KARACHI: The Christian cemetery or Gora Qabristan off Sharea Faisal was the spot where the spirit of Christmas was witnessed on Thursday to spread cheer and joy and remind everyone to be grateful for all the blessings including having each other for support.

On a grassy patch on one side of the road, the trees had been decorated with fairy lights and twinkling Christmas Stars along with big and small parcels wrapped with gift paper, piled over each other. Soon there were also lots of fireworks lighting up the sky.

Cardinal Joseph Coutts arrived there wearing an off-white pakol cap. Bishop Benny Mario Travas, the bishop of Karachi, was also present with Reverend Father Mario Rodrigues of St Jude’s Church along with Reverend Father Arthur Charles of St Anthony’s Church, Reverend Father Edward Joseph, MPA Anthony Naveed, advocate Saleem Michael and Pervez Gill.

Christmas Star installation ceremony held at Gora Qabristan

The chief guest on the occasion was Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani.

“Christmas is a time of joy. It’s a time of sharing. We need to remember that when Jesus came, he chose to come among the poor, who became his priority. So in our celebrations we must also never forget the poor and also the rejected in society,” said Bishop Benny Mario Travas.

“The Christmas festivities begin from December 17 along with the preparations for the main celebration of Christmas on Dec 25,” said Father Mario Rodrigues.

Cardinal Joseph Coutts was glad to be there and appreciated all the decorations done there by the Christmas Decoration Committee. He met all the people who had come to specially meet him and be blessed. They included children and several physically-challenged people with whom the Cardinal sat down to chat.

Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani also arrived without any protocol or security. “I am with our Christian community in their Christmas celebrations. I pray that they always remain happy and that we celebrate all our festivals together like this,” he told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2022