Celebrating First Anniversary of SCC Hindi National Convention 2019

 ■ FR. DOMINIC COMES

Kolkata:Last year from 24-27 October the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta was teaming with activity hosting over 2500 delegates coming into Kolkata from 15 Dioceses to attend the SCC National Convention 2019. There is no doubt that the convention was a big success in many ways. even the heavy downpour on that threatened to drown the event on the lust day dried up as continuous prayers praise and worship went up to send the sun out the next day. Behind the success of such a big event there is always a huge amount of sacrifice, hard work, and contribution that prevails with perseverance of the people involved who are far too many to be mentioned here. Undoubtedly the event manifested and was a witness to the spirit of unity within the Church and highlighted the importance of family - the Domestic Church in fulfilling the prophetic role of the Church.Moreover as one Religious Sister put it. It was so exciting and such a great joy to be working together with so many people for the success of such a great event. It was to recount and uphold this spirit funny and great joy that the Archdiocese celebrated the first anniversary of the convention with a day's program on Sunday the 15 November 2020 across all parishes of  Archdiocese.

All the various celebrations started with Holy Mass in the morning wish an entrance procession holding up the Bible accompanied by prayerful dance and singing and veneration of the Bible. After this in many Parishes a short animation preceded the SCC leaders presenting reports of the enonnous spiritual and temporal words done by SCC units during the dire times of the COVID -19 Pandemic and catastrophic aftermath of Super-Cyclone AMPHAN to help the most needy and poor families, elderly people and children in their neighbouring communities, Tasteful, colourful and entertaining cultural programs showcasing the talents of young and old alike culminated with thanksgiving and fellowship meals. For these celebrations too a great amount of effort was again expended by many people Laity, clergy and Religious under challenging conditions of pandemic restrictions. Encouragement by Archbishop Thomas D'Souza and led by Diocesan Secretary of the SCC Commission Fr. Dominic Gomes, animators and SCC members were holding regular meetings mostly online to guide and iron out every detail of the celebration program months in advance. 

Strengthening the Foundations of Small Christian Communities (SCC) in the Archdiocese of Calcutta (Part 1)

The formation and operations of Small Christian Communities (SCC in the Archdiocese of Calcutta slatted way back in 1989 by Sybil and Dominic J. Azavedo in Christ the King Parish Park Circus Kolkata. Now in more recent times, a concentrated and intensive drive for 'Awareness. Formation and Training of Small Christian Communities SCC) in all parishes of the Archdiocese of Calcutta' was carried out from April 2018 onwards by holding animation programs in the Parishes to make our people aware about the extremely important role of new evangelisation and social union that the SCC is expected to play in the modern amid, The efforts towards revitalisation of SCC bore good fruit at the time of the SCC National Hindi Convention on the theme of 'Prophetic Role of SCC' hosted by the Calcutta Archdiocese from 25th to 27th October 2019. 

This Convention was attended by 2950 delegates from 51 Dioceses of the country. The participants were lodged as guests in the homes of our parishioners at various places while some were hosted in our institutions too. The Annual Archdiocese Priests' Conference was held from 27th to 29th January 2020. It was facilitated by Bishop Ignatius Mascaranliss. Chairperson of the National SCC Commission (CBI New Delhi The growth of SCC was the main theme of the meeting where 85 priests deliberated on the concerns related to the effective spread of SCC, As a result of these efforts. in the past two years. many SCC units fainted in Parishes and some old ones were revised. It needs to be understood that the SCC units have a unique positioning by being rooted in and operating from the level of the family the domestic church)  families of believers who are living among non-Christian communities in the areas of the Archdiocese Coupled with this physical positioning its mission is based on the four operational principles or characteristics which make SCC well suited and situated for working towards Communion of Communities. The four principles are : (1 members of SCC Units are families living in a particular neighbourhood who meet in their houses giving them a sense of mutual belonging through continuous fellowship: (2) the central activity of Gospel Sharing helps them to live their life and build relationships based on the Word of God (3)SCC is firmly grounded to work as an extension of the universal church: (4) they minister to and care for each other by providing social services to all those around who are in need. In short we form- One Holy Catholic and Apostolic church. However. some major findings and learning that saw emerged as challenges, they are: - The church in modern times is challenged with peoples' focus on an overly secular life style at the cost of faith and belief which in turn is adversely affecting social values and ethics. Many SCC members (especially women and mothers) are concerned as other members of the family are 'too busy' to participate and be a part of SCC units. Lay leadership in a genuine 'servant leadership' form is not growing due to a combination of over clericalism and because few lay leaden are coming forward to take up responsibilities. 

Finally, there are very few trained animators who are reacting out to the Catholic population of over 1.5 lath in the 65 parishes and Mission Stations of the Archdiocese spread over a vast 30.000 square kilometres area in 10 districts of West Bengal.

Tomb of Jesuit Pioneer Fr Peter Vanderstraten SJ (1818-1860) Discovered and Restored!

 FR. JEYARAJ VELUSAMY SJ

The twin institutions of St Xavier's College and St Xavier's Collegiate School crossed the milestone of 160 years of then existence and service at the heart of Kolkala on 16th January 2020. The Foundation Day of the twin institutions. It was on 16th January in 1860 that St Xavier 's College had its humble beginning at 10 Park Street. Calcutta as was known then. The first seven pioneering Jesuits were: Fr. Henry Depekhin SJ, Fr. John De Vos. SJ, Fr Louis Deynooth SJ, Fr Peter Vanderstraten SJ ( Belgian Jesuits) and Fr Henry Everard SJ, Fr Henry Shea SJ and Brother Thomas Sharpies SJ (English Jesuits). Fr Henry Depekhin led the team and started St Xavier's College thus at the same time laying the foundation of the 'Bengal Mission' from which the English Jesuit Province withdrew its members in 1846. 

Sudden Death of Fr Peter John Vanderstraten As records tell us Fr Peter Vanderstraten SJ was one of the first out Belgian Jesuits to land in Calcutta. He was born on 15th December in 1818 in (Belgium) He joined the Society of Jesus on 3rd November 1844 and made his final profession on 2nd February 1855. The young priest was sub-prefect in the High School of Turnhout (Belgium) and in charge of the Brothers when he was chosen to join the team being sent to open a school in Calcutta. Along with the others he arrived in Calcutta on 28th November 1859 and yet although sickness was a permanent visitor in the college there was only one death: Fr Vanderstraten prefect and sub-prefect who ardently studied languages without bothering about the climate. In August he was struck down by a liver sickness that carried him off on September 11 at the age of 42."Bengal was then infamous for its hot and humid climate, cholera and malaria. 

Miraculous Discovery of the Tomb

On the morning of 28th December 2019 when Fr Etienne Degree and myself (Fr Jeyaraj Veluswamy set out from St Xavier's College at about 10am heading towards the LC Road Cemetery we had in our hands just a small piece of paper in which were written: 'Fr Peter Vanderstraten SJ) died 11th September 1860. We said to ourselves 'Let us give it a try even if we don't succeed to find the grave it doesn't matter .We could enjoy a nice peaceful morning walk together.' lt was a three hour long search going from one disappointment to another right at the start itself the person in charge of the Burial Register could not find the name in the register and so he plainly told us 'No such person was ever buried here.'

But we ventured in going from one grave to another. It was past lunch now, We were almost giving up and about to wind up our search when suddenly my eyes fell on an abandoned cross half fallen and particularly on those two Letters "SJ" engraved on it. I told Fr Etienne. ' Please stay here on the path I see something like an SJ let me go and see it. It was 15 feet away. I went over and knell down on the grass to tried to read and it was 'SJ' at the end of a long name. I took time to read the engraved name carefully. Lo and behold it was the name of Fr Peter Vanderstraten SJ ! The engraving on the tombstone aces read thus : "SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF REV PETER VANDER STRATEN SJ OF ST XAVIER'S COLLEGE BORN IN BELGIUM DIED IN CALCUTTA 11TH SEPTEMBER 1860 AGED 42 YEARS."

Also "REVD EDWARD FERRARIO DIED 10th JULY 1917 AGED 36 YEARS." This second name on the same cross seems to be that of a Diocesan priest. who was also buried in the same grave 57 years later. Therefore it was a Min grave. Needless to say how much joy we both felt at that moment! Truly 160 years later Fr Peter Vanderstraeten came alive again Restoring and Blessing of the Grave on All SoulsDay On 2nd November 2020. All Souls Day Rev Fr Raphael Joseph Hyde SJ Jesuit Provincial in the presence of many Jesuits from St Xavier's College and Fr Jerome Francis Socius visited the grave and offered special prayers for the repose of the dead blessing and restoring the renovated grave with the sprinkling of holy water placing of rose petals and lighting of candles. Later in the morning his Grace Archbishop Thomas D' Souza and Fr Dominic Gomes the VG also visited this restored grave and offered their prayers for the two priests buried in this twin grave.  

KOLKATA WALK FOR FR. STAN SWAMY

KOLKATA: A silent and prayerful solidarity walk for Fr. Stan Lourdu Swamy was organised on Saturday. October 17 in Kolkata by Mother Teresa International Award Committee. The Centre should release Father Stan Swamy otherwise all minorities will come together and agitate an Imam of Nakhoda Mosque said at the end of a silent walk on Park Street expressing solidarity with the 83-year-old Jesuit priest. 'If one brother is facing injustice, the other brothers will be silent spectators said Maulana Shalique Qasmi.

Maulana Qasmi added: 'Father Stan Swamy has been arrested without having committed any qasoor and it is our request that the government release him unconditionally. Else, all minorities in the country will agitate against The Imam was part of a protest where a group of Christians including priests and nuns walked through Park Street,School principals and teachers joined them. Archbishop Thomas D' Souza who joined the event after the walk concluded, said: The way he was treated, very inhuman way, cruel way I might say is not acceptable to us, Therefore, along with all countrymen right-thinking people, people of goodwill, we also want to show our displeasure and certainly want to protest against that treatment to an elderly sick person who has worked for the poor,Therefore, today we appeal and demand that he be released and like him so many others.Thank You for coming here to show your solidarity for this particular cause, Once spin we appeal to the government to release Father Stan Swamy-The archbishop added: are here to show our solidarity with him. He is not alone but we are with him so that his suffering and the cause for which he has fought and has been lighting for the tribals the Dalits, their issues of injustice, their human rights has been uppermost tor him all his life to tell him we are with him. Father J Felix Raj one of the leaders of the sally, said the Calcutta protest would inspire many others to raise their strict. 'We are here as brothers and sisters of Father Stan Swamy and raising our voice. And I am sure our rally our attempt our effort will be an Inspiration to many, many churches to many, many communities and centres to many, many organisations to start and express their opposition express their protest raise their voice.' said Father Felix Raj.

This is the 10th day he (Father Stan Swamy) is in jail. Let us wait and see what happens.... Father Felix Raj added. He has been working for the people of Jharkhand particularly for the tribal community. for more than 50 years lie is not an activist alone a man who has studied a man who has researched the lives, the problems of the tribal communities. His life has been Issue-based. His stand for the tribal community has been Issue-based, He has (aced all these issues and stood with the poor tribal people particularly the youth, particularly for their rights for their language so he has been standing with the tribal community and this is the consequence that has happened.

Father Felix Raj said the case against Father Stan Swamy could continue but there must be a compassionate concerned approach towards a senior citizen 'There are protests, rallies, solidarity marches all over the country and in international forums. This is the first solidarity march and this march is irrespective of religion, irrespective of political affiliation and to show solidarity to Father Stan Swamy who Is 83 years old. Fr Felix Raj said "India is a country where senior citizens are respected and there should be a compassionate concerned approach for them. lf the police think there Is something they should investigate but be more compassionate not only this Jesuit father but all senior citizens should be treated with compassion .I want the government to change the attitude of arresting and keeping in jail any senior citizen, Father Raj said "The arrest is politically motivated". As a true Jesuit who follows Christ Fr Stan Swamy is sharing in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of justice and truth.