Hyderabad : 300 years of Catholic Faith in both states of AP and Telangana Celebrated here in a function held at Loyola Academy in Alwal on Sunday.
It was in 1715 first Telugu Catholic Faith began. It was Fr Le Gac SJ, the leader of the Carnatic Mission from France, who renamed himself as Sanjeevanatha Swamy baptized Mr. Thumma Hanumantha Reddy of the Madigubba village of Ananthapur District, who accepted the faith and was renamed as Thumma Rayapa Reddy. Thus began the faith in Telugu states, speakers who spoke on the occasion told.
Former Loksabha Speaker and Sitting MP P.A. Sangma and his daughter and former Union Minister Agatha Sangma and Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya graced the occasion.
Speaking addressing the gathering immediately after the holy mass, P.A. Sangma said Catholic Christians though small community in India, contributed a lot for the development of the country. Many veterans like L.K. Advani, Jyothi Basu and Former President Venkatram are the products of Christian Educational Institutions, he said. Every Christian must be proud of their contribution for the nation, he said. Adding further he stated that he would revive Christian MPs Forum in Parliament soon and work towards solving the problems faced by the community
Agatha Sangam congratulated and expressed her happiness to be part of the Celebrations
While addressing the gathering, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said services provided by Christian Missionaries, Educational and health institutions is laudable. He assured to protect all their rights due to them by the Constitution of India. He said his ministry is planning to set up a National Workers Vocational University to skill development in the country. It will be of international standard. It will provide skill training from Level 1 to Level 10. The details are being worked out he said. Responding to the 7 problems being faced by the community he said he would take them up at appropriate authorities and assured all the help including the land for burial grounds.
Communal harmony must prevail between different religions he said. Regarding declaring Layola Academy as a Christian Minority University, he said he will visit Layola Academy once and look into the matter.
Member of Parliament A.P Jitender Reddy also graced and spoke on the occasion. Many Christian leaders and others Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, Former nominated MLA Mrs. Christine Lazarus, Stephenson, present appointed MLA, Gopu Bala Reddy, President, Arogya Reddy and Vijay Bal Reddy office bearers of Catholic Reddy Association and others graced function.
From the days of 1715, the family and relatives of Thumma Rayapa Reddy accepted the Catholic faith and passed on their faith down the generations. Due to various reasons and needs, these families have travelled to Nellore then to Guntur and from there to other parts of Telangana and now Globally spread informed G. Bala Reddy, President of the Organising Committee for the Celebration of 300years
Welcoming the gathering Gopu Bala Reddy put infront of dignitaries 7 demands of the community. Which include granting Minority Status(Permanent) to Catholic Christians, removal of property tax burden on 1000 plus catholic educational institutions and organizations, to extend SC status to the Dalit Christians, Old Age Pensions to Nuns and Fathers, Separate burial grounds for Chatholic Christians and reconstitution of State Christian (Minority) Finance Corporation and allocating at least 25 per cent of the funds and declaring Loloya Academy as a Catholic Minority University.
Several thousand of Catholic Christians from both states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu took part in the celebrations It is organised by Catholic Reddy Association. The faith is 2000years old across the globe as well as Kerala in India. The Catholic Reddy Community is 15 lakh big in both states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh informed Arogya Reddy, Vice President of the organizing committee.
Kerala has 30 per cent of the total Catholic Christina Family in India. There are two crore Chatholic Christians in India. Some of the well known Catholic Christinas include Mother Theresa, A.K. Anthony, Margaret Alwa, Askar Fernandez, J.M. Lingdo the said. Of the total service activities done in India, 25per cent of the activities are taken up by Catholic Christian Community said Treasurer Thumma Vijay Paul Reddy.
This is the beginning of the Celebrations and will continue till the end of the year. History book on the community and its journey was also released on the occasaion.
This celebration was planned to build bonds of support and care among the families, friends and relatives and all people of good will the organizers said.
Mr. Sangma along with Organising Committee members met on Saturday Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu and submitted him their demands and requested him to look into the same. Similarly, we would like to meet Mr. K. Chandra Shekhar Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana very soon and submit him the memorandum, informed Bala Reddy.
As per 2013 Catholic Directory the following Services are run by Catholic Religious Community.—-2162 Catholic Priests; Around 424 Catholic Sister’s Institutions;; Around 93 Professional & Degree Colleges; Around 1000 different schools from Primary to High School Level; 41 Homes for the Aged; Around 313 Hostels and Boarding Homes; 83 Social Service Centers; 120 Orphanages & Rehabilitation Centers; Around 210 Hospitals, Health Centers
