CRI General Assembly ( Priests Section ) Calls Religious Leaders to Renew Prophetic Witness and Mission

Guwahati, February 3, 2026:  A strong call to renewal, prophetic courage and deeper communion marked the keynote address delivered by Fr Suresh Pallivathukal OFM Cap at the General Assembly of the National Conference of Religious of India (CRI), held at Don Bosco Institute, Guwahati. Addressing religious leaders from across the country, Fr Suresh urged them to move beyond nostalgia and institutional comfort towards a more authentic, courageous and Gospel-centred presence in today’s complex social and ecclesial context.

Reflecting on the contribution of religious men and women in India, Fr Suresh acknowledged their decisive role in shaping education, healthcare, pastoral outreach and social advocacy, particularly among the poor and marginalised. He noted that religious communities had often served in regions and situations where neither the State nor other agencies were willing to venture, bearing witness through quiet sacrifice and fidelity.

At the same time, Fr Suresh challenged the Assembly to critically examine the present realities facing religious life. He spoke candidly about internal concerns such as clericalism, weakened social engagement, leadership styles lacking transparency, caste-based divisions, individualism, and an overemphasis on structures and display. These, he said, have led to a loss of credibility and missionary zeal, calling for honest self-reflection rather than external blame.

Placing these concerns within the wider socio-political context, Fr Suresh pointed to pressures on constitutional values, growing intolerance, widening economic inequalities and the increasing vulnerability of the poor. In such a situation, he stressed, religious life cannot remain silent or neutral, but must stand clearly for human dignity, justice and freedom, firmly rooted in Gospel values.

Highlighting the need for renewed passion, Fr Suresh cautioned against reducing ministry to mere activism or administration. True renewal, he said, must flow from deep spiritual grounding, genuine fraternity and a clear sense of mission, without which institutions risk becoming self-preserving and disconnected from lived realities.

He also emphasised the importance of prophetic simplicity in lifestyle and institutional priorities, urging religious communities to reflect on whether their resources and structures genuinely serve mission and the needs of the poor. Authentic witness, he noted, requires coherence between professed values and lived practice.

Addressing community life and collaboration, Fr Suresh underlined communion as a powerful sign in a diverse country like India. He called for stronger fraternal relationships within communities and renewed partnership with the laity, marked by collaboration rather than control and servant leadership rather than privilege.

On formation, Fr Suresh stressed the need to prepare future religious leaders for contemporary realities through intellectual depth, emotional maturity, pastoral sensitivity and cultural competence. Formation, he said, must integrate personal aspirations with evangelical freedom, ensuring that religious life remains a response to God’s call rather than a career path.

Concluding on a note of hope, Fr Suresh affirmed that despite challenges, signs of renewal are visible, particularly in areas such as ecological concern, interreligious dialogue and commitment to the margins. The future, he said, will be shaped not by numbers or institutions alone, but by authenticity, courage and faithful love lived daily in service of God and God’s people.

By Catholic Connect Reporter