Faith Formation

About

Commission for Faith Formation

The establishment of a permanent catechetical structure within every National Conference of Bishops is an essential pastoral necessity, and the CCBI Commission for Faith Formation serves as this permanent executive body for catechetical animation at the national level. Operating under the strategic mandate of the CCBI Pastoral Plan 2033, the Commission offers essential guidelines and necessary faith formation to the faithful of 132 Latin Dioceses and 14 Regions through a clearly structured programme of renewal approved by the CCBI. While it works out a basic plan for faith formation and catechetical activities with the regions, it recognizes the Particular Church—the diocese—as the primary discerning body responsible for local inculturation and adaptation. The Commission serves these dioceses by disseminating information about nationwide initiatives and coordinating programmes through professional publications, meetings, and national congresses. Locally, it integrates its ministry with other nationwide pastoral activities and related organizations like the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC), while internationally, it serves as a vital liaison with the Universal Church through regular contact with the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization to ensure India’s catechetical needs are met in harmony with global standards.

Vision

Community of disciples that meaningfully live, celebrate, share and witness faith in Jesus Christ.

3. Mission Trajectory

The National Commission for Faith Formation envisages bringing about a maturity in the faith by forming a witnessing community at the Parish, Region and National level. It will build an effective and efficient infrastructure through the formation of resource teams at the national and regional levels which will render service to the catechetical ministry in the nation by creating resources for formation of catechists as well as various age groups of the Catholic community. All of these would be guided by a set of guidelines and catechetical resource modules to achieve its aim of strengthening, deepening and nourishing the Faith of the Community.

Objectives

To encourage the re-evangelizing process drawing inspiration from baptismal catechumenate;
To promote catechesis for the various age groups: Infant, youth, adults, senior citizens and differently abled;
To promote faith formation in various settings: Parishes, Institutions and Families;
To enhance the professional competence of those involved in the catechetical ministry by equipping them with the knowledge and the skills necessary through short and long term catechetical courses;
To see that Catechetics is given importance in the priestly and religious formation;
To ensure that certain amount of money is spent for Catechetics in the dioceses;
To promote the culture of modern means of communication in catechesis at national, regional and diocesan levels.
Forming and training resource team at the national level and preparing resource materials.
Forming and training catechetical collaborators at the diocesan level
Preparing catechetical guidelines and modules for effective functioning.
Organising regular Catechesis in families, parishes and schools using training manual.
Investing and training Missionary catechists.
Catechising Youth and adult on a priority basis.

Brief history of Commission

National catechetical activities in India originated in 1967 under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), serving the three sui iuris Churches. During this early period, the Commissions for Bible, Catechetics, and Liturgy were combined, leading to the establishment of the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) in Bangalore to coordinate their joint mission. Following the formation of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) in 1988, the Commission for Liturgy was separated, and by the 2007 Plenary Assembly, the need for a focused approach led to the separation of Catechetics from the Bible Commission. Since then, the Commission for Catechetics has emerged as one of the CCBI’s most vibrant organs.

The Commission is governed by a three-member episcopal team—comprising a Chairman and two member Bishops elected by the General Assembly—and is supported by an Executive Secretary appointed by the CCBI. Based at Shanti Sadan, the CCBI Centre in Goa, the Commission reached a historic milestone on February 3, 2015, with the publication of the National Catechetical Directory under the chairmanship of Bishop Antony Devotta. This landmark document was recently revised and republished in 2026. Furthermore, in alignment with the 2024 CCBI Pastoral Plan, the Commission’s name was officially changed from "Catechetics" to "Faith Formation" to reflect its broader mission.

A vital wing of this ministry is YOUCAT INDIA, which focuses on the faith formation of young people. The Executive Secretary serves as the Director of YOUCAT India, leading a national team of youth representatives from various regions. Operating under the guidance of the YOUCAT Foundation in Germany and the Dicastery for Evangelization in Rome, this wing remains a dynamic force in engaging the youth of India with the teachings of the Church.