Seminar and bi- decennial celebration of the erection of the Diocese

The celebration is a moment of information, for formation to transform. This experience was lived on the 7th and 8th of October 2019 by around 160 religious Sisters and 60 diocesan and religious Priests of Bongaigaon Diocese of North East India in Assam who gathered together with their Bishop Rt. Rev.Thomas Pullopillil to commemorate the bi- decennial celebration of the erection of the diocese of Bongaigaon. It was also a moment of formation for us when we reflected together the relevance of “Maximum Illud” today with the help of Fr.Jose Varickasseri SDB in the context of the celebration of the extraordinary missionary month and the session on “Lay movement of the young in the Christian Mission” by Fr. Parackal Roy Antony SDB in order to renew the youth ministry and enter into dialogue with contemporary youth culture. When the Apostle Paul considered His salvation and the ways of God, all he could do was stand in awe of God and say, “The depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable His ways” (Rm. 11:33). This was the experience as we traveled back into 20 years of life of the diocese with the PowerPoint presentation.  We knelt down in profound adoration and thanksgiving at the end of the day before the Blessed Sacrament with the same attitude of the psalmist who admitted, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it” (Psalm 139:6).

The second day began with the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Bishop of the diocese Rt.  Rev.Thomas Pullopillil. The reflection of the day was guided by Fr.Joy Pallikunnel about the “Problems and Possibilities of Evangelization in North East” and the “New approaches to Evangelization and Catechesis”. The group discussions after the sessions helped us to make some resolutions and plans for the coming years. Recalling the extraordinary mission month 2019, entrusting the entire northeast mission and especially the diocese of Bongaigoan into the hands of Our Blessed Mother prayed together with the Holy Rosary. In order to add color to the celebration few cultural programs were organized by the formees from different religious Congregations. After a brief evaluation of the programme, the seminar was concluded. Yes, the celebration was a moment to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with passion and the future with hope.