Priests under a Catholic archdiocese have decided to preach organ donation and practise it.
Priests of Catholic archdiocese of Varappuzha have pledged to be organ donors as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the archdiocese. Archbishop Francis Kallarakkal told reporters here on Wednesday that 193 diocesan priests have put it in writing their willingness to donate organs.
He said the diocesan authorities would encourage the laity to donate organs. The message is being spread in parishes that have strength ranging between 2,000 and 15,000. There are around 100 parishes under the archdiocese.
A diocesan official said soon it would be possible to have churches where the entire laity has pledged to donate organs. The 3-day-long programmes, beginning October 26, will bring down the curtains on the 125th anniversary celebrations of the archdiocese. The declaration of a synod will be the highlight of the culmination of the celebrations. The synod, a general term for ecclesiastical gatherings, is aimed at boosting the renewal of archdiocesan activities.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate Sneha Sparsam on October 28 and Governor of Maharashtra K. Sankaranarayanan will be the chief guest at the conclusion of the celebrations.
The archdiocese has also taken up charity projects, which involves adopting poor families and making them self-sufficient over a period of six years.
