The Religious in northern India should seek ways to become more effective in their work to protect human rights and environment, says their newly elected leader Brother Laurence Abraham.

Some 25 Major Superiors representing their people working in three northern dioceses met July 31 in Delhi and elected a new team to lead their regional unit.

The meeting gathered some 40 people, Major Superiors and local unit CRI officials in the dioceses of Delhi, Shimla-Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir.

“We need to reach out more to the people,” said Brother Abraham, a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Brothers of St. Francis Assisi.

He said each congregation has its own concern about its institutions. But “we should try to come out of those ghettos” to work with the people.

Brother Abraham said he would like to see more “inter-congregational” wok in the region, especially in the fields of human rights and environmental protection.

Congregation together can set up, fund, and staff common centers that would work for such needs. He said the region needs work to empower people to defend their basic rights.

In the same way, the work to protect “our Mother Earth” is a need of the time. “We need to engage ourselves in such pressing issues that affect the lives of the people,” he said.

“Participative Mission towards the Kingdom” was the theme of the meeting, also attended by bishops of the three dioceses including Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi. The archbishop urged the gathering “not to count the cost in spreading the Kingdom.”

Brother Mani Mekkunnel, national secretary of CRI moderated the group discussions on three topics–Church as participatory Mission towards the Kingdom, involvement of Religious in the diocese and Religious life in the diocesan community.

The meeting also elected Sister Joyce Thadathil CFMSS, the vice president and Father Albert Fernandes SFX, the treasurer. The two councilors elected were Sister Maria Jose, SCJM and Sister Grace Chacko, PBVM.

The meeting appointed Sister Leena Fernandes SMI as secretary.

A special gratitude was expressed to Father John Ari for his dedicated service for the welfare of CRI North West Region for the last six years.

Reported By Sister Leena Fernandes SMI

Related posts:

1. Meerut CRI elects new office bearers
2. Vasai unit gets a new-look team
3. Western Region CRI gets a facelift
4. Look beyond congregations: Andhra CRI
5. Sister Fernandes new regional superior