Diocese
of Jamshedpur
Vol.
46 No. 3 Private
Circulation Only March–
2016
Why
was Jesus Crucified?
Dear brothers and sisters,
According to the Gospels, the prime accusation upon
Jesus was that He claimed to be the king of Jews. Keeping this in mind, the
Roman soldiers made Jesus wear a red garment and a crown of thorns in his head
and mocked at Him, saying “Hail, king of Jews.” The tag on the cross also indicated
the same accusation. But the accusation leveled by Jews upon Jesus was untrue.
The accusation was politically motivated so that the Roman Emperor could give
Him the punishment of crucifixion. Jesus had said very clearly denying himself
to be a worldly king, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
It is true that the Jews were waiting for a promised
messiah according to the prophesies in the scriptures. They believed that the
coming Messiah would be very powerful, who would defeat the foreign powers and
establish a kingdom of justice and peace. This belief too was wrong because the
prophets had foretold the messiah to be a servant messiah. This servant messiah
would take up the sins of the people upon himself and for the forgiveness of their
sins, He would bear terrible- spiritual, mental and bodily pain and after
having suffered brutally, he will have a disgraceful death. Prophet Isaiah had prophesied about the suffering of Messiah. But the Jews ignored the prophesy and were
waiting for a leader, who would form an army, fight the Romans and like the
king David would establish a kingdom of peace and justice.
The Romans knew it well that the Jewish leaders and
people were very much unhappy because of the Roman Empire’s tyranny. In fact
they hated Romans. They had fought many times against Roman Empire but the
Roman soldiers defeated them skillfully and cunningly.
When Jesus started preaching, he did not disclose
himself to be a messiah as the people expected. Jesus knew that the Jews were
waiting for a messiah, which was wrong. Jesus also knew that the Roman Empire
would never allow any emerging Messiah. Therefore Jesus had warned his disciples
that they will not tell anyone that he is the Messiah. (Mt 16:20)
Though Jesus had not declare himself to be the
Messiah, his ‘messiahship’ came to be known. First of all, it was John the
Baptist who declared his messiahship while giving baptism to Jesus. After that
the crowd started following Him and probably hearing His thought provoking
messages and seeing His miracles people recognized Jesus as the promised
messiah. That is why they wanted to make Him a king.
Jesus primarily preached about the coming of the
kingdom of God. He made them understand the Ten Commandments and the scriptures
through the love of God. Along with this, he warned and scolded the scribes and
Pharisees, who were doing business in the temple; he chased them out and opposed
the religious customs that were against the love of God. Due to Jesus’ life,
preaching and miracles people had accepted Him as a great prophet. Jews,
Scribes and Pharisees out of jealousy hated Jesus so much and thus, decided to
kill Jesus. They were afraid that if Jesus becomes a king, their might and
power will come to an end and their religious glory will be no more; Jesus had
become a great threat to them.
The high priests, scribes and leaders had decided to
kill Jesus but they were afraid of the crowd because the crowd had accepted
Jesus as a promised messiah. Therefore, with the help of Judas Iscariot they went
to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus in the darkness. According to the Roman
customs only the Roman Emperor could give the punishment of crucifixion to any
culprit. Hence, they took Him to Pontus Pilate after questioning and torturing
Him whole night.
According to the Roman rule, anyone who claims to be
a king, was considered a criminal against the Roman Empire. And for this crime
there was only one punishment – crucifixion. Because, the Emperor had nothing
to do with religious matter, the high priests, scribes, pharisees and the elders
leveled against Jesus political accusations. They accused Jesus to have claimed
to be the king of Jews. Emperor knew it very well that Jesus never declared
himself a king, that Jews’ accusation was untrue and due to jealousy they
wanted to crucify him. If Emperor wanted, he could have released Jesus, but in
order to silence the Jews and to save his chair, he gave Jesus the punishment
of crucifixion.
For the Romans, the death of Jesus on the cross was
a disgraceful punishment for his crime. For Jews, it was a great success, killing
Jesus. For the followers of Jesus, the death of Jesus on the cross was a
painful incident because they too thought that Jesus would establish the
Davidic kingdom some day.
Jesus came into this world so that by offering his
own life, the humanity may receive the forgiveness of sins and He could
establish the kingdom of God. The sins of human were so great that not any
other sacrifice but the sacrifice of His only begotten son could bring the
forgiveness of sins. Jesus offered Himself like a lamb as a high priest. The
resurrection of Jesus is a clear indication of acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice
by the Father and also victory over sin and death. The disciples of Jesus
understood this spiritual truth fully only after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit
came upon them.
Dear brothers and sisters, to answer the question, why
was Jesus nailed to the cross, we can say in reply that the Lord Jesus had to
offer Himself to the cross for the forgiveness of sins of humanity. The
Pharisees, scribes and Jewish leaders due to jealousy, handed over Jesus to the
Romans to be killed. The Roman Emperor Pilate gave the punishment of
crucifixion because he wanted to silence the Jews and was worried to save his
seat. He gave this decision against truth and justice. The Roman soldiers
nailed Jesus to the cross: but this is also true that along with the Roman
soldiers, our sins also nailed Jesus to the cross. The heaviness of cross was
not only the heaviness of wood but also the heaviness of our sins.
Let us reflect deeply over the suffering, death and
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us try to understand the everlasting
love of God in the context of our sins. Let us repent for our sins and with a pure
heart and mind rejoice and celebrate Easter thanking God.
Your friend in Lord
Bishop
Felix Toppo, S. J.
Showers
of Blessings!
It is a blessing to be a blessing to others.
Jamshedpur Diocese is blessed to have eight Newly Ordained Priests in the year
2015-2016. It is a clear indication that God still loves and cares for His
people. God still calls and the people respond to it, despite the world’s pomp
and glory.
We gratefully acknowledge the contribution and
sacrifices of their parents and those who helped and guided them to be the
workers in the Vineyard of the Lord. May they continue to be a blessing to
others through their words and deeds and grow in the love of Christ. Let us
continue to remember them in our prayers so that their ministry may be fruitful
and praiseworthy.
Their Ordination dates are:
Fr. Prince Dhibash 19th November, 2015 @Kottar,
Tamil Nadu
Fr. Baldeo Hembrom 16th January, 2016 @Dhanbad
Dn. Birender Tete 12th April, 2016 @Jamtoli(Kolebira)
Dn. Alfred Balmuchu 20th April,
2016 @Jhinkpani
Dn. Sushil Dungdung 27th April,
2016 @Samtoli
Dn. Ranjit Kullu 27th April, 2016 @Samtoli
Dn. Jayaraj 7th May, 2016 @Madurai,
Tamil Nadu
Dn. George Ekka 19th May, 2016 @Rajawal
Youth
Day – Prabhu Marsal Church, Goilkera
The
Goilkera Parish celebrated “Youth Day” on 31st
of January, 2016. In preparation for the feast, 3 days seminar was organized on
the theme, “You are the Rock; On You I build my Church”. 50 youth from various mandalees participated in it. Frs.
Dileep Marandi and Niranjan Minz SJ were the resource persons. 4 youth from
Jamshedpur added flavor to the programme. Bible Quiz and Group Singing
competitions were organized respectively by Frs. Prince Dhibash and Michael
Jojo and the winners were given prizes. On the feast day, a solemn Holy
Eucharist was celebrated along with the parishioners. After the Mass, the
parishioners organized a short cultural programme in honour of the Youth. A
special thanks to the parishioners and the hostel children for making the
programme a colourful one.
CRI-
AGBM MEETING
The
CRI Jamshedpur, Annual meeting was held at Catholic Charities in Sunder nagar,
Jamshedpur. It began at 5pm with Fr. Kuruvila SJ, the local CRI President,
welcoming the gathering. It was followed with an opening prayer led by Sr. Ahba
SCN and by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.
Thereafter
Rev.Fr.CR Prabhu was felicitated by the religious with a shawl and a bouquet
amidst the singing of ‘congratulation’. Fr. Prabhu in his keynote address
thanked the CRI for the greeting which is the mark of love and respect for him.
He quoted from Prophet Joel and inspired the gathering by saying come out of
our comfort zone. Lent is a call for conversion .We need to look around the
world and see there are lots of hatred, killing, violence etc. Sometimes we are
blind to the cries of the people because we are in comfort zone. Later Fr.
Kuruvilla SJ ,the CRI President of Jamshedpur introduced the resource person
Rev. Fr. RC Chacko SJ to the gathering .At the outset Fr. Chacko highlighted
the theme ‘’THE JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY’’. He enlightened us that the church feel
s the urgent need to proclaim God’s mercy. We will become authentic and
credible only when we become convincing heralds of mercy. This jubilee year and
this lent invite us to experience being anointed afresh. (Sr. Mariam SJT)
Annual Day – St. Paul’s school, Goilkera
The
Annual Day of St. Paul’s School, Goilkera was celebrated on 6th
February, 2016. Fr. Vernon D’Souza, was the chief guest. All the guardians
along with the chief guest were welcomed by singing and dancing to the drum
beats. The programme began with the lighting of the lamp followed by prayer
dance. Fr. Michael Jojo welcomed the guests present. It was heartwarming to see
that during the welcome speech, each child presented a garland to his/her
guardian. Fr. Vernon, the chief guest, in his message appreciated the students
for their disciplined colorful and entertaining performance on the stage. He
also appreciated the guardians for educating their children in this renowned
school of the area. Prizes were distributed by the chief guest and the managing
committee member to the students for their good performance in various
activities and competitions. Snacks were distributed to all present. Heartfelt
congratulations to all those who have worked hard for the success of the
programme.
St.
Mary’s English High School, Bistupur
‘’If you love your work it
is your happiness, if other recognize the results of your work it is your
success if you dedicate those results to Him then it is your prayer”. Mother
Teresa.
This quotation is apt to all the activities of the year. We are
proud to say that despite the high standard displayed by all the activities. We
do not sit back on our laurels with complacence. The success of each year
raises a bar of excellence and professionalism only to challenge us to strive
towards perfection.
In spite of exams, admissions, our Principal Fr. David Vincent
organized an interaction between the parents of the classes of Std V to XII.
The programme began by a short prayer. This programme aimed at providing the
parents an insight into our school and to seek their help in shaping the future
of their wards. The programme also focused on school rules, issues that the
parents need to pay attention to and on accompanying the teenagers, as this is
a crucial period of their life and as they need to develop confidence in
themselves: Thus helping them to start believing in their knowledge limits. (Sr.
Mariam SJT)
Inauguration of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
The Newly established Infant Jesus Church Jadugora had yet
another beginning.Other than the Elevation of the Church from its old structure
to a new one. The parish was also blessed with the construction of a new grotto
in honour of our lady of Lourdes. Under the able leadership of Rev. Fr. Peter
Fernanades OP the parish priest along with Fr. Rocque Michael OP and Fr.
Sylvester Kujur OP. to celebrate this ceremony more solemnly the parish priest
decided to have novena in honour of our Lady of Lourdes, every evening after
the holy mass, the people were also very enthusiastic to take part in it. The
Parish priest also suggested that the inauguration ceremony would not be
celebrated in a grand manner since we are in the Lenten season but later on
will have a grand celebration. The parishioners were happy with the suggestion
proposed by the parish priest, before the day of inauguration the parishioners
worked
together tirelessly in getting the place neat and tidy,
the inaugural ceremony was scheduled for 21st February 2016.
On 21st of February 2016 Rev. Fr. John Kusumalyam OP the Prior Provincial of the Dominicans in India, presided over the Eucharist which began at 9 am. Prior to the Eucharistic Celebration the Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was brought in procession from the main road and the placed in the church. Keeping in mind the season of lent the faithful kept up the atmosphere of silence and prayer as the procession went along. sacred hymns were sung all through the procession, onlookers were delighted to witness the glorious ceremony .Afterthe procession the statue was placed in the church and the Eucharist began with solemn hymns sung by the parishnors in Hindi and sadri. In the homily the prior provincial exhorted the faithful, to of this holy season of lent to grow in fuller union with God our Father who is the source of our living. After the Eucharist the main celebrant blessed the statue which was then led to the newly constructed Grotto to be installed. After the inauguration of the grotto the provincial expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards the families of Infant Jesus Church Jadugora on behalf of all the members of the Province of India for their love and care shown by them to the Dominican Fathers from the time of their arrival. He encouraged them to continue to do the same in building of the parish. After the inauguration the Parishioners welcomed the provincial with a welcome song and presented him a bouquet. The ceremony ended with a small get-together. Mary Our Mother pray for us and the families of our Parish. May our Founder Holy Father Saint Dominic pray for us. ( Fr. Rocque Michael OP)
The “Annual Easter Peace Rally” on
Easter Monday, March 28, 2016.
In view of this annual event, we
appeal to you to participate in the Rally in good number.
Ø Please
come to the Rally with a banner of your Parish/ Church/ Institution.
Ø Please
bring along at least 10 placards with appropriate quotation/ caption related to
Easter or the spirit of Easter.
While Christians may
think of themselves as divided into different churches and denominations, the
devil actually sees that they are one in their faith in Jesus, Pope Francis
said in a video message to a Christian unity celebration in Phoenix.
“Division is the work
of the ‘Father of Lies,’ ‘the Father of Discord,’ who does everything possible
to keep us divided,” the Pope said on Saturday in the message to the gathering
sponsored by the John 17 Movement.
“I feel like saying
something that may sound controversial, or even heretical, perhaps,” he said in
the video. “But there is someone who ‘knows’ that, despite our differences, we
are one. It is he who is persecuting us. It is he who is persecuting Christians
today, he who is anointing us with (the blood of) martyrdom.”
The devil, he said,
“knows that Christians are disciples of Christ, that they are one, that they
are brothers! He doesn’t care if they are Evangelicals or Orthodox, Lutherans,
Catholics or Apostolic … he doesn’t care! They are Christians.”
Let’s heed to the words of Pope Francis and express our
unity, strength and the spirit of Easter through our Easter Peace Rally. We
congratulate the organizers of Easter Peace Rally, the Christians of
Jamshedpur, for their efforts and hard work towards Christian Unity.
Viral Bonanza
Though
the veil of cold and fog vanished from Jamshedpur, the wind of sickness
overshadowed it. First of all, it was Bishop Felix Toppo, S.J., who got fever
and throat infection and had to be admitted in Mercy Hospital. The second one in
line was Fr. C. R. Prabhu, who was diagnosed with low blood pressure and was
hospitalized in Mercy Hospital. Then it was the turn of Fr. Jerome Pereira, who
had physical ailment and other minor problems. He too was taken to Mercy
Hospital for his recovery. After that it was Dn. Birendra Tete, who was
admitted in Mercy Hospital and was successfully operated for appendix. Frs.
David, Edwin and Jilson, though down with fever and cold, were able to evade
hospitalization. Frs. Emmanuel Horo and Nestore Soreng went to St. John’s
Hospital, Bangalore to consult the doctor in continuation with their treatment.
We thank and gratefully acknowledge the
service rendered by different people to our fellow sick brethren. (Dn. Birendra Tete)
Lenten Retreats
Lent
is a time of blessing and grace for those who wait for the Lord. It is a time
where we learn from our Lord Jesus to carry our daily cross for the salvation
of others as well as ours. It is also a time for all of us to prepare ourselves
to celebrate the feast of Easter in a meaningful and worthy manner. Keeping all
these in mind, the parish priests of different parishes organized retreats for
the faithful such as Maluka, Chaibasa, Chakradharpur, Jhinkpani, Charbandia,
Burigora, Golmuri etc. We thanks to the parish priests for their arranging such
spiritual nourishment for the people. (Dn. Birendra Tete)
Sad Demise
Rosa
Ottaplakal (97), beloved mother of Fr. John Ottaplakal, passed away in the Lord
on February 6, 2016 at her house in Kerala. We express our sincere condolence
to Fr John Otto and the grieving family and extend our prayers. May her soul
Rest In Peace!
BIRTHDAY
Babies (March)
Date
|
Name
|
12
|
Maria
Charles
|
13
|
Chonhas
Xalxo
|
14
|
Elvius
Dungdung
|
21
|
Dilip
Marandi
|
27
|
Raphael
Monteiro
|
29
|
Hermon
Tigga
|
31
|
Henry
Sequeira
|
31
|
Nicholas
Kerketta
|
BISHOP’S
ENGAGEMENTS
MARCH 2016
|
||||
01
|
Tue
|
P.M.
|
Ranchi
àBangalore
|
|
02-09
|
CBCI Plenary Assembly
|
Bangalore
|
||
10
|
Thur
|
P.M.
|
Bangaluru
à
Ranchi
|
|
14
|
Mon
|
10.00
am
|
Blessing
of the New School building
|
Saparamgutu
|
15
|
Tue
|
Finance
Committee Meeting
|
GGGolmuri
|
|
17
|
Thur
|
09.30
am..
|
Pastors
Meeting and Chrism Mass
|
Golmuri
|
18
|
Fri
|
09.30
am
|
Diocesan
Consult
|
Golmuri
|
20
|
Sun
|
07.00
am
|
Palm
Sunday at St. Xavier’s Church
|
Chaibasa
|
21
|
Mon
|
09.00
a.m.
|
Recollection
Talk for the Clergy
|
Balasore
|
24
|
Thur
|
05.30
am
|
Maundy
Thursday in the Cathedral
|
Golmuri
|
25
|
Fri
|
03.00
pm
|
Good
Friday Liturgy, St. Mary’s Parish
|
Digwadih
|
27
|
Sun
|
11.00
p.m.
|
Easter
Vigil Mass in the Cathedral
|
Golmuri
|
28
|
Mon
|
A.M.
|
Tata
àKolkata
àKishanganj
|
|
30
|
Wed
|
09.80
am
|
Sr.
Vijay Kanta: Diamond Jubilee Mass
|
Kishanganj
|
31
|
Thur
|
P.M.
|
Kishanganj
to Ranchi
|
|
On
Thursday, March 17th 2016, we will have a Diocesan and Religious
Pastoral Clergy Meeting, Recollection with the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
Chrism Mass and Felicitations of our Jubilarian Priests (Fr. Oswald Mascarenhas, S.J. (50yrs) and Fr. Elvius Dungdung (25 yrs)
I earnestly invite and encourage all the priests and religious to participate in the programmes.
I earnestly invite and encourage all the priests and religious to participate in the programmes.
Pastoral Clergy Meeting : 9.30-12.30
Recollection and
Sacrament of Reconciliation : 3.30-4.30
Chrism Mass and felicitation
of Jubilarians : 5.30
Please inform Fr Jilson about the number of
participants from your parish/community at the earliest (8521608509).
The
Call to the priesthood… Can you hear it?
The Diocese of Jamshedpur and Society of Jesus,
Jamshedpur province have programs such as vocation seminar and meetings for
prospective candidates for priesthood. The Vocation camp for the diocese and
Jesuit province of Jamshedpur will be held from 30th March to 3rd
April, 2016 at St. Joseph’s School, Bhilaipahari, Jamshedpur. 10th
and +2 students are invited to join the vocation camp. Contact to the Vocation
Offices for more information at:
Fr. Linus Kindo
Bishop’s House
P.O. Golmuri
Jamshedpur-831003
Jharkhand
Phone No.: 09572752429
Fr. Niranjan, S.J.
Inigo Niwas, Candidate House
St. Xavier’s High School
P.B. No. 10, Chaibas P.O.
W. Sighbhum-833201
Ph. No.: 09931207008
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