Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ahmedabad (Agenzia Fides) - “The Gujarat Mission Congress has been a significant event as it has allowed us to reflect on our past and to plan for the future of the mission,” says Bishop Thomas Macwan of Ahmedabad, in a statement made to Agenzia Fides. Ahmedabad, which is the capital of Gujarta (Western India), was the host of the state-wide Mission Congress held October 30 – November 1 (see Fides 31/10/2008 and 10/9/2008).
The Bishop told Fides: “In a period of 115 years the church in Gujarat State has grown from 0 to 185,000 Catholics. The spirit has worked through Missionaries from India, Germany and Spain. It was a small beginning in a tiny village Mogri of Anand District in the year 1893, when 18 people accepted Christ as their Savior. Since then the church has grown tremendously in numbers and Institutional wise. Though we are a tiny minority, we play the role of the Lamp, Salt of the earth and Yeast in the dough. The community that accepted Christ was oppressed for centuries by the so called upper caste community. Today Christians stand as equals with the rest of the communities. There are good number of local vocations in the religious life and in the diocesan clergy. This growth has been possible because we have accepted Christ.”
Referring to the present situation, the Bishop commented: “We continue to preach the Gospel. There is still a lot to do. There are still many poor families to come up in life. Many youths though educated have yet to find work. Family life is not so stable as it was in the past. Faith formation has yet to be deepened etc.. From the Congress we expect to evaluate the progress that has been made in recent years and look forward towards living as better Christians through the deepening of faith and move towards the process of evangelization with more zeal and laity participation.”
“A model for every Christian in being a missionary, is Saint Paul, the greatest missionary of all time. In this Year dedicated to him, St. Paul will motivate the participants to be true workers in the field of evangelization, even in the moments of difficulty.”
The Bishop also noted that the Congress dedicated more than one session to the anti-Christian violence in India, in Orissa and in other states. In Gujarat, as well, there are Hindu fundamentalist groups who have carried out acts of extreme violence in the past, against Christians and other religious minorities. “Those who attended the Congress confirmed their desire and commitment to bear witness to the faith in the midst of suffering, supporting the campaign in favor of the recognition of personal rights and freedom of conscience and conversion for all Indian citizens, whatever their faith may be.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 3/11/2008)
