Indian bishop views women as key to reach people

Ninety-nine percent of the Catholics in this Indian diocese of Ambikapur have diverse ethnicity, and their prelate regards women as the major force in connecting to the people.

“The women are the main channel to reach the people,” Ambikapur Bishop Antonis Bara said in an interview with the Voice of the Asian Bishops. “The men can approach the house. But the women can go inside the house. They have more power and have more opportunity to influence people in the society.”

The women have been an active force in the lay ministry in the diocese for the past many years, he noted.

“In my diocese, women were very active from the beginning,” Bara said. “And even now, they are more active than the men.”

The women have already set out to the parishes organizing fellow women, he noted. They have been strengthening the ministries of women in the parishes and encouraging them to get active at the diocese level, regional level, and national level.

The youth have also demonstrated active participation in the lay ministries, Bara said. The diocese has several groups of youth today, including the Jesus Youth.

The diocese was looking at holding workshops, meetings, and seminars for the youth to keep them consolidated and further enrich their ministries.

“The youth in Ambikapur is very active,” he said. “I would ask the youth director and even the animators to go to other parishes.”

Bara pointed out that he has been protecting the youth. Every Tuesday evening, the youth go to church for prayers even if they are already tired.

“That shows me their commitment and their strong faith in Jesus,” he said.

The bishop also shared that today’s vibrance in the diocese started from “direct evangelization.”

He noted that their “main contribution” was the formation of the faith.

Since the people are illiterate, he added, the diocese has a program to facilitate awareness.

He also pointed out that the government was keen on helping educate the people.

“But until now, many are still illiterate,” Bara said. “In our diocese, there are 57 missionary stations. Every missionary station has a school. For us, the school is a channel, a means to approach people. We approach the villagers. We approach the houses and students.”