Bihar Bishops Launch Major Formation Drive to Deepen Missionary Identity

Bihar, February 13, 2026: In a significant move to strengthen grassroots evangelisation, the Bihar Regional Bishops’ Council has conducted a two-day Animation and Training Programme for 75 Pastoral Sisters and Catechists across the region, reaffirming the Church’s missionary mandate in the light of Evangelii Nuntiandi and the ongoing synodal journey of the universal Church.

Organised by the Council’s Commission for Proclamation, the initiative focused on renewing missionary zeal and equipping pastoral agents to respond to contemporary challenges in Bihar’s diverse social and cultural landscape. The programme drew inspiration from Evangelii Nuntiandi, the landmark apostolic exhortation of Pope Paul VI, which famously affirms that “The Church exists in order to evangelise.”

Church leaders said the training aimed to move pastoral work beyond routine maintenance to a dynamic proclamation of the Gospel, placing renewed emphasis on kerygma — the joyful and direct announcement of Christ. Participants were encouraged to become authentic witnesses before becoming teachers, integrating personal encounter with Christ into every dimension of ministry.

The 75 participants — described by organisers as the “living missionary force” of the Church in Bihar — included Sisters and Catechists actively serving in villages, parishes and Church institutions. Often working in challenging and pluralistic environments, they play a vital role in building Small Christian Communities, forming youth and children in faith, and accompanying families in their spiritual journey.

The programme also aligned closely with the Church’s global synodal process, emphasising communion, participation and mission. Sessions underlined listening as the first act of evangelisation and called for collaborative leadership among clergy, religious and laity. Practical frameworks were offered for participatory pastoral planning at parish and diocesan levels, ensuring that synodality becomes a lived reality rather than a theoretical concept.

The resource team brought together theological depth and pastoral experience. Bishop James Shekar provided episcopal guidance and doctrinal clarity, while Fr. Raju Mathew led missiological reflections rooted in local realities. Fr. Paul D’Souza contributed biblical and kerygmatic insights, and Fr. Bhaskar, the regional secretary, coordinated the programme and contextualised mission priorities for Bihar.

The training was structured around two core pillars: renewing the fire of proclamation in the spirit of Evangelii Nuntiandi, and implementing synodal pathways consistent with the universal Church’s direction. Participants reflected on evangelisation as witness, proclamation, catechesis and cultural transformation, with a strong emphasis on missionary communities grounded in shared responsibility.

Organisers described the initiative as a strategic investment in long-term pastoral formation. They noted a deliberate shift from event-based evangelisation to sustained, process-oriented formation, and from hierarchical isolation to collaborative ministry.

In a region marked by social diversity and pastoral complexities, Church leaders expressed confidence that such structured formation would ensure that the Gospel is proclaimed with both fidelity and cultural sensitivity — shaping a more missionary and synodal Church in Bihar for the years ahead.

By Fr. Raju Mathew