A two-day Conference for Diocesan and Regional Secretaries of Laity Commissions across the country was held at the NavSadhana Regional Pastoral Centre, Varanasi.
Bishop Eugene Joseph of Varanasi, the Chairperson of the CCBI National Laity Commission, was the main celebrant at the Inaugural Eucharistic Celebration along with Rev. Fr. Anthony J. Fernandes, National Secretary, CCBI Commission for Laity and Rev. Fr. Wilfred Moras, Director, NavSadhana, priests, Regional Secretaries of different dioceses. Rev. Fr. Wilfred extended a warm welcome to all the participants from different regions.
In the first session, Fr. Anthony explained the objectives of the Laity Commission. Then the participants were divided into seven groups for group sharing. In the second session Mr. Adrian Rosario gave a brief explanation about the changing DEMOGRAPHICS – gender, age, family size, education, employment, income etc. in relation to the Church and how this has an impact on our activities.
Fr. Felix D’Souza gave some challenging vision statements as an invitation to pastoral involvement of the laity with a wonderful reference to the Gospel of St. John. Also seven principles and guidelines to train the laity and the way to achieve them was explained. Fr. Anthony explained GOAL – Go Out And Lead. He expressed the wish to start an online training for lay ministry free of cost shortly.
The second day’s programme started with the Holy Eucharist by Rev. Fr. Andrew of Agra, concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Antony J. Fernandes and Rev. Fr. Victor Joseph. In the fourth session, Fr. Anthony threw light on the Message of the CCBI Plenary assembly 2019 – ‘Laity as co- Evangelizers’. Mr. Adrian dealt with the topic – ‘Shared responsibility of laity with Clergy and Church Hierarchy’. The Regional groups sat together and discussed future plans for their region and formed an Action Plan for each Region. Bishop Eugene Joseph, in his concluding message expressed his wish and dream to have a common stage where we connect with one another to serve the MOTHER CHURCH. The two-day conference concluded with a prayer and blessings by Most Rev. Eugene Joseph.
