From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 8: The 35th General Body Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) took to a colorful start with the grand inauguration programme at St John’s Auditorium Bengaluru on Monday.

His Eminence Mario Cardinal Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, President of the CBCI, His Excellency Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Bishop Mar Joshua Ignathios, Vice President of CBCI, Archbishop Felix Machado, Secretary General of the CBCI and Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore gave momentum to the inauguration by lighting a traditional lamp.

Archbishop Peter Machado welcomed the distinguished dignitaries on the dais and the large gathering of Bishops, Sisters and the lay faithful. He presented a brief history of Bengaluru and the statistical representation of religious presence and the demography of Catholic Populace in the Archdiocese of Bangalore.

The Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli urged that one is not to be timid in propagating and professing one’s faith and defending the rights of the Church.

His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, in his address, said during the pandemic the Church in general has found various pastoral possibilities through online digital publications and broadcasting.
The Archbishop of Bombay also shared the summary of deliberations that took place in the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) Meeting earlier this month.

The Chief Guest, His Eminence Cardinal Mario Grech conveyed the greetings of Pope Francis to his brother Bishops in India and told the gathering that the Holy Father is appreciative of the commitment of the Indian bishops.

Emphasizing on the Synodal consultation and the very theme of the ongoing CBCI Meeting: Synodality: The Call to be a Synodal Church, the Papal Representative urged the participants to delve deeply into the Book of Acts of the Apostles, for in it the first mention of the Synodal Church.

Archbishop Felix Machado, Secretary General of the CBCI presented the CBCI report. CBCI Vice President Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios read out the messages from Holy Father Pope Francis, Cardinal Louis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Dicastery of Evangelization of Peoples, and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

Deputy Secretary General of CBCI, Rev Fr Jervis D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks and the inauguration culminated with the singing of the National Anthem.

In the subsequent sessions, three representatives from three sui juris churches- Fr Sebastian Chalakal (Syro-Malabar)), Fr Yesu Karunanidhi (Latin Church) and Fr John Kuttiyil (Syro-Malankara) - presented the consolidated reports of their respective Synodal Syntheses.

The Session was moderated by Most Rev Antony Pappusamy, Archbishop of Madurai.

The Second Session in the afternoon was the presentation of Keynote Address: The Call to be a Synodal Church by His Eminence Cardinal Grech.The Session was moderated by Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, Vice-President of the CBCI. He explained very clearly what is the purpose of the Synod and the mind of the Holy Father Pope Francis who had initiated the whole synodal process.

The Cardinal stressed that the desire of Pope Francis is to promote ecclesial spirit where everyone participates and owns responsibility in continuing the mission of Jesus Christ. Even though such involvement of the laity was existing, their active participation was not encouraged much.

Over 1000 Syntheses received from all over the world and, in which, the people feel that the church is clerical-centred and the lay faithful are either left out or given less importance. In his keynote address, His Eminence also stressed the point that this synodal consultation process galvanized the church and promoted spiritual communion. It is stressed at length in the synodal working document.

His Eminence also highlighted ‘Synodality’ from theological, ecclesial, biblical and pastoral dimensions and the implications and challenges. He congratulated the bishops for the initiative they took in organizing the diocesan, regional and national synodal processes, and preparing very practical Synodal Syntheses.