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One who visits Rajasthan always returns with beautiful memories and with deep love for the land of the Rajas-Rajasthan. So many things attract one. There is natural beauty, hills, lakes, deserts and forests. There are splendid forts, palaces, great temples, superb carvings, magnificent miniatures and above all the people: rich in decency, rare in today’s world.

Like most of the cities in Rajasthan, Ajmer is built around a fort Taragarh. Ajmer is a pilgrim center for the two major religions of India. The Dargah of Pir Mohinuddin Chisti, which draws Muslim pilgrims from all over the Islamic world, besides visitors from other religions. The famous lake Pushkar, which has the only temple in honour of God as Father-Brahma Maha Pita.

There has been Christian presence in this land of the Rajas from as far back as the 17^th Centaury. The French Capuchin Missionaries were the pioneers in this Rajputhana Mission. They worked with a firm intention to conquer it for Christ. In 1949 however they left Rajputhana Mission handing over the fruit of their labour and toil to the indigenous clergy.

Vision

The Church in the Diocese of Ajmer is envisaged as a Communion of Small Communities where the Laity, Clergy and Religious live and collaborate with each other as brothers and sisters. Rooted in the Word of God and enlightened by the teachings pf the Church, they pray, share and discern the plan of God for them and reach out in service for the total transformation of their lives, their neighbourhood and society.

Mission

a. To form a participatory Church, by recognizing the gifts and charisms given by the Holy Spirit to all Laity, Clergy and Religious in order to build the body of the Church - Communion amoung the Communities.

b. To form communities rooted in the Word of God - to train people to do Gospel Sharing, i.e., reflect and share their lives as Eucharistic people.

c. To form Witnessing and Evangelising communities - neighbourhood is the real arena of life with activities, tensions and situations. It is there, we as Catholics build up relationships and bring about transformation.

d. To form a non-dominating leadership by following the servant like image of Christ, i.e., simplicity, humble surrender to God and loving service rather than power and mere secular effectiveness.

PASTORAL PLAN

1. To plan SCCs in every Parish and Mission Centre.

2. To train and form the Laity so that they are able to carry out their roles in the Church envisaged by the Vatican Council.

3. To involve more and more youth and laity in Charismatic renewal in our Parishes and Diocese.

4. To make our Educational institutions, to build the School Community within, to foster a Spirituality of Communion, shared responsibility and mutual trust which will lead them to be a participatory decision making body.