RANCHI: With Christmas slightly 3 weeks away, Ranchi archbishop Felix Toppo SJ on Wednesday mentioned that despite ongoing investigations by way of govt companies into church price range and a general feeling of fear within the aftermath of the arrest of a nun and a feminine group of workers of the Missionaries of Charity house in Ranchi early this yr, Christians throughout the state will celebrate the competition with usual fervour and gaiety.
Toppo, put in because the Ranchi archbishop on August 6, might be celebrating his first Christmas as head of the Roman Catholic Church in Jharkhand. Prior to his elevation, he was once serving the church because the Bishop of Jamshedpur since June 1997.
"We are not afraid. History has it that followers of Jesus and all those who believed in Him as the son of God, have faced persecution. We too are ready to face persecution. Now, we are praying more than ever for the good of the country and the state of Jharkhand," Toppo told TOI in an unique interview.
"Despite the good work being done by us, there is a general feeling of fear within the church and the Christian community. The arrest of a priest in June this year on charges of abetting the gang rape of five women in Khunti, the arrest of a nun of Nirmal Hriday, the Missionaries of Charity-run shelter home in Ranchi in July, on charges of missing new borns, followed by a nationwide investigation on church finances by multiple agencies, have instilled fear in us," he mentioned.
"Yet, we shall celebrate the coming of God on this earth on December 25 with complete piety and devotion. We believe God had sent his son on this earth with a new message of hope, love, peace and strength. We will rejoice on His coming to this earth again and again," he wired.
Toppo, however, conceded that following his elevation, in August this yr, from a Bishop of the Jamshedpur diocese to that of an archbishop with administrative control of 8 dioceses of Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega, Hazaribag, Dumka and Daltonganj, Christmas this yr might be so much different.
"In Jamshedpur, the celebrations are mostly private at various churches. In Ranchi, Christmas is celebrated in a big way and by a lot more people cutting across religious lines. I will be the main celebrant at the century-old St Mary's Cathedral at Ranchi. Christmas will also be a leadership exercise for me," he mentioned.
Toppo, put in because the Ranchi archbishop on August 6, might be celebrating his first Christmas as head of the Roman Catholic Church in Jharkhand. Prior to his elevation, he was once serving the church because the Bishop of Jamshedpur since June 1997.
"We are not afraid. History has it that followers of Jesus and all those who believed in Him as the son of God, have faced persecution. We too are ready to face persecution. Now, we are praying more than ever for the good of the country and the state of Jharkhand," Toppo told TOI in an unique interview.
"Despite the good work being done by us, there is a general feeling of fear within the church and the Christian community. The arrest of a priest in June this year on charges of abetting the gang rape of five women in Khunti, the arrest of a nun of Nirmal Hriday, the Missionaries of Charity-run shelter home in Ranchi in July, on charges of missing new borns, followed by a nationwide investigation on church finances by multiple agencies, have instilled fear in us," he mentioned.
"Yet, we shall celebrate the coming of God on this earth on December 25 with complete piety and devotion. We believe God had sent his son on this earth with a new message of hope, love, peace and strength. We will rejoice on His coming to this earth again and again," he wired.
Toppo, however, conceded that following his elevation, in August this yr, from a Bishop of the Jamshedpur diocese to that of an archbishop with administrative control of 8 dioceses of Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega, Hazaribag, Dumka and Daltonganj, Christmas this yr might be so much different.
"In Jamshedpur, the celebrations are mostly private at various churches. In Ranchi, Christmas is celebrated in a big way and by a lot more people cutting across religious lines. I will be the main celebrant at the century-old St Mary's Cathedral at Ranchi. Christmas will also be a leadership exercise for me," he mentioned.
'Despite fears, Christmas will be a gala affair'
!['Despite fears, Christmas will be a gala affair']()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
December 06, 2018
Rating:
