“There are three traditional pillars of lent namely, Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Through these we Christians offer our homage to God with the three principal interests: by prayer with our souls, by fasting with our bodies and by almsgiving with our fellow human beings,” said His Excellency, Most Rev. Albert Hemrom, the Bishop of Dibrugarh Diocese during the regional level launch of the Lenten Campaign. He shared, “The purpose of a Lenten discipline is to strip away those things which clutter one’s life or impede one from being in relationship with God. It is also a time for people to experience and reflect on the sufferings of Jesus. The Lenten period is a favourable time to recognize our weakness and to accept, through a sincere inventory of our life, the renewing grace of the Sacrament of Penance, and walk resolutely towards Christ”. 

Caritas India has organized a regional launch of the Lenten Campaign, “Healthy Life, Healthy India” in the city of Guwahati in Assam on March 14, 2021, at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Guwahati, Assam. Bishop Albert Hemrom celebrated the Holy Eucharist with Fr. Jolly, Assistant Executive Director, Caritas India, Fr. Varghese, Director of NEDSSS, and Fr. Vincent Xalxo, Parish Priest of the St. Joseph Co-Cathedral.

 Fr. Varghese, Director of NEDSSS in his message shared the need to inculcate and contribute our generosity in solidarity with the farmers, the poor and the needy to overcome the challenges that we are facing. He said, “Social work is one of the Commission of the Catholic Church. We cannot stop our charity work with the reduction of foreign financial aid. Therefore, it is important that we generously contribute through Lenten contribution to perpetuate the charity activities that Jesus began.”  

The Asst. Executive Director of Caritas India, Fr. Jolly addressed the faithful and said, “In the past Lenten Collections are done but without knowing much about the purpose why one is contributing, where the money goes and how this is being utilized. With this Lenten Campaign initiative of Caritas India and the dioceses, we want to communicate to all people the novel cause of Lenten Campaign and its utilization.” He informed the parishioners that Caritas India through its Diocesan Social Service Societies have promoted lakhs of farmers with organic and natural cultivation to reduce hunger and diseases and your generous contribution would boost their effort.

After the launch, the Caritas India FARM Northeast program organised an exhibition and marketing stall of organic food and products to promote healthy food to support a healthy life. These products brought by the partners from all the seven states of FARM North East partners. Bishop Albert Hemrom inaugurated these stalls and appreciated the farmers for producing which symbolised the Church support to the poor for eradicating hunger and diseases through organic/natural cultivation and marketing the same. More than 400 people witnessed the event. 13 Diocesan Directors, 80 FARM Northeast staff from 16 program partners were also present on the occasion.