Guwahati, September 2, 2026:
The North East India Regional Pastoral Conference (PC) 2026 will focus on the theme, “Journeying with Indigenous People of God in the Synodal Church in NEI.” The annual conference, bringing together archbishops, bishops, provincials and major superiors of men and women religious, laity and representatives of the North East Regional Catholic Council (NERCC), will be held from September 4 to 7 at the North East Diocesan Social Service Society (NEDSSS), Kharghuli, Guwahati.
The four-day gathering is an annual regional pastoral event of the Northeast India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC). This year’s conference will be a joint gathering of the regular members of the Pastoral Conference and NERCC members, along with special invitees, including secretaries of diocesan Tribal Commissions.
The conference will seek to deepen pastoral reflection on indigenous cultures, synodality, leadership formation, environmental concerns and the challenges confronting indigenous communities in Northeast India.
The inaugural session will feature an address by Archbishop John Moolachira, President of the NEIRBC, for whom the 2026 conference is expected to be his final Pastoral Conference as President before his retirement later this year. Archbishop Moolachira, a former priest of the Diocese of Tezpur, served as Bishop of Diphu before becoming Archbishop of Guwahati in January 2012. The Holy See appointed Bishop Albert Hemrom as Coadjutor Archbishop of Guwahati in July 2026, and he is expected to succeed Archbishop Moolachira as Archbishop of Guwahati upon his retirement.
The inaugural programme will also include a presentation on the conference theme by Bishop Ferdinand Dkhar of Jowai, Chairman of the Commission for Tribal Affairs. Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal will further develop the theme during the conference. The programme will also include the release of books and felicitations.
The animation sessions on September 5 and 6 will explore the relationship between faith, culture and indigenous identity. Topics will include a cultural and theological reading of the Bible, Church teaching on culture and indigenous peoples.
Two panel discussions will further examine the conference theme and its pastoral implications. A significant feature of the gathering will be the “Conversation in the Spirit,” providing participants with an opportunity to listen, share experiences and discern together in a synodal manner.
The NEIRBC is one of the 14 regional councils of Catholic bishops in India. It is headed by the President, assisted by the Vice President, Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh of Shillong, and the General Secretary, Bishop James Thoppil of Kohima, with Rev. Dr. G. P. Amalraj serving as Deputy Secretary. The Bishops’ Council of North East India also coordinates 23 regional commissions and offices, each headed by a bishop chairman and assisted by a secretary.
The 2026 conference follows the regional Pastoral Conference held in Guwahati from September 1 to 4, 2025, which reflected on the theme “Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope: Looking Toward 2033.” The 2025 gathering explored the biblical and theological significance of the Jubilee, the Church’s mission in the Indian context and the call to engage with the poor, cultures and religions. The 2026 conference continues this process of regional pastoral reflection, placing greater emphasis on indigenous peoples, synodality and their active participation in the life and mission of the Church.
Around 250 participants are expected to attend the 2026 conference, including regular members of the Pastoral Conference, NERCC representatives and special invitees.