“The Church in India has been greatly edified by the witness of the Catholic community in the Northeast in sharing the Gospel,” said Basileos Cardinal Cleemis, the President of the Bishops’ Conference of India during the mass that concluded the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Archdiocese of Guwahati on January 21st.
“Guwahati is the gateway to the Northeast, and we need to thank God for what it has accomplished during the last quarter of a century,” said the Cardinal.
During a period of twenty five years, not only has Guwahati given birth to the Diocese of Bongaigaon which also has grown impressively, but has itself grown to such an extent as to give the image of an old and well established diocese, with seminaries, houses of formation and various types of institutions.
Archbishop John Moolachira welcomed the guests and thanked all his co-workers for their wholehearted collaboration. Most of the bishops of the Region were gathered on the grounds of Jerome Institute with a large crowd of faithful from the distant parishes.
Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil remembered how he began with just 13 diocesan priests with responsibility for 9 civil districts of Lower Assam. “It was a test of faith,” he said, “but help came on its own in various forms: volunteers, religious congregations, short-term assistance, encouragement of all sorts. Institutions came up like miracles: not only schools and hospitals, but also houses for the differently enabled, retreat centres, research institutes, and even a university.”
“The Lord’s hand was there even amidst difficulties,” he said. He showed how from the experience of the ethnic conflict at Kokrajhar in 1996 there arose the Ecumenical Peace Team of Northeast India.
“There was a time,” he said, “when it was difficult to persuade a religious group to take up work in the ‘dangerous’ Northeast. Today there are any number eager to have a presence in the region.” The collective image of the region itself has changed. Not a few national events take place in the once ‘dreaded’ Northeast: CCBCI and CRI meetings, women’s programmes, youth events.
“I requested two things of all the members of my team,” recalled Archbishop Menamparampil, “to be close to our communities scattered in the villages, and consciously to cultivate good relationship with the civil society. We never feared persecution here.”
“For us everyone is important, ” emphasised the prelate, “even those who occasionally are not happy with us. We also make it a point to keep close to the intellectuals in society. So we always hear a friendly voice even amidst our difficulties.”
The presence of the Chief Minister Sonowal at the programme confirmed what the Archbishop had just said. His belonging to BJP party did not prove an obstacle.
“We appreciate very much what the Church is doing for the people of Assam,” said the Chief Minister, “and I myself have been a beneficiary of Christian assistance in the field of education. My educators have taught me values which I greatly cherish.” While he praised his own party leader Modi with enthusiasm, he also invited the Church to work with him to build the state.
The other part of the Archbishop’s claim proved true when immediately after the Jubilee celebrations, the Archdiocesan team moved to Rongjuli, a rural parish, with 630 young men and women from all the formation houses in the Diocese for a ‘Faith Exposure’ programme.
This is the 8th year this programme has been going on. It was very significant that the Jubilee of the diocese ended in the villages.
During the programme, while the young people in formation have a chance to listen to experienced missionaries, they also get an exposure to the “agonies of people.” Archbishop John Moolachira himself was present all through the week-long programme.
The chief organizer of the event was Fr. Varghese Kizhakevely, the Vicar General, who was able to infuse enthusiasm into both the organizing team and the formees themselves. “You cannot solve all the problems of people,” he said, “but you can help people to handle them. As you have a chance to be exposed to their agonies, they have a chance to be exposed to your attitude of concern, words of encouragement, and your faith.”
As the Archdiocese rejoiced together on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee, its gaze is fixed on the future where greater things await people with determination and faith.