Mantripukhri, Imphal | 29 June – 4 July 2026
The Conference of Religious India (CRI), Manipur Unit, organised a six-day spiritual retreat for religious sisters from 29 June to 4 July 2026 at St. Paul’s Retreat Centre, Mantripukhri. The retreat brought together 36 religious sisters from 13 different congregations for a time of prayer, reflection, renewal and deeper communion with the Lord.
The retreat was centred on the theme “Faith: The Journey from Belief to Total Surrender,” a theme chosen to respond meaningfully to the present context of religious life and the situation of the Church in Manipur. At the opening of the retreat, Fr Benny James SDB, President of CRI Manipur, invited the sisters to use these days not merely for attending conferences but as an opportunity to encounter Christ more deeply, renew their consecration and return to their communities strengthened in faith and hope.
A Journey of Faith and Surrender
The retreat was animated by Rev. Fr. John Kandathinkara VC, former Superior General of the Vincentian Congregation and presently Superior of the Divine Glory Retreat Centre. With his background in pastoral counselling and extensive experience in formation and ministry, he guided the sisters through a series of conferences, reflections and practical insights.
Across the six days, the sisters participated in two major sessions each day, along with daily Eucharistic celebrations, personal prayer, Eucharistic adoration, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Rosary and group sharing. The programme also provided extended periods for silence, personal reflection and rest.
The retreat maintained a deliberate atmosphere of recollection. The sisters observed silence and temporarily set aside their mobile phones to create greater space for prayer and attentive listening to God. They were encouraged to pray particularly for peace, healing, reconciliation and unity in Manipur.
The Eucharist at the Heart of the Retreat
The daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist remained at the heart of the retreat. Different priests and bishops celebrated the Eucharist during the retreat, including Fr Benny James SDB, Fr John Seisou, Fr Paul Ngaoni, Fr Varghese Velikakam, Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Lumon and Most Rev. Dr Linus Neli, Archbishop of Imphal.
The sisters also had the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on 2 July, with several priests making themselves available to hear confessions. The sacrament became an important moment of spiritual healing and renewal during the retreat.
Building Faith and Community
The retreat was not limited to individual spiritual renewal. The different congregations were encouraged to recognise their common vocation and mission while appreciating their distinctive charisms and spiritual traditions.
In his reflection on community life, Fr John encouraged the sisters to become builders of peace, to respect one another’s uniqueness, to offer support without domination and to speak words that inspire and bless. The experience of praying, sharing and living together helped strengthen the bonds of fraternity among the sisters from the 13 participating congregations.
One of the retreatants described the experience as a time that helped her look more deeply into her faith, let go of fears and trust God more completely. Another participant highlighted the enriching experience of praying together with sisters from different congregations and the value of common prayer, Eucharistic adoration and group sharing.
Concluding Eucharist: A Call to Become “New Wineskins”
The retreat concluded on 4 July with a Solemn Thanksgiving Eucharist presided over by Most Rev. Dr Linus Neli, Archbishop of Imphal, and concelebrated by Fr John Kandathinkara VC and Fr Benny James SDB.
In his concluding homily, Archbishop Linus called the sisters to become “new wineskins” through continual renewal and urged them to remain steadfast beneath the Cross with unwavering faith and hope. His message brought together the central invitation of the retreat: to move from merely professing belief to a deeper surrender and trust in Christ.
The Eucharistic celebration was preceded by a final conference and followed by a group photograph and a brief gathering. The sisters expressed their gratitude to Archbishop Linus, Fr John Kandathinkara, Fr Benny James, Fr John Seisou, the CRI organising team and the MSMHC sisters for their service and hospitality.
Renewed for Mission
The six-day retreat offered the religious sisters a valuable opportunity to step away from the demands and noise of daily life and to rediscover the joy and depth of their consecrated vocation. It also strengthened the sense of fraternity among religious belonging to different congregations.
The retreat was organised despite the challenging circumstances prevailing in Manipur. According to the organisers, the initiative arose particularly from the need to provide an opportunity for sisters who were unable to attend retreats elsewhere because of the situation in the State. The retreat itself became a testimony to God’s providence and the willingness of different members of the religious community to collaborate.
As the sisters returned to their respective communities, the retreat left them with a renewed invitation to deepen their faith, surrender themselves more completely to Christ, strengthen community life and become witnesses of hope and peace in the Church and society.
The CRI Manipur Unit expressed gratitude to Fr John Kandathinkara VC, the priests who celebrated the Eucharist, the sisters of St. Paul’s Retreat Centre, the organising team and all those who contributed to making the retreat a grace-filled experience.
The retreat concluded, but the journey of faith continues—from belief to total surrender.
