Krishnanagar, India – September 2024 – Mr. Stephen Samir Lahiri, a Salesian Cooperator from Krishnanagar, Dist. Nadia, West Bengal, is appointed as a Council Member of the Commission for Laity for 4 years with effect from October 1, 2024. This was proposed by the Chairman of the Commission for Laity after due consultation with the Local Ordinary, Most Rev. Nirmal Vincent Gomes, SDB, Bishop of Krishnanagar, and was approved by the Executive Committee of the CCBI, at its 95th meeting held on September 10-11, 2024. Mr. Stephen Samir was intimated of this appointment in a letter dated September 11, 2024 from the CCBI General Secretariat signed by Most Rev. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, the Secretary General, CCBI, with the following designated roles: to attend meetings and provide valuable advice and strategic direction for the implementation of the action plan outlined in the CCBI’s Pastoral Plan. The Laity Commission Council is a consultative body tasked with assisting and guiding the Office Bearers of the Commission for Laity. Mr Lahiri, a retired Govt. Employee, has been an active Salesian Cooperator and is much involved in the local Church and is associated with the Bongyo Khristio Porisheba (a govt. registered ecumenical lay association, estd. 1994). Recently he has translated the Cooperators’ Project of Apostolic Life (PAL) into Bengali. The members of the Salesian Family, especially those from the Province of Kolkata (INC) wish Mr Samir Lahiri all success in undertaking this important service to the Church in India.