Circular: 11/2024 June 01, 2024
My dear Collaborators,
We have just begun a new pastoral year – June 01, 2024 to May 31,2025. My prayer is that the new pastoral year be filled with numerous blessings of peace, joy and happiness. Some of us may be gripped by fear and anxieties; this is human and natural. But as believers in the God of Love and more so, as Disciples of Jesus, we trust in His providential care, for He will never abandon us. I believe that Jesus will continue to accompany us, His disciples, and use us for the growth of our Diocese, and transform it into a reflection of His Kingdom here on earth.
Many of our parishes and institutions will have new personnel. While I welcome each one of them, may I earnestly request that we work together in a spirit of Communion, Participation and Mission, thereby translating the Synod vision into reality. May our priestly ministry and/or apostolate enable us to lead God’s holy people entrusted to our care with utmost love and goodwill following the example of Jesus the eternal Shepherd.
The month of June is filled with a number of Liturgical Feasts (the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Anthony of Padua, the Solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, and others). May all our Liturgical celebrations be occasions where we experience Communion with the Lord Jesus, who challenges us to participate in the joys and struggles of our people, and enthuses us to reach out in missionary love and care to the most weak and fragile in our parishes and institutions.
For us in the Diocese of Nashik, we need to look ahead and plan for the second phase of the Synod that will take place in Rome in October 2024. We need to also plan for the Jubilee Year 2025 with its theme, `Pilgrims of Hope’. Permit me to remind you that I sent you some material regarding the Jubilee Year a few weeks ago. Information about the Jubilee Year 2025 will be communicated to you from time to time. It is important that each of us use these for our personal reflection and also communicate the same to our people so that we can all prepare for the Holy Jubilee Year.
One of the beautiful traditions in our Diocese is the monthly meeting of the priests. There are some months when our Religious men and women are also invited to participate. I would certainly desire to continue this tradition. Our first meeting of all the Diocesan priests and those Religious priests involved in parishes and pastoral activities will be on Monday, June 17, 2024 at St Anne’s Cathedral from 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. followed by lunch. There will be three important points, one of them being Financial Administration in our parishes, discussed during the meeting. We will also have our first meeting of the newly elected Priests’ Council on the same day from 2.30 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. followed by Tea. All the members of the Priests’ Council are requested to attend.
As mentioned to you in my first circular, I will start visiting all the parishes of our Diocese in a systematic manner. My Office will coordinate the visits with the Parish Priests. Information about my visits will be communicated to you well in advance.
May I request you to pray for me and my ministry of service. May the Lord continue to bless each one of us.
Thank you for all the selfless services that you render to the people entrusted to your care, and with every good wish,
Yours in Christ,
+Barthol Barretto Bishop, Diocese of Nashik
PRIESTS’ COUNCIL MEMBERS
Ex-Officio Members:
Fr Vasant Sojwal and Fr Anil Gonsalves OFM Cap
Diocesan Elected Members:
Fr Wilson Rodrigues, Fr Paul D’Silva, Fr Prakash Raut, Fr Vilas Sonawane, Fr Allwyn Kalaghatki, Fr Sachin Muntode, Fr Kishor Vidhate and Fr Sandeep Kolge
Religious Nominated Members:
Fr Royal D’Abreo SDB, Fr Richard D’Silva SDB, Fr Xavier Kandulna OP, Fr Neville Fernandes CSsR, Fr Francis Patekar SJ, Fr Malcolm Nato SJ and Fr Vijay Gonsalves SJ