CCBI for catechetical animation at the national level.
Commission for Catechetics
It is by all means necessary that every National Conference of Bishops has a permanent catechetical structure. The Commission for Catechetics of the CCBI serves as the permanent executive structure for catechetical animation at the national level. It has a clearly structured programme of catechetical renewal approved by the CCBI. It works out with the regions a basic plan for catechetical activities, which can and must be inculturated locally since the Particular Church – the diocese – is the discerning body for this adaptation. It serves the regions and dioceses by information about initiatives in different parts of the nation and by coordinating programmes through publications, meetings, congresses, etc. At the national level, it integrates its ministries with other nationwide pastoral activities and related CBCI organizations like the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC). It serves as a liaison with the Universal Church through regular contacts with the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, which serves the Church’s catechetical needs internationally by contacts with catechetical commissions and institutes around the world.
Our Vision
Community of disciples that meaningfully live, celebrate, share and witness faith in Jesus Christ
Our Mission
To strengthen the faith of our Christian communities and to help them to bring it to maturity for the transformation of the society
Our Objectives
- To encourage the re-evangelizing process drawing inspiration from baptismal catechumenate;
- To promote catechesis for the various age groups: Adults, youth and children;
- To promote catechesis in various settings: Parishes, Institutions and Families;
- To enhance the professional competence of those involved in the catechetical ministry by equipping them with the knowledge and the skills necessary through short and long term catechetical courses;
- To see that Catechetics is given importance in the priestly formation;
- To ensure that certain amount of money is spent for Catechetics in the dioceses;
- To promote the culture of modern means of communication in catechesis at national, regional and diocesan levels.
Our Objectives
- To encourage the re-evangelizing process drawing inspiration from baptismal catechumenate;
- To promote catechesis for the various age groups: Adults, youth and children;
- To promote catechesis in various settings: Parishes, Institutions and Families;
- To enhance the professional competence of those involved in the catechetical ministry by equipping them with the knowledge and the skills necessary through short and long term catechetical courses;
- To see that Catechetics is given importance in the priestly formation;
- To ensure that certain amount of money is spent for Catechetics in the dioceses;
- To promote the culture of modern means of communication in catechesis at national, regional and diocesan levels.
Brief History of Commission
The Commission based activities in the national level began in 1967 under the aegis of Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) for the three sui iuris Churches in India. Since then Catechetical Commission was combined with Bible and Liturgy. For the activities of these three commissions National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) at Bangalore was established. After the birth of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) in 1988, the Commission for Liturgy was separated from Bible and Catechetics. In the Plenary Assembly of CCBI in 2007, the need was felt to separate the Commission for Catechetics from the Commission for Bible. Thus in the year 2007, the Commission for Catechetics was formed and has become one of the vibrant Commissions under the aegis of CCBI.
The Commission has a three member team of Bishops, a Chairman and two member Bishops, elected by the General Assembly of Bishops and an Executive Secretary, appointed by the CCBI, to assist the Commission Bishops, residing at CCBI Centre at Bangalore. The Commission published the National Catechetical Directory on 3 February 2015, when Bishop Antony Devotta was the Chairman of the Commission. The publication of the Catechetical Directory is the land mark in the history of catechesis in India.
Chairman
Most Rev. George Palliparambil
Former Chairmen
Most Rev. Antony Devotta
Trichy
2007 – 2015
Most Rev. Thomas Ignatius Macwan
Gandhinagar
2015 – 2023
Most Rev. George Palliparambil
Bishop of Miao
2023 -
Executive Secretary:
Rev. Fr. Duming Gonsalves
Former Secretaries
Rev. Dr. Jayapalan Raphael:
2007 – 2011
Rev. Dr. Laurence Culas:
2011 – 2015
Rev. Fr. Duming Gonsalves
2015 –
Member
Most Rev. Anand Jojo
Most Rev. Rayarala Vijaya Kumar
Commission for Catechetics
Anna Lewis
Alice White
Nick Carter
Robert Jones
David Green
Community of disciples that meaningfully live, celebrate, share and witness faith in Jesus Christ
Our Mission is to strengthen the faith of our Christian communities and to help them to bring it to maturity for the transformation of the society
Former Chairman
Most Rev. Antony Devotta
Trichy: 2007 – 2015
Most Rev. Thomas Ignatius Macwan
Gandhinagar: 2015 -
Former Secretaries
Rev. Dr. Jayapalan Raphael
2007 – 2011.
Rev. Dr. Laurence Culas
2011 – 2015
Most Rev. Antony Devotta
2015 –