PANAJI
Sadbhav, an initiative to foster interfaith relations and communal harmony of the Society of Pilar, organised a celebration of Christmas with members from different faith communities on Thursday.
Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai was the chief guest and in his keynote address, congratulated the Society of Pilar in organising the programme and for dedicating their lives for a cause of humanity.
“Christmas itself is a Sadbhav. Followers of Jesus, whether they belong to any denomination, can never kept aside Sadhav. Christmas is being celebrated throughout the world to create and proclaim Sadbhav,” said Pillai. “For the whole of human beings, love, peace, joy and happiness was the message proclaimed at the birth of Jesus and that is followed in our country as well.”
He said that he is grateful to the Christian community for rendering selfless service to humanity through its education and medical institutions.
“Christians consider selfless service towards others as service to God,” remarked the governor, while highlighting the pioneering works of Christian missionaries in the field of printing and language.
Fr Sebastiao Mascarenhas, Superior General of the Society of Pilar, in his address said that “if there is anything that can unite us, it is God; not wealth, not power, not ethnicity, not class; they divide, God unites.”
Later, a panel discussion was conducted on the topic ‘Walking Together “ Challenges and Opportunities. It was moderated by Pramod Acharya, editor-in-chief at Prudent Media and the panellist included Dr J Alexander (former chief secretary and former Karnataka minister), Shefali Kale (Asst Prof Dept of Philosophy, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa), Azmina Sameer Laljee (President, Council for Goa, Ismaili Muslims) and Gursharan Singh (Senior Veteran Indian Navy, Secretary, Gurdwara Mangor Hill, Vasco).
Earlier, students of Fr Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar, led the gathering into prayer through a prayer dance. Later, Fr Lawrence Fernandes, Director of Pilar Animation Centre, welcomed the gathering.
Fr Elvis Fernandes, Convenor of Sadbhav, said Sadbhav Christmas has strengthened our bonds as one human family and expressed his wish to make Sadbhav a movement that will permeate every space of Goa and beyond.
