M’luru Diocese announces prayers, fasting for peace in Middle East from March 8

Mangaluru: Diocese of Mangalore has announced special days of prayer and fasting in response to escalating violence and the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, urging the faithful to pray for peace and protection for those affected.March 8 will be observed as a Day of Prayer for Peace. From March 8 to 14, the faithful were asked to pray the Holy Rosary daily, dedicating it to global peace. March 13 will be marked as a Day of Fasting and Prayer, offering penance for the safety of all those impacted by violence and conflict.In a circular issued on Thursday, Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, aligned the diocese with a nationwide appeal by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, president of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI). He expressed anguish over the continuing destruction, loss of innocent lives, and what he described as the unwillingness of leaders to pursue dialogue and reconciliation.The Bishop also highlighted anxiety across coastal Karnataka, where many families have relatives working in the Middle East. With unrest spreading and security conditions uncertain, he said migrant workers and their families are living in fear, and he called on the local church to stand in solidarity through prayer and penance.Bishop Saldanha directed parish priests to read the circular during church services and use digital media to ensure it reaches every Catholic household. The diocese said the observance is a collective plea for an end to hostilities and the restoration of peace.