By TCN News,
Mumbai: Thousands of Christians trudged a grueling and arduous walk, over 5 hours around 7 kilometers in scorching heat, starting out from Sacred Heart Church in suburban Mumbai’s Khar West, while a troupe of Christian activists enacted scenes, believed to have happened on the first Good Friday.
The walking pilgrimage started in the morning at around 10 am and concluded at around 3.30 pm. The procession with tableaus wended its way through the lanes of Khar, Santacruz, Vakola and Kalina. The crucifixion dramatization near St. Anthony’s Church, Vakola, moved many to tears, even as some stood barefoot at the end of a fulfilling spiritual experience of 40 days of prayer, fasting, abstinence and repentance.
The procession in its 26th year, drew Christians a large number of youth, with even children, women, priests and nuns joining in to partake in portrayal of the torture and death of Jesus Christ, enacted through musical dramas played out on the streets. The faithful prayed and mourned for the intention of the day – Governmental Neglect of Christians and their denial of freedom of faith and religious liberty.
Speaking on this 2013 theme, Joseph Dias, who started this tradition 25 years ago, which has not found a parallel in the country said, “even though the community contributes majorly towards ameliorating the lot of the poor and needy, the government apathy towards Indian Christians is taking its toll, even as communal elements target us. A Christian way to deal with the issue is to first solemnly fast and intercede with God, which is what we are doing today. Jesus told us to pray for our persecutors and this is a public display of our hurt sentiments and a cry for justice. The community, being ignored is determined not to take it lying down”.
Thousands of passer-byes witnessed the Calvary (place where Jesus was crucified) story, with biblical characters acting out the arrest and the last few hours before Jesus’s death. Similar enactments are known to happen in the Philippines and Latin America. In India though, Joseph Dias, who is the general secretary of The CSF, pointed out that it is the only one of its kind and was also started since many non-Christians believed that Good Friday is a feast, rather than a day of mourning. He added that “while fundamentalists of various hues and colours are persecuting Christians, the inaction and official neglect by the government is appalling; as Christians have their human rights violated and are not given their due. Christian activists find themselves implicated in false cases by the police and harassed politicians to brow-beat them. This is with the idea of deterring them for working for human and minority rights and denying them constitutional freedoms. Our institutions and properties are targeted by those with vested interests.
But, the example of Jesus and Christianity commands us not to retaliate, but express ourselves in a non-violent manner. Being a micro minority, with miniscule numbers to be politically influential; the government seems to take us for granted. This march signals the heralding of Christians as politically active citizens, who refuse to be treated as second class ones”.The pilgrims will look forward to a new hope, that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on Easter Sunday brings, which was also enacted. The Stations of the Cross, as the devotion is called stopped still at 3 pm, believed to be the time, when Jesus died or the moment of grace to pray for the intentions and the theme. The focus was on Christians activists in various parts of the country, who are victims of police attrocities and Christians undergoing severe persecution from fundamentalists and anti-national forces. Other forms of discrimination faced by the community mentioned were those of political alienation, bureacratic victimisation, Dalit Christians, anti-conversion laws, targeted violence, economic deprivation, social boycott, etc.
Attacks on Christian Institutions / Churches / NGOs in Mumbai, Maharashtra (documented by Indian Christian Activist Network)
Educational Institutions
– St. Mary’s School, Mazagaon was threatened with de-recognition on a complaint – case in High Court
– St. Teresa’s Convent, Santacruz West to appear before the government departments and commissions.
– St. Xavier’s College protests government harassment – Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas, Principal 9324544540
– St. Elias, Khar West, School Principal harassed and threatened to be arrested
– Holy Cross School, Lower Parel – Threatened by Shiv Sena
– Canossa Convent, Mahim threatened by Shiv Sena
– St. Ignatius School, Jacob Circle – Fee increases
* No burial grounds on Western Express Highway, affecting lakhs of Christians. * Activists / NGOs targeted
* Christian Minority Colleges are fighting a case against the Govt of India, UGC, Govt of Maharahstra and the Univ of Mumbai, for attempting to control recruitment of faculty.
* Non-teaching staff grant pending for over 10 years. Additional charges to manage or provide better facilities not allowed by government. The schools are managing with the community funds.
Persecution & Attacks on Christians
– Tamse, Palghar, Thane Rural district attack on Christian Tribals
– Sawantwadi, New Life Grace Ministry Church meeting attacked
– Malwan, Hindu Dharma Jagaran Samiti attack Christian villagers
Official Land Acquisition & Land Grab
* St Anthony’s Church & School, Malwani * Sacred Heart Church & School, Santacruz West
* Our Lady of Assumption Church, Kandivali * Mount Mary’s Basilica, Bandra (W)