The Salesian parish of Nandan Nagar is home to the Door of Mercy. The closing ceremony coincided with the diocese’ eighth Eucharistic procession.
Agartala (AsiaNews/Agencies) – More than 6,000 Catholics took part in the closing of the Holy Door of Mercy in the Salesian parish of Nandan Nagar, in the diocese of Agartala (Tripura State).
The door opened on 8 December 2015, simultaneously with the one opened by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square in the Vatican. The Door in Agartala was closed on 13 November, the day set for closing it in all the dioceses of the world.
The solemn ceremony was held in the courtyard of the Auxilium School, officiated by Mgr Lumen Monteiro. "As a people that received abundant mercy from God, we ought to be merciful to others," he said.
Speaking about the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee, the bishop said that "the Holy Year has come to an end [...] but the time of mercy continues and the doors of our hearts must remain open: open to receive mercy and open to give mercy to our fellow human beings."
The event was held on the occasion of the eighth diocesan Eucharistic procession, offered by the local Church since 2009. Organised by the diocese’ lay association, the latter represents the only moment in the year when all Catholics can gather together for Eucharistic adoration.
Fr Thomas Pereira, head of the laity organisation, explained that "the procession is a manifestation of God's mercy" and that the title ‘Sing forever the mercies of the Lord’ (from Psalm, 88:2) fully reflects the atmosphere of the event.
To take part, the faithful travelled from 20 parishes around the state, and walked for three kilometres along the city streets, ending in front of the Salesian school.
Fr Rodney Borneo from Kolkata led the prayer and adoration of the Sacrament, and invited those present to "forget the fatigue and exhaustion and only reflect on the immense love of Jesus."