Chhattisgarh Church to Formulate Regional Pastoral Plan

RAIPUR, October 31, 2026: The Chhattisgarh Regional Bishops’ Council has decided to formulate a Regional Pastoral Plan to address the specific pastoral needs of the state and strengthen the Church’s mission through a coordinated approach.

The decision was taken at a one-day workshop on Pastoral Plan Implementation held on October 30 at the Bishop Philip Ekka Pastoral Centre in Raipur. Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop Emeritus of Udupi, facilitated the workshop, explaining the process of developing and implementing a pastoral plan.

Addressing the participants, Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur said that while the Church might sometimes appear to function like a non-governmental organisation, its true identity was that of a communion rooted in Christ.

Bishop Lobo outlined practical steps for implementing a pastoral plan and highlighted its importance in organising and strengthening the Church’s mission. A documentary presented during the workshop illustrated the need for systematic pastoral planning and its relevance to the Church’s effective functioning. He also referred to Jesus’ three-year ministry as an example of purposeful pastoral planning.

The workshop was attended by 28 participants, in addition to the Archbishop.

As a follow-up, regional secretaries were asked to submit specific recommendations from their respective commissions by November 30. These inputs will form the basis for preparing a Regional Pastoral Plan suited to the pastoral realities and needs of Chhattisgarh.

The initiative is expected to provide a common framework for coordinating the Church’s various ministries and strengthening pastoral engagement across the region.

By Fr. John Ponnore, Regional Deputy Secretary