Media Release

Mumbai, Mar 16: The Catholic Church in India should foster mercy and compassion urged Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and the archbishop of Bombay. The Cardinal was inaugurating the Bishops’ Joint Reflection Programme in Sarvodaya, Mumbai on March 13 and addressing 31 bishops from different dioceses of India who are participating in the programme.

Observing the fifth anniversary of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis on March 13, Cardinal Oswald remarked, “Pope Francis is a Pope of mercy, who draws people to the sacrament of reconciliation. Pope Francis is a Pope of the peripheries, who has a compassionate heart for the poor, and love and concern for the neglected and suffering.”

A thanksgiving Holy Mass was celebrated to mark the Papal anniversary. Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the main celebrant, the Apostolic Nuncio Giambattista Diquattro, the bishops,and the other concelebrants, prayed for the Universal Church and the Pope. The bishops also held a half-hour Eucharistic adoration to mark the day.

The Bishops’ Joint Reflection programme is organised by the CCBI for the bishops in two batches with the first batch from March 12 to 17 and the second batch from July 2 to 7, 2018 at Sarvodaya, Mumbai.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Giambattista Diquattro, Archbishop George Antonysamy, Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Archbishop Felix Machado, Bishop John Rodrigues, Fr Thomas Reddy, Fr Paul Moonjely, Fr Anthony Charanghat, Fr Nigel Barret, Roger Pereira, Conrad Saldanha and Dr M Kandasami animated the reflection programme conducted for the bishops.

The bishops received inputs on the following topics: Role of Papal Representative in our Country, Bishop’s Relationship with Priests, Religious and Laity, Formation of Seminarians, Priests and Lay People,Office Management: Archives and Documentation, Caritas India and Preparing Project for Funding Agencies, Conflict Management and Problem Solving Skills, Media Management; Public Relations and Press Conference, Ecumenism, Relations with Other Religions and Episcopal Ministry According to Pope Francis.

The bishops also went on a pilgrimage to Mount Mary Basilica, Bandra and recited the holy rosary and dedicated the dioceses in India to the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Mount.

The prelates also participated in the novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succourat St Michael’s Church, Mahim. The rector and parish community in Mahim accorded the bishops a traditional welcome. The Apostolic Nuncio blessed the thousands of the devotees gathered at the Mahim shrine with the Eucharistic Benediction.

The Bishops celebrated the Holy Mass at the Holy Name Cathedral, Mumbai and prayed for the Church in India and for the Archdiocese of Bombay. Giambattista Diquattro was the main celebrant at the Eucharist. Oswald Cardinal Gracias welcomed the Apostolic Nuncio and prelates to the archdiocese of Bombay.

The Bishops Joint Reflection programme was organised by the CCBI at the suggestion of the 29 Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, held in 2017 at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.