‘Fulfilling aspirations of people realistically’

October 26, 2023 25 Views No Comment

Nagaland Catholic Church under Diocese of Kohima to celebrate 50 years

Morung Express News
Kohima | October 26

“Though late to arrive in Nagaland, the Catholic Church is reckoned today as a vital force that touches, influences and shapes the lives of thousands in the State,” opined Bishop of Nagaland, Rev Dr James Thoppil, as the Nagaland Catholic Church, under the umbrella of the Diocese of Kohima, prepares to observe 50 years (1973-2023) of its formation from October 27-29 at Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, Kohima.

“The Catholic Church has contributed much on the religious, social, cultural, educational, medical and economic life of the state and thus, becoming a key player and catalyst in the overall development of the State,” he stated during a seminar that was organised last month to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Kohima.

The Bishop of Nagaland also articulated that “prior to the arrival of the Catholic Church, the American Baptist Church’s glorious history, work and influence over one hundred and forty years had great consequences for the people of Nagaland” and that the late entry of the Catholic Church only helped fulfill the aspirations of the people more realistically.

“With confidence, I can say that today, the people of Nagaland are indebted and grateful to the Catholic Church and its valiant and committed missionaries from abroad, although very few, from different parts of India and within the state, for their selfless and humanitarian services,” he said.

Speaking to The Morung Express two days prior to the Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Fr Vemedo Joseph Kezo, Parish Priest, Mary Help of Christians Cathedral & Convenor, Diocese Golden Jubilee Steering Committee also reflected on the past 50 years and said: “The people of Nagaland owe their tribute to the Catholic Church, wherein by virtue of education, by virtue of faith formation, we have benefited a lot.”

“When we look back to how we were 50 years ago, the Catholic Church has toiled in every dimension whether it is in health, in education, in economic upliftment and spiritual awakening, but the Church has contributed and continues to positively contribute in all these aspects,” he noted.

Catholics constitute just 3% of State’s population
As per the record of the Diocese, there is an estimated number of 64,000 Catholics in Nagaland, making up for just about 3% of the total State’s population.

The Diocese of Kohima covers 57 parishes and centres spread across Nagaland. These include 36 parishes and 21 mission centres, whose representatives will converge at the Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, Kohima for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations

“We are expecting at least 10,000 people,” Fr Kezo informed on Sunday, including 1000 delegates by October 27.

He also highlighted that materially, physically and spiritually, preparations for the Jubilee celebrations have started a year ago.

Further deliberating on these aspects, Fr Kezo said that all these would make the celebrations more colourful, meaningful and eventful.

On Saturday (October 28), he said that there would be a Cultural Night that would mark the social dimensions of the Church.

The special invitees of the Cultural Night include Governor of Nagaland, La Ganesan; Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio; Papal Representative, Msgr Juan Pablo Cerillos Hernandez; US Consul General, Kolkata, Melinda M Pavek; Auxiliary Bishop, Münster, Germany, Most Rev. Dr Stefan Zekorn; and Chief Secretary of Nagaland, J Alam.

On Sunday, there will be a Eucharistic Procession, which Fr Kezo pointed out, is another aspect of the celebration.

Eucharist is the centre of the Catholic Faith. “It is to instill, reaffirm and strengthen our Eucharistic devotion because Eucharist is the centre of our Catholic faith,” he underscored.

Further, as a message for the Jubilee celebrations, he expressed, “there is always hope and there is always faith in the church, even though at times we may not be able to live up to the ideals but Christ himself has established his church through his disciples and more so through the leadership of Peter and in that leadership, if we are still continuing, we see hope, we see faith, we see courage, we see conviction, we see values…whatever value that the church offers through the sacraments.”