Telugu Region Bible Commission Aligns Ministry with CCBI Pastoral Plan 2033

HYDERABAD, July 10, 2026: The Telugu Region Bible Commission has resolved to align its pastoral initiatives with the CCBI Pastoral Plan 2033, reaffirming its commitment to placing the Word of God at the centre of the Church's pastoral ministry during its annual meeting held at St. John's Regional Seminary, Ramanthapur, Hyderabad, on July 9.

The one-day meeting brought together Bishop G. Johannes of Kurnool, chairman of the Telugu Catholic Bishops' Council (TCBC) Commission for Bible, Fr. Patrick Mathias SDB, Executive Secretary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Bible, and diocesan Bible Commission secretaries from across the Telugu region.

Delivering the keynote presentations, Fr. Patrick stressed the centrality of Sacred Scripture in the Church's mission. Speaking on "The Centrality of the Word of God," he said the Church's biblical ministry should lead people to a living encounter with God through Scripture rather than merely imparting biblical knowledge.

In a second session on "Biblical Pastoral Ministry: Methods and Dynamics," he examined the four stages of the Ministry of the Word, the relevance of biblical pastoral ministry in the contemporary Church, major magisterial teachings on the Word of God, and the different dimensions of the Church's ministry of evangelisation.

Following discussions, Fr. Patrick presented the CCBI Pastoral Plan 2033 for the Bible Commission, outlining its vision, objectives and key performance indicators, while urging diocesan representatives to integrate the national pastoral priorities into their local programmes.

Summarising the deliberations, Bishop Johannes highlighted the responsibilities of the Regional Bible Commission and underscored the crucial role of diocesan secretaries in implementing its pastoral vision. He reiterated the Commission's commitment to strengthening biblical formation among priests, religious, seminarians, catechists and lay faithful in the years leading to 2033.

The bishop also called for greater investment in youth formation and the training of Bible volunteers and lay preachers to support the biblical apostolate across the Telugu dioceses.

During the sharing session, diocesan secretaries presented their pastoral experiences and proposed initiatives that could be implemented in harmony with the goals of the CCBI Pastoral Plan 2033.

Participants also emphasised the importance of promoting Scripture-centred family life, describing the family as the primary school of faith. They resolved to encourage regular Bible reading, biblical formation and parish-based initiatives to deepen the faithful's engagement with the Word of God.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collaborative pastoral efforts aimed at making the Word of God more accessible and transformative across the Telugu region, with the vision of fostering parishes, families and ecclesial communities rooted in the Gospel.

By Catholic Connect Reporter