IDC Delegates Assembly - Mumbai, India

The IDC delegates assembly took place in Mumbai, India from 9 September to 11 September 2012. Our host was Fr. Gilbert De Lima a delegate of the IDC. After the business meetings we were able to tour the city of Mumbai and to see first hand, the wonderful ministry of the Permanent Deacons in the Archdiocese of Mumbai. Many of the deacons are working with the communities in the slums of Mumbai, with a core part of their ministry being their work for social justice. The level of poverty in the slums are unlike anything experienced in our countries and the scale of such poverty is simply overwhelming. One cannot but reflect with a deep sense of compassion on the future prospects for the many children born and raised in these slums and the daily family struggles to just survive. A beacon of light in all this poverty is the resolute determination of the Catholic Church to uplift the lives of the poor and it is these efforts that truly bring hope and joy to the status quo. Empowerment, self help schemes are transforming the lives of the communities in little, but effective steps. It was extremely gratifying to see the empowerment of women being spearheaded in the various communities we visited. This bodes well for the future and the Permanent Deacons have a strong role to play in complimenting and supporting the work of the lay religious and the voluntary social workers. Our grateful thanks to our brothers and sisters in Mumbai who welcomed us into their communities. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. Below are moments captured of our time in Mumbai.

Prepared by:
Dcn. Greg Garnie
    

Africae Munus

Click on the title above.

Literature List - On Going Formation

As men ordained to be relevant ministers to the life of the Church and society in general, Permanent Deacons must of necessity be self-motivated, creative and enterprising in the area of on-going formation. We do not have the luxury of sitting back and waiting for input to be given in order to broaden and deepen our faculties and competency,spiritual and intellectual. We are called to be relevant in thought, word and action so as to effectively and with conviction witness to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in what is arguably the most turbulent period of human spirituality. We need to have the 'can do' attitude that marked such great people as Abbot Francis Pfanner "If no one goes, I will go", Mother Therese "give until it hurts", John Bradburn (caring for lepers) and many, many others.

The literature list below is a contribution from the IDC IMBISA office for the benefit of brother Deacons and we will add to the list as time goes on. The list will only contain material that has already been read by a Deacon and is recommended by him as an addition to the list. Please feel free to send your recommended literature for inclusion, that way we help one another in our journey of on-going formation as Permanent Deacons.

1. Encyclical Letter: Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) of Pope John Paul II
2. Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week by Pope Benedict XVI
3. The Compact History of the Catholic Church by Alan Schreck, PH.D
4. From the Diakonia of Christ to the Diakonia of the Apostles by the International Theological Commission
5. Rebuild My Church by Alan Schreck, PH.D
6. Catholic Truth by Dereck Blackburn, Secular Franciscan
7. Our Catholic Symbols by Michael J. Daley
8. Our Joy In Being Catholic by Oswald Hirmer & Diocesan Animation Team
9. Permanent Deacon by Congregation for Catholic Education and Congregation for the Clergy
10. Saintly Deacons by Owen F. Cummings
11. 111 Questions on Islam by Samir Khalil Samir, S.J.
12. The Other Side of History by Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert (South Africa History)
13. Vatican II: The Crisis and The Promise by Alan Schreck, PH.D
14. The Case for Easter by Lee Strobel, Journalist
15. The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning, former Franciscan Priest
16. The Fathers of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI
17. On the Collaboration of Men & Women in the Church and in the World by Congregation for the Doctrine of trhe Faith
18. The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith (Lineamenta)