CCBI to Organise Biblical Pastoral Ministry Training Course in Goa

Goa, July 9, 2026: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) will conduct a six-day Skills for Biblical Pastoral Ministry course from October 16 to 21 at Shanti Sadan, Benaulim, to equip priests, religious and lay faithful engaged in the Church's Biblical Apostolate with practical pastoral skills.

The formation programme, organised by the CCBI Commission for Bible, is designed for those involved in proclaiming and promoting the Word of God in pastoral settings. Participants will arrive on October 16, while the course will begin the following day with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 7 a.m. The programme will conclude on October 21 after lunch.

The course will focus on key aspects of Biblical pastoral ministry, including the four stages of the Ministry of the Word, the relationship between the Church and Sacred Scripture, Lectio Divina, methods of reading, studying and interpreting the Bible, celebrating and integrating Scripture into pastoral life, personal formation of the minister of the Word, sharing of best practices, and new approaches to collaboration and networking in Biblical ministry.

As part of the programme, participants will also undertake a half-day pilgrimage to some of Goa's prominent Christian heritage sites, including the Sé Cathedral of Santa Catarina, the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the Tomb of Fr. Agnel, St. Joseph Vaz Church, St. John Baptist Church and Benaulim Beach.

The sessions will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Fr. Patrick Mathias, SDB, Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Bible, along with Fr. Mariano D'Costa.

Participation has been limited to 30 delegates and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The organisers have encouraged interested priests, religious and lay leaders to register early to secure a place.

The registration fee is ₹6,000 per participant for shared accommodation and ₹12,000 for single-room accommodation. The fee covers accommodation, meals and the pilgrimage. Organisers have stated that the registration fee is non-refundable and that postponement of registrations will not be permitted.

By Catholic Connect Reporter