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Pope Leo XIV closes Holy Door,
concluding Jubilee Year of Hope on
Lord's Epiphany
On the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the
Lord, Pope Leo XIV presides over Holy
Mass in St Peter's Basilica for some
5,800 faithful and closes the last Holy
Door - marking the official end of the
Jubilee Year of Hope.
 
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 Closing
of the Jubilee Year with the Holy Eucharist -
Diocese of Chikmagalur
 The
Jubilee Year Closing Eucharistic Celebration was
solemnly celebrated at St Joseph's Cathedral,
Diocese of Chikmagalur. Most Rev. Dr. T. Anthony
Swamy, Bishop of Chikmagalur, presided over the
Holy Eucharist and invoked God's abundant
Jubilee blessings upon the Diocese. In his
homily, the Bishop called upon the faithful to
stand in solidarity with the poor and the
marginalized, encouraging all to extend material
support through personal sacrifice and
compassionate action, in the true spirit of the
Jubilee. Following the Eucharistic Celebration,
the Diocesan Pastoral Plan for the years
2026-2028 was formally released by the Bishop in
the presence of Clergy, Religious and Faithful.
Rev. Fr. David Prakash, the Coordinator of the
Diocesan Pastoral Commissions, presented the
compiled plans prepared through the collective
efforts of the various Pastoral commissions.
With renewed zeal and commitment, all the
Pastoral Commissions pledged to work together
for the spiritual growth and holistic betterment
of the faithful of the Diocese.
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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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VIANNEY
DAY - 2026
 In
honour of St. John Mary Vianney, the Patron
Saint of Priests, the Diocese of Chikmagalur
organised a vibrant two-day celebration for the
diocesan and religious priests of the diocese.
The event provided an opportunity for
fraternity, and fellowship among the clergy.The
celebrations commenced with a half-day input
session by Rev. Dr. Vara Prasad, Professor at
St. Peter's Pontifical Institute, Bengaluru, led
an enriching session on "The Synodal
Implementation Phase," inspiring the priests to
deepen their understanding and commitment to the
synodal journey of the Church. The formation
programme was followed by a series of
recreational and fellowship activities. Priests
from the three deaneries enthusiastically
participated in the march past, fun games, quiz
competition, and cultural events, fostering
unity, teamwork, and joyful fraternity. On the
following day, the celebrations reached their
spiritual climax with the Solemn Eucharistic
Celebration presided over by Most Rev. Dr. T.
Anthony Swamy, Bishop of Chikmagalur. Following
the Holy Mass, the priests took part in
volleyball and cricket tournaments organised on
a deanery basis. The sporting events reflected
not only healthy competition but also the spirit
of camaraderie and mutual encouragement among
the clergy. The two-day Vianney Day celebrations
concluded with the prize and trophy presentation
ceremony, recognising the enthusiastic
participation and outstanding performances of
the various deaneries. The event truly reflected
the spirit of St. John Mary Vianney,
strengthening the bonds of priestly fraternity
and renewing the clergy in their shared mission
of serving the People of God.
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QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL
COMMISSIONS
April-August 2026
 The
Diocesan Pastoral Commissions, together with
their respective Secretaries and Joint
Secretaries, gathered for the Quarterly Diocesan
Pastoral Commissions' Review Meeting on 18
August 2026 at Spoorthi Sadana, the Diocesan
Pastoral Centre, Chikmagalur. The meeting
provided an opportunity for the various
Commissions to present their reports for the
period from April to August 2026, review the
activities undertaken, share their experiences,
evaluate the progress made, and identify the
challenges encountered in carrying out their
respective responsibilities. The gathering also
served as a valuable platform for mutual
sharing, collaboration, and planning for more
effective pastoral ministry in the Diocese. Rev.
Fr. David Prakash, the Diocesan Pastoral
Commissions' Coordinator, played an important
role in coordinating and accompanying the
various Commissions. His collaboration and
guidance encouraged the Commissions to
strengthen their efforts and work together
towards achieving the pastoral priorities of the
Diocese. The presence and pastoral leadership of
Most Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Swamy, Bishop of
Chikmagalur, continues to be a great source of
encouragement and direction for all the Diocesan
Commissions. His guidance and support inspire
the Commissions to carry out their
responsibilities with greater commitment and to
serve the People of God with dedication, unity,
and a spirit of collaboration. The Quarterly
Review Meeting was therefore not merely an
occasion to present reports, but also a moment
of evaluation, reflection, renewal, and
recommitment in the shared mission of Christ. It
strengthened the spirit of synodality and
collaboration among the Commissions and
encouraged them to move forward with greater
clarity and enthusiasm in serving the pastoral
needs of the Diocese.
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Annual
Retreat of the Diocesan Clergy - 2026
Strengthens Priests in Spiritual Renewal
 The
Annual Retreat for the Diocesan Clergy of
Chikmagalur Diocese was held from 20th to 24th
July 2026 at Spoorthi Sadana, the Diocesan
Pastoral Centre, Jyothinagara, Chikmagalur. The
five-day spiritual retreat was preached by Rev.
Fr. Tomy, CMF (Claretian), who guided the
priests through profound reflections. The
retreat provided a sacred opportunity for the
clergy to withdraw from their regular pastoral
responsibilities and enter into an atmosphere of
prayer, silence, reflection, contemplation, and
Eucharistic celebration. Through inspiring
reflections, meditation on the Word of God,
personal prayer, and the Sacrament of
Reconciliation, the priests experienced a deep
renewal of their vocation and commitment to
Christ. The retreat concluded with a renewed
spirit of fraternity and mission, strengthening
the clergy both spiritually and pastorally.
Filled with fresh enthusiasm and divine grace,
the priests returned to their respective
parishes, ready to continue their ministry with
greater vigour, hope, and commitment in building
the Kingdom of God and leading more souls to
Christ.
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Report
on the Annual Feast of the Holy Family Holy
Family Church, Baluru
 The
Annual Feast of the Holy Family was solemnly and
joyfully celebrated at Holy Family Church,
Baluru, with great devotion and active
participation of the faithful. The highlight of
the celebration was the festive Holy Eucharist,
for which Rev. Fr. Shanthraj R., Parish Priest
of St. Joseph's Cathedral, Chikkamagaluru, was
the main celebrant. In his homily, Fr. Shanthraj
R. beautifully reflected on the Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the perfect model for
all Christian families. He emphasized that the
Holy Family is an ideal family that placed God
at the center of life. Love, he said, is its
foundation, and forgiveness is its lifeline.
Through prayer, sacrifice, obedience, and mutual
respect, the Holy Family sanctified family life
and continues to be a guiding light for every
family today. Highlighting the challenges faced
by families in the present changing social
context, Fr. Shanthraj called upon families to
become prayer-centered once again. He stressed
that where there is prayer, there is peace;
where there is love, unity grows; and where
there is forgiveness, wounds are healed. He
encouraged family members to spend quality time
with one another, to understand each other, and
to nurture hearts filled with love and
forgiveness. On this feast of the Holy Family,
he prayed that all families may be blessed by
God and become true witnesses of prayer, love,
forgiveness, obedience, patience, sacrifice, and
moral values. Concelebrating the Holy Eucharist
along with the main celebrant were Rev. Fr.
Santosh Kumar, Rev. Fr. Adarsh, Rev. Fr. Keerthi
Kiran, Rev. Fr. Rayappa, Rev. Fr. Arun, Rev. Fr.
Thomas, and Rev. Fr. David Prakash. After the
Holy Mass, a solemn procession was held with the
chariot carrying the statue of the Holy Family,
creating a deeply prayerful and festive
atmosphere in the village. The celebration
concluded with a festive dinner, fostering
fellowship and joy among all the faithful
gathered for the occasion. The Annual Feast of
the Holy Family at Baluru thus became a
meaningful spiritual event, strengthening family
bonds and inspiring the faithful to live
according to the values of the Holy Family in
their daily lives.
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Closing
of the Jubilee Year with the Holy Eucharist -
Diocese of Chikmagalur
The
Jubilee Year Closing Eucharistic Celebration was
solemnly celebrated at St Joseph's Cathedral,
Diocese of Chikmagalur. Most Rev. Dr. T. Anthony
Swamy, Bishop of Chikmagalur, presided over the
Holy Eucharist and invoked God's abundant
Jubilee blessings upon the Diocese. In his
homily, the Bishop called upon the faithful to
stand in solidarity with the poor and the
marginalized, encouraging all to extend material
support through personal sacrifice and
compassionate action, in the true spirit of the
Jubilee. Following the Eucharistic Celebration,
the Diocesan Pastoral Plan for the years
2026-2028 was formally released by the Bishop in
the presence of Clergy, Religious and Faithful.
Rev. Fr. David Prakash, the Coordinator of the
Diocesan Pastoral Commissions, presented the
compiled plans prepared through the collective
efforts of the various Pastoral commissions.
With renewed zeal and commitment, all the
Pastoral Commissions pledged to work together
for the spiritual growth and holistic betterment
of the faithful of the Diocese.
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POPE'S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS |
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CIRCULAR |
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