Report: Kuwait Times
Pics: Wilson Saldanha Shirthady - Daijiworld Media Network
 
KUWAIT, Nov 15: The second four-day 'Catholic Unity Congress' organized by the Pastoral Council at the Holy Family Cathedral in Kuwait City was concluded On Nov 13, 2009 with a press conference chaired by Bishop Camillo Ballin, the over-all head of the Catholic Church in Kuwait.

The Unity Congress dubbed 'Come Let's Celebrate Him' was convened to foster greater unity, camaraderie and communion among Catholics in Kuwait mainly from the Roman, Coptic, Maronite, Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara rites.
Around 400 faithful, representing the 350,000 Catholics in Kuwait are attending the congress scheduled to end today with the high mass at 11 a.m. (open to the public).

We are all aware that we are a church of diversity. We have different groups and languages, different ways of celebrating the Holy Eucharist. Yet we are one in the body of Christ in worship and in faith. With this congress, we were able to demonstrate our love and have the actual experiences of each celebration inside their rites. So we are happy to host the second unity congress once again," said Bishop Ballin during the sermon.

According to Bishop Ballin, Holy Mass is celebrated by every rite making their faithful aware of activities inside their churches. Several international religious speakers were invited to enhance their historic and theoretical knowledge, signs and rituals about their respective churches.

Coptic, Maronite, Malabar and Malankara are considered oriental Catholics but they recognize Camillo Ballin as their head Bishop in Kuwait and that their Pope is no other than Pope Benedcit XV1, a known Roman/Latin rite. The annual unity congress started a year ago and it has been an annual event for the Catholic Church in Kuwait.

The ultimate objective is to make our people and every group aware that we are one and united with the Lord. We usually start our seminar with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, followed by a lecture and conclude with healthy discussion. The congress carried a meaningful, a friendly atmosphere and educational nature. We only talk about internal religious subjects," Bishop Ballin explained.

An exhibition of their rich history, culture, customs and traditions are being displayed at the venue together with images from their respective churches.

The lecture will end but the exhibition will continue until next week. "The exhibition is open to all... it is educational and informative, so we welcome you all to visit and understand each rites," Ballin concluded.

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