ASIA/INDIA - "Christ gives hope: with faith one is reborn from the ashes", says the Archbishop to the faithful in Orissa

Bhubaneswar (Agenzia Fides) - "Christmas reminds us the greatest gift that God gave to humanity and the world: Jesus Christ. Jesus removes our sorrow to restore a stream of life with his love ": this is what is said in the Christmas message sent to the community of believers by His Exc. Mgr. John Barwa, SVD, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. The message, sent by the Archbishop to Fides, comes at a time when the Christian community is deeply concerned about a possible new wave of violence by Hindu extremist groups. "Christ comes to share his heart with ours, to unite our pain with his, to hold our hand and walk with us, showing us new life," underlines the Archbishop.
Recalling the believers’ suffering in Orissa, Mgr. Barwa says: "We are called by Christ to the fullness of life, witnessing the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom and this salvation is available to every human being, as well as grace and mercy; at the same time, each individual must gain them through hard work and suffering, through a life lived according to the Gospel, through abnegation and the Cross, with the spirit of the Beatitudes".
As a sign of hope, the Archbishop recalled Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi’s visit to Orissa, who recently visited the district of Kandhamal and blessed the church in a village of new construction. Sharing the words of Cardinal Toppo, the Archbishop praised the "vibrant faith of the people rising from the ashes". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2011)