Shaheen P Parshad
Amritsar: With a view to beseeching the Almighty to bring the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the suffering it has caused to the humanity around the globe to an end, the Diocese of Amritsar (DoA), Church of North India (CNI), held an online inter-faith prayer meeting, which witnessed the participation of the DoA’s international partners in Germany and Scotland, besides representatives of different faiths from India and UK, on Thursday.
The event began with an opening prayer by the Most Reverend P K Samantaroy, Bishop, DoA, CNI. Reverend Dr Inderjit Singh Bhogal, former President, Methodist Church, UK, Reverend Hillary Evans, President, Methodist Church, Women, UK, Giani Gurnam Singh, Granthi, UK, Reverend Dr Sandy Sneden and Dr Reinhardt Walter, from Germany, Giani Satnam Singh, a former Jathedar, Bhai Chamanjeet Singh Channi, from Delhi, and members of the Muslim community led by Mohammed Yusuf Malik, were among those who partook of the inter-faith prayer meeting.
Stating that selfishness could further threaten the human race already jeopardized by the pandemic, the speakers urged the governments of various countries to be benevolent and share their resources, particularly vaccines with countries that either had none or had run out of these to put an end to COVID-19. They also urged the public to follow the guidelines of the governments of their respective countries to defeat COVID-19.
Bishop Samantaroy said that the event was a part of the DoA’s initiative for enhanced inter-faith interactions for the overall wellbeing of the humanity. He maintained that hearing about the mounting daily COVID-19 death toll was really disconcerting. He added that as a majority of humans around the world have due regard for religion and religious leaders, the latter can join hands to lead the fight against COVID-19 by urging people to get vaccinated against the disease, besides educating them to overcome the prejudices against COVID-19 patients, be humane and extend a helping hand.
“While governments, doctors and scientists are doing all that they can to combat Coronavirus, religious leaders of different faiths can assist them in the fight against COVID-19 by joining hands to educate people, who still harbor misconceptions about the disease and prejudices against those tested COVID-19 positive. We have to step out of our comfort zone to address people’s needs in these turbulent times,” he said. The Bishop added that the DoA was committed to holding more such inter-faith prayer meetings and events aimed at the welfare of the masses.
Daniel B Das, Property Manager and Director, Socio-Economic Development Programme (SEDP), DoA, thanked the participants for their valuable contributions towards the success of the initiative.