Catholics in Pakistan
Archdiocese of Lahore

Foundation stone laid for New Clergy House in Gujranwala

Gujranwala (Asif Nazir): February 14, 2020, Friday was truly a blessed day for the faithful believers of St. Mark’s Parish, Chan da Qila, Gujranwala, as the foundation stone of New Clergy House was laid by Rev. Fr. Tariq George , Parish Priest of St. Mark’s Parish’s, Gujranwala and Diocesan director for National Peace and Justice Pakistan (NCJP).




St. Mark’s Parish was created by Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM and officially erected on 28 October 2016, the parish was split off from St. Joseph Parish, Gujranwala. St. Joseph’s Parish Gujranwala is one of the 27th Parishes of Archdiocese of Lahore. It is situated approximately 80 kms in the west away from Lahore, the Provincial Capital of Punjab-Pakistan. This is one of the oldest mission stations of Archdiocese of Lahore founded in 1953 by the great Capuchin missionaries from Belgium.

Also Read: Parishioners at Gujranwala start to rebuild the Church with self reliance.

The foundation stone ceremony was presided over by Rev. Fr. Tariq George who was the first parish priest of St. Mark’s Parish currently serving at National Marian Shrine, Mariamabad which is a National Shrine and the site of an annual pilgrimage for the September 8 feast of Mother Mary’s birth. The guest priests were Rev. Fr. Mushtaq Piara (Rector Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore), Rev. Fr. Samran Anwar (Parish Priest at St. Joseph Parish, Gujranwala), Rev. Fr. Ayub Rehmat (Assistant Priest at St. John’s Parish, Youhanabad-Lahore), Fr. Wixin Paul from St. Mary’s minor seminary Lahore. A number of Parishioners were also attended the ceremony.
Fr. Tariq George led the prayer and blessed the foundation stone of the clergy home. Speaking at the occasion Fr. Tariq George said, the project will be completed by July 2020. He thanked God for the blessings & providence, specially for the layout foundation stone of St. Mark’s Parish House Chan Da Qila Gujranwala. He is also thankful to His Grace Sebastian Francis Shaw, Archdiocese of Lahore whose special intention made it available for the spiritual thrust of the faithful while providing such opportunities.

Statistics of St. Mark’s Parish, Chan da Qila-Gujranwala:

There are total 2,125 families living in the parish with 14,060 faithful believers. The parish covers approximately 25KM west away from Lahore. There are 3 Catholic Schools which are playing a role to educate the nation under Catholic Board of Education. Geographically, Maktaba-e-Anaveem Pakistan (MAP), Sadhoke, the Theological Institute for Laity (TIL) also in the Parish’s.



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