Guwahati — The Salesian Provincial of Guwahati Province, V M Thomas (Vattathara), has been elected as the national president of the Conference of Religious India (CRI) for the second time. A spokesperson said the election took place in Bangalore on May 3 and around 550 Superior Generals and provincials of various congregations re-elected Thomas.

The CRI has a total of 334 congregations and 822 major superiors representing more than 125,000 Catholic Religious brothers, priests and nuns in India. Most of the schools, hospitals, social service centers and other institutions of the Catholic Church are managed by this group, reported The Times of India.

Almost 33 years ago, another Salesian Provincial of the Guwahati Province, the late Bishop Mathai Kochuparampil of Diphu, was elected as CRI’s national president.