Dimapur, December 18 (MExN): The Catholic Youth Association (CYA) of Holy Cross Parish, Dimapur celebrated its silver jubilee with Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima, as the main celebrant on December 18. Rev. Fr. PJ Thomas, Parish Priest, Holy Cross, Dimapur, George Anthony, Parish Priest, Lakhuti along with many other priests concelebrated the Holy Eucharist.
Albert, president of CYA in his welcome address enumerated the service of the CYA since its inception in 1991, incidentally during the tenure of the now Bishop of Kohima and Fr. Joseph K.M. when they were the parish priest and assistant priest respectively of Holy Cross Church, informed a press release from Fr. Thomas Toretkiu, Bishop’s Secretary.
Bishop in his homily greeted and congratulated the youth of Holy Cross, Dimapur. “Like any jubilee, this celebration must look to the past with gratitude, live the present with passion and look to the future with hope,” he urged. While reflecting the readings of the fourth Sunday of Advent, the Bishop cited the example of St. Joseph who went beyond his personal and community plan to carry out God’s plan and invited the youth to be open to God’s plan, which at times may be contrary to one’s plans and programs.
Like in Joseph’s life, the Bishop said, God intervenes in ours too now and then to reverse our plans. “Against all odds, Joseph decided to marry Mary because he clearly saw it as God’s will. As we prepare for Christmas, we are invited to imitate his faith which prompts us to forego our plans or change our decisions in order to accept God’s,” he stated.
Rev. Dr. James further noted that Joseph’s decision not to put Mary to public disgrace and dismiss her quietly indicates his Christ-like compassion for wrongdoers and the erring. “Without any trace of compassion towards the erring, how can we welcome the Lord who came to desire mercy and not ritual sacrifices (Mt 9:13; 12:7)?” the Bishop asked. “…Sometimes we are so much led by our selfish desires, personal ambitions and public or peer pressure that we fail to act on what we believe to be true and right. In and through Jesus God becomes Emmanuel, that is, a God comes to walk neither ahead of us nor behind us, but along with us. As God chose to be Emmanuel and dwell among us (Jn 1:14) each one of us could choose to be an Emmanuel – a sign of God’s presence – for the world around us.”
In the short felicitation programme, L. David Rongmei, the first president of CYA, shared his experience. He said that the catholicity of the Church is manifested when youth of the parish come together without distinction of tribe or tongue. He urged the CYA to work for the glory of God without self interest or any distinction.
Wilfred Humtsoe said the invocation prayer for the felicitation program and Adrian Mahung, Convener, said the welcome address. The jubilee choir presented the anthem and voices of Stephen Ngullie and Romet mesmerized the audience. Mhabeni Yanthan and Ketho Angelus anchored the programme, while Thungbeni Humtsoe, general secretary, Jubilee proposed the vote of thanks.
