ASIA/INDIA - In the Year of Saint Paul, the Missionary Congress in Bangalore is held to spread missionary awareness in every parish and community

Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) – After participating in the Missionary Congress held in Karnataka (in southwestern India) held in November 2007, the Archdiocese of Bangalore is preparing to celebrate their own Missionary Congress, in order to spread awareness of the need for commitment in the evangelization effort, among parishes and in order to update the guidelines that came out of the Regional Church Congress.
In introducing this important moment for dialogue and programming in the community, the Archbishop of Bangalore, His Excellency Bernard Moras, highlighted that “preaching the Good News is not an option; it’s an obligation for every baptized person.”
In continuing his words directed toward the faithful gathered in the Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier, he said, “Last year, the Church in Karnataka held the Congress on “Telling Jesus’ Story,” which focused on the Incarnation. Now, our Diocesan Missionary Congress wishes to focus on the need to celebrate and proclaim the Word of God in every parish, every movement, school, and association, at work and in society, in every moment of the personal life of every baptized person.”
The Archbishop observed the Providential coincidence that the Missionary Congress will coincide with the Year of Saint Paul, and encouraged “every member of the faithful to have the same zeal to proclaim the Word of God, with courage and Apostolic commitment. Every Catholic has a missionary role to play and should share the Good News with their brothers and sisters that have not yet received the Christian message.”
“The Church is missionary by nature,” said Fr. Paul Puthanangady, the Bishops’ Vicar for Religious.
The Congress will reflect on the most efficacious means and methods for evangelizing today, on the demands and hopes of the people of Bangalore, on the most fitting ways of offering a Christian witness.
Of a total population of 738 million people, the Catholics in Karnataka are 1.4%. In the Archdiocese of Bangalore, of a population of 27 million inhabitants, there are 410,000 Catholics. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/7/2008)