BANGALORE (RVA News): “It is essential to act in the spirit of genuine fraternal communion so that the good news can be effectively and fruitfully preached,” Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, said in a special message to the bishops attending the 35th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India [CCBI] in Bangalore, south India, on January 30.
The message was conveyed by Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore, the vice president of the bishops’ conference.
Emphasising the importance of true fraternal communion, Cardinal Tagle urged the bishops to foster, maintain, and strengthen communion, particularly among the diverse Churches in India.
“There should not be any room for disharmony or rivalry; the only aim of each Church is to give testimony to the life of Christ by being faithful disciples of the Master,” he said.
The 35th Plenary Assembly commenced with a solemn Eucharistic celebration on January 30 at the Nursing College Auditorium of St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore.
It is essential to act in the spirit of genuine fraternal communion so that the good news can be effectively and fruitfully preached
Cardinal Tagle
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the apostolic nuncio to India and Nepal, presided over the celebration, which included special prayers for global peace and the people in Manipur facing hardships.
The inaugural meeting, which followed the Mass, commenced with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, marked by the chanting of the traditional hymn Veni Creator Spiritus [Come, Creator Spirit]. Dignitaries lit the traditional Indian lamp, symbolising the beginning of the assembly.
Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão of Goa and Daman, president of CCBI, presided over the meeting and Archbishop Girelli inaugurated the assembly. Archbishop Antonysamy welcomed the gathering and Archbishop Anil Couto of Dehli and secretary general of the CCBI, presented the annual report of the bishops’ conference.
The one-day CCBI meeting dealt with several matters affecting the Latin Catholic Church in India, which comprises 132 dioceses and 196 bishops.
Father Stephen Alathara, the deputy secretary general of CCBI, proposed the vote of thanks and Anthony Cardinal Poola, of Hyderabad, led a prayer to conclude the inaugural session.
There should not be any room for disharmony or rivalry; the only aim of each Church is to give testimony to the life of Christ by being faithful disciples of the Master
Cardinal Tagle
During the assembly, recently appointed bishops were welcomed as members while a moment of silence was observed as a sign of respect and remembrance for departed members.
The gathering stood to honour the memory of Telesphore Cardinal Toppo, the esteemed former president of the CCBI, who died on 4 October 2023 [Sunday Examiner, 22 October 2023]. India’s first tribal cardinal was a notable figure whose influence, life and contributions continue to reverberate in the minds and hearts of all who met him.
The organisers of the plenum sought to connect the Indian Catholic community globally, officially launching ‘Catholic Connect,’ a mobile app offering access to spiritual resources, relevant news information, and Catholic life services such as health insurance, education, jobs, among other things, as well as emergency assistance.
Additionally, users can find nearby churches and avail of services provided by the Churches in India.
Cardinal Ferrão released liturgical books, including the Weekday and Sunday Missals, along with User Guides for Canon Law and Complementary Norms of Canon Law.
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India is the largest in Asia and the fourth largest in the world.
