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The Navhind Times, Panjim, Goa,  December 3, 1982 Their way of reaching Him By Camil Parkhe Panjim, Dec. 3 – Among the thousands who flocked the Bom Jesu Basilica at Old Goa was a ‘strange’ group of a few pilgrims coming to touch the feet of St. Francis Xavier at Old Goa, today shattered many people’s conceptions, beliefs about Christianity which they had preserved for many years. The group of 27 pilgrims, coming from Ajara (Kolhapur district) was led by a Jesuit priest. Fr. Prabhudhar, and Santaji, a young man. A majority of them were college students, some even of only 17 years of age. Crossing everyday 35 kms. On an average they covered the distance of 140 kms. On foot in four days. The strange thing people found in them was that these pilgrims, though hardcore Catholics, were singing Marathi, Konkani Bhajans and that also along with the tune of cymbals (tal) around their necks! These Warkaris, chanting Nam-japa or even Abhangas of Sant Tukaram a prominent saint fro...

The Indian Flavour By Camil Parkhe When the winds of changes in the progressive Catholic Church are strongly favouring the process of inculterasation in the various nationalist, its echoes are felt in some parts of India, too. For one Christian Community of Central Maharashtra, bought into the fold of Christianity only a century ago, presents a beautiful blend of the Christian Religion and Indian Culture. This assimilation of the basic values of Christianity and the Indian culture is most conspicuous especially how on the occasion of the Christmas season. The process of inculturation has been rather spontaneous among these Christians due to their conversations only a century ago as well as for the fact they are a religious minority in this region. Many of the Jesuit priests in this who have been nurturing the Christian faith, especially those hailing from the same community, have also contributed a lot to the growth of the faith without wrongly identifying the religious practi...