Mumbai: Indian Catechetical Association on the occasion of their 20th General Body Meeting at Nav Spoorthi Kendra, Bangalore on 3 February 2016 honoured Father Herve Morissette, CSC, for his catechetical contribution to India.
The meeting was organised by Father Gilbert, President of ICA, Father Cletus Dsouza, Secretary of ICA, Father Maria Anand, the local coordinator of XX-ICA. Father Morissette is a Canadian priest belonging to the Congregation of the Holy Cross, reported Don Bosco India.
He has been in India for more than fifty years. Father Morissette`s Contribution range from publication of books and articles to introducing Youth Catechesis in India with a proper curriculum.
At the XX-ICA, Father Maria Anand introduced Father Morissette to the assembly by presenting his life and catechetical contribution. He was adorned by a shawl by the president of ICA, Father Gilbert Choondal.
Father Cletus Dsouza, the Secretary of ICA, crowned him with Mysore Petta. Sr. Suja SND, Treasurer of ICA garlanded him. Father Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary of CCBI, presented a memento to Father Morissette. Father Cyril De Souza, resource person for Keynote Address that day witnessed the moment and congratulated him. Him. The theme for the XXICA was Catechetical Approach to Social Issues.
Father Morissette made his college studies in Montréal. After completing his theological studies at the Gregorian University in Rome (L.Th.), he was ordained a priest on the 3rd of December 1961.
His first assignment was to East Pakistan in 1962, where he was sent to undergo language studies in Bengali. Having been refused the permit to work in Assam and Mizoram by the Central Government, he was sent to serve as a formator at Holy Cross Students` Home, Bangalore for 24 years, as Director of Novices for 8 years and as Rector of Holy Cross Seminary for 1 year.
He specialized and obtained his M.Th. Degree in Pastoral Catechetics from the Institut Catholique de Paris in 1975, after which he got involved in the training of catechists and wrote 9 books for the faith formation of youth. Meanwhile, he was also national chaplain of the Teachers` Teams in India and spiritual animator for the Xavier Board of Higher Education. He is currently the Assistant Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries in India. He resides in Bangalore.