Vijayawada (AsiaNews) - Valuing women, establishing harmony within the
community and developing mission, according to Fr. Udumala Showry Bala,
director of the Amruthavani Center for Communication, these are the primary
objectives that emerged from a Congress on mission in Andhra Pradesh, held at
Vijayawada. The Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Msgr. Salvatore
Pennacchio, attended the rally, which was attended by over 1,500 delegates from
13 dioceses of the State. At the end of the Congress (8-10 May), the
participants drew up the Vijayawada Declaration, a document on the future of
the Church in Andhra Pradesh.
The Declaration is divided into three parts. Carmelite Fr.
Gorantla Johannes, president of the Conference of Religious India in Andhra
Pradesh and moderator of Congress, says: "The first part recalls the
contribution of the earlier missionaries to the growth of faith and appreciates
the steadfastness with which the seed of faith was preserved by the faithful
for nearly 500 years. brings out an awareness of the present realities
affecting the Church and identifies certain problem areas and the third part
gives ten solutions to the present malaise and makes a future plan for the
growth and development of the Church. "
Another highlight of the mission congress was dedicated to education and health
services of the Church in Andhra Pradesh. In this regard, Fr. Reddy said,
"about 2 thousand priests and 6 thousand, nuns and brothers participate in
government programs and seminars, to improve collaboration between state and
clergy in reaching and helping the poorest of the population."
The gathering ended with a special liturgy. In his homily,
Msgr. Poola Anthony, bishop of the Diocese of Kurnool, urged the faithful to be
"messengers of peace in the world", starting with being "children
of light and salt of the earth."
Among the other sessions of Congress, there were small
performances of music and dance. The Kaladarshini group preformed a show called
Mamata Moorthy ("Mother Teresa"), which left the entire audience
speechless.
Andhra Pradesh is the fifth state in India with a total
population of 84.6 million people. Of these, 1.7 million are Catholics, divided
into 13 dioceses. These are about 1000 parishes, 11 thousand priests and more
than 7 thousand religious. Vijayawada, where the Congress was held, is the
third largest city in the state. The city is home to a Christian community that
is more than 10% of the total population (about one million people).
* Missionary of the
Immaculate, a congregation of women religious linked to the Pontifical
Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME).