The felicitation took place during the National Synodal Assembly of the CCBI, held from 1 May to 3 May at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences. Six Salesians were present at the Assembly: Bishop George Palliparambil (Miao), Bishop Nirmol Gomes (Krishnagar), Fr. Maria Charles (Education), Fr. Gilbert Choondal (Catechetics), and Sr. Arokia Mary FMA (Ecology).

 

Dr Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI, provided background on the Directory and highlighted Fr. Gilbert’s significant contribution, underlining his dedicated service to catechesis in the Church in India. Fr. Gilbert has devoted his entire priestly ministry to catechesis, both as a catechist and a catechete. Notably, he was the only member of the 2015 National Catechetical Directory drafting committee to continue as Chief Editor and Coordinator for its revised 2026 edition.

 

Fr. Vijay Machado, Executive Secretary of the Commission for Faith Formation, remarked: “Fr. Gilbert, as the National Council Member of the Commission, carried out this mega project with utmost commitment for over a year, seeing it through to the final stages, including the design of each page.” He also made a major contribution to the Directory for Lay Catechists in India, released in 2023. In addition, Fr. Gilbert has served as a consultant and resource person for the CCBI Commission for Catechetics over the past three years.

 

Fr. Gilbert currently serves as President of the Indian Catechetical Association and Programme Coordinator at Don Bosco Ajjanahalli. He is also a professor at Kristu Jyoti College and presently the only professor with the rank of “Ordinary” in the faculty. He has authored over 100 articles and more than a dozen books in catechetics and related fields. Known for his creativity, he has developed innovative catechetical materials, including Bible newspapers and catechetical toons, popularly known as “CATOONS.” In appreciation, Fr. Domingo, former Catechetical Secretary of the CCBI, presently administrator of the CCBI office at Goa, remarked: “For Fr. Gilbert, catechesis is everything—he lives it, breathes it, and proclaims it.”