Saturday, April 11, 2015

Visitation of St. Thomas Ashram, Kalanaur, Punjab

I arrived here around sunset time. This place is close to the International Pak-India border. It is heaven on earth. Its all lush green. Fields are all ready with golden wheat.....The beautiful nature attracts your attention and makes you to sing songs of praise and worship.
Christians form 1.1% of the total population in Punjab, India. Sikhs form the majority in the state. John Lowrie and William Reed were missionaries who went there in 1834.[1] The Diocese of Amritsar of the Church of North India has its seat in Punjab as does the Roman Catholic diocese of Jalandhar. There are thousands of settlements with a Christian congregation.[2] From 1881 to 1891 the Christian population of the then still united Punjab increased rapidly.[3]
Denominations: United Churches of North India (UCNI), Protestant Church, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church,[2] Roman Catholic Church, Eternal Light Ministries, Kashmir Evangelical Fellowship, the Pentecostal Mission
 The Capuchins came in here around 1978. They did a lot of evangelizing work. There are villages where the capuchins have preached the Gospel and today the fruits are seen. In this place there are about 600 Catholic families well rooted in faith and catholic traditions.
 Besides this Church there another church in Mastkot around 10km away dedicated to st. Fidelis. A new church building and friary is under construction and very soon the province will have a new presence. There is a Punjabi and English medium school.
 Some years ago the parish ran a hostel for the boys. Today it is closed for various reasons.. there are schools now everywhere...parents prefer to keep the children at home....

 Today it is a minor seminary of the Capuchins....they had 18 candidates who are now promoted for their further formation....they have gone for their summer vacations.....

 This is Br. Jose who is parish priest at mastkot and he is here for last 5 years....
 The guardian is very much interested in gardening....you can see variety of roses.....Br. John Prakash is the oldest missionary here ....
 Fraternity....Guardina Johny with long beard.....Br. John Prakash is vice rector.....Jose next to Guardian and Br Jose is the new member who will be parish priest of St. Thomas Parish..

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