The Catholic Enquiry Centre
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The the Catholic Enquiry Centre [CEC] (Infant Jesus Shrine, Viveknagar, Bangalore) is an endeavour of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. Its basic aim is to make Jesus known to people of other faiths.
It is directed by Clare C. L. FSP of the Daughters of St Paul, Bangalore, with the able support of her team of co-workers.
What exactly does the CEC do?
Correspondence Course
The Correspondence course is the most important function of the Centre. The enquirers who apply for the course are given the opportunity first to do the Basic Course. ‘Meet Christ’ booklets are sent by post every month and the enquirers answer the questionnaire after the study of the ten booklets. This is followed by the second Course-the intermediate Course, ‘What does it mean to be a Christian?’ and the Advanced Course, ‘The Way of Life’. After the completion of all three courses we follow them up by sending them a Spiritual News letter, ‘Prem Marg’.
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CEC Lending Library
Another important work of the CEC is the Lending library. The Library began as a small reading room in 1979 above the Pauline Book and Media Centre at Museum Road. It was officially inaugurated in September 1983 with the facility of lending books. Today it has about 5000 books , both in English and local languages, catering to the needs of children, youth and adults of various religions and walks of life. It has a wide range of books on self-improvement, human relationships, mental health, family life, sex education, Christian Scriptures and faith, biographies, story books and novels.
The library has nearly 1000 members on its list, and approximately 400 active readers. Many non-members frequent the library and utilize the reading room facility.
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Book Stall at the Infant Jesus Shrine
Every Thursday, the CEC puts up a Stall with spiritual, psychological, scriptural books as well as stories, novels, prayer books, religious articles etc.
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Contact Cards
A separate counter for Contact Cards is maintained every Thursday. Here Free booklets and material on the teachings of Jesus Christ are made available to all those interested.
The Centre also organizes other outreach programmes, like visits to the prisons, hospitals, Cancer institutes, homes for destitute etc.
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Hospital visit |
Out reach programme |
History
It was on 1st July, 1977 that the Archdiocese of Bangalore entrusted the responsibility of the Catholic Enquiry Centre to the Daughters of St Paul, its founding member being Sr Grazia Vaz FSP. After her, Sr Margaret Cruz worked tirelessly for the center, when it was shifted from the Pauline Book and Media Centre to the premises of the Infant Jesus Shrine at Viveknagar. Sr Clare C L the present Directress, is another of our Sisters who has worked zealously and contributed toward the growth of the CEC. Before Sr Clare C L , Sr Veronica FSP, has served at CEC for nearly 3 years, till Sr Clare took up , in July 2006.
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During the early years of the Catholic Enquiry Centre |
Directed by the Daughters of St Paul (Sr Clare C L ) and aided by a band of dedicated lay people, the Catholic Enquiry Centre accomplishes a wonderful apostolate among the enquirers and personal contacts.
| Silver Jubilee Celebrations |  |
| Sr Margaret FSP, one of the past directresses of CEC From 2005- 2007, she served at the National Headquarters, ACECI, New Delhi. She is now serving as Manager of our Pauline Book and Media Centre in Tambaram, Chennai since July 2007. |
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| CEC Day |  |
| Contact CEC for more information: cecijs@eth.net | |
| More information about the Catholic Enquiry Centre.......... what's happening today? | |
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