The Shepherds Leading the flock:

Meeting of the Heads of Educational Institutions in Gujarat and Jhansi

Annual General Body Meeting at Nadiad in Gujarat, 21st July, 2018:

All the four Bishops of Gujarat were present at the day-long Annual General Body meeting of the Gujarat Educational Board of Catholic Institutions (GEBCI) on the 21st July 2018 at the Pastoral Centre at Nadiad. Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Gandhinagar presided over the meeting and gave the Presidential address, while Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes of Baroda gave the  summing up message at the conclusion of the day’s programme and Bishops C.C. Jose of Rajkot and Bishop Athanasius Rethna Swamy of Ahmedabad addressed the gathering giving valuable inputs as well. After two input sessions on Effectiveness in Education by Education specialists, Fr. Joseph Manipadam intervened regarding the importance of making our institutions compliant with the All India Catholic Education Policy and made the participants do a self study report on the effectiveness of implementation of the Catholic Education Policy in each of their institutions showing indicators of implementation. Bro. Thomas Thannickal, National Secretary of AINACS also spoke to them about the AINACS and invited the institutions to become members of this Association affiliated to the CBCI Office for Education and Culture. In the Business session that followed the various regional issues were also taken up for discussion. The main organization of the AGM was done by Fr. Teles Fernandes, the Regional CBCI Secretary for Gujarat. Some 135 participants were there at the Annual General Body Meeting which was concluded by 4.30 p.m.

Meeting of the Heads of Educational Institutions of Jhansi Diocese, 27th July 2018:  

Most Rev. Peter Parapullil presided over the day-long meeting of all the heads of educational institutions of the Diocese of Jhansi. 30 participants were there in all from the far and near areas of the diocese. The programme was initiated by His Excellency Most Rev. Peter parapullil with introductory words and a prayer after which the CBCI Diocesan Education Secretary Fr. Frederick Mendoca introduced Fr. J. Manipadam, the National Secretary of he CBCI Office for Education and Culture and the reason for the day long gathering that would be held. Fr. Manipadam in course of his sessions acquainted the participants about the challenges faced by the various Educational institutions and in spite of the challenging situation, to fulfil the mission of education implementing the All India Catholic Education Policy. He further went on to explain the content of the All India Catholic Education Policy and the method of implementing it in a systematic way showing indicators of implementation. Following which he led the participants to do a self study report on implementation of the policy and present the same for evaluation and certification. The last session was dealing with financial matters and it was animated by the Auditors of the institutions of the Diocese. The programme was concluded at 2.00 p.m.