Church plans college for MP| Cathnews India

Church plans college for MP

Published Date: March 11, 2010

Tags: Catholic colleges, Church in Madhya Pradesh, missionary education

Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal blesses the foundation stone of the college in Madhya Pradesh

The Catholic Church in central India plans to open a professional college as part of its efforts to keep in touch with youths after they have finished school.

“Youth are the Church’s strength and to mould them into successful individuals is our aim,” Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal of Indore told UCA News on March 8 after laying the foundation stone for the Church’s first professional college in the west of Madhya Pradesh state.

The region, with Indore as the base, comprises the tribal-dominated dioceses of Jhabua, Khandwa and Ujjain, as well as Indore.

“We have been giving a good foundation and education to the students of our schools but there was no follow up,” the Divine Word prelate explained. Local people have been demanding a professional institute for a long time, he added.

According to the prelate, young people face a “troublesome period” soon after high school. “By accompanying and guiding them in their higher education, we can help them not to go astray in their struggle to establish themselves,” he added.

Bishop Thottumarickal, who was recently elected the chairperson of the Indian Catholic bishops’ social communication commission, said the new institute is “an opportunity” to groom the youths, especially when the Church in the country is focusing on youth in a special way.

Youth for peace and harmony was the major theme of the bishops’ Feb. 24-March 3 biennial plenary.

The institute will start bachelor’s courses in business administration, computer science and commerce from July in Indore, the state’s commercial capital.

Amit Ganawa from Jhabua welcomed the Church’s initiative. “The Church provides the best education until high school, but after that we have no option but to join institutes run by politicians and other individuals,” said the tribal youth who is enrolled in a bachelor’s course in pharmacy in Indore.

Victor Antony, president of the local Catholic council, welcomed the Church “finally” agreeing to meet people’s demand for higher education.

Source: Church college keeps in touch with youth (UCAN)

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