ASIA/INDIA - A hundred years after the arrival of the Gospel, Raigarh celebrates for a new bishop and a new diocese in Jashpur

Wednesday, 7 June 2006

Raigarh (Agenzia Fides) - A hundred years since the arrival of the Christian message in the area of Raigarh (Chhattisgarh State) the local Catholic community is celebrating the arrival of a new Bishop Mgr. Paul Toppo, aged 49, former vicar general of the same diocese of Raigarh. While the former Bishop Victor Kindo, aged 59, has been appointed Bishop of Jashpur a new diocese created with territory taken from the diocese of Raigarh.
The two events were lived with joy by the local Catholic community in the presence of Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India who said: “This is an historic moment. We live today the fruit of seed sown many years ago by pioneer missionaries and there will be more fruits to come”.
The seed of the Gospel was planted here by Jesuits priests from the neighbouring diocese of Ranchi. Today the diocese of Jashpur has 185,000 Catholics, mostly Tribals gathered in 50 parishes. The diocese of Raigarh, with the new organisation, has 55,000 Catholics gathered in 20 parishes.
The new diocese was necessary, Cardinal Toppo explained, to guarantee proper pastoral care for the large Catholic population Jashpur particularly in the field of religious formation .
With regard to the urgency of formation Bishop Kindo said it will be a priority clergy, religious and laity. In planning pastoral care it will be necessary to keep in mind the different culture and social organisation of the numerous Tribal communities in the area. (Agenzia Fides 7/6/2006 righe 25 parole 257)


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