To all the Parish SCC Coordinators, Archdiocese of Bombay
My dear Collaborators,
We are in the new academic year - June 01, 2022 to May 31, 2023. I am sure all of us are excited as we hope to organize a number of SCC activities and programmes that we could not over the past two years, due to COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed on us. Now with the situation having changed a bit, we are invited to be optimistic and thank God for blessing us with the gift of this new academic year.
Our Archdiocesan Synod will take place on June 03-04, 2022. Please pray for the success of this important meeting, and continue to use the enclosed prayer card to pray for the Synod 2021-2023 in Rome. I want to thank all those who cooperated with the ART members to organize the Synod consultations at various levels in the parish – Steering Committee, SCC Core group and cluster level; thank you for your overwhelming response. I believe that some of the work to address these points must begin at the grassroots.
One of the important tasks that we must focus on immediately is to plan the academic calendar at the parish level. With the help of your Parish Priest and/or priest in-charge of the SCCs, I am inviting you to schedule the monthly SCC Core Group meetings, the cluster meetings, Steering Committee meetings, and most importantly, training programmes for the SCC Animators and Coordinators. Please do not wait for the last minute to attend to this important responsibility. I am confident of your cooperation.
At the Archdiocesan level, I am inviting you to attend the in-person meeting of the Parish SCC Coordinators at Our Lady of Salvation Church Hall, Dadar (Ground Floor) on Sunday, June 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. followed by lunch. The meeting is IMPORTANT as a number of issues are going to be discussed, and we need you to attend. In case you have already identified your successor, you may bring him or her along with you to the meeting. I would appreciate if you could send me an email immediately, but not later than Sunday, June 12 (bombayscc@gmail.com) to confirm your attendance and that of your successor (if any) as this would help us in the logistics.
Together with this Circular, I am happy to present to you a reflection paper on PENTECOST - a new beginning marked by joy (click here to download paper). This thought-provoking paper has been written by Fr Michael D’Cunha, one of our priests, who has been deputed to do his studies in Spiritual Theology at the Indian Institute of Spirituality, Bengaluru. The paper has been translated into Marathi by Fr Ajit Tellis, now Priest in-charge at St Anthony of Padua Church, Kalwa. I am certain that you will make it a point to forward the paper to all the SCC Coordinators, who in turn will take the responsibility to disseminate the paper to each and every cluster family through the SCC Animators. Please ensure that the reflection paper is studied and reflected upon first in your SCC Core Group meeting, and then the clusters.
I will e-mail you a soft copy of CELEBRATING COMMUNITY, our Archdiocesan SCC newsletter shortly. May I request you to forward the same to all the SCC Coordinators and Animators, so that it reaches all the families within the clusters.
I am happy to announce the Skills for SCC Animators (SFA) programme on July 09-10, 2022 at Sarvodaya, St Pius X College Campus, Goregaon East. It is open to SCC Coordinators and Animators; there are limited seats. A separate letter with details and registration link is being e-mailed to you. You may bring the cheque on Sunday, June 19, when you come to Dadar for the meeting.
We continue to trust in the Lord to inspire and guide us so that through our activities at the Community level, we become HIS instruments of service, reaching out selflessly to all those in need of us, ensuring NO ONE IS IN WANT, irrespective of caste, creed or colour.
Looking forward to meeting you in person soon, and with every good wish,
Yours in Christ,
✠Barthol Barretto Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay & Bishop in-charge of SCCs, Archdiocese of Bombay
June 1, 2022