Addressing the national and local media persons, Rev Udumala Bala, chairman of CCBI Commission for Clergy and bishop of Warangal, Telangana, said that the theme for the 4-day conference is ‘Priest as a Minister of God mirrored in the person of Pope Francis.’
He also revealed that the main aim of the conference is to help diocesan priests in India to foster deeper understanding of priesthood and to promote a spirit of collegiality among priests and to foster deeper collaboration among priests themselves and between priests and bishops at the diocesan, regional and national levels.
The said conference will focus only the Latin diocesan priests of India, representing 131 dioceses, 275 participants and 13 regional bishops. The first national conference was held in Bangalore and it is held annually, beginning from 2001.
Elaborating about the CDPI, Rev Bala disclosed that it is an association of diocesan priests established by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).
He said that it started functioning as a unit of the CBCI Commission for Clergy since 2001.
On the inaugural day, with the theme ‘Jesus, the Good Shepherd’, the Apostolic Nuncio of India, Rev Salvatore Pennacchio will participate in the Eucharistic celebration at Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa.
On April 6, the president of CCBI and Archbishop of Mumbai, Cardinal Oswald Gracias will deliver the key-note address, followed by the presidential address by Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao. Present on the occasion were president of CDPI, Fr Philemon Doss, vice-president of CDPI, Fr John Crasta and executive secretary, Fr I Raymond Joseph.
