Over 1,500 Laity Gather for Lay Evangelisers Convention in Sivagangai

Sivagangai, 3 October 2025: The Diocese of Sivagangai hosted the three-day VAANAVIL 2025 convention from 26 to 28 September at Devakottai, bringing together over 1,500 lay evangelisers, their families, and participants from neighbouring dioceses. Organised by the diocesan Commission for Evangelisation, the event aimed to strengthen the missionary zeal of the laity, celebrate their witness, and mark the Jubilee Year with moments of fellowship, prayer, and spiritual formation.

VAANAVIL 2025 showcased the Charismatic lay missionary movement, which consists of more than 1,000 committed lay men and women trained through a 15-month intensive formation programme rooted in Scripture, Church teachings, and pastoral experience. Participants who completed this training make a solemn public commitment as missionary disciples.

The convention was inaugurated by Bishop J. Susaimanickam of Sivagangai. Archbishop Francis Kalist of Puducherry-Cuddalore and Chairperson of the TNBC Commission for Evangelisation, encouraged the lay evangelisers in their mission. The celebrations concluded with Bishop Lourdu Anandam of Sivagangai presiding over the solemn Eucharist, during which 59 lay men and women publicly committed themselves as missionary disciples.

Under the theme “Hope That Uplifts”, the convention featured inspiring talks by eminent speakers, moments of adoration, meditation, praise and worship, dramatisations of the encounter of Zacchaeus and the Tiberias Sea experience, cultural programmes, group games, fun activities, and witness sharing.

Bro. Augustine K Raj SHJ

Secretary - Commission for Evangelization, Sivagangai