KARACHI: The Catholic Church needs to enlist a battalion of laypersons to assist "overburdened" priests in parish activities, a senior church official said here.
Speaking at the annual convention of St John's Church in Drigh Road, Bishop Evarist Pinto said it was becoming "extremely difficult" for a single priest to meet the needs of a parish, especially those comprising several areas. "I went to a certain Christian locality and there were so many people, all Christians...the flock of Christ, who had so many needs. I think one priest was needed full time to cope with their needs," Bishop Pinto told participants at the three-day convention. "So at this moment we need more people, laymen and women, to come forward and help in the parishes." he said. Before his consecration as the auxilliary bishop, Bishop Pinto served as the parish priest of Mehmoodabad church, the hub of the largest parish in the archdiocese of Karachi. "Not a single day passes whern there isn't a birth or a death in this parish. It is not unusual for the priest in Mehmoodabad to baptise five or six babies a day. A priest does have his hands full on most days," said the former parish priest of St Paul's Church. This parish consists of people from 12 different areas including Azam Basti, Azam Town, New Azam Basti, Akhtar Colony, Kashmir Colony, Baluch Colony, Purana Mehmoodabad, Hazara Colony, Manzoor Colony, Liquat Ashraf Colony and Defence Society. Earlier, on the third day of the convention at St John's Church, the bishop administered 300 children and adults the sacrament of confirmation. Bishop Pinto, assisted by four priests, told the newly-confirmed persons that they should be able to judge the signs of the times, in order to spread the mission of Christ and in coming days lend a helping hand to the gigantic task of evangelisation. Church officials said that the people who received the sacrament of confirmation were overjoyed as they had been preparing for the event for the past two months. The first and second days of the convention, held on the eve of the feast of Penetecost, were devoted to the Holy Spirit and Fr Matthew Sebastian and Fr Ilyas gave inspiring lectures on how the Spirit of Truth moves the people of God to recognise their vocation. __________________________________________________________________________ You have received this email from "TV-Email", developed by Wavetech. For more information on "TV-Email" click on http://wavetec.com/tv-email =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
