In a sermon of a different kind, a Catholic priest addressed members of a Muslim community inside a mosque, thanking them for selflessly feeding the flood victims who had taken shelter at his church.
Father Sanu Puthussery, belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church, had visited the Juma Masjid at Vechoor in Kottayam district during jum’ah (Friday prayers) on 31 August and delivered a thanksgiving speech at the prayer hall.
As the deadly floods had lashed the state two weeks ago, over 580 people had sought refuge at St Antony’s Church at Achinakom where Father Puthussery was serving as the priest.
However, a day after, the Church authorities faced some shortage of food and water.
“I straightaway went to the Masjid, apprised the maulvi about our difficulty and requested his help. After the day’s prayers, Muslim brothers came to the church with a large quantity of food and water,” Father Puthussery said.
I cannot express my gratitude to them in words. That much help and support they had extended during the time of difficulties.Father Puthussery
They continued bringing essential items to the relief camp at the church. Besides food and water, the youth attached to the mosque also arranged for medicines, he said.
“I went to the Masjid to meet the maulvi and other authorities and thank them personally. But they invited me to their prayer hall and offered me their platform to speak...,” the priest said.
It was a different experience for over 250 believers, who were present at the mosque to offer Friday prayers.
In his about 10-minute speech, the Catholic priest said, though the floods had snatched away many valuables from people, it also washed away the walls of differences among them.
“Pope Francis had said build bridges, not walls. The devastating floods has now given us an opportunity to destroy the walls and build the bridges of togetherness,” the priest added.
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