Using puppets to share the Gospel

Ajmer – A rector of a seminary in Rajasthan has discovered a novel way of reaching out the Gospel to the unreached – with the help of puppets!

Ajmer–Jaipur Diocesan Father Clarence Dias, rector of St. Theresa’s Seminary Ajmer has enrolled his seminarians for a seven–day residential training program in puppetry with the Social Work and Research Centre (SWRC) at the nearby Tilonia village and intends to preach the Gospel by employing puppetry.

Rajasthan has a rich tradition of puppetry and string puppets have been used to tell stories from local myths and legends of the valour of kings. Fr. Dias plans “to make use of this low–cost media to promote the Kingdom values.”

“In the present socio–political scenario, when Christians are targeted, puppets are a good medium to relate parables from the Bible. One can preach without being seen,” said Mausam Rawat, a seminarian. “Voice training in particular was very helpful.”

Incidentally, by employing the puppetry medium, communicators at SWRC Tilonia have changed the attitude of many communities towards issues such as child marriage, rights of women, equal wages for women, and child literacy.