About 150 religious, priests and lawyers gathered at Trinity College Campus in Jalandhar, Punjab, northern India, on October 22–23 for a national-level program organized by the National Legal Forum for Religious and Priests (NLFRP), focusing on legal advocacy, the protection of human life and the contribution of Church personnel to nation building.
Held under the theme “Evolving Role of the NLFRP in Nation Building,” the gathering provided a platform for participants to discuss legal awareness, coordination among Church legal networks and initiatives to promote justice and human dignity.
The program opened on October 22 with a procession and a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Archbishop Francis Kalist of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. Bishop Ivan Pereira of Jammu-Srinagar delivered the homily.
During the inaugural session, Bishop Jose Sebastian of Jalandhar delivered the welcome address. Messages from bishops and Fr. Rajan of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India’s (CBCI) Office for Justice, Peace and Development emphasized collaboration, justice and responsible engagement in society.
Archbishop Kalist led a session on “Understanding the Pro-Life View,” inviting participants to reflect on the dignity and value of human life and the implications of a pro-life perspective for their work.
The program continued with discussions on the formation and functioning of legal cells and coordination among the NLFRP, the CBCI Office for Justice, Peace and Development, and state-level legal forums.
State-wise presentations allowed participants to share their activities, experiences and initiatives, while discussions explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation and respond more effectively to legal concerns.
The gathering also included the NLFRP’s General Body Meeting. National Secretary Adv. Sr. Sheeba Paul presented the secretary’s report, followed by discussions on the audited accounts, the proposed dissolution of the existing trust and the admission of new members.
Adv. Sr. Jyoti Mary proposed the vote of thanks.
Regional bonding sessions, planning discussions and experience-sharing concluded the program, giving participants opportunities to strengthen relationships and identify areas for future collaboration.
The two-day meeting sought to reinforce coordinated legal initiatives among religious, priests and lawyers, particularly in promoting justice, protecting human dignity and raising legal awareness. It also highlighted the importance of cooperation between national and state-level Church bodies in addressing legal challenges and contributing to the common good.
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