PUNE
Golden Jubilee of Khristsevikas
The Golden Jubilee of the Khristsevikas - a secular institute in India, founded in the 20th century and member of the Union of Catholic Apostolate (UAC) founded by Vincent Pallotti, was celebrated at their Centre in Pune on December 28, 2011. The two bishops of Pune—Bishop Dabre and Bishop Valerian, Bishop Emeritus, along with the Rector General of the Pallottine Society, Fr Jacob Nambudakam, presided over the liturgical celebration.
KANDHAMAL
Protest against arrest of Christian leader
The arrest of a prominent Christian leader facing charges of alleged Maoist links has sparked protests in Kandhamal. A 12-hour bandh was announced by three tribal outfits - Banabasi Surakshya Parishad, Odisha Adivasi Mancha and Adivasi Adhikar Andolana- following Junes Pradhan’s arrest on January 9.
PUNE
Fr Robert defends doctoral thesis
Fr Robert B. D’Souza successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled “Mission of Elijah according to the Deuteronomistic Historian: an exegetical study of the Elijah Cycle (1 Kings 17:1-19:21; 21:1-29; 2 Kings 1:1-2:12) and its influence on later biblical books.” It was guided by Prof. Dr Rui De Menezes, Professor Emeritus of JDV, Pune, and was examined by Dr Selva Rathinam, Professor of Scripture in JDV and Dr Peter Ignatius, Professor of Scripture in Patna Jesuit Province Theologate.
AHMEDNAGAR
’Awesome’ SJ event, SDBs transform night into day
“Awesome” is the word aptly used to describe SJ Special 2012, Bhingar, by Prerna, a 2nd year college student of Ahmednagar College’s evaluation of the twelve-hour event held to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the Project: Ahmednagar Mission. Bhingar played host to the event on January 7-8, 2012. Planned for just 250 youth of the Ahmednagar district, the turnout was 372 youth who braved the mild chill to experience Christ in a night-turned-to-day event that kept everyone on their toes all through the night. It was planned by event manager Br Ramesh, and executed in partnership with Fr Michael Bansode and his entire dynamic dedicated team of Parish Council and youth.
GOA
‘March For Life’ organised by Diocesan Family Service Centre
‘MARCH FOR LIFE’, a pro-life rally was organised by the Diocesan Family Service Centre, for the first time in Goa, on January 5, 2012, in collaboration with Rosary HSS, Verna, Maria Bambina HSS, Cuncolim, Fr Basilio Andrade Memorial HSS, Majorda, Mount Mary HSS, Chinchinim, Carmel HSS, Nuvem and Marina English High School, Verna.
The aim was ‘be aware, make aware and live the Culture of Life’. It intended to awaken the prophets of the Culture of Life. Around 620 students, 46 teachers and around 30 well wishers, spousal couples and their children participated in the same.
BANGALORE
IMAC-2012 inaugurated
A National Consultation on Indian missionaries to other countries, code-named IMAC-2012, was inaugurated by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the president of CBCI. Participating in the deliberations, he said that he will carry the revelations and insights of this Consultation to the universal Church.
A statistical study revealed the presence of Indian personnel in 166 countries around the world which is a miracle of the last three decades. India, long considered a ‘mission receiving Church’, has become the prominent ‘mission sending Church’.
