To all the Parish SCC Coordinators,
Archdiocese of Bombay

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My dear Collaborators,

 

February is a month with Special days – Day of Consecrated life (Feb. 02), St Gonsalo Garcia (second patron of the Archdiocese of Bombay - Feb. 07). We begin the Season of Lent on Feb. 14; it is a special time to renew our relationship with God and one another. I am sure you will use the three main penitential tools – Prayer, fasting and abstinence and almsgiving – to get the best fruit from this season. There are several ideas for Lent on the website mumbaiscc.in and on archdioceseofbombay.org.

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In preparation for the Jubilee Year 2025, we had taken up Lumen Gentium for our study and reflection last month. This month, Fr Savio de Sales, Secretary of the Archdiocesan Liturgy Commission, has prepared the attached summary of Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) - the document on Sacred Liturgy - for our reflection. (Download here) May I request each one of you to use the Reflection Paper for your Core Group Meetings, Steering Committee Meetings and cluster meetings. This will help us participate in the Eucharist better. Fr Ajit Tellis, Priest in-charge, St Anthony of Padua Church, Kalwa has prepared the Marathi translation. (Download here) Please disseminate the Reflection Paper to all the SCC Animators and Coordinators so that it reaches all the cluster families.

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May I remind you of the following points:

 

Clusters Activities: Lent is a good time to have your cluster meetings. A weekly Way of the Cross can be organized at the cluster level at a suitable time that allows the maximum participation of all (without preventing people from participating in the parish level activities). Visit mumbaiscc.in for more ideas.

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Meetings: Steering Committee meetings and Core Group meetings should be held on a regular basis; the Minutes of the Steering Committee meetings should be maintained and sent to bombayscc@gmail.com.

 

Strengthening the System: Please identify those SCCs that need help – either in terms of increasing core group members (Animators), in organizing regular events for their SCCs/clusters, or even in terms of understanding the functioning of the SCCs. This training is best done at the Steering Committee meeting at the parish level, rather than at the deanery and/or archdiocesan level. Additional help (if required) may be requested from the Archdiocesan SCC Office; email details with the subject line ‘Support required’ to bombayscc@gmail.com.

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Jubilee Prayers: I request you to recite the Prayer for the Jubilee Year 2025 which is enclosed (either at the start or end of the SCC/cluster meeting). The Prayer helps us to express gratitude to God for the Jubilee experience and request the grace of forgiveness. (View or download the Jubilee Prayer here)

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Finally, this is my last Circular as Bishop in-charge of the SCCs in the Archdiocese of Bombay. It has been an eventful journey, and I am grateful to all those who have worked with me towards achieving the Bombay Archdiocesan SCC Vision of ‘NO ONE in want.’

 

I ask for your prayers in my new role as Bishop of the Diocese of Nashik.

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God bless you and the members of your family. 

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Yours in Christ,
 

✠Barthol Barretto
Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Nashik

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February 01, 2024