Dalit Religious and Priests pledge to commit themselves for the empowerment of Dalits by implementing CBCI Dalit Empowerment Policy in their respective ministry places
Pilgrimage, Exposure and Training ( PET III) for Dalit Religious and Priests
Theme: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ ( 1 Cor 11: 1)
To be effective ministers
Report by Fr. Satish Raj,
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Office for Dalits and Backward Classes (SC/BC) organized a three days seminar for the Dalit Religious and Priests (DRAP) from 13th to 15th November 2018 at Arnold Bhavan , Hyderabad. The PET III was planned for Dalit Religious and Priests to bring them together, to recollect, revive and get empowered to serve the Church effectively especially the marginalised and the Dalits. There were 107 Dalit Religious and Priests who participated in the program.
During the inaugural Eucharistic celebration presided over by Most Rev. Thumma Bala, the Archbishop of Hyderabad, rightly insisted on Dalit vocation and for the need of scholarship for the education of Dalit children. In his keynote address his Excellency Most Rev. Sarat Chandra Nayak, Chairperson, CBCI Office for SC/BC, said that Dalits do not have ghetto mentality unlike the oppressors who promote division and inequality and further explained that they are always for inclusiveness. After the inaugural session, five Religious and Priests were given Archbishop Oscar Romero Morning Star Award for their valuable contribution to the Church by empowering the Dalits. Rev. Fr. Manuel, who is a non- Dalit himself, shared on the creative ministry in empowering the Dalits.
Fr. Christopher HGN spoke about the effective use of media to spread the kingdom. Fr. Bosco SJ spoke about the interpersonal relationship and the need to give respect and dignity to the persons.
On the second day Eucharistic celebration which was presided over by Most Rev. Anthony Poola in his homily insisted on becoming a victim in the ministry for the Dalits like Jesus who died on the Cross. In the morning session, His Excellency Most Rev. Anthony Poola shared his childhood experience of ill- treatment meted out by caste minded people and requested the participants to be united and work for the Dalit empowerment. Fr. Prakash Sagilli shared on the theme, “To be effective and creative ministers to empower the Dalits”. Fr. Anthaiah and others, shared their suggestion for the empowerment of Dalits Fr. Selva SJconsolidated the suggestions and the way forward. The second day ended with the last session on, “ Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1) by Most Rev. Theodore Mascarenhas, Secretary General of CBCI. Bishop Theodore explained how St. Paul was always working among the gentiles who were like Dalits and how he tried to bring unity among the Christians. Bishop also insisted that education is the best means to empower the Dalits. He proposed that the individual religious and priests educate at least few of the Dalits.
The third day seminar began with the Eucharistic celebration by Most Rev. Theodore Mascarenhas, Secretary General of CBCI followed by exposure to Hyderabad city.
The participants pledged to do the following in coming days:
To Concentrate on the quality (English) education of the Dalit children
To encourage students for IAS, IPS etc and guide them for higher studies
To promote Dalit vocation by encouraging and supporting them
To give leadership training to youth and women
To see that the Dalits are treated with dignity and respect
To pray for the cause of the Kandhamal martyrs in Odisha
The meeting was organised by Fr. Devasagayaraj, Secretary to the CBCI Office for SC/BC and Sr. Robancy, Program Coordinator of CBCI with the help of the local organisers Mr. Vijay Mothukuri and Mr. Raju