The Church in India will Unveil New Pastoral Plan in September

Bangalore, July 11, 2024: The Church in India, under the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), is set to release a new pastoral plan titled "Journeying towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033" on September 11, 2024. His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, President of the CCBI will release the Pastoral Plan on September 11, in the presence of Archbishops, CCBI Executive Secretaries, and Regional Deputy Secretaries.

This Pastoral Plan is the result of a year-long process involving spiritual conversations with 5,000 members of the Latin Catholic Church in India, including bishops, clergy, religious, women, men, and youth. The collaborative effort aims to guide the Church towards its mission by 2033.

In a circular issued on July 9, 2024, Cardinal Ferrão emphasized the importance of this initiative: “The CCBI decided to engage in a pastoral planning process by responding to the question, ‘Where is God calling the Church to be by 2033?’” 

He urged all members to embrace the plan, stating, “This Pastoral Plan is a mandate that we have given to ourselves. It is a project for all of us. Therefore, every individual must discern their potential contribution at the parish, diocesan, regional, and national levels. While the focus of the Plan has been on the national commissions, the fruits of the planning will also benefit our regions, dioceses, and parishes.”

The official launch of the plan is set for November 24, 2024, coinciding with a national, regional, diocesan, and parish-level thanksgiving Holy Eucharist. To facilitate this, the CCBI will prepare a toolkit for the Eucharist, including videos, reels, posters, and other materials to communicate the plan's key features.

Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference, mentioned that the details of the plan's implementation will be finalized during the CCBI Executive Committee meeting in September. Additionally, a three-day workshop for secretaries and regional deputy secretaries will be held in Bangalore that month.

The new pastoral plan aims to build an inclusive, synodal, and welcoming Church, permeated with the compassionate love of Christ.

By Joicy Pinto