Circular 01/2025 January 01, 2025
My dear Collaborators,
We have just entered the New Year 2025 – a year that is new, bright, and filled with promises galore. I take this opportunity to wish you and the members of your Communities a Happy New Year 2025. May the Good Lord continue to accompany us as we march forward all through the New Year courageously. We do not know what is in store for us, but we believe that the New Year will bring many blessings on each one of us, as we strive to be messengers of HOPE to the people we minister to every day of our lives. Pope Francis lamented the suffering afflicting our world, saying humanity has great need of hope. In the words of Pope Francis who said, “Christian hope is a gift from God that fills our lives with joy” calling hope an anchor for our lives. “We have to hold onto the rope of hope – hold on tight”, the Pope acclaimed and he continued, Christians are called to allow God to fill their lives with hope, so that they become gifts of hope for everyone around them.
We inaugurated the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 in our Diocese on Sunday, December 29, 2024. It was indeed a joyful moment for me to witness the number of people: priests, religious men and women and our Lay Faithful of our Diocese participate in the inaugural Mass. I am sure you will organize many programmes at the parish and zonal levels to ensure that our people become more and more hope-filled. One of the ways, I am proposing to bring hope to our people is by visiting them regularly. Could we, as witnesses of Jesus who visited HIS people during the public ministry also visit our parishioners once a week? You will see the impact of visiting the parishioners in the months and years ahead. Our people will come to the Church and keep in touch with you and get involved in pastoral activities. The sick and homebound, the distressed and disadvantaged and others will ever remain grateful to you for having visited them. You may use other means to bring and instill hope in the lives of the parishioners entrusted to your care. May the Lord continue to inspire us bring HOPE to our parishioners.
The Pilgrim Cross is going around the parishes of our Diocese. Those Parish Priests who need extra days so as to keep the Cross in their parishes are requested to contact Fr Kishor Vidhate, Coordinator, Ordinary Jubilee Committee, Diocese of Nashik. I am sure Fr Kishor will grant you your request once the Pilgrim Cross has visited all the parishes. As mentioned earlier, the Pilgrim Cross can be kept in the Convents and/or Shrine(s). Please ensure that no garland should be put on the Pilgrim Cross at all.
The month of January brings a number of Feasts and Solemnities: the Memorial of Sts Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen (January 02); the Most Holy Name of Jesus (January 03); the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (January 05); the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 12); the memorial of St Devasahayam (January 14); the memorial of St Joseph Vaz (January 16); the memorial of St Anthony (January 17); the memorial of St Sebastian (January 20) the memorial of St Agnes (January 21); the memorial of St Francis de Sales (January 24); the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul (January 25); the memorial of Sts Timothy and Titus (January 27); the memorial of St Thomas Aquinas (January 28) and the memorial of St John Bosco (January 31).
During the month of January, we have two special occasions: we celebrate Vocation Sunday (Sunday, January 19) and the Christian Unity Week (January 18-25). In the light of the decline of vocations, could we try ways and means to motivate our young boys and girls to join the Seminary, Religious life, and/or Convent? Many parishes have Adoration Services on the First Friday of the month: could we have a special prayer being prayed for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. I am enclosing Pope Francis’ thoughts on Vocations and his message on the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
I take this occasion to remind you to take care of your health. Please rest well and have good food. I need you in our Diocese and without you and your collaborative ministry, I will not be able to do anything. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask me. Together, we work for the growth of our Diocese.
Thank you very much for your selfless services which you render to your parishioners faithfully. I feel blessed to have you as my collaborators. May the Good Lord continue to inspire us to be HIS dedicated disciples in our Diocese.
God bless you and with every good wish,
Yours in Christ,
✠ Barthol Barretto Bishop, Diocese of Nashik