India’s Church preparing for its first Mission Congress

(Sept.09,2009): The Church in India is preparing to celebrate its first Indian Mission Congress (IMC). The 14 to 18 October event will take place at St. Pius X College in Goregaon, Mumbai.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), said that the “Mission Congress is a celebration of the 2,000 year-old history of the Church in India, as well as a call to renew our journey of faith.” “With this first Mission Congress”, said Cardinal Gracias, “the Indian Church hopes to enhance the depth of our Christian identity, provide a better understanding of our calling, and a renewed understanding of the task of Mission, which is one of service to the people to follow and know Jesus better”.
The theme of the Congress “Let Your Light Shine”, invites all the faithful to live their faith out in the open, said Cardinal Gracias. “The Church continues to spread the light through love, service and proclamation, as she moves ahead strengthening, empowering and building India,” the Cardinal said. “We are therefore invited and commissioned to become the Light of Christ, spread it, becoming both message and messenger. What is more, the Church’s mission is not limited to India” he added. Cardinal Gracias pointed out that the Indian Church has much to contribute to the Asian church. “We have a lot of people, resources and talent, who can serve Asian Churches and the Universal Church through theological reflections, that can help understand what mission is, and what it means to be a Church,” he said.
The meeting in Mumbai will provide an opportunity for all three Catholic Episcopal bodies, the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara, to come together.