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 The
Jubilee Year - 2025, also called the Ordinary Jubilee, will
begin on December 24, 2024, with Pope opening the Door at St.
Peter's Basilica. On December 29, 2024, the Holy Door at St.
John Lateran, the Pope's Cathedral, will be opened. This event
will be mirrored worldwide, with Bishops leading similar
celebrations in Cathedrals across the globe to mark the official
opening of the Jubilee Year. Hence, the same event will take
place in our Diocese on 29.12.2024, at St Joseph's Cathedral at
8.30 a.m. Bishop, holding the Jubilee Cross and leading the
gathering with a solemn procession to the doors of the Cathedral
and entering the doors which symbolize Christ as the "Door of
Salvation." I request all the Clergy from across the diocese to
offer mass in their respective parishes and take part in this
significant liturgical and symbolic event.
 
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 The
Inauguration of Jubilee 2025
 The
Diocese of Chikmagalur joyously marked
the inauguration of Jubilee 2025 with a
solemn and faith-filled ceremony held at
St. Joseph's Cathedral, on Sunday,
29-12-2024. The grand occasion began
with a procession bringing the Jubilee
Cross from St. Joseph's Convent to the
Cathedral. Faithful from all walks of
life, including clergy, religious, and
laity, participated in the procession,
carrying the Cross with devotion and
reverence, symbolizing unity and renewal
in Christ. Upon the arrival of the
procession at the Cathedral, Most Rev.
Dr. T. Anthony Swamy, Bishop of
Chikmagalur, inaugurated the Jubilee by
ceremoniously opening the door of the
Cathedral. This symbolic act was met
with great jubilation and marked the
beginning of the Jubilee Year, a time of
grace, reflection, and spiritual renewal
for the diocese. Following this, the
banner of the Jubilee which contained
the logo of Jubilee 2025 was unveiled,
adding to the joy and significance of
the event. The unveiling of the banner
symbolized the official commencement of
the Jubilee celebrations, inspiring the
faithful to actively participate in the
journey of faith.
 
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Diocese
of Chikmagalur Offers Solemn Tribute to Pope
Francis
 A
solemn Requiem Mass was offered for the repose
of the soul of Pope Francis on 25th April 2025
at 3:30 PM at St. Joseph's Cathedral,
Chikmagalur. The Eucharistic celebration was
presided over by Most Rev. Dr. T. Antony Swamy,
Bishop of Chikmagalur. The Mass was attended by
a large number of priests, religious, and
faithful from across the Diocese of Chikmagalur,
who came together in prayerful remembrance of
the Holy Father. During the homily, Bishop
Antony Swamy spoke movingly about the goodness,
humility, and tireless service of Pope Francis
to the Universal Church. He highlighted the
Pope's deep love for the poor, his commitment to
peace, and his efforts to bring the light of
Christ to all corners of the world. Rev. Fr.
David Prakash delivered the obituary, reflecting
on the significant milestones of Pope Francis'
pontificate and his lasting influence on the
life of the Church. Following the Eucharistic
celebration, the Bishop, along with the Vicar
General and the Deans of the Diocese, offered
floral tributes before the photograph of Pope
Francis, expressing their deep respect and
heartfelt gratitude. The atmosphere was one of
deep prayer, gratitude, and mourning, as the
Diocese united in offering their love and
prayers for the eternal repose of the beloved
Holy Father, Pope Francis.
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 Pope
Francis Passes away at 88, Vatican Confirms
Apr 21: Pope Francis, the first pontiff from
Latin America and a transformative figure in the
modern Roman Catholic Church, passed away on
Monday, April 21 at the age of 88, the Vatican
has announced. A statement released by Cardinal
Kevin Farrell via the Vatican's official
Telegram channel confirmed the news, saying,
"This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT), the Bishop
of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the
Father." The Argentine-born Pope had led the
Catholic Church for over 12 years, during which
he became known for his progressive views on
climate change, poverty, interfaith dialogue,
and inclusivity within the Church. His papacy
was also marked by frequent health challenges in
his later years. Just a day earlier, during his
Easter Sunday appearance, Pope Francis made a
passionate call for religious freedom,
tolerance, and peace. Addressing a crowd of more
than 35,000 from the balcony of St Peter's
Basilica, he offered his Easter greetings before
delegating the reading of the traditional Urbi
et Orbi ("To the City and the World") blessing
to an aide. In the message, he stressed the
importance of freedom of religion, thought, and
expression, calling them essential for global
peace. He also raised concerns over rising
anti-Semitism and expressed sorrow over the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing it as
"dramatic and deplorable." Pope Francis, born
Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, in 1936, made history in 2013 when he
became the first Jesuit pope and the first
non-European to hold the papacy in over 1,200
years. His leadership saw a renewed focus on
humility, social justice, and outreach to the
marginalised. |
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The
69th Annual Feast of Sacred Heart Church,
Basrikatte
A Solemn Tribute to the Late Holy Father,
Pope Francis0
 The
69th Annual Feast of Sacred Heart Church,
Basrikatte, was celebrated on 23 April 2025 with
deep spiritual solemnity. In light of the recent
passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, the
celebration was respectfully limited to
spiritual observances as a heartfelt tribute to
the beloved Holy Father. The day began with the
Reception of the Jubilee Cross at the Basrikatte
Circle. In a heartening display of unity,
members of other faith communities also joined
in offering prayers for the repose of the Holy
Father's soul. The faithful of Sacred Heart
Church, Basrikatte, together with clergy and lay
faithful, solemnly processed toward the church
premises, carrying banners and posters of Pope
Francis, and holding lit candles in remembrance
of the Holy Father, along with the Jubilee Cross
and the statue of the Sacred Heart. At the
church portico, in a moving gesture of
reverence, the faithful offered flowers before a
portrait of Pope Francis, honouring his life and
legacy of love, humility, and service to the
Church. The Feast Mass was celebrated with
profound devotion by Rev. Fr. Deepak Joseph, SMM,
and concelebrated by 20 priests from across the
diocese. Although external festivities were
curtailed, the spiritual atmosphere was deeply
enriching, filled with prayer, reflection, and
unity.
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Spiritul
Renewal: Chrism Mass in the Diocese of
Chikmagalur
 The
Chikmagalur Diocese recently held a deeply
meaningful Chrism Mass, bringing together
priests, religious sisters and brothers, and
faithful members from across the region. Bishop
Rt Rev. Dr T. Anthonyswamy led the beautiful
ceremony, which highlighted the unity of the
Church and the importance of its sacred rituals.
A central part of the Mass was the blessing of
the Holy Oils: the Oil of the Sick, used for
healing; the Oil of Catechumens, used for those
preparing for baptism; and the Sacred Chrism,
used for baptism, confirmation, and ordination.
These oils symbolize Christ's power to heal,
strengthen, and make holy. The priests also
reaffirmed their commitment to serving God and
the community. In his homily, Bishop
Anthonyswamy spoke about the shared calling of
all who serve within the Church. He emphasized
that despite differences in age or background,
they are all united in Christ's priesthood. He
explained that the day was not just about
blessing oils, but also about celebrating their
shared mission to serve as shepherds in Christ's
image. Adding to the celebration, Rev. Fr.
Adarsh, Secretary of the Bible Commission,
announced the results of the diocese-wide Bible
drawing competition, held in January.
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A
Sacred Pause: Priests Prepare Their Hearts Ahead
of the Chrism Mass
 A
spiritual recollection for the priests of the
Diocese of Chikmagalur was held on 14th April
2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The recollection
was a moment of grace and renewal, thoughtfully
organized in preparation for the Chrism Mass.
The sessions were preached by Rev. Fr. John, a
Carmelite priest, who offered two enriching
talks in the morning. Centered around the theme
"Priests Who Are One in Heart", Fr. John guided
the priests through a profound spiritual journey
with the sub-themes: Return to the Original Home
- A Jubilee Year Reflection, Rediscovering our
Identity, Purpose, and Project of Life,
Christian Identity Before Priesthood, Dangers of
a Diluted Priesthood, Remedy and Renewal:
Spiritual Communion, Mystical Encounter, and
Becoming Prophets of Love. Following the talks,
Fr. John led the priests in Eucharistic
Adoration, creating a reflective atmosphere that
prepared them for the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. In the afternoon, the priests
made their confessions and received sacramental
absolution and blessing, marking a moment of
personal spiritual renewal.
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POPE'S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS |
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CIRCULAR |
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