KOLKATA, India, November 23, 2009--Missioners must understand tribal people better, and new ways of evangelizing them without hurting their cultural heritage must be a priority, a top prelate has told Church officials.

Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati was addressing 36 bishops, priests and nuns from various states at a meeting in Kolkata on Nov. 17-19. Participants from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tripura and West Bengal discussed their experiences working with various tribal groups and the problems they encountered.

In his keynote address, Archbishop Menamparampil stressed the need to give priority and attention to tribal people, and helping them get closer to Christ without losing their culture and traditions.

"We have to work toward understanding tribal people who are often misunderstood," said the Salesian prelate, who is chairperson of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences' Office of Evangelization.

The prelate who worked for several decades among various tribal groups in northeastern India, reminded Church workers to treat tribal people with respect, unlike government workers who treat them as downtrodden people or even as criminals.

Any work of evangelization should start with building relationships, and giving attention to people, families and tribal fellowship, Archbishop Menamparampil told the missioners.

He urged them to find creative ways to approach people and devise strategies so that Christian tribal people can maintain their own culture while receiving support in their struggles.

This was the sixth meeting since 1989 when Archbishop Menamparampil and Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi first brought together Church workers from tribal regions.

Participants at the recent meeting resolved to empower lay people to live the Gospel values without forfeiting their cultural identity or disturbing their relations with neighbors of other religions.

Archbishop Menamparampil later told UCA News that industrial encroachment has meant many displaced tribal people have begun to lose their identity. The challenge for the Church now is to preach the Gospel of hope to such people, he said. (UCAN)