Minutes from our recent Parish Pastoral Council meetings - VIEW HERE
The Diocese of Kumbakonam was born on 1st Sep. 1899, bifurcated from the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and was entrusted to the Paris Foreign Mission Society (Missions Étrangères de Paris) and now we have our indigenous Bishops. The diocese is keen on the pastoral ministry and care of the people and eventually there were lots of conversions in the missions and we have two social service centres doing the development works. In education, the diocese has 123 schools, of which 13 are Higher Secondary (till year 12), 2 technical schools, 1 school for those with hearing or speech impairments. In health ministry, there are 2 leprosy hospitals, 8 general hospitals, 20 dispensaries, 2 homes for the aged and 2 for differently able.
We are in Easter season, celebrating Christ’s victory over death. Yet, today,the readings focus on the necessity of repentance, conversion and the avoidance of sin. There are no shortcuts to eternal life - death and resurrection must take place in each of our lives. We must die to self in order to live in God. Sin must be avoided at all costs.
Resurrection must take place here and now in the life of every Christian. True life is not something we achieve overnight but is a gradual transformation that takes place within us, as we turn away from the deed of darkness and live for God. In the gospel, Christ opened the minds of the disciples to understand the scripture. They were to be witnesses, preaching penance for the remission of sins. Our minds and hearts should be opened and it’s our turn to be witnesses to the gospel. The first disciples could not keep the good news to themselves but hurried to share it with those who had ears to listen. If we are to be witnesses to Christ’s gospel we must stop living in a halfhearted manner and show forth the resurrection in our lives. Drawing close to Christ implies truly Christian behaviour and being of one mind and heart with Him. May we strive to be true witnesses to the Risen Christ.
Have a Great week ahead.