The 29th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) is scheduled to be held from January 31 to February 8, at the Pastoral Centre, Ashaniketan Campus, Bhopal.
The Archdiocese of Bhopal under the leadership of its Metropolitan Archbishop leo Cornelio SVD is hosting the assembly. The Assembly will deliberate on the theme ‘Promoting the Joy of love in Our Families’ and will chalk out detailed programmes and action plans to revitalise the family apostolate at the diocesan and parish levels.
The Assembly will begin on Tuesday, January 31, with a solemn Eucharistic celebration and the inaugural meeting will be presided over by His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the President of the CCBI, the FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences) and the Archbishop of Mumbai.
His Eminence lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri, Secretary General, Synod of Bishops, lawrence Pius Dorairaj, Chairman, CCBI Commission for Family and Bishop of Dharmapuri, Donald and Maureen Xavier from Hyderabad; PA Edwin and Nimmy Marteena from Chennai; Colin Camiano from Bangalore; Elias and Catherine lyngdohfrom Shillong; Ishwar and Mrs Penny Bajaj from Mumbai; Biju Cheriyath from Bangalore; Patrick and Christina Ganawa from Jhabua; Joseph and Mrs. Assunta Minj from Bhopal and Fr Jomy Jacob from Jabalpur diocese will address the Bishops on various aspects in ‘Promoting the Joy of love in Our Families’.
The theme of the Assembly “Promoting the Joy of love in Our Families” is the follow up of the ‘Pastoral Plan for the Church in India’, promulgated on 8th December, 2013, in which the safe-guarding of the family is identified as one of the pastoral priorities of the Church in India. Notably, (CCBI) is the Canonical National Episcopal Conference.
It is the largest Bishops Conference in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. It consists of 132 dioceses and has 182 bishops.