Week of Ecumenical Unity in Pakistan | Catholics in Pakistan
Rawalpindi: In the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi the Unity week began on 17 January 2023 with an Ecumenical prayer held in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral. His Grace Archbishop Dr. Joseph Arshad led the prayer at the Cathedral. In conjunction, Fr. Sarfraz Simon, Fr. Jacob Joseph Dogra, Fr. David Anosh, Pastor David Hanook, Pastor Qamar ul Zaman, and Pastor Patrick Aslam were present.
Our theme for 2023 is “Do Good, Seek Justice.” The theme is inspired by Isaiah 1:12-18, which laments a lack of justice among the People of God.
Also Read: Archbishop Joseph Arshad inaugurates new office of Caritas Pakistan at KPK Province
Also Read: Holy Mass for Opening of the Platinum Jubilee Year of Islamabad-Rawalpindi Diocese
Fr. Sarfraz Simon presented the introduction of unity week 2023. Fr. David Anosh led the opening prayer while Sr. Alice (Principal of St. Catherine’s School) presented the first reading from the book of Isaiah Chapter 1:12-18
Pastor David Hanook said that no matter if we are different in some administrative matters and somehow in traditions, still we all truly believe in our Saviour Jesus Christ who is the son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead on the third day. We all believe in Jesus and our faith is the same. Let’s ignore the minor discrimination and look toward the major areas of understanding where we always find Jesus as our central point of faith. He urged us to work together with unity and support each other in the development of our faithful irrespective of which denomination we belong to.
Pastor Qamar ul Zaman guided in the closing prayer. For the closing remarks, His Excellency Archbishop asked all the priests, pastors, and catechists to join hands and proclaim the Lord’s Prayer. Together with everyone he led the hymn of unity. He prayed and thanked God for sending his only son to this world as our savior so that we all who believe in his stay in unity and support each other and continue to spread the word of the Lord.
After the prayer, everyone shared the evening tea.
