New Catholic church inaugurated in Natsümi

Bishop of Kohima, Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, has blessed St. Stephen Church at Natsümi under the Lazami Parish on January 23.
Kivixe Peter accorded a warm welcome to the Bishop, priests, sisters, community members and all the guests and gave briefed history of the church in the village. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated after the blessing of the church.
The Bishop in his homily stressed the fact that building material and physical edifice of the church is easy. But the real Church, he said is individual Christians which according to him to build that church is not that easy. He said the external physical church should be an expression of the spiritual church, adding the worship we offer in the material edifice should be the continuation and expression of our spiritual worship that we give to God in spirit and in truth.
He said in the midst of over three thousand denominations, people lose sight of the true church founded by Jesus. To the question where many people ask how to recognize the church founded by Jesus, he said the early church fathers gave the criteria to recognize the church in the very first council in the church, the council of Nicaea in the year 325, the very council that proclaimed the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the most fundamental and basic doctrine of Christianity accepted by all Christian denominations.
Citing Nicene profession of faith “We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic” church, he said these are the four marks of the church founded by Jesus and they are found fully in the Catholic church. He added that other Christian churches shares in these marks to some degree.
He also said that mere membership or baptism in the Catholic Church does not give one the passport to heaven. Only a true and genuine Christian life according to the values of the gospel would lead to true home land (heaven). He said St. Stephen, the patron of the Church and the first martyr for Christ, would give the courage and grace to live for Christ, even at the cost of one’s life.
The bishop also congratulated and thanked the community, Fr. Yesudas and Fr. Justine Vinoto, the Sisters and others who worked hard to complete the church.
Sr. Theresa SCCG, the economer, cut the ribbon and Fr. Mathias, the delegate superior, unveiled the monolith.
Priests, religious leaders and representatives from Tseminyu, Chepobozo, Atoizo, Aghunato, Dimapur, Zunheboto, Akhuluto, etc. were present for the function. The Natsümi Catholic community is hosting the All Nagaland Sumi Catholic Association seminar which began on January 23.