National Meeting Of CCBI Commission Chalks Out Priorities, Action Plan By SAR NEWS
BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- Representing all the twelve ecclesiastical regions of the Church in India, the chairpersons and secretaries of the CCBI (Conference of Catholic Bishops of India Latin Rite) Commissions put their heads together to chalk out priorities to serve the 122 Latin dioceses that come under the Conference. Held at NBCLC (National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre) September 19-20, CCBI president, Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Agra, spelt out to 70 participants the goal and objectives of the consultation. He urged the consultors to clarify the vision and mission of CCBI in depth. Bishop Valerian D’Souza of Poona, the vice-president of CCBI, requested the participants to help the CCBI with their grass-roots experiences. Taking seriously the questions for discussion in the groups, the consultors spelt out the main needs and priorities of the faithful in the inter-ritual context. Formation of laity through catechesis stood as the first priority. It was stressed that the parish priests should be better formed and make the liturgical celebrations solemn and meaningful. In order to stop “sheep stealing”, the laity are to be more confirmed in their faith through catechesis. Small Christian Communities are to be the base for training people to become lay leaders in the world. The laity are to be involved in planning and decision-making process in the Church and treated as collaborators. Christian leadership in political and social fields are to be encouraged. Stressing the need for bishops and priests to be key agents of family apostolate, the conference emphasized on regular house visits. With a sense of urgency, the Church has to help the family find gospel response in confronting many issues today, it said adding otherwise the people would turn to media and the Internet for their answers. Discussing ongoing formation, the consultors underlined the formation of bishops and clergy on whom depend all other formations to meet the challenges today. It was noted that almost 90 per cent of funds in the Church went for the formation of clergy and religious and only a minimum went for laity formation. Discussing caste and its implications in the Church, the participants noted that caste was a big issue among the bishops and the clergy. They called for statements by bishops on the issue. Empowerment of the poor was also stressed. On the topic of Evangelisation in North India, it was suggested that more southern dioceses take up missionary work in the North. The Secretary General of CCBI, Bishop Prakash Mallavarappu of Vijayawada, in his speech said that the reality of the three ritual Episcopal bodies had come to stay. He said, “We need to creatively think how to relate with other ritual Churches while not losing our identity and mission.” He observed that critical thinking and collective search was needed to organise the CCBI to fulfill its purpose. Responding to the needs and priorities, the consultors spelt out action plan for the Commissions. At present the CCBI is serving the dioceses through nine commissions. They are commission for Family, Liturgy, Bible and Catechetics, Laity, Ecumenism, Theology and Doctrine, Canon Law, Proclamation and Vocation, Seminary, Clergy and Religious. Some of the action plans include conducting follow-up training programmes for couple ministry in order to reach out couples in distress. The family commission also envisaged to collaborate with pro-life organisations and to ensure that family movements contribute to better functioning of parishes. With the collaboration of liturgy commission the ecumenism commission plans to prepare liturgy for ecumenism Sunday and educate the laity on Christian unity and our faith. The proclamation commission plans training programmes besides promoting Catholic Enquiry Centres in every diocese. It was also proposed that bishops of the South adopt mission territory in the northern dioceses by their support of material resources and personnel. At the consultation organised by CCBI, Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore welcomed the participants who came from all over India. There were seven bishops, fifty-four priests, four sisters and five laypersons.
