Jaffna Catholics stage peace rally

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 September 2008, 10:13 GMT]
More than two thousand Catholics from different areas of Jaffna peninsula, heeding the call by Commission for Justice and Peace (CJP) of the Catholic diocese of Jaffna to mark the International Peace Day, assembled at the respective parish churches Sunday early morning before proceeding in a prayer procession towards Manippaay St.Anthony's church.



Residents living closeby walked to the churches while devotees from far away places including Thenmaraadchi and Vadamaraadchi arrived in vehicles, and converged in front of the church at 7:15 a.m. prior to the commencement of the Holy Mass on Sunday.

The Holy mass was celebrated jointly with Rt.Rev.Dr.Justin Gnanapragasam Vicar General of Jaffna Diocese at the end of the rosary procession.

The participants at the peace rally organized by recited rosary and prayed for freedom with justice for all oppressed people throughout the world including those in North, East and the rest of the island, with a focus on the well-being of the civilians in Vanni, who are deprived of humanitarian assistance and safe haven. Rev. Fr.A.J. Jeyasekaram, the director of CJP, presided the peace rally.