Bangalore 3 August 2022 (CCBI): The CCBI accorded affectionate farewell to Fr. Raymond Joseph the outgoing Executive Secretary of the Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious at CCBI General Secretariat, Bangalore on Wednesday 3 August, 2022. Most Rev. Udumala Bala the Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious honoured Fr. Raymond with Indian shawl and gifted him the wooden statute of St. Joseph, his patron saint. Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara Deputy Secretary General presented to him the memento portraying words of appreciation and gratitude.
Bishop Udumala Bala thanked Fr. Raymond for his meritorious service to the Church in India from 2014 to 2022. “Fr. Raymond’s valuable contribution to prepare the “Charter of Priestly Formation for India” is outstanding and praiseworthy. As the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Fr. Raymond have made a substantial contribution to both the CCBI and to the Church in India “said Bishop Udumala Bala.
The Deputy Secretary General remembered Fr Raymond for the very valuable service he has rendered to the Commission for VSCR during his tenure in the office and his tireless efforts in strengthening the Commission for VSCR, notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rev. Fr. Charles Leon the newly appointed Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious and Rev. Fr. Merlin Rengith Ambrose the newly appointed Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Canon Law and Legislative Texts were warmly welcomed.
Bishop Udumala Bala was the main celebrant of the solemn thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration held at the chapel of the CCBI Centre. During the Holy Mass, after post communion prayer Fr. Charles Leon and Fr. Merlin Rengith Ambrose were recited the prayer of promise and took charge in their respective offices.
In the farewell gathering Msgr. S. Jayanathan, the Secretary to the Karnataka Regional Bishops’ Council and the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, Rev. Dr. Richard Britto, President, Association of Rectors of Major Seminaries (ARMS) and the Rector of the St. Peter’s Seminary, Bangalore, Rev. Dr. Ambrose Pitchaimuthu, Executive Secretary, CCBI Commission for Proclamation and Director, Pontifical Mission Organisations, Rev. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi, Executive Secretary, CCBI Commission for Bible and Rev. Fr. Vignan Das, Associate Director, Communio delivered the felicitation.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI