Adventists, Jesuits in India share in ecumenical Christmas celebration

Bengaluru: Archbishop Bernard Moras hosts Christmas Sneha Milan

Daijiworld | December 18, 2014

Archbishop Moras welcoming the religious leaders and all others explained the meaning of Christmas. He said Christmas brings peace, joy and love among other good qualities. Jesus came on earth to give peace to the humanity and not only to Catholics or other Christians alone. He said "Christmas is time when we recall God’s love for us, how he becomes human so that we might recognize Him in all human beings. Hence Christmas is a time for recognizing Him, not only in Jesus but in everybody. It is also time for renewing relationships and reaching out to one another. It is for this reason, families come together, people send greetings to one another and Christians are happy to greet all our brothers and sisters of other religions."

Shreyar Vakil from Parsee Fraternity spoke of secularism and its meaning in the present context. "Parsee is a minority within minority. They are only about 80,000 in the world. All religions teach to follow after good thoughts, deeds and words. I wonder whether Santa Claus is real or a myth! Christmas, according to me, is a gift of love, sharing, caring, harmony and many more which contribute positively towards building up of a good society. All can become Christians who follow the tenets of Christ and not necessarily someone is born as a Catholic or a Protestant. Christmas is a time and a day of introspection and not only for joy and rejoicing. Water was changed into wine at the instance of Mary. From that day on, He became Christ from Jesus."

Among others who spoke included Gyani Baldev Singh, Head Granthi, Guru Singh Sabha, Ananda Bhante, Head Mahabodhi Society and Fr Ronnie Prabhu, SJ (Jesuit) who was the main organizer and spokesperson. Fr Ronnie enlightened all with his brain teasers intermittently and between the speeches and cultural items.

Other religious leaders present on the occasion were Rajesh Bhantia, Jain representative, Mar Thoma Church, CSI, Orthodox Syrian, Believers Church, Assemblies of God, Lutheran, FCCO, Baptist, Jacobite Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, and Methodist Churches.

Source: http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=284664