Special prayer for peace and safety on borders
CAMIL PARKHE | Monday, 10 October 2016 AT 11:24 AM IST
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Showing posts with label CBCI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CBCI. Show all posts
Monday, October 10, 2016
PUNE: The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has called for a day of prayer all over the country on Sunday, October 16, in view of the ongoing religious events of various communities and the ‘extraordinary challenges’ on the country’s borders.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Pope Francis may visit India this year
Pope Francis may visit India this year
Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Thursday, 31 March 2016 AT 10:35 PM IST
Pope Francis, visit India, Catholic Bishops Conference, CBCI, Roman Catholic Church, Pune, Camil Parkhe
=20160331&NewsTitle=Pope%20Francis%20may%20visit%20India%20this%20year
PUNE: There are high chances that Pope Francis may visit India this year as the Catholic Bishops Conference of India has formally urged the Indian government to invite the pontiff on a state visit. If Pope Francis accepts India’s invitation, it will be the fourth papal visit to the country.Sunday, February 1, 2015
Ghar Wapsi: Catholic Church asks PM to intervene
Ghar Wapsi: Catholic Church asks PM to intervene
Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Friday, 30 January 2015 AT 10:21 PM IST
Pune: The Catholic Church in the country has issued letters to all its dioceses, asking the Christians to be firm in their faith in the wake of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign and also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene urgently to prevent incidents threatening unity of the secular nation.
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Diago Almeida - Sunday, 1 February 2015 AT 07:49 PM IST
At last we are seeing the writing on the wall. Thanks the cbci chief for taking up strongly with the government. President Obama has already worned the country and it's politicians of the draw back.
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Friday, May 16, 2014
Padma Vibhushan Cardinal Valerian Gracias
Contribution of Christian Missionaries
14. Padma Vibhushan Cardinal Valerian Gracias
Cardinal Valerian Gracias is the first Indian to be elevated to the rank of Cardinal in the Catholic Church hierarchy. The Pope, the spiritual head of the Catholics in the world, is chosen amongst these cardinals. Gracias was chosen a leader of the Christian community in the country when India was about to break from the shackles of political slavery. Cardinal Gracias guided the Christian community in India for over two decades.
Cardinal Gracias’ family hailed from Naveli in Goa. His father, Juze Gracias, had migrated to Karachi in search of livelihood. Valerian was born in Karachi on October 23, 1900. His father and mother, Carlota, were not educated. Valerian lost his father when he was just eight. Carlota looked after Valerian and his elder sister Pauline after the demise of her husband.
In 1917, Valerian took leave of his mother and elder sister and joined the St. Joseph Seminary at Mangalore to become a priest. Valerian was sent to this seminary by Mumbai archdiocese, which at that time comprised areas as far as Karachi in the north. However, the climate of Mangalore did not suit Valerian. His religious superiors therefore shifted him to the seminary at Candy in Sri Lanka. Valerian studied there for four years. He was ordained a priest on October 3, 1926. His mother witnessed his ordination. It is indeed a matter of pride for any devout Catholic mother or father to see their son or daughter becoming a priest or nun. Carlota, of course, could never have imagined that her son would rise to become a bishop and later cardinal.
Fr. Valerian was posted as a priest in Mumbai. The tall and handsome Valerian was blessed with good oratory. He would hold the congregation, especially the youngsters, spellbound. Fr Valerian was appointed secretary to the Archbishop of Mumbai Joaquim D'Lima in 1929 and continued to hold the post till 1936. He was appointed as the parish priest of the Woodhouse Church in Mumbai. The local Christians were very happy to have one of their own as their head parish priest. Thereafter, Gracias held many high positions in the Church and became a respectable figure not only among the Christians but a cross section belonging to various religions in the country.
Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India movement against the British in 1942. It was a forgone conclusion that the British would have to leave India sooner than later. So far, the Portuguese, the British and the Dutch bishops had led the Catholics in the Mumbai diocese. In free India, it would have been most appropriate that the sons and daughters of the soil govern the church of their country. Therefore, Pope Pious XII appointed Fr. Gracias as the first Indian bishop of the Mumbai archdiocese. He was consecrated bishop on June 29, 1946.
A non-Christian may not be well acquainted with the hierarchy and functioning of the Church. The Catholic Church all over the world has a hierarchy, which comprises the priests at the village or town parish level, bishops and archbishops as the head of a diocese and the cardinal at a higher level of responsibility. A diocese in India comprises few revenue districts. The Vatican-based Pope, of course, is a spiritual head of the Catholic Church.
The Church is spread all over the world and has set up its own administrative wings for proper coordination in spiritual and other matters concerning its folk. The parish priest and the assistant parish priests shoulder the spiritual responsibility of a village or town parish. Several villages and cities from adjoining districts comprise a diocese and its head is called a bishop. Area larger than the diocese is called archdiocese and its head is known as archbishop. Archbishops supervise the neighbouring dioceses as the representative of Pope. For example, the Archbishop of Mumbai, apart from carrying out the responsibility of Mumbai archdiocese, also supervises diocese of neighbouring Pune, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Belgaum, and Nashik and so on. Cardinal is a post of higher importance and responsibility.
A bishop has the authority to appoint, transfer priests in his diocese. He is also empowered to ordain priests. Fellow bishops or cardinals consecrate new bishops who are appointed by the pope. The pope himself appoints and ordains cardinals. A particular robe and different ornaments depict the hierarchy of the pope, cardinals, bishops, archbishops and priests. When these persons holding different posts in the church assemble for a function, their positions in hierarchy are revealed by the robes they adorn.
When Valerian Gracias took over as the bishop, he infused a new vibrancy in the Mumbai diocese. The country got independence soon after his appointment. Bishop Gracias later took over the reins of Mumbai Archdiocese as the first Indian Archbishop on December 1, 1950. It was just two years later, on December 29, 1952, that the Vatican announced appointment of Gracias as the first Indian cardinal of free India. At an impressive ceremony held at the Vatican, this son of India received from the then Pope Pious XII his ceremonial wardrobe including the vestment and the cardinal's skull cap. Valerian Gracias had become the first Indian cardinal, a prince of the Church.
The announcement of Valerian Gracias appointment as the cardinal was well received in all the sections in India. The selection of an Indian for the post of a cardinal was an important moment in the history of Indian church. St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, had come to India 2,000 years ago and laid the foundation of Christianity. Since then, not a single Indian was ever elevated to such a high post in the church.
The Indian government welcomed it with great happiness. A message sent by the government to the Vatican said: ‘We feel honoured at this historic event as a son of India has been appointed on such a dignified post in the Church’. Asat Ali, the then Indian ambassador to the Vatican, personally called on the then Pope PiousXII and conveyed the happiness of the Indian people and the Indian government over the appointment.
The happiness of the Indians and Indian government over the appointment underlined the importance of the cardinal's post in the church hierarchy and also at the international level. The Pope leads the Catholics the world over. However, the Pope needs help of the church's administrators such as the cardinals, archbishops and bishops to frame the church's policies and decide its stance related to various religious, ethical, humane issues arising in various regions, countries or at international levels. For day-to-day governance, the Pope delegates responsibilities in various fields to cardinals of different countries.
Although, the Pope is only a spiritual leader, countries all over the world also recognise him as a head of a nation- the Vatican City. Incidentally, Vatican City with an area of 0.2 square miles is the world's smallest nation. The Vatican has a population of 770, none of whom are permanent residents as these persons are the cardinals, archbishops and other laypersons temporarily posted in the city. As the head of this tiny State, the Pope appoints archbishops or cardinals in different countries as his ambassadors. In New Delhi, too, the Vatican has its ambassador who is called the Pro Nuncio or the papal representative.
Some cardinals live in Rome itself to carry out the work assigned to them by the Pope. Other cardinals look after the spiritual and other responsibilities of their respective archdioceses. All cardinals have to visit the Vatican whenever summoned by the Pope for urgent consultations on various issues or to attend meetings of various committees.
On the demise of a Pope, all cardinals based in various countries rush to the Vatican and participate in a conclave to elect one amongst them as the next pope. Cardinals below the age of 80 years only can contest the election and one of them is elected to the vacant post. The retirement age for the cardinals is 75 years and after that they continue to be emeritus cardinals devoid of any administrative responsibilities.
Incidentally, as per the church's tradition, a cardinal's title and name is written with the title appearing after the first name and before the second name. For example, Valerian Cardinal Gracias, Ivan Cardinal Dais and Simon Cardinal Pimenta.
A grand civic reception was arranged in Mumbai in honour of Gracias when he was appointed as the cardinal. Replying to the felicitation, the first cardinal of India said - “I have served people without discriminating them on the grounds of caste and religion, I will continue to do as in future also as I am indebted to people.” The cardinal abided by this promise all through his life.
The tenure of Cardinal Valerian Gracias (1950 - 87) is an important period in the history of the Mumbai archdiocese and also the Indian church. He represented India at the international level successfully. The country came to know this charismatic leader when on several occasions he displayed his extraordinary organising ability, his love for the motherland and concern for humanity.
Cardinal Gracias was the chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) during 1954 - 1972. He was longest serving chairman since the CBCI was established in 1944. The CBCI, the apex body of the Catholic Church in the country takes up various spiritual, social, educational and cultural issues, which concern the Indian Christians in particular, and also other communities. As its head, Gracias had an opportunity to shape the destiny of the Catholics in spiritual, educational and other fields in free India for over two decades.
Cardinal Gracias hosted the first all India Eucharistic Congress in Mumbai from December 4- 8, 1954. He was appointed the representative of the Pope for the important event. The five-day congress was attended by thousands of Catholics from all over the country. After the conclusion of the religious session, a public meeting was organised at the venue. The dignitaries present at the function were the then Vice-President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and the then Mumbai State Chief Minister Morarji Desai.
The successful organisation of the Indian Eucharistic Congress brought Cardinal Gracias into limelight at the international level. The Vatican later entrusted him with the responsibility of hosting the 38th international Eucharistic Congress in India in 1964. The Holy See had taken note of Gracias' organising skill and ability to mobilise people in church's activities.
Most importantly, the Pope Paul VI had conceded to visit India to officiate at the World Eucharistic Congress. This would be the very first visit of any Pope to India. The news of the Pope's visit to India created a wave of enthusiasm among Indian Christians. The Indian government too welcomed the proposed visit of the Pope.
The 38th international Eucharistic Congress was held in Mumbai from November 28 to December 6, 1964. The then Vice-President, Dr Zakir Hussein, Governor of Maharashtra Dr P V Cherian and Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik and other dignitaries graced the inaugural session of the Congress. Pope Paul VI arrived at the Mumbai airport on December 2. Vice-President Dr. Zakir Hussein, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, State Governor Dr Cherian, Information and Broadcasting Minister Indira Gandhi, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Violet Alva received him.
When he was leaving India, Pope Paul VI said at the airport, “Here we live our heart, Jai Hind”. President Dr Radhakrishnan complemented Cardinal Gracias for the excellent planning and organisation of the papal visit.
St. John Medical College at Bangalore is a gift of Cardinal Gracias for the cause of health service and medical education in India. The cardinal, then also the CBCI chairperson, envisaged and executed this prestigious project as the chief memorial of the 1964 World Eucharistic Congress held in Mumbai. During the Eucharistic Congress, Pope Paul VI blessed the corner stone of the proposed St John Medical College. The first phase of the college project was inaugurated by President Dr. Zakir Hussein in 1968.
Cardinal Gracias had raised a fund of Rs. 3 crore for the medical college. Students from every corner of the country and belonging to various religious communities have received training at this college. St John's Medical College is now one of the most reputed medical educational institutions in the country.
While discharging his duties and responsibilities as a priest, bishop and cardinal, Valerian Gracias contributed in the field of literature as well. He had taken up as the editor of a periodical ‘Messenger of Sacred Heart’ in 1935. Thereafter, he launched another magazine ‘Catholic Action’. For some time, he had also functioned as co-editor of the weekly ‘Examiner’, published by the Mumbai archdiocese since 1938.
Some of his literary works are ‘The Vatican and International Policy’, ‘Decline of Public Morals’, ‘The Features of Christian Life’, and ‘The Church in the Light of Vatican’. His articles were also published in reputed national newspapers and periodicals like The Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly.
St. Pious Seminary located at Girgaon in Mumbai is a gift from Cardinal Gracias not only to Mumbai archdiocese, but also, to the church of India. This seminary has trained hundreds of youth, aspiring to be priests. Earlier, the seminary was located on a small piece of land at Parel. Cardinal Gracias purchased 30-acres at Girgaon near the Aarey Colony to build a spacious seminary. The seminary was inaugurated in 1960. The youth trained at the seminary have later functioned as priests, bishops, archbishops in different parts of the country and also abroad.
Cardinal Gracias was in Rome to participate in the Second Vatican Council when China invaded India in 1962. The Cardinal left the Council deliberations half way and rushed to his motherland. He had carried along a special message from Pope John XXIII for Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during this hour of crisis. Later while leading prayers for the country’s sovereignty at Mount Mary's Church, Bandra in Mumbai, the cardinal said that a person is indebted to his father and his country after God. Loyalty to country and patriotism are deep-rooted sentiments, he said.
The deliberations at the second Vatican Council had reached an important stage. They were to shape the church's response to the modern world, its attitude to other religions and various ethical issues raised by science and technology. Cardinal Gracias, however, postponed his departure for the Vatican as India was still fighting the Chinese invasion. He remained in India to boost the morale of his countrymen until a cease-fire was announced. He mobilised funds and essential commodities to help the Indian soldiers and the hundreds and thousands who were displaced by the invasion. He worked hard for ensuring uninterrupted aid for the wounded soldiers and the refugees. His patriotism and social work was lauded by a number of leaders in Maharashtra and in the country.
Cardinal Gracias was decorated by the government of India with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan title in recognition of his services to the nation. He was the only recipient of this great civilian honour announced on the occasion of the Republic Day in 1966. He was also the first Christian to receive the Padma Vibhushan award. The church decorated him as cardinal and the government of India honoured him with Padma Vibhushan award.
President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan presented the Padma Vibhushan award to Cardinal Gracias in New Delhi on April 20, 1966. The President referred to Gracias as an enthusiastic activist working to achieve human welfare and progress.
There is a famous verse of Jesus Christ - 'Give to Caesar what belongs to him, and to God what belongs to God'. Cardinal Gracias, honoured by both the church and the nation, had followed the verse in totality.
This great son of India breathed his last on September 11, 1978 in Mumbai. Although a priest belonging to a minority community, the Cardinal had attained respect of all his countrymen and leaders.
References:
1.‘Bharatache Pahile Cardinal- Valerian Cardinal Gracias Yanchya Vyaktimatwache Vividh Pailu’ (Marathi) - (India's first Cardinal Valerian Gracias) Fr Francis Correa. Publisher - Rev Sabastian Vaz (On behalf of Catholic Vangmay Mandal) (1971)
2.‘Suputra Maharashtracha- Cardinal Simon Pimenta’ (Marathi) (Cardinal Simon Pimenta- A great son of Maharashtra) - Dr. Rajin D’Silva- Editor -Fr. Hillary Fernandes, Jeevan Darshan Prakashan, Girij, Vasai - 410 201 (1990)
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14. Padma Vibhushan Cardinal Valerian Gracias
Cardinal Valerian Gracias is the first Indian to be elevated to the rank of Cardinal in the Catholic Church hierarchy. The Pope, the spiritual head of the Catholics in the world, is chosen amongst these cardinals. Gracias was chosen a leader of the Christian community in the country when India was about to break from the shackles of political slavery. Cardinal Gracias guided the Christian community in India for over two decades.
Cardinal Gracias’ family hailed from Naveli in Goa. His father, Juze Gracias, had migrated to Karachi in search of livelihood. Valerian was born in Karachi on October 23, 1900. His father and mother, Carlota, were not educated. Valerian lost his father when he was just eight. Carlota looked after Valerian and his elder sister Pauline after the demise of her husband.
In 1917, Valerian took leave of his mother and elder sister and joined the St. Joseph Seminary at Mangalore to become a priest. Valerian was sent to this seminary by Mumbai archdiocese, which at that time comprised areas as far as Karachi in the north. However, the climate of Mangalore did not suit Valerian. His religious superiors therefore shifted him to the seminary at Candy in Sri Lanka. Valerian studied there for four years. He was ordained a priest on October 3, 1926. His mother witnessed his ordination. It is indeed a matter of pride for any devout Catholic mother or father to see their son or daughter becoming a priest or nun. Carlota, of course, could never have imagined that her son would rise to become a bishop and later cardinal.
Fr. Valerian was posted as a priest in Mumbai. The tall and handsome Valerian was blessed with good oratory. He would hold the congregation, especially the youngsters, spellbound. Fr Valerian was appointed secretary to the Archbishop of Mumbai Joaquim D'Lima in 1929 and continued to hold the post till 1936. He was appointed as the parish priest of the Woodhouse Church in Mumbai. The local Christians were very happy to have one of their own as their head parish priest. Thereafter, Gracias held many high positions in the Church and became a respectable figure not only among the Christians but a cross section belonging to various religions in the country.
Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India movement against the British in 1942. It was a forgone conclusion that the British would have to leave India sooner than later. So far, the Portuguese, the British and the Dutch bishops had led the Catholics in the Mumbai diocese. In free India, it would have been most appropriate that the sons and daughters of the soil govern the church of their country. Therefore, Pope Pious XII appointed Fr. Gracias as the first Indian bishop of the Mumbai archdiocese. He was consecrated bishop on June 29, 1946.
A non-Christian may not be well acquainted with the hierarchy and functioning of the Church. The Catholic Church all over the world has a hierarchy, which comprises the priests at the village or town parish level, bishops and archbishops as the head of a diocese and the cardinal at a higher level of responsibility. A diocese in India comprises few revenue districts. The Vatican-based Pope, of course, is a spiritual head of the Catholic Church.
The Church is spread all over the world and has set up its own administrative wings for proper coordination in spiritual and other matters concerning its folk. The parish priest and the assistant parish priests shoulder the spiritual responsibility of a village or town parish. Several villages and cities from adjoining districts comprise a diocese and its head is called a bishop. Area larger than the diocese is called archdiocese and its head is known as archbishop. Archbishops supervise the neighbouring dioceses as the representative of Pope. For example, the Archbishop of Mumbai, apart from carrying out the responsibility of Mumbai archdiocese, also supervises diocese of neighbouring Pune, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Belgaum, and Nashik and so on. Cardinal is a post of higher importance and responsibility.
A bishop has the authority to appoint, transfer priests in his diocese. He is also empowered to ordain priests. Fellow bishops or cardinals consecrate new bishops who are appointed by the pope. The pope himself appoints and ordains cardinals. A particular robe and different ornaments depict the hierarchy of the pope, cardinals, bishops, archbishops and priests. When these persons holding different posts in the church assemble for a function, their positions in hierarchy are revealed by the robes they adorn.
When Valerian Gracias took over as the bishop, he infused a new vibrancy in the Mumbai diocese. The country got independence soon after his appointment. Bishop Gracias later took over the reins of Mumbai Archdiocese as the first Indian Archbishop on December 1, 1950. It was just two years later, on December 29, 1952, that the Vatican announced appointment of Gracias as the first Indian cardinal of free India. At an impressive ceremony held at the Vatican, this son of India received from the then Pope Pious XII his ceremonial wardrobe including the vestment and the cardinal's skull cap. Valerian Gracias had become the first Indian cardinal, a prince of the Church.
The announcement of Valerian Gracias appointment as the cardinal was well received in all the sections in India. The selection of an Indian for the post of a cardinal was an important moment in the history of Indian church. St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, had come to India 2,000 years ago and laid the foundation of Christianity. Since then, not a single Indian was ever elevated to such a high post in the church.
The Indian government welcomed it with great happiness. A message sent by the government to the Vatican said: ‘We feel honoured at this historic event as a son of India has been appointed on such a dignified post in the Church’. Asat Ali, the then Indian ambassador to the Vatican, personally called on the then Pope PiousXII and conveyed the happiness of the Indian people and the Indian government over the appointment.
The happiness of the Indians and Indian government over the appointment underlined the importance of the cardinal's post in the church hierarchy and also at the international level. The Pope leads the Catholics the world over. However, the Pope needs help of the church's administrators such as the cardinals, archbishops and bishops to frame the church's policies and decide its stance related to various religious, ethical, humane issues arising in various regions, countries or at international levels. For day-to-day governance, the Pope delegates responsibilities in various fields to cardinals of different countries.
Although, the Pope is only a spiritual leader, countries all over the world also recognise him as a head of a nation- the Vatican City. Incidentally, Vatican City with an area of 0.2 square miles is the world's smallest nation. The Vatican has a population of 770, none of whom are permanent residents as these persons are the cardinals, archbishops and other laypersons temporarily posted in the city. As the head of this tiny State, the Pope appoints archbishops or cardinals in different countries as his ambassadors. In New Delhi, too, the Vatican has its ambassador who is called the Pro Nuncio or the papal representative.
Some cardinals live in Rome itself to carry out the work assigned to them by the Pope. Other cardinals look after the spiritual and other responsibilities of their respective archdioceses. All cardinals have to visit the Vatican whenever summoned by the Pope for urgent consultations on various issues or to attend meetings of various committees.
On the demise of a Pope, all cardinals based in various countries rush to the Vatican and participate in a conclave to elect one amongst them as the next pope. Cardinals below the age of 80 years only can contest the election and one of them is elected to the vacant post. The retirement age for the cardinals is 75 years and after that they continue to be emeritus cardinals devoid of any administrative responsibilities.
Incidentally, as per the church's tradition, a cardinal's title and name is written with the title appearing after the first name and before the second name. For example, Valerian Cardinal Gracias, Ivan Cardinal Dais and Simon Cardinal Pimenta.
A grand civic reception was arranged in Mumbai in honour of Gracias when he was appointed as the cardinal. Replying to the felicitation, the first cardinal of India said - “I have served people without discriminating them on the grounds of caste and religion, I will continue to do as in future also as I am indebted to people.” The cardinal abided by this promise all through his life.
The tenure of Cardinal Valerian Gracias (1950 - 87) is an important period in the history of the Mumbai archdiocese and also the Indian church. He represented India at the international level successfully. The country came to know this charismatic leader when on several occasions he displayed his extraordinary organising ability, his love for the motherland and concern for humanity.
Cardinal Gracias was the chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) during 1954 - 1972. He was longest serving chairman since the CBCI was established in 1944. The CBCI, the apex body of the Catholic Church in the country takes up various spiritual, social, educational and cultural issues, which concern the Indian Christians in particular, and also other communities. As its head, Gracias had an opportunity to shape the destiny of the Catholics in spiritual, educational and other fields in free India for over two decades.
Cardinal Gracias hosted the first all India Eucharistic Congress in Mumbai from December 4- 8, 1954. He was appointed the representative of the Pope for the important event. The five-day congress was attended by thousands of Catholics from all over the country. After the conclusion of the religious session, a public meeting was organised at the venue. The dignitaries present at the function were the then Vice-President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and the then Mumbai State Chief Minister Morarji Desai.
The successful organisation of the Indian Eucharistic Congress brought Cardinal Gracias into limelight at the international level. The Vatican later entrusted him with the responsibility of hosting the 38th international Eucharistic Congress in India in 1964. The Holy See had taken note of Gracias' organising skill and ability to mobilise people in church's activities.
Most importantly, the Pope Paul VI had conceded to visit India to officiate at the World Eucharistic Congress. This would be the very first visit of any Pope to India. The news of the Pope's visit to India created a wave of enthusiasm among Indian Christians. The Indian government too welcomed the proposed visit of the Pope.
The 38th international Eucharistic Congress was held in Mumbai from November 28 to December 6, 1964. The then Vice-President, Dr Zakir Hussein, Governor of Maharashtra Dr P V Cherian and Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik and other dignitaries graced the inaugural session of the Congress. Pope Paul VI arrived at the Mumbai airport on December 2. Vice-President Dr. Zakir Hussein, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, State Governor Dr Cherian, Information and Broadcasting Minister Indira Gandhi, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Violet Alva received him.
When he was leaving India, Pope Paul VI said at the airport, “Here we live our heart, Jai Hind”. President Dr Radhakrishnan complemented Cardinal Gracias for the excellent planning and organisation of the papal visit.
St. John Medical College at Bangalore is a gift of Cardinal Gracias for the cause of health service and medical education in India. The cardinal, then also the CBCI chairperson, envisaged and executed this prestigious project as the chief memorial of the 1964 World Eucharistic Congress held in Mumbai. During the Eucharistic Congress, Pope Paul VI blessed the corner stone of the proposed St John Medical College. The first phase of the college project was inaugurated by President Dr. Zakir Hussein in 1968.
Cardinal Gracias had raised a fund of Rs. 3 crore for the medical college. Students from every corner of the country and belonging to various religious communities have received training at this college. St John's Medical College is now one of the most reputed medical educational institutions in the country.
While discharging his duties and responsibilities as a priest, bishop and cardinal, Valerian Gracias contributed in the field of literature as well. He had taken up as the editor of a periodical ‘Messenger of Sacred Heart’ in 1935. Thereafter, he launched another magazine ‘Catholic Action’. For some time, he had also functioned as co-editor of the weekly ‘Examiner’, published by the Mumbai archdiocese since 1938.
Some of his literary works are ‘The Vatican and International Policy’, ‘Decline of Public Morals’, ‘The Features of Christian Life’, and ‘The Church in the Light of Vatican’. His articles were also published in reputed national newspapers and periodicals like The Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly.
St. Pious Seminary located at Girgaon in Mumbai is a gift from Cardinal Gracias not only to Mumbai archdiocese, but also, to the church of India. This seminary has trained hundreds of youth, aspiring to be priests. Earlier, the seminary was located on a small piece of land at Parel. Cardinal Gracias purchased 30-acres at Girgaon near the Aarey Colony to build a spacious seminary. The seminary was inaugurated in 1960. The youth trained at the seminary have later functioned as priests, bishops, archbishops in different parts of the country and also abroad.
Cardinal Gracias was in Rome to participate in the Second Vatican Council when China invaded India in 1962. The Cardinal left the Council deliberations half way and rushed to his motherland. He had carried along a special message from Pope John XXIII for Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during this hour of crisis. Later while leading prayers for the country’s sovereignty at Mount Mary's Church, Bandra in Mumbai, the cardinal said that a person is indebted to his father and his country after God. Loyalty to country and patriotism are deep-rooted sentiments, he said.
The deliberations at the second Vatican Council had reached an important stage. They were to shape the church's response to the modern world, its attitude to other religions and various ethical issues raised by science and technology. Cardinal Gracias, however, postponed his departure for the Vatican as India was still fighting the Chinese invasion. He remained in India to boost the morale of his countrymen until a cease-fire was announced. He mobilised funds and essential commodities to help the Indian soldiers and the hundreds and thousands who were displaced by the invasion. He worked hard for ensuring uninterrupted aid for the wounded soldiers and the refugees. His patriotism and social work was lauded by a number of leaders in Maharashtra and in the country.
Cardinal Gracias was decorated by the government of India with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan title in recognition of his services to the nation. He was the only recipient of this great civilian honour announced on the occasion of the Republic Day in 1966. He was also the first Christian to receive the Padma Vibhushan award. The church decorated him as cardinal and the government of India honoured him with Padma Vibhushan award.
President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan presented the Padma Vibhushan award to Cardinal Gracias in New Delhi on April 20, 1966. The President referred to Gracias as an enthusiastic activist working to achieve human welfare and progress.
There is a famous verse of Jesus Christ - 'Give to Caesar what belongs to him, and to God what belongs to God'. Cardinal Gracias, honoured by both the church and the nation, had followed the verse in totality.
This great son of India breathed his last on September 11, 1978 in Mumbai. Although a priest belonging to a minority community, the Cardinal had attained respect of all his countrymen and leaders.
References:
1.‘Bharatache Pahile Cardinal- Valerian Cardinal Gracias Yanchya Vyaktimatwache Vividh Pailu’ (Marathi) - (India's first Cardinal Valerian Gracias) Fr Francis Correa. Publisher - Rev Sabastian Vaz (On behalf of Catholic Vangmay Mandal) (1971)
2.‘Suputra Maharashtracha- Cardinal Simon Pimenta’ (Marathi) (Cardinal Simon Pimenta- A great son of Maharashtra) - Dr. Rajin D’Silva- Editor -Fr. Hillary Fernandes, Jeevan Darshan Prakashan, Girij, Vasai - 410 201 (1990)
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Friday, November 22, 2013
Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth to celebrate 60 yrs of shifting to Pune
 PUNE: Ramwadi-based Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV), an autonomous university conducting graduate and postgraduate courses in philosophy and theology, will start a year long diamond jubilee celebration next year to commemorate the 120-year-old institution's transfer from Kandy in Sri Lanka to Pune.
An alumini association, led by Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malankara Church, has been formed as a part of the diamond jubilee celebration.
A committee formed to finalise various activities for the diamond jubilee celebrations held its first meeting recently. The meeting was attended by JDV acting president Fr Jeorge Pattery, theology faculty dean Fr Thomas Kuriacose, philosophy, faculty dean Fr James Ponniah and treasurer Fr Alex.
Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth name was given in 1972 to the Pontifical Athenaeum which was founded by Pope Leo XIII as a Papal Seminary in Kandy. The Vatican had then entrusted the institution's administration to the Society of Jesus.
The then Jesuit Superior of Pune Fr Pius Geisel had supervised the JDV's transfer and relocation to Pune in 1955.
The JDV offers graduate and postgraduate courses in religion, philosophy, spirituality, science and religion, and management. At present, clergy and nuns from 65 dioceses and 68 religious congregations of South Asia and abroad are studying at the JDV.
The Jesuit Provincial of South Asia is ex-officio vice-chancellor of JDV and the chairperson of its trust.
The institute is now open to all students, irrespective of creed or gender, who fulfil its admission requirements.
JDV
Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth (JDV) name was given in 1972 to the Pontifical Athenaeum which was founded by Pope Leo XIII as a Papal Seminary in Kandy. The Vatican had then entrusted the institution's administration to the Society of Jesus. The then Jesuit Superior of Pune Fr Pius Geisel had supervised the JDV's transfer and relocation to Pune in 1955.
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Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Church leaders pay tributes to Cardinal Simon Pimenta
Church leaders from Pune pay tributes to Cardinal Simon Pimenta
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- CAMIL PARKHE
Sakal Times
Monday, 22 July 2013 - 05:27 PM IST
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Pune: Church leaders in the city have paid rich tributes to Emeritus Cardinal Simon Pimenta, the first Marathi-speaking clergy to be elevated to the rank of cardinal, whose funeral will take place in Mumbai on Tuesday.Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre described Pimenta as a veteran leader of the Church in the country who had also advised Pope John Paul II on various vital issues including inter-religious dialogues.
“He was the vice-principal of Thomas Baptista School in Papadi in Vasai when I was a student there. I was touched with his simplicity when he, along with students, used to clean out the weed in the school garden,” Bishop Dabre told Sakal Times.
Describing Cardinal Pimenta as a real pastor who cared for his flock, Emeritus Bishop Valerian D'Souza said that he had personally known the Pimenta for the past few decades. “I was touched by his integrity, honest and forthrightness,” Bishop D'Souza said.
“One of the major steps taken by the Pimenta as bishop and later as archbishop was to insist on establishing only Marathi medium schools in Mumbai archdiocese in order to preserve Maharashtrian culture,” the emeritus bishop said.
Simon Pimenta, born at Marol, Andheri in Mumbai in 1920 was head of the Mumbai archdiocese from 1978 to 1996 He was also president of the Catholic Bishop Conference of India for three consecutive terms.
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Comment
Errol - Tuesday, 23 July 2013 - 05:13 PM IST
Eternal rest grant unto Rev Cardinal Pimenta, oh Lord and may perpetual life shine on him, may his soul rest in peace Amen
JOE KASBE - Monday, 22 July 2013 - 08:50 PM IST
I had got a chance to met him twice & I have known him very kind-hearted and loving personality.He had the quality of attracting people towards him, and always had secular thinking and this kind of person has not been or will never be in future.May god bless him and may his soul rest in peace. PRESIDENT CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION OF PUNE (Vadgaonsheri) JOE KASBE
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Pune churches to join June 2 prayers to set world record
Pune churches to join June 2 prayers to set world record
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- CAMIL PARKHE
Saturday, 1 June 2013 - 11:09 AM IST
Sakal Times, Pune
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PUNE: Bishop Thomas Dabre will lead Catholics in Pune diocese in prayers on the feast of Corpus Christi on June 2, as a part of the simultaneous global prayers to be presided over by Pope Francis at the Vatican. The feat is likely to create a world record.
Parishes in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, along with parishes all over the world, are slated to simultaneously hold prayers on that day.
Pope Francis will lead the prayers to mark the feast of the body and blood of Christ at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Sunday evening. In India, churches have been asked to join the prayers on Sunday at 8.30 pm to coincide with the Roman clock (5 pm local time).
Bishop Dabre will celebrate a mass at St Xavier's Church in Pune Camp on June 2 at 5.30 pm, followed by an adoration service at St Anthony's Shrine.
Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) president, Mumbai's Cardinal Oswald Gracias has appealed to Catholics in the country to join in the prayers. The global prayer is also being held to celebrate the ongoing Year of Faith and the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council which introduced many reforms in the 2000 year-old church.
The Feast of the Corpus Christi is observed to commemorate Jesus Christ's suffering with bread and wine that symbolise his body and blood.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Apostolic Nuncio, 12 bishops to attend Pune meet
Papal delegate, 12 bishops to attend city meet
CAMIL PARKHE
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 AT 11:59 AM (IST)
To participate in 'Asian conference of new evangelisation'
PUNE: In what could be a rare occasion, Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Salvatore Pennacchio, the highest ranking official of the Catholic Church in India, and 12 bishops of various dioceses in the country and Asia, will be in the city next week to attend a conference.
The senior members of the church hierarchy will participate in a three-day 'Asian conference of new evangelisation' at the Ishwani Kendra in Vadgaonsheri from September 4 to 6.
The apostolic nuncio is also the ex-officio Vatican's ambassador to India.
Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias, secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference (FABC) and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, FABC chairman Thomas Menamparampil and Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre will speak at the inaugural ceremony of the conference on Tuesday morning.
The Pune meet is being conducted as an Asian and Indian contribution to the Synod of Bishops which is scheduled to be held in Rome from October 7 to 28, this year. The theme of the synod is 'The new evangelisation for the transmission of the Christian faith.'
The other senior church officials attending the city meet are Cardinal George Alencherry, major archbishop of the of Syro-Malabar Church, Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Thottumkal, major archbishop of Catholicos, Syro-Malankara Church, Nagpur archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara, Delhi archbishop Vincent Concessao, Varanasi bishop Raphy Manjaly, Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas, Manila auxiliary bishop Broderick Pabillo.
Priests and nuns of various congregations as well as members of the laity will also attend the three-day meet, Fr Joy Thomas, Director of the Ishwani Kendra, has said.
The papal delegate will also concelebrate a mass along with the visiting cardinals, archbishops and bishops at St Patrick's Cathedral at 12 noon on September 4.
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Comments
On 29/08/2012 05:21 PM diago almeida said:
Hi Camil It is encourging to see you write in your papers about the imp. events about the Christians and Catholics , I am one of the laity from Pune who will be attending the meet.
On 29/08/2012 05:09 PM Fr.Joe Gaikwad,s.j. said:
Thanks for the information regarding the conference.
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Sunday, July 18, 2010
Christians hail caste inclusion in census
Christians hail caste inclusion in census
http://www.sakaaltimes.com/SakaalTimesBeta/20100513/5741562463657674903.htm
CAMIL PARKHE
Thursday, May 13, 2010 AT 01:23 PM (IST)
Tags: CBCI, Church, caste, census, Christianity, Dalit Christians
PUNE: The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the apex body of the Catholic Church in the country, has welcomed the government’s willingness to include caste in the national census.
The CBCI has said that the move will facilitate identification of the dalit Christians - the erstwhile untouchables converted to Christianity - and help them get benefits extended to dalits belonging
to other religions.
In an interview to a Christian website, Fr Babu Joseph, CBCI spokesperson, welcomed the Centre’s proposal and said that since caste remains a social reality, there should be the “actual picture of people belonging to a particular caste.” However, such data should be used for ‘our long term aim of removing caste’ from society, he said.
The Church, which does not endorse casteism in its community, however recognises existence of dalits in its fold and has been demanding that they should be given all the concessions given to dalit Sikhs and Buddhists.
Fr Malcolm Sequeira, spokesperson of Pune diocese, has said that mere religious conversion does not bring any changes into the socio-economic status of the dalits. Therefore, dalit Christians should not be discriminated on the grounds of their religion. Fr Sequeira said that the census form should have two separate columns for caste and religions, so that even dalit Christians or dalits of any religion may be able to specify their caste as well as religion.
Tribals from northeastern states converted to Christianity continue to get quota meant for scheduled tribes even after conversion. This benefit is not extended to the dalits Christians, formerly belonging to various scheduled castes.
http://www.sakaaltimes.com/SakaalTimesBeta/20100513/5741562463657674903.htm
CAMIL PARKHE
Thursday, May 13, 2010 AT 01:23 PM (IST)
Tags: CBCI, Church, caste, census, Christianity, Dalit Christians
PUNE: The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the apex body of the Catholic Church in the country, has welcomed the government’s willingness to include caste in the national census.
The CBCI has said that the move will facilitate identification of the dalit Christians - the erstwhile untouchables converted to Christianity - and help them get benefits extended to dalits belonging
to other religions.
In an interview to a Christian website, Fr Babu Joseph, CBCI spokesperson, welcomed the Centre’s proposal and said that since caste remains a social reality, there should be the “actual picture of people belonging to a particular caste.” However, such data should be used for ‘our long term aim of removing caste’ from society, he said.
The Church, which does not endorse casteism in its community, however recognises existence of dalits in its fold and has been demanding that they should be given all the concessions given to dalit Sikhs and Buddhists.
Fr Malcolm Sequeira, spokesperson of Pune diocese, has said that mere religious conversion does not bring any changes into the socio-economic status of the dalits. Therefore, dalit Christians should not be discriminated on the grounds of their religion. Fr Sequeira said that the census form should have two separate columns for caste and religions, so that even dalit Christians or dalits of any religion may be able to specify their caste as well as religion.
Tribals from northeastern states converted to Christianity continue to get quota meant for scheduled tribes even after conversion. This benefit is not extended to the dalits Christians, formerly belonging to various scheduled castes.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Church’s stance on untouchability, casteism
‘Dalit Christians: Right to Reservations’
By Camil parkhe
Publisher: Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi
4. The Church’s stance on untouchability, casteism
Even though untouchability and casteism had been practiced for several centuries among the Christian communities in south India, the Church hierarchy avoided either dissuading the people from following these practices or taking action against those perpetuating these social evils. The British rulers in India had taken a lesson from the war of independence of 1857 and to continue their rule decided not to interfere in the religious matters of India. Even before the arrival of the British in India, Robert De Nobili and other European missionaries had adopted a similar view in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Madurai and Tiruchirapally.
The European missionaries did not believe in the practice of untouchability. However they realised that the converts faced the risk of ex-communication from their own community if they gave up practices of casteism and untouchability after embracing Christianity. So the missionaries decided to go slow in the matter. As a result, inhuman practices like untouchability could take roots in the south Indian Christian communities and continued to flourish for many years even after Independence.
Missionaries connive at casteism, untouchability
In Madurai and other areas of southern India, during Robert De Nobili’s time, many Brahmins embraced Christianity. However, the high caste Hindus coming into Christianity meant closing the doors of Christianity to the low caste and untouchable communities. The missionaries faced a difficult dilemma- whether to choose high castes or low castes for their missionary work. If they selected one caste, it was certain that the other would turn its back on them. The missionaries did not want to lose either of the two. Therefore depending on the possibilities at different places at different times, they baptised people from both the communities and bought them to Christ.
The missionaries permitted the converts to continue observing social customs like untouchability, casteism, strictly vegetarian diet in case of the Brahmins and non-vegetarianism of the lower castes, etc. The missionaries presumed that having learnt the tenets of Christianity, over a period of time the converts would give up untouchability and casteism. This proved wrong.
The native high caste missionaries may have found nothing amiss in all this. As a result, the walls of casteism continued to separate the Indian Christians from each other for nearly four centuries after they gave up Hinduism. Till the twentieth century, the erstwhile high caste Christians continued to be vegetarians and no inter-caste marriages took place within the Christian community.
Cyril Bruce Firth says- “On the whole, the Roman Catholic Church did not directly address the problem of casteism. It was assumed that casteism is an inevitable social aspect of life in India, therefore it was permitted to have social strata as per caste in the Christian community. Still, due to education, casteism was curtailed. It condemned the extreme casteism in the form of untouchability and hoped that unity will slowly grow in the society.”1
‘Dalit is dignified’
The dalit converts to Christianity were initially referred to by the Catholic Church. as ‘Christians of Scheduled Caste Origin (CSCO). This term was frequently used since the First National Convention of Christian leaders held in Bangalore in 1978. After the 1970s and in the 1980s, the term ‘dalit Christians’ was accepted in the Christian circles of south India. Like the famous phrase- ‘black is beautiful’, the phrase, ’dalit is dignified’ found acceptance with the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement which began to take strong roots in south India after the mid 1980s.
The term ‘dalit Christian’ had led to greater awareness among the dalit Protestant Christians as early as 1970s. The national conference of All India Catholic Union (AICU) held in 1989 passed a resolution formalising the use of ‘dalit Christians’ in reference to the Scheduled Caste Christians. This very conference also dedicated the 1990s as the ‘decade of the dalit Christians’.2
The issue of discrimination towards the dalits in churches and across the Christian community was discussed for the first time at the meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) held at Bangalore in 1969.3 Thereafter, the CBCI has made substantial efforts to remove casteism within the Christian community and to secure reservations and other concessions for the dalit Christians.
The general body meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India held in Goa in 1986 appointed a commission under the chairmanship of Bishop Cheriankunnel to take up the cause of Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Backward Classes. 3
References:
1.Firth, Cyril Bruce ‘Hindi Khristi Mandalicha Itihas’, translator- Ratnakar Hari Kelkar, (Page 301).
2.L. Stanislaus, ‘The Liberative Mission of the Church among Dalit Christians’, (Page 44).
3.As above, page 117
4.as above, page 117
By Camil parkhe
Publisher: Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi
4. The Church’s stance on untouchability, casteism
Even though untouchability and casteism had been practiced for several centuries among the Christian communities in south India, the Church hierarchy avoided either dissuading the people from following these practices or taking action against those perpetuating these social evils. The British rulers in India had taken a lesson from the war of independence of 1857 and to continue their rule decided not to interfere in the religious matters of India. Even before the arrival of the British in India, Robert De Nobili and other European missionaries had adopted a similar view in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Madurai and Tiruchirapally.
The European missionaries did not believe in the practice of untouchability. However they realised that the converts faced the risk of ex-communication from their own community if they gave up practices of casteism and untouchability after embracing Christianity. So the missionaries decided to go slow in the matter. As a result, inhuman practices like untouchability could take roots in the south Indian Christian communities and continued to flourish for many years even after Independence.
Missionaries connive at casteism, untouchability
In Madurai and other areas of southern India, during Robert De Nobili’s time, many Brahmins embraced Christianity. However, the high caste Hindus coming into Christianity meant closing the doors of Christianity to the low caste and untouchable communities. The missionaries faced a difficult dilemma- whether to choose high castes or low castes for their missionary work. If they selected one caste, it was certain that the other would turn its back on them. The missionaries did not want to lose either of the two. Therefore depending on the possibilities at different places at different times, they baptised people from both the communities and bought them to Christ.
The missionaries permitted the converts to continue observing social customs like untouchability, casteism, strictly vegetarian diet in case of the Brahmins and non-vegetarianism of the lower castes, etc. The missionaries presumed that having learnt the tenets of Christianity, over a period of time the converts would give up untouchability and casteism. This proved wrong.
The native high caste missionaries may have found nothing amiss in all this. As a result, the walls of casteism continued to separate the Indian Christians from each other for nearly four centuries after they gave up Hinduism. Till the twentieth century, the erstwhile high caste Christians continued to be vegetarians and no inter-caste marriages took place within the Christian community.
Cyril Bruce Firth says- “On the whole, the Roman Catholic Church did not directly address the problem of casteism. It was assumed that casteism is an inevitable social aspect of life in India, therefore it was permitted to have social strata as per caste in the Christian community. Still, due to education, casteism was curtailed. It condemned the extreme casteism in the form of untouchability and hoped that unity will slowly grow in the society.”1
‘Dalit is dignified’
The dalit converts to Christianity were initially referred to by the Catholic Church. as ‘Christians of Scheduled Caste Origin (CSCO). This term was frequently used since the First National Convention of Christian leaders held in Bangalore in 1978. After the 1970s and in the 1980s, the term ‘dalit Christians’ was accepted in the Christian circles of south India. Like the famous phrase- ‘black is beautiful’, the phrase, ’dalit is dignified’ found acceptance with the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement which began to take strong roots in south India after the mid 1980s.
The term ‘dalit Christian’ had led to greater awareness among the dalit Protestant Christians as early as 1970s. The national conference of All India Catholic Union (AICU) held in 1989 passed a resolution formalising the use of ‘dalit Christians’ in reference to the Scheduled Caste Christians. This very conference also dedicated the 1990s as the ‘decade of the dalit Christians’.2
The issue of discrimination towards the dalits in churches and across the Christian community was discussed for the first time at the meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) held at Bangalore in 1969.3 Thereafter, the CBCI has made substantial efforts to remove casteism within the Christian community and to secure reservations and other concessions for the dalit Christians.
The general body meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India held in Goa in 1986 appointed a commission under the chairmanship of Bishop Cheriankunnel to take up the cause of Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Backward Classes. 3
References:
1.Firth, Cyril Bruce ‘Hindi Khristi Mandalicha Itihas’, translator- Ratnakar Hari Kelkar, (Page 301).
2.L. Stanislaus, ‘The Liberative Mission of the Church among Dalit Christians’, (Page 44).
3.As above, page 117
4.as above, page 117
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