Northeast CRI Assembly to Focus on Digital Mission and AI Challenges

Guwahati, September 1, 2026: The role of consecrated persons in proclaiming the Gospel and forming people in faith amid the rapid growth of digital culture will be the focus of the 45th North East Regional Assembly of the Conference of Religious India (CRI), beginning here on September 2.

The three-day assembly, which will bring together religious men and women from across Northeast India, will be held at the North East Diocesan Social Service Society (NEDSS), Guwahati, under the theme, “Mission in the Digital Age: Consecrated Persons and the Transformative Power of Digital Culture.”

The gathering will examine how digital platforms can be used for evangelisation, faith formation and communication, while addressing the pastoral, ethical and social challenges emerging from artificial intelligence and the wider digital environment.

The assembly will open on September 2 with registration at 2 p.m., followed by the inaugural programme. Newly elected major superiors will be welcomed and felicitated, and a memorial service will be held in remembrance of deceased members of the North East CRI.

The second day will focus on technology and its implications for Christian mission. A session titled “Magnifica Humanitas: A Technological Overview and Challenges in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” will explore the impact of emerging technologies, while a second session, “Harnessing Social Media for Proclamation and Faith Formation: Opportunities, Challenges and Way Forward,” will examine ways of engaging digital platforms in the Church’s evangelising mission.

Participants will also take part in group discussions and hear reports from local CRI units. An open discussion will address issues and concerns affecting the presence and mission of consecrated persons in Northeast India.

Coadjutor Archbishop Albert Hemrom of Guwahati will celebrate the Holy Eucharist on September 4. The celebration will mark his first Eucharist in Guwahati following the announcement of his appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop.

The final day will include discussions on migration and other regional concerns, followed by the adoption of the assembly’s final statements. Activity, audit and financial reports will also be presented.

The assembly will witness the launch of the North East CRI website and social media accounts and will conclude with the election of new executive members.

The previous North East Regional CRI Assembly, held from August 30 to September 1, 2025, brought together 115 participants representing 98 religious congregations. It focused on consecrated life, hope and Christian witness during the Jubilee Year 2025.

The North East CRI is one of the 14 regional bodies of the Conference of Religious India, the national body representing Catholic religious congregations in India. Sr. Mabel Gothorp FMA is the regional president and Sr. Teresa Joseph MSMHC is the secretary.

The regional CRI brings together Catholic religious communities across the seven northeastern states, covering three ecclesiastical provinces, three archdioceses and 12 dioceses.

NESCOM