Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - What are the most effective ways and means to evangelise today? How can the needs and expectations of Karnataka be best met? What are the best ways and means for adequate Christian witness? These questions will be discussed during a Catholic Mission Congress to be held in November in the south west Indian state of Karnataka.
This will be the first mission congress to be held in the state and local Catholics are preparing enthusiastically with meetings of reflection, studies, debates to outline a work plan which will be fruitful for hundreds of delegates from dioceses, parishes, movements, associations, Catholic schools etc .
In a preparatory meeting held recently in Dharwad, Bishop Robert Miranda of the diocese of Gulbarga said “the meeting will strive to find new ways of mission suited to in our day, in our country, while remaining faithful to Church tradition”.
Fr. Freddie D’Souza one of the Congress organisers recalled that the Good News of Christ first reached the area carried by missionaries in the 15th century. Today Catholics are only 1.14% of the total population of 738 in Karnataka. Those present agreed that “it is urgent to evangelize, since 99% of the population of Karnataka has yet to encounter Jesus Christ”. They also agreed on the need to update the mission style to meet the situation in the state, taking into consideration problems of social discrimination, the gap between rich and poor, the extended presence of fundamentalist groups. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/4/2007 righe 26 parole 266)
