Ranchi: August 30 is a red-letter day in the life of the Archdiocese as it was on that day seven years ago Bishop Telesphore Bilung SVD and Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX were consecrated auxiliary bishops of the Ranchi Archdiocese.
These seven years and particularly the last two years of the pandemic and lockdowns has been a time of grace for the Archbishop as despite great difficulties and challenges the Archdiocese has been in the forefront of online masses and prayers and of social outreach to the poor, the deprived and the marginalised.
Today was a special day for the poor of the Tigra village about 20 kilometres away from the capital city Ranchi. A social activist Ajay Nath Sahadeo had brought to the attention of the Bishops that over 250 families from the Tigra village needed food for their families and children. The Archdiocesan team led by Archbishop Felix Toppo SJ and Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX along with Fr. Sushil Toppo, Anjelus Ekka and Ashit Toppo along with the Ranchi Catholic Youth led by Kuldeep Tirkey descended upon the village with a truck loaded with over 250 packets of ration portions for a family of four for 15 days. The bags contained Rice, lentils (dal), chickpeas (chana), soya beans and cooking oil.
Kuldeep Tirkey formed a ration distribution system and informed the people that the food grains were the gift of the Catholic faithful who spared some of their savings to help us serve the poor. Bishop Theodore explained that the Church comes to serve the people selflessly because of love and spirit of service. Archbishop Felix Toppo in his prayer asked God who is the father of all without distinction to protect all the families and children and to keep them safe.
Ajay Nath Sahadeo thanked the Catholic Church and said he admired the courage and fearlessness of the Archbishop and his team who continued serving the people despite the contagious sickness of the pandemic. Among those who helped in the distribution were the Mother Teresa Sisters who packed the rations and present at the distribution were Amber, Noel Louis, Xavier, local volunteers Soma Oraon, Sushant Oraon, Viraj Tirkey, Sukhdev and Ranjeet Pahan,