Cardinal Gracias speaks about upcoming Synod on New Evangelisation

(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, is one of the Synod Fathers who will be taking part in next month's Synod of Bishops on the theme of New Evangelisation. He told Vatican Radio's Susy Hodges that the chosen theme of this synod is extremely "relevant and important" and is "the solution to the many problems that we're having," especially as he believes that "society is moving God away from the centre to the periphery."

Listen to the extended interview with Cardinal Gracias:

Cardinal Gracias says the new evangelisation is something that will be of benefit to all of us. "Everybody needs it, civil society, the Church, we need it, the bishops, the priests.." he says. He also believes it will help to counter the effect of secularisation which he says is "creeping in, rather clearly and steadily, into our (Indian) society" That's why, he adds, "we've got to get back to our roots, our values."

Asked what the faithful say they would like to see the Church do to modernise its evangelisation methods, Cardinal Gracias says: "we need homilies that are more relevant, liturgy that is more lively, communities that reach out more to the poor and witness which is really authentic."