Lahore: September 19, 2013. (By Fr. Inayat Bernard) “With courage and faith Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap has organized this evening by inviting Lahore inter-denominational choirs to sign for the Lord”. Bishop Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Lahore was talking to the inter-denominational gathering of 230 people at the Peace Hall of St. Joseph Church, Lahore Cantt. He said that if they used their talents for Jesus Christ they will get many graces from the Lord. The year of faith, he said, invites us to reflect on our lives and know more about the person of Jesus Christ and by this our faith in the Lord will become even more strong. Referring to his visit to the Punjab governor’s House he said that during Christmas 2012 gathering one mystic (Sufi) shared his faith experience and said that as a Muslim Muhammad Hussain believes in the healing power of Jesus Christ and he was heart patient and was ready to go for an operation. He prayed to Jesus at night and in the morning, in the operation theatre, the doctors declared that he was ok and there was no need for an operation of a healthy man. He experienced Jesus as the healer. Bishop Sebastian ended by saying,“ We need to experience Jesus personally that who is Jesus for me in my life”. He wished that the singing evening in the year of Faith will bear fruit in each ones’ life and be source of peace and strength. In his inaugural words co-parish priest Fr. Moris Jalal OFM Cap said that the year of faith is a renewal for us and the gathering for this singing evening will help to bring out the talents of our young people. He said that we do not have a good variety of hymns on the topic of faith. It is hoped that the choirs will learn from each other and will be able to share in their own respective areas so that theses hymns will help them to be strong in their faith. Fr. Inayat Bernard, Rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary said that His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI declared year of faith from 11th October 2012 to 24th November 2013. He said that it is expected that we will be renewed in our faith to become effective evangelizers through our words and actions. Rev. Saleem Khokhar and Rev. I.B Rocky from the Church of Pakistan’s diocese of Raiwind appreciated and asked the Lord for more blessings during the year of faith and participated through their choirs. Rev. Amjat Niamt of the Presbyterian Church read from the 8th chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel and made the faith of the Centurion as the model for us and stressed that we become strong in our faith in the Lord. Fr. Francis Sabir OFM Cap said that the Holy Father wrote the document on Door of Faith. Our doors of heart are open to all and we welcome all human beings. Jesus who is our Door invited us to be renewed in this year of faith. Fr. Ishfaq Anthony OFM Cap said that God speaks to us through people, events and ideas. He is always at At the end Fr. Shahzad Khokhar OFM Cap assistant to the parish priest at St. Joseph Lahore Cantt thanked the apostolic administrator, fathers, sisters, catechists laity and the 11 participating choirs. He said that the choirs have expressed their faith and helped us to be strong. The 11 participating choirs were St. Joseph Church, Lahore Cantt. Christ church (Church of Pakistan), Model Colony, Bethania Church (Church of Pakistan), St. Francis Church, Kot Lakhpat, St. Anthony High School Staff Lahore Cantt., St. John church, Shahdara Town, Capuchin Youth, Capuchin Youth, United Christian Hospital (Presbyterian), St. Paul Church Bail Ahta, and Momanpura. 230 participants joined in the meal together to get strengthened in an ecumenical spirit.