Bishop of Kohima, Most Rev Dr. James Thoppil and other organizing committee members addressing a press conference ahead of the Golden Jubilee celebration of Diocese of Kohima on October 26. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express news
Kohima | October 26
Bishop of Kohima, Most Rev Dr James Thoppil on Thursday stated that the golden jubilee of the Diocese in Nagaland derives significance around gospel transformative values of internal renewal, retrospection and rededication which should permeate and percolate into the entirety of Christian life.
Addressing a press conference along with other organizing committee members ahead of the golden jubilee celebration to be held at the Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, Kohima, he said Christians celebrate jubilee as a biblical tradition therefore it is not so much of a socio cultural external but derives the significance of the celebration around gospel transformative values.
"As such, the celebration is rather an internal spiritual renewal as Catholics and rededicates oneself as members of the society and to render our services to the greater commitment and affirmation to permeate to the whole society. It is a time for retrospection and re-dedication of the church," Bishop Thoppil opined. He added that our Christian faith must percolate and permeate the entire life of individual Christian life and all other spheres including political and social life.
"The gospel values must guide them in making the decisions whether be it family, society or community. Then only we can say we are really celebrating the jubilee."
Further adding about the significance of the jubilee, the bishop said the jubilee is a time to look at the past and from the past, look at the present and how we can change ourselves.
Speaking about the inception, the Bishop informed that the Diocese came into being in 1973 which was a collective called the Diocese of Kohima Imphal. In 1980, the two states were given separate dioceses.
The 2-day celebration of the Catholic community is all set to begin on October 28 under the theme 'For Christ and His Church' where delegates will start arriving tomorrow.
In this regard, Johnny Raungmai informed that it is expecting around 10,000 participants during the main celebration on Sunday and about 5,000 on Saturday. In Nagaland, there are over 60,000 Catholic members spread across 57 parish in all nook and corners of the state.
He said that the jubilee celebration began in October last year. As part of the commemoration, celebration started in Kohima and went to all the districts in the form of prayer, mariam devotions, seminars conclave and others various activities.
To showcase and celebrate the universality of the Catholics and signify that the catholic Church is here to bring a gospel transformative mission to the society of the state, delegation from different parishes across the state and outside of the state; along with bishops, nuns and priests of the region and the world and members from US consulate of Kolkata are participating in the celebration.
During the press conference, other members present were Rev Fr Vimedo Joseph Kezo, Nosazol Charles and Jonas Yanthan.
