By Bro. Sumit Bara
Ranchi: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has hit Jharkhand and its people very hard. Thousands of people have been infected, many have lost their lives, and the Church too lost Bishop Paul Alois Lakra of Gumla, besides many priests, religious and lay faithful.
The pandemic has played havoc with worship, education of children, life and livelihood of the people as well as organisation of the Church and its institutions. The Jhaan Regional council of Catholic Bishops covers the whole of Jharkhand and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The bishops of Ranchi archdiocese Archbishop Felix Toppo SJ and Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX, Simdega Diocese Bishop Vincent Barwa, Dumka diocese Bishop Julius Marandi, Jamshedpur Diocese Administrator Bishop Telesphore Bilung SVD, Hazribag diocese and Daltonganj Diocese Administrator Bishop Anand Jojo, Khunti Diocese Bishop Binay Kandulna and the Diocesan Administrator of Gumla Fr. Linus Ekka met together to evaluate and analyse the post-second wave Covid situation of the Church and the people of Jharkhand.
In the meeting held on Tuesday at Archbishop House, Ranchi, the bishops also shared their own perceptions of the difficult situation of the people following the substantial damage caused by the pandemic. At the outset, the Metropolitan Archbishop Felix Toppo announced to the bishops the appointment of the new bishop of Port Balia (Andamans and Nicobar) in the person of Fr. Visuvasam Selvaraj.
On 30th morning, the bishops celebrated a requiem Mass for the soul of Bishop Paul Lakra, and the deceased priests, religious and faithful of their flock. The Mass presided over by Archbishop Felix Toppo and Bishop Julius Marandi in his sermon recalled with gratitude the services rendered by Bishop Paul and all the priests and religious. He also called to mind the faithful who had served their families and the Church with so much love and dedication.
The Bishops then travelled to the St. Anne’s Hospital Ulhatu and met His Eminence Cardinal Telesphore Toppo. They spent some time with him and prayed with him. From then on, the bishops made a pilgrimage to the nearby Minor Basilica of the Divine Motherhood of Mary and prayed for their flock. The Bishops were welcomed at the Ulhatu Hospital by Fr. Maximus Toppo, Fr. Pradeep Tirkey, Fr. Praful Tigga and Sr. Jacinta and the Sisters of the Daughters of St. Anne. The nurses lined up in their colourful uniforms and lent a solemn air to the occasion.