By I.P. Sarto
Raiganj: A book on “United families source of Small Christian Communities” in Bengali was released on September 16 by Bishop Clement Tirkey of Jalpaiguri.
It was released during the Regional Small Christian Communities (SCCs) meeting of West Bengal and Sikkim Region at Raiganj Pastoral Centre about 400 km north of Kolkata. This is the first Bengali book published on SCCs and family, said Bishop Salvadore Lobo, chairman of Bengal Regional Bishops’ Council.
This book contains lessons on family unity, care of children, witnessing life, responsibilities of the couple, family proclaiming the Gospel values and indissolubility of Marriage. It is an ideal book for families, said Father Paulus Hembrum, vicar general of Raiganj diocese.
This book is the brief translation of English edition of “SCCs evangelize families” published by National Service Team (NST) of SCCs in India. This book contains lessons for the SCC animators and pastoral workers to use to catechize families, said Holy Cross Sister Christin Joseph, an NST member.
It is very handy book for SCCs to use in the families, said Father Dominic Gomes, SCC coordinator of Calcutta Archdiocese. This will help the families to live Gospel centered life, said Bishop Stephen Lepcha of Darjeeling. The Gospel should be the center of every Christian family, said Bishop Lepcha, who promotes SCCs in all the parishes of his diocese. The Nepali translation of the book was published a year ago in Darjeeling, he added.
This book was translated by Akhil Naskar of Basanti town in Sunderbans in south Bengal. Reading and translation helped me to understand the importance of Small Christian Communities well, added Naskar. “I am confident that all pastoral animators will use to proclaim the Gospel in the parishes,” he added.