Circular - September 2022

To all the Parish SCC Coordinators, Archdiocese of Bombay ​ My dear Collaborators, As we enter into the month of September, the first thought that comes to our minds is the birthday of Mary, our Blessed Mother on September 08. A reflection on her life will give us an indication that Mary was the first disciple of Jesus – she who instructed the stewards at the wedding feast at Cana: “Do whatever HE tells you” did whatever God expected her to do, not only at the time of the Annunciation, but also throughout her life. May our prayer to Mary help us to be better disciples of Jesus. ​ Besides the birthday of Our Lady, we also remember and appreciate our teachers in schools and colleges who celebrate their “special” day on September 05. Our Teachers take a lot of trouble to ensure that the children entrusted to their care are taught sound values; we pray that the teachers in our society may continue to lead our children to JESUS – Teacher par excellence, who will teach us the way to eternal life. ​ September 16 is a special day in the life of His Eminence, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, as he celebrates his episcopal Silver Jubilee this year. I invite each one of you to pray for the intentions of our Cardinal, and most importantly, that the Lord may protect and bless him, and continue to inspire him to be a shepherd like Jesus, our Lord and Master. Please find enclosed a reflection paper, Mary: Model Disciple in walking by faith and not by sight, prepared by Fr Joseph Ivel Mendanha C.Ss.R., Vice Provincial, Vice Province of Majella, Mumbai. May I request you to ensure that the Reflection Paper is shared with all the Community Coordinators and Animators, so that it reaches all the families in the clusters (download paper here). Fr Ajit Tellis, Priest in-charge, St Anthony of Padua Church, Kalwa has been kind enough to translate it into Marathi. We had an overwhelming response for the Skills for SCC Animators, a one-day training programme held at Sacred Heart High School, Vashi on August 31. I am confident that the SCC Animators and Coordinators of the Navi Mumbai Deanery who attended will play an important role in revitalizing the SCCs in their respective parish communities. ​ May I request you once again to conduct regular Steering Committee meetings in your parish. This will help you to understand the status of each SCC and to render assistance to those SCCs that are struggling. Please start planning for your Parish SCC Rally. A tentative plan for a Rally was enclosed in my August circular (for the benefit of some who may have missed out, I am re-sending it to you); please note that the enclosed plan may be modified depending on the needs of your parish community. Minutes of the Steering Committee meetings may be sent to bombayscc@gmail.com. ​ Please ensure that cluster meetings and/or activities are held in the SCCs. Clusters help to identify the needs of the families, so that we reach out to all in a true spirit of love, and live like the early Apostolic Community, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. ​ May I request you to motivate all the Community Coordinators to send you their Community Reports (July - September 2022) at the earliest. You are expected to send all the Community reports with a brief covering letter, duly signed by the Priest in-charge of the SCCs and/or Parish Priest to bombayscc@gmail.com by October 15, 2022. ​ We continue to pray for the success of the Synod 2021-2023. A copy of the Prayer for the Synod is enclosed. May the Lord continue to help us to listen to the cries of our brothers and sisters in our Communities, at our places of work, in our society, so that we reach out selflessly to all those in need, ensuring NO ONE IS IN WANT, irrespective of caste, creed or colour. ​ Thank you and God bless you for all that you do in your parish communities. Yours in Christ, ✠Barthol Barretto Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay & Bishop in-charge of SCCs, Archdiocese of Bombay August 31, 2022