CCBI Family Commission Marks 10 Years of 'Amoris Laetitia' with Symposium in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, August 21, 2026: Reflecting on the Church’s pastoral response to families a decade after the publication of Amoris Laetitia, the CCBI Family Commission, in collaboration with the Peyton Institute for Families, brought together more than 80 participants for a two-day symposium at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, on August 18-19, 2026. The gathering brought together 33 priests, nine religious, 26 lay men and 15 lay women to reflect on the pastoral realities and challenges facing families today.

The symposium marked the 10th anniversary of Amoris Laetitia by Pope Francis. A concelebrated Eucharist was presided over by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI, joined by Bishop Barthol Barretto, Chairman of the CCBI Family Commission, and Bishop Joseph Susainathan, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. Fr. Arul Raj CSC, Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Family, welcomed the participants and dignitaries.

The symposium followed the thematic framework proposed jointly by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life and the General Secretariat of the Synod in preparation for the meeting of Pope Leo XIV with the Heads of Eastern Churches and Presidents of Episcopal Conferences in October this year.

Discussions centred on three themes: Vocation to Marriage and Preparation for Marriage, the First Years of Marriage, and Walking with Families in Complex Situations. Each session began with a reality check through the lived experiences of couples and individuals, followed by expert input, perspectives from canon law and practical approaches adopted by dioceses and family movements. Participants then engaged in group discussions modelled on Conversations in the Spirit.

Fr. Roselin Raja, Associate of the CCBI Media Apostolate, presented Catholic Connect’s initiatives, with particular focus on Catholic Connect Matrimony and how it could collaborate with the CCBI Family Commission in strengthening marriage and family ministry. The presentation also highlighted Catholic Connect’s wider services and initiatives. A user-experience survey was conducted to gather participant feedback on Catholic Connect’s overall usability, content and services, helping identify opportunities to further strengthen the platform and its engagement with users.

Bishop Barthol Barretto encouraged participants to facilitate the creation of family cells and reinvigorate family ministries in their respective places of ministry. Fr. Shiju Joseph CSC, Executive Director of the Peyton Institute for Families, expressed gratitude to the participants and resource persons.

By Catholic Connect Reporter