Lenten drama encourages Catholics facing persecution in Mangalore

(March 14, 2009) Catholics in Mangalore diocese say a drama on Saint Paul's conversion helps them cope with anti-Christian violence they experienced a few months ago. The drama was staged at St. Anne's Parish on March 8 as part of its Lenten programs. The drama used period costumes and real animals to depict the Bible story of how Saul, who persecuted the early Christians, eventually, became the missionary Paul. Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore, who opened the show, described it as "a call for inner conversion and strengthening of faith." He said the drama would help Christians in his Karnataka state to "strengthen their faith and face persecutions." It would also encourage them to become "more ardent" in missionary work, he added. Karnataka witnessed an increased number of violence against Christians after the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian people's party) came to power in May 2008 and I September the Hindu radicals attacked at least 24 churches and prayer halls in the state. Several Christians, who watched the drama, said it made them realize the ruthlessness of the persecutions that the early Christians suffered, and the value it has for the Church's growth. Father Marc Castelino, 54, a theologian who wrote the drama script said that it was the first time that such a "full-fledged drama" on the saint was done in India. The parishioners gave up a meal a week to raise 450,000 rupees (about US$9,000) for the program. He said they plan to stage the drama in several other parishes.