DEEPAGAM - KILPAUK, July 22, 2025: Fr. Diraviya Rupen, SDB, Director of Christodayam, Manikandam paid pastoral visit to Deepagam, Don Bosco Catechetical Center - department of The Citadel-Kilpauk on July 22, 2025. He urged the community to engage in New Evangelization for pastoral and catechetical endeavors.

Deepagam Catechetical community met Fr. Rupen at Deepagam Office on July 22 (Tuesday) in the forenoon (11:00 AM) and presented the highlights of all Programs and Activities of Deepagam for the past two-years. Initiative included, நம்பிக்கையை கொண்டாடுவோம் (Regional Faith Fests as Eucharistic Congress), நம்பிக்கையை பேசுவோம் (Let’s Talk Faith – series of Synodal Discussion of Sacaments), இல்லம் தேடி இறையரசு (Family Catechesis – pastoral home visits by lay ministers), கலைவழி இறைமொழி (Catechesis through Folk Arts Training), Yesuvin Nanban (School Children Club), Deepagam Website, YouTube Channel; besides regular programs such as, Bible Exhibition, Bible Quiz, Teacher Training program - PACE/PAVE, School Animations and (Lenten) Sound and Light Program.

Fr. Rupen, SDB (belonging to Salesian Province of Trichy) - a missionary in Zambia for ten years who served three years as youth director and assistant parish priest and later as parish priest shared his missionary experiences with Deepagam staff.

He began with the sociological rich-poor conflict in the country and general laxity in faith-living; the parish having too many substations; the parishioners not living the faith and Gospel values. He said that, “human tendencies are same everywhere.”

Superstition was very high in the region as people do not have recourse to medical health; they practice magic and sorcery and financial mismanagement is highly prevalent among the poor. As Parish Priest, he gave preference for the poor and loved to eat with the poor, but could not bring about the expected change in the society.

After going through the New Life-Experience Training (faith formation – evangelization) he changed the negative approach towards New Evangelization - that New Evangelization is for the West only. He adopted the positive approach: New Evangelization is for all.

Pastoral work today requires New Evangelization that imbibes Catechesis (transmission of Christian faith). “Even after becoming and being priest, I still need personal conversion and conviction”, said Fr. Rupen. He quoted Pope Francis, “Catechesis through new evangelization is the only hope for today and tomorrow.” Before elaborating the focal point of New Evangelization, he pointed that there is nothing ‘Newness’ about “New” Evangelization; “It is one and the same message” as St John Paul II said, “and, there is no new message.”

In New Evangelization (புது நற்செய்தி அறிவிப்பு), there is indeed newness in its Zeal/Ardor, Methods and Expressions. It is simplified in Prayer, Practice and Presentation (3Ps). Fr. Rupen explained 3P with metaphor/motif – fire, cooking and food. “We are living like blind fowls, when it comes to catechesis”, he quibbled. The complete gospel is found in Mk 1:15 (“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” RSV) – The fullness of Gospel (முழுமையான நற்செய்தி) is centered in Jesus Christ.

The Foundational Truth (of faith), which is also Kerygmatic Truths found throughout the OT and NT are: 

1. Abba Father – Love of God the Father (தந்தையின் அன்பு)
2. Sin – Sinfulness of society (பாவம்)
3. Jesus Christ  – and His Salvation (இயேசு கிறிஸ்து தரும் மீட்பு)
4. Faith – (Conversion) (விசுவாசம்)
5. Holy Spirit – as gift (தூய ஆவி)
6. Charisms – gifts to build up the Church (கொடைகள்)
7. Eternal Life – (நிலைவாழ்வு)

The above truths are also known as seven Spiritual Truths (ஏழு ஆன்மீக உண்மைகள்) in New Evangelization. The completion of the truth is the gospel – the experience of God as manifested in Word and Life.

Fr. Rupen concluded his missionary testimony by exhorting the Deepagam to use appropriate teaching aids. He quoted NT episode from Acts 8:26-40 – a catechetical encounter between St. Philip and the Ethiopian, leading to Ethiopian’s acceptance of faith. He concluded his session saying, “Gospel liberates (the receiver)”.

At the end of Fr. Rupen’s personal session, Fr. Jesudoss and the catechetical staff took decisions to produce innovative catechetical resources, maintain catechetical content repository, train the staff members as animation resource persons and maintain personal plan of activities for efficient implementation and management of the catechetical programs.

Note: Christodayam is the Catechetical Ministry of the Salesian Province of Trichy (INT) at Manikandam, dedicated to promoting faith formation, religious education, and evangelization. Rooted in St. John Bosco’s Preventive System, it aims to strengthen Christian values among children, youth, and families. Fr. Diraviya Rupen, SDB is the new director of Christodayam. He promised to visit Deepagam in the future too.