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13th ANNIVERSARY OF JEEVAN DHAM
CELEBRATED ZESTFULLY:
MAIN EVENTS:
* INSTALLATION AND BLESSING
OF TABERNACLE
* BLESSING OF MONSTRANCE
* INSTALLATION AND
BLESSING OF THE STATUE OF OUR LADY- ROSA MYSTICA ('MYSTICAL
ROSE')
* RELEASE OF JEEVAN DHAM
KE PHOOL VOL.3 CASSETTE
On
July 6, 2004 Jeevan Dham completed
its 13 precious years in the service of the poor, the needy,
the sick and the dejected.
To celebrate this joyous occasion,
the Archbishop of the Delhi Archdiocese Most Rev. Vincent
M. Concessao was invited to offer a Thanksgiving Mass for
JEEVAN DHAM. By 10:00 a.m., a large crowd from far and
near gathered to share in our happiness. The Archbishop arrived
at 10:30 a.m. and was welcomed with flowers and dance by small
children. Other priests from different parishes in Delhi and
Faridabad joined His Grace in this celebration. The nine concelebrants
– Rev. Fr. Christopher (our Asstt. Parish Priest), Rev.Fr.
Anthony Francis, Rev. Fr. Albert Francis, Rev. Fr. Arnold David,
Rev. Fr. Benedict Francis, Rev. Fr. Matthew Koyickal, Rev. Fr.
Maxim Pinto, Rev. Fr. Thomas Chambakatt and Rev. Fr. Thomas
(O.F.M. cap) gathered around the altar along with the Archbishop
for the Holy Mass.
His Grace gave a thought-provoking and
enriching homily stressing on the role of men to help and love
their fellow beings and exhorted to all believers in Christ
to proclaim the message of truth, peace and joy to all in this
hostile, insensible world. On the basis of the Gospel taken
from St. Matthew 9:32-38 His Grace threw light on the
plans of God, our Heavenly Father, who is all loving and merciful.
He clearly pointed out the faith that made people to follow
Jesus and admire His work on one side and the stubbornness and
hard-heartedness of the Pharisees on the other, who baselessly
accused Jesus and always questioned His authority. The Pharisees
thought that just by following the law and the rituals, they
would earn salvation. But actually, due to their pride, prejudice
and hypocrisy, they were far away from the promised salvation.
Their eyes were so blinded by their own ideas that they could
not see the truth and power of God in Jesus Christ. The more
they exalted themselves before men, the more they became an
abomination to God. As Jesus became famous among the people
due to His striking teaching and outstanding miracles, these
Pharisees became jealousy of Him and tried to trap Him in His
own words, yet they never succeeded in outwitting Jesus. He
encouraged everyone to become strong believers in Christ who
can always put complete trust in God in all situations of life
keeping in mind the fact that whatever God does for us will
be for our benefit. His Grace added that we should be always
thankful to God for whatever we are and all the graces we have
obtained. We should work according to the plan of God because
His plans are always for our good and are well above our plans.
Our loving God can turn what we think as evil or destructive
into a graceful and holy thing, a difficulty or sickness or
pain into a thing for His glory. He gives generously to all
who ask in faith and wants everyone to inherit His heavenly
Kingdom, to become His loving children. Jesus cured everyone
during His ministry, listened to their prayers and preached
the Good news of salvation to all without prejudice in order
to fulfil His Father’s plan for them. Jesus looked beyond
a disease or an illness or affliction, an opportunity to glorify
His Father’s name and made others understand and experience
the love and mercy that God has for His children. Similarly,
we too should look beyond all our ailments and afflictions and
use them as opportunity to understand and experience the love,
mercy and generosity of God, an opportunity to preach the message
of truth and salvation in Jesus Christ to all. If we always
keep such an optimistic thinking and remain grateful to God
for all His blessings and favours, we will always remain joyful
and contented. This attitude will further lead us to give ourselves
in brotherly love and service, in obedience to God’s commands
thus making us His beloved children. There are still thousands
of people who have yet to experience the love and mercy of God.
They are struggling, ailing and weeping, lying crushed under
their work waiting for someone to help and guide them to the
true path to God, to His eternal life. And that is why Jesus
said to His disciples, “The harvest
is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord
of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.” (Mt.
9:37-38) Jesus wants all men to hear the Good News,
but they will never hear unless there are those of us who are
prepared to cross the seas and the mountains and bring the Good
News to them. If the harvest of men is ever to be reaped, then
every one of us must be a reaper, ever ready to gather the harvest.
His Grace concluded his homily with a small prayer for the family
of JEEVAN DHAM. He prayed that the good works and service
may increase manifold and that many more people may come to
know the true God, experience His true joy, peace and love through
this family and all the volunteers involved. May all receive
a new life in Christ through them, may they succeed in their
service to God and men.
His Grace then read the prayer
of blessing before the Communion Rite for anointing the Tabernacle,
the Monstrance and the beautiful statue of MARIA,
ROSA MYSTICA (‘Mystical Rose’). The recessional
hymn, a new hymn written exclusively for JEEVAN DHAM,
sung with a fresh and lively music brought vigour and zeal to
all. The last and the important part of the programme left out
was the release of the new audio cassette by JEEVAN DHAM.
The Archbishop cut the packet of cassettes and opened it to
show the new JEEVAN DHAM KE PHOOL Vol.3
cassette to all and later gave a copy to all the concelebrants
present. Written with the inspiration from the Holy Spirit,
orchestrated by professional musicians, recorded digitally with
the latest hi- technology and sung in a beautiful in-depth voice
of the prayer group leader, the 8 meaningful songs (bhajans)
of this cassette were really appreciated by all with a big applause
and relished by the crowd when the new cassette was played for
them. The Archbishop happily gave his blessings to all the believers
present. Later, the concelebrants, along with the Archbishop
and few sisters joined for table fellowship.
We are thankful to Almighty God
for all these favours we received on that day. We pray that
more and more people may join us in prayer as 24hr. adoration
is going on everyday for the past 10 months, that
they may praise and glorify the name of Jesus through their
words and deeds, and adoring Him in spirit and truth may they
obtain heavenly graces and blessings, remain faithful and obedient
to God, and moving towards perfection in love, joy, faith and
wisdom become His beloved children to inherit eternal life in
Heaven. PRAISE THE LORD!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!...
