Over 1,000 Diocesan Priests To Congregate At Vailankanni

BANGALORE, Karnataka, Feb. 03, 2010, 10.00 Hrs (SAR News):

The Commission for Priests of the Conference for Catholic Bishops in India will host an Indian Priests’ Congress at Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu, February 9-11, to mark the ‘Year of Priests’.

Over 1,000 diocesan priests from over 100 dioceses across India will participate in the meet.

Speaking to SAR News, secretary to the Commission, Father Kulandhai, said: “This event was planned last May itself by the CDPI (Commission for Diocesan Priests in India) and we decided to invite the priests of all the three Rites and also the religious (to the congress). It aims to reflect on priesthood and to spiritually empower priests in the Year of Priesthood.”

The three-day congress will be inaugurated by the Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, Claudio Cardinal Hummes.

Various themes like the faithfulness of Christ, the fidelity of Christ, the fidelity of priests and the challenges faced in priestly life have been chosen for the seminar and discussions.

Deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, will preside over the meet on the inaugural. The dignitaries include Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Sri Ravishankar of the Art of living International Centre, the Indian Muslim League national secretary Janab Kader Mohideen, Christian member of Parliament Agatha Sangma, and Tamil Nadu unit C.P.I. secretary D. Raja.

Our Lady of Vailankanni Shrine is a popular pilgrim centre in Thanjavur Diocese of Tamil Nadu. The shrine dedicated to Mother Mary is over three hundred years’ old.