St Joseph’s Church, Sagar organised the Church Unity Octave prayer service on Monday, 22 January 2024 from 6.00 to 7.00 PM. This prayer service was initiated by the Shimoga Diocese Commission for Ecumenism. This was part of the week-long Unity Octave prayer conducted in different catholic churches of Shimoga Diocese and other churches of Bhadravathi diocese to foster unity among different Christian churches. Msgr Felix Joseph Noronha, Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Church, Sagar, Fr Nelson Pinto OCD, the Director of the Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism, Rev. Samson Balmi, Presbyter in charge CSI Church, Sagar, Fr Vishal Pinto, Assistant Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Church, Sagar and other pastors of different ecumenical churches in Sagar, Talaguppa were present. Around 100 lay faithful belonging to St Joseph’s Church, Sagar and other ecumenical churches participated in the prayer service.
Fr Nelson Pinto OCD efficiently compered the proceedings. Msgr Felix Noronha led the prayer service and highlighted the importance of Christian Unity and the need of growing together in our faith in Jesus Christ. He spoke of the origin of the Church unity octave and how the church has continuously encouraged the coming together of different denominations and form a single unity. Rev. Samson Balmi broke the word of God and explained the parable of the Good Samaritan in the context of Christian Unity. The prayer service was special invitation to pray for one another and the pastors who participated, prayed and preached exhorting everyone to respect the members of other churches. Fr Nelson Pinto thanked all present and the St Joseph’s Church community for conducting the beautiful prayer service.
