By: Msgr. SiluvaiNational Director – PMS India

PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIESIN INDIA

To execute the last testament of the Risen Lord.

“The missionary mandate of the Risen Lord accompanies us into the Third Millennium & urges us to share the same enthusiasm of the very first Christians as Peter, Paul , John etc..”

NMI – Pope John Paul - II

THE SAINT THE ERA STATUS

St Thomas & St Bartholomew

1st Century Apostles of India

St Francis Xavier 1506 – 1552 Apostles of the Indies

St Gonzalo Garcia 1556 – 1597 The Pearl of Bassein

St John de Britto 1647 – 1693 Martyr of Oriyur

The 1500 years saw the Growth of Christianity in the Subcontinent –Malabar (Kerala) & Madras

The 15th Century marked the 2nd Spring of Christianity in India.

Arrival of the Portuguese and Missionaries like St Francis Xavier, St Gonzalo Gracia and St John de Britto

Christianity spread across the East & West Coast

The “Missionary Zeal” saw Mission Hospitals & Mission Schools bring +ve Relief, Charity, Zeal & Empowerment

1969 National Bishops Conference to implement the Vatican Council II

1973 Consultation on Evangelization took place in Patna

Role of the Church in India

The BISHOP will promote: - Evangelization work among the faithful - The Papal Mission Works

The PRIESTS should:- Stir up and persevere amid the faithful a Zeal for

evangelization of the World

The LAITY will:- Cooperate in the Church’s work of

Evangelization as witnesses- As living Instruments, they share in her saving

Mission especially if they have been called by God and accepted by the Bishop

The Religious Institutes are: - Bound to practice with greater perfection their role

in active and contemplative life- Obliged & impelled to a truly Catholic spirit of

work in and through prayer, suffering and works of penance & charity

Professors in Seminaries & Universities shall:- Teach young people the true state of the Church

and focus on the “Missionary Elements” while teaching on the Dogmas, biblical, moral and historical branches, to form missionary awareness in the future priests

The Whole people of God shall:

- Lead a profoundly Christian Life- Have a lively awareness of their responsibility to

the world- Foster in themselves a truly catholic spirit- Spend their forces in the work of evangelization

Church In IndiaArchdioceses Dioceses Total

1. Ecclesiastical Units 30 130 160

2. Rite      

    a) Latin 23 105 128

    b) Syro-Malabar 5 21 26

    c) Syro-Malankara 2 4 6

3. Bishops      

    a) Diocesan 29 123 152

    b) Coadjutors - 1 1

    c) Auxiliaries 10 - 10

    d) Apostolic Visitator - 2 2

    e) Retired 11 33 44

4. Cardinals 3 (3) - 3 (6)

PRIESTS / BROTHERS / SISTERS NUMBER

Total number of diocesan priests 14, 000

Religious Priests 13, 500

Religious Brothers  4, 300

Religious Sisters 90, 000

Total no. of Religious Congregations 300

For men 70

For women 230

SERVICE AND HEALTHCARE NUMBER

Technical Training Schools & Polytechnics 1, 524

Hostels & Boarding Houses 1, 765

Orphanages 1, 085

Crèche's 228

Hospitals 704

Dispensaries & Health Centres 1, 792

Leprosaria 111

Rehabilitation Centres 102

Homes for Aged, Destitute & Physically Challenged 455

 Educational Institutions Institutions Students

K. G. & Nursery Schools 3, 785 6,00,000

Primary Schools 7, 319 30,00,000

Secondary Schools 3, 765 20,00,000

Colleges 240 5,00,000

Medical/Nursing School/Colleges

28 10,000

Engineering College 5 1,500

Where is Christ in these Institutions?

Are these expressions of Christ’s presence in society?

“Our Institutions Lost Charity in the 1970’s, Lost Service in the 1980’s and Mission itself in 1990’s ….. Anonymous

“The Catholic Institutions reflect the Colonial Architecture but they are hiding the face of Christ” ......Blessed Paolo Manna

New Opportunity to EvangelizeVideo Source: youtube.com

Significant increase in religious vocations

Priests and Missionaries from India travel the World to announce the Gospel

Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service's role in Faith Building and Formation of the Laity

Proclamation Commission’s for the Active Proclamation of God’s Word using novel methods

Missionary work in remote corners of the country

“Your sons, O India, will be the ministers of your salvation” …..Pope Leo XIII

Traditionally tolerant Hindus turn hostile toward peace loving India Christians

How can a 2.3% Christian population threaten 85% Hindu population ?

India a land of religious people and several ancient religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Sufi etc are religions born in India

India is also home to Christianity, Islam, Parsi.. all of different ethnicities, languages and strong tradition that is deeply ingrained in the spirit and composition of the Indian

Existence of Caste System among Christians. (It is the grading of humans based on caste from High to Low, based on the degree of purity or impurity reputedly inherited by birth)

Indian Christians treated as anti-national by the Majority Community and Government

Atrocities against Christians

Motivating the Bishops

Christians in Gujarat being Systematically targeted since 1990’s

Burning and killing of Dr. Staines and his 2 sons

Rape of Catholic Nuns in Jhabua (MP), Khandhamal (Orissa)

Fr. Christudas paraded naked in MP

Churches - vandalized, burnt down, desecrated in various parts of the country

Atrocities in Orissa - Dec 2007 to Aug 2008

- 33 Christians Killed

- Thousands of Christian Houses Burned

- Over 50,000 Christians run into the forests and make shift refugee camps

- Aug 24, 2008 saw a Catholic Nun in Kandhamal dragged and gang raped by Hindu extremists in the presence of police, while she pleaded for help.

“Truly it was a rape of the Love, Compassion and Service, that she stands for”

Victims & refugees of Khandamal, in the forests insist on contributing towards Mission Sunday and collect INR. Rs. 30,000/-(US $750)

Manipur : 1952 – 350 New Baptized Catholics : 2008 – 80,000 Catholics

Kohima : 1950 – No Catholic Presence: 2008 – 56,000 Catholics

(Catholic nun from Spain sent by the Governor of Assam to cater to sick. Her prayer , zeal and evangelizing effort, sees 56000 Catholics in Kohima today)

The 2nd Vatican Council spoke of the Church being “Missionary by it very Nature”

Just as in the 1st Millennium, the cross was planted in the soil of Europe and the 2nd Millennium on that of Americas and Africa, WE PRAY that in the 3rd Millennium a great harvest of faith will be reaped in this vast and vital continent ASIA

…… Pope John Paul II(Ecclesia in Asia)

Video Source: youtube.com