subhavna Diocese of Calcutta (CNI) For private circulation only

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1 subhavna Diocese of Calcutta (CNI) For private circulation only Website: cnicalcutta.org Diocesan Newsletter Issue: 51 St. Paul's Cathedral, Cathedral Social Service Sunday On 17th September, 2017 St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata observed Cathedral Social Service Sunday in a Thanksgiving Worship Service. Fifty years ago in April 1963 the then Presbyter of St. Paul's Cathedral, Rev John Pothen alongwith Mrs. Mary Verghese, Mrs. Mitzy Kumar alongwith some members felt the need to start a Social Service Wing of the Cathedral which would operate among the urban poor of Calcutta. It was an attempt to 'show God's love to those who were still unaware of it.' This is how the Cathedral Social Service or CSS as we know it now was born. (Source Vestry notes 1963 and article in 'Gala Cathedral Feet 2002' Brochures) A likely area was chosen in the Bhowanipur area close to the Cemetery to commence operations. Sweepers for the Calcutta Municipal Corporation who had their homes in the bustee just opposite the Cemetery were 'adopted'. On 25th April, 1967 Mr. Bob Wright had very kindly given permission for the room opposite the Cemetery office to be used by the CSS (Source: Vestry notes 1967) The CSS received a great amount of encouragement from the late Canon Subir Biswas (a former Vicar of St. Paul's Cathedral from ) In the present time by the grace of God and the dedication of the teachers, (some of whom have been working since inception) and our benefactors, the schools now boast of 148 students on its rolls, with more and more children from the neighbourhood eager to join. One Non Formal school is located in Bhawanipur Cemetery. It is in this environment where 'death dies that a new life is born' with 94 children taking their first step in bridging the gap between the reality they come from and the dream that they are encouraged to realize. The school has classes from Nursery to Four divided in two sessions. The school is housed in a small room near the entrance to the cemetery. The children come from the nearby slums. Their parents are employed as taxi drivers or small shop assistants or work in the neighbourhood homes of the affluent. The Scott Lane Non formal school meets in two classrooms of the St. Paul's Mission School, Scott Lane (Sealdah). This School has 55 students and runs its sessions from 1pm to 5pm for Nursery to Class 2. The children from this school have their homes in the dwellings around the area as well as from the pavements. Their parents run tea stalls, some ferry goods from the railway station which is nearby, to the shops and godowns in the area. A Mid-day tiffin is given to the children of both the schools, this further encourages strong attendance. It was noticed that many children showed a keen interest to study further, hence the sponsorship programme was 1 taken up in full earnest. Applications are encouraged from children with poor economic backgrounds and an aptitude towards further education. Continued on : Pg.3

2 EDITORIAL Every year, Christmas comes to remind us of God's love that He gave His only Son. Christmas is the beginning of a love story. Christmas is the living promise that we are never alone. No matter where we are in life, no matter in what condition we find ourselves, no matter how far we might stray or how unfaithful we are; God, the supreme lover will pursue us in love. It is love that never stops shining. More than the shining star. Let the poor, the downtrodden, the marginalized people feel proud and honoured that the Son of God was born in such a simplicity, in such down to earth manner where all ordinary people are welcome to pay their homage. Christ was born for all human race- irrespective of colour, creed, religion etc. God chose what is weak in this world to shame the strong to reduce to nothing things that are ( 1 Cor 1:27 ) Send in your contributory articles along with photographs to: SUBHAVNA, Bishop s House, 51, Chowringhee Road, Kolkata or mail to: subhavna.cni@gmail.com The Editorial Board has the full discretion of editing contributory articles Published by: The. Rt. Rev. Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta (CNI), from Bishop s House, 51, Chowringhee Road, Kolkata OBITUARY Mr. Pradip Kumar Mitra M r. P r a d i p Kumar Mitra, Tr e a s u r e r, Diocese of Calcutta, CNI and Secretary of the Calcutta Diocesan Trust Association (Pvt). Mr. Mitra Served as a member on various sub-committee of CNI Synod. A dynamic lay leader and served as secretary of his Church St Mary's Church, Elgin Road, a renowned sportsman and sports administrator left for his heavenly abode on 18th October, A gem of a person, Mr. Mitra was always willing to put his best foot forward in all the endeavours the Diocese of Calcutta Continued on : Pg.3 All those who are dying every now and then in unbearable sufferings- mentally, physically and psychologically take courage that the Child Jesus had to flee from the time of His birth along with His parents for saving life. His life was not secure. He was born with a cross, lived with a cross and died on the cross. The child of Mary and Joseph, born in a cattle shelter in Bethlehem will make us think about the children who suffer and are abused in our world today. Children who lose their innocence, their very childhood, forced into prostitution, slavery, who are placed as soldiers/ human shields on the camel back, in a violent, greedy, ruthless world. Children who have to beg to eke out a living, run from one country to another as refugee for shelter, who suffer deprivation and hunger and are unloved. Can we shirk/ avoid the collective responsibility/ our obligation for the safety and security of the children in our society? Every day we open the newspaper and television channel to read/watch about child abuse whose average age is 2-5 years! Where we are heading to? Developed, developing, underdeveloped countries- the story is same everywhere. Child safety policy/guidelines for all the schools/institutions have become mandatory these days. The child today is like a rose, trampled on the ground. The very childhood, the innocence are all lost. In the Bible the symbol, the imagery, the icon of a child is a very powerful and strong one. Jesus spoke about possessing the mind of a child to be able to enter the Kingdom of God. A small child initiated the whole miracle of the feeding of five thousand people by Jesus. A small girl child inspired Naman to take a dip to get rid of a dreaded skin disease. Poet Nirendranath Chakroborty wrote a poem Kolkatar Jishu- a naked beggar child on the street of Kolkata, at an important crossing, uninhibited and totally oblivious of the grudging drivers around while the traffic has come to a halt as he crosses the road. Poet calls the child Kolkatar Jishu as if the traffic has stopped because of a 2 divine intervention on his part. We are proud of Asish Vidyarthi- his tireless crusade against the menace of child labour. still there are countless others who may not be in the limelight. On Christmas, a Child was born, a Son was given. True, but the question today is: Is he born unto me? Or else it does not profit me if He is not born unto me. His coming is our becoming. Born anew, to be humble, a new creation, to be generous, to be open minded. To discover him in our life every day is what i need today. The poem Child by Rabindranath Tagore becomes all the more relevant: The ray of morning sun strikes aslant at the door. The assembled crowd feel in their blood the primeval chant of creation: 'Mother, open the gate!' The gate opens. The mother is seated on a straw bed with the babe on her lap, Like the dawn with the morning star. The sun's ray that was waiting at the door outside falls on the head of the child. The poet strikes his lute and sings out: 'Victory to Man, the new-born, the ever-living.' They kneel down, the king and the beggar, the saint and the sinner, the wise and the fool, and cry: 'Victory to Man, the new-born, the ever-living.' The old man from the East murmurs to himself: 'I have seen!' Let us not forget the reason for the season, Jesus of History and Christ of faith this Christmas as we are celebrating the Christmas for over 2000 years and prepare for His second coming. Let us also not forget the children around us, precious gift of God, our future. Their safety, their security be of utmost concern for us, let us strive to establish their rightful place in the society even as we welcome child Jesus into our hearts.

3 Continued from : Pg.1 St. Paul's Cathedral, Cathedral Social Service Sunday The Cathedral also runs a Vocational Training Centre in its compound where young girls are given training in embroidery and tailoring. An outlet in the main Church building and in the CSS centre showcases and sells items stitched by the girls. In a project for Pensioners, a small pension and some clothes are given every month. It is the endeavour of the CSS to bridge the gap, so that all may see the love of Jesus. Children from the non-formal schools, young women of the Vocational Training Centre and the CSS staff presented songs to mark the occasion. Rev Paritosh Canning, Vice-President, St. Paul's Cathedral, 170th Anniversary of Dedication Festival Diocese of Calcutta, shared God's Word and enriched all present with a meaningful message. After the service in the Church there was time for fellowship and a fundraising breakfast for the sponsorship of the children. empowerment The CRS hopes that the endeavour will be a source of livelihood to women rescued from sex trade and trafficking. On 8th October, 2017 St. Paul's Cathedral celebrated 170th Anniversary of Dedication Festival. Rev Nigel Pope, Vicar, led the worship service. The Rt. Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta was the celebrant and preacher. Bishop brought greetings from the Diocesan family. Bishop said we have all gathered here to give thanks to God for this House of God and Worship Him. Our worship should be both an expression of our love for God, and also a celebration of His presence in our midst. In our worship we are assured of God's promise that He will be with us forever. The God we worship is perfect and pure in heart, character and in His very being. And so we are called to be disciples and followers of the pure and perfect God and called to live in His purity and offer ourselves as living sacrifices to Him. Today, we are being called to deepen our understanding of God's love in our lives as individual believer's and as a body of Christ the St. Paul's Cathedral family. And so in understanding God's love we are also being challenged to respond in love by offering ourselves to the service of God in and through the ministry and mission of our Church. The Bengali Congregation, the Cathedral Choir and Sunday School presented special songs. The Worship Service came to a close with fellowship breakfast for all present. ease in a role that is as its nature, selfeffacing with little public recognition. He was initially employed by Calcutta Customs and later joined Steel Authority of India where he worked until retirement in He represented the country in the field of Badminton on several occasions and lead the team to many victories. He played 1st Division Hockey for 15 years in the State Level. He represented Bengal in the National Championship in Hockey and Badminton. He was the Junior Bengal Champion in Badminton in He was the secretary of West Bengal Badminton Association for 10 years. Was the Secretary of the Office Sports Federation, West Bengal Government nominated member of the Bengal Sports Council besides being Presidents of many sports clubs in South Calcutta. Our deepest condolences for his wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren during this time of mourning. Cathedral Relief Service Launch of "Nari Dana" On 22nd October, 2017 Mr. Jurgen Thomas Schrod, Head of Small Scale Projects Dept., of German Consulate, Kolkata and Ms. Isha Malhotra, Asst. to Counsul-General, Consulate, launched Nari Dana Women's Wings at St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata. The project is run by the Women's Empowerment wing of Cathedral Relief Service. On display and sale at this outlet are Home accessories made of cloth by women of the 14 slums in Kolkata where the CRS is providing education, healthcare and women s Continued from : Pg.2 OBITUARY undertakes. He did his best being a Christian, as he devoted himself to helping people in their need and follow the teachings of Christ. His distinct personal qualities and competence include good interpersonal skills; a high level of administrative acumen; the ability to deal with delicate and sensitive matters in a professional manner; capacity to work in a close-knit team; at 3

4 St. James' Church, Baranagar comes to the aid of Flood Victims St. Saviour's Hindi Church On 10th September 2017 St. James' Church, Baranagar came to the aid of families affected by major floods in Malda. According to the district administration in Malda, nearly eight lakh people were affected by the flood. People of Baranagar including police stations from Baranagar and Cossipore contributed to the relief items (cloths and dry ration) that were distributed to people of seven villages submerged in the flood, by volunteers from the Church along with the members of Malda Journalist Club and Mrs. Dipali Biswas, MLA of Gazole. Women's Fellowship Programme Pratt Memorial School Interact Club visit to Snehakunja, Arunima Hospice India's festival of lights, Diwali, is an important celebration that is often considered the most important in India's festive season. Themes of good vs. evil, appreciation of Indian culture, and most importantly, the experience of giving abundantly mark this occasion. In many ways, it matches the festive fervour of Christmas in the Western world. It is also considered an auspicious time of the year across Hindu communities, who celebrate it through prayers, large scale springcleaning of their homes, and shopping for household items. Countries across the world with large Indian population have shown an appreciation for Diwali. America's White House has in recent years initiated Diwali celebrations, while Singapore has even launched a Diwali-themed train. For the kind at heart, the festival is marked with reaching out to the less fortunate and making gifts of charity. These ensure that everyone can afford to have some joy during the festive season, across the community. It also gives the underprivileged some hope and respite from their hardship and motivates them to look forward to a better year. On 15th October the children of Pratt Memorial School Interact Club made the festival an enjoyable one for the children of Snehakunja, Arunima Hospice by their visit and sharing in their joy. The Children showcased their numerous talents. Watching them perform was a humbling experience. After their performance, the children were given chocolates, snacks, drinks and dry fruit, apart from a whole lot of goodies/ration to last them for over a fortnight and 3 cartons of assorted firecrackers for Diwali. Priscilla Kerr Teacher in charge ICPMS. 4 On 28th October, 2017 the Women s Fellowship of St. Saviour's Hindi Church organised a workshop on Church Women in the 21st Century. It was well attended by the members of Sadhu Sundar Singh Girja, Christ Church-Liluah, Duff Church, St. Paul's Cathedral, CNI Wesleyan Church, St. Thomas' Church Howrah and St. Mark's Church of the Diocese of Calcutta, CNI. The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI sent his greetings and best wishes to one and all for the success of the programme. Rev Pradip Biswas said the opening prayer and inaugurated the sessions with the lighting of the lamp ceremony. Rev. Raghbir Masih was present as Bishop's representative and shared God's Word. In his message he emphasised the importance of equality of women in Jesus' teaching. The first session was conducted by Mrs. Susana Sarkar from Serampore College on the power of prayer and the importance a prayer life. The second session was conducted by Ms. Sharon Jacob and Anusha of International Justice Mission. The session was based on the life of Esther who did not fear even death and used the power of fasting and prayer to give her the strength and confidence to go to the King and save her people from being destroyed. Songs of praise and worship were presented by the women's fellowship of St. Saviour's Hindi Church. Rev Martin Pakhare proposed the vote of thanks followed by a sumptuous lunch for all present.

5 St. Thomas' Church, Howrah, 186th Anniversary Celebrations St Thomas' Church, which was founded in 1830, owes its establishment mainly to the exertions of Rev. Professor Holmes of the East India Company. He was also the Principal of Bishop's College and wished to provide a place of worship for the local populace. This Church, spread over five bighas of land, was completed in 1830 and was consecrated in 1832 by Bishop Daniel Wilson. It was named St. Thomas' Church in Prior to that, it was known simply as the Howrah Church. The architect of this Church, which was built in accordance with Gothic architecture, was William Jones. St. Thomas' Church, Howrah is not without a certain beauty and prettiness. A handsome marble font has been presented to commemorate John Stalkart of Ghoosery who was a member of the Church for over sixty years and whose hospitality was remembered by his friends. The beautiful stained glass windows forming a backdrop to the altar, depict the tragic grandeur of Christ's crucifixion and have survived the test of time. The Pastorate Committee of this Church also looks after Sadhu Sunder Singh Girja, Bankra; St Luke's Church, Bosekati and Christ Church, Lilluah. These three Churches are all in Howrah district and come under the Diocese of Calcutta. The Church being situated in the centre of St Thomas' Church School, flanked by the senior and junior school buildings on either side, is actively used by students and teachers alike. During weekdays the school conducts it morning assemblies here. Special commemorative functions of the school, including Patronal Day, Teachers' Day and Prefects' Investiture ceremony are held in the hallowed precincts of this place of divine worship. On 22nd October 2017 St. Thomas' Church, Howrah, c e l e b rate d i t s t h Anniversary in a Thanksgiving Worship Service. Clergy, Heads of Institutions, invited guests were present. The Rt. Rev. Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI brought greetings from the Diocese. In his opening statement, Bishop said With growth comes many challenges but the exciting thing is that with God all things are possible and He gives wisdom freely! In the case of St. Thomas' Church, the Church has done well and he thanked the Presbyter-inCharge, the Pastorate Committee, the Principal of St. Thomas' Church School and the Board of Governors Committee for taking keen interest in seeing to the development of the Church and its building. Mr. Raj Paul the guest speaker for the occasion shared God's Word. Mr Paul encouraged the gathering as they come together and give thanks to the Lord for the 186th anniversary of the Church and worship always a delight. The Church Choir, presented special songs and led in the congregation hymns conducted by Mr. Kalyan Banerjee. To mark the occasion Christ Church Lilluah, presented a special song. After the Worship service there was a time for fellowship and dinner for all. 5 Osmond Memorial Church, 149th Anniversary Celebrations On 30th October Osmond Memorial Church celebrated its 149th Anniversary in a Thanksgiving Service. Before the worship service The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, unveiled the plaque to commemorate the commencement of the 150th year of Dedication of Osmond Memorial Church. Between November 2017 and October 2018, various programmes have been planned to celebrate the occasion, which were made known in the worship service to the congregation and the guests. Bishop expressed his joy and encouraged the Church members to be in good cheer and wished them all blessings. Bishop's message was mainly on the contribution and commitment of m e m b e rs t o t h e g ro w t h a n d development of the Church and he said, every single individual has a vital role to play in the development of the Church and must use their gifts to their full capacity in serving one another. The Women's Fellowship, Youth and Choir presented special items to mark the occasion. Children from Aurnima Hospice presented a dance as an offering to God for the help and support received from the congregation from time to time. After the Worship Service there was time for fellowship and dinner for all.

6 Visit to Iswar-Sankalpa by the DWFCS Team Are you in need of sharing your depression? Do you need proper guidance in studies? Marital/ any kind of relationship is having maladjustment? Please contact: Anisha Counselling Centre Bishop's House 51, Chowringhee Road, Kolkata Ph.: Trained and efficient NURSES and AYAHS, available on call, 24 hours a day. On 28th October, 2017 members of the Diocesan Women's Fellowship for Christian Service, Diocese of Calcutta, CNI, organized an outreach programme at Iswar-Sankalpa. Which is a Shelter for u r b a n h o m e l e s s wo m e n w i t h Psychological disabilities. The DWFCS members were welcomed by residents of the Sankalpa. It was a joyous moment when they interacted with the DWFCS members. The DWFCS members participated in an energizer session and some of the members also danced with resident client of the Sarbari. The interaction session ended with a word of prayer offered by Mrs. Bijoya Das, President, DWFCS. The visit offered an opportunity for the DWFCS to see the Bakery, handicraft unit and the cafeteria run by the residents. The programme is an opportunity for mainstreaming socially excluded women who are differently abled and mentally challenged. The aim of the projects is the empowerment of women. Monika Mitra and Shilpi Dutta HPDP and Social Outreach, DWFCS Diocese of Calcutta, CNI BOARDING FACILITIES available, exclusively for Christian Working Girls, at Maniktola, Kolkata. CALL TODAY: LADY ROGERS INDIAN NURSES' BUREAU St. Andrew's Church Seminar on the theme of 'Impact of Social Media on Society today' On 29th October, 2017 St. Andrew's Church, Women's Guild organised a seminar on the theme of Impact of Social Media on Society today. The seminar was conducted by Anisha Counselling Centre. Pastorates and Institutions in the Diocese of Calcutta attended in good numbers from all age groups. The participants were made aware of what we generally take for granted such as the use of social media Web sites which are among the most common activity of today's children and adolescents. Any Web site that allows social interaction is considered a social media site and blogs. The web sites offer today's youth a portal for entertainment and communication and have grown exponentially in recent years. As much as it has benefited us it is important that we become aware of the nature of social media sites, given that not all of them are healthy environments for children and adolescents. The seminar's aim was to help participants understand these sites and to encourage healthy use and urge them to monitor for potential problems with cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content. Online games positive and negative impact as well as impact of social networking was the topic for discussion. The seminar started with the opening prayer by Rev Dr. Swarup Bar. The participants were briefed on aims and objective of the seminar by the felicitator Ms. Lopamudra Nandi of Anisha Counselling Centre. Suvabrata Das, Secretary, Anisha Counselling Centre welcomed the gathering. The sessions began with the introduction of the participants. A video was shown based on social media. Followed by the definition of social media- its positive effects and group activity by Madhubanti 6 Banik. A session on the negative effects of Social Media was conducted by Shipli Chatterjee. Tanurima Basak held a discussion on the impact of online games and proper handling and management of Social Media. Lopamudra Nandi conducted a session on behavioural changes as indication for addiction. The session concluded with an open discussion with the participants and feedback. Followed by sumptuous lunch for all present.

7 CNI Day Celebrations at the Diocesan Office, Diocese of Calcutta, CNI On 29th November, 2017 the Diocese of Calcutta, CNI came together, giving thanks and praise to the Lord for the 47th year of the foundation of the Church of North India at the Diocesan Office, Bishop's House, 51, Chowringhee Road, Kolkata The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI congratulated the Diocesan members on the 47th anniversary of the united and uniting journey of the Church of North India. Bishop reflected on the great event of Church Union in North India, at a d e c o ra t e d t e n t i n A l l S a i n t ' s Cathedral Campus, Nagpur, where more than 5000 people gathered together representing the six erstwhile denominations namely the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon(Anglican), the United Church of Northern India (Congregationalist and Presbyterian), the Council of Baptist Churches of Northern India(British Baptist), the Church of the Brethren in India, the Methodist Church (British and Australian Conferences) and the Disciples of Christ came together in union to be one church(church of North India) through a novel liturgy for unification. Bishop encouraged the gathering to commit oneself to the Lord and that each one of us are witness to this unity by serving the community. The opening prayer was said by Rev Paritosh Canning, Vice-President, Diocese of Calcutta, CNI. Rev Nigel Pope meditated on the scripture reading from Ecc1:1-6 A free health checkup camp for the Clergy and Bishop's House staff was conducted by Dr. Mary D Cruz that was beneficial to all. The celebration came to a close with the closing prayer by The Rt. Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI, giving thanks to God for the life and work of the Office Bearers of the CNI Synod, all Bishops, Clergy and lay people working hand in hand upholding the moto of the CNI- Unity, Witness and Service. After the programme there was a time spent in fellowship. Diocese as well for other Dioceses. A large number of people flocked to enjoy the variety of games and food which the stalls offered, apart from stalls for artefacts, household goods and clothes. Items were also available on sale by various Christian organisations. Diocesan Education Mission Fete On 2nd December, 2017 the Diocesan Education Mission Fete, an annual event of the Diocese of Calcutta, was held at St. Paul's Cathedral grounds. Institutions of the Diocese of Calcutta, CNI actively participated in this annual mega event. The Rt Rev. Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI, inaugurated the Fete. Office Bearers and Heads of Institutions of the Diocese were present along with other dignitaries at the inaugural ceremony. The proceeds of this fete are utilised for the benefit of vernacular schools in the 7

8 Calcutta Diocesan Festival and Nabanna Utsav On 3th December, 2017 the Calcutta Diocesan Festival and the Nabanna Utsav, the Annual Day of Thanksgiving was held at St. Paul's Cathedral, commencing with the Thanksgiving Worship Service at 2:00 p.m. Clergy, Heads of Institutions, members of the Pastorates in the Diocese attended in large numbers. Choir groups from various CNI churches and schools presented songs at the service. We were blessed by the presence of Sisters from Oxford Mission, Bangladesh and a presentation of a beautiful hymn. The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI brought greetings from the Diocese of Calcutta, CNI and welcomed the Chief Guest, The Rt Rev Dr. Probal Kanto Dutta, Deputy Moderator, Church of North India and Bishop of Durgapur, CNI Bishop Dutta brought greeting from the Church of North India and the Moderator of CNI. Bishop expressed his joy to be once again in the Diocese of Calcutta. His visit brought back memories of the years when he belonged to this Diocese and preached the word of God in this very Church. Bishop based his message on the Gospel reading for the day, John 6: He said Let us not act like Philip with little or no faith. Let us tap into the power that can feed the five thousand. After the service in the Church the festivities continued in the grounds with cultural programme by various Churches, schools and organisations of the Diocese. Churches and Christian organisations set up their stalls serving food and beverages, selling various items and organizing games. Prizes were given for Sunday School competition rally. The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta launched a Bengali book on Swami Vivekananda's view on Christ Vivekananda Sahitye Jishu Khrishto by Sandip Johnson. The programme came to a close with a love feast in the Parish hall. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Union Chapel School 50th Anniversary Celebrations On 7th November, 2017 Union Chapel School celebrated its 50th Anniversary in a Thanksgiving Worship Service. Mrs. Marie Carol Gaspar, Principal, Loreto House, Kolkata was present as the Chief Guest. The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta and Chairman of the Board of Governors, presided over the Worship Service. Members of the Board of Governors, Clergy, eminent guests, teachers, parents and ex-students were among those who attended. Bishop congratulated the Principal and her team of teachers for the all round development of the school and for continuing to prepare boys and girls coming from middle class families and modest backgrounds with basic education so that they too can compete in life and develop a compassionate, caring, reliable and responsible character. Bishop said the School has not let the limited facilities come in the way of its success as it strives to offer education to students and equip them to face the challenges of life in this part of the city. He was happy to inform the gathering that the school will start Plus II in due course of time. Mrs. Marie Carol Gaspar, Principal, Loreto House, Kolkata as the Chief Guest Quoted Mahatma Gandhi who said Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even If I didn't have it in the beginning" encouraged the students to believe in themselves. Mrs. Gaspar shared a special word for the 8 founders of the school, Mr. Montgomery and members of Union Chapel who founded the school in 1967, that they essentially catered to the needs of the weaker sections of the society. The programme came to a close with fellowship and lunch for the guests and the Teachers. Students were provided refreshments after the Worship Service.

9 50th Anniversary of Santali Worship in Osmond Memorial Church On 12th November, 2017 the Santali Worship at Osmond Memorial Church commemorated its 50th Anniversary in a Thanksgiving Worship Service at Osmond Memorial Church. The Most Revd. Dr. P. P. Marandih, Bishop of the Diocese of Patna; The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI; Rev Paritosh Canning, Vice President; Mr. John A. K. Ghosh, Hony. Secretary, Diocese of Calcutta, CNI, invited guests and members of Church comprising of the four congregations, i.e. the Bengali congregation at Taltola, Kamardanga Chapel, Ballygunge congregation at Bondel Road and the Santhali congregation at Taltola Congregation were present at the Worship Service. The Santhals are Adivasi people indigenous to Terai region of Nepal and India, who live mainly in Nepal and the Indian States of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam (part of the Tea Tribes). There is also a significant Santhal minority in neighbouring Bangladesh. They are one of the largest tribal communities in India. In the quest of education and livelihood they have migrated from their home land to towns and cities and beyond. The Santhali congregation of Osmond Memorial Church has a very wonderful and unique history. Kolkata being the state capital of West Bengal, has many Santhal people from different parts of West Bengal as well as from other parts of the country, who have come here to earn a livelihood or have education. Most of them are Christians. The concept of the Santhali Church was conceived over a cup of tea in front of a spectacle shop near Prachi cinema in Sealdah, which was owned by one Mr. Hembrom from North Bengal. Mr. Hembrom, his youngest brother, Mr. Koomar Hembrom along with Sri Barnabas Murmu and Sri Dinesh Murmu, decided on 21st December, 1958 that there should be Christmas celebrations here in Kolkata also, as the Santhal Christians usually observed festivals only in their native place. It was resolved on that day that on the morning of 24th December, 1958 they would take out a 'Jale' party (move in a group singing and dancing) from the residence of Mr. Hembrom and Mr. Koomar Hembrom at Park Court. The plan took shape. In the morning all of them, comprising the residents of Beniapukur, Ismail Street and Ripon Street came out on the streets with cymbals, violins, drums, flutes and other musical instruments and boarded the first tram car from Park Circus. In a group they entered the tram car and started singing Sohrae Seren in Santhali glorifying the 9 auspicious day of Christ's birth and praising the Lord. When they alighted from the tram car, the passengers were so delighted and the conductor so moved that he did not take the fare for the tram ride. After getting down from the car they visited all the Santhali Christian families in Entally, Ismail Street and Ripon Street one by one and praised the Lord in each of the houses. They ultimately finished their 'Jale' at night in the house of the Hembroms. On the day of Christmas they went to Emmanuel Chapel on C. I. T. Road where they attended the Worship Service. Later it was mutually decided that Santhali Church Service would be held in Emmanuel Chapel and some of the Santhali Pastors who would be present on those days would conduct the service of this Snthali congregation. Up to 1961 this arrangement continued. In February 1966 February, it was the determined resolve of Rev. C. C. Pandey, Bishop Gorai and Bishop Santosh Kisku that a regular Santhali service should be established in the Osmond Memorial Church at 56A, S. N. Banerjee Road, Kolkata. Sri. T. K. Rapaz, Sri. Ezekiel Hembrom, Sri. Barnabas Murmu and Sri. Dinesh Murmu were greatly instrumental in making this vision a reality. It is a matter of great blessing of the Almighty that since then it has got Santhali Pastors to carry on the service: Sermons are delivered in Santhali language, which is a great blessing to the Santhali congregation. Interestingly, before the starting of this Santhali Service some Santhali hymn books were found in the church. On enquiry it came to light that these books were used by the Santhal soldiers of World War II, who used to come to worship here and had left these books before going back to their homes. Since February 1966 the Santhali Congregation of Osmond Memorial Church is growing in numbers with every passing year. The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, brought greetings from the Diocese and while a d d r e s s i n g t h e ga t h e r i n g h e acknowledged the contribution of the Santhali congregation who from humble beginning now serve as Teachers, Doctors, Engineers and civil service in the larger society. Continued on : Pg.10

10 Continued from: Pg.9 50th Anniversary of Santali Worship in Osmond Memorial Church The Most Revd. Dr. P. P. Marandih, brought greetings from his Diocese and preached the word of God, quoting Isaiah 54:2-3 Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns. Bishop said looking at this verse, it occurs to him that it is speaking to the Santahli people when they are in a place away from their homes which is an encouragement to think big, dream big and get a bigger perspective. Stretching involves getting past our existing limits. Do not hold back involves overcoming fear. There are times when we need to do things that make us afraid, and break the hold it has over us. Lengthen is to go further in output and effort. Going the extra mile is not what we do in normal circumstances but for special moments in life. Strengthen involves the development of character, which enables us to deal with the things that come. If we are not strong on the inside, we will be moved from our path when trials come. And in closing he urged the congregation to become the 5th Gospel through their Christian life as an example to all. The Santhal Choir presented a special song and the souvenir published on the occasion of the 50th year was released by The Most Revd. Dr. P. P. Marandih and The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas. After lunch the celebrations continued with a cultural programme. 191st Anniversary of Holy Trinity Church On 12th November, 2017 Holy Trinity Church celebrated 191st Anniversary in a Thanksgiving Service Worship Service. The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, preached the Word of God and blessed the congregation. Clergy, Heads of Institutions invited guests were present at the Worship Service. Bishop in his anniversary message said the Church has seen the members serving the Church and grow older and pass on the leadership to the next generation and he was thankful to God that the Church continues to grow and is as vibrant as Bishop remembers it to be during his Sunday school days. Reflecting on the Old Testament reading he said One of the ways that God shows His love for us are His many promises to keep us from harm, from loneliness, from evil, from our enemies. God will keep us safe, protect us, and never leave us. The Church Choir, Sunday school and Women's Fellowship, presented special songs to mark the occasion. Bishop blessed the Church calendar and a Bengali Hymnal by Mr. Prabir Chatterjee, the Choir Master which were published during the worship. The celebration came to a close with fellowship and dinner. 10

11 192nd Anniversary of Chinsurah Church On 17th November, 2017 Chinsurah Church celebrated 192nd Anniversary in a Thanksgiving Worship Service. The service was conducted by Rev. Gouranga Haldar, Presbyter-in-Charge and the Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta preached the word of God. Rev. Paritosh Canning, Bishop's Chaplain and Vice-President, Diocese of Calcutta, members and wel-wishers joined in the celebrations. Bishop preached a beautiful sermon. He said, in the Gospel of Mathew Chapter 11:6 Jesus says, "Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me". To hear and see in this way is to acknowledge that Jesus is indeed the one who is coming as God's Messiah. It is to believe that there is power for new creation in God's call to each of us as disciples, to be transformed by repentance to bear fruits of love and mercy. It is to know that the deeds and words of renewal and hope that take shape in our world because of Him through us and through others are marks of God's salvation. All of these are ways of talking about the "blessing" of God. "Blessing" is an important, if not the key theme for Matthew. It is a code word for the heart of God's Good News of Mercy and Grace. Such mercy is not just metaphorical expression, but is real in the life changing and world changing power of Jesus and his disciples among whom we are included. The service ended with distribution of Church Birthday Cake and refreshment to all present in a fellowship. Dedication of New Parsonage at Probhu Jishu Mondir, Geonkhali On 9th December, 2017 The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI dedicated the new Parsonage at Probhu Jishur Mondir, Geonkhali under the Pastorate of St. Peter's Church, Behala. Bishop dedicated the Parsonage praying to God for the family that has a blessed and unique relationship to God, the Church, and the community; praying that the Parsonage stand for spiritual enrichment to all who cross its threshold; that the parsonage fulfill a vital role in creating and maintaining good fellowship within the Pastorate; that it may help to enhance the ability and faithfulness of those who in it reside, that there may be wise conduct of the affairs of the congregation, and seeking the presence of the Holy Spirit within its walls always. To commemorate the event there was a Thanksgiving Worship Service in the Church immediately after the dedication. Present on the occasion were Rev Paritosh Canning, Vice President and Rev Abir Adhikari, Diocesan Coordinator; Diocese of Calcutta, CNI and invited guests namely Mr. Supriyo Dhar, Secretary, La Martiniere Schools; Mr. Ragab Nayak, Lay Preacher of St. Thomas' Church Howrah; Mr. Amitava Paul; Junior Head, Scottish Church Collegiate School; Mr. Tushar Basu and Mrs. Esther Thomas, Secretary to The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI. Also present were the Priest and Sisters of local Roman Catholic Church. Bishop welcomed all the guests and blessed the gathering with God's Word. In conclusion Bishop said we may call ourselves CNI and Roman Catholic but as believers in Christ we are all one. And it is the need of the hour that we remain united in Christ. Rev Abir Adhikari Preached the word of God. He reminded the people not to be swept away by all the trappings of the festive season this Christmas. As we prepare our homes this season let us be sure to spend time preparing our hearts for the Saviour through meditation on His word and prayer, for no heart is as full as the heart that is filled with Christ. After the Worship Service there was time for fellowship, tea and light refreshments for all. 11

12 St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata - Christmas Lunch on Jesus with lunch at the Cathedral. Volunteers helped pack the hampers and distribute the Lunch boxes. The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta was present during the distribution of the hampers. The Bishop blessed all gathered with his Christmas message and spent time in with them in fellowship. On 19th December, 2017 Christmas Lunch on Jesus programme for the sixth year blessed 350 families in Kolkata with a good Christmas meal, consisting of all that a festive feast should include. Christmas Lunch on Jesus was started in Derby, UK, over five years ago and in partnership with other Churches in Derby. In Derby, the elderly, single parents, homeless families and other less fortunate people are given a Christmas Hamper containing all the things needed to make a good Christmas Lunch. St. Peter's in the City, Derby helps sponsor a similar project for underprivileged families through St. Paul's Cathedral in Kolkata. Apart from the hampers, the families were served Diocesan Family Get Together On 20th December, 2017 the Diocese of Calcutta, CNI organised a Diocesan Family Get together for the Clergy, Heads of Institutions, Vice Principals, members of the Executive Committee and Heads of Organisations of the Diocese and related organisations at the Parish Hall of St. Paul's Cathedral. It was a fun-filled evening which commenced with prayer followed by carol singing and innovative games for children and adults. It was also an evening of sharing, games and special songs in English and On 22nd December, 2017 a Skype connection between the Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI and Rt Rev Alastair Redfern, Bishop of Derby, United Kingdom, was setup, where Christmas greetings were exchanged between the communities of Derbyshire and Kolkata to take forward this partnership in the days to come. Bengali. The Bishop wished all gathered a blessed Christmas and said "May the good news of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ, fill your hearts and lives with love, joy, hope and peace as you gather with friends and family to celebrate Christmas. Bishop also handed over Christmas gifts to all the invitees. The evening's festivities ended with a fellowship dinner. Rev Nigel Pope s announcement of his leaving for M i n i st r y i n Australia and farewell from the Diocese of Calcutta,CNI 12

13 St. Paul's Cathedral Christmas Eve Midnight Mass Christmas in Kolkata is one of the city's most defining, and beloved feature. The City of Joy comes alive at this time, and every aspect of the festival sees participation by people from across faiths, classes and backgrounds. Midnight Mass is one such thing. On 24th December 2017 the Christmas Eve Mid-night candlelight Worship Service at St. Paul's Cathedral in the true sense was the place where people of all walks of life gathered as the faithful came to celebrate God's faithfulness in His coming as the Messiah. The traditional blessing of the crib by the Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta the Worship Service and the message by the Bishop on love, hope and peace are what draw the people to return year after year to the Cathedral Christmas Eve Midnight Mass to once again witness the moment of fulfilment. ECOFEST For the third consecutive year, the EcoFest was organized on the 2nd and 3rd of November 2017 at St. Thomas Day School. The ever increasing environmental hazardous challenges that our great country faces today, can only be curbed by sensitizing the young minds. The East Kolkata Wetlands need to be preserved; and this year's fest catered Ms. Mamata Banerjee, Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal; Shri Surajit Kar Purkayastha IPS, Director General of Police; Mr Derek O'Brien, MP among other ministers of the State and dignitaries were present at the worship service. The Cathedral Choir led in well-loved carols. In the concluding part of the service visitors queued up to the altar to receive blessings and prayers for Christmas and the new year from the Presbyters present. to the ways and means by which we can at least try and do it. 15 schools from across the city, participated in various on and off stage competitions (involving handicrafts, songs, plays, dances etc) over two days, to showcase their thoughts as to how they could be a help in protecting, and in turn preserving our environment. We hope that activities like this will help our future generation become more aware of immediate environmental needs in the city and take positive action to better the situation. St. Thomas Day School, Kolkata 13

14 FELIZ NAVIDAD This inter school competition organized on the14th of December 2017 was indeed a wonderful way to usher in the Christmas season. A great evening in St. Thomas' Church, with 11 schools participating had the audience swaying to the strains of the carols. The church was beautifully decorated with Chinese lanterns and lights, bringing in the spirit of Christmas. Each school presented a Christmas carol. There was a carol solo singing competition for teachers as well. The songs were unique and Mr. Shane Hyrapiet ended the carol evening with a special rendition of Oh Holy Night. The host school was declared overall winners at the end. St. Thomas Day School, Kolkata Barrackpore Diocesan Festival On 27th November, 2017 the Barrackpore Diocesan Festival, the Annual Day of Thanksgiving was held at S t. B a r t h o l o m e w ' s C a t h e d ra l, Barrackpore. The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI and Moderator's Episcopal Commissary of the Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI preached the Word of God. After the Worship Service there was a time for fellowship and love feast for all. The festivities continued in the ground with participation in song and d a n c e by t h e Pa sto rate s a n d institutions of the Diocese. Stalls were s e t u p b y t h e Pa sto ra te s a n d organisations which sold food items, hand works, books, mementos which were visited by many. Confirmation in the Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI On 14th November, 2017 about 80 candidates from Kanchrapara, Ranaghat, Maliapota, Dayabari and Chapra Pastorates in the Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI were confirmed at a confirmation service held in St. Luke's Church, Dayabari, Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI. The service was conducted by The Rt. Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta and Moderator's Episcopal Commissary of the Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI. Clergy from the Diocese of Barrackpore, friends, families and well-wishers were witness to the confirmation service. Bishop Ashoke preached the Word of God. A rehearsal conducted before the confirmation service so that the candidates understood everything that happens in the service. The Bishop interacted with the candidates to ensure the candidates were aware of their call to confirmation and also encouraged them to stand firm in their faith in their Christian conviction. The Bishop welcomed the parents and each one for supporting the candidates. He referred to it as a special day in the life of the candidates. He said when you were baptized as a child, your parents and godparents were asked to declare publicly on your behalf that they believed in God and that they would bring you up to follow Jesus. They were asked to answer, on your behalf, that you had decided to turn away from everything which is evil or sinful and instead to turn towards Christ. At confirmation, you will renew these decisions and promises. The declarations made by you will be made in front of the congregation; who will promise to support you and pray for you. It is our prayer that you receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And let us pray that God will empower us with the Holy Spirit, which is necessary in a believer's life. The sign of the cross on the candidates' forehead was made with oil was a sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Bishop blessed them while they came to be confirmed. After the service there was time for fellowship and refreshments for all present. 14

15 Ordination in the Diocese of Barrackpore On 10th December, 2017 Rev Dn. Subir Kr. Biswas, Rev. Dn. Partho Ch. Dey and Rev. Dn. Suman Mondal were ordained as Presbyters and Mr Somnath Barori and Mr. Amitava Sarkar were ordained as Deacons in the Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI by The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI and Moderator's Episcopal Commissary of the Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI in the presence of Clergy, Laity and Heads of Institutions in the Diocese of Barrackpore and friends and family of the ordinands. The ordination service was held at St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, Barrackpore. Bishop shared the Word of God and said that the Deacons and Presbyters must be good and faithful servants, ever available to his brothers and sisters. Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, practicing hospitality. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those Christiyo Ananda Mela Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI Rev Abir Adhikari's visit to Derbyshire On 23rd December, 2017 The Rt Rev Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI and Moderator's Episcopal Commissary for the Diocese of Barrackpore inaugurated the 54th Christiyo Ananda Mela, organised by St. Paul's Church, Keorapukur, Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI in a ceremony in the Church ground. The Bishop in his inaugural address thanked the organisers for the effort year after year to hold the Mela that unites people, regardless of their caste, creed or religion. The entire area remain soaked in the Christmas festive spirit as people from all walks of life flock to the mela ground in a time of joy and merry-making. Cultural programmes are held every evening. For the children and adventure lovers, joy rides, merry-go-rounds and toys are the main attraction apart from the household goods and eatables offered at the Mela. At the initiative of the Rt. Rev. Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Calcutta and cooperation of the Bishop of Derbyshire, The Rt. Rev. Alastair Redfern; Rev. Abir Adhikari visited the Diocese of Derbyshire, UK between 3rd and 30th November 2017 in a Clergy Exchange Programme. During the first part of the programme, Rev. Adhikari spent a week in the Derby Cathedral getting to know about the Life,work and mission of the Cathedral and its day to day functioning including Sunday Services and other programmes. He also had an opportunity to spend time in Derby City Church looking into its Ministry among the homeless. Derby City Church is also the main sponsor for Christmas Lunch on Jesus-a joint programme with St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata. The second part was Ecumenical in nature with a week spent in Ashbourne having an exposure into the ministry of both the Anglican,Methodist and other Churches( called Ashbourne Churches together) which was quite wide ranging thus touching all the aspects of people's lives and struggles and how the Churches are doing their best to reach out with message of love and reconciliation. In the third part Rev. Abir attended the Derby Diocese Clergy Conference besides who weep. Be of the same mind towards one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation but remember that the final reckoning comes from the Lord. The pre-ordination retreat for the ordinands was held on 9th December, 2017 at St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, Barrackpore. Rev Andrew Simick, a retired Priest of the Diocese of Calcutta conducted the retreat on the topics'what the Bible speaks about Presbyters and the Spiritual life of a Presbyter and its Congregation. Rev Simick was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Snigdha Simick and former President of the Diocesan Women's Fellowship for Christian Service, Diocese of Calcutta, CNI After the Ordination Service there was a time of fellowship and light refreshment for all. spending few days in Duffield which is having the Bishop's Office and residence and also having an exposure in the mission and ministry of the Anglican, Methodist and Baptist Churches in places in and around Duffield. In the final part Rev. Adhikari spent about a week in London and its suburbs engaged mostly in the Anglican Churches besides spending a day in Church House and in Passage- an organisation for the homeless. Overall it was quite an enriching and learning experience through engagement, dialogue, involvement and getting to know through this exposure about Ministry in a different context although we share many things in common as we serve the same Lord and CNI being part of the wider Anglican Communion. 15