Posted on 04/11/2006 9:57:54 PM PDT by NYer
KOENIGSTEIN, Germany, APRIL 11, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Vocations in India seem to be booming as increasing numbers of young men stepping forward to prepare for the priesthood.
In a recent interview with the international charity Aid to the Church in Need, Father Ignatius Prasad, rector of the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Chennai (formerly Madras), gave this optimistic assessment of the Church.
The priest explained that his seminary now has 286 students and that -- due to a lack of space -- he had to turn away 23 candidates, who have been forced to continue their training elsewhere.
The seminary is one of four in southern India with a combined total of almost 800 students from 28 dioceses. More than 60 of them are due to be ordained to the priesthood next month.
In Chennai, there were now more than 30 students in each year-group in the seminary's theology section, double the number in the late 1980s, Father Prasad said.
"Vocations are going up; this has been the case for the last five years or so," the rector said. "We find it difficult to admit all the applicants and set a tight deadline for them to get their papers in on time."
Father Prasad revealed that there was growing "political pressure" to limit the growth of the Church with a new anti-conversion law introduced in the state of Tamil Nadu: Preaching in public is forbidden and would-be converts to Christianity now face a barrage of paperwork thrust upon them by government officials.
Retreats, sodalities
The seminary rector said that people were turning to the Church in protest against the new regulations.
"The more pressure they put on people, the more they feel like proclaiming their faith," he said.
The priest went on to explain that lively youth programs were drawing people to the faith and encouraging men to discern a possible vocation to the priesthood. Retreats, sodalities and altar serving had all helped to boost the number of seminarians.
He also praised the work of Aid to the Church in Need, describing how the charity had supported key training for seminary staff, Mass intentions, library books and a generator.
"What we feel is so important," Father Prasad added, "is to help the students to realize what they are learning about is not so much an academic subject but a mystery, something that is very personal and with a strong human dimension to it."
It seems you are a frustrated loser.Stop blaming the country or outside forces for your personal problems. Perhaps had you studied harder in your youth or picked up the requisite skills , you wouldn't be ranting this way on anonymous internet message boards about being discriminated against by nations , systems , corporations etc.
Surely Americans would find it insulting if Latinos of Mexican descent began flying the Mexican flag, as was the case last week. Besides, I've noticed you have immense personal grudges against a/some Hindus, which you are taking on the whole community. Would you now demand reparations?
Yeah - like Carrot&Stick pointed out , I just noticed you have a Portuguese flag on your profile rather than an Indian flag , and yet you claim to be an Indian. With that sort of an attitude , do you seriously expect any sympathy from the Indian people ? Why ?
I am not a frustrated loser. I have stated the truth.
BTW, I am a First Class First and I graduated in Law with a distinction. I am just making things clearer for you.
I am not blaming the country for no rhyme or reason. There is abundant evidence that there is discrimination against Christians in the Corporate World in a number of cities in India. You would not understand that would you.
If you have never been in our Shoes -- How can I expect you to understand what is going on in the Christian Community ?
I also have the requisite skills and I am not the only one ranting away at an Annonymous Internet Message Board -- Why are you Guys here ? You all are also posting Comments annonymously -- I am not the only one.
I am not the only one here.
I know a number of Christians who are my age and have suffered Discrimination. They are all migrating to Australia or Canada or have got jobs in the United States and are leaving in the near future.
There is no need to make mean remarks like -- If I have studied harder in my youth. When obviously I did or else i would never have got a First Class for my UnderGraduate Degree as well as Graduate Degree in Law.
Again, you wouldn't understand where I am coming from and stop calling Freeper NYer a Christian Fanatic.
I do not have any personal problems. There are many Christian Men and Women who are in the same boat as me.
That is all I have to say. Please do not post any nasty comments to me as I do not have time to answerr them one after another after another.
BTW, The neigborhood where I live was predominantly Christian 10 -15 years ago as a result of constant migration to countries in the West -- The Neigborhood has become predominantly Muslim.
You mean to say there are no Christian extremists in India, who take up violence?
Well, think again.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/ndfb.htm
The National Democratice Front of Bodoland (NDFB)
The NDFB is led by its chairman, Ranjan Daimary, also known as D. R. Nabla. The group was formed to attain a "sovereign Bodoland" in the region to the north of river Brahmaputra. In addition the group protests the current script of the Bodo language written in the Devnagri script. The NDFB is primarly comprised of Christians who prefer the Roman script. NDFB have committed scores of incidents of violence like murders, bomb explosions, kidnapping for ransom etc. which have had a serious bearing on the law and order situation of the state. According to the Union Home Ministry's 1996-97 report, a total of 201 persons were killed in Assam between April 1996 and March 1997, 174 which were attributed to the NDFB.
If I have been constantly attacked, since January 2006 by you all-- Do you still expect me to fly the Indian Flag.
As long as I am not flying the Pakistani Flag or the Flag of any Islamic Country what is your problem?
Or will you now tell me that I do not have Freedom to do what I want. I have never attacked you all. Why are you all assuming I am prejudiced against Hindus. I have only stated some bare facts.
I just feel culturally closer to the Portuguese and that is it. I an culturally similar to them. I am not in any conspiracies against you all or against Hindus.
I have not attacked Hindus. Rather, when I post a credible article every one jumps on me.
That is all I have to say. I am frankly fed up of this hate rhetoric.
I understand perfectly well. In Bangalore, we have St. Joseph's College. It is state-funded.
A Catholic who scores 85% on his ICSE class X boards can walk in for a seat there. A Hindu/Muslim/Sikh/Protestant etc cannot expect to get a seat there for less than 91%. What do you have to say about this?
Besides, state-funded Christian schools are famous when it comes to demanding hefty "donations" from the non-Christian students who study there. Examples include Bishop Cotton's Boys' High School, St. Francis Xavier's, St. Germains, etc., all in Bangalore.
Could this sort of rampant discrimination be the reason for most of the top-command of the RSS happen to be educated in Christian schools (state, viz. Indian taxpayer-funded, mind you )?
Haha...if you are so smart , you should have started your own law firm rather than complain about not getting a job because you are an x'tian. Quit complaining. I cannot think of anybody who was not given a job in India because he/she was an x'tian. Christians have a high representation in the Indian Army and Police , much higher than their actual share in the population of the country. And the leader of India's ruling political party - that Sonia Gandhi , is a christian as well. (not that I like her too much.)The guy in the cubicle next to mine is an x'tian as well...
As I said , stop complaining. Work harder. Update your skills. Stop acting as a loser.
And yes , that is not possible , please migrate if that makes you happy. We already got 1.1 billion people. You wont be missed. Ta-Ta.
The same argument used by racist La Raza-supporting illegals who were protesting in L.A with Mexican flags IN AMERICA!!! What nerves?!!
This Thread was about Vocations and Catholic Seminaries in Southern India.
why are you constantly changing the topic ? If you have nothing positive to say about Christians and Catholics -- don't say anything. That would be much better.
Now, you are speaking about Insurgency in the North- East -- what has that got to do with the Subject Matter of this Thread ?
Please respect what has been posted on this Thread. I did not post this Thread. Why are you and others dragging me into a needless controversy ?
This Thread is not attacking Hindus. It is all about Vocations to Seminaries in Southern India by Catholics who live in Southern India.
the portugese flag along with your attitude of "i have a degree so i want the state or the hindus or the corporate world to feed me forever" seem to fit in very nicely. well done. you should migrate to europe and do it fast. /sarcasm
Sure you aren't the only one.
VoiceOfIndia and Sukhoi-30MKI are Christian FReepers, posting from India here.
Ok enough is enough. I am not a whiner. Nor am I making excuses for my defiencies. As, I said I am not the only Christian facing discrimination in India -- there are others like me.
It seems you all do not want to hear about Christians being persecuted in India nor about discrimination in India that Christians are facing. So why post your comments to me.
Let us go our separate ways. I have never attacked you all personally. Why is Raj constantly engaging in personal attacks on me. I have refrained from personal attacks and I will always refrain from personal attacks either against you all or any one.
Good Evening to all of you and it was good talking to all of you.
Where did I post anything to you about not getting a Job ?
I posted general information about what is happening to the Catholic and Christian Community to Freepers Coleus, NYer, and others. I did not post it to you.
I am not looking for asylum into the United States or to any country. I will get in on my own steam.
Stop posting comments to me. Have i attacked you personally ?
Enough is Enough.
Have a Pleasant Day.
I am not looking for asylum at all.
I am not working at any new idea. I am not asking anyone to feel sorry for me or for the larger Christian and Catholic Community.
As, I have said in an earlier post-- I am not looking for people to feel sorry for me. I was just providing Coleus, NYer, and all with some information.
Thank You.
I did not ask for your nasty and vile comments.
... well, it's sad to hear of people who feel they are better off fleeing their homeland. But I'm sure that Australia and Canada are much better off for it.
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