Kolkata Christians to pray for peace and unity of the nation's citizen

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Two ecumenical organisations in Kolkata, the Bengal Christian Council and Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, has called all the Christians in the state to participate in the march that will be held next week in favour of unity, peace and equality, and praying for forgiveness for hurtful actions.

The Catholic Church and other Christian denominations from Kolkata are planning to participate in the march next week.

Father Dominic Gomes, the chief organiser, told AsiaNews that "We shall pray for unity keeping in mind today's atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, but there will be nothing political in the initiative.

Additionally, on January 20, over 100 churches will take part in a rally as part of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian unity, which is marked from 17 to 25 January.

The march will cover around 3.5 kilometers and will start from the cathedral and end at the statue of Gandhi on Mayo Road.

The prayer meeting will focus on the message of unity, amity and communal harmony and express solidarity with people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act over the past few weeks.

"We hope that all quarrels will end and equality will be upheld," Fr Gomes said. "May all those who have hurt others through their words and actions be forgiven too."

"We should try to forget all our differences and unite as a community of Christians for peace and love. This year we shall pray as a Christian community for the country as a whole. Peace is the need of the hour and we need a miracle to happen," the Christian leader added.