M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, April 14: A total of 22 youth, mostly tribals, are mulling to explore for themselves a career in the priesthood of Catholicism. It may be a very austere job for them but these 22 are just taking an opportunity and there is no word as to how many of them will settle for the priesthood.
Daltonganj Bishop Theodore M on being contacted by this correspondent said a three-day vacation camp also known by the name of commencing camp or Bolahat Camp in raw Hindi has begun from April 12 for these 22 youth at Chiyanki based institution in Daltonganj who are either matriculate or have done plus 2 to ‘choose right path’ to Catholicism and to shun all worldly pleasures and luxuries by serving God, its people and humanity at large.
The Bishop made it very clear that “It’s all a voluntary choice. There is no pressure on it. A youth is absolutely free to choose his own course for his life. There is no enticement, inducement, temptation or coercion. It is all free will and the liking of the youth to choose the path of God or to go to the mundane things.”
Theodore M further said, “Let me tell everyone that this 3-day orientation course is no bondage. Anyone who has attended this 3-day orientation course in the vacation camp is free not to pursue it any more or any further for the priesthood. He is all free to have his life.”
On being asked about the success rate of grooming youth for the priesthood of Catholicism, the Bishop said, “Our strike rate is 10 to 12 per cent. Obtaining priesthood is no cakewalk. It has its rigour. It is to be strictly disciplined.”
“It takes 14 years to prepare a priest. Four years of it go to seminary for the study of theology. Philosophy is the accompanying subject. Besides in the early years of grooming youths for the priesthood of Catholicism proficiency in English, Hindi and the Bible is pursued” added Bishop.
He lamented that youths of this diocese have very little knowledge of English and they even falter in the Hindi language. Reading and understanding the Bible should be preferred most, reminded the Bishop.
The first step to the priesthood of Catholicism is to vow to celibacy which many of the youths having done only matriculation or plus 2 or as they are in very adolescent age, may not be favourably disposed towards, to which Bishop Theodore M said “It does not only vow to celibacy. It’s a vow of obedience and adherence to simple and ostentation-free living. The youths definitely weigh these vows very much before taking a final call for their lives.”
Bishop Theodore M said the 3-day vacation camp is an interactive session where our fleet of religious forces and these youths interface and interact with each other and are most free to ask questions.
Today, owning to smart or Android phone is a part of life when on average a phone holder views What’s App or SMS etc every 5 minutes in the day till late at night and so these youths out to pursue a career in spirituality will have access to cell phone to which Bishop Theodore M said “No. They can’t. Their cell phone will be with the head of the institution and once a week only these people will be free to speak to their parents. It is done to save them from worldly distractions.”
Sources said this recruitment process for spirituality is an annual feature where separate sessions are held for the boys and girls.
Bishop Theodore M has a wise word for all. “Your faith in your religion has to be genuinely sincere and honest. Faith in God is the first requisite,” he added.
