Papal Envoy Visits Eparchy of Faridabad

February 14, 2013: Papal envoy to India, Cardinal Fernando Filoni on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a new parish church within the new Diocese of Faridabad. The new Diocese of Faridabad was newly formed on the 27th May 2012, to comprise the territories in and around New Delhi for the pastoral care of the Syro-Malabar faithful and their activities. “Through this act of the Holy Father, a long cherished desire of the St. Thomas Christians of the Syro-Malabar Church in India is fulfilled.” Said Card Filoni in his address.

“Now you have the complete opportunity to worship and live your faith in the very same tradition in which you were born and brought up. Make use of the responsibility to consolidate your faith and give greater testimony to the Gospels, and also promote the communion within the universal Church.” He added.

He called on the faithful to convert the excitement of the new beginning into pastoral zeal, in order to heed to what Pope Benedict Sixteenth states in the Apostolic Letter for the Induction of the Year of Faith, Porta fidei. “As faithful of the new Diocese of Faridabad”, Card. Filoni said “ it should push you forward to be more prophetic and a catalyst of full unity and communion within your sui iuris Church and with other Churches in order to give a common and convincing witness to the Gospel in the missionary context of India.”

“The project of constructing a new church is also a unique opportunity to enter into dialogue and relationship with the various sectors of the social and cultural milieu.”

“I would like to take this august occasion to invite all the Syro-Malabar faithful to intensely live their centuries long ecclesial and spiritual tradition, and to remain always united with their Bishops and Priests, with an open heart to promote communion with the faithful of other Churches sui iuris and collaborate with them, in living and fulfilling the common pastoral commitment to the people.”