Bishops of Mangalore, Udupi convey Christmas messages
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, Dec 23: Quoting the message of Pope Francis, ‘A Church must be poor and for the poor’, Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore said, “The diocese is celebrating this Christmas by extending a helping hand to all those who suffer due to poverty."
Delivering the Christmas message at a press conference in Bishop’s House on Monday December 23, Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza said, “In this direction, the diocese has taken up various activities and projects to eradicate poverty from our society.”
He further added, “Christmas is a festival that goes beyond religious boundaries. It is celebrated from parliament to schools and hospitals. Moreover, the festival has a special significance. Therefore, the festivity becomes meaningful only when we love the poor. Christmas celebration should inspire and motivate all to work for the poor and the needy.”
The concern of every religion and community is to eradicate poverty, he said, adding, “We Christians have a special mission and responsibility in this regard. Christians should join hands with people of other religions to wipe out poverty prevailing in the society. Every person, especially the poor of the society deserves respect and dignity."
Fr Denis Moras Prabhu, vicar general, Fr Henry Sequeira, chancellor, Fr William Menezes, PRO, Fr John Vas, financial administrator, Marcel Monteiro were present.
Earlier, the bishop along with others cut the cake symbolically to mark the Christmas celebration. Raymond D’Cunha compered the event.
Udupi
Udupi: Bishop Dr Gerald Lobo conveys Christmas message
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)
Udupi, Dec 23: Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi diocese on Monday December 23 conveying his Christmas message said that joy has dawned on earth on the eve of Christmas and it is a month of joy and happiness. The feast is being celebrated throughout the world regardless of religion. It is a feast when God came to earth as man to meet and remain with people, he said.
Sharing Christmas joy with journalist with a get-together at Bishop's House, Dr Gerald Lobo said, "Every child that is born in the world brings with it the message that God loves us, said poet Rabindranath Tagore. But the child that was born two thousand years ago, Jesus, proclaimed that God is love and showed it among us. He showed since His childhood that simplicity is necessary to deserve His love.
"Christmas is like a background of joy for a song of New Year. It spreads and mixes with air in different directions and comforts us. It is like consoling a world filled with commotion and fear.
"The Bible says that God loves us to such an extent that He sent his only son for us. God’s love is so vast that he gave everything to the world and kept nothing for Himself. The occasion of Christmas is of announcing the story of love of God."
He further added, "Christmas proclaims peace and inspires us to be the messengers of peace. If the light of Christmas should light within us, we should be loving and service driven like Christ.
"Let us pray that God may grant us physical and mental health with heavenly peace. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a bountiful prosperous New Year. May Jesus who has come to the world brighten us with His light," he concluded.
A Christmas cake was cut to mark the celebration.
Among those present were vicar general Msgr Dr Baptist Menezes, parish priest of Udupi Mother of Sorrows Church Fr Fred Mascarenhas, PRO of Udupi diocese Fr Denis D’Sa, and journalists from various print and web media.
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