Pastoral plan designed to help traditional tribals adjust to cultural changes

Shillong – To help families adjust to the effects of cultural changes that challenges traditional tribal values of the north eastern region of India, the Pastoral Conference of Northeast India, which brings bishops together with lay and Religious representatives in the region, was convened where the pastoral plan designed to help ministry promote faith convictions and foster the identity of the Christian family was presented.

Representatives from the region's 11 Catholic dioceses, spread over seven Indian states (the seven sisters – Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland) drew up the plan during a meeting held Oct. 4–7 in Shillong. Shillong, capital of Meghalaya state, is the nerve center of the Church in northeastern India.

The traditional occupation of the tribals of the hilly region is agriculture. The plan says, despite their strong traditional family values, modern education and lifestyles are breaking down traditional tribal value systems.

Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati said that the meeting theme "pastoral care of the family" was chosen because "it is very urgent in the region (and) the topic for Asian and Indian Bishops Conference as well." The eighth plenary assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences this past August in Korea was "The Asian Family Towards a Culture of Life."

Several conference speakers spoke of the region's increasing rates of crime, divorce, insurgency–related violence, drug addiction and HIV/AIDS infection.

Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal, chairperson of the Family Commission of the conference, explained that increasing industrialization, urbanization, and the breaking down of religious traditions and moral codes are adversely affecting families in the region.

To counter such developments, participants said the family apostolate should have a "comprehensive and holistic approach" to make the family a vital Church unit. The Church people who approved the plan suggested that the family apostolate be revitalized through "inner resources of our faith," such as the sacraments, liturgy and prayers.

According to participants, family ministry should empower family members to become evangelizers and encourage them to form a community that spends quality time with each other. Eating and praying together, as well as other simple activities, can foster communion among family members, the participants noted.

The conference issued a call to prepare programs that would make family the focal point of evangelization. The focus of such programs, the participants said, should move "from parish–centered to family–centered ministry."

Church workers suggested that another action could be education and formation programs that focus on gender equality, responsible partnership of husband and wife, the roles of individuals in families, and sex education.

The participants also recommended that adequate personnel and finances resources, including a team of trained personnel composed of clergy, Religious and laity, be provided to run full–time diocesan and family ministries.

The plan also suggests creation of parish support groups to help the Church's integral mission by following a "couple to couple and family to family" approach for mutual assistance, support and encouragement.

The plan further recommends giving special attention to victims of substance abuse and HIV–related problems, and physically challenged persons in families.

When Archbishop Lumon was asked how the ambitious plan would be implemented, he said each diocese would modify it according to its own needs. The prelate pointed out that dioceses could conduct their own seminars to discuss how to improve family care, and the plan could be discussed and implemented through Small Christian Communities or Basic Christian Communities.

The conference meets annually during October–November to discuss the region's pastoral issues and to plan future activities.