Tura:
Thousands of catholic faithful across the five districts of Garo Hills attended a special church service on Friday evening to offer prayers for an end to the war and suffering in Ukraine- a country that has been bombarded and destroyed by invading Russian troops for the past one month.
The special church service or Holy Mass took place in Garo Hills along with the rest of the world as Pope Francis- the head of the catholic church-led “A Solemn Act of Consecration of humanity and Russia and Ukraine in particular to the Immaculate heart of Mary on the Feast of the Annunciation”. Friday was observed in the religious calendar as the Feast of Mother Mary.
In Tura, Bishop of Tura Rt Rev Andrew R Marak led the religious faithful in holding the consecration at the Cathedral Church in RC Road with Holy Mass after partaking in the 14 Stations of the Cross which recalls the suffering of Lord Jesus Christ on his way to the crucifixion. Addressing the gathering, Bishop Andrew spoke of the immense suffering to human life due to the war and the need for peace and reconciliation.
“The war in Ukraine is daily inflicting destruction, death and immense suffering upon its people and dangerously threatening world peace. In this dark hour, it is our bounden duty to intercede before Christ, the Prince of Peace, and to demonstrate our closeness to those directly afflicted by the conflict,” stated Bishop Andrew in his letter to all priests, parishioners and the clergy in Garo Hills.
A prayer in silence was offered by the devotees for the people of Ukraine.
Similar church services were organised in Ampati, Baghmara, Resubelpara, Williamnagar and the Tura parishes at Sacred Heart Shrine in Chandmari, Cathedral church, St. Mary’s Araimile, St. Luke church in Walbakgre and Montfort church in Danakgre.
Reports of devotees attending church on Friday evening were also reported from the rural areas, as distant as the border village of Purakhasia to the remoteness of Rongara in South Garo Hills and Mangsang in East Garo Hills that almost touches West Khasi Hills district.