(March, 18, 2009):Catholics in India are donating blood during Lent. In Kolkata,
West Bengal State, some 13 people donated 13 units of blood as part of a campaign
the lay Catholic Association of Bengal (CAB) conducts on Sundays during Lent. The
blood drive was held at Kolkata’s St. Thomas Church It was the third city parish
to organize the program. CAB honorary general secretary Alexander Anthony said his
association has conducted various programs in connection with Lent over the past eight
years. In the first five years, they staged plays depicting Christ's passion and death.
They began the blood donation drive three years ago to "do something concrete" in
parishes. During Lent last year, the association collected 150 units of blood. This
year, the campaign began on March 1, the first Sunday of Lent, at Christ the King
Parish. A total of 43 units were collected then, and 22 units the following Sunday
from St. Mary's Parish. The donation drive will continue for the next three Sundays
in three other parishes, he added.