Christians in India have made long-term commitment to share resources with those in need and to pray for them, reflecting on the First World Day of the Poor instituted by His Holiness Pope Francis to help the poor and the needy. On 19th November,2017, the world celebrated “First World Day of the Poor”, which has helped put poverty on center stage of Catholic life in India. Leaders of India’s three ritual Catholic churches- Syro Malabar, Syro Malankara and Latin rites followed a papal exhortation to express solidarity with those in need.
As reported by ucanews.com, Fr. Jimmy Poochakkat, church spokesperson remarked that “All 34 dioceses of the Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church observed the day and the parishioners went into the streets to give away money, food packages and clothes.” His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias emphasized that “Pope Francis has ceaselessly been reminding us about special care for the poor.” His Lordship Cardinal Gracias also asked parishes to help make the world “more Christ-like”
Fr. Thomas Rajmanikam, priest at the St. Joseph Parish in the Nanda Nagar are of Indore Diocese in Madhya Pradesh said that “The parishioners baked a local delicacy for distribution to victims of Hansen’s disease, formerly known as leprosy.”, as reported by ucanews.com. Holy Father Pope Francis in 2016 instituted the World Day of the Poor, which this year fell on Sunday, November 19.
