Republic Day Celebration in Nagpur Diocese

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Believers Church Nagpur Diocese observed Republic Day with great enthusiasm on 26 January 2009. In the morning, different cultural programs were held at both the Believers Church Minor Seminary and the Diocesan Office.

Rt. Rev. M.A. Lalachan unfurled the national flag, and the crowd sang the national anthem.

Addressing the gathering, Bishop Lalachan said that the need of this hour is to give due importance to the welfare of the poor and downtrodden, to whom justice is denied and peace is deprived.

Citing an example from the Bible, Bishop said that the greatest love a person can have for his friend is to give his life for him. He encouraged the crowd to love others as God loved the world. He said, “We as fellow citizens of this great nation must give ourselves to serve this great nation and do everything we can to continue to establish justice, peace, unity, harmony and the integrity of our beloved motherland, India.”

After the morning programs, the principal, faculty, staff and students of the Minor Seminary held a rally to communicate the importance of peace and environmental protection.

The team distributed fruit baskets to TB patients at a hospital. Dr. Abhay Gajbhiye (chief medical officer and director), Dr. Induprakash Gajbhiye (former dean of Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur), Dr. Y.D. Bagde (medical officer) and Dr. A.G. Tendulkar (medical officer) were present during the occasion and appreciated the humane gesture of Believers Church Nagpur Diocese towards the sick.

In the evening, a cultural program took place which included patriotic poems, dance, group songs and speeches. Believers Church office staff, seminary faculty and students participated in the program.

Overall the day was a wonderful time of celebrating the nation and uplifting the suffering in the community. This Republic Day celebration was one of many such festivities organized by Believers Church all over India.