(August 31, 2012) A meeting of the bishops and major superiors of religious orders
of Chhattisgarh state in India was held last week to redefine the Catholic Church’s
pastoral plans and priorities in the region. Archbishop Joseph Charanakunnel of Raipur
along with Bishops Patras Minj of Ambikapur, Paul Toppo of Raigarh and Emmanuel Kerketta
of Jashpur met 8 major superiors, delegates of 7 major superiors and heads of various
commissions from August 22-25 to discuss the drafting of a pastoral plan for the
region with a clear vision and to identify specific pastoral priorities and draw up
definite goals and objectives with a re-visioning and re-missioning of the Church.
They also heard recommendations and information on how to celebrate at various levels
the Year of Faith that Pope Benedict XVI has called from October 11, 2012 to November
24, 2013. The participants felt the absence of lay people at the meeting and vowed
to hold another such encounter in September with the participation of the laity.