Preamble

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. [Ps. 118:24]

It was a great vision and show of courage and fervent prayer as the Diocese of Darjeeling under the stewardship of Rt. Rev. Bishop Stephen Lepcha began a journey of faith, prayer and total surrendering to the prompting of the Holy Spirit since…..to celebrate its 50th year, gracefully and meaningfully. The whole Diocese went under her knees in an act of entrustment to the guidance of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, with special intention praying for its success. Further, a special prayer was designed to further support the fact that the Golden Jubilee was placed under the guidance of the Divine initiative and grace. Those who prayed ceaselessly during the whole Jubilee Year in parishes and the individuals, witnessed the fruit of their fervent prayer as the Golden Jubilee Celebrations reached its climax from 15th to 17th November 2012, with the theme: UNITED IN CHRIST – GOD’S WILL BE DONE.

The Diocese marked with joy and gladness a coming together of the Bishops, Priests, Religious and the entire Laity of the diocese in an atmosphere of prayer and reflection, listening to God, to the Holy Spirit, to one another, and to the people around us. We are grateful to God for the graces all through the Jubilee Year which was a period of reflection on the life of our Diocese in the past fifty years which has given us hope that the Church in Darjeeling diocese is forging ahead.

Marking the grace-filled Jubilee, providentially coinciding with the Holy Father’s call for “the Year of Faith” and “the New Evangelization”, we, the Bishop, Priests, Religious and Laity with prayerful reflection feel the need for a “Pastoral Plan for the Diocese to fulfill our responsibility to evangelize the society as a family of God. It is hoped that this Pastoral Plan will serve us as the Way and the Goal for our emerging and evangelizing mission.

Hence this Vision-Mission Statement has been developed in order to clarify the Vision of the Diocese of Darjeeling-Sikkim.

2. History of the Diocese of Darjeeling

The Diocese of Darjeeling was erected on 8 August 1962, and was formed by separating Darjeeling District from the Church of Calcutta and joined it to the Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkim and Kalimpong. In November 1997 the Diocese was bifurcated by carving out Siliguri Sub Division from its jurisdiction to create the new Diocese of Bagdogra. The present Darjeeling Diocese consists of the Districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the State of Sikkim and the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Darjeeling

The Church first came to Darjeeling with the Irish Loreto Sisters in 1846, soon after the opening of the hill station of Darjeeling in 1835. The area was then under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Bishop Hartmann of Patna Diocese and was staffed by Capuchin Fathers, who were mostly Italians. In 1886, when the hierarchy was established in India, the areas comprising the present sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Siliguri was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Calcutta and came under the care of Jesuits from Belgium.

In 1889, a theologate for the Society of Jesus called St. Mary’s College was started at Kurseong. Up to the end of 1971, when it was shifted to New Delhi, the College contributed much to the expansion work in the district. Memorial among the missionaries of that time are Father M. Wery who worked in Kurseong from 1932 to 1957, and is known today as the ‘Apostle of the Nepalese’, and Father A. Bossaerts who stated the first station in the terai at Gayaganga in 1933 where he died in 1945, after years of service to the tribal laborers brought from Chota Nagpur to work on the tea gardens in the plains.

In the year 31 January 1947, the English speaking Jesuits of the Upper Canada Province came to the assistance of the Belgium Jesuits. They gradually took over the administration of the area, and in 1956 the Darjeeling Region of the Calcutta Province was created, and this became a Province of the Society of Jesus in 1997.

Kalimpong & Sikkim

In the Kamilpong area, the work started in 1883, when the Fathers of the Foreign Missions of Paris settled down in Pedong in the present district of Kalimpong with the hope of getting into Tibet via the Chumbi Valley. The Kalimpong, which was then known as “British Bhootan”, was attached to the Apostolic Vicariate of Tibet and named ‘South Tibet Mission’. Prominent among the French Missionaries and pioneer and scholar in Tibetan was Father A. Desgodins who founded Pedong in November 1882.

By 15.02.1929 Sikkim was also included in the South Tibet Mission for the formation of Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkim-Kalimpong by separating it from Tibet. Thus Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkim-Kalimpong came into existence with Msg. Jules Douhanel as its first Apostolic Prefect.

In 30.06.1937, the French Fathers handed the Apostolic Prefecture over to to the Canon Regular of the Swiss Congregation of St. Maurice of Agaune (CRs), with Mrg. Aurelio Gianora as its new Apostolic Prefect. Twenty five years later, in 1962, he handed the territory over to Bishop Eric Benjamin, the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Darjeeling.

Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan was separated from the Diocese of Tezpur and annexed in the Diocese of Darjeeling in 1975 by a Decree of Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples (“Qua Facilius” No. 217/75, 20.01.1975).

VISION

A Christo Centric Catholic Christian Community, founded on living and personalized faith in Christ, led by competent, committed and convinced servant leaders [laity, religious and clergy] for contributing in Communion, Participation and Mission to establish the Kingdom values of God [compassion, peace and justice] in the Diocese of Darjeeling.

MISSION

The Diocese of Darjeeling commits to carry on the Mission of Christ through New Evangelization, Faith Formation, Liturgy and various Services by establishing participatory and self-reliant parishes in the spirit of Synodality among Laity, Religious and Clergy fostering human communities, in the light of Vatican II. Thus, transforming ourselves into witnesses of Christ’s presence in the

world.

Motivated by this Vision-Mission Statement, we set ourselves to the following objectives:

OBJECTIVES

.1 New Evangelization:

Church ceases to be Church if it does not proclaim the Gospel. Therefore, there can be no true evangelization without the explicit proclamation of Jesus the Lord. Thus, there is a need for a renewed commitment to proclamation.

1.1. Self Evangelization:

1.1.1 Personal Prayer/ Study of the Scripture and the Church’s Documents, Regular Sacramental life.

1.2. Re-Evangelization:

1.2.1 Through Organized Catechism, Regular Retreat, Seminars, Renewal Course.

1.2.2 Pastoral care of the lost sheep.

1.3 ‘Missio ad gentes’ [explicit proclamation]

1.3.1 Training of the Proclamation Team at the Diocesan & National level. 1.3.2 Preparation of Proclamation kit [Mass-Media]

1.3.3 Forming of Parish Mission Team and sending out the team on Mission.

  1. Faith Formation:

Our Faith is based on the self-revelation of God in the Old Testament and is rooted in Christ’s Incarnation, Life and Preaching, Death and Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are drawn into these mysteries by the Word of God and through the celebrations of the Sacraments of the Church, especially the Eucharist. We inherit the Catholic faith that is handed down to us from the Apostles down to the present day through tradition, the Bible and the teaching of the Church.

  1. Faith Formation:

2.1.  Knowledge of the Word of God

2.1.1. Training of the lay people [TOT, diploma Course]

2.1.2 Bible Course [School] in the Pastoral Centers. (Biblical Commission has been set up and Biblical and Theological Courses have been started.)

2.2 Knowledge of the Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC]

2.2.1 Implementation of the use of Catechism Text Books: Bible Training of the Catechism Teachers. [School Teachers & Catechists by the Diocesan Catechetical Team]. Each parish should have children friendly Catechism class room and a separate room for catechism schools to be set up for holistic catechism.

2.2.2. CCC to be translated Compendium translated by Nepal, Pariwarik

Dharma Shiksha, Catechism books for schools.

2.3.1. YouCat: to be translated for youth Catechism.

2.3 Knowledge of the Teachings of the Church

2.3.1 Church History, Vatican II and Post Vatican Documents.

  1. New Way of Being Church:

Chapter One of the Lineamenta on the “New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith” calls for a re-evaluation of the Church-World relationship and invites us, among other things, to search for “new ways of being Church based on ‘Fratelli Tutti’.”

How would a new way of being Church in today’s world look like?

  • Rooted in the immense diversity and plurality of Asia,
  • Undergirded by a commitment and service to life, and (iii) oriented towards a threefold dialogue with Asian cultures, religions, and the poor as “active integral evangelization.”

3.1 Promotion of Basic Ecclesial Communities [BEC i.e. SCCs] in every parish of the Diocese, is mandatory as instructed by CBCI.

It is the Church in microcosm. This means that the community in the neighborhood is primarily missionary: reaching out, serving (Apostolic), Christ- centered (Holy), in communion with the parish and the whole Church (One), and excluding no one from its membership (Catholic).

3.1.1. Formation of the Diocesan Service Team & Diocesan Resource Team.

3.1.2. Deanery Resource Team & Parish Resource team

3.1.3. Ongoing formation at all levels

3.1.4. Preparation of Resource Materials

3.1.5 Budget

3.2 Establishment and strengthening of Participatory Church.

3.2.1 Diocesan Synod

3.2.2. Diocesan Pastoral Council

3.2.3. Diocesan Finance Council

3.2.4 Parish Pastoral Council

3.2.5. Parish Finance Committee

3.2.6. Church lay Organizations: [DDCA, Babu Samaj, Naari Sangh, ICYM, Sikkim Catholic Association]

3.2.7. Pious Associations: [CLC, Vincent de Paul, Holy Childhood, Catholic Charismatic]

3.3 Establishment of Small Human Communities [SHCs]

3.3.1 Involvement in some social based activities such as Prison Ministry

3.3.2. Ecumenical Fellowship

3.3.3. Inter-Religious Dialogue up to the grass root level.

3.3.4. Socio-Political awareness & involvement of the Laity

  1. Liturgy:

“True worshipers worship the Father in Spirit and Truth” (Jn 4:23]

In Liturgical worship Christ’s paschal events [Incarnation, Life, Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Pentecost] are remembered and relived. These celebrations should not become merely ritualistic, mechanical and legalistic service. We need to celebrate them meaningfully and be open to the grace to bring about a transformation of life so as to make us authentic disciples and credible witnesses of Jesus.

4.1 Meaningful & Participatory Celebration of Eucharist and Sacraments.

4.1.1 Formation of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission

4.1.2. Formation of the Parish Liturgical Team [PLT]

4.1.3 Increase awareness and understanding of the liturgy and all its components, using available diocesan and pastoral resources

4.1.4. Ongoing Training on liturgy at all levels

4.1.5. Translation and implementation of the New Roman Missal

4.1.6. Well prepared & participatory Liturgical Services [Word of God based homilies, hymns, Readers, etc]

4.2 Meaningful celebration of Liturgy of Hours.

4.2.1 Liturgy of the Hours personally/in Community.

4.2.2 Translate the Lauds of the Sundays in Nepali and celebrate it with the faithful before the Mass. [?]

4.3 Meaningful & creative Celebration of Para-Liturgy and pious devotions.

4.3.1 Eucharistic Adoration: Weekly, Day long Adoration, Perpetual Adoration, Night Vigil, Healing Service, Prayer Services, Penitential Rite, Meditation [Interior Silence] House Blessing, etc.

4.3.2. Divine Mercy Prayer

4.3.3. Marian Devotions: Personal, Family, & community rosary.

4.3.4. Novenas, Pilgrimage,

  1. Service:

As “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” [Mk 10:45;Mt.20:28], the church in India proclaims the Good News through the selfless service to one and all but preferably to the marginalized. Though the Catholic Church is appreciated for our service rendered to the needy and the suffering, we understand that our services do not sufficiently depict the compassionate love of Christ and do not do much to empower and enlighten the people.

5.1. Education Formation of knowledgeable, morally upright and responsible citizen.

The goal of education is to teach that student to live, to discover the deeper meaning of life and of transcendence, to learn to interact with others, love creation, think freely and critically, find fulfillment in work, plan their future, or in one world, to learn ‘to be’. It is in and through education that one can hope for a more human and humane future and a more harmonious society (Consecrated Persons and their Mission in School, 2002,82,84)

5.1.1. Admission for the Catholic Students

5.1.2 Admission for the Poor & Marginalized Students

5.1.3 Catechism and Value Education Classes in the Catholic School

5.1.4 Initiation of the students into social outreach programs 5.1.5 Engagement of Students into Social Analysis & survey

5.2 Health Care: Promotion of holistic health through Health Commission

5.2.1 Health Awareness program in the parish involving the whole community. To form Health Commission in the Diocesan and Parish levels. Health Insurance of every family to be ensured. Holistic health programme including mental health.

5.2.2 Up grade the Health Facilities. (A diocesan hospital could be envisaged.)

5.2.3 Avail of Government health Schemes

5.3 Social Service: Promotion of Human Dignity.

5.3.1 Education to Human Rights [Ref: Social Teachings of the Church]

5.3.2 Participation in Justice and peace movements

5.3.3. Adoption of right based approach e.g. just wage.

  1. Pastoral Care of the Family:

6.1        

  • Marriage preparation Course: Remote, Proximate, Immediate, Parenting
  • Marriage enriching programs
  • Awareness programs as various social Issues faced by the families such as: Substance Abuse, HIV/AIDS, Trafficking
  • Ongoing training programs for Family Life Educations (TOT) and other leaders
  • Marriage Encounter Programs
  • Marriage Bureau Office

6.1 Spiritual Renewal of person, family and Community

6.1.1 Formation and Sharing of Resource personnel

6.2 Promotion of Priestly/Religious Vocation

6.2.1 Prayer for Vocation, Celebration of a Vocation Day in the Parish

6.2.2 Promotion of vocation to be encouraged by Priests & Religious, family and the parish and Catholic Institution

6.2.3 Contribution towards Formation 6.2.4 Seminarians Adoption Program 6.3 Formation of Christian Leadership

6.3.1 Generation of Fund for Lay Formation

6.3.2 Leadership Training Program: Professional Civil Services [Ex Seminarians/nuns could be contacted]

6.3.3 Career Guidance [employment, job orientation, and Follow up of the deserving candidates by identifying the meritoriousu youth and preparing them for Civil Service Exams.

6.3.4 Introducing the laity to the business world [especially Tourism], for self-employment and regular training in this field. (A vital role can be played by DDCA, NARI SANGH, ICYM & Holy Childhood)

6.3.5 Personality Development & Motivation Courses

6.4. Formation of Youth:

The Youth are not merely the future of the Church but they are the present of the Church. They should be encouraged to play leadership role in the Parish, diocese & nation.

6.4.1 Youth Formation program: National/ Regional/Diocesan & Parish level

6.4.2 ICYM conducts Training of Trainers in Evangelization, Awareness Programme against Substance Abuse, Discipleship Training Programs, Spiritual awakening, Bible Literacy Programs, Team Building, Life skill Education, livelihood options and Renewal Retreats,

6.4.3 Value based leadership training program

6.4.4 Encouraging the youth in involvement in the political activities at the grassroots [at all levels]

6.4.5 Involvement of the youth in the decision making process in the Diocesan, Deanery and Parish level.

6.4.5 Diocesan/Parish level YOUTH DAY Celebration

6.4.6 Employment Bureau:

6.4.7 Avail minority benefits/ scholarships:

www.minorityaffairs.com; momaschlarship.com

Priestly Formation

Formation Team: Formators appointed outside the diocese should be included in the formation team of the diocese.

Trainings/Studies

Diocesan Website: More interactive E-messages/counselling.

EDUCATIONAL PASTORAL PLAN

VISION AND MISSION

To form a caring human community moulding conscientious young men and women of competence, commitment and compassion.

Components of this caring Community *Staff* Students* Administration

  1. Long Term: Students:
  2. Bring about education excellence (to counter competition from other NGO run institution).
  3. Install sound Gospel (Christian) values/ethos.

iii. Leadership for transformation (especially Catholic Students)-reorient students from the goal of amassing personal wealth to the goal of community and nation building.

  1. Stress on to collective progress from personal progress.
  2. Arrangements for Continuation of Education/Job oriented courses for students who cannot go to college education.
  3. Collaborating with Government sponsored educational programs.

A Long Term: Staff

  1. Have trained, committed and motivated staff – going beyond the routine and text book.
  2. Get the Catholic Staff trained for Leadership.
  • Orient the staff into a positive mind set regarding students-avoiding criticism and blame; employ regular affirmation and appreciation.
  1. Creat climate of trust and freedom to learn in place of dominance over students and attitudes of fear and punishment.

ACTION PLAN

  1. Long Term : Administration:
  2. Have properly academically and professionally qualified parents/ religious trained priests/religious in management and efficiency skills/specialized subjects like Students Counseling, Career Guidance, Financial Management and Legal Advice.
  3. Maintain stability and cvollaboration/co-operation among the personnel (TEAM SPIRIT-the ‘We’ Factor).

iii. Participatory Management.

  1. From a narrow focus on discipline and control, aim at self discipline by providing scope for creativity for both the staff and the students.
  2. Focus of stewardship of Mission and Developmental (liberative) Education rather than autocratic Authority over staff and students.
  3. From narrow internal school concerns to serious public, social (local) concerns-from institutional focus to societal focus.

vii. Stress of Ministry of Administration by the Principal (Management) to Ministry of Animation as community leader – within and outside the school.

viii. Net working with NGOS-Christian and Non-Christian.

SHORT TERM PLAN: STUDENTS

  1. The Head of the Institution or his Deputy will check every Monday (once a week) if home task assignment was given by every teacher in his/her subject or not.
  2. Every Saturday, the Head/Deputy will go through the lesson plan of the subject teachers and on the next Saturday, check if the lessons were taught according to plan or not.
  3. Once a fortnight have random checking done for the assignment corrected by the subject teachers. Writer a remark in the service file of the erring staff.
  4. Call the habitual defaulting student to the office and after a first warning apprise the parents guardians.
  5. To install a healthy competition in academic excellence, institute scholarship/cash rewards for those who top every subject, Inter School Toppers should be honored in a common function with their parents present.
  6. Two or more schools in a locality (e.g. SAS Kalimpong, SGS Pedong, SJS Gitdubling, SAS Mirik) will share one student advisor/career guide once a week on a rotation basis and share the salary/remuneration proportionately.
  7. At least twice a year organize programs to bring about awareness of the dangers off communicable diseases, abuse of chemical substances/ alcoholism.
  8. Proper sex education classes (including the dangers and misguidance posed by the Mass Media by competent persons will organize for class VIII, IX and X. For Classes XI and XII together with sex education responsible parenthood and family life education also will be organized towards the end of the academic year.
  9. Every school must prepare a prayer room with right atmosphere. At least all Catholic students must be made to go to the prayer room before and after the classes. From time to time announce in the school assembly of theprayer room facilities where all can go and pray/mediate in silence.
  10. a. All school will have a minimum of two periods of value all classes included in the time table itself.
  11. Lay staff will be trained to teach Value Education by the Diocesan Value Education Animator. Head of the School shall arrange this.
  12. Parents must be impressed upon in the PTA meeting of the necessity of Value Education. The Academic Council of the School can decide to make it a compulsory subject for promotion.
  13. a. In collaboration with the Parish priest, all schools will organize an hour’s catechism class per week for all catholic students in the school and parish on either Saturday afternoon during class days or in the morning hours if Saturday is the holiday. Where there is a half holiday/full holiday on a weekly haat day, catechism classes will be held in the morning of the that day. School facilities will be used for teaching catechism.
  14. Catechism will be taught by the Priest / Religious and lay catholic teachers of the school and the parish. The head of the school in collaboration with the Parish Priest will arrange for the animation/ training of lay catholic teachers to teach catechism.
  15. The Parish Priest also will take the catechism for the Catholic children at least of senior classes. This has to be organized by the head of the school in consultation with the Parish Priest.
  16. There will be a Diocesan Level examination for all Catholic students of the Diocese from Class VIII to X level in the school. Awards and Scholarships will be given to the first ten students in both the level at a Diocesan level function. A merit certificate will be given to all who pass with the percentage of marks mentioned.
  17. Passing in the Diocesan Examination will be a condition for employment for our Catholics in our Catholic institutions.
  18. Every effort will be made by a diocesan school in a parish to admit catholic students from the parish seeking admission. Financially deserving cases will be given fee concession/scholarships. Such request must be forwarded by the Parish Pastoral Council through the Parish Priest to the school management. Request for admission from Catholic students from other parishes also will be considered as per availability of seats. The aforesaid process will be applicable.
  19. Every year, all Catholic Students in our Institution will have a spiritual retreat either during the Summer Vacation or during the Diwali Vacation. Other Christians students can be encouraged to join.
  20. There will be Holy Mas for all Catholic students once a month. This can be organized during the Catechism periods.
  21. Whenever there is an Ordination/Profession, Catholic students of class VII and above will be taken to attend. This can be done in batches.
  22. All schools will introduce CYS/YCS for Catholic students of class VIII onwards.
  23. All school will introduce NCC, Scouts and Guides, NSS and LTS for students. All students from Class IX and above will be required to join one of these student organizations.
  24. Diocesan Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools will introduce the system of School Parliament to encourage student participation in the educative process. The scope of such participation, eligibility and rules shall be formed by the staff Council of the school.
  25. All schools will hold a Students’ Festival once in two years for the school community (Administration, Staff, Students).
  26. Once every two years a Diocesan Schools’ Sports Meet will be held.
  27. a. All Diocesan Schools will have maximum curricular activities including stage activities as per the infra structure facilities.
  28. b.All Diocesan schools will participate in public functions like Bhanu Jyanti and Independence Day.
  29. c. Once in two years the Secondary / Senior Secondary School of the locality will organize a Cultural Day for all neighboring Schools of the locality including all government and private schools.

STAFF:

I a. All vacancies will be filled in, by advertising for the post.

  1. Only academically and professionally qualified teachers will be called for interview. The interviewing panel will consists of the head of the school, the vice head, a senior teacher of the staff who teaches the subject, and independent expert on the subject and a member of the Managing Committee. Interviewing must be done orally and in a practical term as per the norms.
  2. Retirement benefits will include Gratuity and CPF on retirement in all schools. Those under West Bengal Board will follow the state Government norms.

iii. All school will have orientation course of two days organized for staff before the commencement of a new academic year. Attendance will be mandatory for all staff.

  1. a. School will send at least two teachers every year for up dating courses in their subjects.
  2. Senior Secondary School will organize refreshing Courses for the staff of the school and for neighboring Diocesan Schools.
  3. Expenses will be shared proportionately.
  1. a. All Catholic Teachers will have a three day retreat cum leadership camp during the Puja / Diwali Holidays. Senior Secondary Diocesan school of a locality will take charge of this and the expenses will be shared proportionately.
  2. All Schools wil have Holy Mass for teachers once a month together with the Catholic students. Financial Management will be organized.
  3. A teacher of the Year Award with a citation will be introduced at the diocesan level. A cash award of Rs. 5000.00 for secondary / senior secondary and primary schools will be introduced. The Award will be presented by the President of the Government Body of all Diocesan Schools on Teachers’ Day.

vii. All Schools will arrange to train subject teachers to teach Value Education and catholic teachers to teach catechism.

viii. a. All schools will have Staff Council, an Academic Council and a Disciplinary Committee to be organized.

  1. Staff Council will meet at the end of every month, the Academic Council at the beginning, middle and end of every academic year and the Disciplinary Committee as per need.

ADMINISTRATION:

  1. a. All Diocesan priests who are yet to complete ten years of priesthood, will acquire a minimum of academic qualification of graduation and B.Ed.
  2. Every year one priest/seminarian will be sent for completion of B.Ed. and one priest/seminarian to complete M.A. / M.Sc as regular candidates.
  3. Three persons (priests/seminarians) will be sent for specialized studies in Student Guidance and Career Guidance.
  4. a. All diocesan personnel in Secondary and Senior Secondary schools who have not attended Administrative Crash Course, will be sent to XLRI to attend the one organized every year by the Council for ICSE Examinations.
  5. Orientation Training for all Diocesan Priests in Accounting and

iii. Primary School Heads will be Catholic lay persons / religious women and Deputy Heads of Secondary Schools will be lay persons/women religious.

  1. Every Five Years the heads and their deputies will attend a refresher course in schools/institutional management.
  2. The Diocesan Personnel in schools will live like a community with common meals and common spiritual exercises.
  3. The Head of the school will be the animator of the community.
  4. All major working decisions will be taken after mutual consultation and with the approval of the Governing Body.
  5. Primary schools will be tied up with the established Diocesan school in the locality.
  6. A briefing regarding the functioning and expectations from the diocesan personnel appointed will be given before they take up the appointment.

OTHERS SHORT TERM ACTION PLAN

* All schools shall introduce PTA and Alumni Association.

* All schools also will introduce PET (Parents’ Effectiveness Training)

* A monitoring team consisting of three members of the implementation of the pastoral plan will be set up.

* A neutral team from outside the Diocese will be invited to evaluate our current functioning of the school system and to suggest way and means of improvement.

* Willingly allow the school facilities for use by local civil administration/local social-cultural organizations. Attend such functions of invited.

* The Diocese will starts two Open Schools-one for the Kalimpong-Darjeeling Region and one for the Sikkim State.

*  All Senior Secondary School will introduce one job oriented course for students who cannot aspire for college education.

N.B. (a) The above Darjeeling Diocese Educational Pastoral Plan (for Diocesan School) is based on the final meeting of Diocesan Priests in Education Apostolate held at St. Augustine’s School, Kalimpong on 16.08.2003 with Bishop Stephen Lepcha in the Chair. The same was unanimous approved in the 2nd General Assembly held at Anugyalaya Conference Hall on 24th & 25th September 2015.

Conclusion

Diocesan Pastoral Plan needs to have an executive body to monitor a follow-up of the Pastoral Plan with the following duties and responsibilities with accountability to the diocese.

Find ways and means of effective dissemination of the plan down to the grass roots [SCC and other church associations and movements].

Gathering quarterly reports from the deaneries on implementation of Pastoral Plan.

Calling timely meetings to monitor at the diocesan level and take encouraging and corrective measures to submit its reports to the Diocese.

Finally, the past fifty years have brought a wonderful transformation in the life of the Diocese of Darjeeling. Within these grace filled years the growth of the Diocese is seen in numbers, faith and quality resulting in a vibrant Catholic Community across the Diocese, many local vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and growth of many parishes, educational institutions, health & family cares and socio-developmental institutions.

This is all God’s work and we thank Him for being with us through these years. And we recommend our future to Him, asking for his help to carry out ou mission faithfully and with joy. We give glory to Him who shows His power in us.

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