The Meeting of the Joint Provincial/Vice Provincial Councils of the three Units of India was held on the 17th and 18th July 2025 at NSK in Bangalore in India. This annual meeting took special significance this year as the Confederation of India, consisting of the 3 Units of India (Bangalore, Liguori, and Majella) will be inaugurated by Decree on the 20th of July 2025, the Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer. The meeting was attended by Fr Rogerio Gomes, C.Ss.R., Superior General, Fr Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R., Consultor General and Fr Joakim Ndelo, C.Ss.R., Conference Coordinator for the Conference of Asia Oceania. The 3 Councils of the Provinces of Bangalore and Liguori and the Vice Province of Majella were also present.
Fr Rogerio Gomes in his homily at the inaugural mass stressed the fact that the Congregation belongs to the Holy Spirit and not to any one confrere or group of confreres and that the Holy Spirit constantly accompanies the Congregation, guides and leads it forward for mission. He stressed the importance of working together as One Body for the new Confederation about to be launched always for mission open to the working of the Holy Spirit with the courage to take bold decisions for the mission of the Congregation offering Hope and Plentiful Redemption to the poor and most abandoned.
The meeting took up the newly approved Statutes of the Confederation as well as the Decree on Territories presented by Fr Ivel Mendanha and then spent time in studying the documents with time for sharing and a plenum. The Assembly then assumed the various topics on Common Mission and Common Formation in the Confederation. The Assembly then chose the members for the various Secretariats and Commissions of the Confederation and worked on a time plan for the newly constituted Secretariats and Commissions to meet and present plans for short term and long-term projects for Common Mission and Common Formation in the Confederation.
On the second day, Fr Ivel stressed the importance of being apostles of Mercy as the antidote to clericalism which is the poison destroying the very fabric of Religious life today and called on the members and the new Confederation to embrace the Gospel of Mercy as the way for proclaiming plentiful Redemption. The Assembly also took up the Ration Formationis for the Confederation and handed it over to the Board of the Confederation to pass it and send it to the General Government for approval. Other matters were taken up as well during this day in preparation for the two days of Seminar on Mission in preparation for the Inauguration of the Confederation of India which will see many confreres from all 3 units present and participating.
Fr General, Fr Ivel and Fr Joakim spent time with each Provincial and Vice Provincial Council sharing and listening to the members and encouraging them as they move forward as One Missionary Body of the Congregation in India.
The entire Assembly thanked Fr Edward, the Provincial of Bangalore for hosting the meeting and his Council for organising the meeting and the Assembly on Mission as well as the Inauguration of the Confederation of India.
Fr. Shane Varghese, C.Ss.R.
Confederation of India
