INDIAN CATHOLIC FORUM

(A collective of concerned Indian Catholics for Church Reform & National Integration)

 

INVITATION FOR

JOURNEYING TOGETHER – THE PATH AHEAD

 

AN INTRODUCTION: The Indian Catholic Forum was reconstituted in February 2019 as a consequence of the national consultation “We Too Are Church” (V2RC), held in Kolkata. It has the two fold objective of reforming and renewing the Catholic Church from within, and addressing issues of national importance that affect the Christian community in India. The members of the Core Committee are mentioned at the bottom of this invitatory letter. As a follow up we had organized V2RC II in Kerala in February 2020. Unfortunately, we had to cancel it at the eleventh hour as Corona had already entered Kerala by then.

SYNOD ON SYNODALITY 2021-23: In response to Pope Francis’ worldwide call for a Synod on Synodality (Journeying Together) we are organising a National Consultation as per details below. We shall be following the Synodal Guidelines of Coming Together – Praying – Sharing – Listening – Dialoguing – Recording – Synthesising. As per the Guidelines we shall prepare a ten-page synthesis (not necessarily consensus) of the findings/ recommendations of this Consultation to be sent to the Synod Secretariat in the Vatican and will share it with the ecclesial community in India, as well as internationally. While the Guidelines provide for a parish – diocesan – national – continental – universal approach to the Synod, they also provide for Lateral Interventions by concerned organizations. This Consultation shall be one such Lateral Intervention.

In the spirit of the Synod there will be no chief guests, ceremonials or keynote speakers, as is the norm. All participants will be treated equally. The programme details are as below:

PROGRAMME DETAILS:

Dates: From 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 5^th February to 10.00 a.m. Monday 7^th February 2022 (two full days).

Venue: Nava Spoorthi Kendra (run by the Redemptorists), 9/1 Cookson Road, Bangalore – 560084. Phone numbers (emergency only) 8025498010/20). This is situated 35 kms from the airport, 4 km from Cantt Railway Station, 500 mts form Bangalore East Station, 9 kms from the city bus stand. Important landmark is Holy Ghost Church.

Registration Charges: Rs 2500/- per person for 2 full days, including meals, all overheads and single non AC room with attached bath (Bangalore does not require AC at that time of the year). For those with a limited budget they may opt for Dormitory accommodation for which the charges would be Rs 2100/- all inclusive.

Participants: We welcome all Catholics (laity, clergy, religious, bishops) to attend. We also welcome ecumenically minded Christians from sister churches. Special efforts should be made to ensure maximum participation of women and youth (above 18 years of age).

Registration: Please see the attached Registration Form and carefully follow the instructions. In case of any clarifications regarding the programme please contact chhotebhai (Mob No 9415130822, email noronha.kp@gmail.com). For further information regarding registration, travel and accommodation please contact Anil Piers, Organizing Secretary, (Mob 9980326064, email ). The Registration Charges of Rs 2500/ 2100 may please be sent to Anil Piers by bank transfer favouring David Anil Piers, SB A/c No 009110011009344, Union Bank of India, Cookstown Bangalore Urban Branch, IFSC Code: UBIN0800911. Those arriving early or leaving later would have to pay additional food/ room charges as per actual costs, to the Institute. After filling up the Registration Form please scan it and send it to Anil Piers aforesaid.

We look forward to having you with us. 

chhotebhai (Kanpur)                                                                           Anil Piers (Bangalore)                         

       Convenor                                                                                 Organizing Secretary                                             

    9415130822                                                                                          9980326064                                                             

noronha.kp@gmail.com                                                                   anil.piers@deejayfarm.com                     

 

Swami Sachidananda Bharathi (Kochi)                                        Rev Dr Subhash Anand (Udaipur)

               Advisor                                                                                           Advisor

           8281874941                                                                                       8875128228

 swamisachidananda@gmail.com                                                        43subhash@gmail.com

 

Core Committee Members

 

Angelina Jasnani (Kolkata)               Blaise Costabir (Margao)                        David Lobo (Bangalore)

               9830038257                               9823013108                                        9742332791

angelinajasnani@gmail.com                blaise@gmizm.com                        davidlobo@deejayfarm.com

 

F.A. Nathan (Chennai)                         Isaac Gomes (Kolkata)             James Sylvester (Hyderabad)          

       9840231914                                    9830440603                                             8332812017

 fanathan@gmail.com                 isaac25gomes@gmail.com              jamessylvester.1325@gmail.com

 

Mathew Mathai (Kaasargod)     Romesh Niven, Adv (Ahmedabad)       S.John Bosco, Dr (Coimbatore)                                                     

         9446988866                                       9427304356                                        9445266196

 nocermathew@gmail.com          romesh.niven@gmail.com                  dr_priyajohn2004@yahoo.co.in                

 

 

Salam Irene, Dr (Imphal)                    Jude D’Souza (Vadodra)                       Atul Almeida, Adv (Vasai)

       9366018323                                      9426531618                                         9673881982

  drsalamirene27@gmail.com              jude_dsz@yahoo.com                          atulalmeida@yahoo.co.in