Dimapur, July 29: Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) has organised a three-day workshop on the theme “Learning together the Catholic social teachings” for the lay leaders of the church in the diocese of Kohima from July 21 to 24 at Mt. Tabor Retreat Centre, Kohima.
Rev. Fr. Tom Karthik SDB; Rev. Fr. CM Joseph SDB; and Rev. Fr. Victor SJ animated the workshop on the teachings as resource persons.
Lay leaders from various parts of the Diocese of Kohima from across the State attended the workshop. The principles of Catholic social teachings were drawn from the Holy Scriptures. The principles of life and dignity of the human person, call to family, community and participation, solidarity and God’s creation, care for God’s creation, rights and responsibility, pption for the poor and vulnerable and the dignity of work and rights of workers were the core points of discussion during the colloquium.Presenting the core values of Catholic social teachings, resource persons called upon the Catholic community to understand the underlying meaning and value of life and dignity of human person and to uphold its value and purpose and be instrumental in enabling others to live life to the fullest.
The themes and principles of the Catholic social teaching affirmed that all people were created in the image and likeness of God and have equal rights and duty to participate fully in all aspects of human development. Resource persons emphasised that community existed only to serve the good of human beings, families and communities. They were of the view that as members of human family, ‘we are to put the needs of society’s most poor and vulnerable members first.’ They added that Christians were called to live our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation and to be stewards of that creation; to protect the health of the people and to protect the health of the planet.
The Catholic social teaching, which is known as the best kept secret of the world, was enlightenment to many leaders who attended the workshop. The Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) will be undertaking many more such workshops to spread the message contained under the principles of Catholic social teaching to keep Naga society in the right perspective in the face of perplexities and confusions.
