This course has two parts: 1. Proclamation in North Indian Situation; 2. Contextualized Study of Persons of Biblical History, especially in Pentateuch. It was organized at Nav Sadhana from Sept. 1 to 10, 2015. The resource person was Rev.Fr. Vineet Pereira, Acharya of Gohanna Ashram, Azamgarh. He enlightened the participants giving the details of socio-political, economic, religious milieu of the country as well as the situation of the catholic church in India, especially in North India, where majority of the people are Hindus and Muslims, and the Christianity is in minority. He adumbrated that proclamation has been done through personal life and witness, distributing leaflets and books, discourse and sermons, educational and health services as well as dialogue with other religious believers. The contents of the proclamation: Jesus Christ, Son of God and the Kingdom of God, sin and conversion to God. He pointed out the signs of the good catechist: Firm faith, diligence and dutifulness, humility, positive paradigm of thoughts, knowledge of the Bible and experience of the Lord, prayer, dependence on the Holy Spirit and exemplary life. He stressed that it is equally important to know about Jesus Christ from the other religious Scriptures such as Quran and Vedas, etc. He showed some clips to this effect. Fr. Vineet used the audio visual method to explain about the Pentateuch and its protagonists such as Adam and Eve, Cain, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers and Moses. He threw light on the qualities, roles, leadership, struggles, pains, privations, joys and happiness as men of God. The participants drew insights and inspirations from their personality for their life as catechists. The participants in their evaluation articulated that the course was very good; it inspired them to be good leaders; it strengthened their faith and deepened their knowledge of Pentateuch. The time-table was very good as it gave time for interiorization of the contents through prayer and reflection. Food and accommodation were excellent; the participants mentioned that the director and staff respected them and expressed their gratitude for it. They returned happily to their respective places with pleasant memories of their stay in Nav Sadhana.
