme, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). In his address, he urged the faithful to “remain united in faith” and highlighted the importance of such gatherings as a testament to the presence of the Risen Lord among His people. "We must walk in the light that comes from Jesus Christ," he said, applauding the diverse congregation for coming together in unity. The service included the collective recitation of the Nicene Creed.

The service concluded with the congregation joining hands to recite the Our Father, symbolizing the universal bond of Christians.

After the service, Bishop Thomas convened a meeting with the pastors to discuss future initiatives aimed at fostering unity and collaboration among different Christian denominations.

The event was meticulously planned with the involvement of diocesan priests and leaders from various denominations, including Pastor Johnson John (CNI Church), Pastor Richard Roger, Fr. Joshua Abraham (Orthodox Church), Pastor Devdan Tribhuvan (Christian Development Association), and Pastor Sam Mathias.

This prayer service stood as a profound testament to the power of Christian unity, demonstrating that believers from diverse backgrounds can come together to affirm their shared faith in Jesus Christ.

By Fr. Robert Joseph