THEME: ‘Telling the Story of Jesus in our Context: The Synodal Way” January 24-30, 2023, St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru. MESSAGE We, the members of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), came together for the 34th Plenary Assembly from 24 to 30 January 2023, at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru. We prayed, reflected on and discussed the theme: ‘Telling the Story of Jesus in our Context: The Synodal Way.’ The Chur

XXXI PLENARY ASSEMBLY THEME: ‘THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL’ January 7 – 14, 2019 Joe Animation Centre, Chingleput, Tamil Nadu A MESSAGE Introduction We, 133 bishops of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), assembled at the Joe Animation Centre, Chingleput, Tamil Nadu, from January 7 to 14, 2019, for our 31st Plenary Assembly to reflect upon, pray, discern and respond to the theme: ‘The Joy of the Gospel’. This theme — which is the title of Pope Francis’ Exhortation Eva

Promoting the Joy of Love In Our Families Message of the 29 th CCBI Plenary Assembly to the Church in India We, two Cardinals, 136 Archbishops and Bishops, representing the 132 dioceses of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), gathered at the Pastoral Centre, Bhopal, for our Plenary Assembly from 31 st January to 8 th February 2017 to deliberate, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, on the theme “ Promoting the Joy of Love in our Families ”. The choice of t

27th Plenary Assembly of CCBI – Bengaluru From 3-9 February, 2015 Final Statement  “ I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full ” (John 10:10) We, the 140 members of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India gathered for the 27 th  Plenary Assembly at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru from 3-9 February, 2015, wish to convey our greetings of joy, peace and love of Our Lord Jesus Christ to our Priests, Religious,  Lay Faithful and a

Final Statement  Message of the 25 th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI Held at Vailankanni from 5 to 10 February, 2013 Called To Believe, To Love, To Serve and To Proclaim  Introduction C onscious of our Episcopal calling and with joyful confidence in the Lord we, 117 bishops of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Vailankanni, Feb 5-10, 2013 for the XXV Plenary Assembly and to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the Conf

Final Statement 23rd Plenary Assembly of the CCBI Held at Chennai from 6 to 12 January, 2011 “Catechetical Renewal, Essential for a Vibrant Church in India” We, the 123 Bishops of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, thank Almighty God for bringing us together for the 23rd Plenary Assembly held at Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamallee, Chennai, from 6th to 12th January 2011, to reflect on the theme: “Catechetical Renewal, essential for a Vibrant Church”. As official tea

Final Statement 21st Plenary Assembly of the CCBI Held at Mysore from 12 to 18 February, 2009 The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church  Preamble We, the 116 member-bishops of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), gathered at Prabodhana, Mysore, from February 12 -18, 2009, the year dedicated to St. Paul, for the XXI Plenary Assembly, reflected on the theme:  “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church”, as a follow-up of the XII Synod of B

Final Statement  19th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI Held at Aluva from 4 to 9 January, 2007   The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) met for its 19th Plenary Assembly in St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Aluva, Kerala, from January 4-9, 2007. Aware of the vital role of the laity in the Church and society, the bishops, at their meeting, focused on the theme: ‘The Vocation and the Role of the Laity in the Life and Mission of the Church’.   By way of prepa

Final Statement 17th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI Held at Ranchi from 4 to 8 March, 2005 to Families Aware of the vital importance of the family for the life of the Church and of society, we, the 102 bishops of various archdioceses and dioceses throughout India, gathered at Ranchi for the XVII Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), reflected on the theme, “Family for Christ – Good News for India”. At the conclusion of this meeting, we would

Final Statement 15th Plenary Assembly Held at Tiruchirapalli from 15 to 19 January, 2003 “Sharing The Good News” One hundred and sixteen Archbishops and Bishops, members of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, gathered at St. Paul’s Seminary, Tiruchirapalli, from January 15-19, 2003, to study in depth the theme: Sharing the Good News. First of all, we sought to clarify the terms, evangelization and proclamation. Evangelization is to “bring the Good News of Jesus into

Final Statement 13th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI Held at Calcutta from 10 to 13 January 2001 Laity in a Participatory Church By virtue of baptism and confirmation, all Christians are called to holiness of life, constant conversion, and an ever-deepening union with Christ which should lead them to participate in the life and mission of the Church. The challenges of being Church in the present circumstances of passivity, lack of faith formation, lack of commitment, family pres

Final Statement 12th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI held at Chennai from 25 to 28 January 2000 Priests and their Ministry at the turn of the Third Millennium Introduction Standing at the dawn of the third millennium we are filled with joy to celebrate Yesu Kristu Jayanti as Jubilee Year 2000. We Christians consider this time a moment of grace for the whole Church and humankind. Naturally the celebration is centered around the great humankind made known in Jesus Christ. Th

Final Statement 11th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI held at Hyderabad from 6 to 10 January, 1999 The CCBI to their Faithful, Priests and Religious “CALLED TO BE A COMMUNITY OF HOPE” Introduction We, the Bishops of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India, gathered for the Eleventh Plenary Assembly from Jan.7 –10, 1999 at St. John’s Regional Seminary, Hyderabad, reflected on the mission of the Bishop in the light of the guidelines (Lineamenta) of the 10th ordinary gener

Final Statement 7th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI held at Calcutta from 5 to 7th January, 1995 Pro-Life The 7th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India – LR, meeting at Morning Star College, Calcutta on 5th to 7th January 1995, chose to reflect on the topic of “Pro-Life” very appropriately at the conclusion of the International Year of the Family. The human family is modeled on the image of the Trinity and lives continually in its ambience, which is t

Final Statement 5th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI held at Bombay from 4 to 6 January, 1993 An Appeal For Peace And Communal Harmony By The Conference Of Catholic Bishops Of India We, the members of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India, meeting at Bombay from 4th to 6th January, 1993, for our Fifth Plenary Assembly, deplore strongly the tragic events of 6th December, 1992 at Ayodhya and the consequent wanton killing of the innocent persons and destruction of buildin

Final Statement 3rd Plenary Assembly of the CCBI Held at Pilar Goa from 6 to 8 January, 1991 An Appeal For Communal Harmony We, 85 Catholic Bishops, meeting in Goa for our own Agenda, also wish to address ourselves to a vital issue in our country. This statement elaborates on one previously issued on behalf of all the Catholic Bishops of India. The tradition in our country from ancient times has been the recognition and encouragement of freedom of though and religion. Thus,