The Archdiocese of Guwahati in northeast India successfully held its 24th Pastoral Conference on September 16 at the Jubilee Memorial Hall of the Northeast Social Forum. A total of 287 participants attended, including Archbishop John Moolachira, members of the Archdiocesan Curia and Tribunal Council, as well as priests, religious, and lay representatives.
Despite persistent rain, the conference began in the morning with a brief inaugural session, setting a reflective and purposeful tone for the day’s proceedings.
Focus on Liturgy
The first major session, on liturgy, was led by Fr. Raphael Maiong, former Regional Secretary for Liturgy. He stressed the importance of adhering strictly to liturgical norms and highlighted key directives:
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Mass readings must always be taken from the official Lectionary; alternative sources such as the Good News Bible or Bible diaries should not be used.
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Gestures such as extending hands during the penitential rite and before the Gospel should be avoided by priests, as these are specific liturgical and ministerial acts.
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Regarding the processional cross, Fr. Maiong explained in response to Archbishop Moolachira’s query that it should remain in the sacristy, since an additional altar crucifix is unnecessary when a large crucifix is already present.
He recommended that priests be provided with copies of the directives on liturgy and urged them to review the appendix for essential dos and don’ts.
Book Launch and Student Recognition
Following the liturgical session, Archbishop Moolachira released the fifth book of Fr. Dr. M.D. Joseph, For the Common Good: Convergence of Thoughts in Our Scientific World.
Fr. Alex, Secretary of the Archdiocesan Education Commission, then honored ten outstanding students for their academic achievements. Toppers from Class 10 received ₹20,000 each, while those from Class 12 were awarded ₹30,000 each.
Sessions on Marriage and Laity Rights
After the tea break, canonist Fr. K.D. Joy delivered a lecture on the sacramental nature of marriage, touching on government requirements for marriage registration.
In the afternoon, a panel of archdiocesan and Salesian canonists discussed the rights and obligations of the laity in relation to temporal goods. Fr. Raj Kapoor, Financial Administrator of the Archdiocese, explained the ten obligatory collections mandated by the universal Church and encouraged generosity among both priests and laity.
Concluding Reflections
The conference concluded with Archbishop Moolachira’s pastoral appeal to evangelization through prayer. He invited participants to submit prayer request cards with the names of 20 non-Christians for whom they would commit to pray. “If Jesus touches their hearts, they may become believers in Him,” he reminded, emphasizing the missionary mandate of the faithful.
Fr. K.D. Joy then guided the group in a recollection titled Mystery Hidden Through the Ages. He reflected on the community’s struggles in the country, urging participants to unite their sufferings to Christ for the conversion of others. Quoting the Gospel, he reminded: “Blessed are you when people insult you… because you are my followers.”
The day concluded with Eucharistic adoration, confessions, and a fellowship dinner, leaving participants spiritually enriched and renewed in their mission.
(Fr. Kampan Chinnam is the Secretary of Northeast Social Communication (NESCOM), India. He contributes news and articles to several national and international platforms.)
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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