ASIA/PAKISTAN - The Archbishop of Lahore: "Blessed are the parents who teach love, not hatred to their children"

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "The family is the first place where one learns to love, where we experience and practice mutual love. Blessed are those parents who teach their children respect and love for others, who avoid hatred and educate them to show love and care for others": this is what the Archbishop of Lahore, His Exc. Mgr. Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM said to Christians of all denominations gathered in recent days in the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Lahore, to celebrate the 128th anniversary of the consecration. Mgr. Shaw said that "ecumenical dialogue has been going on for over a century in Pakistan", using the image of a "big family, that meets to pray, sing, praise the Lord" to describe the Christian community in Pakistan.
The prayer meeting was attended by leaders and members of other Christian denominations in Pakistan, which reaffirmed the desire "of unity in Christ Jesus". Bishop Alexander Malik, of the Church of Pakistan (Anglican), recalled "the founders, the pastors and the faithful who prayed regularly in this cathedral", while Rev. Emmanuel Khokhar said that "it is not the distance that separates but silence", inviting all to be present and to participate in the activities of others, to strengthen each other in the faith. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/02/2015)