New CRI secretary calls to sink all differences

New Delhi, 28 May 2013: Salesian Father Joe Mannath took over as the new secretary of the Conference of Religious India (CRI) on Saturday with a call to sink all differences in identities and positions to work for the poor of India.

Each Religious should assume "the identity as a child of God. That is our primary identity," he said, adding that the stress on identity as members of particular congregation or a group may hinder the mission, reports UCA News. He wanted the CRI, the forum of over 130,000 consecrated Catholic men and women in the country to work as a united force for the mission given to them.

The mission is to spread a "simple message" through life witness, and Religious should not make it complex project with institutions, he told a group of some 50 people, mostly Religious Superiors in an around New Delhi.

As members shared the "dream for CRI," Jesuit Father Varkey Perekkatt wanted to support the isolated Religious working in remote villages "to ensure that they are not alone" in the mission. Suggestions included setting up of an effective communication network, more involvement in media, more collaborative ventures for the poor, and more involvement for women in decisions.

CRI president Salesian Father V. M Thomas presided over the function, where Monsignor Romano, counselor at Vatican Embassy at New Delhi represented Nuncio Archbishop Salvotore Pennacchio, who was away.

Outgoing secretary, Gabriel Brother Mani Mekkunnel thanked Religious Superiors across India for their "whole hearted support" and also the staff and CRI community, before handing over a lighted lamp to Father Mannath in a symbolic transfer of the responsibilities.

The National Secretary plays a key role in executing the CRI programs and policies based in the organization’s National Secretariat at New Delhi. A national team of religious, who are experts in various fields, assist him. The current team includes Holy Spirit Sister Karuna, Pauline Sister Claudette Miranda and Jesuit Father Jose Thachil, along with Mercy Luke, who is administrator and bursar. While sister Karuana heads social work department, Sister Claudette directs publications and Father Thachil is CRI program director.

The CRI is a network of 13 regional units with fulltime secretaries, and 160 local Units in every diocese across the country.Source: UCAN