Teaching is not a profession but an attitude, says Vatican ambassador

Our Correspondent

Kohima, March 28 (EMN): Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, who is on a four-day visit to Nagaland said that teaching is not a profession but an attitude and a way of being.

Interacting with faculties and professors of St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama (Autonomous) on Sunday, he said that in order to educate, it is necessary to step out of one’s comfort zone and be among young people, to accompany them and set ourselves beside them in stages of their growth.

The envoy encouraged them to closely bound up with the holistic development offered to the students by providing them a balance of cognitive, affective, social, professional, ethical and spiritual aspects and not be disheartened by difficulties.

“It is in education that the promise of a more humane future and harmonious society lies”, the envoy said on his visit to the first college established by the Diocese of Kohima. All Catholic Schools and Colleges have a challenging task in carrying out the church’s educational apostolate, of not only striving to excel in pedagogy and the pursuit of knowledge, but to instill the students with the spirit of Christ, he pointed out.

He stated that the aim of providing quality education, particularly to the marginalised sections of society is truly noble. The archbishop lauded the college for contributing towards the formation of young students into people of character, compassion, responsibility, accountability and moulding them to become worthy citizens.

While interacting with the students at St. Joseph's college (Autonomous) Jakhama, he said that the purpose of education is to make them fully human, alive and transform their lives.

“It is my fervent hope that you will always uphold the Christian values of love, self-sacrifice, concern for others, forgiveness, and peace,” he said.

Later at a felicitation programme held at the Bishops’ house hall in Kohima, the Vatican envoy said ‘the gospel journey is a challenging one at every step. We need the grace of God, as by being faithful, we are called to joyfully live our Christian vocation, bearing witness of our faith in daily life’.

He also advised the Catholic leaders to be primary instruments in renewing the earth with their leadership and faithfulness in the community.

 President of the Catholic Association of Nagaland, Johnny Ruangmei informed that the Catholic community is the second-largest Christian faith in Nagaland.

Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the Bishop of Kohima, informed that there are about 62,000 members of Catholicism in Nagaland at present. The number has grown from no Catholic in the state to such a number in a span of 70 years. He further informed that there are 49 diocesan priests at present and 11 religious priests along with 200 religious sisters from the various tribes of Nagaland. Despite the low numbers, he said that the influence of the church through educational institutions, medical institutions, and social involvement is very high.

“It is the laity that shouldered the responsibility of spreading the faith and they continue to do so with great zeal and enthusiasm,” he added.

Some challenges they faced included lack of communication and transport facilities, upholding the tribal and gospel values at the face of onslaught of materialistic and hedonistic pursuit in life, prioritising proclamation and catechesis, and so on.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church also felicitated Venuzo Timothy Dawhuo, two-time Naga wrestling champion in the presence of the Vatican envoy, the Bishop, church leaders and others. The ambassador also visited Kohima War Cemetery, Naga Heritage Village at Kisama and St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous) Jakhama.