CCBI Training Strengthens Church Leaders for Social Action

BENAULIM, Goa, August 7, 2026: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India is training Church personnel in project development, socio-cultural analysis and funding proposal writing as part of efforts to strengthen the Church’s response to contemporary social challenges.

The six-day programme, titled “Project Proposal for Funding Support: Social Leadership through Socio-cultural Analysis and Project Writing,” is being held at Shanti Sadan, Benaulim, from August 6 to 11.

The course brings together 28 participants, including eight priests, 17 women religious and three laymen representing one diocese and 12 religious congregations. It is aimed at diocesan social work directors, priests, religious and pastoral personnel involved in social ministry.

The programme was inaugurated with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by Bishop Simião Purificação Fernandes of Goa and Daman. Jesuit Father Joe Xavier is conducting the sessions on project proposal development and social leadership.

The training combines spiritual formation, academic input and practical workshops. Each day begins with Lauds and the celebration of the Eucharist, followed by sessions covering socio-cultural analysis, the Indian Constitution, project cycle management, rights-based approaches to development, logical framework analysis, Catholic social teaching, gender justice, monitoring and evaluation, accountability and learning, budget preparation and project proposal writing.

The programme seeks to help participants develop a vision of social leadership rooted in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching while acquiring practical skills for planning and implementing development initiatives.

A major component of the training is collaborative project work. Participants are developing project proposals and logical frameworks, identifying goals, objectives, indicators and activities, and preparing budgets. Their proposals are presented for evaluation and feedback, enabling participants to sharpen their analytical, planning and leadership abilities while learning from one another.

A pilgrimage to Christian heritage sites in Goa is also part of the programme, providing participants with time for prayer, reflection and fraternity.

The initiative aims to equip Church leaders with the skills needed to translate the Church’s commitment to human dignity and social transformation into professionally planned and sustainable action among communities.

By Fr. Duming Gonsalves,

Administrator

Shanti Sadan, Benaulim Goa