ASIA/PAKISTAN-
Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - The new church of San Pietro in Karachi, the largest in Pakistan, is "a sign of hope and a good omen for the future, in the Year of the Mission": says to Fides Fr. Mario Rodriguez, a priest of Karachi and Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Pakistan. The small Christian community of Pakistan, the priest notes, is still "surprisingly and impressed by the new church, which was inaugurated about a month ago in Karachi: dome, three-story building that stands on the 'Christian colony' and can accommodate up to 5,000 people".
"It is nice it was inaugurated during the Year of the Mission: it is a sign of the resilience of a faith that has long suffered from discrimination by the state and of attacks by Islamic extremists. We are proud of the new church. It is a sign of hope in view of Christmas, that the community of Karachi will celebrate in this church", says Father Mario.
The church was built in 11 months, it cost $ 3.8 million, raised thanks to local donations and episcopal conferences around the world, including the Italian Episcopal Conference, the Pontifical Mission Societies, Missio. "It was built on the site of a smaller church in the Azam Basti area, a tangle of narrow streets and brick houses where about 15,000 Christians," explains Fr Mario.
Meanwhile, the Year of the Mission - informs the priest - continues with programs of mission animation in the Punjab and Baluchistan. At the end of November a missionary seminary on the theme "The Word became flesh" was held in Sindh and, by early next year, "programs and missionary experiences will be provided in the tribal areas of Sindh, which will involve bishops, priests , religious and laity". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 03/12/2011)
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