Circular 05/2026

March 01, 2026

My dear Collaborators,

We have already entered the Season of Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday on February 18 and since then, I am sure you have already initiated organizing the traditional Way of the Cross in the parishes and villages and other Lenten programmes for the spiritual growth of your parishioners. My earnest request to you is to organize spiritual programmes (Lenten Recollections, etc.) for the parishioners so that they experience peace and joy in their lives through growth in their love for Jesus.

Thank you very much for having attended the Recollection on Thursday, February 19. Fr Ivo Coelho SDB did well to speak to us and enthuse us to TOUCH and BE TOUCHED BY JESUS. Through an array of Scripture references, Fr Ivo helped us to reflect on how the people in Jesus’ time touched HIM and they, in turn, experienced peace, joy and happiness in their lives. Fr Ivo also dwelt on the Sacrament of Reconciliation through which we experience the healing and loving touch of Jesus in our lives.

May I bring to your kind attention a few points for your reflection all based on the Season of Lent, Prayer-Fasting-Almsgiving:

PRAYER: We know that Lent is a grace-filled Season when the Church invites us to be men and women of prayer. It is our responsibility to explain to the parishioners entrusted to our care on the importance of praying as a family so that they, in turn, experience Jesus as the Way, Truth and Life. Sometimes, our people are so busy with their work that they find it difficult to spend time in prayer. Could we organize some spiritual programmes for our parishioners so that they experience a deeper intimacy with the Lord Jesus in their lives. As my collaborators, could we also become men and women of prayer? Can we spend some time each day praying the Breviary, Rosary, reading some spiritual books, spending some time before the Blessed Sacrament, etc.

FASTING: I am sure that many of us will be fasting from food during the Season of Lent. This is indeed a good sign. I would encourage you to do so. A modern way of fasting is to fast from negative thoughts, anger, hatred, criticizing others, etc. Could we pray to the Lord Jesus to give us the graces required so that through our fasting, we may come to experience HIM in our lives in a deeper manner.

ALMSGIVING: Another way through which we can experience the real presence of Jesus in our lives is through Almsgiving. Jesus in the Gospel of St Matthew (Mt 25: 31-46) says, “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers (and sisters) you do it unto me”. I believe that if we want to experience Jesus tangibly in our lives then there is no other option but to visit the sick, the homeless, those on the peripheries, those without “roti, kapda aur makan”, those for whom daily life is a struggle for survival. It is when we reach out and spend time with our brothers and sisters in need that we will experience the real and living Jesus in our lives. And so, my request to you which I have been repeatedly doing so in all my circulars is to visit your parishioners regularly. My dear collaborators, Jesus visited HIS people; if HE, our Lord and Master, has taught us to visit our brothers and sisters, could we not do so by visiting our own parishioners at least once a week in a regular and systematic manner? You will not imagine the blessings which you will experience from JESUS who is our Salvation and our Inspiration.

Enclosed herewith, please find a summary of Pope Leo’s Lenten Message to the Universal Church.

Pope Leo's Lenten Message 3 Points 2026.pdf

Download PDF • 102KB

Another important point which I want to bring to your kind attention is about the celebration of the Chrism Mass in our Diocese. Chrism Mass will be celebrated at St Anne’s Cathedral on Thursday, March 26 at 5.00 p.m. Last year, as in the past few years, a large number of our priests along with our religious men and women participated in the Chrism Mass. This is indeed a good sign and I would want each one of you to participate in the Chrism Mass. Should you have an evening Mass in your Church on Thursday, March 26, you may cancel it as I would be very happy to interact with you and thank you for being my collaborators and for the services which you render selflessly in our Diocese. Immediately after the Chrism Mass, we will have a festive dinner at Bishop’s House to celebrate the gift of our Unum Presbyterium. 

As mentioned to you during the recollection on Thursday, February 19, I will be sending you some guidelines shortly to be observed during the celebration of the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil). Please follow the Liturgical Guidelines in your parishes strictly. I am confident you will do the needful.

In conclusion, I sincerely thank you for your wholehearted support and collaboration. Without you and your brotherly support, I would be finding it difficult to minister to the needs of the people entrusted to our care. I must acknowledge that you are exercising your ministry in a selfless manner. I believe that the Good Lord is inspiring us to take our Diocese forward and to transform it into a reflection of His Kingdom here on earth.

God bless you and may you have a fruitful Season of Lent,

Yours in Christ,

✠Barthol Barretto

Bishop, Diocese of Nashik