New bishop unfazed by small number of Catholics in Diocese

(July 15, 2009) Buxar diocese may have only 15,000 practicing Catholics, but its new prelate is undaunted by this. "Being small is good," said Bishop Sebastian Kallupura, adding that the diocese can still be developed into a "model diocese according to Vatican II and God's plan." The diocese situated in Bihar state and covering four districts, has only 25,000 registered Catholics, mostly dalit or former "untouchables" in India's caste system, out of 2.8 million people. About 10 diocesan and 15 Religious priests manage 14 parishes. The new bishop, after his Episcopal ordination, said he will strive to make these Catholics "the leaven for the majority." Despite the small number of Catholics, Bishop Kallupura, who was the chancellor of Patna archdiocese before his Episcopal appointment, said he expects them to take a leading role in diocesan affairs. "The Church will be the people's Church, not just of priests and nuns," he stated. Bishop Kallupura said he plans to appoint a nun to direct the diocesan social service centre but wants to include lay people in diocesan commissions such as finance, that now priests or Religious hold exclusively. Language is another challenge for the prelate who comes from Kerala in the country's south. Most people in his diocese speak Bhojpuri, a variation of the official Hindi language. The bishop says an immediate priority is to start some social outreach programs to help Christians in his diocese, who are mostly landless agricultural labourers. The diocese is one of the most backward areas of the country.