CCBI National Synodal Assembly Opens in Bengaluru with Call to Build a Participatory and Mission-Oriented Church

Bengaluru, May 1, 2026: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) formally inaugurated its National Synodal Assembly 2026 at St. John's Medical College, bringing together bishops, clergy, religious, and lay delegates from across the country for a significant moment of prayer and discernment.

The assembly commenced in a deeply prayerful atmosphere with the singing of Veni Creator Spiritus, invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The ceremonial lighting of the lamp marked the formal opening, led by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, alongside Archbishop Peter Machado, Archbishop Vincent Aind, Fr. Stephen Alathara and Fr. Joe Xavier.

Fr. Charles Leon then led the assembly in a prayer of thanksgiving, expressing gratitude for the many blessings bestowed upon the CCBI in recent years. Welcoming the delegates, Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI, described the gathering as "a spiritual journey" and "a moment of God's grace."

"We are here with a clear mission and a shared responsibility," he said. "We are called to renew our Church, moving from maintenance mode to missionary mode."

In his presidential address, Cardinal Ferrão, President of the CCBI, traced the historical journey of the Catholic Church's episcopal structures in India. He recalled that the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India was established in 1944, and highlighted the pivotal role played by Pope John Paul II. Following the Pope's 1986 visit to India, a letter sent the following year encouraged the establishment of three distinct ecclesiastical bodies, while retaining the CBCI's role in addressing matters of national importance. This vision culminated in the formal establishment of the CCBI in 1988.

Reflecting on the CCBI's present mission, Cardinal Ferrão noted that the Conference now serves the Church through sixteen commissions, six departments, and four apostolates. He underscored the importance of the CCBI Pastoral Plan, describing it as the fruit of extensive consultation and long-term planning.

The Cardinal recalled that in 2023, the bishops resolved to celebrate the Great Jubilee of Redemption, and in 2024, the new pastoral plan was formally released. He emphasised the Church's commitment to networking with people of goodwill, while prioritising outreach to the marginalised, the discriminated, and those living on the peripheries.

Referring to the CCBI plenary held in Bhubaneswar, Cardinal Ferrão said the Church had identified sixteen priority themes to guide its mission. He stressed that the synodal journey requires the active participation of everyone—bishops, national councillors, commission secretaries, clergy, religious, and lay faithful alike.

"Our focus is to strengthen the bonds among all," he said. "It is our collective responsibility to implement the pastoral plan. All must participate in this synodal journey, guided by the Holy Spirit."

He further called for a Church shaped by dialogue, discernment, and prayer—a Church that is participatory, communion-centered, and mission-oriented.

In a moving conclusion, Cardinal Ferrão recounted an anecdote about Mother Teresa following her receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize. When asked whether she could eliminate poverty in the world, she humbly replied that her mission was simply to place "a drop of clean water in a polluted ocean." If others joined in, she said, those drops would become a spring, then a river, and ultimately an ocean.

Drawing from this powerful image, the Cardinal urged the delegates to contribute their own "drops" to the Church's synodal journey. "An ocean is made up of drops," he reminded them, inviting all present to participate wholeheartedly in the process of renewal and mission.

The CCBI assembly is being attended by over 220 delegates, including two cardinals, 25 bishops, 65 priests, more than twenty women religious, and over one hundred lay faithful from across India. The National Synodal Assembly will continue over the coming days, focusing on prayerful discernment, dialogue, and the implementation of the CCBI's pastoral vision for the Church in India.

By Catholic Connect Reporter