Circular 01/2026

January 01, 2026

My dear collaborators,

 We have just entered the New Year 2026. Most of us, if not all, will have participated in the Thanksgiving Prayer Service held last evening when we thanked God for having given us the gift of the Year 2025 and for the pleasant experiences, we have had all through the year. While some of us may have had our anxieties and difficult situations to cope with, the Lord has been gracious enough to have accompanied us all through these dark moments. And for this, we need to thank and praise God. We have celebrated the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, our Heavenly Mother who has taught us to say YES to God and NO to sin. Let us surrender the New Year 2026 into the hands of Our Lady who will surely intercede for us and help us become more and more like her. May we take her message given to the stewards at the wedding feast of Cana seriously: “Do whatever HE tells you to do”. If only we listen to Jesus and do whatever He tells us to do, I am sure we will experience joy and happiness in our lives.

We concluded the Jubilee Year on December 28 at St Teresa Church, Harigaon. Last year, we inaugurated the Jubilee Year at St Anne’s Cathedral, Nashik with the theme: Pilgrims of Hope. I feel happy to inform you that a large number of parishes organized various programmes for the children, youth, adults and senior citizens on the theme, Pilgrims of Hope. The Jubilee Cross went to all the parishes and institutions of our Diocese. A large number of our people experienced numerous graces and blessings from the Jubilee Cross. Thank you, dear Fathers, for having helped our people to experience peace and blessings in their lives by taking the Jubilee Cross to the various villages and also organizing Prayer Services for the benefit of our people.

Since we have concluded the Jubilee Year, I am wondering if we should also stop becoming Pilgrims of Hope. It is my fervent desire that we continue to become Pilgrims of Hope in the New Year by visiting the sick, homebound, exploited, marginalized and most importantly, those who do not have anyone to look after them. As witnesses of Jesus who visited HIS people during the public ministry, could we also continue visiting our parishioners? You will soon realize the impact of your visitation: our people will come to the Church; they will keep in touch with you and get involved in pastoral activities. The sick and homebound, the distressed and disadvantaged will always remain grateful to you for having visited them. And hence, may I earnestly request you to visit the homes of your parishioners once a week and pray with them and bless them. I am confident of your cooperation in this regard.

As mentioned to you on Friday, December 19, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) with due procedures followed, has informed us that the Holy See has granted us a new Patron Saint of the Laity, St Lazarus Devasahayam. This Feast must be celebrated in all the parishes and institutions of our Diocese on January 14 each year. I will send you the Liturgy to be followed for the Feast of St Lazarus Devasahayam shortly. Similarly, I am requesting you to organize Prayer Services on the occasion of the Unity Octave Week from January 18 to January 25. I will send you the Prayer Services to be conducted in your parishes in due course. May I gently remind you that all Communio Sunday collections must be sent to the Bishop’s House via NEFT/RGTS immediately, but not later than Monday, January 19, 2026.

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 04); the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 11); 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 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 will be celebrating Vocation Sunday on Sunday, January 18. Fr Sachin Muntode, Vocation Promoter, will send you the Liturgy to be observed in the parishes. Please try and motivate the youngsters of your parishes to join the Priesthood and Religious Life. During the First Friday Adoration Service and also on Sundays, could you add one prayer in the Prayer of the Faithful for vocations to the priesthood and religious life? I believe the Lord will most certainly bless us with good vocations.

Thank you very much for your selfless services which you render to your parishioners daily. 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