Closing Ceremony of 800 Years Jubilee of the Death Anniversary of St. Dominic.

On January 6, 2022 the Closing Ceremony of 800 years Jubilee of the Death Anniversary of St. Dominic was organized with great enthusiasm and religious sentiments by the Dominican Friars of the Ibn-e-Mariam Vice Province of Pakistan at Holy Rosary Church Warispura Faisalabad. On this auspicious occasion the 90 years’ presence of the Dominicans in Pakistan and Dominican Month of Peace were also concluded. The Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan His Excellency Archbishop Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis was invited to preside over the ceremony whereas the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad Most Rev. Bishop Indrias Rehmat was invited as a Chief Guest.
The Apostolic Nuncio was welcomed by Bishop Indrias, Very Rev. fr. Younas Shahzad OP, the Prior Provincial and all the friars, Sisters, Lay Dominicans, IDYM Youth and faithful people of God with the musical band at 11.00AM. The Holy Mass was celebrated at 11.30AM which was presided by the Apostolic Nuncio. The Prior Vice Provincial Fr. Younas Shahzad, OP gave the introduction of the mass by welcoming all the participants. The Apostolic Nuncio in his homily expressed his joyful sentiments of being with the Dominicans at this historical occasion. He further said that the jubilee is a time of renewal of commitment, evaluation of the past ministries and planning for the future. He also gave salient features of the Saint Dominic’s life.
The second part of the program was held in Pinto Community Hall at 1.00PM. Deacon Emmanuel Fazal OP was the MC. In the beginning the Postulants of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena welcomed the guests with a tabloo song. Then a presentation on Punjabi Culture was performed by St. Dominic Convent High School’s kids. Three books were launched namely PEACE – A THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL by Apostolic Nuncio, GLIMPSE OF DOMINICAN MISSION IN PAKITAN by Bishop Indrias Rehmat and PRASTSH (Worship) consisted of the Sunday Homilies of the Year C was launched by Very Rev. Fr. Younas Shahzad OP, the Prior Vice Provincial. Then Shields were presented to the Apostolic Nuncio and Bishop Indrias Rehmat as an appreciation of their services for the Local Church in Pakistan. Fr. Younas Shahzad, Fr. James Channan, Fr. Pascal Paulus and Fr. Akhtar Naveed were also given shields for advancing the intellectual legacy of St. Dominic and certificates of appreciation were given to the writers of PEACE Journal and PRASTISH Year C. The new edition of the Holy Bible was handed over by Bishop Indrias Rehmat to the Apostolic Nuncio to present it to Fr. Younas Shahzad, the head of the Dominic Order in Pakistan as a symbol to continue preaching the Gospel. At the end Apostolic Nuncio and Bishop Indrias expressed their views. The program was concluded with words of thanks by Fr. Younas Shahzad, OP.