Mission congress rekindles faith among tribal Catholics

(November 04, 2011) Catholics in central India have resolved to revive the faith European missionaries introduced among their ancestors more than a century ago. Around 1,600 delegates from 200 parishes spread over five dioceses in Chhattisgarh state attended a mission congress that ended October 28, during which attendees were urged to be better witnesses for their faith in the predominantly Hindu nation. “We need more light of Christ these days since there is too much darkness in the world,” Bishop Paul Toppo of Raigarh said in his keynote address to the congress. Jesuit missionaries from Belgium first introduced the Catholic faith to Oraon tribal people of central and eastern India. Chhattisgarh state has over 400,000 Catholics, mostly tribal and dalit people, in a population of 20.8 million. Participants in the congress acknowledged the pioneering missionaries’ hard labour and the persecution suffered by the early Christians, and resolved to live their faith boldly and to preserve their culture. They also resolved to organize spiritual programs in an effort to revitalize Catholic faith, and to implement new campaigns to curb social and human rights problems including alcoholism, human trafficking, and government corruption that have hindered the spiritual and economic growth of Catholic communities in the region. Bishop Emmanuel Kerketta of Jashpur expressed his gratitude for the work of early missioners in educating people for service to the Church and the nation. The Oraon tribal prelate said missionaries from the region now serve the Church throughout the world.