JAMSHEDPUR JESUITS

(pm)
: Jilling
1. : Jilling – Visitation
2. : Return to Tatanagar
February 03
: Basantpur/Jilling
08 – 09 : CRI Meeting
CHRISTMAS MEETING 2002
In view of celebrating the Ruby Jubilee of the Diocese and the Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee of
Msgr John Bodra, "Christmas Meeting 2002" was held at St Joseph’s School Hall, Golmuri.
The whole event was leisurely spread out throughout the day.
The first session began at 9.00 am with a welcome address of the Bishop Felix Toppo, SJ and
prayer led by the Novices of Jesu Bhavan. The session was chaired by Fr Augustine
Vattamattam and Fr Savarimuthu (Hazaribag) dealt with the theme "The Present Situation in
Jharkhand and Our Response". He pointed out a few main burning issues, i.e. (i) domicile &
survival, (ii) extremism originating from the experience of exploitation, oppression, poverty,
unemployment, etc (iii) extremism originating from the Hindu fundamentalism championed by
RSS, BJP and VHP (Sangh Parivar) for irreligious, political and economic domination, (iv)
Gram Sabha and Panchayti Raj which characterize the context of our being and ministry. Our
response must address these issues in favour of the Adivasi and other marginalised groups by
empowering them through constitutional means and structure of Gram Sabha under Panchayati
Raj. Many insightful interventions from the floor enlivened this first session.
This logically led to the second session at 10.30 am. It was chaired by Fr Hilarius Kongari and
Bishop Charles Soreng (Hazaribag) expounded the Christian response to the present situation of
Jharkhand under the theme "Adult Catechesis in the Present-day Situation". He stressed on
founding of the Basic Ecclesial Communities otherwise known as Basic Christian Communities
in our Dioceses. These Basic Christian Communities cannot overlook the Adivasi values of an
abiding experience of God in life, fellowship, sharing, cooperation, equality, hospitality,
joyfulness, etc.
The third session began at 3.30 pm. It was chaired by Fr John Ottoplakal. This session
consisted of basically "Sharing of the Affairs of the Diocese and the Province". Provincial Fr
James Kalapura and Bishop Felix Toppo presented the picture of the Province and the Diocese
respectively. Each of them highlighted the signs of growth and also of unfulfilled dreams. In
their address both the Provincial and the Bishop underscored the abiding spirit of collaboration
between the Diocese and the Province. We thank the Bishop and the Provincial for their
guidance, animation and inspiration which both of them manifest through their pastoral visits and
visitations. At the beginning of the session Fr John Vithayathil was called upon to share his
experience received through the Divine Mercy Devotion. Before the end of the session, Fr
Jesudoss, OFM Cap and Br Jacob, DDS spoke about their apostolate in the Diocese.