By Felix Antony –
Guwahati: The Catholic Bishops of North East India responded to the appeal of Pope Francis and spiritually joined him in consecrating Ukraine and Russia on Friday, 25 March.
In the wake of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the Holy Father had requested the Christians and the Bishops across the world to join him spiritually in the penitential celebration ’24 Hours for the Lord’ in which he consecrated both the neighbouring countries to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Inviting the people in his diocese to pray along with the rest of the world, John Moolachira, the Archbishop of Guwahati said, “We need peace. We are pained by the suffering of people in both these countries. The leaders of these two countries need our prayers that they may have the gift of wisdom and courage to take steps towards peace.”
The Archbishop of also noted that the prayer of consecration prepared by the Holy Father has been translated into many tribal languages and made available to the public. “Many of our parish churches have arranged Way of the Cross in the evening followed by Holy Mass and the prayer of consecration”, said Moolachira, who is also the President of the North East India Regional Bishops Council.
Leading the prayer of consecration, Bishop Albert Hemrom, the Chairman for North East Social Communication (NESCOM) and the Bishop of Dibrugarh said, “We need peace now more than ever. The world is just on the way to recovery after two long years of trying times caused by the pandemic. War is the last thing that humanity needs now”.
Speaking at the backdrop of the annual general body meeting of NESCOM at Inspiration, Guwahati, Hemrom said, “We pray with the Holy Father that God may give peace to this ailing world”.
Addressing the participants of the NESCOM general body meeting, Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Menamparampil highlighted how war in any part of the world has its global impact. “Even though only Ukraine and Russia are in conflict, its repercussions are seen all over the world, because we are all connected to each other. We are one big family. We cannot and should not fight”, said the senior most catholic leader, who has worked for peace in the region for more than fifty years.
Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala diocese in Tripura led his people in Eucharistic Adoration prior to the prayer of consecration. Echoing the words of Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, Bishop Monteiro said, “I join Pope Francis to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Prayer has won wars. While the benefits of our prayers may not be as tangible as dollars spent on food or medicine, we trust their effects are even more important”.
Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao diocese in Arunachal Pradesh wrote to every catholic in the diocese to join the prayer of consecration. Inviting people to pray at the Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Mass, the salesian prelate said, “There is hope when we pray. When all our human efforts fail, God takes control. We pray with the Holy Father for peace in both these countries and in the rest of the world.”
Similar prayer of consecration was held in Kohima in Nagaland, Aizawl in Mizoram, Shillong, Jowai, Nongstoin and Tura in Meghalya, Diphu, Bongaigaon, Tezpur and Dibrugarh in Assam, Imphal in Manipur, and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.