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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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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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Annual
Feast of Holy Family Church, Vijayapura,
Chikmagalur
 The
Annual Feast of Holy Family Church, Vijayapura,
Chikmagalur, was celebrated with great devotion
and joy. The celebration became even more
special with the blessing and inauguration of
the newly constructed arch by Dr. T. Anthony
Swamy, Bishop of Chikmagalur. The new structure
stands as a symbol of faith and unity among the
parishioners. On the festal day, a solemn Holy
Mass was offered by Bishop Dr. T. Anthony Swamy.
During this Eucharistic celebration, 51
candidates received the Sacrament of
Confirmation, strengthening their bond with the
Church and their commitment to Christian life.
The Bishop expressed his gratitude to the Lord
for the abundant blessings showered upon the
parish and encouraged the faithful to continue
in the spirit of prayer and service. In the
evening, a Thanksgiving Adoration was held,
allowing parishioners to reflect on the
blessings received. The day concluded with a
grand procession carrying the statue of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus through the parish
premises. The entire celebration was marked by
reverence, unity, and deep spiritual joy, truly
making it a day of prayer and thanksgiving.
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St.
Thomas Church, Tarikere Celebrates Its 52nd
Annual Feast
 Tarikere,
October 12:
St. Thomas Church, Tarikere joyfully celebrated
its 52nd Annual Feast on Sunday, October 12th,
with great devotion and community spirit. The
celebration witnessed the participation of
around 22 priests, several religious sisters,
and nearly 350 faithful from the parish and
neighbouring communities. The Thanksgiving
Eucharist was solemnly offered by Rev. Fr. Peter
Brank, while Rev. Fr. Lancy Pinto delivered an
inspiring homily, reflecting on the feast's core
theme, "We are the Pilgrims of Hope." Following
the Holy Mass, a grand Eucharistic procession
was held through the streets of Tarikere,
carrying the Blessed Sacrament and the statue of
St. Thomas, the patron of the parish. The
faithful participated prayerfully, expressing
their devotion and faith. The celebration
concluded with a fellowship meal, fostering a
spirit of unity and joy among the parishioners.
The 52nd Annual Feast of St. Thomas Church thus
became a memorable occasion of faith, hope, and
communion.
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POPE'S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS |
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CIRCULAR |
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