Mumbai, Oct. 6 -- An exhibition of artefacts dating back to the beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church in Mumbai will tell visitors how a new religious community evolved in Mumbai. The exhibition at St Pius seminary in Goregaon, being held by the Archdiocese Heritage Committee from Sunday, will continue till November 15 to mark the anniversary of the museum that was established last year.
"The purpose of the exhibition, which is the first at the museum, is not only to inform and educate Catholics but also to bring awareness among those who know little about Christianity," said Father Warner, head of the Archdiocese Heritage Committee.
"A school has already made bookings to bring in a batch of 30 students every day to see the exhibition," he said.
Many of the artefacts have been recovered from churches and some have been given by the Archbishop himself. The exhibition will have a chronological display of the relics that are part of the sacraments in a Catholic's life - baptism, holy communion, reconciliation, matrimony, holy order and anointing of the sick. Baptismal and marriage records, letters, documents and instruction books will be part of the exhibition.
The community is celebrating the Year of Faith from October 1 to mark the 50th year of the Second Vatican Council. "In 1962, the Promulgation of the Second
Vatican Council brought about a complete change in attitude in the church. The community and several artefacts at the exhibition will represent the periods from before and after," said Father Warner.
Some of the items include the cross that belonged to Cardinal Valerian Gracias, the first cardinal of India; a chalice that was given to the Archdiocese of Bombay by Pope Paul VI on his pastoral visit to the city in 1964, and the book that marked the promulgation of the Second Vatican Council.
Bookings can be made with Father Warner on 09820242151.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.