Epiphany, a "celebration of brotherhood" even for non-Christian Mundari Tribals
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Brotherhood with everyone, even non-Christians, "is our most valuable asset," said Fr Lino Fernandes SFX. "In his message for World Day of Peace," he added, "Pope Francis called on us to invest in this area. The call to brotherhood is especially important in my parish, which is composed of Tribals, because it can become a bridge between cultures and help heal inequalities and poverty."
Fr Fernandes, a Pilar missionary who heads the Blessed Mother Teresa Parish in Siadih (Diocese of Jamshedpur), is convinced of this. His mission is composed mostly of tribal Mundari, some 45 families scattered in 25 villages, ten of which located 15-20 km from the church. He is a member of the Society of the Missionaries of St Francis Xavier, also known as the 'Society of Pilar,' established in Goa in 1887.
During his round, he "was able to visit and celebrate the holiday season even in villages that were 99 per cent non-Christian," he told AsiaNews. "We went into Badani village, which has only two Catholic families out of 600 residents, and with the permission of its religious and tribal leaders, we organised a celebration for Epiphany."
"We arrived around 9 am," he said. "The whole village welcomed us, led by the Munda (tribal chief) and the Pahan (religious leader). They sang a song of welcome and washed our hands, which is their way of paying homage to guests. We set up a Nativity Scene with the help of the residents. Children ran around looking for decorations whilst the men set up the manger. It was very touching to see their reverence towards this Christian symbol."
From a cultural point of view, the crèche impressed the Tribals. "Christ was born in poverty, surrounded by oxen, donkeys and monkeys. In their tribal culture, that is a very powerful concept, which makes them accept the birth of Christ and recognise its power. Like the shepherds, they too are humble witnesses of the newborn. Both Catholic families sang some Christmas carols in the Mundari language, and in the same language, we immediately proclaimed the Gospel of the Nativity. "
Fr Fernandes also had the opportunity to teach catechism. "I proclaimed the Christian message and gave them the Good News that God loves us all. And as a proof of His great love for us, He sent His only Son who died and rose again for our sins. Residents worshiped the Nativity Scene with great devotion and respect, along with their leaders. We want to thank everyone for this wonderful celebration."
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