Mumbai (AsiaNews) – A dinner to celebrate the Advent of Christ was held last Friday in Mumbai, bringing some 400 people from every faith and walk of life, including Card Oswald Gracias and members of the clergy, members of the city’s diplomatic corps as well as Christian business people and entrepreneurs. The event was held at the Trident Hotel and was organised by Dimensions, a forum of Christian entrepreneurs and businessmen, in collaboration with the International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC).
Dimensions was created five years ago by Freddy Mendonca, a fervent Catholic, to bring together and help people from different Christian denominations. It has more than 600 members and organises meetings in various parishes of the city. Each month, a hundred members or so meet to help Christian small businesses and professionals to share ideas and provide advice.
“The birth of Jesus Christ changed and transformed the world,” Card Oswald Gracias said in his address to the gathering. Christmas, the birth of Jesus, is a time of joy and peace. Christmas is a special time when Jesus’ comes into our lives, homes and community, city, country and the world.”
Christmas has a special meaning this year because it is being celebrated in Mumbai, a city wounded by terrorism. “The Trident Hotel was also targeted on 26 November 2008,” the prelate said. “Our country, destabilised by acts of terrorism, and the world want peace”.
“I was pained to see that most Christians were averse to setting up their own business so I decided to do something about it,” Freddy Mendonca told AsiaNews. “Dimensions was founded on Christian values to pool and harness resources and nurture growth in a spirit of excellence, transparency, commitment and trust.”
Currently, Dimensions has offices in Navi Mumbai, Jaipur, Goa, Mangalore, Calcutta and Belgaum.
“We can be grateful that 2,000 years after the birth of Jesus, so many of us are able to draw inspiration from his life and message and find in Him a source of strength and courage. We will be comforted by the example of Jesus of Nazareth who in circumstances of great adversity, lived a life of unselfishness and sacrifice,” ICCC President Gul Kripalani said.
(N.C.)
