“We belong to one another, and every member of the Church has a task in the society today, more than ever”, Cardinal Toppo

RANCHI, Jharkhand, Feb. 15, 2010, 10.00 Hrs (Alex Vadakumthala / CBCI News):

“We belong to one another, and every member of the Church has a task in the society today, more than ever”, said Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, concluding the five-day long Ranchi Archdiocesan Synod.

“This Synod is not the end; on the contrary it is the beginning of a new era in our living of faith. All of us have to live this renewal in the way the Lord assigns to us: as priests, as lay ministers, as religious, as teachers, as parents, as students, as simple labourers. We all together are Christ’s Body, but we are different members of that body, having our particular task according to the calling of Christ”, said the Archbishop of Ranchi.

“Every teacher”, he said, “stands in need of the help of both the students and their families and those who help true education to flourish, but at the same time they need their teachers, Every health worker, who makes present Jesus’ healing ministry will need the believing community to be able to do his or her ministry. Our politicians need all of us to be able to achieve a restructuring of society and eradicate whatever prevents people to find life and life in fullness here on earth. Every parish priest needs every faithful in his parish to accomplish his task, but the parishioners need their pastor. In one word, we need to collaborate with each other to make a difference.”

In a message from the Vatican, Cardinal Ivan Dias, the president of Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples, wrote, “This Synod is a very important moment in the life of the Archdiocese, for it invites the local Church to reflect on its life and plan for the coming years. The theme chosen for the Synod, `Love the Church’ has a particular relevance at this time of history.” Quoting Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Ivan continued, “A diocesan Synod is an action of episcopal governance and en event of communion, a moment of evaluation and of renewal of its communitarian life and its mission. The work of the Synod is to promote acceptance of the Church’s salvific doctrine and to encourage the faithful in their following of Christ.”

The Synod began on February 7, with 260 participants, including 69 youth whose zeal and enthusiasm offered a great dynamism to the synodal proceedings. The resolutions taken at the end of the Synod included spiritual renewal at every level with on-going formation and follow up programmes, greater involvement of the Church in the field of education and healthcare, and more emphasis on leadership, especially in socio-political field.