Church Leaders Gather in Ranchi to Advance Synodal and Missionary Vision

Ranchi, August 11, 2026: Around 60 priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have gathered in Ranchi for a three-day seminar-cum-workshop aimed at strengthening a more synodal, relational and missionary Church in Central India.

Organised by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), the programme is being held at the Social Development Centre (SDC), Ranchi, from August 10 to 12 under the theme, “Call for a Synodal and Relational (Missionary) Church in Central Zone of India.”

The initiative seeks to foster collaborative and ongoing formation among clergy, religious and formators, drawing on the three key dimensions of synodality—communion, participation and mission.

The seminar was inaugurated on August 10 by Archbishop Vincent Aind of Ranchi, Secretary General of the CCBI. In his address, he stressed the Church’s call to unity and presented the vision of the CCBI Pastoral Plan as a framework for renewing ecclesial life and mission.

Archbishop Aind described the initiative as a significant milestone for the Church in Central India and expressed hope that it would encourage other regions to embrace a more genuinely synodal way of being Church.

Bishop Peter Kharadi of Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh Regional Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious (VSCR), facilitated the gathering and delivered the benedictory message.

Fr. Charles Leon, Executive Secretary of the CCBI VSCR Commission, presented the objectives of the collaborative initiative involving the CCBI Commissions for VSCR, Bible, Migrants and Media.

The workshop is focusing on seven pastoral priorities: synodal priestly ministry; the centrality of the Word of God; missionary parishes; greater participation of laity, women, youth and children; service to the poor and migrants; ecological responsibility; and the responsible use of digital media.

A key feature of the programme is the method of “conversation in the Spirit,” which encourages participants to move beyond discussion towards prayerful listening, discernment and shared reflection. The approach is intended to help participants identify practical ways of translating synodality into parish and diocesan life.

Resource persons including Fr. Charles Leon, Fr. Savarirayan SVD, Fr. Jaison Vadassery and Fr. Cyril Victor are leading various sessions. Eucharistic celebrations and prayer form the spiritual foundation of the gathering.

The seminar is expected to conclude on August 12 with concrete proposals for integrating synodality into pastoral life and formation programmes across the Central Zone.

The organisers hope that the outcomes will contribute to strengthening the Church’s missionary presence, particularly among tribal and Dalit communities, while promoting greater unity, human dignity and hope.

By Catholic Connect Reporter