The 'Year of Faith' and new evangelisation, two immense gifts for India's Church
(July 04, 2012) The 'Year of Faith' "is an immense gift to the Church in India.
It is a time of grace for the treasures and wisdom of Holy Mother Church to be heard,
celebrated and witnessed," said Fr Savio de Sales, the new director of the Pontifical
Mission Societies in the Archdiocese of Bombay. Speaking to AsiaNews on the occasion
of the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle of India, about the importance of the Year of
Faith for the Church in India and evangelisation, he said "Our Church received the
gift of faith from the Holy Apostle, St Thomas who brought the Good News to the Indian
shores. He was followed later by St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Missions.
Fr de Sales also referred to how our modern society has seen the faith witnessed
through Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata. He pointed out that the Year of Faith
proclaimed Pope Benedict XVI from Oct. 11th this year, represents a
crucial moment. "Our Faith has to be deepened, formed and witnessed. Re-evangelization
is an answer to the challenges of secularism," he explained. He particularly noted
that great emphasis will be on adult and child education. "Our students and young
adults will be instructed in our Catholic educational institutions," Fr de Sales explained.
He also said that India's religious and cultural pluralism makes interfaith dialogue
essential. Noting that Christians in India are a mere 2.3 per cent of the population
he said faith must be shared. Jesus must be made known to others, especially to those
who have never heard of him, he added. 
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