The building up of the Church of India was once the team effort of bishops, priests, and religious brothers and sisters, many of them missionaries from places like Canada, the US and the United Kingdom. Today, India’s Church is run by India-born citizens, including thousands of trained laity involved in every part of Church life.
Materials
Program Five: India's Vibrant Laity
Mission Today (the magazine published by the Propagation of the Faith/ English Canadian Branch. Online version.
Fact Sheet on Propagation of the Faith. Online.
Fact Sheet on how students can help the work of Propagation of the Faith. Online
Internet access for additional research questions
Study Guide
Goal
The goal of Program Five is to introduce students to the important work of lay people in India’s Church and how the Church helps with their training though the support of Propagation of the Faith. Interviews with Bishop Singaroyan and various lay people.
Steps
1. Show the internet TV DVD Program Five: India's Vibrant Laity
2. Ask students to form small groups to describe the following:
Why is the laity so important for India’s Church?
How do Canadians help through Propagation of the Faith?
Give three reasons why Canadian Catholics should support the
development and training of Lay people in the Church of India.
3. Option for Take-Home Assignment
1. Via the Internet find more facts about:
The Church of India: how many Catholics are there?
What are the different tasks carried out by the laity in India?
Find out how Canadian Catholics support development of laity for the Church of India
Describe how students can help Propagation of the Faith
2. In groups, make presentations to the class about any or all of the above.