SUMMER CAMP 2009

Three days of great fun, cultural programme, social education, and creative activities, and sharing of love, these were all about the Summer Camp 2009. The children of four centre namely The Durgapur Child Study and Development Centre, Interfaith Community Study Centre - Bankura, Community Study Centre - Purulia and Prochesta -Asansol had their Annual Summer Camp 2009 from 20’th May to 23’rd May, on the theme “SAVE THE CREATION OF GOD” under the able guidence of Mrs. Rita Dutta President of the Women Fellowship, Diocese of Durgapur, helped by Rev. Swagata Das. Approximately 175 children from four centres participated in this camp with 20 active and energetic teachers and some reliable, laborious volunteers. The camp started with an inagural prayer by Rev. Amiya Das. Our Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Probal Kanto Dutta planted a small plant and declared the camp open.. Children were divided into groups. Singing, Dancing, Art, , Biblical classes were held. Some competetion were organised. The prize distribution ceremony was held in the morning of 23’rd May. The first prize was awarded to the best group. Ms. Lynn Coulthard was announced as the best teacher of the whole summer camp.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Started in the Diocese of Durgapur

The Prayer Shawl Ministry has been started in the Diocese of Durgapur. In an orientation programme organized by the Companion Diocese Committee on the 2nd and 3rd of May 2009 women members from ten pastorates of the Diocese participated and started this noble ministry.
The programme started with a solemn inaugural worship in the evening of the 2nd of May which was conducted by Rev. Samiran Sinha and Rev. Swagata Das. In her welcome address, Mrs. Archana Dey, Secretary of the Companion Diocese Committee, emphasized on the spiritual involvement of each and everybody towards this ministry. The Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Probal Kanto Dutta, in his address motivated evry participant to listen to the call of the Holy Spirit within each participant as this ministry is not only the weaving of shawls but weaving of shawls with prayers for those who are alone, in distress, and those who are suffering and dieing.
The participants were divided into groups and were given the blessed yarns of wool and the cloths that would be used to make the shawls. For the rest of the evening and the next day the women wove the shawls singing Gospel songs and above all praying with the inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
Each participant pastorate would go back and start this spiritual and noble ministry in their respective pastorates. The women would form groups who would meet and knit the shawls with prayers and songs and eventually give them to someone who is in distress.
We solemnly pray to Father Almighty to send the Holy Spirit to each of the members who would be involved in this ministry so that they stand beside those who are in distress and spread the Good News all over.

Annual Capping Ceremony at KSN Nursing School

Khristiya Seva Niketan Nursing School under the Diocese of Durgapur organized its Annual Capping and Lamp Lighting Ceremony on the 5th of April 2009. at an imposing ceremony 24 GNM students took the “Oath of Allegiance (Florence Nightingale Pledge) and were inducted into the Nursing Faculty.
The programme started with a word of prayer by the Presbyter in charge of Sarenga pastorate, Rev. Subhendu Soren. Following the welcome song by the third year students, Mrs. Sangita Gorai welcomed all the guests. The auspicious occasion was graced with the presence of the Rt. Rev. Dr. P. K. Dutta, Bishop of the Diocese of Durgapur, Mr. Arindam Bala, the CMOH of Bankura and the special guest for the evening, the Rt. Rev. James Cowan, Bishop of the Diocese of British Columbia. In his welcome address Dr. R. C. Biswas mentioned the importance of the trainees taking the oath in the presence of God, teachers, parents, relatives and society at large. The report for the year 2008 – 09 was read out by Ms. Aloka Bhagat, who specially mentioned the tremendous progress the nursing school in the last three years under the leadership of the Bishop. The Bishop in his message expressed his firm belief of the best yet to come and also gave the news of two former doctors of the hospital returning back in the month of November 2009. He further said that God will provide our needs if we are faithful.
The solemn and propitious occasion of capping and the lamp lighting was pursued by the students taking the pledge. Bishop Cowan gave away the awards to the students who had excelled academically. The main event came to an end with Mr. P. K. Baux extending the vote of thanks to all present.
Following the main event the students arranged a cultural programme which showcased the inner excellent talents of the students which left one and everybody in praise of the pleasurable evening which was brilliantly planned by the fraternity of the Khristiya Seva Niketan. The KSN Nursing School gives glory to God for His multiple blessings on it and its scholars and faculty.

Bishop of British Columbia Church, Canada visits the diocese.

Rt.Rev.James A.J.Cowan, the Bishop of British Columbia church, Canada, the colleague of the Rt.Rev.Dr.Prabal Kanto Dutta, the Bishop of Durgapur Diocese visits the diocese It was to witness the Durgapur Diocesan (church)’s concern and services rendered to the marginalized and exploited Tribal community people under the leadership of Bishop P.K.Dutta.
His Goodwill visit was to know the history of diocesan involvement and the services rendered by the projects of the diocese..

Visit to Samadi community Development Project was the beginning of His week long activity schedule.1st April he met the project staffs, the community health workers, project run primary coaching teachers and the villagers at samadi office. He also visited the coaching centers and the Rural Child Library.
Though the area is politically restless, the Bishop of British Columbia church, Canada ventured to visit the tribal families by Motor-Cycle with Project Coordinator, so was his commitment level to understand the tribal people, their living and livelihood.

He also met the villagers of a project village, MAHISAMURA, the village that may be the only village in the Ranibandh Block that has each family a Latrine. Traditional welcome acceptance to Bishop by the villagers and children were something to observe and cherish. Hour long discussion was so useful that first time we all realized that each adult person has the voter card but not any Ration Card of Public Distribution System (PDS) of the government.

2nd April, He visits Bankura – st.Micheals school, Bankura Christian College, the church building and Interfaith Community Study Center. All the In charges welcomed and provided a retrospective and prospective involvement of the institution in the life and prosperity of the people in the area.
Rev. Samuel Halder and Rev.A.Das welcomed and the students performed dances and songs and also explain how the center is promoting and spreading news of Peace & Love in interfaith community.

Reported by :
K.N.Das.
Dev.coordinator.

Act to Combat Trafficking

A US$2.5 Billion business worldwide, human trafficking is a huge nuisance as well as a matter of great concern for every nation and community in this universe at present. Women and children, especially of the deprived section of the society, are lured, forced into illicit and illegal trades which sometimes are accountable for their deaths also. The Church on its part has a huge responsibility towards this mammoth menace disquieting humanity.
The Diocese of Durgapur, which has a protracted account of standing for the subalterns, with the help of Diocesan Women’s Fellowship for Christian Service and the Diocesan Board of Social Services organized a two day discussion on Human Trafficking on the 20th and 21st of March 2009 at the Diocesan Office compound. 50 women from all over the diocese were present to take part in the discussion.
The discussion opened with a short worship conducted by Rev. Swagata Das who refered to the book of Genesis chapter1:26,27 where it is written about God getting immense pleasure after He created Man in His own image and then Woman.
The two day dialogue was an enlightening one which incorporated sessions by scholars and activists in the field like Mr. Manabendra Mondal of S.L.A.R.T.C, Mr. A. Goswami from SANLAP and Rev. David Copley from the United States. The speakers informed about the various ways that humans are nowadays trafficked, the causes and the probable solutions for resisting trafficking. While Mr. Mondal and Mr. Goswami enlightened everybody about the various aspects of human trafficking, alluding to various cases from their experiences, bringing into light the dismal and inhuman, brutal, merciless and cold blooded nature of the traffickers and the mostly defenselessness of the trafficked victims, Rev. David Copley very appositely brought out the Biblical side citing that the human being was created in God’s own image and that too the greatest creation of all but which is being exploited to the brink due to the never quenching greed of mankind. He further emphasized that we as Christians are called to live in good relationship with each other and to remind all that we are God’s image and that God loves all madly, no matter what race, religion, color.
The sessions were trailed by interactive episodes which brought out various unasked questions that were infusing in the minds of the participators and in the course various probable solutions were also originated, which is guessed the participants will put in use in their locality when they go back.
Truly, discussions like these are the need of the hour which will persuade the people to rethink about their neighbors, especially those who live in abject poverty, who are the most vulnerable to trafficking. But sheer participation in discussions is not called for, what we as Christian are called for today is to ACT TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING.

RIKSHAW PROJECT

In the year 2007 the Diocese of Durgapur had launched a programme for rickshaw pullers who are socially and economically deprived class of the society. The objective behind this programme was to bring a dignity to their profession and improve their standard of living. Under this programme, the Rickshaw Pullers were provided with Rickshaws donated by the Diocese. Generally, the rickshaw pullers do not have their own rickshaws and they rent the rickshaws which results in a large chunk of their income going to the rickshaw contractors. Thus, they cannot lead a comfortable life despite the hard work put in by them and perennially trapped in debt.
The Diocese already has 4 such Rickshaw projects going on in Sarenga, Purulia, Durgapur and Dinajpur with a total of 16 Rickshaw Vans and 1 Rickshaw being donated in these areas. The rickshaw pullers donate 5 rupees every day which is kept in a fund which can be used for major repairs of the vehicles as and when needed.
Ashish Ree was a labourer toiling in the local cold storage at Sarenga from 06:00 A.M in the morning till sometimes 10:00 P.M in the night in order to earn a full days meal for his family which consists of his wife, two daughters and one toddler son. His wife’s health was frail which meant that she and her tiny son were vulnerable to all kinds of ailments and diseases. Ashish had no way but to endure all this as he had no means to afford for better treatment facilities as his daily income was around fifty rupees which is much lower that what is needed for two meals for a family of five.
This was the familiar complaint in all the families of the pullers in the four areas before they were donated with the vehicles. Today one won’t find the stereotypical notion of this impoverished state anymore, though as changes are taking place in their lives. A new enthusiasm for economic independence and a life of dignity is slowly replacing the old traditions and helplessness. Today they earn about Rs. 80/- to 100/- every day which is a far cry from what they used to earn earlier. They now plan of sending their children to better schools, repair their dilapidated houses, treat their old ailing parents and family members, and get good food for their families and save some money in the bank also. The Diocese of Durgapur, firmly believes that the economic empowerment of these people is essential. It not only helps in providing sustenance, but increases respect for them in the society as

The Gift of a Magi

By birth she is an English national, who had married a Bengali gentleman and since then her love for India , especially Bengal has been profound. Her name is Mrs. Eileen Chakravarty hailing from the United Kingdom who had resided in India for forty years in the past. Mrs. Chakravorty had a ling desire of revisiting India since her association with Bishop Probal Kanto Dutta when the Bishop was the pastor of Sudder Street Church in Calcutta and she was its parish member. Later she had heard, from the Bishop , a lot about the Diocese of Durgapur, its various ministries and specially the ministry towards the slum children which is being taken care by the Diocesan Women’s fellowship for Christian Service and was overwhelmed by it. Her longing desire came to reality when she visited the Diocese in December 2008 when the Projects under the Women’s Fellowship were holding their Annual Sports. So much was she overcome with compassion and love for the children the care is being extended towards them that she sold off her most prized possession in her life- the jewelries that were given by her mother in law after her marriage and donated the money for the ministry towards the deprived children. It is hard to believe that, in this fast changing and selfish universe where everyone is thirsty for each other’s blood, persons like Mrs. Eileen Chakravorty still exist who care for the needy and can sacrifice their most prized possession for that cause. Truly she is like the magi who had visited Jesus on His birth and gifted him with Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh and then Diocese of Durgapur is glad to have her as its friend well wisher.