Wednesday, November 30, 2011

December, 2011


News Letter – December, 2011


Seminar on RTE
A special Workshop on “RTE and Educational Problems/Issues” was organised at Vikas Bharati, Sundernagar from 30th October to 01st November. Fr. K.M. Joseph and his team from Patna, were the resource persons. A good number of principals, Vice Principals and Secretaries of Schools were present for the seminar.

Jubilee Celebration
On 30th October, 2011, Sr. Gracy Mlakuzhyil SCN, Superior of Nazareth Convent and Principal of Gyan Deep Vidyalaya, Birsanagar, celebrated the Silver Jubilee of her religious profession. Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ. was the main celebrant of the concelebrated Solemn Eucharist. Her brother Fr. George M. SJ, along with other brothers and sisters were present for the occasion. The teachers and other staffs of the School took great initiative in organising the liturgy. The celebration came to its end with a delicious meal. On previous day, the students of Gyan Deep Vidyalaya had staged a short cultural programme and joined in her happiness. We congratulate Sr. Gracy and wish her God’s abundant blessings and happy and fruitful life ahead.

Foundation Day Celebrations
On 3rd November, 2011, SCJM Sisters, Baridih, celebrated the foundation day of the Congregation. Most Rev. Bishop Toppo, SJ was the main celebrant of the concelebrated Holy Eucharist. During the inspiring Homily, Bishop exhorted the members gathered to be aware of the problems and difficulties the church facing today and to commit ourselves completely to the Lord.

Year of the Youth
On 4th and 5th  November representatives of youth from all the parishes of the Diocese gathered at St. Joseph's Welfare Centre, to officially call off the Year of Youth 2010-2011. About 150 youth along with animators were present for the two day function. The programme began with a Taize Prayer, which was conducted by Sr. Christy along with other sisters and some of the Youth. There were input sections and time for competitions. Rev. Fr. Kristudas was the resource person. The meet came to its end with the Holy Eucharist, in which Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ, officially declared that the year of the Youth 2010-2011 has concluded.

Annual Day:
Parsudih: On 12th November, 2011, St. Robert School, Parsudih, celebrated as the Annual Day of the School. The programme began at 5 pm. Dr. Ajay Kumar (M.P. Jamshedpur) was the chief guest and Rev. Fr. C.R. Prabhu was the guest of honour.

Mosaboni: St. Joseph’s School, Mosaboni, celebrated School’s Annual Day on 13th November, 2011. Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ, was the chief guest of the event.


Khuntpani Feast
The annual feast of Khuntpani Shrine was celebrated on 8th November, 2011, with great joy and festivity. On that day the Church in Chotta Nagpur remembered the divine intervention of God in the community through the first Baptism, which took place at Khuntpani in the year 1873, and thanked God for the same. A large number of faithful from different part of Jharkhand and Orissa had gathered for the Solemn Holy Eucharist. Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ was the main celebrant of the concelebrated Solemn Holy Eucharist. During the homily he also spoke about the different ways in which God intervenes in our life basing on the life of Blessed Mother Mary. The celebration began with the blessing of the memorial stone, lighting of the lamps and by venerating Khuntpani Mata by the Bishop and the Priests who were present for the Holy Eucharist. After the Holy Eucharist, in order to accelerate the festive mood, children from various schools presented cultural items.

Seminar on Liturgy
As the Church has introduced some changes in the English Roman Missal, a seminar on Liturgy was organised on 16th November, 2011 at Bishop’s House, Golmuri. Rev. Fr. Jos DeCuyper SJ was the facilitator of the Seminar. With a number of 105 persons participating, it was one of well participated seminar.

Feast of Christ the King
The Feast of the Christ the King was celebrated in the traditional way in all the deaneries of the Diocese. Jamshedpur deanery chose Our lady of Guadalupe Church, Telco, as the venue for the celebration. The celebration began in the afternoon. Large number of people was gathered for the celebrations. Rev. Fr. C.R. Prabhu was the main celebrant of the concelebrated holy Eucharist. Rev. Fr. Pancratius Toppo, SJ broke the Word of God on the occasion.

Faithful of Dhanbad Deanery gathered at St. Anthony's Church, Dhanbad for the celebrations. Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ was the main celebrant. Large number of faithful, religious and priests were there to proclaim their faith in public.

Adra witnessed the faith of the people in Jesus as Purulia Deanery organised Christ the King Feast at Sacred heart Church, Adra. It was more of an ecumenical event as non-catholic Christians too took part in it.

In Chaibasa Deanery, people had gathered in various palaces to celebrate, as celebrations were conducted in different centers. The faithful took this opportunity to express their faith and allegiance to Jesus.

Meetings at Patna
The Annual joint meeting of the BIJHAN Bishop’s Council, BIJHAN Religious Major Superiors and BIJHAN Diocesan Priests’ Council was held at Navjyoti Niketan from 21st to 25th November, 2011. Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ, Fr. C.R. Prabhu, Fr. Camille Hembrom and Fr. Amatus Kujur had participated in it.

For your Kind Attention:
Ø The Core Committee for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese will hold its meeting on Thursday, 8th December at 11.00 am, at the Bishop’s House, Golmuri. The members are requested to attend this meeting
Ø The Diocesan Clergy Meeting: the Diocesan Priests of Jamshedpur will hold their last meeting of the year on December 15th, 2011 at Bishop’s House, Golmuri, at 09.30 am. All the Diocesan Priests whether they are working in Parishes or Schools or Social-Centres, are urged to participate actively in this meeting.
Ø Protest Rally: the Christians of Jamshedpur are organising a big Protest Rally against the brutal killing of Sr. Valsa John, on Sunday 04th December on Loyola Ground. All are requested to show solidarity with these efforts and to join this Rally. It beings at 01.30 pm and will conclude by 03.30 pm. Efforts are being made to seek the participation of non-Christian communities.
Ø Vocation Promotion and Formation of our Seminarians: Bishop has called for a meeting of the Vocation Promotion Committee on Tuesday 06th December, 2011, at 10.00 am, at Bishop’s House, Golmuri. All the issues connected with vocation promotion, selection and formation of our seminarians will be discussed and will try to make a relevant policy for the same.
                                                                                                                                                   S/d
Fr. C. R. Prabhu
Vicar General

St. Joseph’s Community College
The first batch of students of the Conversational English course has successfully completed their elementary course on 17th November, 2011. The second batch has begun their classes on 14th November. Regular classes are going on as usual… fourteen Candidates from Amar Jyoti Convent too had joined SJCC for Spoken English Course and have completed it on 24th November, 2011. Now the present batch of students of the College, are busy with intensive preparation for their mid-term examinations.

St. Mary’s English School, Bistupur
Under the initiative of our Principal, Fr. David Vincent, a seminar was conducted on 19th  November, 2011. It was aimed at the upliftment of the thinking abilities and the promotion of multiple intelligence, which would in turn help the students in facing the competitive world. The seminar proved to be beneficial and productive, with respect to the career oriented queries as well as the wide ranging options that promises a bright future. The resource persons for the seminar were Rev. Fr. Tony P. Raj, SJ and Ms. Monica Uppal.  On the whole, it was an eye opening interaction, which is expected of the school administration in future also.
On the occasion of children's day the Junior Block organized a Mela. The collection for the same would go for the poor and the needy children. In the senior block a D.J. Night was organized. It was an opportunity to find out various talents of the students (Mohammad Dilshad-XII-A)

Loyola School, Kumardhubi
Loyola campus was bubbling with enthusiasm on 13th November. The teachers had planned to celebrate Children's Day a little differently and so organized a fete. It was titled FUN FEST. And it was 100% true to its title; it had really turned out to be full of fun and festivity. Parents and students came in large numbers as it was a Sunday. The attractions were the yummy food stalls. But the games stalls were no less in drawing the crowd. Our neighboring school, St. Mary's School too was invited for this. (Rita Sen)

From JDV Pune, Fr. Raju Felix Crasta writes:
Greetings…. In this month we were lucky to be enriched by the presence and insights of many national and international professors. A week long International Seminar of Theologians (COCTI) was held in the first week of November in JDV, at the PG block. There were about 140 participating in it. This was followed by an Inter-Religious Dialogue arranged by the Pontifical Commission from Vatican. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, was on a visit to India, to follow up after Pope Benedict XVI’s inter-faith meeting in Assisi last month. The Cardinal along with Council Secretary, Archbishop Pierluigi Celata, had meetings with representatives of Hinduism and had lead a Catholic representative team at a Hindu-Christian meeting on the theme: ‘Enhancing Hindu-Christian Relations and Collaboration for Justice, Peace and Harmony’ at the four-day meet, from November 6-9, which was held at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth. Bishop Thomas Dabre of Poona, was the chairman of the local organizing committee. 
Amidst all these, I began my second semester with the lectures of Prof. Johnson Puthenpurackal ofm.Cap, on Heidegger’s Philosophy. It was tough but managed to finish with a positive note. We remembered our departed professors and friends with a solemn Eucharist at the Cemetery on 2nd November (All Soul’s Day). Dr. Nishant was the Chief Celebrant on the occasion. As the Christmas season is approaching, we will be having ten days of holidays towards the end of December. And I take this opportunity to wish you all happy blessed Christmas. May the savior Jesus keep us in Christmas spirit.

Sad Demise
Sr. Fidelis Manjali, JMJ, who was one of the pioneering community members at Jeevan Jyothi Convent and Nursing School, Telco, has passed away on 10th  November, 2011 in Hyderabad. She was suffering from lung cancer for the past one year. Sr. Fidelis worked in the Diocese of Jamshedpur from 1985 to 2009. 
On 15th November, 2011 a memorial Mass was celebrated at Jeevan Jyothi Convent, Telco. Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ was the main celebrant of the concelebrated Holy Eucharist. A good number of Clergy Religious and people who knew her were present for the Holy Eucharist.
We express our heartfelt sympathy to the members of the congregation and to the dear near ones and continue to pray for the departed soul.