CHRISTMAS at the Archdiocesan Catholic Enquiry Centre (CEC)

The “Joy of the Gospel” is in proclaiming with heartfelt praise the GOOD NEWS of the birth of our Lord, Saviour and Master Jesus Christ, especially to people of ALL faiths...

This unique mission of the CEC Bangalore Family, with Rev. Sr. C. L. Clare dsp as Directress and Rev. Fr. J. Arokianathan as Spiritual Director, has been bearing fruit since long, through the enthusiastic participation of Staff and Co-Workers. Under the invigorating guidance of our Patron, Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, this Centre has been tirelessly reaching out through the FREE Bible Correspondence Course Programmes (English, Kannada, Tamil) using what they call the “Table Ministry” methodology. That is, CEC Co-workers and Staff have a Table with Biblical articles and their FREE Bible Course Programs placed in the Church premises, responsive to “Seekers” and “Enquirers” who visit them, asking various questions regarding Lord Jesus, the Church, the Catholic Faith etc... This spontaneously also becomes a “Table of Prayer / Counselling” depending on the need of the person visiting... Needless to say, this has become an Evangelization Outreach Programme, reaching out to various devotees, be it at Infant Jesus Shrine on Thursdays, St. Antony’s Shrine of St Patrick’s Church on Tuesdays, sometimes at Mother Mary’s Basilica on Saturdays etc.

Christmas is a great time of renewal! It is also a splendid opportunity to share the message of love, joy and peace that we receive from the birth of Lord Jesus, especially to those who are down-trodden, depressed, sick, suffering, lonely and tired... To enable this, CEC Staff and Co-workers, together with the Brothers from St. Peter’s Seminary and the Sisters from the Daughters of St Paul, organized an Outreach Mission on the 7th of December 2014, when they visited the Kidwai Institute of Oncology (Dharmashala and Children’s wards) and the State Home for destitute women and their Reception Centre.

Our young brothers, through their skit, song and dance programmes lit up the otherwise dreary atmosphere of pain and hurt, with the light of Christ Jesus, bringing happy smiles on the faces of many. Sharing little gifts was part of the programme and the young children were happy to enjoy them especially from their “Christmas Papa – Santaclaus”... We closed the day with a Fellowship Meal hosted for us by the Sisters of the Missionaries of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Koramangala...

We hope that you will be inspired also, to make this Christmas much more precious and special for those who you can reach out to, from where you are! The CEC Family wishes each of you and your homes, a God-blessed time of happiness and sharing, so the presence of Christ’s love in it, will blossom several happy hearts, aplenty everywhere!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
--- The CEC Family – Infant Jesus Church, Viveknagar, Bangalore