Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ahmedabad (Agenzia Fides) – Like Orissa, Gujarat (a state in Northwestern India) is also home to Hindu extremist groups, also aggressive and violent, and oftentimes Christian institutions and people have suffered tragic consequences. However, this phenomenon does not discourage the local Church from continuing with their pastoral ministry, their services in education, health, and assistance for the poor and marginalized. A reflection on the local Church’s challenges for the mission and plans for action will take place at the Missionary Congress in Gujarat, October 31 to November 1, 2008, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Ahmedabad.
The Congress, entitled “Walking on Jesus’ Path,” will host 650 representatives including priests, religious, and laity from the 4 Dioceses of Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Baroda, and Rajkot). As local Church sources told Agenzia Fides, 65% of the participants will be lay faithful working in pastoral ministry, nearly half of whom are women and young people.
The celebration of the Congress, which will also be attended by all the Bishops of Gujarat, will immediately follow World Mission Sunday (October 19, 2008).
Experts and theologians will give keynote addresses. The participants will be divided into work groups, according to the various areas of pastoral ministry.
Among the themes is the Church’s response to the hostile campaigns and attacks being made by fundamentalists, matters that concern the situation in India following the recent incidents in Orissa. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2008)
