Agartala Diocese Conducts Annual Pastoral Meeting and Chrism Mass

Agartala, April 16, 2025 – The Diocese of Agartala held its annual pastoral meeting and Chrism Mass celebration at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Held under the leadership of Bishop Lumen Monteiro, the event gathered over 200 priests, religious, catechists, parish council secretaries, parish representatives, and diocesan commission members to reflect, collaborate, and strengthen their shared pastoral mission.

The gathering commenced with a solemn prayer session led by dedicated catechists, setting a reflective tone for the day. Bishop Monteiro delivered the keynote address for the day, highlighting key developments within the diocese and emphasising pressing pastoral concerns that require concerted action.

A central highlight of the day was the celebration of the Chrism Mass. During this sacred liturgy, priests of the diocese renewed their priestly vows while Bishop Monteiro blessed the holy oils to be used during administration of sacraments throughout the year.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to a review of diocesan activities. Fr. Amalraj presented a comprehensive overview of parish reports, offering valuable insights into community life across the diocese. This was followed by Fr. Derrick Augustin’s presentation on commission reports, which outlined various diocesan initiatives and the challenges faced by different pastoral teams.

The presentations sparked an engaging question-and-answer session, allowing participants to voice concerns, seek clarifications, and propose collaborative solutions. The dialogue reinforced the spirit of unity and shared responsibility among the diocesan community.

Concluding the event, Bishop Monteiro expressed deep gratitude to all participants and emphasised the critical role of teamwork and collaboration in advancing the mission of the Church in Tripura.

The day’s proceedings left attendees with renewed energy and a strengthened resolve to nurture and guide the faith community of the diocese.

By Fr. Derrick Augustin