EMN
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 5
THE Diocesan Fraternity of the Diocese of Kohima celebrated the feast of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of the parish priests on August 4 and 5 at St. Xavier’s Parish, Jalukie.
The highlights of the programme included Holy Eucharist with local community of St. Xavier’s Parish, felicitation programme, DF meeting, basketball match and get-together.
The solemn Eucharist was presided over by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the Bishop of Kohima. The homily was preached by Rev. Fr. Mathew Keemattam, one of the senior most priests of the diocese. In his homily, highlighting the qualities of St. John Vianney, exhorted the priests and community gathered, to be lovers like their patron saint and to root their life on prayer, and also invited the community to pray for their priests.
The community of St. Xavier’s Parish, along with students of St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School felicitated the priests with a well-organized cultural programme. The community and Nagaland Catholic Youth Movement also honored the priests with gifts. Bishop James Thoppil exhorted the community to love and care for their priests who toil hard and labour in different parts of the diocese.
Earlier Fr. Antonysamy, president of Diocesan Fraternity, who is also the host of this year’s feast extended warm welcome to the priests.
The celebration began on August 4 with a basketball match between Bishop’s Team and the St. Xavierians. It may be mentioned that St. John Mary Vianney was a saint from France, who spent most of his life in Ars, a remote town, as a parish priest and spent most of his life hearing confessions of thousands of people who flocked to him.
Fr. Augstine Kerketta, on behalf of the Diocesan Fraternity expressed vote of thanks to the host parish. Over 60 diocesan priests took part in this yearly event and the catholic community and the students of the St. Xavier’s Higher School and College witnessed the felicitation programme.
