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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.
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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St.
Jude Church, Javali– 20th Annual Feast.
 The
annual feast of St. Jude Church, Javali,
substation of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church,
kottigehaara was celebrated on 27 October 2025
with deep faith, joy, and spiritual enthusiasm.
The celebration drew a large gathering of
parishioners and devotees from nearby parishes.
The solemn celebration began with a grace-filled
Rosary with hymns and prayers, expressing faith
and devotion to St. Jude and Mother Mary. The
church premises were beautifully decorated, and
the atmosphere was filled with reverence and
joy. The solemn festive Holy Mass was presided
over by Fr. David Prakash, Parish Priest of
Hirebyle and 9 priests con-celebrated. In his
inspiring homily, Fr. David Prakash reflected on
the life and message of St. Jude, the Apostle of
Hope, who continues to be a source of strength
and consolation in the most desperate situations
of life. He reminded the faithful that St.
Jude's intercession brings courage and renewed
hope to those who feel lost, abandoned, or
burdened by life's struggles. St. Jude, he said,
teaches us to trust in God's mercy and to remain
steadfast in faith even when the path seems
uncertain. Fr. Prakash also emphasized the
importance of synodality in the Church,
explaining that the journey of faith is not an
individual path but a shared pilgrimage of
communion, participation, and mission. He urged
the faithful to walk together as one family of
God, listening to one another, discerning the
will of the Holy Spirit, and building unity
within the Church and community. He underlined
that the feast of St. Jude is not merely a day
of festivity, but a spiritual reminder to
strengthen one's faith in Christ and to bear
witness to Him through love, humility, and
service. True Christian life, he said, is
expressed through acts of compassion,
forgiveness, and self-giving love. In the
concluding part, Fr. William Bernard, Priest
in-charge of Sacred Heart Church, Kottigehara,
extended his heartfelt gratitude to all priests,
religious, parishioners, and benefactors who
contributed to the success of the celebration.
He also appreciated the cooperation of the
faithful, choir members, volunteers, and all who
worked tirelessly to make the feast meaningful
and prayerful. The annual feast of St., Javali
thus became a joyful celebration of faith, hope,
and unity, reminding everyone that St. Jude, the
Apostle of Hope, continues to lead believers
toward Christ-the true source of peace,
hope and salvation.
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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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POPE'S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS |
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CIRCULAR |
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