A New House of God Blessed for the Faithful of Mariamabad Parish
Sukhiki Mandi, Mariamabad Parish – Friday, August 8, 2025
With hearts filled with gratitude and joy, the faithful of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Sukhiki Mandi, in the Parish of Mariamabad (Hafizabad District), gathered to witness the solemn Consecration of their new parish church. The sacred liturgy, beginning at 5:00 p.m., was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Benny Mario Travas, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Lahore, together with Rev. Fr. Tariq George, Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Yasir Raj, and Rev. Fr. Sanwal John.
The community welcomed the Archbishop and concelebrating clergy with garlands, flowers, and joyful acclamations, praising God for the gift of this new house of prayer. The ceremony began with the cutting of the ribbon at the church’s main entrance, symbolizing its opening for the worship of God’s people. The keys of the church were formally entrusted to Fr. Tariq George, who was commissioned to shepherd the faithful in their new spiritual home.
Following the solemn entrance, the Rite of Consecration was celebrated according to the Church’s liturgy. The church was blessed with holy water, the Apostles’ Creed was professed, and the Litany of the Saints was sung, invoking heavenly intercession. The Archbishop anointed the altar and walls of the church with Sacred Chrism, a sign of dedication to God alone. Incense was then burned upon the altar, signifying the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, and candles were lit to proclaim Christ as the Light of the World.
In his homily, Archbishop Benny Mario Travas reflected on the importance of the house of God as the dwelling place of His presence among His people. Using a vivid and relatable story, he explained the spiritual connection between the church building and the community of believers, making the message accessible to all present. He reminded the faithful that while the church is a sacred space, they themselves are the living stones of God’s dwelling.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Mr. Waris Inayat (Contractor), Mr. Bashir Khan (Church Committee Chairman), Babu Saghar Naveed (Area In-charge), Fr. Tariq George, and His Grace the Archbishop were presented with tokens of appreciation. Fr. Tariq George expressed heartfelt thanks to the Archbishop, clergy, honored guests, parish leaders, and all who contributed to the construction and completion of the church.
The faithful once again demonstrated their love and joy by garlanding the Archbishop and Parish Priest before receiving the Archbishop’s blessing and returning to their homes with renewed faith.
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