This June is the month of solemnities and they are the following date wise: 05 Pentecost; 12 The Most Holy Trinity; 19 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi); 23 The Nativity of St John the Baptist; 24 The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and 29 Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. Besides these solemnities there are memorials of St Antony of Padua on 13 and the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 25. All these solemnities and memorials play a prominent role in our life of faith and help us to grow in it. Hence I invite you to take some time to reflect over the wealth of each solemnity as it occurs date wise and make it applicable to one’s life and take steps to grow spiritually remaining firm and strong in the Catholic faith which is God’s greatest gift to each one of us in the Church built by Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles.
Month of June also has some good news for us: the season of summer is going to be over paving way to rainy season; corona virus seems to be receding thereby providing us with ample opportunities for common prayer and worship, education, work, social gathering and celebrations which were unfortunately prevented us from doing so due to fear and contagion. Today, more than ever before, people demonstrate courage, move around with ease and go about with dignity which is unique to us humans created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27). Let us thank God for His mercy, benevolence, protection and blessings He always showers on all of us without measure and in abundance.
In this month good many of our priests will be taking their new assignments given to them for parish pastoral ministry. There are also some who will serve institutions and heads of commissions but all will have the common goal of proclamation and evangelization through the translation of the aims and objectives of the Pastoral Plan – Mission 2025. I request you to pray for our diocesan and religious priests and sisters who are set apart for this mission to build the People of God spiritually and pastorally and thus build the Church of Christ for the greater glory of God. May God bless you all as you will celebrate these various solemnities and memorials as they occur in this month.
X Gerald Isaac Lobo
Bishop of Udupi