Bishops lead Christ to the Tribal’s 2009 meet

(November 20, 2009) Four bishops along with priests, religious and lay tribal leaders are part of a three-day meeting being held in Kolkata to discuss evangelisation of tribal people in India. Some 40 participants from all over India are attending the November 17-19 meeting. Salesian Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong and Bishop Joseph of Udaipur are also participating. “We have been meeting over the last 20 years to share our experiences in sharing the Gospel among the tribal people of India,” recalled the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference chairman for Evangelization Archbishop Thomas Menamparmpil of Guwahati. He along with Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, the first Indian tribal Cardinal, started the meet in 1989. This is the sixth such meet and the last three meetings were held in quick succession -- twice in Kolkata and once in Ranchi. “We need to concentrate on the real problems we face in the work in the context of the changing socio-political scenario and make practical study to make Christ’s message appealing to our tribal brothers and sisters,” added Archbishop Menamparampil, author of several practical books on evangelisation. “Our structures are often marginal to our works and often counterproductive,” added the archbishop, cautioning missionaries on the real need to meet people where they are found. According to Indian Census, the tribal population of India is only 17 per cent. Besides priests, both diocesan and religious, there were four bishops, six lay leaders, including a woman leader and six religious sisters who participated in the conference.