“The language and culture is an effective means to proclaim the Gospel in the Karnataka region” Archbishop tells Major seminarians at Paalanaa Bhavana

Bengaluru, Mar 24: “The aim of this course is to deepen the knowledge of the seminarians about the culture and history of Karnataka state, Kannada, Literature, history of Christianity in Karnataka”. Archbishop of Bangalore Dr. Bernard Moras told 46 Major Seminarians from across Karnataka region on 24 March at the language and cultural summer camp held at Paalanaa Bhavana, Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre at Bangalore. Seven years down the memory lane, the Bishops of Karnataka Region at KRCBC decided to have this summer course for all the first and second year Theologians of Karnataka region to know more about the Karnataka state, its culture, literature and language for better proclamation of the Gospel. Since then, every year during the summer session a course is arranged for the first and second year students of Theology of all the dioceses in Karnataka (These are the then Latin Rite dioceses, Three Syro-malabar Rite dioceses and one diocese belonging to Syro-malankara Rite).

This year, there are forty six students from diocese across Karnataka and this summer course is arranged in Paalanaa Bhavana, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre at Bangalore from 24th to 30th March 2017. The summer course is conducted in 2 cycles. This year, the course contains topics like: Passion in Karnataka, Islamism in Karnataka, comparative study of Jesus and Basavanna`s Teachings, Kannada Sahitya, Vachana Sahitya, Sarvagnya`s Vacahanas, Manuscripts of Kannada literature, development of Kannada language, Janapada Sahitya, Feasts and culture in Karnataka, Jainism in Karnataka, Veerashaivism, Buddhism in Karnataka, etc.,

Archbishop Moras commenced the camp by celebrating the Holy Eucharist and it was concelebrated by Fr. Lourduswamy, Fr. Stanislaus, Fr, Martin Antony, Fr. Paneer Selvam, Fr. Patrick Pinto, Fr. Christopher White and Fr. Xavier and others were present at the inauguration ceremony. Archbishop Bernard Moras in his homily said, “In the gospel Jesus speaks of the genuine love and the two most important commandment”, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, he continued saying, Love of God and Love of neighbor is the essence of the Jesus`s teaching. Loving with Mind, heart and soul is a 100% love where nothing else is pending. We are called to experience the same love of Christ and share the love with our neighbors.

After the Mass, the Archbishop addressed the seminarians and spoke about the main motive of the summer course. He underlined the scope of the course is to bring together the brothers of the Karnataka Region, so that they might understand their role in the mission of the region. It is to bring about harmony among the various formations received at different seminaries that will help us to grow with a broad mind. Language is the medium of Proclamation of the Gospel. Therefore to know the language and culture is also an effective means to proclaim the Gospel in the Karnataka region. He concluded his words requesting all the brother gathered here to make use of the sessions by knowing and understanding each culture and benefit out of it.