From 30th May to 1st June 2025, Seva Kendra Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kolkata came alive with the warmth of fellowship and the joy of shared mission. The event was a gathering of Lay Partners in Mission from the North and North-East Mission Zones of the Redemptorist Province of Bangalore, marking a significant milestone in the collaborative journey between Redemptorists and lay collaborators.
The gathering, spearheaded by Frs. Mukul Mondol and Sanjay Kujur, C.Ss.R., brought together 47 enthusiastic lay participants representing six parishes across the mission zones, alongside 10 Redemptorist confreres. These lay partners came not merely as guests, but as fellow missionaries—people inspired by the Redemptorist charism and committed to the evangelization of the poor and most abandoned in their regions.
Deepening Charism and Communion
The core purpose of the gathering was to build communion and collaboration. The event served as an opportunity for the lay partners to get to know one another, grow in understanding of the Redemptorist spirituality, and appreciate the legacy of the Redemptorist Saints, Blessed, and Martyrs. More than a seminar, it was a spiritual and fraternal experience that aimed at fostering a shared sense of identity and mission.
The programme began on a spiritually uplifting note with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided over by Fr. Pradeep Mondol, C.Ss.R., who, in his homily, underlined the vocation of laypeople as essential partners in the Church’s mission. He reminded participants that the call to evangelize the poor and abandoned is not limited to priests and religious but is a shared responsibility of all baptized members of the Church. This Eucharistic celebration set the tone for a weekend of inspiration, learning, and mutual enrichment.
Encounter, Learning, and Inspiration
In order to help participants warm up to one another and build bonds across parish boundaries, Fr. Samir Kujur, C.Ss.R., led a series of ice-breaker activities that were as engaging as they were meaningful. These initial interactions laid the groundwork for trust and collaboration that would grow over the next few days.
The input sessions were thoughtfully designed and dynamically presented by Frs. Ignace Dungdung, Anthony Chacko, Mukul Mondol and Sanjay Kujur, C.Ss.R., who led the group through a series of reflections and presentations on:
- A Brief History of the Redemptorist Congregation
- The History and Mission of the Province of Bangalore
- The Lives of Redemptorist Saints, Blessed, and Martyrs
- Redemptorist Spirituality and Charism
- The Apostolic Mission of the Congregation
- The Role of Lay Partners in the Redemptorist Mission
Special emphasis was laid on helping lay partners discern their own role in the shared mission—how they can animate parish communities, lead small Christian communities, participate in youth and social outreach ministries, and become agents of mission in their localities.
Planning for the Future
One of the key outcomes of the gathering was to inspire concrete pastoral action. Toward the conclusion of the event, the participants planned their activities for the next year.
This planning helped to ensure that the spiritual enthusiasm generated during the weekend would bear lasting fruit in daily parish life.
A Touch of Grace and History
As the gathering drew to a close, the group set out on a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata, one of the most powerful modern witnesses to the Gospel lived among the poor. Standing at the sacred site of her burial, the participants prayed for the strength to follow Christ with simplicity, service, and selflessness.
This spiritual visit was followed by trips to several historic and cultural landmarks in Kolkata, enriching the participants’ experience and grounding their spiritual mission in the broader history of faith and service in India.
A Family of Missionaries
Among the Redemptorist confreres present and actively contributing to the success of the gathering were:
- Fr. Prakash Lakra (Taherpur)
- Frs. Pradeep Mondol, Satish Makhal, and Anthony Chacko (Kolkata)
- Fr. Ranjit Minj (Burigora)
- Fr. Samir Kujur (Kalunga)
- Fr. Ignace Dungdung (Pandripani)
- Fr. Anthony Soy (Kemtatoli)
Their presence, guidance, and encouragement throughout the sessions offered the participants a tangible connection to the missionary heart of the Congregation.
Looking Ahead with Hope
The Gathering of Lay Partners in Mission reminded everyone involved that mission is not a solitary journey but a shared path of witness, service, and fraternity. The gathering planted seeds that will grow into ongoing collaboration between Redemptorists and lay partners, ultimately enriching the Church’s mission in the North and Northeast zones of India.
As the participants returned to their home parishes, they carried with them not only knowledge but renewed zeal—a commitment to be light in their communities and to walk with the Redemptorists in proclaiming the Good News to the most abandoned.
Fr. Sanjay Kujur, C.Ss.R.
