Theme: Expanding Safeguarding Units to CRI Regions
📍 Montfort Bhavan, Hyderabad | 17–18 September 2025
The Conference of Religious Women India (CRWI) hosted a two-day National Workshop on Safeguarding at Montfort Bhavan, Hyderabad, gathering CRI Regional Leaders from across the country. The theme, “Expanding Safeguarding Units to CRI Regions”, reflected the growing commitment of the Church in India to ensure safety, accountability, and pastoral care within its communities.
The workshop integrated biblical, theological, and pastoral reflections with Church guidelines, global and Indian contexts, ground realities, and practical action plans, creating a holistic space for dialogue and concrete planning.
Day One: Building the Foundation
The workshop opened with a prayer and words of welcome by Sr. Noella De Souza and Sr. Rushila Rebello DHM, followed by a keynote address from Br. Lambert, Montfort Brothers, who stressed the urgency of safeguarding in religious institutions.
An ice-breaking session, led by Sr. Rushila, set a collaborative tone.
Sr. Molly Mathew then introduced CRWI and SRWI, grounding the workshop in its vision, mission, and goals.
Key Highlights:
Safeguarding as Mission – Srs. Anna Mary Thumma and Gracy Lily FS reminded participants that safeguarding is rooted in Christian values and is everyone’s responsibility. They highlighted the alarming statistics of child abuse in India, the stigma surrounding reporting, and the need for awareness, accountability, and collective action.
Church & Safeguarding – Sr. Anna Mary Thumma emphasized the Church’s official guidelines, acknowledging the global and local crises of abuse, the deep harm caused to victims, and the importance of transparency, justice, and institutional accountability.
The afternoon focused on Regional Group Discussions, where participants mapped local safeguarding challenges and presented their findings.
Sr. Elsa Muttathu outlined “CRWI & GRC Pathways to Safeguarding”, spotlighting the critical role of the Grievance Redressal Cell (GRC).
Later, a panel discussion led by Sr. Noella D’ Souza, Sr. Mary Scaria, and Sr. Rushila Rebello DHM, with inputs from Fr. Joye James, addressed pressing concerns such as:
Reporting abuse cases
Religious dress codes and safety protocols
Safeguarding properties
Suicide cases among priests and nuns
Organizational development and safeguarding policies
The day closed with a moment of prayer and reflection, followed by fellowship and dinner hosted by CRWI.
Day Two: From Vision to Action
The second day opened with prayer and a recap by Sr. Rushila.
Sessions Included:
Safeguarding Guidelines & Policy – Sr. Anna Mary and Fr. Joye James SJ presented guidelines as the “constitutions” of safeguarding, ensuring accountability, justice, and consistency with Church norms and government laws.
Safeguarding Property – Sr. Mary Scaria explained practical steps to secure, manage, and protect institutional property: “Secure legally, manage responsibly, monitor regularly, and protect vigilantly—like a jealous lover.”
SRWI Proposals & Activities – Sr. Molly Mathew outlined CRWI’s expectations from the regions and encouraged stronger collaboration within the wider CRI framework.
Moving Towards Implementation
Participants engaged in group work, moderated by Fr. Joye James SJ, deliberating on concrete regional action plans in light of SRWI proposals.
The afternoon was dedicated to “Building the SRWI Model Together”, led by Sr. Molly Mathew. This collaborative session consolidated group proposals into a unified safeguarding model for CRI regions, providing a clear roadmap for future initiatives.
The workshop concluded with prayer, gratitude, and a shared commitment to advance safeguarding across India.
A Shared Roadmap for the Future
The CRWI National Workshop on Safeguarding was more than a training—it was a moment of conversion, collaboration, and commitment. By bringing together diverse voices, lived realities, and Church wisdom, the workshop paved the way for stronger safeguarding units in CRI regions and a more accountable, compassionate Church in India.
“Safeguarding is not optional. It is at the heart of our mission as disciples of Christ.”