Circular: 21/2024 August 01, 2024
My dear Collaborators,
We are in the month of August and the month begins with an important feast for us priests. We will be celebrating the Feast of St John Marie Vianney, the Patron of priests engaged in pastoral ministry on Sunday, August 04. This special day invites us, as priests, to reflect on the exemplary life of our patron, St John Marie Vianney - his profound love for his people, his relentless efforts to make his parish in Ars a vibrant community of faith, and his unwavering dedication to the Sacrament of Penance, spending countless hours in the confessional at the service of his people as a channel of the Mercy of God. These qualities resonate deeply with you, dear Fathers, and I am personally grateful for your commitment and dedication. Thank you for your selfless service in so many ways to the people entrusted to your pastoral care.
Vianney Sunday is also a time when our lay faithful express their appreciation, affection, and gratitude to our priests. It means a lot to all of us. Embracing the spirit of Synodality, we are reminded of the importance of walking together as one Church always along with our people as together we make up the People of God on mission.
I take this opportunity to personally thank all of you my brother priests in our Diocese - both Diocesan and Religious - who are involved in pastoral ministry and beyond. I do so on my behalf, on behalf of Bishop Lourdes Daniel, and on behalf of the people you serve. Your dedication, commitment, and generosity in serving our community are deeply appreciated. God has blessed our Diocese with devoted priests who continuously strive for greater effectiveness in pastoral work, growing in holiness, leading our people wisely, and giving a clear thrust to our ministry of service.
In 2009, on the occasion of the 150th Birth Anniversary of St John Marie Vianney, Pope Benedict XVI stated, “In his time, the Cure of Ars was able to transform the hearts and the lives of so many people because he enabled them to experience the Lord’s merciful love. Our own time urgently needs a similar proclamation and witness to the truth of Love: for God is Love (1 John 4:8)”. I am confident that all of us will strive to follow the example of our Patron St John Marie Vianney.
I wish to bring to your attention an important aspect of our pastoral ministry. My predecessor, Bishop Lourdes Daniel, informed me that he had a benefactor abroad who used to give him Mass Intentions and that he would make the same available to all the Diocesan priests in our Diocese. I wish to inform you that I do not have any benefactor abroad and hence, I will not be able to give you any Mass intentions. I wish to add here that I will offer a special Mass for all your intentions on Sunday, August 04, 2024.
Please continue to pray for me and all our brother priests serving in our Diocese.
I wish you a Happy Vianney Sunday. May God continue to bless us abundantly as we strive to be synodal priests, walking together in faith and service.
Yours in Christ,
+Barthol Barretto Bishop, Diocese of Nashik