Richer dioceses in India to help needy ones

Feb.05,2014: The biennial plenary of the Indian Catholic bishops that began Wednesday in Palai, in southern India’s Kerala State is expected to finalize a project to enable rich dioceses in the country to help poor ones. The Church in India’s effort to create “mission India” is going to become a reality soon in the wake of dwindling funds from overseas, indicates a letter from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI).
In a recent communication to bishops of India’s 167 dioceses, Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, said that the prelates earlier meetings had discussed the possibility of richer Churches assisting the more needy ones and the plan will get final shape at the CBCI plenary, the letter said.
The proposed project “has become a necessity now because of the difficult economic situation in the more affluent countries, which were formerly our traditional benefactors. We have all experienced that ordinary and extraordinary subsidies from Rome, Europe and elsewhere have been gradually diminishing” the Cardinal’s letter said. The proposal came up at CBCI Standing Committee Meeting, first as an informal suggestion and then as a formal proposal. “I am happy to announce that the first steps of this initiative have already been taken. It has been decided to start a project, for the time being called “Missio India” said the communication. Under the plan, CBCI will set up a Corpus Fund to assist pastoral projects in India. A committee comprising Archbishops Stanislaus Fernandes of Ahmedabad and Andrew Thazath of Trichur along with Cardinal Gracias were set up to monitor “Mission India” and to study its implementation.
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennachio, some 180 bishops and 21 CBCI officials are attending the February 4-12 plenary on the theme “Renewed Church for a Renewed Society-Responding to the call of Vatican II.” The Nuncio led the opening Mass at the grounds of St. Thomas College,Palai attended by some 300 priests. Cardinal Gracias chaired the inaugural session also at the college grounds. The plenary will elect new office bearers as Cardinal Gracias and team are completing two terms.
Source:mattersindia