Input: Fr Francis Rodrigues, Raknno Weekly
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 4: The late Pope John Paul II had dreamt and expressed the need for holding conventions of Christian faithful in different continents of the world so as to boost the spirit of every Christian.  The regional and diocesan conventions of the faithful are the offshoots of the dream of the late Pope and are in tune with the need of our times. The Mangalore Diocesan Convention of the Faithful would be inaugurated on Sunday the 4th of January, 2009. 

First ‘Asian Mission Congress’:

The first convention was held with the banner of ‘Asian Mission Congress’. It was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from October 18 to 22, 2006. More than 1,000 delegates and observers from 40 Asian countries and territories had actively participated in the said Congress.  It was an exploration into the ways and means to tell the story of Jesus in Asia, basing on the different ways Jesus is experienced on the vast continent. It was reflected then, that telling the story of Jesus in Asia requires the Church's living encounter with Jesus in prayer, worship, interaction with people, especially the poor, and events that constitute the ‘signs of the times’. It was felt that the Church in Asia should have the courage to rediscover new ways of telling the story of Jesus. The story of Jesus, when guarded as a museum piece, fails to be life-giving.

Then it was meditated that the Church in Asia, with its rich heritage of story telling acquired from Asian homes, neighborhoods, religions and traditional wisdoms, can be creative in telling the story of Jesus. It was also accepted that the witness of a holy, ethical and upright life is still the best story about Jesus in Asia. Men and women who have dedicated themselves to the service of the neighbourers, like Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, are living stories that the Asian people love to hear. In the first ‘Asian Mission Congress’ it  was felt that there should be conventions of the faithful on national and diocesan levels so as to boost the Christian spirit on the regional and local level.

Regional Christhothsav:

The first regional Convention of the Catholic Faithful in India was held in Bangalore from November 8 to 10, 2007. It was organized on the theme: “Sharing the Experience of Christ.” 1200 representatives from 11 dioceses of Karnataka were the participants.  The National Convention of the Catholic Faithful would be held from 14th to 19th of October, 2009 in Mumbai under the leadership of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).

The Mangalore Diocesan Convention of the Faithful:

The Mangalore Diocesan Convention of the Faithful would be inaugurated on Sunday the 4th of January, 2009.  In the morning, the Convention would be held for half a day in the Milagres Junior College grounds, Mangalore.  1,580 representatives from all the 158 parishes of the Diocese of Mangalore would be participating in the said convention.  They will reflect on the theme of the convention and the related socio-spiritual life of a real Christian in seven different groups.  The theme of the convention is thus: “Let us build a peaceful community; let us preserve the balance in the nature; let us give witness to Christ.” At 3.30 pm, the Bishop will celebrate the Solemn Mass with all the priests of the diocese and a good number of faithful inclusive of the representatives.  After the mass the Bishop will lead the Eucharistic procession which would be taken out from Milagres Church to the Rosario Cathedral.  In the Cathedral, the Bishop together with 15 Vicar Foranes of 15 Deaneries will inaugurate the convention year. The year will have many socio–spiritual programmes, which will be launched during the inauguration. The Convention of the Faithful will end on the 3rd of January, 2010.

10 different committees have planned the details of the convention under the guidance of the Bishop of Mangalore and coordination of Fr Vincent Monteiro. As a preparation for the convention, reflections had been organized during the past couple of months on ward, parish and deanery levels.  Six themes have been reflected during the course of time:
1. Catholics who give witness to Christ (Jn 15:27).
2. Community with spirit of prayer (Acts 2: 42-47).
3. Community with one heart and one mind (Jn 17:20-23).
4. Educated and able community.
5. Wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Mt 10:16).
6. Community which is ready for dialogue.