He is the Deputy Secretary General of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) for more than twelve years. He was appointed to the position for four consecutive terms in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026, making him the longest-serving Deputy Secretary General of the Conference.
Fr. Alathara addressed the gathering during the second session of “Journeying Together Towards Mission 2033 as a Synodal Church,” held at the North Eastern Diocesan Social Service Society (NEDSSS) in Kharghuli.
He said that the Church’s planning processes must begin with a fundamental question: what does the Lord want the Church to do. Planning, he explained, must emerge from prayer, listening, and communal discernment.
The CCBI Deputy Secretary shared that the pastoral planning process initiated by the CCBI involves wide consultation across dioceses, commissions, and religious congregations. Such participation, he said, ensures, pastoral decisions reflect collective discernment within the Church.
He emphasised that organisational structures and programmes alone cannot sustain the Church’s mission. Spiritual formation and missionary passion remain essential. “What truly makes the difference is love for Jesus and love for His mission,” he said.
Referring to the Northeast region, Fr. Alathara highlighted its rich diversity of languages, cultures, and tribal communities. Pastoral strategies, he said, must respect these identities. Unity within the Church should not be confused with uniformity.
He therefore underlined the need for contextualised pastoral planning at diocesan and regional levels. Such planning helps the Church respond effectively to the social and cultural realities of the region.
Fr. Alathara also stressed the importance of collaboration among dioceses, religious congregations, and pastoral institutions so that the mission of the Church may be carried forward with a shared sense of responsibility.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion in which participants reflected on pastoral priorities in the Northeast, including evangelisation, faith formation, youth engagement, and the role of Catholic institutions in the Church’s mission.