The Religious Leadership Course was held at NBCLC, Bangalore, from July 8-15, 2025.It was a transformative and enriching experience designed for religious superiors and formators. The program, attended by 62 participants from 18 different congregations (including clergy, religious sisters, and brothers). It focused on the holistic development of leadership by addressing spiritual, personal, communal, and pastoral aspects of life.

Day 1: The course began with a solemn prayer and an inaugural program, including the symbolic lighting of a lamp. Fr. John Baptist, Director of NBCLC, welcomed the participants and introduced Fr. Sunil D’Souza, who spoke on the "Canonical Aspects of Religious Life." His session highlighted selected canons from the Code of Canon Law, emphasizing the triple identity of religious life and the importance of fidelity to one's unique charism.

Day 2: The day's theme was "Protection of Children, Minorities, and Vulnerable Persons" and "Prevention of Harassment in the Workplace." Fr. Merlin addressed offenses against human life, dignity, and liberty as outlined in canon law, with a particular focus on minors and vulnerable adults. In the afternoon, Mrs. Arlene Manoharan discussed various legal acts and policies designed to protect children and minors.

Day 3: Fr. Tony Thambi CSC facilitated a session on "Mid-Life Transition and the Psycho-Spiritual Maturity of Religious Leaders." He structured his presentation around the three interconnected dimensions of Mission, Community, and Self, providing valuable insights into the journey of mid-life transformation.

Day 4: The topic for the day was "Balancing the Dichotomy of Youth and Elders in Today’s Religious Communities," led by Fr. Alex. He emphasized the need for effective and efficient leadership by developing both soft and functional skills, exploring the challenges and opportunities of the generation gap in modern religious life.

Day 5: Fr. Cyriac Thayil SDB led a session titled "Know Your Church." He opened the discussion with a thought-provoking question, "What is your first reaction when you hear the word 'church'?" He then presented global Catholic statistics and underscored that the Church is composed of both saints and sinners.

Day 6: Sr. Metti Amirtham delivered an insightful session on "Woman Empowerment and Gender Justice in the Church and Society." She highlighted the social construction of women, the importance of empowerment across various fields, and the influence of patriarchal culture. Her presentation used the powerful lens of "women from womb to tomb" to help participants critically reflect on their own social context.

Day 7: The focus was on "Mission Leadership in the Present Indian Scenario," facilitated by Fr. Jerry Rosario SJ. Known for his dynamic style, he presented ten key insights for mission-oriented leadership, encouraging participants to lead with vision, passion, and relevance.

Day 8: The course concluded with a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration. By Fr. Patrick Mathias SDB enlightened the participants with a session on "Models of Biblical Leadership," which included an engaging activity called "faith walk" to foster mutual trust. The program ended with sincere gratitude extended to the NBCLC management, staff, and directors for their service.