Three-day Bible Mahotsav begins

PATNA: Thousands of Catholics participated in the inaugural ceremony of three-day Bible Mahotsav, which started with prayer services at the Queen of Apostles Church at Kurji on Monday.

The short prayer service was conducted by Patna Archbishop William D’Souza with the message of love, harmony and peace. It was followed by a grand procession with the Bible enthroned on a ‘palkhi’ carried out from the church ground to St Michael’s Primary School premises and back to the church.

An hourlong prayer service was led by the educationist and couples of Christ members, including AV Jose, followed by a variety of programmes based on the Bible. Patna Women’s College presented ‘The Samaritan Woman’, Notre Dame Academy presented a dance on the parable of ‘Wise and Foolish Virgins’, Kurji Holy Family Hospital College of Nursing presented a mime on ‘Joseph the Dreamer’ and St Joseph’s Convent High School Bankipore also presented a mime. Catechists from Nav Jyoti Niketan presented a song.

William D’Souza had declared the yearlong celebration in all catholic Parishes for the faithful to study the theme of the Gospels. At different times during the past 12 months, parishes in different towns have held celebrations, quizzes, variety programs and special prayer services to mark the importance of the Bible in Christian life.

The event was attended by the Catholic delegates from parishes in south Bihar. On Tuesday, they will present some songs, dances and skits that they had presented in the ‘Bible Utsav’ held in their towns. A mass prayer will be held by Coadjutor Bishop Sebastian Kallupura at the church and a Bible quiz on the Gospel of St Luke will be held in the evening.