Solemnity of Christ the King and concluding the Year of Faith in Siddhpur Mission

Solemnity of Christ the King and concluding the Year of Faith in Siddhpur Mission

The universal Church ends the liturgical year with the feast of Christ the King, when Catholic faithful all over the world congregate for joyful Eucharistic celebration and Eucharistic procession. Siddhpur is a budding mission which celebrated the feast in a special manner. During the week Gospel Sharing was conducted in every family to prepare for the feast. On Sunday after the homily each faithful lighted their candle from Easter Candle and renewed their baptismal promises. Thereafter the people of God held the Sacred Scriptures, Vatican II document, Catechism of Catholic Church, Christian Faith and other documents of the Church in their hands recited the prayer which His Grace Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes had issued for concluding the Year of Faith. This shows their pledge to live a witnessing life according to the Word of God and tradition of the Church. Many expressed that it was a unique experience of the feast. Prior to doing all these Fr. Xavier James catechized the faithful of the symbolic gestures and the celebration. Thus the twentieth anniversary of Catechism of the Catholic Church and fiftieth year Vatican II was celebrated and concluded the year with meaningful celebration of the holy Eucharist. Afterwards Martin Fernandes sponsored cake for all those who were present. (24^th Nov 2013 by Xavier James)    

Concluding the Year of Faith on the solemnity of Christ the King feast in Siddhpur Mission: The people of God with lighted candle renewed their baptismal promises and also holding the Sacred Scripture, Vatican II, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Christian Faith and other documents recited the prayer for the concluding the year of Faith issued by His Grace Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes.

Archdiocesan Mission Congress in Gandhinagar on 14th November 2013: During the concluding ceremony of the year of Faith Pastors, Sisters, and Faithful from all the six civil districts have joined in jubilation of their faith, including Siddhpur priest and people.

Mission Sunday Celebration & Gospel sharing in the families of Siddhpur Mission by Xavier James.

Mission Sunday Celebration & Gospel sharing in the families of Siddhpur Mission.

Lumen Gentium of Vatican II calls the lay faithful as ‘People of God and the baptized, by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, they should everywhere on earth bear witness to Christ’ (9-10). Having well understood this dignity which the Church bestows on our faithful in Siddhpur celebrated Mission Sunday in a meaningful manner by participating in the Liturgy and contributing generously to the cause of missionary activities of the Church. They are aware of Ad Gentes Divinitus no.2 saying ‘The Church on earth is by its very nature missionary’ and so take up their responsibility seriously. During the Holy Eucharist, there is a tradition began to give witness of God-experience publicly, so Martin Fernandes shared the God experience and how God has been leading his family members to the Faith. After the Eucharist there was an Agape. Every family had to prepare a dish and bring it and share in common to live out the experience of the early Christian communities.

Keeping the success stories of the Parish Priest among the Small Christian Communities and having the primacy of the Word of God in Catholic families, we have begun the Gospel Sharing in the families and it is so wonderful to see and hear the small children sharing beautiful reflections and making spontaneous prayers. This has enriched the families and their love for the Word of God. As Ecclesia in Asia 46 sees ‘the family as the domestic Church’, our Catholic families in Siddhpur though few in number make the Church vibrant through their witnessing value.  (27^th October 2013 by Xavier James)

First anniversary of the Trust and Nativity of Our Lady and Onam celebrations in Siddhpur Mission Parish by Xavier James.

As we gladly complete a year of the Trust Registration

Today, on the 20^th August 2013, Shital Chhaya Charitable Trust completes one year of its registration at the Asst. Charity commissioner’s office in Patan. So much hard work has been put in and much more running about has been done in order to activate the Trust. Prior to the registration, preparing trust deed and translating, correcting, approving, consulting, clarifying, submitting was done. After the trust registration Obtaining PAN card of the trust, 12AA certificate and opening of an account in the Union Bank of India, preparing an emblem of the trust were important tasks. Thereafter accounts were audited and submitted to the Archbishop, Asst. Charity commissioner, income tax office in Patan and Ahmedabad. Fr. Xavier James was present for all the hearing conducted by Charity commissioner, Income tax officer.

His Grace Archbishop handed over to Fr. Xavier James the xerox copies of the documents of the land and then the Parish Priest went about to survey the land and erect some poles to mark the boundaries of our land at Umru, Siddhpur. As we had the land inside without proper entrance His Grace Archbishop was kind enough to buy a piece of land in order to have access to the existing land. This too took much time, energy, meetings, correspondence, visits, decision making etc. The priest was venturing into the villages for visiting and meeting on account of starting legal aid in this vicinity with the help of Fr. Stanny Jebamalai. Many projects were written and sent to many agencies but hardly any response.

As the priest resides in a rented house so also the liturgical services were conducted in the rented house. With the help of the faithful pastorally we have become vibrant with well prepared liturgy, with effective breaking of the Word and celebration of the Eucharist and other liturgical services. By the grace of God sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Viaticum, anointing of the sick, funeral were celebrated in the parish in the past year. Carols singing in Catholic homes and School, Celebration of Christmas, New year, participation in the way of the cross in different homes, celebration of Holy week added strength to the faith of the believing community. The parish is sustained with the generous donations from the Archbishop, some friends, parishioners. On this day of thanksgiving I gratefully acknowledge the blessings of the Lord and people. I thank our beloved Archbishop for all the assistance to this new parish. We offer every effort to the feet of the Lord. (20^th August 2013)

Novena & Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady and Onam celebration

It is being the year of Faith, novena to Our Lady was dedicated to the themes of Mary’s Faith… The parishioners of Siddhpur mission came with much devotion and eagerness  to celebrate the Eucharist and recite the Holy Rosary. On the culmination day of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, the celebration began with solemn festive Eucharist and ended with Agape sponsored by Mr. Joy & Mary. Since it was the ‘monte fest’ the harvest festival among Mangalorian Catholics, special prayers of thanksgiving was offered. One could really feel  the company of our Blessed Mother during these days of coming together.

Onam, the harvest festival of Malayalee Catholics, was celebrated with the Holy Eucharist and meal. Some Hindus who joined the celebration commented that ‘you Catholics really take time off to be together which is a great value in this rapid life style’. Kudos to Mr. Shaji & Susan. In Siddhpur, the number of Catholics is less so it is easy to organize events. People are very co-operative and so many programmes are being planned which strengthens the bond. When one falls sick the whole community is there at the side of the person which brings the tie closer.