"Family is pious. Jesus Christ took birth in a family as God wants his creation to move on through family," Toppo said in his Christmas message.
After the midnight mass, Toppo said, " A child's first school is its family and good upbringing would lead to a better society."
Expressing sorrow at the ordeal of the 23-year-old rape victim in New Delhi, Toppo said that preserving the "sanctity of the family" was all the more important to prevent such heinous incidents.
The cardinal also called upon the people to say no to foeticide in order to protect the family's piety.
The day saw the people exchanging greetings at churches and market places which were decked up with neon lights.
