Circular 10/2026

April 01, 2026

My dear collaborators,

I am writing to you as we begin a month that is special to us: a month in which we are going to celebrate the Sacred Triduum from tomorrow and the Solemn Feast of Easter. All of us will soon sing joyfully: Christ is Risen and Alleluia is our song of joy. May the days ahead inspire us to keep our eyes focused on JESUS and our ears to LISTEN to what HE is going to speak to us so that we can truly be HIS witnesses to the people we minister to daily.

I take this occasion to thank you sincerely for your participation in the Chrism Mass on Thursday, March 26 at St Anne Cathedral, Nashik. Personally speaking, it was a joyful occasion for me to meet and greet you, to see you attend the Chrism Mass in such large numbers and to bless and consecrate the Sacred Oils and most importantly, to wish you on the Grounds during the dinner table fellowship. Thank you for the selfless work you are doing in the parishes and institutions in our Diocese. May the Lord Jesus continue to inspire all of us to walk in HIS footsteps so that we become HIS dedicated disciples to all those we come in contact with in our ministry.

As we begin the Sacred Triduum from tomorrow, I wish to remind you to follow the guidelines which I issued to you a couple of days ago. Please do not make any compromises with regard to the Liturgy.

I assure you of my special prayer for you tomorrow as we celebrate Maundy Thursday: the institution of the Last Supper and the Gift of the Priesthood. Thank you, my dear brothers, for your presence in our Diocese. Your presence makes me feel joyful as we share in the Gift of the Unum Presbyterium with Jesus as the Eternal High Priest always inspiring us to serve and not to be served. May we continue to be of service to the people entrusted to our care today and always.

May the celebration of Good Friday remind us that we are called to follow Jesus who did good to the people who came in contact with HIM: HE healed the sick, HE raised the dead to life; HE reached out in service and what was the end result? For the good Jesus did, HE was nailed to the Cross. In the eyes of the Pharisees and the High Priest and officials of Jesus’ time, they thought that they got rid of Jesus once and for all. They nailed Jesus to the Cross along with two robbers. But they were sadly mistaken as Jesus proved them wrong. HE ROSE GLORIOUSLY and TRIUMPHANTLY from the dead on Easter Sunday.

As we celebrate Easter Sunday, may we experience the Risen JESUS in our lives so that we too rise from all that displeases Jesus and continue to walk in HIS footsteps. May the Risen Jesus continue to inspire us to do good no matter what the situation. May our people recognize the LIVING JESUS in and through our ministry so that they too are inspired to do good and, in turn, become living witnesses of the Risen Jesus in their homes and neighbourhood.

I take this opportunity to wish you A HAPPY EASTER, in anticipation. May the joys of Easter which we will experience inspire us to share the gift of Hope with those we minister to in our parishes and institutions. May our people continue to experience the JOYS OF THE RISEN CHRIST who is our Hope amidst the challenges and difficult situations they face in their lives. May the Risen Christ continue to accompany us and use us for the growth of the Kingdom of God in our Diocese. While wishing your parishioners, please include my personal blessings, especially for the sick and homebound members of their families.

I know that you will be busy during the Easter Week blessing the homes of your parishioners. Please be careful and ensure that you hydrate yourself as the heat is strong and intense and dehydration will make you feel sick and fatigued. You are special to me and I want each one of you to take care of your health.

As we come to the end of yet another year, may I sincerely request you to please take utmost care of the Church property/properties. Kindly see that the property is well guarded and fenced after having done the Government Survey. As mentioned to you in an earlier circular, please put up a sign board in the property/properties indicating the name of the Church Trust: Plot bearing CTS No./Survey No. …………………… belongs to the …………………… (name of the Church Trust). You may choose to write the text in English and/or Marathi. This is urgent and important and must be adhered to at the earliest. I do not want any of our Church Trust properties to be encroached upon by known and unknown persons.

I take this occasion once again to thank you immensely for all the selfless work you are doing in the parishes and institutions in our Diocese. Please note that you are a GIFT to me: Each one of us is God’s gift and together we have a responsibility placed on our shoulders, namely to bring hope to the people whom we are ministering to.

God bless you and with every good wish,

Yours in Christ,

✠Barthol Barretto

Bishop, Diocese of Nashik