Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, the Bishop of the Diocese of Udupi, inaugurated the Jubilee year of Mercy, by opening the main door of Milagres Cathedral on 13 of December.
This solemn ceremony began with a prayer service at the portico of the church during which the Bishop read out the Message of the Holy Father Pope Francis. After a meaningful prayer service Bishop opened the door of the cathedral and led the faithful through the door. It was followed by a solemn Eucharistic Celebration. Rt Rev. Msgr Baptist Menezes, the Vicar General, V.Rev. Stany B Lobo, the Parish Priest and teh Rector of teh Catedral, V.Rev. Fr Roshan Menezes, the Episcopal Vicar, V.Rev. John Mendonca, the Judicial Vicar, Rev. Fr Stephen D'Souza, Director of Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Commissions and a few other priests con-celebrated with the Bishop.
In his homily Bishop said that the Holy Father has declared this Year as the Jubilee Year of mercy so that we experience the mercy of God all the more at a time where the church is facing all sorts of challenges of fundamentalism, Atheism, materialism and fanaticism. Religious terrorism is another big challenge of our times. Hence let's try to get reconciled with our brothers and sisters and experience the mercy of God. Let us become the images, faces of God's mercy. he also mentioned about the various programs that are planned during the year of Mercy so that we extend mercy and peace to others and become channels of peace of Jesus Christ.
A similar ceremony was also held in the Holy Shrine of St Lawrence, Karkal Attur, in the evening at 4 pm.
