Formation of Priests and Religious in Northeast India
October 04, 2011: In the North-East India Regional Pastoral Conference (NEIRPC) held
recently, 133 participants including bishops, major superiors of religious congregations,
men and women formators, reflected and deliberated on the formation of priests and
religious in the context of Northeast India. The Conference identified five areas
of formation as the top priorities in the region. They include – firstly, introduction
of candidates to the culture of the people from the initial stages of formation. Secondly
the spiritual formation geared to helping the candidates to grow in their rootedness
in Christ and openness to reach out to people. Thirdly, proper psycho-sexual formation,
fourthly the pastoral-missionary dimension of formation and fifthly the on-going formation. Archbishop
Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati, President of North-East India Regional Bishops’
Council, inaugurated the Conference. During his address, he reminded them the beauty
and the richness the Northeast displays in its mosaic of tribes and cultures. He emphasized
the need to engage candidates to priesthood and religious life in developing not only
a familiarity with but also genuine appreciation for and cultivating sensitivity to
the cultural values and ethos of the people. The region exhibits an awesome diversity
of cultures and yet bears witness to the unity and catholicity of the Catholic Faith. The
Regional Pastoral Conference is an annual event which provides a common platform for
the leaders of the Church to discuss, reflect and deliberate together on relevant
and pertinent issues concerning the Church in the region. This year this ecclesiastical
event was held at North-East Diocesan Social Forum (NEDSF), Guwahati, from 12 to 15
September 2011. The Conference was organized by the North-East Regional Bishops’ Council
in collaboration with Oriens Theological College, Shillong, the Inter-diocesan Theologate
for the region.