By: Fr R. Sebastian
Bengaluru, Nov 24, 2020: Institute of Dialogue with Culture and Religions ( IDCR)- Loyola- Chennai organised a book-review session on Nov 22 on the book titled: Mission in the Third Millennium: Emerging Trends in India. The book was published in 2019 by ATC Publishers, Bengaluru and is written by Rev. Dr Antony Lawrence a priest of the diocese of Kumbakonam and professor at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bengaluru,
The webinar started with an invocation by Bro. Suresh CMI, Bengaluru. Rev. Dr Jacob Parapally, Fransalian, Bengaluru, reviewed the book, while Rev. Dr Victor Edwin, professor, Vidyajyoti college, Delhi and Rev. Dr Yesu Karunanidhi, professor, St. Paul’s Seminary, Trichy responded to the review. Rev. Dr A. Maria Arul Raja, Director of IDCR, Chennai, welcomed the participants and moderated the entire session.
The author of this work cherishes to walk on his own native soil as the Indian citizen well-rooted in Indian religio-cultural sources. As a committed Christian, he seeks to empower India with the breath of compassion and communion radiated through the life and mission of Jesus Christ. With his active membership in the Indian church with the responsibility of community-building, he dreams of collectively healing his own mother country from the ills of fragmentation. In short, the overriding concern of the book is to heal the broken world torn asunder with vertical and horizontal fragmentation. Salvation for all through the empowerment of the least has to be the order of the day with compassionate touch of egalitarian justice and restorative celebration of pluralism at all levels. These orientations are portrayed by the author as the emerging trends of the mission in the third millennium in the Indian soil. He does this on the basis of a solid theological reflection and of a well-informed analysis of India socio-economic, political and cultural conditions. He does it also in dialogue with Indian theologians and experts in various field. The study makes interesting and enlightening reading.
The author deserves our compliments for his comprehensive treatment of the objective of proposing creative alternatives to the present responses of the Indian Church to the challenges in the current scenario in his work. This book is a powerful aid not only to theological students, but also to the people and their pastors, leading them to get involved in changing society and its structures in view of the Kingdom of God.
The webinar was well attended by more than 90 participants including Prof. Michael Amaladoss, Prof. Felix Wilfred, Prof. Joseph Titus, Prof. A. M. Joseph Ethakuzhy, and many theologians, professors, research students, post graduate students and some lay faithful. Vote of thanks was proposed by Fr. Antony Lawrence.