Kolkata :
The Diocese of Calcutta turns 200 this year and a year-long programme has been planned to celebrate the occasion, it was announced at the Bishop’s House on Wednesday. The Bishop, Diocese of Calcutta, Rt Reverend Ashoke
Biswas said a plot has been earmarked near St Thomas College, Kidderpore, for a human resource centre. A shelter
home will also be built.
“In past 200 years, through its 25 institutions, the Diocese has imparted education to millions of students in Kolkata and the suburbs. Our institutions boast of having Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mrinal Sen and Manna Dey, along with many other luminaries, as our alumni,” Rt Revd Biswas said. “The Diocesan Board of Social Service covers 51 villages in South 24-Parganas and the primary focus is to mobilize women and youth by forming organizations to address food rights and livelihood issues. Youths are engaged in the entrepreneurship development and are also given vocational training,” he added while going on to list more programmes undertaken by the Diocese.
The announcement of the year-long celebrations came in presence of Revd Abir Adhikary, secretary and joint convener of the bicentenary celebrations, Revd Nigel Pope, the vicar of St Paul’s Cathedral church and celebrations convener and St James school principal T H Ireland.
The inaugural programme starts with worship service at St Paul’s in the afternoon, followed by a ceremony and cultural programme on Sunday. On February 7, a marathon for peace will be organized. March 7-8 will witness an inter-church cricket tournament. March 28 will see a women’s meet, where issues of empowerment and relevant topics will be discussed. Events will take place every month for exactly one year, when President Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be present for the closing ceremony.
Teachers and children will also enjoy their events, like an inter-school and pastorate basketball tournament in May, a children’s summer camp in June, inter-school football tournament in end-July, a Teacher’s Day celebration in September and a children’s fair on November 14.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / December 11th, 2014