Efforts To Protect Religious Rights
The 25th day of November 2024
The religious leaders of the Roman Catholic and Protestant stream line Churches in Gujranwala gathered at Saint Francis Xavier Parish to discuss the challenges the local Christian community faces. Rev. Fr. Yousaf Yaqoob the Parish Priest of Saint Francis Xavier presided over the meeting whereas Shahzad Lawrence a member of the Peace and Interfaith Harmony Committee, Gujranwala facilitated the meeting.
Rev. Fr. Shakeel Inayat a Parish Priest of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Emanuel Ahmad a Parish Priest of Saint Mark’s Parish, Rev. Fr. Faisal Pervaiz Assistant Parish Priest, Rev. Arif Masih Siraj Pastor In charge of Swift Memorial First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Sabir Gul Pastor Incharge of Saint Paul Church, and Rev. Haroon Ajmal of Church of Pakistan, Babu Babar Yousaf, Babu Imran Shahzad, Babu Ishaq Masih, and Babu Yousaf attended the meeting.
The International Peace candle was lit by the religious community in the Church. In a collaborative spirit, the participants outlined a plan of action to address these challenges systematically. Key measures included establishing an Ecumenical Christian Council representing all denominations to ensure consistent communication and cooperation. The Ecumenical Christian Council will focus on addressing the community issues. The meeting deliberated on making recommendations to the management for Christmas and New Year arrangements.
Furthermore, the meeting addressed the need for interfaith dialogue initiatives to promote peace and understanding with other religious communities in Gujranwala, emphasizing that harmony is essential for shared progress.
The meeting concluded with a unified commitment to work towards a just and inclusive society. The leaders expressed gratitude for the efforts made by Shahzad Lawrence and each
denomination in supporting the Christian community and pledged to collaborate closely to overcome current and future challenges.
