From Our Correspondent
Agartala: Echoing the predilection for the poor that Pope Francis famously made known at the beginning of his pontificate, the leadership of the Catholic Church in North East India has said there is an essential ‘link between our faith and the poor’. “Our educational services and social outreach programs,” said Archbishop Dominic Jala, “are expressions of the Church’s belief that there exists an undeniable link between our faith and the poor.” He called it a ‘link’ the Church in North East would “vigorously pursue.” Archbishop Jala of Shillong was speaking at the meeting of the North East Regional Bishops Council, held at Bishop’s House Agartala, April 2-4. Jala is the chairman of the Council.
The half yearly meeting of the Council saw full attendance with prelates from all the dioceses participating in the two-day event. Archbishops emeriti Joseph Mittathani and Thomas Menamparampil and Bishop emeritus Robert Kerketta also attended the meeting taking the total number to a record 18. The Council discussed “matters pertaining to the practice of Christian faith in the region, besides those of Church administration and governance,” said Bishop John Thomas of Itanagar, the Secretary of the Council.
At a reception given to the visiting church dignitaries by the priests and religious of the diocese of Agartala, Most Rev. Lumen Monteiro CSC, DD, the Bishop of Agartala and the host of the meeting called the presence of the North Eastern church hierarchy in Tripura, “a blessing to our land” and said it would bring about “greater unity among the dioceses of the region”. He also thanked the visiting prelates for the goodwill and concern they always display for Agartala diocese. It is the second time that the Council meets in Agartala.
