Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kathmandu (Agenzia Fides) – “ For mission in Nepal the time is ripe. There is a real Kyros for evangelisation. We ask religious congregations all over the world to send missionaries to Nepal”, Fides was told by Fr. Pius Perumana, pro-Vicar Apostolic of Nepal, who spoke of the present period of political and social transition. “Now, as life in the country is settling down again - he says - there is room for mission. This is an opportunity which the local Catholic Church must take, she must speak up with sincerity and coherence to propose the Gospel ”.
The community of 8,000 Catholics in Nepal continues to welcome new members : “ every year we register about 500 baptisms and this is a positive sign. However it is also true that about 2 million Nepalese belong to one of the various Protestant denominations present in the country and Protestant proselytising brings as many as 100,000 conversions every year.
The local Catholic Church can and must be more incisive in her missionary efforts and we urge missionary priests, religious and lay men and women to come to work in the Lord's vineyard in Nepal. Nepal today is a field ready to receive the Gospel. The local Church is increasingly present in society. She receives many requests to open schools and local vocations are growing: -Fr. Perumana told Fides - today we have 8 Nepal born seminarians and 4/5 others”.
The reason for these new fields and opportunities, the pro-Vicar explains, is that “ while Nepal was a kingdom with Hinduism as the state religion, most Nepalese citizens were Hindus in name. Today people enjoy more freedom to choose between the different beliefs Christianity, Islam, Traditional religions”.
“The doors are open to mission, the Nepalese are ready to encounter and accept Christ. We must preach openly, we must invite people to prayer meetings. A Centre of Prayer which we recently opened in Godawari is sparking interest among the local people: this is what the people need, to be stimulated, encouraged. It only takes a spark and the powerful Word of God heals, works miracles, converts hearts ” the priest told Fides
Fr. Pius continues : “Recently a Maoist asked to know about Jesus Christ. Not long afterwards the man fell ill and had to go to hospital for treatment. Members of Catholic community visited him regularly, comforting him and praying with him until he recovered. At the end of that period of trial and suffering, the man asked to prepare for baptism and is now taking a course of catechesis”.
In this political time of transition, as the Constituent Assembly enters the third of the three years allotted for drafting a new Constitution, Nepal's Christians trust the new Constitution will guarantee all citizens "full rights and full religious freedom, freedom to worship and freedom to build churches, seminaries, cemeteries”, says Fr Pius. “ To take advantage of this God given opportunity and freedom in a secular nation, what we need now are ‘more workers for evangelisation”, he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/6/2010)
