Patna: Navjyoti Niketan, the prominent Bihar Regional Pastoral Centre in Patna, successfully brought to a close its immersive three-month residential Catechists’ Training Programme 2025 on 31 October. The initiative, marked as Year 1 / Cycle A, forms an integral part of the ongoing three-year formation journey designed for catechists across North India. Conducted from 1 August to 31 October 2025, the programme offered participants a holistic encounter with faith, ministry, and pastoral practice.
Under the visionary leadership of the newly appointed Director, Dr. Fr. M. Anthony Samy, in collaboration with Fr. James Rosario, the Registrar, the programme embraced the theme “Called to Witness Faith.” The curriculum was thoughtfully restructured to integrate spiritual depth, theological grounding, catechetical insight, and practical pastoral skills, ensuring that participants emerge as well-rounded, mission-oriented catechists.
The cohort comprised nine enthusiastic participants, including six laymen and three religious sisters, representing multiple years of the formation cycle. The training commenced with a warm inauguration featuring group-building exercises and a Holy Eucharist celebrated by Fr. Anthony Samy, Fr. James Rosario, and Fr. Irudayaraj, setting a prayerful and collaborative tone for the months ahead.
The programme offered a rich variety of sessions that balanced doctrinal instruction with pastoral application. Fr. Michael Ignatius led discussions on the Vocation and Mission of a Catechist, while Fr. Anil Benet Cruz provided foundational teaching on Catholic Doctrine, covering the Creeds, the Trinity, and the Church. Participants explored key Church documents, including Dei Verbum and Lumen Gentium, under the guidance of Fr. A Sebastian, while Archbishop Emeritus William D’Souza SJ emphasized the practical, parish-centered role of catechists.
A significant highlight of the programme was a week-long spiritual retreat (23–29 October), directed by Fr. Irudayaraj, encouraging participants toward deeper personal prayer and discipleship. Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura of Patna provided guidance on cultivating a robust spiritual life, while Fr. Peter S introduced the Lumko Prayer of Basic Ecclesial Communities, fostering communal and prayerful engagement. Complementing these efforts, Dr. Fr. Anthony Samy conducted hands-on workshops on the Synoptic Gospels and Lectio Divina, enriching participants’ theological and spiritual repertoire.
The programme further explored St. Paul’s missionary journeys under Sr. Jane SCN, Church History with Fr. Satya, and the lives of Indian Saints through Fr. Sadanand IMS. Intensive sessions on Liturgy, the Bible, and the Sacraments were delivered by Fr. Jerry David, supplemented by Sr. Roshni SSH’s comprehensive overview of the Sacraments and Sr. Prisca SND’s insights on the Pedagogy of Faith.
Communication and pastoral practice were also emphasized: Fr. James Rosario trained participants in effective communication strategies, and Sr. Blessy CHF shared reflections on the Jubilee Year of Hope. Hands-on experiences included participation in parish Masses, a Bible Festival, and practical pastoral planning sessions guided by Fr. Dharam Kishore, alongside interfaith and ecumenical dialogue modules.
The programme culminated in a Graduation Mass on 31 October, presided over by James Shekhar, Bishop of Buxar and Chairman of the Commission for Catechetics and Proclamation, and concelebrated by Fr. Anthony Samy and Fr. Anil Benet Cruz. Three catechists were formally commissioned and dispatched to their respective pastoral assignments, ready to serve with renewed zeal, doctrinal clarity, and pastoral competence.
The closing ceremony celebrated not just the participants’ completion of the programme, but the vision of Navjyoti Niketan as a hub for forming faithful, capable, and mission-oriented catechists who will contribute meaningfully to the life of the local Church. The three-month journey was widely hailed as a resounding success, underlining the centre’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of pastoral leaders in North India.