2438 S. Alston Avenue, Durham, NC 27713
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Holy Cross welcomed the RTP Tamil Catholic Community for their Lenten Retreat and Mass on March 21, the first of their third-Sunday Masses at Holy Cross.
On Saturday, March 19, Holy Cross Catholic Church welcomed members of the RTP Tamil Catholic Association for their Lenten retreat, led by Fr. Larry Searles, SJ, parochial vicar at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Raleigh. The retreat concluded with Mass celebrated by Fr. Pius.
First of ‘Third Sunday’ Ethnic Masses at Holy Cross
The Lenten retreat was the first of what will be an ongoing relationship between Holy Cross and the RTP Tamil Catholic community. Its members, who are members of other Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Raleigh, will be celebrating Mass in the Tamil language at Holy Cross on the third Sunday of each month, at 3 PM. With Easter occurring on the third Sunday this year, the RTP Tamil Catholic community will be at Holy Cross on the fourth Sunday, April 24.
About 70 people attended the March 19 retreat, including children who participated in their faith formation class with their teachers in the multipurpose room, while the adults were on retreat in the worship space.
The event reflects the RTP Tamil Catholic Association’s mission: “Support Tamil Catholics in worship through regular Roman Catholic Mass and prayer, celebration of religious feasts and festivals, and to pass on this tradition to future generations.”
Children depict the Stations of the Cross
The Lenten retreat included praying the Stations of the Cross, with children in the roles of Jesus carrying the cross, the Roman soldiers, Veronica wiping Jesus’ tears, Mary, and the crowd.
A luncheon break featured traditional Indian food, tea and coffee. The retreat concluded with Mass ‒ with hymns and prayers in the Tamil language ‒ celebrated by Fr. Pius, pastor at Holy Cross. Also present at the retreat was Fr. LourduRaj Alapaty, a chaplain at Wake Med and priest in residence at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Father Alapaty, who was ordained 33 years ago for a diocese in India, has been in Raleigh for 10 years. He was one of the visiting priests serving Holy Cross while we awaited the appointment of our current pastor, Fr. Pius Wekesa.
Members of the RTP Tamil Catholic Community are predominantly from Tamil Nadu, the 10th largest state in India. Christianity in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, is the second largest religion in the state. According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, landed in Malabar Coast (modern day Kerala) in AD 52. In the colonial age many Portuguese, Dutch, British and Italian Christians came to Tamil Nadu.
Their website states the organization’s objectives:
- Support Tamil Catholics in worship through regular Roman Catholic mass and prayer, celebration of religious feasts and festivals and to pass on this tradition to future generations.
- Provide religious instructions in Tamil, support Tamil culture & heritage, complement the ministries of the Roman Catholic Church and support charitable causes.
Fr. Pius is completing arrangements for Catholics in the Triangle from several African countries to similarly have an ethnic Mass each month at Holy Cross. Updates will be posted when details are available.
Contact Us
Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2438 S Alston Ave Durham, NC 27713
(919) 957-2900
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