To all the Parish SCC Coordinators, Archdiocese of Bombay
My dear Collaborators,
For us Catholics, the month of November is special. It is a month when we remember the faithful departed, and especially the Holy Souls in Purgatory. During the pandemic, a number of our SCC Animators and Coordinators have “gone before us, marked with the sign of faith”. Perhaps, some of them did not have a funeral service in view of the COVID-19 restrictions; I offer my sincere condolences and my prayerful support. I will be offering a Mass for all the deceased (the SCC Animators and Coordinators, and others as well) on Tuesday, November 02.
Sunday, October 17 was the day when His Eminence, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, inaugurated the Synodal process in our Archdiocese. Pope Francis has invited the Universal Church to be part of this two-year process divided into three phases: (Arch)diocesan (2021), Continental (2022) and Universal (2023). For regular updates on the Synod, you could log on to www.synod.va. Last month, I had sent you a Prayer for the Synod. May I request you to ensure that all the SCC Animators and Coordinators recite the prayer and motivate the cluster families also to recite the Synod Prayer daily.
You will be happy to know that a large number of our Parish SCC Coordinators have already sent in their Quarterly Reports via email. There are still a few who have not yet sent the reports. May I request these Parish SCC Coordinators to send me the reports immediately, but not later than Sunday, November 07, 2021.
One of the events that I would like you to be enthused about is the World Day of the Poor. Pope Francis decreed that we should celebrate the World Day of the Poor every year. Sunday, November 14 will be the fifth World Day of the Poor. Keeping our Archdiocesan SCC Vision in mind, may I request you to see that all your SCC Communities do something to ensure that NO ONE IS IN WANT.
On the occasion of the fifth year of the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis inaugurated the Amoris Laetitia – Year of the Family on March 19, 2021. The Year of the Amoris Laetitia Family will conclude on June 26, 2022 (X World Meeting of Families in Rome with the Holy Father). Keeping this theme in mind, Fr Cleophas Fernandes and Team have prepared a very interesting paper which is enclosed herewith (click here to download). May I request you to forward the same to the SCC Coordinators and Animators, including the Core Group members, so that it reaches all the families of the parish. This reflection paper has been translated by Fr Ajit Tellis, ofm cap, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, Dongri.
In view of the fact that the COVID-19 situation has now improved, I am planning to meet all the Parish SCC Coordinators in your respective Deaneries. Details of this meeting will be communicated to you shortly. May I also take this opportunity to request you to resume physical Core Group meetings, Cluster meetings, Steering Committee meetings, while following all COVID-19 protocols. Wearing of masks is compulsory. Reports of the (monthly/bi-monthly) Steering Committee meetings may be sent to bombayscc@gmail.com; you will surely receive an Official reply.
We are in the midst of putting our resources together for CELEBRATING COMMUNITY (the Official SCC magazine). Those parishes that have initiated activities and programmes to activate the SCCs are requested to send a short report (about 300 words) with high resolution photographs immediately, but not later than Sunday, November 21, 2021.
I am certain that you have begun the process of identifying your successor, if you are completing six years as the Parish SCC Coordinator on May 31, 2022. Please discuss this important point with the Parish Priest/Priest in charge of SCCs.
God bless you and the members of your family.
Yours in Christ,
✠Barthol Barretto Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay & Bishop in-charge of SCCs, Archdiocese of Bombay
November 1, 2021