Indian parish converts feast to memorial service for Covid victims
Parishioners put celebrations for their patron saint on hold to come together in a special way
Parish priest Father Vinod Kanatt celebrates Mass at his St. Ann s Church in Rajkot Diocese of Gujarat state for those who died of Covid-19. (Photo supplied)
When Bonita Fernandez was invited to attend a special prayer service remembering her late father, she never expected the entire parish to join the service and change her image of Catholic community life.
As she entered St. Ann s Church in Junagadh, her parental parish in Rajkot Diocese of western India s Gujarat state, she found eight portraits of parishioners who had died of Covid-19 in the past year.