Verghese V Joseph –
Bengaluru: His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect, Dicastery for Evangelization, Vatican, offered an inspiring thought on sharing Jesus’ story during the Eucharist, during the inaugural session of the 34th plenary session of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI). The event is taking place from Tuesday through Saturday at the Nursing College Auditorium of St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore.
Cardinal Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, is a theologian and church historian of international distinction. Emphasising on the theme, “Telling the Story of Jesus in our Context: The Synodal Way”, the prelate said life has a narrative structure. He offered an encouraging way to be in communion with Jesus, who is the story of God. The cardinal said that this communion was found in the Eucharist as well as among the lost, the tired, and the abandoned people of this world.
His eminence stated, “Human life is unimaginable without stories. Good stories are based on experience. We opt for credible stories that are dynamic and open to retelling. Stories can also be suppressed. Jesus, the greatest story teller was silenced by those who didn’t like him but God the Father continued his story…”
Cardinal Tagle focused on three fundamental dimensions of Christian experience: authentic spiritual worship of Jesus in and beyond Eucharist, the communion in the word of God, and the mission each one that tell the story of Jesus based on one’s experience with him. Cardinal Tagle combined biblical narration and personal experience with sound theological reflection.
Cardinal Tagle is one of the most inspiring and influential voices in the global Catholic Church today. He said the story of Jesus could be said in many different ways, depending on the context and experience. “The story of Jesus binds us all. During the Eucharist, the night of betrayal is told and people experience it personally.
Cardinal Tagle is the Archbishop of Manila, Philippines. He is a theologian and church historian of international distinction.
In his presidential address, His Eminence Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President stated that the Church in India has been engaged in a large-scale exercise of discernment and self-searching. This has been triggered by the important ‘synodal journey’ in which the whole Church is involved, it may be good to bring to our mind the situation in which we are placed at the present moment.
“The country is loom holding the diverse threads of religions, spiritualties, cultures, traditions, languages and social strata that blend together to form a complex and beautiful tapestry. Alongside a profound spirituality, social and economic disparities deeply fragment the fabric of this nation. The Church in India reflects these diversities and divides in its own composition,” he said.
The Cardinal rued that these were now being challenged by the increasing polarization brought about by religious fundamentalism and by the new disturbing trends that keep emerging in our country, at various levels. The Christian faithful live as a minority in a multi-religious society and this situation impacts deeply their witness to their faith and their dealings with people of other faiths and with government authorities.
In his benedictory message, Most Rev. Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, said that there was a need to find pastoral ways to retell the story of Jesus. “You should have a desire with courage to tell the story of Jesus to larger number of people. Also, just being born as Christians does not make us Christians but our personal choice of life-long commitment to Jesus Christ makes us true Christians.”
Archbishop George Anthony Swamy, vice president, CCBI read out the message of Pope Francis.
Archbishop Anil Couto, secretary general, CCBI presented the annual report of CCBI.
Earlier, the Archbishop of Bengaluru Dr Peter Machado welcomed the dignitaries and delegates.
Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General, CCBI proposed the vote of thanks.