QUINQUENNIAL CONGRESS XVII, PITTSBURGH, PA * U.S. SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

PITTSBURGH, PA, July 5, 2007 -- A Mass celebrated in the Indian, Syro-Malabar Rite capped a second  afternoon of small group sessions that explored cultural insights as a people of faith.

Celebrated by Fr. Peter Verrickkanakudy, OFM Cap., the mass featured music from India and singing throughout much of the liturgy.

In his homily, Father Peter spoke of Thomas, the doubting apostle, and how his world was turned upside down with the brutal, dehumanizing death of Jesus. He wasn’t there when the risen Christ first appeared to the apostles, so when he heard the news, he was so skeptical that he uttered the now-famous words that he wouldn’t believe until he saw the savior himself and put his fingers in Christ’s wounds.

Eventually Thomas made that leap of faith, recognizing the triumphal implications of the resurrection – a leap that all Christians must make as they recognize what a grand gift they have received.

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