In line with the Christmas Pastoral letter, the Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi will celebrate Christmas sharing happiness with the poor and distributing cycle rickshaws, sewing machines and blankets for the underprivileged.

Informing media on Thursday, Ranchi Archbishop Felix Toppo and auxiliary Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas who is also apostolic administrator of Daltonganj diocese, said that like earlier years they will be focussed on a spiritually rich but materially sober Christmas and sharing the love of Jesus Christ with poor and downtrodden.

“We have already started distribution of blankets for nearly a month among poor and on October 26 morning we will be distributing 20 cycle rickshaws for poor men and 32 sewing machines to needy women in order to assist them in their livelihood. The distribution of blankets would continue throughout the winter season,” said Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.

According to sources in the Catholic Archdiocese, the donation would be done through contributions of the faithful and also from the archdiocese.

“It is the sacrificial contribution of the faithful and also from the archdiocese that we are organising such distribution right throughout the Covid pandemic. The selection of the archdiocesan secretary Father Sushil Toppo.

Significantly, over 3000 blankets have already been distributed by the archdiocese and also by Catholic Youths of Ranchi in the outskirts of Ranchi and other nearby districts.

It was also announced by auxiliary Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas that like last year there will be both offline and online midnight mass on December 25. However, those coming to the church will have to follow the Covid protocols.

“We will also be holding special prayers so that the new variant of concern Omicron does not impact the country and world,” added Bishop.

Throughout the pandemic the Archdiocese of Ranchi along with many religious congregations has been out in the streets at the service of the poor, organizing shelters for migrants, distributing dry rations, dispensing blankets, aiding people with medical help. At the height of the second wave, the Ranchi Catholic youth under Ranchi Archdiocese were outside the Government hospitals (frequented mostly by the poor) providing cooked food for thousands of patients and their attendants. The archdiocese had earlier this year also distributed 21 cycle rickshaws to needy rickshaw pullers.

The Advent and Christmas Pastoral letter issued on November 28 by the Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese had called upon the faithful not to splurge with expensive decorations, lightings and prohibited bursting of crackers and instead urged to contribute for charity.

Jharkhand Christian Youth Association president Kuldeep Tirkey speaking to The Telegraph informed that so far 700 blankets have been distributed among poor in Ranchi and outskirts areas since the last few weeks and would continue in the New Year too.

“We contribute among ourselves for this charity as we believe that real Christmas lies in sharing our happiness with the unfortunate,” said Tirkey.