Report of the Annual General Body Meeting 14/9/2025

Date: 14th September 2025

Venue: Nav Sadhana, Varanasi

The Annual Meeting of the CRI Varanasi Local Unit was successfully held on 14th September 2025 at Nav Sadhana, Varanasi. A total of 121 participants were present, representing various congregations and zones across the region.

The theme for the meeting was “Conscience and Constitution: Navigating Faith in Restrictive Times - A Pilgrimage towards Hope, through Legal Storms.” The theme set the tone for a deeply reflective and empowering day, calling religious to examine the tensions between faith, conscience, and law — while holding fast to hope and prophetic witness.

The meeting commenced with a prayer service led by members from the Balia and Mau zones, setting a spiritual and reflective tone for the day. This was followed by a lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the light of knowledge and unity. The ceremony was graced by the presence of the following dignitaries:

Rt. Rev. Bishop Eugene, Advocate Jose Abraham (Resource Person), Sr. Mabel SRA (Provincial Superior),Sr. Annie FSM (Provincial Superior),Fr. Anurup (President, CRI Varanasi)

A warm welcome was extended to all dignitaries and participants by Fr. Anurup, President of the CRI Varanasi Unit.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Eugene Joseph offered a powerful reflection rooted in the book on Hope by the late Pope Francis, aligning beautifully with the meeting's theme. He spoke of the importance of sustaining hope in the face of legal and societal challenges and invited participants to be “witnesses of hope” in restrictive environments. Highlighting the role of religious in today’s world, he affirmed their joyful vocation, saying, “Religious are the joyful people.” His words were both a challenge and a comfort, encouraging all present to embody joy, resilience, and faith-filled conscience.

The first session was conducted by Advocate Jose Abraham, who gave a detailed and informative presentation on key legislations affecting religious communities. The topics covered included: Right to Education (RTE), Right to Information (RTI), Anti-Conversion Laws and various legal matters concerning the rights and responsibilities of religious in India

The session was deeply insightful and helped equip participants with valuable legal awareness and understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the law.

In the post-lunch session, Fr. S. Joseph addressed the topic of Digital Media, emphasizing the need to be cautious and prudent in using social media. He highlighted: Responsible online behaviour, Digital safety and security, Ethical use of media by those in religious life.

The Business Session was conducted by Fr. Anurup, focusing on drawing up an Action Plan rooted in the day’s discussions and reflections. Participants were divided into four groups for a collaborative session that encouraged open dialogue and shared discernment.

During this session, elections were also held for the new leadership of the CRI Varanasi Zone:

Sr. Sharda (St. Anne’s Congregation) was elected as the President; Sr. Emanuela (Providence of Gap) was elected as the Secretary.

Special appreciation was extended to Fr. Praveen and Sr. Francisca for their dedicated service to the CRI Varanasi Zone over the past two years.

The meeting concluded with a solemn Eucharistic celebration, offering thanks to God for a fruitful and spirit-filled day. The final vote of thanks was delivered by Sr. Arpita, Vice President of CRI Varanasi, who acknowledged the contributions of all resource persons, dignitaries, and participants.

Sr. Snehal SHM

Secretary, CRI Varanasi Local Unit