GUWAHATI, Assam to Host Catholic Bishops’ Meet

Assam will for the first time host the general body meeting of the apex body of the country’s Catholics, CBCI, from Feb. 24, 2010. 

The objective of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India is to facilitate co-ordinated study and discussion on issues pertaining to the Church, besides adoption of a common policy and effective action in ecclesiastical matters.

“It is good news that Assam has been chosen as the venue for the meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India. Many of the bishops wanted to see Assam as they have never come here. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of them,” Archbishop of Guwahati Diocese, Thomas Menamparampil, said.

The meeting will be held at the Don Bosco Institute, Kharguli, from February 24 to March 3 and will be attended by 160 bishops from across the country.

Menamparampil said chief minister Tarun Gogoi had also expressed happiness over the hosting of the meeting here for the first time.

The first meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India in the region was held in Shillong about two decades back.

The bishops will be treated to the region’s beauty and cultural diversity through programmes.

“We want to show them that the Northeast is a ‘paradise on earth’ and not just a land of violence. It is a beautiful place with lots of cultural diversity,” the executive director of Don Bosco Institute, V.M. Thomas, said.

Thomas said a seven-minute video film on the Northeast — a song sung and composed by national award winner Tarali Sarma — was being shot.

Sarma won the coveted Rajat Kamal as the best female playback singer in 2004, becoming the first woman from the state to win the prestigious award.

The film is being shot at different locations of the Northeast and will depict its land, people and culture.

On February 28, a special cultural extravaganza will be held where 75 troupes from across the region will showcase the diversity of the region through music and dance.

This time, the theme of the conference is Youth. Discussions will be held on the challenges confronting modern-day youth and the Church’s response.