CAN’s 36th Year Convention underway in Dimapur

‘We will be able to shine only if we display light’

Dimapur, Jan. 31 (EMN): Former Supreme Court of India judge Justice Kurian Joseph spoke on importance of inner joy and the need to shine in order to remove darkness in his inaugural address at the 36th Year Convention of the Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) that began at Holy Cross Church, Dimapur on Friday evening.

He was the chief guest of the three-day convention, from January 31 to February 2, informed an update received here on Friday. Bishop of Kohima Diocese Rev. Dr. James Thoppil will be the main celebrant and Rev. Fr. Dr. AJ Sebastian, SDB, the guest speaker, for the event with the theme, “Be the light that shines in the darkness”.

Justice Joseph, who has visited Nagaland for the first time, said that he was fortunate to be with joyful people. Expounding on the tag “Nagaland – the land of festivals,” he said people can’t celebrate festivals unless they are joyous.

“Unless you have inner joy, you may need external aides to be happy but if you have inner joy, you don’t need any other external joys,” he said while pointing out that external joys are temporary. “Inner joy can only be given by the Creator,” he added.

He further shared his philosophy in his life is built on three principles — ‘nothing is impossible with my God, everything is possible with my God, and my God will not leave me empty handed’.

Dwelling on the theme of the convention, he said that things like wealth, power, or positions cannot remove darkness, and stressed that only God’s light can remove darkness. He also said that one has to ponder on question such: Have I been able to remove darkness in my workplace or the society I live in?”

Emphasising that there should be life in light and light in life, he said, “We are called to shine in the world as light and we will be able to shine only if we display light.” “Unless we are charged to the source, we are not in a position to discharge that light,” he said, adding that “only if we shine, darkness in the world can be removed”.

The former SC judge also told the congregation to “enjoy the company of God” while sharing his personal journey of faith.

A one-minute silence was also observed in memory of the deceased CAN leaders and members during the occasion.

It has been informed that on the second day of the event (February 1), Justice Joseph will speak on the topic: “Role of the laity in the church and society” at 8:30 am, while Fr. Sebastian will speak on “The four Marian Dogmas in the Catholic Church” at 10:30 am. A panel discussion on “Beliefs and Practices of the Catholic Church” will be held in the afternoon session at 1 pm.