Diocese of
Jamshedpur
Vol. 47 No. 1 Private Circulation Only January – 2017
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE
FRANCIS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF
THE 50th WORLD DAY OF PEACE 1 JANUARY 2017
Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace
At the beginning of this New Year, I wish peace to every man,
woman and child, and I pray that the image and likeness of God in each person
will enable us to acknowledge one another as sacred gifts endowed with immense
dignity. On this occasion, I would like to reflect on nonviolence as a style of politics for peace.
I ask God to help all of us to cultivate nonviolence in our most personal
thoughts and values. May charity and nonviolence govern how we treat each other
as individuals, within society and in international life.
A broken world
While the last century knew the devastation of two deadly World
Wars, the threat of nuclear war and a great number of other conflicts, today,
sadly, we find ourselves engaged in a horrifying world war fought piecemeal. In any case, we know that this “piecemeal”
violence, of different kinds and levels, causes great suffering: wars in
different countries and continents; terrorism, organized crime and unforeseen
acts of violence; the abuses suffered by migrants and victims of human trafficking;
and the devastation of the environment.
Violence is not the cure for our broken world. Countering violence
with violence leads at best to forced migrations and enormous suffering,
because vast amounts of resources are diverted to military ends and away from
the everyday needs of young people, families experiencing hardship, the
elderly, the infirm and the great majority of people in our world. At worst, it
can lead to the death, physical and spiritual, of many people, if not of all.
The Good News
Jesus himself lived in violent times. Yet he taught that the true
battlefield, where violence and peace meet, is the human heart: for “it is from
within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come” (Mk 7:21). Whoever accepts the Good
News of Jesus is able to acknowledge the violence within and be healed by God’s
mercy, becoming in turn an instrument of reconciliation. To be true followers
of Jesus today also includes embracing his teaching about nonviolence. The Gospel command to love your enemies (cf. Lk 6:27) “is rightly considered the magna carta of Christian nonviolence. It does not
consist in succumbing to evil…, but in responding to evil with good (cf. Rom 12:17-21), and thereby breaking
the chain of injustice”.
More powerful
than violence
Nonviolence is sometimes taken to mean surrender, lack of
involvement and passivity, but this is not the case. When Mother Teresa
received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she clearly stated her own message of
active nonviolence: “We in our family don’t need bombs and guns, to destroy to
bring peace – just get together, love one another… And we will be able to
overcome all the evil that is in the world”. The
achievements of Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in the liberation of
India, and of Dr Martin Luther King Jr in combating racial discrimination will
never be forgotten.
The Church has been involved in nonviolent peacebuilding
strategies in many countries, engaging even the most violent parties in efforts
to build a just and lasting peace. I emphatically reaffirm that “no religion is
terrorist”. Violence profanes the
name of God. Let us never tire of repeating: “The name of God cannot be used to
justify violence. Peace alone is holy. Peace alone is holy, not war!”
The domestic
roots of a politics of nonviolence
If violence has its source in the human heart, then it is
fundamental that nonviolence be practised before all else within families. The
family is the indispensable crucible in which spouses, parents and children,
brothers and sisters, learn to communicate and to show generous concern for one
another, and in which frictions and even conflicts have to be resolved not by
force but by dialogue, respect, concern for the good of the other, mercy and
forgiveness. From within families, the joy of love spills out into the world
and radiates to the whole of society. An
ethics of fraternity and peaceful coexistence between individuals and among
peoples cannot be based on the logic of fear, violence and closed-mindedness,
but on responsibility, respect and sincere dialogue. The politics of
nonviolence have to begin in the home and then spread to the entire human
family.
Holy Father’s
invitation
Peacebuilding through active nonviolence is the natural and
necessary complement to the Church’s continuing efforts to limit the use of
force by the application of moral norms; Jesus himself offers a “manual” for
this strategy of peace-making in the Sermon on the Mount. The eight Beatitudes
(cf. Mt 5:3-10) provide a portrait of the
person we could describe as blessed, good and authentic.
It is a challenge to build up society, communities and businesses
by acting as peacemakers. It is to show mercy by refusing to discard people,
harm the environment, or seek to win at any cost. To do so requires “the
willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it and to make it a link in
the chain of a new process”. Every such response, however modest, helps to
build a world free of violence, the first step towards justice and peace.
From the Vatican, 8 December 2016
His Holiness
Pope Francis
Dear brothers and sisters, let’s make this year
2016, a year of spiritual progress. I wish every one of you a very Grace-filled
New Year; May God Bless You All.
Your friend in Lord
Bishop
Felix Toppo, S. J.
Two new Auxiliary Bishops appointed for the
Archdiocese of Bombay
Pope Francis has
appointed two new Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Bombay. They are
Bishops Elect Fr. Allwyn D’Silva and Fr. Barthol Barretto. The
Archdiocese of Bombay will now have four Auxiliary Bishops, the previous
appointments being of Bishop Dominic Savio Fernandes and Bishop John
Rodrigues who were appointed in May 15th 2013. The
episcopal ordination ceremony will most likely be held in January 2017.
Christ the King Procession, Dhanbad
Sunday, 20th
November morning saw a huge footfall on St. Anthony’s Church campus, Dhanbad,
when hundreds of faithful from various parishes trooped in for the denary level
Christ the King procession. With the benediction held at 9.45 am the procession
started moving out of the campus parish – wise. A panoply of colourful flags,
banners, placards and flexes appropriately greeted the vehicle – mounted
Blessed Sacrament conspicuously held by Most Rev. Felix Toppo, S.J. as the
serpentine procession slowly moved via Ambedkar Chowk and polytechnic more to
Carmel School campus, repeated shoutes of ‘Khrist
Raja ki Jai’ and ‘Khrist Hamara Raja
Jai’ rent the air while the faithful recited prayers and sang religious songs
all along the way. Dhowatand and Tundi parishes with their traditional musical
instruments like dama-dumand added local touch to the procession.
By 11.10 am, thanks
to the Dhanbad Carmel sisters, a spruced up Carmel School Campus with a
beautifully decorated altar for the Holy Mass found itself near-packed with the
faithful where Bishop wound up the procession with the final blessing before
beginning the solemn Holy Eucharist. In his homily he said that Christ is the
King of all hearts whose kingship we are publically proclaiming today. He is a
king who loves the whole humanity. Following in his footsteps, therefore, we
must also love one another without any discrimination thereby incarnating his
love in today’s world steeped in hatred and division.
Seventeen priests
concelebrated the mass with the Bishop. Over two thousand and five hundred
faithful, besides many sisters, participated in the procession as well in the
Holy Eucharist. The parish choir singing made the whole liturgy lively. The
Eucharist was a rich and spiritually fruitful experience for the whole
congregation. At the end of the Eucharist the parish priest thanked all for
their cooperation in making the procession a grand success. The whole
congregation was later treated to a good lunch. (Fr. Amatus Kujur)
Diaconate Ordination of Bros
Fabian Toppo and Alex Darwin
It indeed was a remarkable
occasion for St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Golmuri, as two brothers of Jamshedpur
diocese were elavated to the Sacred Order of Diaconate by His Lordshop Bishop
Felix Toppo, S.J. in the solemn eucharistic celebration held on 11th
Deccember, 2016. Fr. Michael Deogam helped the faithful to understand the
cermoneires and to participate init in a meaningful way through his timely
interventions as the master of the ceremony.
Being a Sunday, the Cathedral was
packed with the faithful. The family, relatives and friends of the ordinanti
were seated at the front pews. Bishop, through his sermon exhorted the ordinati
about the duties of a clergy. The whole Ordination ceremony was very well
arranged and the choir added a celesial tune to it. There was a small
felicitation for the deacons at the Bishop’s House. Congratulations to deacons
Fabian and Alex.
Confirmation at Khuntpani Shrine
On
18th December, 2016, 11 children received the first Holy Communion
and 38 children received the Holy Confirmation at Our Lady of Khuntpani Shrine
by his Lordship Bishop Felix Toppo, S.J.
The faithful had gathered in a large number for the ceremony. The people
were very prayerful and attentive all through the ceremony as the climate was
quite good. The entrance dance was led by the Mahilasangh and the offertory procession was by the children.
Congratulations to Fr. Junas Purty, Sisters and the catechists for the very
well preparation of the children and for the wonderful celebrations.
Inter-Christian Christmas Milan at St. Joseph’s Church,
Charbandia
St.
Joseph’s Church, Charbandia arranged an Inter-Christian Christmas Get-together
under the banner of Bible Society of India on 19th December, 2016. People
from G.I.L Church, Anandpur and C.N. I. Church, Manoharpur, along with the
parishioners of St. Joseph’s Church had gathered in big number for the
Christmas Milan. Bishop Felix Toppo,
S.J, the bishop of Catholic Diocese of Jamshedpur was the Chief Guest for the
function. There were many competitions and cultural functions. The people
participated in all the functions with full vigour and enthusiasm. Bishop Felix in his address stated that
Christmas is a witness of God’s love. We may be of different churches, but
Christ is the unifying factor among us. And Hence, we must live in the love of
Jesus. Congratulations to all for the success of this programme.
First Holy Communion and
Holy Confirmation at St. Mary’s Church, Omra
13th November, 2016 will be marked in golden letters in the annals of history of St. Mary’s Chruch, Omra as 50 children received the Holy Communion and 117 Children received the Holy Confirmation by His Lordship Bishop Felix Toppo, S.J. The whole village had gathered for the celebration. God-parents of every child who was to receive the Holy Communion and the Holy Confirmation were asked to be with the children at the time of the ceremony. There was a small felicitation programme after the mass and the parishioners, in advance, celebrated the birthday of Bishop Felix and cut a cake and wished him all the best. Congratulations to Fr. Benedict Minj and George Ekka for the wonderful celebration.
Inter-religious Christmas
Gathering at St. Joseph’s Welfare Center, Golmuri
Frs.
David Vincent and Camille Hembrom arranged an Inter-religious Christmas
Gathering at St. Joseph’s Welfare Center, Golmuri on 22nd December,
2016. People from all walks of life, from different religions had gathered for
the gathering. Mrs. Arpurtha Mary anchored through the whole programme and
delighted all present with her wonderful commentary. Fr. David, the Vicar
General of the diocese, welcomed the gathering and the youth from Gyandeep
presented a song and a dance on the theme of Christmas. There were many
cultural programmes by different groups and Christmas messages from various dignitaries.
The Christmas carol by the junior choir of St. Joseph’s Cathedral mesmerized
everyone present.
Rev.
Deepak Anil Jojo, Mr. Indrajith Singh, Maulana Suliman Sahib and Bishop Felix
Toppo, S.J, Bishop of Jamshedpur gave Christmas messages to the people. The
main theme that ran through all the messages were- Peace, Love, Non-Violence,
forgiveness, Common brotherhood and harmony.
Congratulations to everyone who worked hard for the success of this
programme.
Denary Krus Veer Rally, Dhanbad
St. Anthony’s
Church, Dhanbad, hosted a day long deneary-level Krus Veer Rally on Sunday, 13th November, 2016. A
hundred and fifty children represented various parishes of the denary.
The programme began
at 9.00 am, in the Church Hall with the first talk given to the children by Fr.
Pascal Minj, on the meaning of Krus Veer.
In his talk he emphasized the need for Krus
Veer children to become true soldiers of Christ who stood for him at all
times and in all situations. A bible quiz was jointly conducted by Fr. Samir
Soreng and Bro. Ambrose. Dhowatand Parish bagged the first prize and Kumardhubi
and Dhanbad Parishes won the 2nd and 3rd prizes
respectively. Action songs were also conducted by the parish youth.
After the lunch,
games and group signing completions were held. In the group singing
competition, Dhowatand again romped home with the first prize, Tundi with the
second and the third prize went to Digwadih Parish. Dhanbad Carmel sisters
joined hands with the team in conduction the games and singing competition. The
climax of the day’s event was the Holy Mass at 3.30 pm. Followed by tea. All
the children enjoyed every moment of the day and left for home at 4.30 pm. (Fr.
Amatus Kujur)
The joy of
giving or the festival of philanthropy as it is known is celebrated all over in the month of
October. In our school, it was celebrated with great enthusiasm from 10th
to 18th of December. The school had various plans to help those in
need. The teachers, parents and students joined hands together and contributed
clothes, stationeries bags etc. The collected gifts and stationeries were given
to children of the nearby village, home for the aged and to the orphan
children. We thank Fr. P. RAJ for giving
us this wonder full opportunity to experience the real Joy in Giving.
The
school is strengthened by the good will and generosity of our parents and
sponsors. The Christmas prelude was beautifully presented with a combination of
dance & skit. The singing of carol added to the gaiety of the season. The
candle light glittered colourfully in the hands of our audience adorned the
stage. The whole programme was enchanting and enriching as it was the
combination of CAROLS’ and splendid dance performance embedded in the programme
with smiles so gay we lavished wishes for Christmas and New Year.
Bible Written Quiz
for all
Divya Bharati Pastoral Centre
presents a Bible Written Quiz for all. Please participate in the Bible Quiz for
all. 1. Bible Written Quiz and 2.
Rewriting the Holy Bible
1. Bible
Written Quiz
Syllabus for Logos Bible Quiz 2017
1-
Book
of Numbers : Chapter 22 – 36
2-
Book
of Proberbs: Chap. 21 – 31
3-
Mathew:
Chap. 1 – 9
4-
Book
of Revelation: Chap 4-9
Language: English and Hindi
DIOCESAN LEVEL EXAM: Sunday, 10th
September, 2017
Participants
are requested to register their names as early as possible
2. Rewriting the Holy Bible:
Syllabus
for Bible writing Competition - From the Book of Genesis to Ruth
Participants
must follow NRSV Bible for English and Bulke Translation for Hindi
Written
Copy to be submitted by the end of September 2017
For
more details, please contact:
Director
Divya Bharati Pastoral Centre
Near Mudhra Hospital
Chaibasa, Jharkhand – 833201
Mob No: 9431571848 Email : ctiggasj@gmail.com
Hearty Condolence
Mrs.
Pauline Coelho beloved Mother of Fr. Edwin Coelho passed away on 19th
December, 2016 at her house in Mangalore. Her burial was held on the next day
in her village. We extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers. May her soul
Rest In Peace.
BIRTHDAY BABIES – JANUARY
Date
|
Name
|
04
|
SAMEER SORENG
|
11
|
RAJU FELIX
CRASTA
|
21
|
SELVA RAJ
|
28
|
GYANPRAKASH
TOPNO
|
BISHOP’S
ENGAGEMENTS
JANUARY 2017
|
||||
06
|
Fri
|
To
Muri
|
||
07
|
Sat
|
09.00
am
|
Silver
Jubilee of Sr. Sarita, OSU and Golden Jubilee of Sr. John Mary Ekka, OSU
|
Muri
|
12
|
Thur
|
PM
|
Jubilee
of Fr. Peter Francis, XLRI
|
JSR
|
13
|
Fri
|
PM
|
To
Charbandia
|
|
14
|
Sat
|
07.30
a.m.
|
Priestly
Ordination of Deacon Pascal Dhanwar, sj
|
Charbandia
|
22
|
Sun
|
07.00
am
|
First
Communion and Confirmation
|
Digwadih
|
25
|
Wed
|
07.30
am
|
Parish
Feast : First Communion and Confirmation
|
Maluka
|
27
|
Mon
|
09.00
am
|
Workshop
on FCRA at SDC
|
Ranchi
|
31
|
Tue
|
AM
|
CCBI
Plenary Assembly commences
|
Bhopal
|
The Call to the priesthood… Can you hear
it?
The Catholic 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 2nd to 7th April, 2016 at Vianney Niwas, Neeldungri,
Jamshedpur. 10th and +2 students are invited to join the vocation
camp. Contact to the Vocation Offices for more informations at:
Fr. Linus Kindo/ Fr. Michael Deogam
Bishop’s House
P.O. Golmuri
Jamshedpur-831003
Jharkhand
Phone No.: 09572752429/7549106549
The Vocation Promoter (S.J.)
Inigo Niwas, Candidate House
St. Xavier’s High School
P.B. No. 10, Chaibasa P.O.
W. Sighbhum-833201
Phone No.: 9798736320/09546721569
