CCBI as an Organization 

 

At first, an ad hoc Office Bearers Body, consisting of a President and a Vice President, was elected and a small team of four Bishops formed the Executive Committee to assist it. At its Third Plenary Assembly in Goa (1991), a full team of Office Bearers was elected and a large Executive Committee was constituted, consisting of the Office Bearers, all the Metropolitans of the Latin Ecclesiastical Provinces and the Chairpersons of the CCBI Commissions. The Holy See approved its Statutes on 13 January 1994. Five years later, in the light of the Apostolic Letter Apostolos Suos, on the theological and juridical nature of episcopal conferences, the Statutes were revised and the Holy See permanently approved them on 3 December 2000 (Prot. 5242/2000). The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India was registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, Reg. No. S/19920 of 1 May 1989. 

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The CCBI has 16 Commissions, 7 Departments and 4 Apostolates. The Commission for Christian Life was established in 1988. It was trifurcated in 2003 into separate Commissions for Bible, Catechetics and Liturgy. The year 1988 also saw the birth of the Commissions for Boundary; for Family; for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious; and for Canon Law and Legislative Texts. The remaining Commissions were created as follows: Theology and Doctrine in 1999, Proclamation in 2001, Ecumenism in 2002, Laity in 2003, Women in 2008, Youth in 2008, Migrants in 2017, Ecology in 2019 and Small Christian Communities in 2019. 

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In 2021 the CCBI set up a Public Relations Office in Delhi and a Bioethics Forum. The Apostolates for Education, Health, Social Service and Media were also established in 2021, with Coordinators appointed for each of them. Also in 2021, the CCBI gave its approval to YOUCAT India (YOUCAT is an international movement that stands for Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) and appointed its National Director. 

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The Association of Rectors of the Major Seminaries (ARMS), which includes the rectors of all the major seminaries of the Latin Catholic Church in India and the Conference of Diocesan Priests of India (CDPI), which helps diocesan priests in the country to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of their priestly ministry, function under the aegis of the CCBI Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious. 

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Pontifical Mission Organizations is the name given to a group of Catholic missionary societies that are under the canonical jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome. These organizations include: (1) The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, (2) The Society of St. Peter the Apostle, (3) Holy Childhood Association and (4) Missionary Union of Priests and Religious. In India these Pontifical Mission Organizations operate under the guidance of the CCBI Commission for Proclamation. 

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The CCBI General Secretariat has a Publication Department that publishes liturgical books, catechetical books, Papal documents, documents of the Episcopal Conference and other relevant matter which is significant to the Church in India.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India marked its Silver Jubilee in 2013. The Silver Jubilee Plenary Assembly was held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni from 5 to 10 February 2013. During this Assembly, the Bishops unanimously approved the Pastoral Plan for the Church in India. 

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On 11 September 2024, the CCBI launched the revised Pastoral Plan, after wide consultation with more than five thousand stakeholders across the country. This National Pastoral Plan is a historic milestone. It offers a clear vision and direction for the Episcopal Conference and its various Commissions. 

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The Pastoral Plan also reflects the spirit and practice of synodality in the life of the Church in India. To ensure its effective execution, the CCBI has set up a dedicated Committee to promote and guide the implementation of the Pastoral Plan and synodality at all levels. 

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Communio is an initiative taken by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India with the aim of reaching out to dioceses in need and religious congregations working in socio-economically backward areas across India, so as to promote evangelization and pastoral ministry. It was launched during the 29th Plenary Assembly held in Bhopal in 2017. Communio was registered in 2022 as two societies, Religious and Charitable. 

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In 2023, the CCBI launched Catholic Connect as a major step toward digital evangelization. The initiative responds to the growing need to reach people in the digital space, especially the younger generation and those living away from their home dioceses. By connecting Catholics beyond borders, Catholic Connect strengthens communion within the Church and supports participation in its mission. It helps the Church in India to witness the Gospel in the digital world and to remain present where people live, communicate and search for meaning today.