Church Leaders Meet in New Delhi to Strengthen Coordination of Commissions

New Delhi, March 13, 2026: Church leaders from across North India gathered at Yusuf Sadan in New Delhi for a Joint Meeting of the CBCI Secretary General, CCBI Deputy Secretary General, Chairman Bishops, and Regional Secretaries, aimed at strengthening the mission and coordination of the Church’s commissions. The meeting served as a platform to reflect on the responsibilities, challenges, and future direction of the commissions that serve the Church in India.

The meeting was presided over by Archbishop Anil J. T. Couto of Delhi and Secretary General of the CBCI. Bishop Ivan Pereira, of Jammu–Srinagar, was also present in his capacity as the Regional Secretary.

Several bishops from the region participated in the deliberations, including Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad; Auxiliary Bishop Jose Puthenveettil of Faridabad; Bishop Jose Sebastian of Jalandhar; Auxiliary Bishop Deepak Tauro of Delhi; and Bishop Sahaya Thatheus of Simla Chandigarh. Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI, also took part in the discussions.

The meeting was organised and coordinated by Fr. Antony Thuruthil, Deputy Secretary of the Regional Bishops’ Council of North India (RBCN).

In his keynote address, Archbishop Anil J. T. Couto of Delhi explained the role and responsibilities of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) at the national level. He stressed the importance of greater collaboration among the various rites of the Church in India and called for coordinated pastoral initiatives to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

Presenting the aims and objectives of the CCBI commissions, Fr. Stephen Alathara emphasised that the mission and passion for Jesus Christ must always remain greater than institutional structures. Structures, he said, exist only to support the proclamation of Christ and the service of the people of God. Encouraging the secretaries to serve with dedication, he reminded them that each commission must function with purpose, passion, and vision. He also briefly traced the journey of the CCBI from its foundation to the development of its recent pastoral plan.

During the discussion session, Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad, highlighted the need to restructure commissions at the regional level so that they can respond more effectively to the Church’s mission. He suggested that initiatives emerging from the grassroots could help the national office redefine and strengthen the commissions in the light of present realities.

Auxiliary Bishop Jose Puthenveettil of Faridabad, underlined the importance of collaboration among the different sui iuris Churches. He encouraged each Church to remain attentive to the needs of other rites and to work together in a spirit of communion and mutual support.

The meeting also featured the presentation of two-year reports by the Regional Secretaries, who outlined the key activities, achievements, and challenges faced by the commissions. These presentations led to discussions on goal setting, action plans, and regional programmes aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the commissions.

The interaction between the CBCI Secretary General, the CCBI Deputy Secretary General, and the Regional Secretaries helped clarify the roles, functions, and responsibilities of both CBCI and CCBI structures, reinforcing the spirit of collaboration and shared mission within the Church.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from the participants to strengthen the Church’s pastoral mission through greater coordination, clarity of purpose, and dedicated service.

By By Sister Rani Punnasseril HCM