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Members of Diocesan Fraternity pose for a photograph at the celebration of the feast of John Mary Vianney on August 5 and 6 at St. Joseph’s Parish, Chumoukedima.[/caption]
Dimapur, Aug. 9 (EMN): Diocesan Fraternity of Kohima Diocese celebrated the feast of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of the parish priests, on August 5 and 6 at St. Joseph’s Parish, Chumoukedima.
The highlights of the programme included Holy Eucharist with local community of St. Joseph’s parish, felicitation programme of the diocesan fraternity and the Sacerdotal 25 years jubilarians, meeting, basketball match and get-together.
The Eucharist was presided over by Rev. Fr. Sunny Joseph, Rector of Good Shepherd Seminary, Dimapur, one of the silver jubilarian on August 6 at St. Joseph’s Church. Bishop of Kohima diocese James Thoppil and 70 other diocesan priests concelebrated the Holy Mass.
The homily was delivered by Rev. Fr. RR Graviour Augustine, one of the silver jubilarians and a professor at Oriens Theological College, Shillong. In his homily, he highlighted the qualities of St. John Vianney and exhorted the priests and community to be lovers like their patron saint and to root their life on prayer. He also invited the community to pray for their priests.
The four jubilarians namely Fr. Sunny Joseph, PJ Thomas, RR Graviour Augustine and Anthonysamy were felicitated after the holy mass by the diocesan fraternity.
The community of St. Joseph’s parish along with students of St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School felicitated the priests with a cultural programme.
Bishop James Thoppil exhorted the community to love and care for their priests, who toil hard and labour in different parts of the diocese.
Fr. Anthony Samy thanked the fraternity, Bishop and others who were responsible for the celebration. He also said that jubilee is an occasion to re-introspect one’s life. He asked the congregation to continue supporting them in their prayers.
The celebration began on August 5 with a meeting of the diocesan fraternity. New office bearers were also elected during the meeting. Fr. Godfrey was elected as the president and Fr. Lichoi John and Fr. Peter Pithungo were elected as secretary and treasurer respectively.
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. He spent most of his life hearing confessions of thousands of people who flocked to him.
