CCBI Trains Parish Priests in Pastoral Leadership and Parish Management

Benaulim, Goa, July 8, 2026: Twenty-seven parish priests from dioceses and religious congregations across India are participating in the first batch of the Pastoral Management Course organised by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) at Shanti Sadan, Benaulim, to strengthen their pastoral leadership and administrative skills.

The week-long programme, being held from July 6 to 11, is designed to equip parish priests with practical competencies required for effective parish governance while deepening their commitment to pastoral ministry. The course covers key areas such as pastoral planning, collaborative leadership, financial stewardship, communication, parish administration, human resource management, record keeping and public relations.

Sessions are being conducted by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop Emeritus of Udupi, Fr. Vijay Machado, Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Faith Formation, and Chartered Accountant Sunil Gonsalves. Drawing on their pastoral and professional experience, the resource persons are guiding participants through contemporary challenges in parish administration and offering practical approaches to effective leadership.

The programme also places strong emphasis on spiritual formation. Each day begins and concludes with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours and the Rosary, underscoring the Church's conviction that pastoral leadership must be rooted in prayer and a vibrant spiritual life.

Complementing the classroom sessions, participants are undertaking pilgrimages to some of Goa's most significant Christian heritage sites. These include the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the Sé Cathedral, the Church of the Cross of Miracles in Old Goa, the St. Joseph Vaz Centre, the Tomb of Venerable Agnelo de Souza in Pilar, St. Joseph Vaz Church in Sancoale and St. John the Baptist Church in Benaulim.

The visits provide opportunities for prayer, reflection and a deeper appreciation of the missionary legacy of the Church in India, enriching the formation experience as the priests prepare to strengthen pastoral leadership in their respective parishes.

By Fr. Duming Gonsalves, Administrator, Shanti Sadan

CCBI Secretariat Extension

Benaulim, Goan