Keeping Christmas spirit alive, diocese gifts hope to the flood-hit

Diocese of Amritsar (DoA), Church of North India (CNI), marked Christmas with cheer, hope and the season’s marquee spirit of benevolence, extending a helping hand to those who possibly needed the festive cheer the most: flood-hit villagers in the border belt.

On Wednesday, just ahead of Christmas, the diocese distributed ration, furniture, bedding, study material, and other essential items among villagers in Ajnala and Ramdas belts, spreading love and care to those in need.

Also, the diocese is helping villagers with the repair and reconstruction of their homes — having already helped in the reconstruction of the house of a local presbyter, which was demolished due to the floods.

The diocese’s Bishop, Reverend Manoj Charan, said, this year, the church would dedicate festivities to flood victims. Shakti Mal, the diocese’s creative mind, has designed special Christmas greeting cards dedicated to flood-hit persons.

The cards were given to the diocese’s office-bearers and other stakeholders, aiming to raise awareness about the flood victims’ plight, and inspire efforts towards their rehabilitation.

“The diocese has constantly been undertaking flood relief measures ever since the disaster struck. Yet, in view of the enormity of the devastation, it was deemed more appropriate to reach out to victims at Christmas time,” said Charan.

He added that the diocese planned to support flood victims with home reconstruction and repairs, as needed. Meetings were underway to assess requirements, he said.

“After all, Christmas is the season of perpetual hope, and there couldn’t be a better time and a

better way than this for the initiative,” he said.

With Christmas being synonymous with hope, the diocese’s gift of love and care is poised to bring warmth to those who lost almost everything in the deluge.