Vijayawada (CBCI News): The All India Catholic Union which conducted a Laity Synod in Vijayawada to promote awareness among the faithful of the Year of Faith stressed the need of family catechesis December 1-2 at the laity centre, Gunadala. Over two hundred representatives of all lay associations in the state participated in the Synod.
Bishop Maipan Paul of Khammam, Chairperson of Andhra Pradesh laity commission, inaugurating the Synod. He congratulated the lay leaders for their involvement in the Church matters. He also encouraged them to be apostles of New Evangelization and promote the study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in their families.
Monsignor Chinnappa, Chairman of APCCRST, and Rector of Gundala Matha Shrine and several others spoke. Bishop Gali Bali, the President of the Andhra Pradesh Bishop’s Council (APBC) presided over the Holy Eucharist He urged the participants to promote the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. The year of faith should create an awareness of the importance of the study and use of the Word of God in the personal and family life of every catholic, the bishop said.
Bishop Govindu Joji of Nalgonda diocese and Apostolic Administrator of the Vijayawada diocese blessed the assembly of the lay men and women of Andhra Pradesh and encouraged them to take active part in the life of the Church.
The Church of Andhra Pradesh has thirteen dioceses and over nearly 20 lakh Catholic memberships. Several theologians, and lay leaders presented papers on Vatican II.
The AICU has already conducted such conferences in Delhi, in Mangalore, in Chennai and fourth such synod was conducted in Vijayawada said Mr. Bandi Babu Rao, the Convenor of the Vijayawada synod.
The conference is to help the laity to evaluate their active participation in the mission of the Church and also toward the implementation of the teaching of the Vatican said Lancy D'Cunha, AICU vice-president.
Mr. Maddala Anthony, of Vijayawada who was recently elected treasurer of the National AICU, Layman, Mr. Eleti William Joshi of Gudivada. Lion Francis from Hyderabad and others were felicitated for their longtime committed service to the Catholic Association during the synod.
Convenor Bandi Babu Rao of Vijayawada called the synod a historic event in the life of the Church in Andhra Pradesh. The involvement of three bishops and 200 lay leaders from all over Andhra Pradesh has made the event memorable, he said.
The All India Catholic Union was founded in 1919 it represents the Catholic laity through 120 diocesesan units nationwide.
- Sr. Benigna Menezes