Lent Charity Pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine at Sacred Heart Cathedral parish, Lahore

Lahore, Pakistan: March 11, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Sacred Heart Cathedral parish continues its tradition to visit the houses of the destitute people from 2001. With the exception of the Palm Sunday all five Sundays of Lent people of the parish spend their time with the deserving ones. Fr. Andrew Nisari told the Pakistan Christian TV that in all these 8 years they have visited in rotation the following places:

1. Home of Love at Gulberg, Lahore run by the Missionaries of Charity for the orphans, 2. Dar-ul-Karishma at Youhanabad run by the Sisters of Charity of Jean Antide for mentally retarded, 3. Blind home at Mozang run by Mrs. and Professor Dr. Dhalvi. 4. Old age home run by the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary while one Sunday is kept for the pilgrimage at the National Marian Shrine of Mariamabad.

Fr. Andrew Nisari, the parish priest and rector of the Cathedral, said that the faithful have given a good response to go to these places to carry food for them each Lent Sunday and then they spend their time to cut their nails and hairs and wash their clothes. The faithful, he continued, are touched by the selfless service of the sisters and the laity who do this charity work with dedication and love. He said that some parish faithful do not have the courage to go near the mentally retarded persons and tears come out of their eyes that how difficult work is being done for these persons.

The sisters and the responsible ones of these institutions feel asserted that there are people who recognize their services and appreciate what is being done for their rehabilitation.

Fr. Andrew Nisari told his parishners in the Sunday homilies that the dedicated faithful should come in fore not only during the season of Lent but throughout the year to spend time with such people of the society and share their resources to gain experience of love and concern of Jesus for all human beings.