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| Conference of Religious of India | |
|---|---|
| Name | Conference of Religious of India |
| Formation | 1970s |
| Type | Religious organization |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
| Region served | India |
| Leader title | President |
Conference of Religious of India is a national assembly representing Catholic religious institutes and congregations across India, coordinating efforts among Catholic Catholic Church in India, Jesuits, Salesians of Don Bosco, Missionaries of Charity, Dominican Order, Franciscan Order, Benedictines, Carmelites, Redemptorists, Claretian Missionaries, Salesian Sisters, Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary, Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy, Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, Pallottines, Marist Brothers, Society of the Divine Word, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Congregation of Holy Cross, Little Sisters of the Poor, Society of Mary, Xavier Institute, Notre Dame Educational Association, All India Christian Council, Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, Vatican, Holy See, Pope Francis.
The organization's origins trace to post‑Second Vatican Council developments when national bodies such as Vatican II initiatives influenced formation of national religious conferences including counterparts to Conference of European Provincials, Union of Superior Generals models seen in Rome, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kerala, Goa, Pune, Hyderabad, Vellore. Early meetings involved leaders from Jesuit Provinces of India, Salesian Provinces, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, Daughters of St Paul, Sisters of Providence, Sisters of Notre Dame, Missionaries of Charity and drew support from institutions like St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, St. Joseph's College, Bangalore, St. Thomas College, Thrissur, Christ University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The Conference developed through collaboration with national bodies such as Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, National Council of Churches in India, All India Catholic Union, Caritas India, National Commission for Women (India), responding to events including Emergency (India, 1975), Assam Agitation, Indian Reorganisation, and public crises like 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, 2001 Gujarat earthquake. Over decades it engaged with international forums including Caritas Internationalis, Vatican Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life, International Union of Superiors General, Union of Superiors General.
The Conference is organized into regional zones mirroring civil states and ecclesial provinces such as the Archdiocese of Bombay, Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore, Diocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Diocese of Jalandhar, Archdiocese of Lucknow, Diocese of Darjeeling, Diocese of Shimla–Chandigarh, Archdiocese of Delhi, Diocese of Patna, Archdiocese of Ranchi, Diocese of Shillong, Archdiocese of Agra. Governance includes an executive council with positions comparable to those in Catholic Bishops' Conference of India and committees modeled after structures in Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Subcommittees coordinate with institutions such as Caritas India, Indian Social Institute, National Commission for Minorities (India), National Dalit Christians Forum and liaise with academic centers like Xavier School of Management, Madras Christian College, St. Joseph's College (Trichy).
Membership comprises male and female religious institutes recognized under canonical law, including major congregations: Society of Jesus, Salesians of Don Bosco, Missionaries of Charity, Order of Preachers, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Sisters of Charity, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters), Society of the Divine Word, Congregation of Holy Cross, Pallottines, Marianites of Holy Cross, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Montfort Fathers, Sisters of St Joseph of Chambéry, Missionaries of St Francis Xavier (Pilar Fathers), Claretian Missionaries. Affiliation also extends to local congregations active in regions including Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh.
Programs include pastoral initiatives parallel to efforts by Caritas India, educational collaborations with institutions such as St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, Notre Dame of Maryland University (partnerships), and social service projects reminiscent of Mother Teresa’s work with the Missionaries of Charity. Health initiatives coordinate with hospitals like Christian Medical College Vellore, St John's Medical College, St. Stephen's Hospital, Lady Harding Medical College and disaster response mirrors operations by National Disaster Management Authority (India) and Red Cross Society of India. Development projects work alongside Jesuit Social Services, Christian Aid (UK), CAFOD, Caritas Internationalis and connect with legal support from organizations such as People’s Union for Civil Liberties, National Legal Services Authority.
Advocacy efforts address rights issues in partnership with bodies like National Commission for Minorities (India), National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Human Rights Commission (India), Amnesty International India and civil society movements including Right to Information movement, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan. The Conference engages in interfaith dialogue with Parliament of the World's Religions affiliates, dialogues involving leaders from Buddhist Society of India, Ramakrishna Mission, ISKCON, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Bishnoi community representatives, and collaborates on policy matters with Ministry of Home Affairs (India), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, National Commission for Women (India).
Formation programs draw on models from Pontifical Gregorian University, Pontifical Urbaniana University, Jadavpur University partnerships, seminaries and houses of formation linked to St. Peter's Seminary (Kolkata), St. Joseph's Seminary (Mangalore), Sacred Heart Seminary (Pune), catechetical programs influenced by Gaudium et Spes and resources from Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education. The Conference supports teacher training at colleges like Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, Stella Maris College, Chennai, Lady Doak College, Madurai, and runs formation workshops akin to programs at Jesuit Institute India, Caritas Leadership Academy.
Leaders and conveners have included prominent superiors and members associated with Mother Teresa, Bishop Felix Machado, Archbishop Oswald Gracias, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop M. Chalil, Fr. A. Varkey, Sr. Thattil Mary, and others who participated in national consultations similar to synods convened at Vatican and assemblies referenced by Synod of Bishops (Catholic Church), conferences held in venues like St. John’s National Academy, Christ the King Cathedral (Karnataka), and events coinciding with national milestones such as Republic Day (India), Independence Day (India), and responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Category:Catholic Church in India