Most Rev Dr James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima and others during the Golden Jubilee Celebration of St Paul Catholic Church, Chiechama on December 17. (Morung Photo)
St Paul Catholic Church, Chiechama celebrates 50 years
Morung Express News
Kohima | December 17
Stating that for the people of Israel, from whom the tradition of celebrating jubilees was taken, Most Rev Dr James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima today said that jubilee was a time for repentance, renewal, reparation, restoration, reformation and re-dedication. Speaking at the Golden Jubilee Celebration of St Paul Catholic Church, Chiechama as the main celebrant, he expressed in this regard that “renewal comes only with repentance and repentance leads to renewal and re-dedication.”
“Let us re-dedicate ourselves today with sincere repentance and let our repentance bring about renewal and resurgence of our faith and mission, both as individuals and as a community,” he urged the congregation while congratulating the Catholic Community of Chiechama, under the patronage of St Paul, for having completed 50 years of Catholic life.
Putting across that “you are one of the pioneering communities and have lived the faith that was handed down to us for the last fifty years”, he further remarked that “fifty years is long period of time to remember the past with gratitude, live the present with fervour and look to the future with hope.”
If we have lived 50 years of Catholic faith, he stated that “it is because of the courageous and committed life of the pioneers, who, I am sure, began their journey of faith with great hope and determination.” In this regard, he also expressed belief that every pioneer of this community has a story of their own to share.
This golden jubilee, he said, “is the celebration of the strong faith and determination of our elders, our pioneers in faith from this village. Today, we are heirs of a great legacy left by our pioneers.” While being grateful to them, he also urged that, “we must also continue their legacy with great fervour and determination. We must carry forward the legacy of our pioneers and make up what was lacking in their faith by our living a more perfect life.”
He made a personal appeal to the gathering by saying, “let us live our catholic faith fully and make a difference in our society. Let us put on the new nature in Christ by living the values of the gospel and thus give a little more taste to our community by our genuine catholic life. Let people say of each one of us catholic, he/she is different because of their catholic faith. Then and then only we can say we are living the legacy of our pioneers with greater fervour and determination.”
Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil also emphasized that if they have lived out their faith then they can be sure that their children would also live it. “If we are to leave a glorious legacy to our future generation, we must have an attitude of love, service, sacrifice and detachment to worldly things and attachments to things spiritual”, he put across.
“Let your life today celebrating the golden jubilee of your faith be an occasion to commit our life to the faith we have received without paying and let us live it without being paid (meaning without any selfish interest) in its fullness and leave a legacy that will last forever”, he further expressed.
Highlights of the event included unveiling of the Golden Jubilee Monolith by the Bishop of Kohima while Rev. Fr. John S Kavas, Parish Priest, St. Dominic Parish Chiephobozou said the invocation and blessing of the Jubilee Monolith and was led by Thepfurienyü George, Member, Finance Committee.
The Golden Jubilee of the Church is being celebrated under the theme “…clothe yourselves with love” (Col.3:14) from December 17-18, 2022.
