Media Release

Mangaluru, Aug 12: The Pastoral Institute, Shanthi Kiran, in collaboration with the Diocesan Biblical, Catechetical, and Liturgical Centre (DBCLC - Mangala Jyothi), successfully concluded a two-day ongoing formation programme for the clergy of the diocese of Mangalore on August 12. The intensive study sessions equipped diocesan priests with essential pastoral guidelines for implementing liturgical revisions across all parishes.

The programme commenced with a keynote address by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore, who welcomed the gathering and introduced the resource person, Fr Rudolph Raj Pinto, OCD, secretary of the CCBI Commission for Liturgy. bishop Saldanha urged the participating priests to make optimal use of the study sessions to thoroughly understand the revised liturgical norms, ensuring uniform and dignified divine worship throughout the diocese.

Over the course of two days, Fr Rudolph Raj Pinto, OCD — a distinguished liturgical scholar hailing from Gurpur, Mangaluru, and the first member of the Karnataka-Goa Carmelite Province to hold a doctorate in Sacred Liturgy—conducted technical sessions focusing on three core areas:

Pastoral implementation of the New Konkani Missal: Directives on applying general liturgical norms for the celebration of the Sacraments.

Liturgical calendar application: Practical guidelines for accurate interpretation and daily application of the liturgical calendar in parish ministry.

Sacred music and worship: Essential clarifications regarding approved liturgical hymns, the appropriate use of musical instruments, and preserving the sacred character of Divine Worship.

The training was structured in two phases to cover all deaneries. Priests from six vicariates — Mangalore City, Moodbidri, Bantwal, Pezar, Bela, and Mogarnad — participated on August 11, while clergy serving in Episcopal City, Surathkal, Kirem, Permannur, Puttur, and Belthangady attended on August 12.

Official implementation details

As per the official decree issued by the chairman bishop of the Regional Commission for Liturgy in Konkani, the official use of the revised Konkani Missal (Romi Misa Gronth) will commence across the region on August 15, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Priests have been encouraged to undertake the necessary pastoral preparations to help the faithful become familiar with the revised responses and prayers.

To assist parishes during this transition, hard copies of musical notations for Mass and response singing are available at the Mangala Jyothi office. Additionally, audio recordings of the Mass tunes can be accessed online via www.mangalajyothi.org.

The formation programme was coordinated under the leadership of Fr Santhosh Rodrigues, director of the Pastoral Institute, and Fr Rohith D’Costa, director of DBCLC.