Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 28
MINISTER for Forests & Border Affairs, Y. Patton today said the Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN), as a responsible organization, has the bounden duty to play a proactive role to bring about peace and harmony in the Naga society.Speaking at the inaugural programme of the 30th year anniversary of CAN as the chief conferrer in the premises of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Kohima on Saturday, Patton called upon the members of the association to retrospect on the past three decades and rededicate themselves to the service of the people.
The minister, who is the lone representative in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from Catholic faith, said Nagas are presently at a crucial juncture where the society is being riddled with numerous factionalism, with unabated taxations and extortions. “We cannot shy away from these social ailments and unrest,” he said, maintaining it is the responsibility of all to collectively and proactively strive to bring about peace and understanding amongst different sections of the Naga society. Patton also called upon prominent leaders, bureaucrats and personalities of CAN to attend to the call of the people. The government of the day and the people of Nagaland need your human resources, wisdom and visions to bring about acceptable and honourable solution as far as Naga political settlement is concerned, he stated.
The minister reiterated that CAN could play an effective role in public life and make full contribution to national unity and welfare by engaging in serving the people without any discrimination as envisaged in its aspirations.
While acknowledging the efforts and achievements of the pioneers of CAN, Patton said that ever since the inception of the Catholic faith in the state, the Catholic church has made vast contributions towards spreading education and elevation of its standard in Nagaland. Towards this end, the minister paid rich tributes to the late Fr. John Larrea, who, during his lifetime had been a crusader of Catholic faith as well as an educationist in Nagaland in the early 1950s.
The minister further congratulated the association on attaining thirty years marking its existence in the service of the laity and the needy and downtrodden in the state.
Addressing the congregation as the guest of honour, president of All India Catholic Union (AICU), Eugene Gonsalves said that Nagaland being a Christian majority state, the believers have a great responsibility towards fellow citizens. “People around you should understand and see you as good Christians through your deeds and actions,” he said. He urged upon all, particularly the catholic believers to enthusiastically work givingly towards mankind without “worrying about the fruits”.
Earlier, the Vicar General of Kohima Diocese, Rev.Fr. Neisalhou Carolus invoked God’s blessings into the congregation while Rongmei Catholic community of Kohima made a cultural presentation and St. Francis De Sales choir presented a song. Besides members of different parishes and congregations from different parts of Nagaland, bureaucrats and public officials also attended the programme including commissioners and secretaries R.Jami and M. Patton, additional PCCF Tripathi and executive engineer (R&B) Er. T. Patton.
Other highlights of the conference were the CAN Conclave and election of new office bearers of CAN.
