Over 330 Couples Attend Ranchi’s Jubilee Renewal for Catholic Households

Ranchi, August 26, 2025 – The Raja Ulahatu Parish of the Ranchi Archdiocese hosted a transformative one-day seminar, “Faith, Family, and the Future: Pilgrims of Hope in the Jubilee Year,” drawing over 330 couples, totalling more than 660 participants despite inclement weather on August 24. The event marked a milestone in the Church’s mission to renew Catholic family life in Jharkhand and beyond.

Fr. Valerian Lobo, Deputy Secretary of the Jharkhand Bishops' Council, led the seminar, combining theological insight with pastoral relevance. Drawing from Scripture, Church documents, and papal exhortations, he emphasised the renewal of family life in the spirit of synodality, inspired by the Jubilee Year’s call to hope. Quoting Pope Francis from Amoris Laetitia, he said, “The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church” (AL 31). Couples were encouraged to rediscover their vocation as “domestic churches,” spaces where love, forgiveness, and faith are nurtured daily.

Fr. Lobo addressed modern challenges, highlighting how hectic schedules and work pressures marginalise prayer and sacramental life. Technology, while intended to connect, can isolate family members, causing communication breakdowns. Referencing Familiaris Consortio, he said, “The family has the mission to guard, reveal and communicate love” (FC 17), stressing that this mission demands intentional effort today. He also spoke on addictions and the drift from traditional values, warning these trends threaten relationships and faith transmission to younger generations.

The seminar offered practical guidance. Fr. Lobo encouraged couples to adopt daily prayer, Scripture sharing, and structured communication rituals such as weekly family meetings or couple check-ins. Sacramental engagement, especially regular participation in the Eucharist and Reconciliation, was highlighted as a source of grace and healing. Participants also received advice on conflict resolution, forgiveness, and building intimacy within Christian marriages. As Amoris Laetitia states, “Love needs time and space; it needs dialogue and shared dreams” (AL 221).

The theme “Pilgrims of Hope” encouraged families to view struggles through faith, seeing their journey as a sacred pilgrimage marked by grace, growth, and divine companionship. As Ephesians 4:2–3 exhorts, families are called to live “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” The seminar concluded with a prayer service and blessing, symbolising renewed commitment.

The turnout reflected strong demand for spiritual renewal and practical guidance. Plans for follow-up workshops, retreats, and parish support groups aim to continue this mission throughout the Jubilee Year. As Pope John Paul II wrote in Familiaris Consortio, “The future of humanity passes by way of the family” (FC 86). Raja Ulahatu Parish demonstrates that empowered families become agents of transformation in their homes and society.

By Fr. Praful Tigga

Parish Priest, Raja Ulahatu

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