Missions Etrangeres de Paris celebrate 250 years in India

The Missions Étrangères de Paris celebrated 250 years of missionary work in southern India from August 25 to 27. The celebrations took place in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore to mark the presence of the missionaries in the territory since 1776.

The three day event focused on the theme of 250 years of service to the Gospel and humanity. On the first day, an exhibition about the MEP mission opened at the school hosting the event, with attendance from Pondicherry Governor K. Kailashnathan and Prime Minister N. Rangasamy. Father Sénéchal presided over the inaugural Mass.

On August 26, Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, and Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop Emeritus of Mumbai, presided over a thanksgiving Mass for the missionary work. The final day included a thanksgiving Mass led by Father Sénéchal and the blessing of a new Chapel of Adoration at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pondicherry. The gathering included seven MEP priests, consisting of four Indians and three others.