Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Dec 24: As the Mangalore diocese gears up for the Jubilee Year 2025, a series of spiritual events and initiatives are being planned to commemorate this significant milestone. Centred on the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ the Jubilee year aims to inspire the faithful to deepen their spiritual lives through acts of devotion and pilgrimages to holy sites.
Under the guidance of Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, the Mangalore diocese is organizing yearlong celebrations to mark this momentous occasion with faith and fervour. The bishop emphasized the theme of the jubilee, stating that it invites believers to embrace hope and actively engage in their spiritual journeys.
Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha
To prepare for the Jubilee Year, eight holy sites have been identified within the Mangalore diocese, which Bishop Saldanha has encouraged the faithful to visit, urging them to participate as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
The jubilee celebrations will officially commence on Christmas Eve, offering an opportunity for believers to perform pious acts, visit holy sites, and seek remission of sins. The Vatican will inaugurate the Jubilee Year on December 24, while Mangaluru's celebration will begin on December 29. A prayer ritual at Bolar St Ann's Convent will set the stage, followed by a solemn procession to the Rosario Cathedral. The celebrations will culminate with a Eucharistic Mass led by Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, with the participation of several priests.
As part of the Jubilee Year 2025, eight churches within the diocese have been designated as holy sites. These include St Lawrence Church, Bondel; Pompei Church, Urwa; Rosario Cathedral; St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu; St Joseph Vaz Church, Mudipu; St Jude’s Church, Pakshikere; Infant Jesus Church, Bantwal; and Our Lady of Dolours Church, Bela.
In addition, various programmes will be conducted at diocesan, ward, and church levels, in alignment with directives from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI). The jubilee celebrations in the Mangalore diocese will continue until the end of 2025, as confirmed by Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha.