Vox Nostra  |  Wishes  |  Obituary

 My dear Rev Fathers, Deacons, Rev Sisters and Lay faithful,

Greetings of peace and joy to all of you! We are immensely happy that the Holy Father has heard our prayer to bifurcate the Diocese of Mangalore and erect the new Diocese of Udupi. This great event has gone in the illustrious history of the Diocese of Mangalore. While we thank God for this great gift, we express our gratitude to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. We are happy to announce to you that the Holy Father has appointed Most Rev Gerald Isaac Lobo as the first Bishop of Udupi. We congratulate the new Bishop and all the faithful of the new Diocese of Udupi. May this Diocese make strides of progress in days and years to come.

The Diocese of Udupi has great potential and with the new leadership, there is every possibility for this Diocese to become second to none in the State of Karnataka. May the enthusiasm and joy of the new Bishop and of the faithful reap a rich harvest as a witnessing community. Let us pray for this Diocese and its Shepherd and give our full cooperation to make the pastoral apostolate a success. We do understand the initial difficulties and hurdles the diocese is likely to face. But the experience of the Bishop will hold him in good stead to lead the flock successfully.

We are celebrating two feasts on the 15th, namely the Assumption of our Lady and the Independence Day of our Nation. As we celebrate these feasts let us pray for the intercession of our Mother Mary to bless our nation and our State in a special manner. May our State progress and may God give wisdom and good will to our leaders to serve our State selflessly.

Let us continue to pray for rains in our coastal area. We have already had some rains but in North Karnataka, people continue to suffer for want of rains. I request all the parish priests to declare a day of fast and prayer. Let us invoke the Saints to intercede for our suffering people. Where ever it is possible, I exhort you to recite the Litany of Saints.  Mass could be celebrated on a convenient day and hour for the faithful, and at least one hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament be held, during which 5 Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glories with raised hands be prayed. Let the acts of the penance be a sign of repentance for our sins and imploring of the mercy of God upon humanity. The faithful may be exhorted to recite the chaplet of Divine Mercy. Encourage them to pray during the family prayers for rains. During the Collect prayer, a prayer for rains (as found in the Roman Missal) may be added until our prayers are heard.

If you have Mass intentions in excess, please send them to the Procurator. Please note that clubbing of several mass intentions is not permitted without the written permission of the Bishop. If any one of you had the permission in your earlier parish, you are not permitted to continue the same in the new parish where you are transferred. You need written permission afresh. Please consider this as a serious obligation. For more details please read n. 23 on Instructions in our Diocesan ORDO.

I thank you for your cooperation and good will.
 

May God bless you.
26.07.2012                                                                          + Most Rev Aloysius Paul D’ Souza
                                                                                                   Bishop of Mangalore

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