August 5, 2005

Multicultural Ministry Office offers
Mass for Catholics from India

By Mary Ann Wyand

Catholics from India who now live in central and southern Indiana are invited to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as well as their native country’s Independence Day during a 6 p.m. Mass on Aug. 13 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1347 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis.

Indian Independence Day and the feast of the Assumption are observed on Aug. 15.

The Mass is sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministry. A reception will follow the liturgy, and participants are asked to bring traditional Indian food.

Father Kenneth Taylor, director of the Multicultural Ministry Office, and Father George Nangachi­veettil, a priest from India who ministers as a chaplain at Methodist Hospital in Indian­apolis, worked with the Multicultural Ministry Commission to plan this new celebration for Asian-Indian Catholics.

“This is a good opportunity to get to know each other as we come from different parts of India,” Father Nangachiveettil said. “This is an occasion to pray together for our country and to celebrate our heritage and faith.”

Father Taylor said the Multicultural Ministry Commission is “expanding our outreach to see if we can bring Catholics from India together for Mass.”

Last year, the Multicultural Ministry Office sponsored a traditional Advent novena, Mass and breakfast for Filipino Catholics, which will become an annual celebration in December.

The archdiocese also offers a weekly Mass for Vietnamese Catholics at St. Joseph Church in Indianapolis. †

 

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