MANGALURU: The Diocese of Mangalore marked a significant presence at the first phase of the National Synodal Assembly 2026, held from May 1 to 3 at St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru. Led by Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, the diocesan delegation joined over 200 participants from across India to discern the future path of the Catholic Church under the theme, “Synodal Pilgrims of Hope.”
The delegation from Mangalore included Fr Vijay Machado (CCBI Commission for Catechetics), Fr Rudolf Pinto OCD (CCBI Commission for Liturgy), Fr Joachim Fernandes (Parish Priest, Kinnigoli), and Mr Nihan Sequeira (Communio Volunteer).
The three-day assembly, organized by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), focused on the global synodal process initiated by Pope Francis. The gathering emphasized “Spiritual Conversation”—a method of prayerful listening and communal discernment—to address the evolving needs of the Church and society.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI, inaugurated the assembly and presided over the solemn Eucharistic celebration. In his address, he urged the delegates to be courageous witnesses of the Gospel and highlighted the dignity of labor, coinciding with the feast of St Joseph the Worker on May 1.
The assembly identified four critical pastoral priorities for focused action:
Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding: Fostering harmony in a diverse society.
Inclusion of the Excluded: Reaching out to those on the margins of society.
Poverty and Integral Ecology: Addressing environmental concerns and the needs of the poor.
Accompanying Children and Youth: Strengthening the Church’s engagement with the younger generation.
These priorities are part of the CCBI’s strategic pastoral plan, Journeying Towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033, which looks forward to the Jubilee Year marking 2,000 years of Redemption.
The deliberations at the assembly will inform the next phase of consultations scheduled for September 2026, leading up to the 38th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI in January 2027. The Mangalore delegation’s participation underscores the diocese’s commitment to the national vision of a more collaborative, inclusive, and missionary Church.
