Lahore: March 20, 2014. (Pervez Yousaf and Alfonse Sahar Chohan) 16th March 2014: Mariam Colony is the largest settlement of the Christians of Lahore Cantt parish. By the grace of Almighty God it has completed its fifty years. In this regard a graceful ceremony was organized. His Grace Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lahore was the chief guest while in-charge priest of the area Rev. Fr. Morris Jalal OFM Cap was the presiding person of this glorious programme. A large number of people belonging to Mariam Colony and nearby areas were present to witness this joyful ceremony. The programme began with releasing of multicolored balloons in the air by the Archbishop, Fr. Clarence Hayat OFM Cap (Vice Provincial of Capuchin Fathers in Pakistan), Fr. Morris Jalal OFM Cap, Fr. John Joseph OFM Cap, Fr. Khalid Rehmat OFM Cap, Fr. Ashfaq Anthony OFM Cap, Fr. William Basharat OFM Cap, Fr. Shahzad Khokhar OFM Cap and Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap. During the thanksgiving Mass talking to worshippers His Grace Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw said, “This is the Jubilee Year of Mariam Colony, we should be thankful to Almighty God for this blessing that He has given us life and opportunity to celebrate this occasion. We should also pay thanks to our elders who established this place and gave us opportunity to be the inhabitants. They raised us and imparted education. God is our main source for our needs and provides all the things. He gives us wisdom and power to work hard so that we raise our children. It is the duty of all the parents to provide quality education to their children.” The archbishop paid thanks to present and all the previous governments that provided all the facilities to the residents of Mariam Colony. He also prayed for the government of Pakistan so that it rules the country with good governance so that our country may progress day by day, people may live happily and peace may prevail in our homeland. He further said, “The main reason of our destabilization is dishonesty and speaking untrue things, whereas God commands us not to be deceitful to anyone so that we may receive His blessings abundantly. We should spend our life with the fear of God and change our lives in this year of Jubilee.” Earlier, people of the area extended a warm welcome to the archbishop. From Sajjal chowk people brought him towards the pavilion of worship in a procession with dancing and beating the drums (dhols). Sisters, fathers and a number of lay people garlanded him on arrival among them. People were also showering flower petals on his way towards the Jubilee enclosure. The archbishop inaugurated jubilee celebration by cutting of ribbon and then cutting of a cake weighing fifty pounds. On this occasion Fr. Clarence Hayat installed a traditional Punjabi turban (Kullah) on his head. Mariam Colony came into existence during the year 1964. It is situated in between D.H.A and Nishat Colony Lahore Cantt. Majority of the people residing in this colony are Christians. In the beginning few Christian families were living here but after the wars with India in the years 1965 and 1971 a large number of Christian families migrated here. In the beginning Catholic lay people used to pray on a roof-less floor of bricks. During the years 1971-72, the great missionary Fr. John Bosco purchased a piece of land to build the Church. The foundation of Catholic Church was laid in March 1976. The then Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lahore His Grace Armando Trinidade along with parish priest Fr. Benjamin Joseph blessed the Church on 24th May 1977. The Church was named “St. Mary’s Church” and started with a gathering of 120 Catholic families of the area. Babu Yaqoob Daud was the first catechist of the Church. Building of the Church was extended in 1978 with an additional piece of land sized 28 marlas. Siraj Masih Gill and Babu Masih were the pioneer servants of the Church. The catechists who had been serving this parish were Babu Gulzar Francis, Babu Mehr Din, Babu James Pervaiz, Babu Talib Anthony, Babu Hanif, Babu Hameed Feroze, Babu Ayub Charles, Babu Azam Yousaf, Babu Nishan Lazar and Babu Nasir Gill. At present Babu Tariq Iqbal, Babu John Griffin and Babu Javaid Paulus are serving with in-charge priest Rev. Fr. Morris Jalal OFM Cap. In October 1981, a school for the children of the area was established by Apostolic Carmelite Sisters from Sri Lanka in a room adjacent to the Church building with fifteen children. The school gradually developed first up to middle and then up to secondary (high) standard. Many of the clergy people have been studying in this school including Fr. Henry Paul, Sr. Idat Feroze, Sr. Razia Raphaela, Sr. Kiran Iqbal Labbha, Sr. Rufina Fiaz, Babu Tariq Francis, Babu Naeem Ghouri, Babu David Lal and Babu Sardar Bhatti. People of Mariam Colony can never forget the efforts of Fr. John Bosco, Fr. Henry, Fr. Frans and Sr. Kanthi for the spiritual, social and economic uplift of the people of this area. Currently Fr. Morris Jalal is carrying their mission on his shoulders very successfully. People of the area are working in different walks of life for the progress of the country. Many of renowned Christian writers, poets, lawyers, journalists and experts in other fields of life belong to Mariam Colony and working for the betterment of the society.