Dimapur, March 16 (MExN): During a Solemn Eucharistic Celebration, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima declared St. Joseph Church, Chumukedima as a Pilgrim Center on March 15. The Prelate was in Chumukedima as part of inaugurating the 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration initiated by St. Joseph Parish Chumukedima.
Rev. Fr. Kokto Kurian stated in a press release that during the homily, the Bishop explained the importance of Eucharist in the life of the Church. He further enlightened the congregation that it is the Eucharist which sustains the Church and that it is the greatest gift Christ left to his apostles which is handed down to us through the centuries. The Church while realizing the importance of Eucharist has established the beautiful practice of adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It is through adoration, the faithful draw strength and refreshes their souls. This beautiful practice is initiated at St. Joseph Church Chumukedima starting from March 15 at 5 pm and it would go for 40 hours culminating on March 17, Sunday at 9 a.m. with the Solemn Eucharistic celebration to be presided by Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria, SDB, the Salesian Provincial of Dimapur province. During the adoration, the faithful would thank God for all his manifold blessings and make various prayers for the world, for the country and for the state. The congregation also would pray for the spiritual awakening of the Christians.
At the end of the Mass, the Bishop solemnly announced St. Joseph Church as a pilgrim Center. It is in keeping with the declaration of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope-Emeritus, while inaugurating the ‘Year of Faith’ has also announced Plenary Indulgence. The indulgence will be valid from the opening of the Year of Faith on October 11, 2012 until its end on 24 November 2013.
Declaring St. Joseph Church as a pilgrim center by the Bishop is significant and a great privilege for the Catholics in and around Dimapur and all the Catholics in Nagaland.
Earlier, Rev. Fr. Sabu Chenackal, the Parish Priest welcomed the Bishop, priests and all the faithful for the Mass and the following 40 hours of adoration, while Rev. Fr. Kokto Kurian, Asst. Priest proposed the vote of thanks and spoke on the significance of Eucharistic adoration in the Catholic Church.
