Bengaluru: The Church in India comprising the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) and National Council of Churches (NCCI) have called for Friday (May 7) as a Day of prayer and fasting for relief from COVID-19 pandemic. All Christians and all concerned citizens and others are invited to participate.
As India reels from a second wave, all faithful are urged to light a candle at 8 pm. and offer a prayer for the nation while bishops across the country have been asked to hold prayer services around noon.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President Catholic Bishops’ Council of India in consultation with Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal George Alencherry; Major archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Cardinal Baselios Cleemis; and president of Catholic Conference of Bishops in India Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, has requested bishops to inform parishes and Religious in the diocese of India to observe May 7 as a day of prayer and fasting.
“I invite all religious communities, especially cloistered sisters, to have a special holy hour praying for an end to the pandemic: a healing for those infected, comfort for those mourning, courage for our frontline workers and success to the efforts of those involved in research and production of medicine and vaccines,” Cardinal Oswald urged in a statement.
Several religious congregations and some diocese have been particularly hit with large number of priests and sisters been infected, and a large number of fatalities. Just this week, besides several priests and religious, Archbishop Antony Anandarayar (75) Emeritus Archbishop of Pondicherry-Cuddalore and Most Rev. Basil Bhuriya (65), SVD, Bishop of Jabhua, Madhya Pradesh dies due to Covid complications.
At least 14 Catholic priests died of COVID-19 in India between April 20 and April 23, and five Catholic priests died within 24 hours in the western state of Gujarat on April 17.
The infections are rising across India, hospitals are packed to capacity, leading to shortage of beds and oxygen needed to save the lives of critically ill COVID patients.