Pastoral Plan: Church in India Looks to Future with Hope and Renewal

Bangalore, September 13, 2024 (2024): The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) recently unveiled the Pastoral Plan, which is poised to bring significant changes across various ministries and apostolates of the Church in India. To ensure its swift and effective implementation, the CCBI organized a three-day workshop from September 10-13 in Bangalore, bringing together national secretaries and regional deputy secretaries.

The workshop aimed to provide in-depth guidance, share best practices, and develop strategies for a coordinated effort in executing the plan. This initiative is expected to accelerate the impact of the Pastoral Plan and strengthen the Church’s mission nationwide.

During its Executive Committee meeting, held in Bangalore from September 9-11, the CCBI established a Facilitation Committee to oversee the plan’s implementation. The committee members include Bp. Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi as Chairman, Fr. Christopher Vimalraj, Associate Deputy Secretary General as Convenor, along with Fr. Joseph Xavier S.J., Fr. Jaison Vadassery, Mr. Raja Shanmugam, Ms. Priya Francis, and Sr. Rose Paite, MSMHC.

Advocate Sr. Rani Punnasseril, a Supreme Court lawyer, expressed her appreciation for the effort, saying, "We are grateful to the Office Bearers and everyone who contributed to the Pastoral Plan for the Church in India. This initiative will have a significant impact on the Church."

Anson Nazareth, a young national leader from Udupi Diocese, shared his experience as part of the Pastoral Plan process, stating, "The plan is clear evidence of how the Church in India is gradually transitioning to a synodal approach through collaboration and networking."

Dr. Roma Sah, a doctor from Patna, Bihar, is eagerly awaiting its implementation. "As a volunteer for Communio, I am closely associated with Communio and hope to give it more visibility through the Pastoral Plan's rollout," she said.

The CCBI Pastoral Plan follows a year-long process involving over 5,000 members of the Latin Catholic Church in India, including bishops, clergy, religious leaders, men, women and youth. The focus is on answering a crucial question: "Where is God calling the Church to be by 2033?"

The Pastoral Plan was released on September 11, 2024, by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, the President of the CCBI and the official launch of the Plan will be on November 24, 2024, at the national, regional, diocesan and parish levels, by celebrating a Thanksgiving Holy Eucharist.

By Dr Stephen Alathara