By Fr Felix Antony –
Miao: 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 the religious leaders made spontaneous prayer.
Similar prayer events were held across Arunachal Pradesh and all the states of North East India.