By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy

Nagpur: More than 1,350 people participated in the Bible Mahotsav (grand festival) organized by the Archdiocese of Nagpur.

The September 30-October 2 festival addressed themes such as Word-centered Families, Small Christian Communities as Church in the Neighborhood, and Family-School of faith.

Bishop Raphy Manjaly of Allahabad reflected on the topic “Tomorrow’s Church is in the neighborhood.” Looking back to the early Christian communities he said, the Church grew from a small group of Christians who suffered for Christ. “They were like a magnet. They lost everything in life, but their number increased day by day because people were attracted to them by their love for one another.”

They had gone through the crucible of suffering for Christ’s sake, but they were blessed with intense love for one another. They accepted one another, prayed together. They experienced inexplicable joy. And this was a point of attraction,” the bishop said.

“Joy attracts others like a magnet. And the mark of a Christian is joy,” Bishop Manjaly pointed out, and added, “Today our Small Christian Communities are called to radiate joy. And the future of the Church will be in SCCs.”

“A sad Christian is a contradiction. When Jesus is with you, you are filled with joy,” he said . “A persecuted Small Community is attractive. People came to them. There is great power in SCCs. It is a vehicle to proclaim Jesus.”

The Church is missionary by nature, and if it stops sharing Christ, it will not be true to her nature,” the bishop added.

Sr Christine Joseph of Holy Cross of Chavanod, who has worked with the Small Christian Communities for 26 of her 40 years of religious life, commended the Nagpur archdiocese for its 400 active SCC units.

According to her, a Christian who participates in SCC unit prayer acknowledges that he requires the help of neighbors. “Without our neighbors we are handicapped, paralyzed,” she said.

Through illustrations and power point presentation she explained that SCC models the Holy Trinity. Like the Father, Son and Holy Spirit we fulfill various services in our family and community.

According Father KD Thomas, the local organizer “We had a good participation beyond our expectation. It was an occasion to bring people together. I found there was a lot of joy, and communion among the people. The program gave them knowledge about the Word, how to live the Word of God in the Small Christian Communities. The entire three day program was free for all.”
For one of the youth volunteer Christina Santiago, a teacher, “ It was an opportunity to share and pool together our ideas and learn new things. In our local Small Christian communities our knowledge is limited. The new things we have learned here we can implement in our SCCs too.”

Ajay Kumar Kerketta experienced the three-day meet where one could learn to “reach out to others through evangelization. We can also opt for the poor,” he added.

Shasi Kujur says the Bible Mahotsav “has enriched and inspired” her. “During the three days the Word of God was falling on me like rain through various inputs,” the 30-year-old woman told Matters India. “I felt that the living God has strengthened my faith, hope and trust. I am also inspired to share the Word with others.”

About 40priests concelebrated the concluding Mass with Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara of Nagpur.

The prelate said the Bible Mahotasv has helped people realize the importance of the Word of God in life and family and convinced them the relevance of SCCs.

“The convention has opened our heart to read the Word of God and proclaim it in our daily life. We build our families on the stone of faith,“ he added.

Bible Skits, prayer dances, and hour of adoration were also part of the festival.