DIOCESE OF KOHIMA BISHOP S HOUSE Post Box. No. 519 Kohima Nagaland, India

Transcription

1 DIOCESE OF KOHIMA BISHOP S HOUSE Post Box. No. 519 Kohima Nagaland, India March 1, 2014 BPKOH/CIR/02/2014 Dear Rev. Fathers, Sisters, Brothers and Lay Faithful, Greetings from Bishop s House, Kohima!! I returned from the CBCI XXXI Plenary Assembly, (February 05-12, 2014) held in Palai, Kerala which was attended by 187 bishops, including some of the Bishops emeritus. It was the largest CBCI gathering and the diocese of Palai had planned well and hosted the meeting superbly. The theme of the meeting was Renewed Church for a Renewed Society Responding to the Call of Vatican II. I have enclosed the final statement of the Bishops, which is both enlightening and challenging. All our schools have been opened and classes have begun, although in some places classes had been interrupted due to secondary and higher secondary examinations. I hope and wish that our students have done well in their examinations. I also request the Fathers to encourage our Catholic Students to look out for good Catholic Colleges and institutions to pursue their further studies. Season of Lent On 5 th March, we began the holy season of Lent with the Ash Wednesday celebration. As Catholics, the season of Lent is of special significance in our spiritual journey. It is a season for spiritual strengthening, to draw closer to God, amend our ways, and experience the merciful love of God. In his Lenten message 2014, Pope Francis reflected on the words of Apostle Paul to Corinthians, He became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. He wrote, may this Lenten season find the whole Church ready to bear witness to all those who live in material, moral and spiritual destitution the Gospel message of the merciful love of God our Father, who is ready to embrace everyone in Christ. We can do this to the extent that we imitate Christ who became poor and enriched us by his poverty. Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that 1

2 real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt. (Enclosed, please find the Message of Pope Francis for Lent Kindly read it in our Churches in any Sunday of Lent). Year of the Family and Season of Lent The family as a whole and parents in particular has special role to play during the season of lent. It is the duty of the parents and the elder generation to help their children to observe the lent instructing them of the importance and significance of lent in the life of every Christian, such as attendance at the Eucharist, receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation, taking part in the devotional services in the parish such as way of the cross on Fridays, special acts of penance and mortifications, abstaining from eating certain types of food, fasting, being generous for Lenten collections, etc. I invite all the families to celebrate this season of lent as a special time during this year of the family. Pope Francis has written a letter to Families, a personal appeal to every family to pray for the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops during the month of October 2014, to discuss the theme of Pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization. (Enclosed, please find also a copy of the same letter). Before Easter Family Record Book will be made available and I request all the Parish Priests / Centre In-charges to buy and supply them to each of the families in the parish/centre and to see that its properly filled in while they visit the families for house blessings this year. General Elections 2014 The general elections 2014 is at our door step. The Election Commission is expected to announce the dates of the election in any day this week. We, as responsible citizens and committed Christians, have the responsibility of exercising the fundamental right to vote to elect leaders who will uphold the values enshrined in the constitution and work for the progress and development of the people. Let us remember that Catholic Church does not identify herself with any political party and party politics is a personal matter. The Church wishes, encourages and prays to have a fair and free poll. It exhorts the citizens to exercise their fundamental right to vote keeping in mind the ability and moral suitability of each candidate. Election is the most important weapon at peoples disposal to choose the right and able candidates who bring about transformation and change for the good and welfare of the people. Therefore let us all exercise our fundamental right to vote conscientiously and pray and do everything possible for a fair and free election, devoid of all violence, intimidation and buying and selling of votes. (Enclosed, also find a copy of the Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops of India for the coming general elections). Diocesan Pastoral Council 2014 The Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) 2014 was held at Mt. Tabor on Friday, 28 th February There were 105 participants (Bishop, 41 priests, 10 sisters and 54 lay people). The main agenda for the meeting was finalizing the Pastoral Plan for the Diocese. The various diocesan commissions had prepared the goal and objectives for each of the commissions which was approved by the house. DPC also formed committees for each region to take forward the process to the region and 2

3 individual parishes. We hope to have a Diocesan, Regional and Parish Pastoral Plan in place by the end of the year I thank in a very special way Fr. Sebastian Ouseparampil, Fr. Chacko Karinthayil and Fr. Solomon Vizo who were the Committee Members in-charge of the Pastoral Plan and the great efforts put in to reach this stage for the great work done and yet to be done. I also thank the regional animators and parish priests and their team for the work done. We need to go further until we have the Pastoral Plan in place. I thank them all in advance. It will be great achievement and a road map for the future to maximize our resources. Besides the Pastoral Plan, the importance of giving respect and reverence to the Holy Eucharist, especially avoiding all aberrations while receiving the Holy Eucharist was stressed by the members present. DPC agreed to continue with the practice of communion in hand. Another point stressed by the members was the need to utilize Conventions, Jubilees, Congress and other common meeting for catechesis and deepening of catholic faith and conducting them in a catholic way, giving stress to the celebration of the sacraments, than following Protestant ways, avoiding exorbitant expenses on decoration and externals. The members also decided to celebrate the Year of the Family in the best way in their respective parishes. Hearty Congratulations to His Grace Most Rev. Thomas Menamparambil His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Most Rev. Thomas Menamparambil SDB, D.D, the Archbishop emeritus of Guwahati, as the Apostolic Administrator of Jowai Diocese. We wish His Grace our heartfelt congratulations and fruitful ministry. His Grace will animate us for the second retreat in the diocese. Lisieux Convent at Domikhia, Dimapur I am happy to inform you that the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) Sanjoe Province, has started a new convent (Lisieux Convent) and a school (Christ School) at Domukhia about seven Kilometers from Dimapur town (Zion Hospital). We wish the Sisters very best in their new ministry and apostolate in the new place. San Damiano Novitiate House, Medziphema St. Clare Province, Imphal, of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) will start a new novitiate, San Daminao Novitiate, at Medziphema, in the land they had purchased earlier for the purpose. They will begin with 14 second year novices on 8 th March 2014, with Sr. Rinet, their Novice Mistress. We wish them the very best and pray that the presence of another novitiate in the diocese become a power house of prayer and grace. Sunday Catechism CCBI Commission for Catechetics is ready with Sunday Catechism Text Books based on 3

4 Sunday Lectionary Readings, titled In His Foot Steps. In 2010 CCBI published the Sunday Catechism Cycle C and was made available to all the diocesan secretaries. Now Cycle A will be available from April first week. One set of Sunday Catechism includes four books: Classes 1-3; 4-6; 7-9 and A set of Sunday Catechism (four books) has a total of 852 pages and each book costs rupees 75 each, that is a total of rupees 300 for a set. NB:- Postal/Currier Charges extra! About Cycle B: The Commission hopes to bring out the Cycle B in March DMI Foundation Scholarship (Free Education) For boys with 85% girls with 80% marks in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in Higher Secondary Examination, will get free education, including hostel or transport for BE/BTech Degree admissions in their Engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. dmifoundations@gmail.com / Website: New Provincial Superior for SMI Guwahati Province Sr. Jancy Francis Vandhuparambil, has been appointed the new Provincial Superior of the SMI province, Guwahati. She succeeds Sr. Sharlene Pulickal. We thank Sr. Sharlene Pulickal for her dedicated services to the congregation, province and particularly to the mission in Nagaland. We also congratulate and wish Sr. Jancy Francis God s choicest blessings on her new ministry of leadership and success in all her endeavors. Transfer and appointment Sacred Heart Convent, Chizami Incoming Outgoing Sr. Helen Lalmalsawmi UFC Sr. Nancy Sequeira UFC Contact Address of Fr. John Kavas in US Rev. Fr. John, Kavas 4

5 St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral Rectory 32 Elm Avenue, Metuchen, NJ USA Mobile: May their Souls Rest in Peace Mrs. Mary (83) Mother of Sr. Lisa SCCG, passed away on 28th Jan, 2014 Mr. Leao W Diniz (62) brother of Fr. Iraniu SFX passed away on 29th January, 2014 Mrs. Martha Ezung, Mother of Sr. Carmila Ezung and grad mother of Bro. Renthungo Odyuo, passed away on 3 rd February, Mr. Mathew (81) Father of Fr. Johnny (Cathedral) passed away on 12 th February, 2014 Mr. John, uncle of Sr. Rose Abiliu MSMHC (Chiephobozou) passed away on 1 st March, 2014 Bishop s Program March Chiephobozou: Blessing of the New School Building Pastoral Visit to Tobu Dimapur: CEDOK, Games 15 Dimapur: Church Blessing at St. Joseph s Children Home Campus Pastoral Visit to Cathedral Parish, Kohima 19 Blessing of the SABS Novitiate, Medziphema 20 Kohima, Regional Animators Meeting (B.H., Kohima, 2.00 pm) 21 Jalukie: Come and See program 22 Kohima: Finance Committee Meeting (Budgets 9.00 am, BH, Kohima) Pastoral Visit to SFS Parish, Kohima Kohima Pastoral Visit to Meluri 29 Death Anniversary of Fr. George N. A. April Pastoral Visit to Meluri 03 Kohima Pastoral Visit to Bhandari Kohima 12 Kohima, Governing Board, St. Joseph College, Jakhama (2.00 pm) 13 Kohima, Palm Sunday 14 Kohima, Senate Meetings (10.30 am) Priests Meetings (4.30 pm) 15 Kohima, Recollection and Chrism Mass 16 Kohima, Consulters meeting (B.H. Kohima, 9.00 am) Kohima 25 Pastoral Visit to Shalom 26 Chumukedima, First Profession CMC Pastoral Visit to Niuland 5

6 30 Dimapur, Profession, UFS (9.30 am) Vestition, GSS (4.00 pm) May Viswema, First Profession Shillong, Regional Bishops Meeting Pastoral Visit to Jalukie Campus Institutions 09 Kohima Pastoral Visit to Pfutsero 15 Medziphema: New Convent Blessing 16 Kohima 17 Kohima, Finance Committee Meeting (BH, Kohima 2.00 pm) Pastoral Visit to Phesama Kohima, SCC Seminar Kohima, Cathedral Jubilee 26 Kohima Trip to Europe June Europe Kohima, Retreats Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil Bishop of Kohima, Nagaland 6