From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, May 3: Vatican’s envoy to India, Dr Salvatore Pennacchio, gave solemn start to the 17th Serra Asian Convention as the main celebrant of the inaugural mass and called upon the Serra Club members to ensure that Christ was put at the centre of life, especially in the young, and thereby encourage them to follow the divine call.
The Apostolic Nuncio to India, who was the concelebrant at the Holy Mass with Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Bernard Moras and Archbishop Emeritus Dr Ignatius Pinto, in his homily termed India as the ''Rome of the East" and the Serra Asian convention cannot limit itself to reflect on the problems that make the vocational response difficult for young people.
''It has the duty of giving to the Communities new impulse to identify resources, expectations and values of the new generations, in order to offer them at the same time concrete suggestions to elaborate a life project inspired by the Gospel. You need, therefore, to make all efforts so that young people may put Christ at the center of their life and follow with docility a possible call," he said.
Lauding the commitment of Serra Club members in favour of the pastoral care for vocations, the Apostolic Nuncio said,''Because of you, the question of 'Vocations’ does not remain an exclusive problem of the Bishops but is shared with everyone."
''Vocations to priesthood and to religious life are a major concern in the Church," he said and mentioned that the service and ministry of the Serra community is needed for the life and sustenance of the Church.''I encourage you to have no fear of reaching out to young people and helping them to build their life on the indestructible pillar of the plan of God. I congratulate you for having undertaken this great responsibility to seriously support and sustain the Catholic Church in promoting and fostering vocations," he said.
The lay movement of Serra Club members through untiring prayer, silent sacrifice, economic support and intelligent projects and initiatives offers suitable instruments so that our Christian vocation, received in Baptism and confirmed in adulthood, might be lived in fullness.
''The Diocesan Churches are debtors to you, because you commit yourselves in your specific service; your find in the Church all the help to be authentic Christians; the faithful, on their turn, find in priests the fruits of your commitment for their formation. For these reasons we can today rejoice and thank the Lord," he said extending his since appreciation and thanks to the ''service" of Serra Club members.
In his key-note address, the Apostolic Nuncio asked the Serra Club members to continue to work in harmony with your Bishops. ''Be always people of communion, accompanying with affection and commitment your priests. Continue to support with your charity the needs of the vocations of the poor. The good that the Church gains will be for you a pledge of abundant blessings, which I invoke upon each one of you and for the entire association, through the maternal intercession of Mary Queen of the Apostles."
The Catholic Church is very grateful to this association, which in 1951 was entrusted to the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities, today Congregation for Catholic Education.In the vision of the Church, Serra is an ever young and dynamic association, (every year it renews its Board of Directors) which has freedom of time and means to perform a silent and joyous service to the ecclesiastical community, he said pointing out that after 80 years of ecclesiastical service, your association is not at all an old-fashioned group but has a particular relevance today, when the problem of vocations is becoming quite serious for the whole Church.
The three day 17th Serra Asian Convention began on Friday at Hotel Park Plaza at Marathahalli. The Caecilian Choir edified the Mass with their renditions in Latin as well.
Dr Ignatius Pinto, Archbishop Emeritus released the Convention Souvenir. He has been closely associated with the Serra Club of Bangalore since he charted it in 2003.
Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras has been the guide, mentor and supporter of the Serra Club movement over the years.
Dr Joseph Ivel Mendanha threw light on the ‘Discipleship in the Gospels and its implication.’
The day’s function drew to a close on a spiritual note with Adoration of the Holy Eucharist and Intercessory Prayers by Fr Joseph Royan,CSsR.
Fr Eric A Rodrigues, CSsR, Chaplain of the Serra Club of Bangalore, proposed the vote of thanks for the first day.