News: Nirmala Carvalho

New Delhi, Jan 12: To mark the Year for Priests, the Bishop of Karwar, Karnataka, Monsignor Derek Fernandes has invited the priests of his diocese on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

"It will be a time of immense grace that will help the priests to grow in holiness and spirit of service," he said. "The journey to the land where Christianity was born and where we met the Messiah will help priests to mature internal spiritual renewal and strengthen their faith. It will be time of illumination and a renewal of vocation to the priesthood," he added.

Mgr Fernandes is confident that "the pilgrimage in the footsteps of Christ and prayer in the places of the life, death and resurrection of Lord will provide moments of spiritual nourishment. The Messiah has made the apostles fishers of men, and with them other disciples continue to proclaim the good news and to invite the nations to salvation,” he said.  

In all 115 out of the 125 priests of the diocese will participate in the pilgrimage. It will be organized in two stages, from January 30 to February 8 and from May 24 to June 3.  

The Year for Priests was inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI on June 19, 2009, during the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney. According to the bishop, it must have moments for the renewal of faith and vocation to the priesthood.  

First, "more time should be devoted to the confession and the sacrament of reconciliation, to always allow the faithful to make peace with God.” Then prayer, "which is the hallmark of the diocese and will be introduced in a vigorous manner, within the parishes and families.

The Sunday Eucharist must be preceded by Morning Prayer and vespers on Friday. For this reason, Mgr Fernandes has asked for special chapels for adoration to be opened. The first one was inaugurated in the parish of St John the Baptist in Kumta, Karnataka on January 1.