Churches unite as Christians celebrate Lent in Chennai

Christians in Tamilnadu, apart from prayer and penitence, celebrated the Lent season by sharing the Gospel and fostering Christian unity among churches.

Members of various church denominations in Tambaram, a suburb in Chennai, joined a Lenten march singing hymns, praying and distributing Christian literatures.

Church of South India (CSI), the Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Church of India and nine local Pentecostal groups participated in the march commemorating the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, reported UCA News.

Father Alexis Manohar, coordinator of the March 22 event, was quoted saying, "The Lenten march was organized to help Christians of various denominations pray together, and to foster the spirit of ecumenism among local Churches."

According to Reverend Dayanadan, a CSI pastor, the march was organised to witness Christ and reach out to non-believers with the message of Christianity.

Father Arulraj, pastor of Tambaram's Fatima parish says, "Such marches not only bring unity among Christians but also renew each others' faith."

The march was organised by the Catholic Church taking inspiration by the late Pope John Paul II's exhortation to jointly commemorate the meaningful event.

The Lent season, meanwhile, will be celebrated in a different fashion by certain denominations in Kerala.

The head of Mar Thoma Church in India, Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan, asked people to switch off air-conditioners, use energy-saving electric bulbs, avoid using plastic bags, and reduce the use of motor vehicles during the Lent.

"This is necessitated because there is no longer any real doubt about it: Global warming is happening. The 'carbon fast' is in response to an 'urgent need' to reduce carbon emissions and to protect poor communities around the world that are already suffering from the ravages of climate change," he said.