Pastors, priests, heads of schools and parishioners from different parts of the city participated in an Easter Rally that was organised on Sunday evening.

The rally with 1,100-odd participants started from Bishop’s College and culminated with a thanksgiving worship service on the grounds of St James’ School.

The rally included participants from Roman Catholic churches, Church of North India, Assembly of God Church and Baptist Church, among others.

“A year ago we faced the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the churches were closed but our faith sustained us and this year the churches have opened. For Easter, the message is of hope and peace,” said the archbishop of Calcutta, Reverend Thomas D’Souza.

(From left) Reverend Asis Sarkar, head of Baptist Church; Reverend Ivan Satyavrata, senior pastor, The Assembly of God Church; Reverend Abir Adhikari, vice-president, Calcutta diocese of the Church of North India; Reverend Thomas D’Souza, archbishop of Calcutta; John Ghosh, secretary, Calcutta diocese, CNI; Terence Ireland, principal, St James’ School; and Father Dominic Gomes, vicar general of the archdiocese of Calcutta, at St James’ School.

“Love brings unity and peace destroys hatred and even in hopelessness we should not be in despair… and not give up. We must live as good Christians and good citizens.”

Also present on the occasion was Reverend Paritosh Canning, the bishop of the Calcutta diocese of the Church of North India, and Reverend Ivan Satyavrata, senior pastor, The Assembly of God Church.

“The rally brings different Christian organisations together and at a time when there is so much turmoil in society, we have to be united,” said John Ghosh, the secretary of the Calcutta diocese of the Church of North India.

The Easter Rally has been organised for about 10 years. It could not be held last year because of the pandemic.

“We have been doing this procession as something to unite Christians from different denominations. The message is that we need to be positive and hopeful,” said Father Dominic Gomes, the vicar general of the archdiocese of Calcutta.