Regional Bishops and Secretaries Unite to Advance Mission 2033 in Ranchi

Ranchi, July 23, 2025 — In a significant step forward on the Church’s synodal journey, the Regional Bishops' Council of Jharkhand and Andamans (JHAAN-RBC) gathered at the Social Development Centre (SDC), Ranchi, on July 22 for a day of reflection and planning. Bishops from nine dioceses and regional secretaries from various commissions, desks, and offices united to shape strategies for implementing the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI)’s National Pastoral Plan, Mission 2033, within the context of the Jubilee Year 2025, themed “Pilgrims of Hope.”

The day’s deliberations centred on a key question guiding the Church’s pastoral direction: “Where is God calling the Church to be by 2033?” This enquiry, at the heart of the CCBI’s vision, encouraged deep reflection on the Church’s future mission.

Fr. Christopher Vimalraj, Associate Deputy Secretary of the CCBI, Bangalore, led the sessions with clarity and depth. He presented a thorough overview of the pastoral plan’s foundations, addressing contemporary concerns highlighted at the 36th CCBI Plenary Assembly in Bhubaneswar. He invited participants to engage in discernment rooted in the Holy Spirit, while offering practical guidance for implementing the plan across the region’s diverse dioceses.

A key focus of the gathering was the Church’s synodal orientation—emphasising listening, participation, and shared responsibility in mission. The discussions reflected the final synod document’s call for renewed missionary zeal and deeper collaboration among the baptised. Pope Francis’s reminder was at the heart of the dialogue: “We will never become a synodal and missionary Church unless parish communities are distinguished by the sharing of all the baptised in the one mission of proclaiming the Gospel.”

The bishops and regional secretaries engaged in meaningful conversations to adapt the broader goals of Mission 2033 to the regional context. Local challenges and opportunities were carefully considered to ensure alignment with national pastoral priorities while remaining responsive to grassroots realities. Special attention was given to concerns raised at the Bhubaneswar plenary, ensuring these were addressed through localised implementation strategies.

Guided spiritual conversation enabled participants to move from identifying problems to discerning actionable steps. This approach upheld the plan’s emphasis on collective participation and accountability at both diocesan and parish levels, nurturing a Church that walks together in mission.

Regional secretaries presented updates on commission activities for the 2024–25 pastoral year. These presentations promoted transparency and encouraged collaboration across diocesan boundaries. The session helped identify opportunities for resource-sharing and coordination, aligning each commission’s work with the objectives of Mission 2033 to strengthen the overall impact of pastoral efforts.

Fr. Valerian Lobo, Regional Deputy Secretary of JHAAN-RBC, played a vital role in coordinating the day’s proceedings. His meticulous planning ensured a seamless and focused experience, allowing participants to fully engage with both the spiritual and strategic dimensions of the gathering.

As the meeting concluded, participants departed with a renewed sense of clarity and commitment to their roles in implementing Mission 2033. The gathering successfully connected national pastoral vision with regional realities, offering a model for other CCBI regions to consider as they move forward on the synodal path.

This regional commitment unfolds within the larger framework of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, a time of grace, reconciliation, and renewal. The Jubilee invites Catholics to become “Pilgrims of Hope,” deepening their relationship with God, one another, and creation. In his Bull of Indiction, Spes non confundit, Pope Francis calls on the faithful to “fan the flame of hope that has been given us.”

The synodal journey, centred on listening and shared responsibility, provides the foundation for this renewed mission. Pope Leo XIV recently affirmed: “The synodal form of the Church is at the service of its mission, and any change in the life of the Church is intended to make it more capable of proclaiming the Kingdom of God and witnessing to the Gospel of the Lord to the men and women of our time.”

The JHAAN-RBC gathering exemplifies this spirit of unity and forward movement, offering a roadmap for mission rooted in hope and guided by the Spirit as the Church journeys toward 2033.

Regional Bishops and Secretaries Unite to Advance Mission 2033 in Ranchi

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