Christians pray for Mumbai victims; St Xaviers honors martyrs

In addition to Christian bodies lighting candles and expressing solidarity with the victims of Mumbai terror attacks, was the city's prominent Christian institution, the St Xavier's college, which held a special memorial prayer service on Thursday.

Father Frazer Mascrenhas, the college principal, prayed for the victims and sought for forgiveness of the murderers of 26/11. "These people were closely related to the college," he said. "They laid down their lives so that we can live today."

The memorial prayer service included short prayer recitations by students, hymns and a rendition of Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo, which left many in tears.

The packed auditorium especially paid tribute to Xavier's alumnus ACP Ashok Kamte (1985 batch), DGP Hemant Karkare who among other 14 officers succumbed to their injuries.

Delhi archdiocese meanwhile on Dec. 2 organized an interreligious prayer program outside its Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi. About 200 Buddhists, Bahai followers, Christians and Muslims attended the program with religious leaders reading from their respective Scriptures and praying for peace and stability.

Dr. John Dayal, All India Christian Council (aicc) Secretary General, said, "No cause, however urgent or great, can explain or excuse such wanton bloodshed of innocents. We pray for peace to the families of the dead and for healing of the injured. The common trauma during three days of unfolding tragedy brought various nationalities, communities, and faiths closer together in a shared pain. Among the victims were Hindus and Muslims, Jews and Christians, Parsees and Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains --- not that people of compassion ever needed evidence that thoughtless violence impacts each one of our lives."

"The aicc expresses the gratitude of the Christian community to Indian civil society, which stood by it even as the civil administration of Orissa and the Center failed entirely in August and allowed the violence to continue for three months," he said, adding it "salutes the brave soldiers, firemen, and many unsung civilians who risked their lives so that others could live and the siege of a metropolis could end."

The attack by gunmen against multiple targets in Mumbai, including the landmark Taj Mahal hotel, killed 188 people including 26 foreigners. Nine militants were killed, while one was captured alive.