Kohima, January 31 (MExN): The new parish of St. Maria Goretti at Sechü-Zubza was officially inaugurated on January 31 on the feast day of St. John Bosco.
Welcoming the gathering, Rev. Fr. Jacob Charalel, Parish Priest, Khonoma, said that it had been a long cherished desire and dream of the catholic community of Sechü-Zubza to have their church raised to the status of a parish. The Catholic faith sown in the area in 1967 took root and grew initially under the pastoral care of Christ King Parish, Kohima, later under the Cathedral Parish, and finally under Khonoma Parish since 1999.
A press release from the secretary of Bishop of Kohima informed that the Bishop, elaborating the reading of the day, illustrated how God calls each and every Christian to be a prophet like Jeremiah. “When God calls he also equips the person,” he said. Referring to the second reading of the day from the letter of Paul to Corinthians, he said all gifts and talents come from God, which are to be used for the wellbeing of the community in love under the direction of the legitimate authority. “Without love all gifts and virtues, including faith and hope are useless. Love and only love is the mark of a Christian and one who loves God lives in love and God lives in him,” he added.
Further, the Bishop asserted that our country needs to hear God’s Truth from spirit-filled Christians with the prophetic courage of their convictions. He stated that one must never remain silent in the face of evil for fear of being thought politically incorrect. “Jesus was not against conflict if it promoted truth. Love does not tolerate destructive behavior, but it sometimes causes pain--just as a surgeon must sometimes hurt in order to heal.” After the homily, Fr. Samuel Elow was officially installed as the new parish priest.
Rev. Fr. Nestor, Salesian provincial during the felicitation programme thanked the bishop, Fr. Jacob, the parish priest of the mother parish and his predecessors, the salesian community and people of Zubza for their steadfastness in faith and assured that the new parish shall be taken care with utmost commitment following the diocesan directives and the Salesian educational pastoral program.
Rev. Fr. Nestor, Provincial, Frs. Jacob, Parish Priest of Khonoma, Fathers, Sisters, Rolavituo Nicholas, Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, catechist, pastors, elders of the community and representatives from catholic parishes and villages were present on the occasion.
