To all the Parish SCC Coordinators, Archdiocese of Bombay
My dear Collaborators,
We are about to begin the month of November. We will surely miss being present in person, and as community, at the Liturgical services in our Churches, particularly on November 01 – All Saints Day and November 02 – All Souls Day. Besides, the Sunday Masses, in particular, November 15 – the 4th World Day of the Poor and November 22 – Solemnity of Christ the King are important events to be noted. Do not be disheartened. While you participate virtually, especially on these days, we, who are ordained to celebrate the Eucharist, hold you in our hearts and prayers.
The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will be with us for some time to come, and we will need to continue using digital means to keep ourselves “connected” to God and with one another. I strongly encourage you to use such means, so that we can be enriched spiritually and ensure that NO ONE IS IN WANT in our Communities, in fulfilment of our SCC Vision.
One of the beautiful things that has happened during the pandemic is that the SCC Office has been sending reflection papers every month. I hope the families have benefitted from the inputs shared. Very soon, India will be celebrating Deepavali, the Festival of Lights on November 14. Fr S.M. Michael SVD, a noted Sociologist and writer, Director, Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue in our Archdiocese, and now a Consultor of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, has prepared the attached paper, entitled Deepavali – Christ our Light (Click here to download PDF). It is my earnest desire that you circulate the same, electronically, to all the Community Coordinators and the Animators and they, in turn, must forward the same to all the families in the Clusters.
On Sunday, November 15, the Church Universal will be celebrating the 4th World Day of the Poor. The theme is “Stretch forth your hand to the poor” (Sir 7: 32). I am convinced that right through the pandemic, in particular, you have reached out to the poor and needy, ensuring that there is no one in want in the SCCs. Thank you very much for all the outreach activities undertaken. A poster is attached (download PDF here or download PNG here); you may look for some resources on the internet to mark the day. May I request you to see how best you can celebrate the 4th World Day of the Poor in your Communities.
May I gently remind you to send me the SCC Quarterly Reports (July 2020 to September 2020) immediately, but not later than Monday, November 15, 2020. In case you have already done so, please ignore this request. Also, if there is any news and/or views you desire to share, that may benefit others at the Archdiocesan level, may I request you to send the same to bombayscc@gmail.com by Sunday, November 22. We will try our level best to include some of these in Celebrating Community, our Archdiocesan SCC Magazine and/or include it on the SCC Website.
As I conclude, I request you to stay safe and keep well. Please use all the precautions required for COVID-19. Our patience has been taxed to the limit, but with God’s grace and mutual support, we shall see this – our time in the wilderness – through together
God bless you and the members of your families.
Yours in Christ,
✠Barthol Barretto
October 30, 2020