Nagpur Archdiocese seeks new culture of working, governing

NAGPUR, Maharashtra (Indian Catholic News) — The Archdiocese of Nagpur is developing a new culture of working and governing through community-based mission, collaboration, training and people-led development.

The approach is outlined in its ongoing Apostolic Pastoral Plan for 2022-2030, which calls for a shift from institution-based ministry toward an all-inclusive, community-based mission and greater collaboration among the Church’s various ministries and institutions.

The plan says the Church must change and grow as the world evolves, noting that change can help it remain relevant, encourage innovation, develop skills, improve opportunities and increase efficiency.

One of the central shifts is from “Institution (Church) based ministry to community-based all-inclusive mission work such as Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC).”

The archdiocese also intends to move beyond a primarily charitable approach by increasing awareness among people of their rights and government provisions. “The diocese will play a facilitating role” in linking communities with state policies, programs and government schemes.

The plan also calls for ongoing training to strengthen stakeholders’ understanding of laws, policies and programs. It proposes moving away from a “compartmentalized approach” among ministries, commissions, institutions, congregations, parishes and diocesan administration.

Collaboration and shared responsibility

The new approach emerged from a yearlong synodal process involving clergy, religious and lay faithful. The plan says all stakeholders were expected to “participate, contribute, and develop a collective plan document” with goals, objectives, strategies and activities.

The synodal process involved 58 diocesan priests, 111 religious priests, 567 religious sisters, 15 religious brothers and 800 lay faithful, including youth, either directly or indirectly. Delegates used “active listening, intentional speaking and spiritual conversation” to support discernment.

Archbishop Elias Joseph Gonsalves of Nagpur, who promulgated the plan, called for continued lay-clergy collaboration.

“I hereby appeal for your generous contribution and collaboration in this process,” he wrote, adding that the archdiocese needs to be “constantly engaged in the Lay-Clergy collaboration.”

He cited a definition of collaboration as “people coming together in mutuality respect for each other and honesty to complete a task or to work towards goals they value.”

The plan’s mission is to pursue “the integral development of all,” particularly socially and economically excluded communities, by creating an enabling environment for people to realize their human and spiritual potential “through varied ministries in collaboration with people of goodwill.” Its vision is to build “egalitarian, inclusive, and caring communities rooted in Gospel Values.”

People-led development and accountability

The development strategy places greater responsibility with communities themselves. The plan calls for community mobilization, stronger people-led organizations, leadership development and the transfer of responsibility to community leaders “for their ownership.”

It also proposes networking with human rights organizations, community-based organizations and government decision-makers, while seeking to create “models and ripples at the ground level” that demonstrate alternative approaches to development, governance and values.

The approach extends to women, youth, education, health, media and the environment. Among its targets are stronger women’s groups, leadership training for youth, community-based social action, media cells in parishes and institutions, and greater participation in environmental initiatives.

Implementation is to be shared across the archdiocese. The Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, seven deaneries, Priests Council and parish committees are responsible for disseminating the plan. Parish priests are to coordinate implementation with pastoral council members and five-member parish committees.

The Archdiocesan Pastoral Council and commissions are to review implementation every three months, while the Archdiocesan Pastoral Team is responsible for overall review every six months.

Concluding the plan, the archdiocese describes the initiative as “a new journey,” saying it has “clarified our goals and redefined our strategies” and intends the document to serve as “a navigator” for its common journey.

Read the pastoral plan.

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Nagpur Archdiocese is developing a new culture of working and governing centered on community-based mission, collaboration, training and people-led development through 2030.