Our regional director in India, M.L. Thomas, forwarded to us this letter from a bishop in the region, expressing prayerful solidarity during these challenging times:
Love and greetings from Joseph Kollamparampil, C.M.I., bishop of Jagdalpur!
We are facing a great tragedy of the pandemic of COVID-19 around the globe. People are in panic. Now I write to convey our sentiments of solidarity with you, your collaborators in the office, all our dear benefactors, all dear and near ones and people at large!
All are well aware of the seriousness of the disease on the people of different countries in different ways. Let us be hopeful and confident to overcome this difficult situation very soon by the intervention of the Divine Mercy of God and everyone’s wholehearted cooperation. …
We are giving special pastoral directives to our people. People have to be strengthened, specially in the village areas in all possible ways. … They need to be taught about the effectiveness of personal prayer and prayer services conducted in their own houses. Perpetual Adoration and special prayers are being done in all our centers by our priests and religious.
I, together with the whole Diocese of Jagdalpur, join the universal prayer rally for the eradication of the epidemic of COVID-19 from the face of the earth. May the mercy of God be showered on earth, enabling the peaceful existence of humanity.
Yours devotedly in Jesus,
Joseph Kollamparampil, C.M.I.
Bishop of Jagdalpur