India: Conference of Religious India-Goa chapter holds its 18th Major Superiors' meeting

The 18th Major Superiors' Meeting was held at the Pilar Pilgrim Centre in Pilar on Pilgrims of Hope on Synodal Pathway by the Conference of Religious India (CRI) – Goa chapter.

The gathering was attended by major superiors from a variety of religious congregations that serve in the western Indian Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.

Religious leaders in India are brought together by the national organization CRI. Its objectives include sharing resources, assisting religious leaders in deepening their commitment and collaborating with the laity to tackle shared challenges that impact the church and society.

Fr. Nazareth Fernandes, Superior General of the Society of Pilar, Sr. Bromadine Palokaran, Provincial Superior of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod of Pune Province, and Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão of Goa and Daman graced the event.

The assembly approved the minutes from the previous year's meeting, which were delivered by Sr. Livia Nunes, Secretary of CRI (Goa).

The presentation on "For A Synodal Church – Communion, Participation & Mission," the concluding document of the Second Session of the Synod, was the meeting's theme.

The conversation was led by Cardinal Ferrão. Fr. Eugene D'Silva CSSR (Part III: Casting the Net), Sr. Flory Rodrigues FMCK (Part I: The Heart of Synodality), and Sr. Ayres Raimondo (Part II: In the Boat Together) were on the team.

After introducing the subject, the cardinal related his Synod experience, stressing the value of treating one another with respect and equality. He also stated that the conversion was necessary.

In October of 2023 and October of 2024, Rome hosted the 166th Ordinary Synod of Bishops.

"Fundamental challenge of Synodality is the need to change relationships- toward mutual respect, acceptance, and recognition of the dignity of every baptized disciple," the cardinal added.

He said that the Synod's Final Document will support the Church's mission renewal at every new stage.  

He explained that the document is the result of a three-year process that started in 2021 and is not just the result of the most recent Synodal session.

The journey, which comprised numerous meetings at different levels inside dioceses worldwide, was based on the preparatory text “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.”

"Five important groups participated in the Synodal process in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman: the clergy, religious men and women, laity, youth, and the former," the cardinal stated.

Every diocese prepared and presented its diocesan synthesis. Consultations at the national level ensued, leading to the submission of a national synthesis to Rome.

Contributions from across the world were received during this procedure, which resulted in the production of more documents. To integrate the findings from the numerous Asian conferences, Continental Assemblies were then assigned the responsibility of sending their reports to Rome. This ultimately led to the creation of “How to Be a Synodal Church in Mission,” the Synod's first working document.

The publishing of the Synthesis Report, A Synodal Church in Mission, and the second working document for the second session of the Synod, "How to Be a Missionary Synodal Church," were later phases of the journey.

With the initial title, "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission," the final document, released following the second session, revisits the topics that started the journey.

Fr. Pedro Rodrigues, Provincial Superior of the Goa Province of the Society of Jesus, led a spiritual dialogue session during the Goa CRI meeting.

Different communities shared their thoughts, encouraging more in-depth discussion and comprehension.

Pope Francis's Bull of Induction for the Jubilee Year, "Spes Non Confundit" (Hope does not disappoint, Rom 5:5), was introduced by Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.