CBCI Plenary begins in Assam

(Feb.24,2010): The Catholic Bishops Conference of India – CBCI, began on Wed.(Feb. 24) it’s weeklong general body meeting in Guwahati, Assam, Northeast India, which it holds every two years. It is the first time that the Assamese capital is hosting such a major meeting that brings together bishops of a 160 dioceses in India, to discuss the theme on “Youth in the context of Emerging India.” In an interview to CBCI regarding the choice of the site, the host of the meeting Salesian Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil said it is the first time that such a meeting is being held in Assam, and the second time in Northeast India, but there is no specific reason for the choice of the site. He noted however, that Guwahati is a young diocese, where vocations are rising, seminaries and formation centres are coming up fast, young missionaries are going forth to work in other parts of the world, educational and health institutions keep multiplying and a university has been opened recently. He said that God has a plan for this young church, as it emerges on the national scene.
Regarding the theme chosen “Youth in the context of emerging India”, Archbishop Menamparampil, described it as apt, saying it gives an occasion to look to the future of society in the context of the rapid changes taking place, and study carefully the challenges faced by youth. Northeast India is the right place for discussing the problems of youth, since most political and social trends in the region are being set in motion by young people, said Archbishop Menamparampil, the host of the meeting that concludes on March 3.