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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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Marriage
Preparation Course
 The
Family Apostolate of the Diocese of Chikmagalur
conducted a two-day Marriage Preparation Course
(Pre-Cana) on the 16th and 17th of August 2025
at Spoorthi Sadana, Chikmagalur. The program was
organized with the aim of preparing young
couples for the sacrament of Holy Matrimony,
helping them understand the spiritual,
emotional, and practical dimensions of married
life. A total of 15 participants (7 couples and
one individual) attended the program. The
sessions were interactive, prayerful, and deeply
enriching, designed to help the participants
grow in mutual understanding and in their
relationship with God. Various experienced and
qualified resource persons, including priests,
married couples, counselors, and medical
professionals, guided the sessions with
expertise and pastoral sensitivity. We thank God
for the success of this program and pray that
all participants may continue to grow in love,
faith, and commitment as they prepare to enter
into the sacred bond of marriage. We also
express our heartfelt gratitude to the parish
priests who encouraged and guided the
participants to attend the program, and for
their continued support towards the mission of
building strong and faith-filled families in our
Diocese.
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Canon
Law Seminar for Clergy Held in Chikmagalur,
Karnataka
 The
Canon Law Desk of the Diocese of Chikmagalur
organized a Canon Law Seminar for the clergy on
August 28, 2025, at Spoorthi Sadana, the
Diocesan Pastoral Centre. The programme was held
to enhance the participants' understanding of
pastoral and judicial responsibilities in
tribunal ministry. The seminar addressed the
theme "Pastoral and Judicial Responsibilities of
the Parish Priest in the Tribunal Ministry and
Recent Developments and Normative Updates in
Canonical Sanctions." Rev. Dr. T. Lourd Swamy,
President of the Canon Law Society of India,
served as the resource person for the seminar.
He shared his expertise on the functioning of
the Ecclesiastical Tribunal, highlighting the
pivotal role of parish priests in initiating
cases. He also elaborated on the recent
amendments in canonical sanctions and their
pastoral implications, ensuring that
participants were informed about the latest
developments in church law. The interactive
session enabled the clergy to seek
clarifications on pastoral queries and deepen
their understanding of Canon Law. The seminar
proved enriching and insightful, equipping
priests with updated knowledge to discharge
their pastoral and judicial duties more
effectively.
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REPORT
ON THE SEMINAR ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND
PASTORAL MINISTRY
 The
Diocese of Chikmagalur organized a one-day
seminar on "Artificial Intelligence and its
Relevance for Pastoral Ministry" for the clergy
of the diocese on 27th August 2025 at St.
Joseph's School, Cathedral Campus, Chikmagalur.
The seminar aimed to help the clergy understand
the growing significance of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) in today's world and to
explore how it can be effectively integrated
into the mission of the Church, particularly in
the areas of pastoral care, evangelization, and
administration.
Resource Persons
The sessions were animated by two distinguished
experts from St. Aloysius Deemed to be
University, Mangalore:
* Mr. Royal Praveen D'Souza, Assistant Professor
with 12 years of experience, a specialist in
Artificial Intelligence and Management Systems.
* Dr. Reji P. John, Assistant Professor of
Economics, who provided valuable insights into
the socio-economic and ethical implications of
AI.
Highlights of the Seminar
Mr. Roayal Praveen D'Souza and Dr. Reji P.
John delivered comprehensive presentations on
the foundations of AI and its applications
across different sectors. They highlighted how
AI-driven tools and digital systems can serve
the Church by enhancing pastoral administration,
strengthening communication with the faithful,
and streamlining parish management. The sessions
also shed light on the new opportunities AI
offers for evangelization through digital
platforms, while at the same time underlining
the need for ethical discernment to ensure that
technology always remains at the service of
human dignity.
Conclusion
The seminar proved to be an enriching and
thought-provoking experience. It enabled the
clergy to appreciate the potential of Artificial
Intelligence as a valuable tool that can support
and strengthen pastoral ministry, while
reaffirming that the essence of the Church's
mission continues to rest on human touch,
compassion, and spiritual discernment.
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Annual
Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish -
Gadenahalli
 The
annual feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish,
Gadenahalli, was joyfully celebrated on 7th
August 2025. The solemn Holy Eucharist was
presided over by Most Reverend Dr. T. Anthony
Swamy, Bishop of Chikmagalur, who prayed for the
spiritual growth and well-being of the entire
parish community. In the evening, the faithful
gathered for the recitation of the Holy Rosary,
followed by Eucharistic Adoration, and a grand
chariot procession of St. Ignatius of Loyola
through the locality, filling the atmosphere
with devotion and festivity. The celebrations
concluded with a vibrant display of fireworks,
marking the joyous occasion. In preparation for
the feast, a three-day Novena was devoutly
observed, enriching the community with spiritual
fervour and deepening their faith.
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Feast
of St. Lawrence at Mallandur
 St. Lawrence Church, Mallandur joyfully
celebrated the feast of its patron saint, St.
Lawrence, on 10 August. The celebration began
with a solemn festive Mass, attended by
parishioners, guests, and well-wishers. The
liturgy was marked with special prayers, hymns,
and a homily highlighting the life, virtues, and
martyrdom of St. Lawrence, inspiring the
faithful to live with faith and service. After
the Eucharistic celebration, the congregation
gathered for some games conducted by the parish
youth. The event concluded feastive meal with
expressions of gratitude to all who contributed
to the success of the feast.
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POPE'S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS |
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CIRCULAR |
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