July 10, 2022
Friends, with summertime come blessings of nature, as evidenced in just about everything we see. Since school is not in session, we can use the vibrant components of summer to keep God’s love alive in the minds and hearts of our children. This summer I had an opportunity to experience God and His wonders in the Mission work I have been involved in Northeast India. Fr. Marc, our pastor, asked me to share with you the mission work I have been doing in Northeast India.
When I was a pastor of St. John Baptist Parish in Ft. Calhoun and St. Francis Borgia Parish in Blair, Fr. Anand, and Fr. Sunny, Jesuits from Northeast India were kind enough to help me out at our parishes during their time at Creighton University. As Fr. Anand was leaving to go back home to minister to his people in Northeast India, we talked about entering a twinning relationship with St. John Baptist. Parish in Ft. Calhoun and St. Francis Borgia Parish in Blair Nebraska, USA and St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Maweit, India.
Concept of Twinning:
The concept of the twinning of parishes springs from the Acts of the Apostles where the early Christians shared what they had with each other. It is a way of strengthening the universality of the Catholic Church by giving people an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the treasures of the faith they share. It is a process by which they learn to go beyond their narrow domestic walls and embrace people of different races and cultures. It provides them with a means to convert their faith into action.
Background Information
The Northeast of India, which includes seven states, is situated on the slopes of the Himalaya Mountains, and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of the country. It is home to over 200 different tribal communities with their wide variety of cultures and languages. Due to its isolated location and small population, the area has been badly neglected by the Indian Government giving rise to insurgency and inter-tribal conflicts which have adversely affected the region. Most of the people of this region are Christian; they really love their faith and take extra effort to deepen it. The Jesuits along with other religious congregations have been trying hard to respond effectively to the needs of the region but have not been able to do much, mainly because the government offers very little assistance, and the people are economically backward. Whatever they have been able to do until now has been possible only because of the help received from benefactors.
Opportunities, Blessings, and Graces
- Over the years with the support of the leaders of the two parishes we drew up a plan for collaboration and were able to accomplish following things:
- We had six groups of parishioners go on Mission trips to Northeast India.
- We also had the people of Ft. Calhoun and Blair sponsor a trip for 6 members of the Maweit parish to spend a month in the US. They stayed with families in the US and experienced the life of the Americans.
- Families built up a special bonding by praying for each other.
- People of Ft. Calhoun and Blair helped the people of Maweit parish in Northeast India to construct a small chapel, girls’ dormitory, and other projects while the people of Maweit made a collection and sent it to the Parish Priest of Ft. Calhoun to help a family in his parish when it was hit by a storm.
- Youth and adults from Forth Calhoun and Blair also helped with Vacation Bible School and teaching women to bake.
- Visiting people at their homes, talking about faith and listening to their faith stories has always been the highlight of every trip.
- An anonymous donor from Omaha has built two primary schools which have enrollment of more than 750 students in each school.
Here is the picture of the new school that was dedicated and blessed during my trip to India few weeks ago.
For those of you want to learn more about my mission work, I will be sharing about it on Wednesday, July 13th at 6:30pm in the parish Trinity Rooms.