The Works

| 2002 |

'Evangelisation not an option for Cathollics'

Affirming that the duty to unveil the essence of evangelisation in Christian faithful rests with bishops, Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) President in Rome Archbishop Malcom Ranjith said the church would cease to exist, if it failed to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The archbishop was delivering the keynote address on the four-day animation programme, organised by Pontifical Mission Organisation, for 30 bishops from all over India, at the Caritas Holiday Home at Panjim on Tuesday morning.

“Pope John Paul II has said that no believer in Christ can avoid proclaiming the Good News of Jesus and states that one’s faith is strengthened, when given to others. Evangelisation is not an option or an academic study, but a way of being a disciple of Jesus,” affirmed the Sri Lankan born Archbishop Ranjith.

Justifying the need for evangelisation, he said the Lord wanted the catholic faithful to undertake the exercise and added that it entailed the fullest realisation of the precept of love.

“In a world filled with pessimism and suffering, it is the duty of Christians to show the joy of Jesus. Moreover, evangelisation is touched by divine grace, as there is no salvation in anyone other than Jesus,” remarked Archbishop Ranjith.

While reiterating that evangelisation is the most creative expression of faith, the archbishop added that the strength of faith would be based on the strength of missionary commitment.

“In fact, the church will cease to exist, if it fails to evangelise,” asserted the PMS president.

He reminding the bishops that it should not discourage the Church that large numbers in India do not know Jesus Christ.

Citing some reasons why church leaders were discouraged about evangelisation, Archbishop Ranjith noted that leaders feel incapable of evangelisation and reminded leaders to realise that Jesus would evangelise, while leaders are mere instruments.

“The second factor is that there is an impression that it is vital to achieve results here and now, as a result of which, many become victims of stress and depression. We should however realise that we are mere sowers of the seed,” said Archbishop Ranjith.

Another contention, he added, was that leaders felt they were too small in numbers for evangelisation. “Jesus called a small flock and asked them not to be afraid,” justified the archbishop.

He admitted that the dark fetters of evangelisation in Asia was when Christianity was associated with colonial powers. “We cannot blame historical conditions, but can learn from them,” he said.

Among the measures suggested by Archbishop Ranjith to promote evangelisation included a paradigm shift to make dioceses move towards mission, which would be a framework for dioceses to implement activities.

“No pains should be spared to pursue mission among priests and risks must be taken to promote evangelisation. All structures and finances of the diocese should be subservient to mission,” he noted.

“Mission should also be oriented to formation of children, youth and families. Dioceses should hold mission initiatives to enhance activities in local churches and remote areas,” Archbishop Ranjith added.

While stating that mission formation of seminarians should form a top priority, he also advised bishops that the role of evangelisation should be open to laity as 97 per cent of the catholics form the laity.

Earlier welcoming the bishops to Goa, Archbishop Raul Gonsalves emphasised on the need to be free to spread the Good News, if Christians are to bring the real values of life.

Informed the participating bishops that te theme of the animation programme ‘In Christ we are formed, Him we proclaim’ had been adopted during the Goa Diocesan Synod in February.

Taking the opportunity to pay tributes to late Fr Arnaut Pinto SJ, Rector of Basilica of Bom Jesus, who passed away on Sunday, the archbishop recalled the rich pastoral service of Fr Pinto during his lifetime.

“This seminar is also connected with the 450th death anniversary of St Francis Xavier, who projected Jesus as the true messenger of God,” said Archbishop Gonsalves.

He later read out the message of Apostolic Nuncio to India Lorenzo Baldisseri, who was unable to attend the programme due to his recent transfer as Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil.

In his message, Apostolic Nuncio Baldisseri informed that the four Pontifical Missions of Holy Childhood, St Peter the Apostle, Propagation of Faith and Missionary Union have a common objective in animating the Christian faithful.

‘Two-thirds of the world’s population of about 6 million do not know Jesus and the growth of the young churches in Africa and Asia is slow. Asia, which has 60 per cent of the world’s population is least evangelised. the faithful in the church should therefore take active part in proclaiming the Good News,’ wrote Apostolic Nuncio Baldisseri.

The bishops participating in the four-day programme include Archbishop Raul Gonsalves and Auxiliary Bishop Felip Neri Ferrao of Goa diocese, Bishop Stanislaus Fernandes of Ahmedabad diocese, Auxiliary Bishop Mar Koorilos of Tiruvalla diocese in Kerala, Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal of Kannur diocese in Kerala, Auxiliary Bishop Mathew Moolakkat of Kottayam diocese in Kerala, Bishop Thomas Thiruthalil of Balasore diocese in Orissa, Bishop Antony Devotta of Tiruchirapalli diocese in Tamil Nadu, Bishop S Singarayan of Salem diocese in Tamil Nadu, Bishop Valerian D‘Souza of Pune diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Pinto of Bangalore diocese, Bishop Bernard Moraes of Belgaum diocese, Coadjutor Bishop Oswald Lewis of Meerut diocese in UP, Archbishop Paschal Topno of Bhopal diocese, Bishop Gerald Almeida of Jabalpur diocese (MP), Bishop Joseph Charanakunnel of Raipur diocese (Chhatisgarh), Archbishop Lukas Sirkar of Calcutta diocese, Bishop Lepcha of Darjeeling diocese (West Bengal), Bishop Joseph Soren Gomes of Krishnagar diocese (West Bengal), Bishop Charles Soreng of Hazaribag diocese (Jharkhand), Bishop Victor Thakur of Bettiah diocese (Bihar), Bishop Felix Toppo of Jamshedpur diocese (Jharkhand), Bishop Gali Bali of Guntur diocese (AP), Bishop Paul Maipan of Khammam diocese (AP), Bishop Prakasam of Cuddapah diocese (AP) and Bishop Peter Celestine of the Jammu/Kashmir diocese.

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