imported>Entranced98 at 16:08, 10 August 2021

2021-08-10T16:08:06Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox church
| name = St. Sebastian's Church
| native_name =
| dedication = [[St. Sebastian]]
| former_names =
| alternate_names =
| image =
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| altitude =
| architectural type = Parish church
| architectural_style =
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| owner =
| current_tenants =
| landlord =
| location = Dilshad Garden, Delhi
| location_town =
| country = [[India]]
| iso_region =

| denomination = [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]
| start_date =
| years built = 2001
| inauguration_date =
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| parish =
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi|Delhi]]
| province = Delhi
| district =
| division =
| subdivision =
| archbishop = Anil Couto
| bishop =
| rector =
| vicar =
| curate =
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| organist =
| businessmgr =
| liturgycoord =
| reledu =
| rcia =
| youthmin =
| flowerguild =
| musicgroup =
| parishadmin =
| serversguild =
|deanery = Eastern Deanery
| logo =
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}}

'''St. Sebastian's Church''' is located in [[Dilshad Garden]] in the city of [[Delhi]], [[India]]. The church is dedicated to [[Saint Sebastian]].

==Arson==
In the year 2014 prior to [[Christmas]] was gutted by some anti social elements<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-st-sebastians-church-gutted-by-fire-christian-community-suspect-foul-play/|title=Dilshad Garden church set on fire, Christian community says not an accident|date=1 December 2014|website=indianexpress.com}}</ref> so as to create social unrest among the religious minority community listing one more incident of [[Anti-Christian violence in India]]. The Evangelical Fellowship of India condemned the burning of St. Sebastian's Church. The entire interior of the Church building, including the Altar, the Holy Bible and Cross were reduced to ashes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Mysterious-fire-guts-Delhi-church-foul-play-suspected/articleshow/45341455.cms|title=Mysterious fire guts Delhi church, foul play suspected - Times of India|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref> The church was constructed in 2001 in East Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efionline.org/press-releases/623-efi-condemns-the-burning-of-st-sebastians-church-in-dilshad-garden-new-delhi|title=EFI Condemns the burning of St. Sebastian's Church in Dilshad Garden, New Delhi|author=|publisher=Efionline.org|accessdate=22 December 2014}}</ref> The forensic team that was investigating found traces of [[kerosene]] inside the church premises.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/church-gutted-in-east-delhi-police-say-arson-628449|title=Church Gutted in East Delhi, Police Say Arson|publisher=}}</ref>

Delhi Archbishop Most Rev. Anil Couto said "The arson in St. Sebastian's church was condemnable not just because it was an act of sacrilege and hate against the community and its faith, but that it could happen in the national Capital which is just recovering from a series of communal incidents."

The act of sacrilege and hate against the Christian community is carried with impunity with very often law agencies remaining silent spectators. This will dent the image of the present government within India and abroad and leave the minorities vulnerable and targets of hatred.

Archbishop Couto demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/archbishop-writes-to-pm-wants-judicial-inquiry/article6654061.ece|title=Dilshad garden church attack: Archbishop seeks judicial inquiry|first=Bindu Shajan|last=Perappadan|date=2 December 2014|publisher=|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Hundreds of Christians protested the arson in Delhi, and the continued persecution of Christians in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other tribal and rural areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-30288169|title=Christians protest over church fire|date=2 December 2014|publisher=|via=www.bbc.com}}</ref>

===Responses===
There was no response of the ruling Government of India on the arson attack, which upset the local Christian community. However, the incident was criticized internationally, including a scathing editorial by the [[New York Times]] stating that "''Attacks at Christian places of worship have prompted no response from the man elected to represent and to protect all of India's citizens.''"<ref>{{cite news|title=Modi's Dangerous Silence|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/07/opinion/modis-dangerous-silence.html|accessdate=31 August 2015|work=[[New York Times]]}}</ref>

==Administration==
The church is a [[Latin Rite]] church administered by [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi]], an [[archdiocese]] of [[Catholic Church in India]].

==Parish Council==
There is also a parish council of the church whose members take decisions regarding the welfare of Church people, the decisions regarding feast celebration, organisation of camps are taken with the consent of parish members. Monthly meeting is held for this purpose.

==Youth==
[[Indian Catholic Youth Movement]] being the apex body under the auspices of [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]] works for the development of Christian youth helps the upcoming Christian youth various seminars, Retreat camps are simultaneously organised for and by youth with the helping hands of parish council members. The function of the youth is to provide their services at times of social services at church as choir, musician, church decoration etc. Duties are rotated among the members of group and hence responsible ones are nominated as leaders for the group.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Delhi}}

[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Delhi]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Delhi]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 2001]]
[[Category:Arson in India]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures destroyed by arson]]
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic church buildings in India]]

St. Sebastian's Church (Dilshad Garden) - Revision history

imported>Entranced98 at 16:08, 10 August 2021