Dimapur, Feb. 20 : The Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (SABS), Corpus Christi Province of Dimapur celebrated “golden and silver jubilee” at the SABS Provincial House in Chumukedima recently. A note from the organisers stated on Monday that the Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the Bishop of Kohima was the main celebrant.
“Mighty has done great things for me” (Lk.1.19) was the theme of the celebration, the note stated.
In his homily, the Bishop thanked the organisers for the ministry that he said was being undertaken in spite of many odds and difficulties in various missions in Nagaland in particular and the entire north east region in general.
“In fact they were one of the first congregations to take up the mission in the farthest place in the diocese – Tuensang. Not only did they carry out the mission with great tenacity, perseverance and faithfulness they continued to spread their wings in and around – to Kiphire, Tobu, Mokokchung, Pungro, etc. which are really hard and far places,” the press release stated. “And God has blessed them and fructified their ministry. That is why we were able to expand and spread our presence from Tuensang to other places.”
Referring to Pope Francis’ teaching that religious life helps a church to grow through the way of “attraction without bothering to proselytize,” the stated that the religious life of the sisters has “been a way of attraction and the tangible proof of it is the large number of vocations they have from northeast.”
According to the press release, the bishop referred again to the words of Pope Francis who said that Jesus did not come to teach a philosophy, or an ideology, but rather a ‘way’, a journey to be undertaken with him.
“Christianity, at its beginning was called ‘the way’. We learn the way as we go, by walking. And that is what these sisters have done during the last 50 and 25 years. There is our joy: joy to walk with Jesus, although it is not easy, or comfortable, because the way that Jesus chooses is the way of the Cross,” the organisers stated.
“The way of the cross purifies inwardly; it enlightens the consciences, uniting one with Jesus totally. Thinking and acting as the world thinks and acts leads to ‘rivalry, jealousy, factions, and dissatisfaction. Bishop urged people of God to pray for them as they celebrate their jubilees,’” the updates stated.
