Patna Jesuits to work for justice *Nuns go online to boost community

Bihar, May 30, 2012: The Jesuits are celebrating the province’s golden jubilee.

Jesuits of Patna province have decided to rededicate themselves to work for a just society where all sections of people regardless of caste and creed find their rightful place.

On the occasion of the province’s golden jubilee, Father Joy Karayampuram, provincial, said the occasion called for “inner renewal and re-dedication at the personal, communitarian and province levels toward a just society.”

The province held a combined celebration for the triple events, its jubilee, Bihar’s centenary and the platinum jubilee of the Church’s mission among the dalit of Bihar at Navjyoti Niketan, Patna yesterday.

Fr. P Susai Raj of the provincial curia said the movement of dalit in the Church is a social movement. It began with the first baptism on February 2, 1937 at Pro-Cathedral, Patna.

“We are celebrating the gospel partnership we cherish with the dioceses, inter-religious congregations of women and men and the Church in Bihar, he said in his opening address.

Archbishop William D’Souza of Patna lauded the contributions of the Jesuits in the fields of pastoral, evangelization, spiritual, education, ecology, and social action ministries.

The Jesuit prelate said “the unique feature of Patna Archdiocese is the strong bond, through healthy critique and common sharing of mission, among the diocesan clergy and the Patna Jesuits”.

As a symbol of that partnership, Fr. Karayampuram felicitated prominent priests of the archdiocese and provincials of Religious congregations in Bihar.

The senior fathers, brothers and sisters handed over to the young members, both, men and women, the vision of the Church in the form of a burning lamp as a symbolic gesture of commissioning and assigning young people for mission.

Around 130 women and men religious and clergy attended the celebration.

To mark the occasion, the Archbishop released a souvenir along with the books, ‘Role of Catechists in forming Dalit churches of Bihar’, written by Patrick John.

Fr. Karaympuram released the book, ‘Symphony of Life’, written by Patna Jesuits, scholastics and other women religious.

– ucanindia.in

Nuns go online to boost community

Rawalpindi, May 30, 2012: Catholics near Islamabad are going public – at least on the internet.

The Daughters of St Paul, in Rawalpindi, have launched a website to encourage youth participation, despite community worries about drawing attention in the predominantly Muslim country.

“They were afraid of exposure and showing the face of Christ in a Muslim country,” said Sister Athens Angeles, the community superior. “But we are already the last of 51 countries where the Pauline family is running local websites.”

The website offers information about upcoming Church events as well as links to Facebook posts about the outreach programs, meetings and publications of the congregation which is running three book centers in the country.

“It is purely for vocation and has no business dimension,” Sr Angeles said.

The site was created by youth leader and student Sonish Akmal in just two days, after the order worked on the project for three years. “We waited till Pentecost to highlight the additional feature of viewing the site in different languages,” she said.

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra launched the site over the weekend to the applause of more than 100 priests, nuns and lay leaders. He then lauded the nuns for setting a great example on the correct use of the internet.

“It will help in building relations by offering choices and preferences even when not speaking directly of religious content,” he said.

– ucanews.com