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The 14 Catholic Sisters who took evangelical vows, at the Cathedral Church on Sunday Aug. 5, in Kohima.[/caption]
Dimapur, Aug. 5 (EMN): The religious profession of the ‘daughters of the Mary Help of Christians’ was held at Cathedral Church in Kohima on Sunday Aug. 5. Bishop of Kohima Diocese Most Rev. James Thoppil, presided over the Holy Eucharist celebration as the main celebrant. Priests from different parishes and centres of the diocese concelebrated with him.
A press release received here on Sunday from the diocese informed that during the occasion of the first profession, Novices Basumatray Sumuti, Chonglio Caroline, Indwar Mirula, Kajiri Bibiana Tshuvivi, Kera Angela Vilakuonuo, KujurKripa, MarakKairina, Maria Mhalo, Pamei Jasmine, Talie Catherine Kikrusenuo,
ToppoPriyanka, Toppo Emilia, wangpan Grace Nonja, and Yulhung Celina Chothe, pronounced the three evangelical vows namely Poverty, chastity and obedience as a promise of religious commitment and to the church.
Bishop in his homily said that ‘life is short and we are called to live that life commendably.’
He said God calls everyone for the specific purpose and each one responds to that his will. “What we are is the God’s gift to us and what we become is our gift to God,” he stated.
Saying that life is a constant response to the call of God, be it religious or laities, the bishop maintained that everyone is called to live a life to holiness.
To answer to the call, he said one need to have virtue and that virtue needed to be strengthened by the knowledge and that knowledge is needed to have endurance, over all we need to have faith and Love.
Bishop exhorted the new Sisters to live life passionately and serve the lord without reservation. Further,
he them ‘for their courage to be a counter witness to the world that glorifies and glamorizes unbridled materialism and excessive consumerism through their religious vows of poverty, obedience and chastity.’ Bishop also congratulated the parents for sacrificing their children for the service of the lord.
The significant part of the ceremony was the profession of the Evangelical vows, presentation of the book of constitution of the congregation and putting on of the chain with cross, the press releases stated.
Special prayers were offered during the Holy Eucharistic celebration for the newly professed sisters.
The newly professed expressed the heartfelt sentiments to the congregation with a melodious number titled “I Fix my Gaze on You”.
