Year of Faith programs announced in northeast India

Agartala (India), 6 April 2013: All the 15 Catholic bishops in northeast India have together announced a series of programs for the "year of faith" stressing faith formation in the ethnically divergent area covering seven states.

The program was announced through a pastoral letter signed by the heads of all 15 dioceses in the region at the end of the April 2-4 meeting of Regional Bishops' Council in Agartala diocese.

The Year of Faith, observed from October 2012 to November 2013 marks the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 12^th anniversary of the Promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

During the year, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.

The pastoral letter examines the challenges of the multi-religious and multi-denominational region, which is plagued by communal tension, insurgency, illegal migration, poverty, underdevelopment and corruption. The bishops also noted unemployment, moral decadence and breakdown in values, consumerism and materialism as issues in the region.

It also said increased tendencies of secularism and fundamentalism, and proliferation of religious sects also threatens faith.

The bishops suggested a slew of programs modeled after the proposals brought out during the North East Pastoral Conference held in September last year.

Translation of Vatican II documents and Catechism of the Catholic Church in local languages are two activities that will get priority during the year.

They wanted actions to intensify sacramental life, catechesis, spiritual retreats, besides promoting popular devotions, well-planned catechism classes, greater use of the Bible and Catholic literature and mass media.

In their view, pilgrimages, devotion to Mary, seminars, youth activities, faith Sharing, study on Vatican II documents are activities that needs to be promoted during the year.

They also wanted training of lay leaders and catechists, meaningful and creative liturgical celebrations.

Source: UCAN