Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ahmedabad ( Fides Service) - The Church in India has welcomed Pope John Paul II’s decision to call a Year of the Eucharist October 2004 - October 2005 and is planning various initiatives to prepare and celebration this important Catholic Church event. One such initiative was a diocesan Seminar for priests, religious and laity organised by the diocese of Ahmedabad, state capital of the west Indian state of Gujarat, at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre on the theme ‘The Eucharist, Sacrament of Salvation’.
The Seminar was based on reflection on two documents Pope John Paul II’s encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” (17 April 2003) and Redemptionis Sacramentum” (the new Instruction issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on March 25 2004). The Bishop of Ahmedabad, Bishop Thomas Macwan, said the Seminar is part of efforts started this year to give special attention to the Eucharist under every aspect and at all levels.
The purpose of the Seminar was to help the clergy, and also religious and laity, to put the Eucharist at the centre of daily life. “There is a danger that the celebration or participation at Mass day after day may become a routine and we all need to stop and reflect on this great mystery of our Redemption” the Bishop said addressing those present and reminding priests to make adequate preparation before Mass and never to hurry the celebration under any circumstance.
Jesuit Father Victor Devaman, director of the Catholic Charismatic Movement in Gujarat, said that with the encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” the Pope wished to help the faithful to “celebrate the Eucharist in a more significant manner, with ever greater devotion and awareness”.
Illustrating the “Redemptionis Sacramentum” instruction Father Sergio Dias, Rector of Ahmedabad minor seminary, said it teaches how to celebrate responsibility and defends the sacredness of the Roman Rite.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/7/2004 lines 24 words 256)
