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Christians hold first mass after Dec. 24 arson

BRAHMANIGAON (KANDHAMAL DIST): The still-panicked Christian families of this violence-hit town in Orissa visited their ransacked church on Sunday for the first mass since December 24.

On December 24, a communal clash at Brahmanigaon over the erection of a decorative arch sparked off communal violence throughout the district. The Christmas celebrations were turned to ashes as a mob ransacked the church and torched its belongings.

The priests of the church had to escape to save themselves as the violent mob had also ransacked and torched their residential quarters on the church premises on December 25. Forgetting Christmas celebrations, most Christian families of the town had also preferred to escape into the nearby jungles.

Adequate police presence and gradual pacification of tension had led most of these families to return back.

On Sunday these families had gathered at their ransacked church premises, where they could not hold the Christmas, to resume mass and other church services. As the building of the Church was still in a desecrated state with debris and remnants of arson, they had their mass at the adjoining Holy Cross Convent. Father Ravi Savhasundar conducted this mass. Other priests of the church were yet to return back. Father Savhasunder was hiding at nearby villages since Dec 24. No mass was held in the Church on last Sunday.

According to the priest they were holding daily mass at the church and devotees used to attend it before starting their daily work every morning.

It has been discontinued. It would be hard to start daily mass at this church now as its all infrastructure to house priests as well as all ritualistic items for worship have been destroyed.

Priyadarsini Nayak, a girl who attended the mass, alleged that panic had kept many other families away from the church even for this Sunday mass. There were around 500 devotees present for this mass.

A member of the church, Ghasiram Mantri said around 1200 persons used to attend Sunday mass at this church. Priyadarsini said this Sunday mass was the first step towards a new beginning for the communal violence devastated families of the area.

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Christians hold first mass after Dec. 24 arson

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