National Meeting of the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism Held in Mysuru
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27-28 October 2026 | Catholic Centre, Mysuru.
The National Meeting of the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism was held on 27–28 October 2026 at Satyaniketan Catholic Centre, Mysuru. About 100 participants, including office bearers, National Council members, Regional Secretaries, Diocesan Secretaries of the Karnataka Region, and priests, religious and lay leaders of the Diocese of Mysore, gathered to reflect on the importance of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue in the context of the Church’s synodal journey in India.
The inaugural session on 27 October began with a prayer dance by the Bethany Novices, followed by the lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries, a Bible reading and opening prayer led by Fr. Maria Xavier, and a welcome dance by the CSST candidates from Avila Convent. Fr. Anthaiah Kondaveeti, National Secretary, welcomed the gathering, while Fr. Arul Selva Kumar, Coordinator of the Diocesan Commissions of Mysore, offered felicitations.
In his keynote address, Most Rev. Francis Serrao, S.J., Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism, emphasised the need to cultivate an ecumenical culture through prayer and dialogue, enabling Christians to become credible witnesses in a divided world. Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath, Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Mandya, highlighted the importance of fostering Christian unity without prejudice towards other Churches and religions, and of working together to address common human concerns and promote social harmony.
The morning session, moderated by Fr. Denis D’Sa of the Diocese of Udupi, a member of the National Council, featured two presentations by Fr. Dr. Vincent Sekhar, S.J. The first, “The Synodal Journey of Ecumenical Dialogue,” highlighted the need to build relationships among Christian Churches through listening, trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to unity. The second, “The Synodal Journey of Inter-religious Dialogue,” focused on respectful engagement with people of different religious traditions and the role of dialogue in promoting peace, social harmony and the common good. Both presentations were followed by interactive discussions.
The afternoon session, moderated by Bishop Francis Serrao, began with a prayer for Christian unity, followed by a panel discussion with representatives of various Christian traditions, including the Orthodox, CSI, Methodist, Assemblies of God and Pentecostal Churches. The interaction provided an opportunity for participants to raise concerns, exchange ideas and explore practical ways to strengthen ecumenical collaboration.
Sr. Clarice AC, a member of the National Council, proposed the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the resource person, participants, pastors, representatives of other Churches and sponsors, particularly the Diocese of Mysore for hosting the meeting. In the evening, Bishop Francis Serrao presided over the Holy Eucharist, with the minor seminarians of the Diocese of Mysore participating and the Franciscan brothers leading the choir.
The second day, 28 October, began with the Holy Eucharist at 7.00 a.m., presided over by Most Rev. Aplinar Senapati, C.M., Bishop of Rayagada and a member of the Commission. The deliberations resumed at 9.00 a.m. with an opening prayer, followed by the presentation of the Commission’s annual report by the National Secretary and reports from the Regional Secretaries.
The participants reviewed the implementation of the CCBI Pastoral Plan, assessed ongoing ecumenical activities and discussed future priorities and plans. In their concluding remarks, the Chairman and the Member Bishop encouraged the Regional Secretaries to take a keen interest in building meaningful relationships with Christians of other traditions and people of other religions, recognising the importance of these relationships in today’s society.
Towards the end, the National Secretary thanked all those who contributed to the success of the meeting, with special appreciation for the Diocese of Mysore and in particular Bishop Francis Serrao and Satyaniketan Catholic Centre for their generous hospitality. Each participant was presented with a specially designed bag bearing the logo of the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism.
The two-day meeting provided a valuable opportunity for national and regional representatives, together with the clergy, religious and lay leaders of the Diocese of Mysore, to deepen their understanding of ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue and to identify practical ways of advancing these ministries in the context of synodality in the Church in India.
