I, Fr Augustine Kanachikuzhy, the reporter from Delhi, visited Prayagraj (former Allahabad) immediately after Christmas. After reaching the House and sharing pleasantries with the Members present there, I ventured out to explore the city. Over the years, people started settling in and around Chatham Lines, where our House is situated, in large numbers, and with it also the traffic increased massively. It has been a constant worry for people going into the city and coming back because they would always find the Railway Gates closed, and that too for long periods of time. That problem will soon be over as flyovers are being built over both the Railway Gates in front of our House. Hectic construction activities are going on. When completed, we will have easy access to the flyovers as they pass right in front of our House.
My next destination was the 150-year-old Cathedral of Allahabad. Eminent architects and skilled workers restored the Cathedral that was long due for repairs to its old glory. Both the interiors and exteriors of the Cathedral are skillfully restored and now it looks elegant and immensely beautiful.
Next, I visited the newly built Home for the retired priests of the Diocese. Situated between the Cathedral and the St Joseph’s Regional Seminary, where there was a mango grove, now stands the Priests home. Built according to the modern construction techniques, priests home is a large building that can accommodate a minimum of 30 retired priests. The rooms are large and built according to the specific needs of the elderly priests who live there. When we build the next home for the elderly it would be a good idea for the builders to visit this House for inputs. I met Fr Alex D’Souza who was a teacher for many of us.
As I reached the Nazareth Hospital, Christmas illumination was a sight to behold. The illumination in front of Nazareth Hospital would make anyone spellbound. As I stood there, onlookers were pouring in to behold the beauty of the illumination. Going further in the city, I passed through the famous Civil Lines and the All Saints Cathedral belonging to the CNI, where similar decorations were found. The Catholic presence in Prayagraj came alive as Christmas came around.