Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vijayawada (Agenzia Fides) – In union with the many local churches throughout the world who are organizing special events for the faithful in honor of Saint Paul in this Jubilee Year dedicated to him, the Diocese of Vijayawada (in the Indian state of Andra Pradesh, in Southeast India) has recently held a Special Jubilee Day in honor of the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle to the Gentiles.
The event, celebrated in the city's Cathedral, was attended by priests, religious, and laity from all over the diocese, accompanied by Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu, to pray and reflect on the life of Saint Paul. The Jubilee Day was attended by over 2,000 faithful from the various parishes and movements throughout the diocese, and was the high point of the celebration and the Year of St. Paul lived by the local parishes. The objective was that of rediscovering the figure of the Apostle, in his resplendent example of pastoral care and evangelization.
Each member of the faithful was called to live out this spirit, the same that moved the tireless evangelizer and Apostle to the Gentiles, in their own daily life. The Bishop asked that all the faithful imitate Saint Paul in bearing witness to Christ as he did, reminding the faithful to take part especially in prayer and penance during this time of Lent.
“The daily choices of life are detrimental to future happiness. Thus one should model one’s Christian life on the Pauline praxis of life to win the crown of glory at the end of a lifetime fight,” the Bishop said in the Concluding Mass.
The Diocese of Vijayawada has nearly 260,000 Catholics, of a population of 4.8 million inhabitants. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/3/2009)
