Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kathmandu (Fides Service) - In Nepal the Catholic community is appreciated for its valid service in education and social assistance and formation in the faith for young people and adults and there are great expectations for the future of the country as more missionaries arrive. Fides spoke about the situation with the person responsible for the community Rev. Anthony Francis Sharma recently appointed Vicar Apostolic when Pope Benedict XVI elevated the Apostolic Prefecture of Nepal to the rank of Apostolic Vicariate on 10 February. The Bishop elect who will be ordained in May, was born in Kathmandu 70 years ago and after entering the Society of Jesus he ministered in India before being appointed superior of the Catholic Mission of Nepal instituted in 1983 and serving the local community as it developed. Here is the interview.
Mgr Sharma please remind us briefly of the development of the Catholic Church in Nepal?
The most meaningful step and the birth of the Church in Nepal I would say was in 1951 when the Jesuit community in Patna, India accepted the invitation of the last Rana Prime Minster and later of King Tribhuvan to extend their educational services to Nepal becoming the first Christian missionaries in the 20th century.
Did any other missionary congregation contribute to this effort? How was Gospel
received by local people?
Besides the Society of Jesus also the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (known today as Congregation of Jesus - generalate at Via Nomentana, Rome) was engaged in education in the early and mid 50s. Happy though the people of the Kathmandu Valley were at their coming, the priests and sisters were forbidden to preach Christianity in any shape or form and their educational activities were perforce confined to the valley of Kathmandu alone. However, they were permitted to minister to the expatriate Catholics/ Christians serving in the diplomatic missions or international non-government agencies. Anyone found preaching or involved in conversion work or even in possession of a copy of the Bible was liable to imprisonment or expulsion from the country.
So the beginning of the mission was difficult
Confinement of educational activities in the valley for about 30 years - 1951-1982 - Lay faithful were not free to profess or practise their faith and could not even be known by their baptism given names as they would be discriminated against in jobs or other opportunities. They were considered
lackeys( very debasing term) of foreigners as Christianity was considered a foreign religion - contaminated, dirty and evil through and through. Such treatments or situations were indeed "moments of grace" as they served to challenge us to witness to the Gospel and its values by deeds of Christian concern and care of those who needed us educationally and through social uplift programmes.
How many Catholics are there today in Nepal? What are the main activities of
evangelization?
According to the 2006 statistical record, Catholics number 6,626. There has been a tremendous growth in the Christian population in the country since the successful outcome of the 1990 democratic movement. Today we may have close to 1500 church communities(maybe more) in the country representing various Christian fundamental groups. Name any fundamental group outside, there is a representation of each in the country. So, our guess is that the Christian population of the country may be close to a million strong. Since the promulgation of the new Nepali constitution in
1991, a Nepali's personal freedom is recognized and he/she is thus free to opt for the religion of his/her choice. In the Catholic Church, the number of baptisms(adult) annually is about 250 to 300. We have established "apostolic schools" and minor seminaries where young boys from ethnic communities are enabled to learn more about the Christian faith and a number of whom join major seminaries on completion of higher secondary education. A number of our female religious congregations too have candidate-houses of their own where young promising girls are getting similar training and opportunity. Regarding evangelization activities, Catholic Church is seen as a service oriented organization whose witnessing by deeds has a powerful impact on the non-Christians. Of late, more and more of the latter are asking for religious instruction. Our way of proceeding with them is that we get them to go through a two-year catechumenate programme, ordinarily. Once assured that their desire is genuine, we baptize them.
How is the Catholic community living in the present phase of social and political transformation of your country?
Whether Nepal becomes a secular state or retains its old Hindu image, our community will continue serving the way we have done and perhaps with more zeal and zest now that democracy is here to stay. Recently, we have been receiving free offers of land from non-Christians all over the country
asking us to make our educational and social services available to them as well. We are heading towards the least developed parts of the country, the west and far west. The future looks challenging and promising.
What do local authorities and people think about the Church?
The Catholic Church has a very good image in the country both with the people and the government. Our services are highly appreciated and association much sought after. Our efforts at empowering women through our social programmes and education have made a great impact. Our initiation of work with and for the physically and mentally retarded children (of whom there are 1.5 million in the country) is much esteemed. Our health work, mobile medical services, efforts at providing literacy training to women are much talked about.
What do Catholics hope for the country?
We all hope that the country forges ahead as one and united. No discrimination of one against the other because of caste, creed, colour a or condition/class(social). That the people of the plains (Terai) and the hills will live together as members of one family/nation. That political parties and leaders will first think of the people they represent and not their parties and petty ambitions.
What are your plans and prospects for the future of the Church?
Invite more religious congregations, of both men and women, to join the Nepali Church on its onward journey to the future which looks so challenging and promising. Work to encourage priestly and religious vocations from within the country. Initiate and activate lay movements and impress upon their vital role in the growth of the country. Encourage capable lay persons to take on political roles and government responsibilities. Prepare the Catholic youth impressing upon them that on them depends the Church's future in this land. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/2/2007 righe 54 parole 598)
