“Major
Superiors can usefully meet together
in conferences and councils, so that
by combined effort they may work to
achieve more fully the purpose of
each institute, while respecting the
autonomy, nature and spirit of each.
They can also deal with affairs which
are common to all, and work to establish
suitable coordination and cooperation
with Episcopal conferences and individual
Bishops”. (Canon 708)
Origin
and Development of CRI
With
the coming into existence of an independent
nation, the Church in India had to
rely on its own sons and daughters
for her vitality and mission. God
blessed us with numerous vocations
to Religious Life. Drawing inspiration
from Pope Pius XII, the Major Superiors
of Religious Institutes in India met
in conference, separately at first
as men and women in 1960-61, and then
jointly in 1962. In 1963 the Holy
See formally erected CRI by approving
the Statutes. The same year it became
a registered society under the Societies
Registration Act of 1860.
Growing
along with the “aggiornamento”
of Vatican II, CRI Became an effective
means of renewal during the 1960’s,
as indicated by the themes of the
National Conferences :
Chastity
in the modern world (1961); Sanctifying
Grace (1962); Religious Poverty, Training
of Religious (1963); Religious Life
and Liturgy (1965); Religious Obedience
(1966); Renewal and Adaptation (1967)
The
1970’s and 1980’s saw
an effort and effective contribution
towards the re-orientation of Apostolate.
This was indirectly influenced by
the “Church in India Today”
Seminar (1969) and the Synod of Bishops
on “Justice in the World”.
(1972). Based on the experience gained,
and the reading of the signs of the
time, the Statutes went in for a revision
and a new Statute was approved in
1980. With it, structural modifications
began. The Brothers became a distinct
section. The permanent Secretary system
changed to a National Secretary, with
a specific term of office, and responsibilities.
An independent Secretariat came into
existence with additional Religious
staff other than the National Secretary.
Financial restructuring facilitated
more effective functioning of CRI.
The theme of the National Assemblies
during the 1980’s, and their
statements, indicate the prophetic
role of religious leadership in the
country:
The
1992 National Assembly in Calcutta
called for a breakthrough from prophetic
animation to prophetic action that
can bring people-centred and issue-based
dynamics into the organisation. Consequently,
the Assembly called for the revitalisation
of CRI at all levels. The rationale
of the revitalisation was the situation
of the poor in our country, and the
prophetic voice that speaks within
us as Religious. The five-fold thrust
of revitalisation was
(1) the cry of My people; (2) proclamation
in deed; (3) prophetic - activist
leadership; (4) liberation movement
thrust; (5) solidarity in networking
The Regional and Local levels were
strengthened, with structures and
specific objectives, aimed at making
the CRI an instrument capable of responding
more precisely to the needs of the
Religious, of the Christian community
and of society as a whole.
Though
the CRI is a conference of Major Superiors,
it is perceived as a body of 1,15,000
religious leaders spread all over
the country, and involved in the lives
of every group of people. |
