National Workshop in Velankanni Equips Church Leaders in Fundraising and Project Management

Velankanni, March 15, 2026: Seventy-three representatives from religious congregations and dioceses across India gathered at the retreat centre of the renowned Marian shrine in Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health for a five-day National Residential Workshop on Fundraising and Project Management, aimed at strengthening the Church’s social ministries and outreach to the poor.

Held from March 10 to 14 in the pilgrimage town of Velankanni, the workshop brought together religious men and women, clergy and leaders involved in social apostolates. The programme was organised by the Thalir Capuchin Centre and directed by Fr. Nithiya Sagayam.

The gathering was marked by reflection, training sessions and collaborative learning designed to equip Church leaders with practical skills in project planning, fundraising and sustainable development initiatives. The presence of several Major Superiors along with their members highlighted the importance the Church places on strengthening its social mission.

In his keynote address, Fr. Nithiya Sagayam emphasised that the vocation of priests and religious must remain closely connected to the suffering of the poor. “Our religious and priestly call is inseparably linked to our collective response to the cry of the poor,” he said, reminding participants that ministries in education and healthcare are essential expressions of the Church’s social apostolate.

He also drew attention to the challenges faced by Church-run social initiatives in the present context, including restrictions related to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), increased compliance requirements, donor fatigue and global economic uncertainties. Despite these obstacles, he encouraged participants to explore new opportunities for resource mobilisation and innovative approaches to sustaining social programmes.

The training sessions were led by Dr. Lukose PJ, who has more than three decades of experience in development training. He guided participants through strategies for mobilising resources, including accessing corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, building philanthropic partnerships and engaging global donor networks. Participants were also introduced to newer methods such as crowdfunding campaigns and faith-based fundraising initiatives.

Adding further depth to the workshop, Sr. Ekta conducted sessions on project planning tools such as Problem Tree Analysis (PTA), Objective Tree Analysis (OTA) and Logical Framework Analysis (LFA). Participants worked in groups to develop project proposals, combining situational analysis with structured planning methods.

The organisers also outlined plans for continued engagement through online review sessions and future training modules. These will include topics such as psychosocial personality development, effective reporting methods and the use of social media and artificial intelligence tools for advocacy and communication.

Alongside the academic sessions, participants also experienced moments of spiritual renewal. Daily prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist at the basilica and the Way of the Cross formed an integral part of the programme, grounding the training in reflection and faith.

The national workshop concluded with a renewed commitment among participants to strengthen the Church’s social mission and to continue serving the poorest and most marginalised communities with greater competence and compassion.

National Workshop in Velankanni Equips Church Leaders in Fundraising and Project Management

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