JHAAN Region’s Family Commission Charts 10-Year Pastoral Vision

Ranchi, July 26, 2025 — The Family Commission of the JHAAN Region (Jharkhand & Andamans) concluded a transformative two-day pastoral planning conference held from 23–24 July 2025 at the Social Development Centre, Ranchi. The event articulated a comprehensive 10-year roadmap anchored in the theological question: “Where does God want our families to be in 2033?”

The conference was convened by Fr. Louis Joseph, Regional Secretary of the Family Commission-JHAAN, and brought together 35 participants along with esteemed resource persons. It was marked by deep theological reflection, pastoral insight, and collaborative visioning.

Fr. Arul Raj, National Executive Secretary of the Family Commission from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), presented the Commission’s core vision of building “healthy, happy, and holy families.” Sr. Merliyn SMI, council member of the National Family Commission, shared her pastoral wisdom and field experience, enhancing the discussions with practical and spiritual depth. Fr. Valerian Lobo, Regional Deputy Secretary of the JHAAN-RBC, meaningfully connected the family vision with the upcoming Jubilee 2025 theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” offering a theological lens and guiding participants in developing preliminary diocesan-level strategies.

The gathering was spiritually grounded by Most Reverend Julius Marandi, Bishop of Dumka and Chairman Bishop of the Commission, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration. In his message, he emphasised the pastoral urgency of strengthening family life amid increasing contemporary challenges, noting that families are essential for the future of the Church and society.

What emerged from the conference was more than a plan—it was a theological and pastoral charter. The vision is rooted in the Trinitarian model, viewing families as reflections of divine communion—communities of hope and signs of God’s love in society. The goal is to nurture families that are spiritually grounded, emotionally resilient, and socially active.

The plan is structured around six key mission areas: Marriage Preparation – encompassing remote, proximate, and immediate stages; Marriage Enrichment – for nurturing ongoing relationships; Relationship Counselling – for couples and families in crisis; Better Parenting – providing tools and training for effective parenting; Family Spirituality – deepening faith through prayer and pastoral visits; Vulnerable Family Care – for the elderly, single-parent households, broken families, and those with special needs

Concrete targets have been outlined to bring this vision to life:

* Train three couples in 12 parishes per diocese for post-marital accompaniment by March 2026

* Launch family cell training in five parishes per diocese by December 2026

* Ensure systematic family visits reach 50% of families in all parishes across eight dioceses by December 2027

* Deliver parenting training to at least 30% of families by the same deadline

Recognising the cultural and linguistic context of the region, the plan includes the development of Hindi-language pastoral materials by December 2026. It also promotes intergenerational celebrations, such as Children’s Day and Grandparents’ Day, to affirm familial bonds and nurture love between generations.

Looking ahead to 2033, the Commission envisions families as “living icons of Trinitarian love”—homes of reconciliation, places where children encounter the sacred, where loneliness gives way to spiritual companionship, and where discipleship is actively fostered for the future of the Church.

The implementation follows a synodal approach, engaging regional, diocesan, and parish structures to ensure unified action and pastoral integration. Built-in monitoring mechanisms will guide progress, accountability, and spiritual renewal throughout the decade.

Participants left the conference with “overwhelming joy and zealous determination,” seeing their mission not as a project to manage but as co-participation in God’s creative work. Their commitment to share the “treasure hidden in clay jars” echoes St. Paul’s reminder of divine power manifesting through human weakness.

As the JHAAN Region embarks on this 10-year journey, it does so with conviction that families formed in love, strengthened in hope, and renewed in grace will be the Church’s most powerful witness to the world.

By Fr. Valerian Lobo

Diocesan Secretary JHAAN (Jharkhand)