Mangaluru: Bishop Dr Aloysius D’Souza celebrated Christmas with journalists at the Bishop’s House here, on December 23. PRO of Mangaluru Diocese, Fr William Menezes welcomed the gathering.
Bishop Aloysius cut the Christmas cake and inaugurated the programme. He conveyed his Christmas greetings to all the people of the society, wishing that the joy of this feast may reach all the people, the old and the young, the poor and the weak, and that there may be peace and prosperity everywhere in our nation.
The Roman Pontiff Pope Francis has announced a Jubilee year of mercy from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016. The birth of Jesus Christ is a great sign of mercy from God to humankind. We too need to be merciful as the son of God was merciful. We should show mercy even when we experience injustice from others and never take revenge. The Pope has appealed to all of us to reach out to those in trouble, the suffering and be merciful to those who pain us. We need to be living springs among people, caring for the suffering and be a part of good works. This is the message of this year’s Christmas.
We have made a special collection from our Catholics in all 116 churches of this Diocese as a contribution towards those who have lost their houses due to the unprecedented rain and floods in Chennai and will build 25 houses for the flood affected people through Caritas India. The Bishop also announced that arrangements will be made to supply drinking water facility at the entry gate of Bishop’s House for people and all creatures of our good God.
Msgr Denis Prabhu – Vicar General, Fr Henry Sequiera – Chancellor, Fr William Menezes and Marcel Monteiro – Public Relations Officers, M P Noronha – Secretary of Diocesan Pastoral Council, Raymond D’Cunha, Elias Fernandes and others were present at the press meet.