Theme: UNITED IN DIVERSITY FOR THE MISSION OF WITNESS AND MERCY.

Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council (KCBC) and Keral Conference of Major Superios (KCMS) gathering was addresses by CBCI Secretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX.

We the Church move “united in diversity for the mission of witness and mercy.”  It is experienced in the creation of the world. The book of Genesis shows us how the world was created with diversity and towards the end the creation story it is the whole ‘universe’ that unites the individual creations.  Even the crown of creation was created differently, male and female, and was called to the unity of ‘man.’ The Old Testament shows how different languages were born; the New Testament witness how the ‘unity’ of the message of God was understood in different languages. Thus the ‘unity in diversity’ stands the underlining principle in the Bible.  The Catholic Church, similarly, witnesses this principle. The same faith is expressed in different liturgies; through different charisms of the Religious Congregations and through the different offices of the Church.

In the present scenario of India, where the diversity of India is questioned, we have received a divine call to stand united in diversity to be the living witness of Christ and his mercy. In the present challenging situation makes the following appeals.

The three Rites of the Catholic Church in India stand together in the nation building.

The Religious Congregations, with their different charisms, stand together with the hierarchy in the nation building.

The Laity come forward, in the diverse and critical situations, and help the Church and the Nation.

Inter-religious and Ecumenical dialogues are to be seriously promoted in India.

His Excellency concluded by underling the fact that Christ and His Mission should be the primary focus - the most important duty - wherever we are, wherever we go and whatever we do!