03 May, 2013 - A Salesian priest has been appointed the national secretary of the
Conference of Religious India (CRI), the common forum of over 130,000 consecrated
Catholic men and women in the country. Salesian Father Joe Mannath replaces Gabriel
Brother Mani Mekkunnel. The 30-member National Executive Council, which met in Bangalore
April 25 appointed Father Mannath to head the operations of the CRI for the next 4
years. He takes office from May 24. Father Mannath is well known to Indian Catholics
through his columns in Catholic publications. He is also a resource person for animation
programs and counselling. He served many years in Poonamallee seminary and then a
Professor in Madras University. The National Secretary plays a key role in executing
the CRI programs and policies based in the organizations National Secretariat at New
Delhi. A national team of religious who are experts in various fields, assist him.
The CRI is a network of with 13 Regional units with fulltime secretaries, and 160
Local Units in every diocese across the country. Another Salesian, Father V.M.Thomas
is CRI national president, appointed last November. Besides being the Provincial
of the Salesian Province of Guwahati, he is heads CRI’s priests’ section. (Source:
UCANEWS)