Catholics urged to spread the Gospel without fear

Catholics attending the historic Indian Mission Congress in Mumbai are urged to share the Gospel without fear and confront the forces of darkness with the light of Christ.

About 1500 delegates, including more than 100 bishops, hundreds of priests, nuns and lay leaders from the 160 dioceses of India are attending the Congress christened Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav from October 14-18 at the St. Pius College, Goregaon.

President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India and head of the Syro-Malabar Church, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil called the delegates of the first Indian Mission Congress to bear courageous witness to Christ, as there is no other substitute for happiness than the Good News of Christ.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Indian Mission Congress, Cardinal Vithayathil said the event drew inspiration from the Asian Mission Congress held in Thailand in 2006, and is the fruit of collaboration of all the three ritual churches in India. Such collaboration, he said, augurs well for the church in India.

Calling for a courageous witness and proclamation of Christ and his message, he emphasized that the one who has discovered the treasure of Christ cannot keep it to oneself but is compelled from within to communicate it to others.

In his homily, Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, Apostolic Nuncio to India, elaborated the meaning of the Mission Congress theme, 'Let Your Light Shine'.

Amid growing darkness of hunger and pain, poverty and violence, drug abuse and sexual malpractices, Christians have a particular duty and responsibility to bring the light of Christ and dispel darkness, he urged

Every Christian, he said, is called to confront the challenges facing the nation, society and families by sharing the light received in baptism to dispel darkness and gloom that exist around them.

"The best way of evangelization is to tell the story of Jesus. The roll of the laity is important. We are invited to be the light, to tell everybody of Jesus, especially those who are ignorant of Christ," Archbishop Quintana said.

President of the Congress Cardinal Oswald Gracias said the event drew inspiration from the late Pope John II who called for continental Mission Congresses. The 50 delegates from India who attended the Asian Mission Congress in Thailand felt that India should organize a similar event for the whole country.

The purpose of the Congress, Cardinal Oswald said, "is to joyfully share our faith in Jesus Christ, to express the joy of believing in Him, to exchange our experiences, and to inspire others to continue to work in the spirit of the Gospel."

"It is hoped that as a result of this Congress, the participants and the whole Church in India will have a deeper awareness of what it means to be a Christian, a greater consciousness of our calling, and a more sincere commitment to live as Christians."

Major Archbishop Moran Mar Baselios Mar Cleemis, Catholicos, head of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church in India, in his message at the inaugural session, said Church in India is small in comparison with other religious groups but the service it extends to all sections of the people, particularly its commitment to the poor are a major contribution to the nation.

He called on the 1500 delegates of the Mission Congress to build a culture of peace, tolerance and love and march together with members of all other Christian churches and religions in living the love of God. He paid tributes to the Christian brothers and sisters in Orissa who were brutally attacked for their Christian faith. He also lauded the efforts of Archbishop Cheenath of Cuttack, Bhubhaneshwar for his courageous witness in the face of persecution.