Diocese of Mangalore Inaugurates Jubilee 2025: A Year of Hope

Mangalore, December 30, 2024: The Diocese of Mangalore officially inaugurated the Jubilee Year 2025, themed "A Year of Hope," with a solemn ceremony held at the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Mangaluru on December 29. This global event, proclaimed by Pope Francis, began on Christmas Eve and was marked locally in Mangalore coinciding with the Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The celebrations commenced with a procession at St. Anne Chapel at 7:30 a.m., led by Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha of Mangalore and accompanied by priests, religious leaders and lay faithful. The procession entered through the Holy Doors of the Rosario Cathedral, where the Holy Cross was honored.

During the ceremony, Bishop Saldanha blessed the baptismal pond and led the faithful in renewing their baptismal promises, followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. In his homily, the bishop highlighted the theme of the Jubilee Year, "Hope doesn’t disappoint us," urging the congregation to embrace hope as a transformative force in their lives. He emphasized that hope, rooted in love, calls the faithful to become "people of hope," spreading the light of Christ throughout the world. The bishop also reflected on the significance of love and trust in God’s providence, drawing inspiration from Jesus, His mother and St. Joseph.

The event saw the participation of several clergy, including Rev. Msgr. Maxim Noronha, Vicar General, and Rev. Fr. Naveen Pinto, Judicial Vicar. The Diocese of Mangalore has set the tone for the Jubilee Year 2025 with a focus on spiritual renewal, hope, and unity among the faithful.

By Fr. Anil Ivan Fernandes