India: “The Chosen Encounter” Draws Thousands to a Living Experience of the Gospel in Mumbai

The Holy Cross Church grounds in Kurla, a suburb of Mumbai in western India, came alive on the evening of December 6 as nearly 4,000 faithful gathered for “The Chosen Encounter,” a Catholic faith experience inspired by the globally acclaimed television series The Chosen.

The gathering brought together clergy, religious, and lay faithful for an evening that seamlessly blended Scripture, worship, art, and digital evangelization. Through a powerful combination of audio-visual screenings, live dramatizations, dance, reflections, meditations, praise and worship, Eucharistic Adoration, and a Gospel music concert by the YU4C Band, scenes from the life of Jesus were vividly brought to life.

Five key Gospel moments from different seasons of The Chosen were screened during the programme, setting the stage for reflection and prayer:

1. Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well

2. The raising of Lazarus

3. The feeding of the five thousand, creatively enacted as more than 100 volunteers, dressed in biblical attire, distributed bread among the crowd, blending Scripture with contemporary engagement

4. Peter’s miraculous catch of fish

5. The healing of the woman with the issue of blood

Each screening was accompanied by the proclamation of a related biblical passage, followed by reflections shared by designated speakers, helping participants enter more deeply into the Gospel message.

In a special video message addressed to the Mumbai audience, Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in The Chosen, shared that God is using the series to draw people closer to Him. “We are made for love and made in love,” he said, inviting viewers to allow God to speak to their hearts. “Let His love transform you, and realise how much He delights in you.”

Addressing the gathering, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop-Emeritus of Bombay, shared his personal appreciation for The Chosen, highlighting the depth of research and storytelling behind the series. “By watching these scenes and listening to them, each one of us is called to respond, to relate, and to answer,” he said. “We are not merely gaining knowledge about Jesus; we are encountering Him. Jesus is timeless. Jesus is living. The purpose is not just information, but relationship, a relationship that transforms our lives.”

Also present was Ashish Nag, Country Manager of The Chosen India, along with other dignitaries. Speaking at the event, Ashish said the team’s mission is simple yet profound: “We want to make Jesus known.” He added that the series presents “the greatest story about the greatest person to the greatest number of people, in a language they understand.” He also announced that the crucifixion narrative from The Chosen is expected to be released as a feature film in theatres in 2027.

Representing the Youth Commission of the CCBI, Ajin Joseph encouraged participants to scan the QR code provided and share The Chosen with family and friends. Emphasising the call to digital evangelization, he said, “Every baptised person has a duty to work together. We need to become digital missionaries.”

A particularly prayerful moment marked the latter part of the evening as the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and a guided time of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration invited participants to examine their lives in the light of the Gospel scenes they had witnessed.

The enthusiastic turnout from Mumbai’s Catholic community and beyond reflected a deep spiritual hunger among the faithful. The atmosphere throughout the evening was both vibrant and reverent, a harmonious blend of devotion, worship, community spirit, and celebration, offering participants not merely a programme to watch, but a profound encounter to experience.