Indian Religious Communities Called to Renew Synodal Living through Listening and Collaboration

More than 100 religious sisters, priests, and brothers from various congregations gathered in Mumbai, western India, for an interactive session on “Synodal Congregations,” reflecting on how religious communities can deepen communion, participation, and mission in the spirit of synodality.

Organized by the Conference of Religious India (CRI) in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Bombay, the July 11 gathering was held at Carmel of St. Joseph School in Malad, Mumbai. The session was chaired by Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay, while the main input session was led by Sr. Rekha Chennattu, RA, Superior General of the Religious of the Assumption.

Drawing from the teachings of Pope Francis, the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality, Sacred Scripture, and the tradition of consecrated life, Sr. Rekha invited religious communities to view synodality not simply as a Church program or structure but as a way of living and being Church.

Presenting Pope Francis’ vision, she explained that synodality is a defining path for the Church in the third millennium, shaping how the Church understands its identity, governance, and missionary responsibility. She emphasized that synodality calls every baptized person to journey together with Christ by listening to the Holy Spirit and to one another.

Sr. Rekha noted that consecrated life already carries many elements of synodal living through common prayer, intercultural fraternity, shared responsibility, and communal discernment. Religious communities, she said, can offer a visible witness of communion to the wider Church, while remaining open to continual conversion and new ways of responding to God’s call.

Reflecting on mission, she reminded participants that the apostolate ultimately belongs to God. Religious are called to cooperate generously in God’s mission while maintaining freedom from personal ambitions, positions, and achievements. Such detachment, she said, allows communities to remain available to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Following the input session, participants were divided into 12 groups for a Conversation in the Spirit, a prayerful process of listening, reflection, and communal discernment. The groups discussed attitudes, relationships, and structures needed to strengthen synodal living within their congregations.

During the plenary sharing, participants highlighted the importance of building communities marked by deeper trust, collaboration, inclusive participation, and renewed missionary commitment.

The gathering concluded with a renewed commitment among religious leaders to continue the synodal journey through a culture of listening, shared discernment, lifelong formation, and co-responsibility.

Sr. Rekha Chennattu, R.A., is an Indian Catholic religious sister of the Religious of the Assumption, a theologian, Scripture scholar, educator, and speaker on synodality, consecrated life, leadership, and mission.