Dimapur: A new church at St. Joseph’s Children Home, United North Block, Burma Camp here was inaugurated on March 15 by Chief Guest Kheheto Sema, Society Director, ICPS and blessed by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima.
The chief guest said that Church has an important place in every village. They come to the Church to obtain serenity from Lord Jesus Christ which the world cannot give. He thanked and congratulated Rev. Fr. OC Abraham, Director of St. Joseph’s Children Home, for his dedicated services for the poor and the orphans. He stated that the government should have come forward and assisted institutions of this type in a bigger way. He also cautioned the audience about human trafficking, and requested all to be careful when people take away children with false promises of free and better education elsewhere.
In his speech, Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the bishop of Kohima, praised Rev. Fr. O.C. Abraham and his team, particularly Fr. Richard Fernandas and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart for their dedicated service. He said that the Church from its beginning had special care and concern for the poor, the orphans and the widows. In fact, various ministries in the Church, including that of Deacons, evolved in the process of caring for the poor. In his homily, he exhorted each one to build themselves as living temples, the real church. The material Church is only the external expression of the spiritual church, he said. “Nagaland is a land of Churches and we must take pride not in the fact that we have the Church building as the most important building in every village, but by the fact that we live as true members of the Church, as true Christ-bearers.” The bishop also blessed the new tabernacle, where the Eucharist (Blessed Sacrament) will be preserved and urged everyone to visit the Church and spend few moments to experience the peace and joy that only God can give.
During the inaugural function, the appointment for Annie, the first inmate, as teacher, was handed over by the Chief Guest. Rev. Fr. O. C. Abraham in his speech thanked all the people who supported him in his ministry and at St. Joseph’s Home. He also recounted how he was inspired to begin this work by seeing a little girl of four (Annie), weeping at the grave of her mother.
