By Santosh Digal
Alada: Perpetuate the act of charity, said Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo.
“God gave St. Vincent de Paul, champion of the poor, to instill the notion of mercy and model of compassion in the church. We need to imbibe that spark of mercy in our heart and continue to do it in concrete manner serving the poor here and now—in today’s time in service,” Cardinal Toppo said while officiating at the celebration of 400 years (1617-2017) of founding of the Congregation of Mission (CM).
St. Vincent de Paul, founder of CM, experienced that power of mercy of God, and did invaluable service to the poor. Over the years, CM missionaries or better known as Vincentians, have kept the flame of mercy alive through their missionary works, said Cardinal Toppo.
“We thank all the pioneering CM missionaries who came to Odisha, India in 1622 and have toiled empowering the poor,” the prelate said. He also paid rich tributes to all Vincentians who worked tirelessly implanting the seeds of faith among Tribals, Dalits and others.
The event, spearheaded by the Northern Indian Province of CM congregation, took place at the Christ the King parish compound of Alada in Gajapati district, of Berhampur diocese, Odisha, Eastern India, January 12. Alada is about 277 kilometers south of Bhubaneswar, state capital.
Besides, Cardinal Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi (Jharkhand), Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, other five bishops from Odisha and Ranchi, 30 priests, 50 nuns and more than 7000 Catholics attended the ceremony.
“This celebration of 400 years of existence of the Congregation is a fitting reminder that all people have to immerse to serve the poor,” Bishop Simon Kaipuram CM, of Balasore diocese, said in his homily.
In order to immortalize the event, Cardinal Toppo blessed a stone for an English Medium School (De Paul), in the presence of Archbishop Barwa and Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak, local ordinary of the diocese of Berhampur. The new school would be catering to Dalits and Tribals, at Bodopada in Berhampur diocese, said Father Vijaya Kumar Nayak, provincial of Northern Indian province.
Another important feature of the celebration was honouring 200 catechists from the dioceses of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and Rayagada, for their missionary contribution to church, Father Nayak added.
“It is catechists who play a vital role collaborating with priests and religious in many places. They are our ‘ground force’ for evangelization. We appreciate their commitment, sacrifice and dedication for church and society, especially bringing faith to people,” the priest added.
Prior to the celebration, these 200 catechists were given missionary animation from three days, January 9-11.
“The celebration of 400 years of founding of the Congregation of the Mission is an occasion for us to express our profound gratitude to God and to all our missionaries who have gone for their eternal reward, as well as the ones engaged presently in proclaiming the Gospel,” said Bishop Aplinar Senapati CM of Rayagada diocese.
“May these celebrations help all to forge ahead with renewed commitment and total dedication, following the example of our Patron and founder St. Vincent de Paul,” he added.