CAN organizes workshop for lay leaders of Catholic churches
Kohima, July 29 (MExN): The Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) organized a three-day workshop under the theme “Learning Together the Catholic Social Teachings” for the lay leaders of the churches in the Diocese of Kohima from July 21 to 24 at Mt. Tabor Retreat Centre, Kohima. Rev. Fr. Tom Karthik SDB, Rev. Fr. C.M Joseph SDB, and Rev. Fr. Victor SJ were the resource persons.
Lay leaders from various parts of the state under Diocese of Kohima attended the workshop. The principles of Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community and Participation, Solidarity and God’s Creation, Care for God’s Creation, Rights and Responsibility, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable and the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers were the core points of discussion during the colloquium, informed a press release from Johnny Ruangmei, Secretary General, CAN.
Presenting the core values of Catholic Social Teachings, the resource persons called upon the Catholic community to understand the underlying meaning and value of life and dignity of human person and to uphold its value and purpose and be instrumental in enabling others to live life to the fullest.
The themes and principles of the Catholic Social Teaching, according to the release, affirm that all people are created in the image and likeness of God and are equal and have the same rights and duty to participate fully in all aspects of human development and enjoy in equal measure its benefits including governance. “Community exists only to serve the good of human beings, families and communities.”
The principle of Option for Poor and Vulnerable teaches to emulate God by showing a special preference for those who are poor and weak just as Christ came to redeem the sinners, the release added. “As members of human family, we are to put the needs of society’s most poor and vulnerable members first. Christian are called to live our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation and to be stewards of that creation; to protect the health of people and to protect the health of the planet.”
Understanding the need for the Catholic Community in the Diocese of Kohima to live lives in accordance to the teaching of Christ and to commune with one another as charted out by Catholic Social Teaching, participating lay leaders agreed that the message must reach every Catholic member in the Diocese, the release stated.
With reflections and intuitive examination on the needs of the Naga society, the leaders of Catholic Church also framed out the Catholic Social Principles in the context of Kohima Diocese to guide the Church in everyday life to protect the health of people and to protect the health of the planet.
The release informed that CAN will be undertaking many more of such workshops to spread the message contained under the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, to keep the Naga society in the right perspective in the face of perplexities and confusions.
