Women Religious Strengthen Pastoral Resolve at Jabalpur Workshop on Mission 2033

Feb 14, 2026: A one-day seminar aimed at strengthening missionary commitment among women religious was held at the diocesan pastoral centre of the Diocese of Jabalpur on February 13, bringing together 81 superiors from more than twenty congregations for reflection, dialogue and renewal in view of the Church’s pastoral vision for Mission 2033.

The gathering, titled “Empowerment of the Religious as Missionary Disciples of Jesus for Mission 2033,” opened with prayer that underscored mission as God’s initiative before human response. The programme was coordinated by Rev. Fr. Christu Raj, who guided the sessions with an emphasis on communion and shared discernment.

Inaugurating the event, Bishop Valan Arasu affirmed the vital role of religious women in sustaining the life of the Church, particularly in rural and underserved communities. He described them as a living presence of compassion through education, healthcare and pastoral outreach, noting that their quiet service continues to sustain the faith of countless families.

The opening session invited participants to rediscover consecrated life as both service and prophetic witness, calling them to recognise their vocation as women entrusted with proclaiming the Word in concrete social realities.

Animating the theological reflection, Fr. Charles Leon, Executive Secretary of the Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, encouraged the sisters to see their presence as a visible sign of God’s love in homes, schools and institutions. He highlighted the transformative potential of consecrated life as a healing force in society, particularly among children, youth, families and the elderly.

Participants engaged in a contextual analysis of pastoral realities in India and within the local Church, identifying both challenges and opportunities. Secular influences, migration, poverty and fragile family structures were acknowledged alongside enduring faith among the poor and continued openness to service.

An Emmaus-style sharing session allowed the religious to reflect on their lived experiences of ministry, many describing a deep sense of God’s presence in daily service. The discernment that followed focused on how their mission could become more meaningful and transformative by 2033. Participants expressed a collective desire to draw closer to the poor, strengthen prayer-centred communities, accompany youth and families, deepen collaboration with clergy and laity, and foster joyful, simple community life.

The concluding plenary synthesised these reflections into a pastoral direction aligned with the national Church’s missionary priorities. Organisers described the gathering as more than a workshop, calling it a moment of spiritual renewal that reaffirmed missionary vitality as rooted not merely in structures but in faith-filled witness.

The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment among the religious women of Jabalpur to serve collaboratively in building a Church marked by compassion, prayer and outward mission.

Fr. Christu Raj, Regional Secretary of VSCR, MP