Irish-British Province

PUNE/INDIA
National Consultation on Healing as Mission

In line with the mandate given by Jesus, the Divine Healer, “to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal” (Lk 9, 1), a National Consultation on “Healing as Mission” was held at Ishvani Kendra, Pune, from December 12-16, 2005.

It brought together 66 participants from all over the country. There were bishops, theologians, doctors, nurses, social activists, clinical psychologists, artists, leaders of the Charismatic movement, representatives from national health and developmental organizations, and members from integrated holistic systems of care among the participants.

The deliberations and findings of the Consultation led to a more profound understanding of health care. Right to life and right to health are inalienable gifts from God to each person. Being created in the image and likeness of God, each person has an innate dignity as a child of God. Hence, human life is sacred, and every person has an intrinsic right not only to exist, but also to grow and realize all the potentials given by God, as far as possible.

Fr. Stanislaus LAZAR, Director of Ishvani Kendra, along with the staff organized this important Consultation. Msgr. Chacko THOTTUMARICKAL (Jhabua), Fr. Patrick PAIS (the only Indian SVD medical doctor) and two other confreres also participated in the Consultation.

Source: Arnoldus Nota