Jharkhand, Ranchi, September 21, 2025: Ranchi became a hub of faith, courage and hope as 26 members of the Jharkhand BEC Regional Resource Team gathered from 16 to 19 September for three days of training on the theme “Promotion of Communal Harmony in Today’s Anti-Christian Atmosphere.” The programme, animated by Archbishop Vincent Aind and Sr Christin Joseph, empowered participants to act as agents of peace in a time of deep division.
From the outset, the training integrated prayer, scripture and lived experience. Participants reflected on pressing challenges in Jharkhand—rising communal tensions, tribal identity struggles and political manipulation—while rediscovering the Gospel call to be “blessed peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). Case studies, spot analyses and group discussions illustrated that unity can emerge when communities share traditions, collaborate, and prioritise the common good.
Input sessions rooted participants’ hope in Scripture and Church teaching. They explored the biblical and theological basis of communal harmony, drawing from John 17:21, Galatians 3:28 and Matthew 5:9, alongside Church documents such as Fratelli Tutti, Nostra Aetate and the CBCI statement on Communal Harmony (Yesu Krist Jayanti, 2000). Participants considered how Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) could become authentic witnesses of Christ’s peace.
Workshops developed practical skills in listening, non-violent communication and conflict resolution, often through role-play. A visit to a nearby village provided a living example: a BEC animator had helped reconcile Christians and Sarna tribals by highlighting their shared roots and culture, showing how faith communities can heal divisions on the ground.
Mr. Gladson Dundung offered an inspiring testimony, stressing that BECs can serve as grassroots ambassadors of unity by fostering neighbourly relations across different faiths.
The highlight of the training was the presentation of a concrete Strategy for Unity, urging BECs to:
The programme concluded with a moving commitment ceremony. Leaders lit candles and pledged to be “Ambassadors of Christ’s Peace.” A thanksgiving Eucharist and interfaith prayers sealed this mission of reconciliation and hope.
Participants returned to their communities with renewed courage, convinced that BECs, firmly grounded in the Gospel and tribal values, can act as bridges of fraternity—healing wounds, overcoming fear, and sowing seeds of harmony across Jharkhand and beyond.
By Sr. Christin
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