“THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THEM IN THE INN” (Mt. 2:7)

“And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Mt. 2:7).

This simple sentence described the reality of Christmas : on the one hand, God’s unconditional love for humans beings that did not hesitate him to send His Son into the world as a human person, and on the other, people’s poor response !. St John puts this situation thus: “he came to his own and his
own people did not receive him” (Jn. 1:11). The excuse for such a shabby treatment of God by His own people could be that they did not recognize Him!

Knowing this attitude of people, Jesus has given us a simple rule : first, to encounter and recognize Him in faith: in the Word of God and in the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. Secondly, to encounter and recognize Him in the poor: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.. As you did it
to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me” (Mt. 25:35,40)

There are many people who are homeless today :  as refugees seeking shelter in a strange land, victims of natural calamities, victims of injustice in society, victims of poverty! In the major cities of
our country, we find people sleeping on footpaths or out in the open without a roof over their heads! In winter, many such people die due to cold. Pope Francis once said that while any slight economic change in the world markets would become a headline in the media, the death of a poor person due to
cold out in the open, would not draw such attention! In other words, human beings are no more a priority, but money is!

What is our response today? Christmas is a time when we recognize the Son of God in the humble Babe of Bethlehem as we sing: “O come let us adore Him” and welcome Him into our hearts. Christmas is a time to thank God for giving us His own Son to save us from sin. Christmas is a time to thank God for all the service done to the poor : by the Government, the Church, different religious Organizations, NGOs and individuals, people of goodwill.

Yet, much more needs to be done. Christmas inspires us to recognize Jesus in and around us and see how we can help the poor through sharing, caring, showing concern and compassion. The many orphanages, Rainbow Homes, Ashalayams, Prem Daans and Shantidanns, Nirmol Hridays and Night Shelters are positive responses to Jesus seeking a place to lay his head!

I thank all our Priests, Consecrated Persons and their co-workers for their generous and inspiring service. At this Christmas, let us open the door of our hearts to Jesus and welcome Him, and as we pray for the refugees and the homeless in the world, let us proactively welcome the poor to our homes, and support all those who help the homeless especially in our City of Kolkata.

Let us make room for the Son of God and our poor brothers and sisters so that the Gospel narrative can read: “There was place for them in the Inn!” I wish you a HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a PEACE-FILLED NEW YEAR 2020

“HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AS HE SAID”, ALLELUIA!! (Resurrexitsicutdixit – Alleluia!)

God made promises to His people and fulfilled them. The prophecies made by the prophets were promises of God, and they were fulfilled in history. When Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the “Anointed One”of God came to our world in the fullness of time, He too made promises to the people, and to His Apostles in particular. One such promise was: “ The Son of Man will be handed over to the Chief Priests and the Pharisees; He will have to suffer; He will be put to death, and on the third day He will rise again”(Mk. 8:31; 9:31)!
Yet, the Apostles did not understand what Jesus was saying. It did not dawn on the Apostles that what Jesus was saying was about to be fulfilled. Their expectations of a worldly king in whose kingdom they would be “Ministers”, were shattered on Good Friday when Jesus was put to death on a cross. The resurrection event as narrated by the Gospels was too good to believe! It was at Pentecost filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that the Apostles were fully convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and that He has indeed risen as He promised!
This Good News of Jesus rising to life as He said, became the central theme of the kerygma, proclamation by the Apostles.We believe in Jesus who fulfills His promise, keeps His word so that all those who have been given the gift of faith, may believe in Him and become beneficiaries of those promises.The Resurrection of Jesus invites us to deepen our faith in His promises.
During His life on earth, Jesus promised forgiveness of sins, peace, joy and eternal life, and by His death and resurrection, has fulfilled these promises. As disciples of Jesus, let us become channels of peace, forgiveness, joy and life. May the Resurrection faith, hope and love direct our lives. May we keep the promises that we made at Baptism and renewed every year – to give up sin and to daily live a holy life leading to our communion with the Triune God and love for our brothers and sisters. May our words/promises be fulfilled because Jesus is risen, and He walks with us every moment of our lives.
I wish you a HAPPY EASTER! Jesus has risen from the dead as He said, Alleluia! Alleluia!!

Calcutta Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service Programme

Calcutta Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service has chalked out an annual programme for the whole year 2017 under the guidance of Archbishop .  you are kindly requested to find the details in the attached word file below. We are also planning to organise Deanery and Zonal wise Charismatic Renewal   programmes, as of now we have organised Kolkata and Midnapore Deanery. 

Father Stephen Raphael has organised  a retreat service at St. Anthony's Chruch, Kharagpur from the 30th of March to the 2nd of April. It is a request to Midnapore Deanery to please make an effort to attend the service all those who can come.  

Please also find in the attachment details of a one day Retreat for School Children on 24th March as well as a two day Retreat on 25th and 26th of March both organised by Mrs. Rosalind D'Cruze from  St. Ignatius Church, Ekbalpore Kolkata.  

Please inform your family and friends about the retreat for children and for families.Spread the word and be blessed...

With Cordial Wishes 

Fr. Dominic Gomes 

( Convener for Charismatic Renewal Programmes – 2017)

Archdiocese of Calcutta plans for Synod – 2017

Kolkata : Archdiocese of Calcutta, under the shepherding prowess of Archbishop Thomas D'Souza, came together for their first animation program in preparation for The Diocesan Synod 2017, on 13 March, 2017 at Seva Kendra Calcutta.

Canon 460 describes the diocesan Synodasan "assembly" (coetus) of selected priests and other members of Christ's faithful of a particular Church which, for the good of the whole diocese community, the diocesan Bishop" The Diocesan Synod 2017 will take place at Morning Star College Regional Seminary, Barrackpore from 27th September 2017 to 1st October 2017. The preparatory Committee comprising of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan Core Committee representing priest consecrated men and women and lay faithful will meet regularly to plan for the Synod 2017. The day began with words of we l come by Archbishop, followed by self introduction of the members present.

The Archbishop appreciated and acknowledges the presence of variety of members gathered from various vocations, on religious order and representation. Fr. Franklin opened the proceeding by introducing the purpose and need of a Synod. Canon further says; purpose determines the particular roles to be ascribed to those priests who partake in the work of the Synod "as wise collaborators with the Order of Bishops, their helpers and chosen instruments, and who are called to serve the People of God". The Synod also offers the Bishop the opportunity of calling to cooperate with him and with his priests some members of the laity as well as some chosen religious. This is a particular form that responsibility and concerns all of the faithful in building up the Body of Christ.

 Mrs. Sandhya Vincent , explained the composition of the Synod 2017. She read the names of all the members who are appointed as member of Synod. Mr. Farrell Shah dealt with the Convocation, Preparatory Commission and Synodal Directory. As Secretary of Archdiocesan Social Communication commission Mr. Farrell informed the house of all the media initiatives the commission will carry out in the days to come. A booklet with all the necessary information, a media office, and prayer for recitation throughout the diocese for the success of Synod will be set up soon. Archbishop chaired the final session of the day. He thanked all the members present for the occasion and urged them to work together towards the success of the Synod. He thanked the core committee members for taking out time and planning the details of the Synod meticulously. The day concluded with closing prayer and lunch for all the members.

SCC Refreshers Training Programme

- Sr. Grace Mary

On 4th March 2017, the Small Christian Community (SCC) of Christ the King Parish organised a Refresher Training programme attended by about 30 members of the parish. It began with a Bible procession to the hall where the Bible was reverently placed and Mrs. Rani Anthony, President welcomed the members and introduced the Resource Person, Sr. Gracemary, SMI. Fr. Vincent Lobo, Parish Priest also spoke on the need for Bible sessions for better understanding of the Word of God.

Sr. Gracemary gave a very enlightening power point presentation ably assisted by Fr. Ranjit and spoke on the 7 steps format for conducting the Gospel Sharing in SCCs. It was a very structured talk and she emphasised on the 4 objectives of the SCC - (i)Coming together, (ii) Sharing the Word of God (iii) Faith in Action and (iv) Unity with the Universal Church.

Coming together The members of SCCs are neighbours. By virtue of their baptism, they come together and are incorporated into the body of Christ. They meet in homes at different intervals to experience communion in love. Sharing the Word of God The Sccs have Gospel sharing.

The Word of God or the Risen Christ, becomes the foundation of the SCC. The participants open their hearts and minds to the Word of God and grow in his divine life. They share their faith life together and grow in faith together with each other.

Expression of faith in Service Inspired by the Word of God, the members serve the needy in their neighbourhood. They see in t h em Ch ri s t h ims e lf, “Whatever you do the least of my brothers, you have done to me.’(Mt 25:40). They are not merely a prayer group, but a community inspired by the Word of God, sent out to fulfil the mission commanded of Jesus, to love one another as he has loved them. United with the Universal Church SCCs are united with the Universal Church through their pastors, Sunday Eucharist, parish Pastoral Councils, Common Programmes etc. They do not live in isolation but are united with the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The celebrations of the Eucharist become the supreme sign of the linkage of Christ the Head with the members of his Body. It was a bilingual interactive session and concluded with a video on the Bible passage 2 Kings 6: 8-23 with the powerful message that love conquers all. Mr. Pradhan gave the vote of thanks and this was followed by lunch and fellowship. The programme as well appreciated by the members. 

Shepard visits his sheep

Guma : Archbishop Thomas D'Souza paid a visit to St Francis Xavier Church (Guma), after a gap of five years or so. He was welcome by Fr. Barnabas Soren (Parish Priest) & Fr. Sandeep Dung Dung (Asst. Parish Priest) at the entrance of the Church gate. Archbishop was the main celebration for the Mass. After the mass Archbishop met all the active Group in the Parish Hall namely; Parish Council ,Youth group, Mother' s group, different Small Christian Community(SCC) & SVP group and Ashoknagar catholic members group.

After the meeting His Grace went to visit the Sick (4 people) of the Parish, gave Holy Communion & blessed them. Archbishop was taken to Ashoknagar sub-station to see the property which is donated by an elderly lady (Mrs. Ujjala Das) who is an active member of the Church. Archbishop returned to the Parish to have lunch with the Parish Priest Fr. Barnabas along with Fr. Sandeep. In the evening His Grace took a look around the Church and decided to build a presbytery for the Church & rooms for the visiting guests. On his way back Archbishop paid a visit to Mr. John Lambert's house, interacted with the hostel boys and concluded his visit with tea at Shanti Dham convent, where the sisters are running St. Francis School.

Letter from the Archbishop

To,
The Clergy, Consecrated men & Women, and Lay Faithful
ARCHDIOCESE OF CALCUTTA

Subject: THE DIOCESAN SYNOD 2017

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Since March 2013, every parish in the Archdiocese of Calcutta was actively involved in formulating The Pastoral Plan (PPP) based on 12 ‘concerns’ or areas of the living Gospel of Jesus Christ at the Parish level by making use of the working papers on each concern. That elaborate exercise is now coming to a close with the actual Parish Pastoral Plans and “Parish Cells” in place. I wish to thank Fr. Dominic Gomes (VG), all the members of the ‘Pastoral Plan Central Core committee’, all the Parish Pastoral Plan Committees headed by the Parish priest/Priest in-charge, and all who have participated in this extensive activity. 

Preparing the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan based on the Parish pastoral Plans is the next step. After consulting the Council of Priests, I have decided to convene a DIOCESAN SYNOD for this purpose. It will take place at Morning Star Regional Seminary, Barrackpore, from 27th September 2017 (evening) to 1st October 2017. The Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan Core Committee representing priest, consecrated men & women and lay Faithful will be the Preparatory Committee.
Canons 460-468 of the Code of Canon Law lay down norms regarding the purpose, membership and procedural details of the Diocesan Synod. Accordingly, the Archbishop will preside over the Synod, and the following will be the members:

Vicar General
Judicial Vicar
Members of Priests’ Council 
All Parish Priests/Priests in-charge
Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan Core Committee
Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Plan Core team of each Parish
Major Superiors (men & women)
CRI: President & Secretary of each deanery 
Secretaries of the Archdiocesan Commissions 
Presidents of Archdiocesan Action Groups 

All the members will have regular Animation Programmes, the first one being on Monday, 13th March 2017 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Seva Kendra Calcutta. All the members are requested to attend this Programme. Those from distant places (especially Midnapore Deanery and distant parishes in North 24 Parganas Deanery) may come to Seva Kendra Calcutta on Sunday, 12th March 2017 evening by 6 p. m.

Prayer is very essential for any event of grace. I exhort all of you to pray earnestly to God, the Father of mercies through Jesus Christ Our Lord, for enlightenment from the Holy Spirit to prepare ourselves well for this ecclesial event. An official prayer will be made available soon.
May the Diocesan Synod help us to discern the will of God for the Archdiocese as we strive to live our Christian vocation as a community of faith, hope and love in the Archdiocese of Calcutta.
 United in prayer, 

Yours sincerely,
Thomas D’ Souza 
Archbishop of Calcutta