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AUGUST 2012
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Message AUGUST 2012
Message
years (1924), as priest for 60 years (1951) and as a Bishop for 50
years (1962). He completely dedicated himself to the glory of God
by “building up the house of God” at the local level in Pondicherry
and in Bangalore and at the Universal level in Rome. Once again we
offer our Hearty Felicitations to His Eminence Simon Cardinal
Lourdusamy and wish him AD MULTOS ANNOS.
2. 50 Years Ago
16th August 2012 marks the Golden Jubilee of the de jure
independence of Pondicherry (16-08-1962) from France. The French
came to Pondicherry on 4th February 1673. On 01-11-1954 France
gave de facto independence to Pondicherry. By the treaty of Paris in
1814, Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam and Chandranagore
became French settlements in India. In 1952 Chandranagore became
part of West Bengal. On this happy occasion we offer Hearty
Felicitations to all in the Union Territory of Pondicherry
(Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam).
3. News from CBCI
� Bishop Prakash Mallavarappu of Vijayawada has been
appointed the Archbishop of Vishakapatnam. We offer our
Hearty Felicitations to His Grace and wish him success in
his new office.
� Bishop Gerald Lobo of Shimoga has been appointed on
16-07-2012 as the First Bishop of the New Diocese of
Udupi, bifurcated from Mangalore. We wish him success
in his new office.
Note: As on 31-07-2012 there are 166 Dioceses in India: 129 of
the Latin Rite, 29 of the Syro-Malabar Rite, and 8 of the Syro-
Malankara Rite. There are 30 Archdioceses.
4. Prison Ministry Sunday
This year Sunday, 12th August 2012 is observed as the Prison
Ministry Sunday in India. There are about 3,68,998 prisoners in 1394
prisons in India. Let us keep in mind that our human dignity comes
from God who created us in his own image and likeness (cf. Gen.
1:26). We know that nobody is a born criminal. We are created by the
Archdiocesan News Letter Pondicherry & Cuddalore
goodness (God) for Goodness. There are many prisoners who unjustly
suffer in prisons. “I was in prison you came to me” (Mt. 25:36). Let
us take time to visit prisoners and give them courage and comfort.
5. Justice Sunday
Sunday, 19th August 2012 is observed as Justice Sunday. The
theme is “called to witness to justice through our word and work”.
We all know that there are many unjust structures and systems in
our Indian society. The church should become the defender of the
poor and the oppressed.
6. Black Day
August 10th is kept as the Black Day. It was on 10th August
1950 that the para 3 of the Presidential order, which restricted
Scheduled Caste Status only to the Hindus, was signed. But SC
status was extended in 1956 to Hindus converted to Sikhism and in
1990 to Hindus converted to Buddhism. The Dalit Christians and
the Dalit Muslims are discriminated on the ground of religion. It is
a great injustice.
7. Diocesan Pastoral Council
The Archdiocese Pastoral Council has been reconstituted. The
first meeting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council will take place on
Saturday, 25th August 2012, at the Pastoral Centre, Uppalam. All
the members are kindly requested to take note of it and take part in
the meeting.
8. Annual Retreat
The retreat for our diocesan clergy (Second Batch) will take
place at the Archbishop’s House from Monday 24th to Friday 28th September 2012. The diocesan priests belonging to the Second batch
of retreat list (Refer November News Letter-2011) are kindly
requested to participate in this retreat. If some for valid reasons are
not able to participate in this retreat, they should get my written
permission for their absence and inform Rev. Fr. Procurator. Making
annual retreat is a serious obligation of the clergy (Can. 276/4).
Hence they are to make their own arrangements for their annual
retreat.
Archdiocesan News Letter Pondicherry & Cuddalore