By Franklin Rex SJ
Delhi, October 5, 2019: More than 400 Catholics from various parishes of Delhi archdiocese joined delegates from all over India at the second annual seminar for the laity organized by the Jesuit-managed Vidyajyoti College.
The college’s Distance Education Programme in Theology conducted the October 2 program at Navjeevan Renewal Center in the campus of St Xavier’s School, Old Delhi.
The “huge response and participation of the laity goes well with the motto ‘Taking Theology to the Frontiers’,” said Father Rajkumar Joseph, director of distance education program.
The Jesuit priest said he was “immensely grateful to God” for the amazing grace. In his welcome address, he explained that Vidyajyoti aims to provide a platform for the Catholic laity “to grow from childhood catechism – to an adult knowledge of the Bible, from blind faith – to a matured faith and from helping at the material level – to be able to reflect on theological thoughts.”
Bishop Francis Kalist of Meerut was the chief guest and Archbishop Emeritus Vincent M Concessao of Delhi was the guest of honor.
Bishop Kalist commended Vidyajyoti Distance Education for taking a lead in giving theological formation to the laity, which the prelate said was the need of the hour.
He acknowledged that the Church has not prepared the laity well for the ministries and responsibilities and he promised to mobilize and encourage laity in his diocese to get involved in such engagements.
The distance education program announced that 20 of its students from all over India graduated this year and 12 came to receive their diplomas.
Bishop Kalist, Archbishop Concessao and A. Chinnappan, secretary-general of All India Catholic Union, gave away the diploma certificates.
Father P. R. John, principal of Vidyajyoti, and Father Christopher, professor of Canon Law, introduced the chief speaker and the chief guest.
It was followed by the keynote address by Fransalian Father Jacob Parappally, who spoke on the theme “Radical Discipleship of Lay Faithful Today.”
Father Parappally insisted that radical discipleship demands from Catholics a deep commitment to Christ and apostleship, which calls for rootedness in Christ.
He said that the radical discipleship is not just ‘believing in Christ’ but a call to be ‘united in Him.”
The program included a panel discussion where T K Devasia, secretary to the Laity Commission of Archdiocese of Delhi, Lucy Binoj from Pushpa Vihar parish, and Father George Jacob Palackaparambil, executive secretary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops’ of India (Latin rite)- Commissions for Small Christian Communities, shared their views.