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Interfaith prayer meet held in Arunachal Pradesh to overcome coronavirus pandemic
Responding to the call of Pope Francis, an interfaith prayer meet held at Christ the Light Minor Seminary, Miao in Arunachal Pradesh to implore God to help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic on 14 May 2020. Pope Francis had accepted the proposal from the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for May 14 2020 to be a Day of Prayer and Fasting and Works of Charity to pray for deliverance from the pandemic. He made this announcement after praying the Regina Caeli from the Library of Apostolic Vatican Palace on May 3. Responding to the call of the Holy Father, Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao Diocese in Arunachal Pradesh organized an interfaith prayer meet with the various heads of religious communities present around Miao town in Changlang district. Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and leaders from Catholic and other denominational churches were present. Head Monk of the Buddhist Monastery at Miao, Narindra Bhikku, said that we are fighting an invisible enemy and prayer is the only weapon we have to fight him. Pandit Ravishankar Pandey of Shiv Mandir in Miao town also echoed the same sentiment and said God is very pleased with us today to see us gathered as brothers and sisters. Stephen Yobin, who represented the Church of Christ in Miao, said it is a special time given to us to stop a while and introspect our way of life before God and pray for his mercy. Evangelist from Town Baptist Church Miao, Chomtang Chamtang also prayed at the meet. Fathers David and John Doley who represented the Catholic Church read the prayer composed by Pope Francis and sang the psalm of deliverance. Bishop George thanked everyone for responding to the global interfaith prayer event in a short notice and praying for deliverance from the coronavirus pandemic and Bishop Dennis Panipitchai, the Auxiliary Bishop of Miao Diocese led the concluding candle light prayer in which all made spontaneous prayer. Similar prayer events were held across Arunachal Pradesh and all the states of North East...
read more‘You are the real heroes’ Bishop George says on International Nurse’s Day
Hailing the nurses for their heroic approach to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao Diocese in Arunachal Pradesh termed the nurses as ‘real heroes’ at the International Nurse’s Day celebrations held at Krick and Bourry Memorial Hospital, Injan in Changlang District on 12 May 2020. Addressing the nurses at the Krick and Bourry Memorial (KBM) Hospital, its patron and founder, Bishop George said, “I really want to thank and congratulate all the nurses for the great sacrifice they make for humanity. I want to assure you and all the nurses across the world that you are always remembered in our prayers.” The World Health Organization declared the year 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwifery in recognition of the contribution they make and the risk associated with nursing, in the context of COVID-19. Highlighting the risk the nurses are subjected to and the mistreatment meted out to them in some part of the country due to ignorance, Bishop George said, “As you battle COVID-19, the great sacrifice you make to be at the side of the people suffering is greatly appreciated by the whole of humanity and you are no less than a super hero.” Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rose Tom, the Director of KBM Hospital, said the celebration of the nurse’s day is relevant today more than ever. “It is the 200th anniversary of the Birthday of Florence Nightingale at whose memory the Nurse’s Day is dedicated to and it is also a year that has tested the metals of every nurse in the world”, she said. Highlighting the theme of this year’s celebration – ‘Nursing the World to Health’, the Dr. Tom said it is an invitation and expression of the important role that nurses play in the world, especially in the context the pandemic COVID-19. Appreciating the nurses for their selfless service, the hospital management presented a small token gift to all the nurses. Dedicated to the memory of the two French Missionaries Nicolas Krick and Augustine Bourry, who were martyred in the border of Tibet on their way through the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh in 1854, the KBM Hospital is the only Church-run hospital in the north eastern most state of India, bordering China and...
read moreArunachal Christians respond to Pope’s universal prayer appeal
The Christians in the remote corners of Arunachal Pradesh responded to Pope Francis’ universal prayer appeal on 25 March 2020. In the wake of the pandemic coronavirus outbreak, the Holy Father had made an appeal to the whole world to pray the ‘Our Father’ on Wednesday, which coincided with the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Responding to the Holy Father’s prayer appeal, every family in Miao Diocese of Arunachal Pradesh prayed the Lord’s Prayer at 4.30pm, corresponding to 12 Noon in Rome. People across the eight districts in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Myanmar and China joined the universal prayer event. Mr. Kamlung Mosang, a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, who visited the Carmelite Sisters in Changlang District to request them to make mask for the patients in the isolation wards in Miao, joined the Sisters to pray for the whole world. “I am happy to join the Sisters in this universal prayer appeal of Pope Francis. With the daily increase in the number of positive cases of the deadly Covid19, prayer seems to be the only solution. We raise our eyes and with open arms pray that there will soon be respite from the pandemic disease”, said Mr. Mosang, the Minister for Civil Supply & Consumer Affairs and Urban Development. The Bishop of Miao Diocese, George Pallipparambil, had appealed to the whole diocese to join the Holy Father in praying together the ‘Our Father’, the Angelus and Divine Mercy chaplet for relief during this critical time. “I know all our churches are closed and our country is lockdown for the next three weeks. Let us spend this time to engage ourselves usefully by reading the Bible and reflecting on the deep lessons this deadly virus can teach us. I invite everyone to pray at home to participate spiritually with the Holy Father in praying for the world”, read a note from Bishop George to the faithful. People gathered in their families and prayed the Lord’s Prayer in their own dialects. Some families recorder their prayer and shared it in social media platforms. The social communication wing of the Diocese has made a collection of these videos and shared in its social media page to encourage others to pray during this distressing...
read moreNorth East India Bishops issue guidelines to contain Coronavirus
In the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak across India, the North East India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC) has issued guidelines for all the general public, Parishes and Institutions to take necessary safety precautions to contain the spread of the virus. At the conclusion of the two-day meeting of NEIRBC at the Pastoral Centre, Dibrugarh, on 18 March, the Archbishop of Guwahati and the Council’s President, John Moolachira, speaking on behalf of all the Bishops of North East India said, “We advise the people to follow the guidelines and instructions of their respective States to contain the spread of the pandemic novel coronavirus.” Advising the people to avoid large public gatherings, a note from the Archbishop read, “Catholics are dispensed from Sunday and other obligatory day obligations till further notice. The Church may be left open for individuals to come and pray.” In the light of the looming threat of the virus and with no respite in sight, the guideline from the Bishops advises the people to avoid panic, as fear is more dangerous than the virus itself. The Apex Body of the North East Bishops has advised the people to receive Holy Communion in the hand, instead of the tongue and to avoid handshakes to greet. The guideline further advises to keep the Holy Water stoops dry and to use disposable wipes, instead of towels, to clean the feet after the feet washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday and it discourages people to kiss the Cross on Good Friday. It advises a deep bow instead. The guideline advises the clergy to refrain from any physical contact while praying over the sick or while receiving offerings. Calling on people to take appropriate measures, the guidelines advises the health experts to conduct instruction and awareness programme for the people about the signs and symptoms of the virus and ways and means to prevent its spread. In the light of the recent attack on two female students from the North East near Delhi University’s North Campus, by six men who called them ‘coronavirus’, the Bishops appeal for peace and to end all discrimination meted out to the people from the region during this critical time. The advisory note concludes with a request for earnest prayers to God to help come out of this deadly virus affecting the whole...
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