Laity urges greater role in Small Christian Communities in Bengal, Sikkim

(July 13, 2012) Leaders of Small Christian Communities in India’s West Bengal and Sikkim states are urging that more lay people be identified and trained to take leadership roles in the region’s dioceses. “If given a chance, the laity will be as efficient as priests to animate, coordinate and facilitate Small Christian Community programmes in the dioceses,” said Ajit Mondal, an animator of Small Christian Community (SCC) from Krishnanagar diocese. He was speaking at the July 11-13 annual meeting of the Regional Service Team (RST) and Diocesan Service Teams at Asansol diocesan Pastoral centre, Burdwan. The SCCs are small groups in which the faithful meet in houses to pray and reflect on the Scriptures. Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta said that Small Christian Communities should collaborate with all the commissions in the diocese to bring about unity and dynamism in the Church. He stressed upon the need for SCCs to become an umbrella to connect with all the commissions in the diocese for better implementation of any programme. The Regional Service Team, which comprises representatives from all the eight dioceses of West Bengal and Sikkim region, has presently two lay representatives out of 12 members including a bishop and a religious sister. Mary Ghosh from Calcutta urged that there be at least 50 percent laity in the RST which plans, monitors and organises trainings for SCC animators.