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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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St
Joseph's Church, Hirebile Celebrates 82nd Annual
Parochial Feast
 St
Joseph's Church, Hirebile, joyfully celebrated
its 82nd Annual Parochial Feast on May 1st,
coinciding with International Labour Day.
Fittingly, the church is dedicated to St Joseph
the Worker, the patron saint of workers. In
spiritual preparation for the feast, a nine-day
Novena was held in honour of St Joseph, invoking
his intercession for the well-being of both the
parishioners and the Universal Church. Each day
of the Novena included special prayers for
various intentions, fostering a spirit of
devotion and unity within the community. On
April 30th, the eve of the feast, a grand finale
celebration was held. The Holy Mass was solemnly
offered by Fr Patrick Jones, followed by the
distribution of blessed candles to devotees and
donors. This was succeeded by a grand car
procession, during which the statue of St Joseph
the Worker was reverently carried through the
streets of the village. Over 400 devotees
participated in this vibrant and prayerful
event. Following the procession, Benediction of
the Blessed Sacrament was held, giving thanks to
God for His blessings. The celebration concluded
with an Agape meal shared among the faithful,
fostering fellowship and joy. On the Feast Day,
May 1st, the Solemn Festal Mass was offered by
Fr Peter Brank, who delivered an inspiring
homily on the theme "Pilgrims of Hope." The
feast was marked by deep spiritual fervour,
community participation, and gratitude for the
legacy of faith handed down through generations.
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EPHPHATHA
2025: Lighting the Path of Faith for Tomorrow’s
Church
 The
Ephphatha Camp was successfully conducted from
23rd to 25th April 2025 at Balehonnur for the
6th and 7th standard children from various
parishes under the Balehonnur Deanery. A total
of 110 children actively participated in this
spiritually enriching event, which aimed to
impart liturgical awareness, strengthen moral
values, and deepen the spiritual foundation of
young participants through faith-based learning
and fellowship. The camp was organized under the
leadership of Fr Supreeth Menezes, Secretary of
the Diocesan Liturgy Commission, and Fr Vincent
Marcel Pinto, Joint Secretary. They were ably
supported by Fr Keerthi Kiran, Fr Paul D'Souza,
Fr William Periera, Fr Anil Lobo, and Sr Veena,
who all played significant roles in engaging and
instructing the children. Over the course of
three days, the camp covered a wide range of
spiritual and liturgical topics through
interactive sessions, group discussions,
activities, and prayer moments.
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Formed
to Serve: A Liturgical Training Camp for Altar
Servers
 The
Liturgy Commission, in collaboration with the
Social Communication Commission of the Diocese
of Chikmagalur, conducted a one-day Altar
Servers' Camp on 22nd April 2025 at Holy Family
Church, Sundekere. This camp was specially
organized for altar servers from six parishes:
Arehalli, Sakaleshpura, Matasagara, Fatimapura,
Belur, and Sundekere, with a total of 45
children participating.
The main objective of the camp was to educate
young altar servers about the sacredness of
their ministry, deepen their understanding of
the Holy Mass, and strengthen their commitment
to serving at the altar with devotion and
discipline.
The sessions were led by Fr Supreeth Menezes,
Secretary of the Liturgy Commission of the
Diocese. He taught the children several key
topics, including:
• The importance of the altar server's role in
the liturgy
• The meaning and structure of the Holy Mass
• The discipline and behaviour expected at the
altar
• The significance of postures and gestures used
during the liturgy
• The names and purposes of religious articles
used in the celebration of the Mass
• The value of full, active, and conscious
participation in the liturgy
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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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POPE'S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS |
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CIRCULAR |
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