Mattersindia Reporter
Bhopal: Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi on February 2 appealed to Latin rite bishops of India to rise above ritual observance in their quest for God.

Every Catholic should give witness to Christ in their daily life away from the pomp and charm of life upholding true Christian values, Cardinal Toppo urged.

The clarion call of the Cardinal came during his homily in the Eucharistic celebration at Assumption Church, Asha Niketan Campus, a Catholic center in Bhopal.

More than 130 bishops and priests joined the Cardinal to celebrate the Eucharist on the third day of the 29th plenary assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).

The gathering of the prelates is focused on “revitalizing the Catholic families in India” for a great future for the Church.

The Cardinal who is also the archbishop of Ranchi archdiocese urged the Catholics to live their life in such a way that there should be God encounter in their daily life and it should be shared with all they come across in their day today activities.

The prelate asked them whether they found joy in their daily counter with God or were just content with following certain rituals?. Most often, he said, the faithful was carried away with the grant celebrations and failed to experience encounter with Jesus.

“We need to reflect collectively on the importance of such encounters in our life as shepherds of the Church while we focus on family ministry which is founded on the bedrock of encounter”, he suggested to his fellow bishops.

Looking forward to the future he further added that “The astonishment received in the encounter will be fortified for being a light to all people. Rebuilding the church to be the light for all is a great challenge”, he said.

Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, the host of the gathering, addressing the bishops stressed the need for maintaining a healthy and cordial relation with the people from other religions, governments in the respective states irrespective of the party in power for effectively carrying out the mission of the Church.