Indian Priests stress on new evangelization

(February 18, 2012) Indian diocesan priests pledged greater unity and to seek more active laity involvement in evangelization at their 10th national conference in Mumbai, which concluded on Thursday. Sixty-four priests spent three days reflecting on the theme “The New Evangelization: Its Meaning, the Relevance and the Way to carry it out in India”. They also stressed upon the need to come together as “priest-friends”, praying together for pursuing a common vision and mission in the diocese. The clergymen resolved to firm bonding in faith solidarity, pastoral cooperation and standing by the “weak and vulnerable” among brother priests. They also resolved to make the new evangelization part of a much needed renewal process of the Catholic Church in the fast changing cultural realities of modern society. In this endeavour, the priests noted that the immediate target groups would be “our own already baptized and once evangelized people whose faith is dwindling”. However, reaching the Gospel to those who have not yet heard it will continue to be their mission. For new evangelization, the priests have taken up six areas - personal witness, faith formation, laity formation, formation and strengthening of communities, networking, unity and fellowship among themselves as their immediate and urgent priorities. Four strategies have been planned to achieve these which included promoting active involvement and laity leadership in evangelization, awareness on concern for the poor and promoting priestly unity. The statement said “We should remind ourselves constantly that the kingdom of God is not a matter of seeking just one’s own needs but seeking justice, peace, and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit,” the statement concluded.