By Verghese V Joseph –
On a chilly Delhi winter evening, Christmas celebrations of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) started off on a cheerful note with Convent of Jesus and Mary choir singing carols as the Chief Guest, Former President of India, Pranab Mukherhjee was ushered into the Diocesan Community Centre of the Sacred Heart Cathedral on Thursday.
The CBCI holds this event annually for an exchange of greetings for Christmas and New Year with a message of peace and brotherhood, social harmony and tolerance with prominent guests and more importantly assures everyone and the country of its prayers.
In his Chief Guest address, Pranab Mukherjee recounted Swami Vivekananda’s words, “Had I lived in Palestine, in the days of Jesus of Nazareth, I would have washed his feet, not with my tears, but with my heart’s blood!”
The former First Citizen highlighted that India being a county of people from different religions, caste and creed, races, etc, needs to follow its Constitution even more closely. He advised that the country should find its solace from its social and moral fabric.
The first Vice President of the CBCI, His Excellency Most Rev Joshua Mar Ignathios felicitated Chief Guest with a shawl and His Eminence Cardinal Gracias presented him with a small statue of baby Jesus.
The other guests of honour were the recently retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Kurian Joseph, Union Minister of State for Tourism K J Aplhonse; Conrad Sangma of Meghalaya – the only Catholic Chief Minister and Rev Mitja, First Counsellor, Apostolic Nunciature, representing the Holy See and the Apostolic Nuncio who is away in Rome.
In his greeting, Cardinal Gracias stressed upon two factors that are central to Christmas, one was on peace and the other was on reconciliation. “These are the most important aspects for people to lead a meaningful life. And the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, as was announced by the angels in heaven is a wonderful reason to celebrate this season,” the Cardinal added.
The choir children also sang a carol in Bengali, which the former president listened very intently.
In welcome speech, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX, Secretary General, CBCI, extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries, ambassadors and members of diplomatic corps and Parliament; different communities and faiths. “This year the Catholic church has adopted the theme ‘United in Diversity for a mission of service and witness’ and the celebrations are keeping the focus in perspective,” he added. Bishop Theodore ended his note with a quote from Bob Phillips, “There are three stages of man: he believes in Santa Claus; he does not believe Santa Claus; and he is Santa Claus.”
Fr. Jervis D’Souza, deputy Secretary General of the CBCI proposed the vote of thanks.
Tracing the history a bit, the Catholic Church has been present is India for over 2000 years and since the birth of Christianity with the advent of Apostle Thomas to India in the first century after Christ. The CBCI is the apex body of the Catholic church in Indian which has approximately 22 million adherents in India.
The CBCI is made up of 174 Ecclesiastical jurisdictions, with over 200 active bishops and 64 retired bishops. The church in India is actively involved in nation building. Today the church runs over 54,000 educational institutions which impart education to nearly 6 crore children and youth; and over 20,000 hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, and other healthcare centres. It is also involved in disaster and calamity relief as well as social service work and assistance to poor in the very remote areas of the country through the services of over 60,000 priests; 90,000 sisters and thousands of laymen and women.