Bhutan Opening Up To Christian Missions

[Xangsamhua]

Indian missionaries prepare for Bhutan

Indian missionaries are preparing to go to Bhutan in response to news of the possible opening of the Himalayan Buddhist kingdom to the Christian faith......

Father Arul Raj, a missionary from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), who lives in Chennai (in Tamil Nadu) is the founder of two religious orders: one female, the "Society of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI), and one male, the "Society of the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate" (MMI).

The two orders, from southern India, have opened several communities in another five states in northern India, also on the border with Nepal and Bhutan.

Father Arul told Fides: "We are ready to open communities of men and women in Bhutan. We do not know the territory well, but if the authorities permit it, and we have the necessary conditions, we will willingly start our activities. We are happy to be able to respond in this way to the Pope's appeal in his Message for World Mission Day."

The style of evangelism and the missionary charism of the two communities is suited perfectly to the context of Bhutan, Fides says.

In fact, in India the sisters are particularly working for the advancement of women, creating self-help groups for poor and indigenous women in the most remote areas, and for their children (in India they assist at least 20,000). The missionaries also work with young people through education programs in colleges run by the Order, mostly in engineering and computer science (more than 8,000 students).

During the activities that take place, the missionaries witness to "the Gospel values of love, forgiveness, sharing, unity, and solidarity, allowing them to grow and blossom in their hearts."

They do not openly initiate conversions, instead clearly manifesting their Christian identity in work and prayer.

In this way, Fr Arul told Fides, "We have never had problems with extreme mixed Hindu groups in India, nor have we ever suffered allegations of mass conversions."

But "many among the women and youth who partake in our programs, spontaneously ask to embrace the Christian faith," he explains.

More at http://www.cathnewsa...are-for-bhutan/