Caritas India organized the 4^th Regional Assembly covering the states of West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar on 30^th November 2021 at Kolkata as a platform to capture the regional aspirations and priorities of the Social Apostolate of states of West Bengal Bihar and Odisha to reflect together on our continued partnership engagement in the post-Covid and post-FCRA Amendment environment.

The assembly commenced with Holy Eucharist presided over by His Grace Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, Archbishop of Kolkata and President of Association Of Bengal Collaborators for Development, and His Grace Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura, Chairman Caritas India.  Fr. Parimal Kanji, Regional Forum Director of West Bengal welcomed all Diocesan directors of West Bengal Odisha and the Bihar region.

Fr. (Dr.) Paul Moonjely, Executive Director of Caritas set the tone of the day through his keynote address by reiterating the challenges posed in front of us in the form of 3Cs namely COVID, Conflict & Climate. He urged everyone to reflect together and find answers to move on amidst these crises by transforming 3Cs into 3Ss i.e. Solidarity, Social friendship and Social justice.

He also spoke in the context of West Bengal Odisha and Bihar emphasizing the reality of Child Protection, Migration and the present status of the need vs. services referring to the CRC report. His keynote address ended with an invitation to all directors to reflect and give suggestions for celebrating the meaningful Diamond Jubilee of Caritas India in 2022.

Presidential address, His Grace Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, President of ABCD and Archbishop of Kolkata was emphatic about the need to Walk in solidarity towards social transformation. His reference to the Synod was an added reminder of the purpose and mandate that the church and the people of the church should have towards the poor.

In his special address, His Grace Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura, Chairman Caritas India focused on harnessing the social capital of the community in the form of social intellect and social mind that is the hub of knowledge and experience that the community and the poor have to offer. He emphasized the role that the Diocesan apostolate should play to translate this intellect for the betterment of the poor.

Thereafter, the program was followed by the launch of the Uttoran phase III by His Grace Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura and His Grace Archbishop Thomas D’Souza,

The following sessions focused on the ‘Perspectives & new Paradigms for Promoting the Social Service Ministry in the Dioceses & Regions’ that was presented by Fr. Dr. Jolly Puthenpura, Asst. Executive Director of Caritas India. He accentuated the point that “the Proclamation of the Gospel, Evangelization of the World & Socially Transformative Actions go hand-in-hand and that the DSSS in the dioceses needs to be an animating body getting the faithful involved in the works of the church and that there”.

Further to that Ms. Babita Pinto, presented the Survey findings under the 4 main indicators of the Program, partnership, Human Resource and Institutional Management. The findings were validated with a group discussion on how the apostolate should take the intervention of social ministry forward.

The regional Assembly came to an end with a group discussion on exploring different ways of making the social apostolate of the church more impactful, promoting social movements and networks, making the region and diocese sustainable