To all the Parish SCC Coordinators, Archdiocese of Bombay
My dear Collaborators,
We have already begun the month of October which is a beautiful month when we strive to pray the Rosary as a family, cluster of families and as a community of believers. This month, we celebrate two main events: Thanksgiving Sunday (October 02) and Mission Sunday (Oct. 23) with the theme - “You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). May each one of us in the SCCs continue to be witnesses of Jesus who “came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28), ensuring that no one is in want, irrespective of caste, colour or creed.
Among the many blessings we have received in the Archdiocese of Bombay, this month’s events include the Golden Jubilee of the Diocesan Youth Centre (DYC) and the concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Mumbai, not forgetting the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Centre for Social Action. We thank God for all that has been achieved in our Archdiocese by these ministries over the course of time.
On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the DYC, it has been our joy to bring the first-class sacred relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a teenager who, God willing, will soon be raised to the Altar as a Saint. We had a Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration yesterday, and what a joy to see a number of youth join the motorbike procession from Our Lady of Health Church, Sahar to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra, followed by the Eucharistic celebration where the sacred relic was handed over to Deacon Ivan Fernandes, Director, DYC. The sacred relic will now move from parish to parish in the Archdiocese of Bombay. May Blessed Carlo Acutis be an inspiration to our youth, so that they become committed and dedicated disciples of the Lord Jesus.
It will soon be a year since the SYNOD 2021-2023 was inaugurated in Rome by Pope Francis on October 10, 2021. Following the Archdiocesan Synod in June 2022, Fr Reuben Tellis, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Bandra has jotted down some reflections which are attached herewith in the form of a Paper (download here). I request you to forward the same to the SCC Coordinators and Animators so that it percolates down to the cluster families. This paper has been translated into Marathi by Fr Ajit Tellis, Priest in-charge, St Anthony of Padua Church, Kalwa and a member of the Archdiocesan Resource Team (ART) for SCCs. Please make it a point to pray daily for the success of the Synod 2021-2023 (the prayer is enclosed at the end of this circular).
A few points of importance:
1. Parish SCC Rally: I am happy to note that a number of parishes have already finalised the date for their Parish SCC Rally. Those parishes that have not yet done so are requested to finalise the date and inform the Deanery SCC Coordinator.
2. Quarterly SCC Reports: The Quarterly SCC Reports (July 2022 to September 2022) must reach the SCC Office via email: bombayscc@gmail.com by October 15, 2022, through the parish email address.
3. The monthly Core Group meetings, cluster meetings/activities, Steering Committee meetings must be held regularly. These meetings will help to strengthen the bonding at the Community level, and also to ensure that no one is in want.
4. The Sixth World Day of the Poor (WDP) will be celebrated on Sunday, November 13, 2022 with the theme: “For your sakes, Christ became poor (2 Cor 8:9).” Please make your plans to celebrate this WDP at the parish and/or Community level. Reports and photographs for our website may be e-mailed to bombayscc@gmail.com.
5. Those Parish SCC Coordinators who have completed their term of Office (6 years + 1 year extension because of COVID-19) are earnestly requested to identify their successors with the help of the Priest in-charge of the SCCs; this could be a point for discussion in the next Steering Committee meeting.
I thank each one of you for your enthusiastic collaboration at the parish level that encourages me to plan various programmes, so that we continue to have vibrant SCCs. I also thank the SCC Animators and Coordinators for the wonderful work that they are doing, and pray that each one of us may receive God’s abundant blessings.
God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
✠Barthol Barretto Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay & Bishop in-charge of SCCs, Archdiocese of Bombay
October 1, 2022