Charismatic, youth conventions inaugurated in Pimpri Chinchwad

Charismatic, youth  conventions inaugurated in Pimpri Chinchwad

Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Wednesday, 11 November 2015 AT 11:20 PM IST

    

16th national Catholic charismatic convention, ‘Kairos Youth Convention 2015

Pimpri: Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), has highlighted the plurality of the country and said it was sacred obligation of all people to cooperate with society, irrespective of language, caste or religion.

Cardinal Cleemis, head of the apex body of the Catholic church in the country, was speaking at the inauguration of the four-day long 16th national Catholic charismatic convention and ‘Kairos Youth Convention 2015’ at St Ursula School grounds in Nigdi on Wednesday morning.

Cardinal Cleemis said, “India is a sacred land having saints, martyrs and living saints of various communities and a land, which offers the world a plurality of divine.”

The CBCI chief urged the gathering not to be exclusive but to be inclusive to serve all who are created in the image of God.
The two national conventions are being attended by a large number of Catholics including priests and nuns from different parts of the country.

The charismatic convention is being held at St Ursula School while the youth convention is being held at St Andrew’s School in Chinchwad. This is the first time that the two-national level conventions are being held in the same city simultaneously.

In his address, Pune district Guardian Minister Girish Bapat who welcomed delegates from different states in the country said that true religion is the one, which preaches spreading love to everyone in the whole world. “All religious shrines, be it temple, church or Gurudwara, are dwellings of God. People should experience God who lives among the poor,” he said.

Archbishop Salvatore Pennachhio, the apostolic nuncio in India, Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre and Silven Miranda, chairman of the local service team, also spoke at the event. The inaugural ceremony was attended by MP Shrirang Barne, MLA Laxman Jagtap, Bishop emeritus Valerian D’Souza.
Shirish Sebastian was the coordinator for the two conventions.

Church will host youth, charismatic conventions in Pune

Church will host youth, charismatic convention

Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Monday, 2 November 2015 AT 11:51 PM IST

    

Kairos National Youth Convention, 16th national Catholic Charismatic Convention

Pune: Over 7,000 delegates from all over India will attend the Kairos National Youth Convention and the 16th national Catholic Charismatic Convention to be held simultaneously at St Ursula School in Nigdi and St Andrew’s School in Chinchwad, from November 11 to 14.

The Vatican Ambassador to India, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, will inaugurate the two conventions in the presence of Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) President Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre, Emeritus Bishop Valerian D’Souza and Bishop Thomas Mar Anthonios.

“This is for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church in India that these two national events are organised simultaneously in one city,” said Meerut’s Bishop Francis Kalist, who is Episcopal Advisor to the two events. Few activities are common for both conventions and some are planned at the respective venues.

The delegates coming from various parts of the country will be accommodated at the residences of members of various Catholic parishes in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and also in institutions run by the Church.

Shirish Sebastian, co-ordinator for the two events, told Sakal Times that the local Catholics and the Church authorities have been planning for the two conventions for the past two years.