Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore celebrated the Holy Eucharist, and congratulated Father T.C. George and the Salesians for this innovative Migrant Ministry in Bangalore. Father Shaju Kalapurakal, the Archdiocesan coordinator for migrant ministry in Bangalore, commented that the Archdiocese launched its migrant ministry, taking inspiration from the BCCM group.
Father T.C. George recalls the birth of this innovative ministry; “Upon my arrival in Bangalore, I began getting in touch with Khasi students from all corners of Bangalore through friends. Since, I was involved in pastoral ministry in the villages of Meghalaya during my Theological studies at the Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong, I got to know and was able to interact closely with them. On 1 October 2006 a team of nine boys and girls gathered together for the first time at Visvadeep, T.C Palaya for a Eucharistic celebration in Khasi. From then on, there was no looking back.”
Driven by the motto “Far beyond our hills, yet in the arms of God”, BCCM works to bring the Meghalaya Christians together in unity to celebrate their cultural and Christian identity, help the youth to keep their Christian faith alive and celebrate it together through the celebration of the Word and the Sacraments, and to face together the challenges of migrant youth in Bangalore.
BCCM regularly meets on the second and fourth Sundays of every month at BOSCO, Yuvodaya, Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore. The bond of love, togetherness and unity has flourished since its inception.
“When I arrived in Bangalore five years ago, I felt very lonely because I had no friends here. I joined BCCM and found many friends who became like my own brothers and sisters. It has been a fun journey for me with BCCM, meeting so many friends. BCCM is my second home,” says Amedwent Kyndait, President, BCCM.
Joicy Milie Steinherr from Assam says, “I came to Bangalore this year and I joined BCCM. Being far away from home, I feel BCCM is like a home away from home for me.”
BCCM has become a brand name for the people of Meghalaya here in Bangalore. It has been a remarkable decade for the BCCM family - enriched with faith, of building relationships with brothers and sisters from Meghalaya in the city of Bangalore.
