CRI gets New National Secretary
New Delhi: A Salesian priest has been appointed to head the operations of Conference of Religious India (CRI), the common forum of over 130,000 consecrated Catholic men and women in the country.
Salesian Father Joe Mannath replaces Gabriel Brother Mani Mekkunnel.
The 30-member National Executive, which met in Bangalore April 25 appointed Father Mannath as the CRI National Secretary for the next 4 years. He takes office from May 24.
Father Mannath is well known to Indian Catholics through his columns in Catholic publications. He is also a resource person for animation programs and counselling. He served many years in Poonamallee seminary and then a Professor in Madras University.
The National Secretary plays a key role in executing the CRI programs and policies based in the organizations National Secretariat at New Delhi. A national team of religious who are experts in various fields, assist him.
The current team includes Holy Spirit Sister Karuna, Pauline Sister Claudette Miranda and Jesuit Father Jose Thachil, along with Mercy Luke, who is administrator and bursar. While sister Karuana heads social work department, Sister Claudette directs publications and Father Thachil is CRI program director.
The CRI is a network of with 13 Regional units with fulltime secretaries, and 160 Local Units in every diocese across the country.
Sister Karuna's Socio-Economic network called CRISEC has a membership of over 40,000 religious.
At the national level, the Major Superiors have three separate sections for sisters, brothers and priests. Sr. Rita Pinto heads sisters Section, while Fr. V. M. Thomas is president of Priests' Section. Bro. Lawrence Abraham heads Brothers Section.
Salesian Father V.M.Thomas is also CRI national president since November 2013. As Provincial of the Salesian Province in North East, he functions from Guwahati Provincial house.