Mumbai (AsiaNews) - A time dedicated to prayer and to Our Lady, to ask the mother of Jesus and of all people to intercede for the families of the world and of India. This is the spirit with which the Mumbai Opus Dei community has welcomed the Marian Year announced by the Msgr. Javier Echevarría, to pray for the family. This special time began on December 28th, the day upon which the liturgical feast of the Holy Family falls.
Kevin de Souza, Director of the Opus Dei center in Mumbai, India, explains to AsiaNews that there will be two main features of this just-launched year. "First of all - he says - we want to focus on a 'personal' apostleship, encouraging our friends and our colleagues to pray the Rosary in the family or to pray the Angelus all together".
Secondly, he adds, "I will try to encourage people to visit a Marian shrine or a place where Our Lady is venerated. Every year, following in the footsteps of St. Josemaría (founder of Opus Dei), we organize a pilgrimage during the month May. I would like everyone to make at least two pilgrimages, one at the beginning of 2015 and one at the end".
As members of Opus Dei, de Souza added, "we highlight the importance of the ordinary. For this reason, I believe that our Prelate, in convening this Marian Year, wants to make us apostles of Mary in our daily journey." On the other hand, "In multi-religious India, it can be very meaningful to have a small image of Mary on my desk at work, or to stand up to pray the Angelus at noon. In a very natural way, devotion for Our Lady may have an impact on those around me."
