Calcutta: Mother Teresa of Calcutta has exhorted that we should all resolve to make Bharat a holy country dear to God. On the occasion of the golden jubilee of India, she has affectionately requested the President, KR Narayanan, the Prime Minister I K Gujral and the whole nation to be united in the heart of God, to be one of heart and soul.

"True freedom lies in acknowledging one's complete dependence on God. It is in that eternal power that we discover our strength and respect. True freedom is the freedom of the children of God. It is that merciful God who makes us free in his love and truth.

"If we desire to see love, happiness, peace and unity dawn in India, let it begin in our prayer to God. Let us make a firm resolution that we shall never lose the great and deep spirit of prayer", said Mother Teresa.
 
 

The number of vocations to the priesthood in the Oriental Catholic churches, the Orthodox Church and Protestant Churches which have the tradition of a married priesthood, is fewer than in the Latin rite churches, pointed out the Archbishop who is the secretary of the commission for Priests. Actually, there is no vocation crisis in the Catholic church. Facts and figures regarding the recruits to major seminaries and those who are ordained, prove that the number of vocations is on the increase every year. It is only in certain countries that there is a shortage of priests. The Archbishop made it clear that in places where special efforts are made to encourage vocations, there is no dearth of priests. The Archbishop made these remarks in connection with the 30th anniversary celebration of the encyclical "Priestly Celibacy" issued by Pope Paul VI in 1967.
 
 

The Vatican: The greatest number of Bibles sold out last year was in the communist country of China. In 1996 alone 33,70,000 Bibles were distributed. Moreover, 5000 Bibles transcribed in braille for the blind, were also distributed. The Bibles were made available at half the publishing cost. One crore and a half of Bibles were distributed in China after 1987.

There are more than one crore of Protestants and about half a crore of Catholics in China.
 
 

The Vatican: Pope John Paul II has exhorted those who serve the marginalised, the sick and the poor, to sacrifice the desire for wealth and nurse the sick with more compassion and love. The Pope's exhortation was made in his yearly message to those engaged in the ministry of service of the sick.

The Pope stressed the need to make available to the poor of society, all modern medical amenities which, at present, only the rich enjoy. We should certainly attend to the matter. The Christian community will always be one with those who show good will and sincerity in raising the values of life and give loving and selfless service to the sick.
 
 
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