news letter cuddapah diocese - catholic bishops ...news letter cuddapah diocese “we implore you on...

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News Letter Cuddapah Diocese

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“We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20)Dear Brothers and Sisters, This year the Lord grants us, once again, afavourable time to prepare to celebrate with renewed hearts the great mys-tery of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the cornerstone of our personaland communal Christian life. We must continually return to this mystery inmind and heart, for it will continue to grow within us in the measure that weare open to its spiritual power and respond with freedom and generosity.1. The paschal mystery as the basis of conversion Christian joy flows fromlistening to, and accepting, the Good News of the death and resurrection ofJesus. This kerygma sums up the mystery of a love “so real, so true, soconcrete, that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue”(Christus Vivit, 117). Whoever believes this message rejects the lie that ourlife is ours to do with as we will. Rather, life is born of the love of God ourFather, from his desire to grant us life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). If welisten instead to the tempting voice of the “father of lies” (Jn 8:44), we risksinking into the abyss of absurdity, and experiencing hell here on earth, as alltoo many tragic events in the personal and collective human experience sadlybear witness. In this Lent of 2020, I would like to share with every Christianwhat I wrote to young people in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit:“Keep your eyes fixed on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified, let your-self be saved over and over again. And when you go to confess your sins,believe firmly in his mercy which frees you of your guilt. Contemplate hisblood poured out with such great love, and let yourself be cleansed by it. Inthis way, you can be reborn ever anew” (No. 123). Jesus’ Pasch is not apast event; rather, through the power of the Holy Spirit it is ever present,enabling us to see and touch with faith the flesh of Christ in those who suffer.

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2. The urgency of conversion It is good to contemplate more deeply thepaschal mystery through which God’s mercy has been bestowed upon us.Indeed, the experience of mercy is only possible in a “face to face” rela-tionship with the crucified and risen Lord “who loved me and gave himselffor me” (Gal 2:20), in a heartfelt dialogue between friends. That is whyprayer is so important in Lent. Even more than a duty, prayer is an expres-sion of our need to respond to God’s love which always precedes andsustains us. Christians pray in the knowledge that, although unworthy, weare still loved. Prayer can take any number of different forms, but whattruly matters in God’s eyes is that it penetrates deep within us and chipsaway at our hardness of heart, in order to convert us ever more fully to Godand to his will. In this favourable season, then, may we allow ourselves tobe led like Israel into the desert (cf. Hos 2:14), so that we can at last hearour Spouse’s voice and allow it to resound ever more deeply within us.The more fully we are engaged with his word, the more we will experiencethe mercy he freely gives us. May we not let this time of grace pass in vain,in the foolish illusion that we can control the times and means of our conver-sion to him.3. God’s passionate will to dialogue with his children The fact that theLord once again offers us a favourable time for our conversion should neverbe taken for granted. This new opportunity ought to awaken in us a senseof gratitude and stir us from our sloth. Despite the sometimes tragic pres-ence of evil in our lives, and in the life of the Church and the world, thisopportunity to change our course expresses God’s unwavering will not tointerrupt his dialogue of salvation with us. In the crucified Jesus, who knewno sin, yet for our sake was made to be sin (cf. 2 Cor 5:21), this saving willled the Father to burden his Son with the weight of our sins, thus, in theexpression of Pope Benedict XVI, “turning God against himself” (DeusCaritas Est, 12). For God also loves his enemies (cf. Mt 5:4348). Thedialogue that God wishes to establish with each of us through the paschalmystery of his Son has nothing to do with empty chatter, like that attributedto the ancient inhabitants of Athens, who “spent their time in nothing except

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telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). Such chatter, determinedby an empty and superficial curiosity, characterizes worldliness in every age;in our own day, it can also result in improper use of the media.

4. A richness to be shared, not kept for oneself Putting the paschal mysteryat the centre of our lives means feeling compassion towards the wounds ofthe crucified Christ present in the many innocent victims of wars, in attackson life, from that of the unborn to that of the elderly, and various forms ofviolence. They are likewise present in environmental disasters, the unequaldistribution of the earth’s goods,

human trafficking in all its forms, and the unbridled thirst for profit, which isa form of idolatry. Today too, there is a need to appeal to men and womenof good will to share, by almsgiving, their goods with those most in need, asa means of personally participating in the building of a better world. Chari-table giving makes us more human, whereas hoarding risks making us lesshuman, imprisoned by our own selfishness. We can and must go even fur-ther, and consider the structural aspects of our economic life. For this rea-son, in the midst of Lent this year, from 26 to 28 March, I have convened ameeting in Assisi with young economists, entrepreneurs and change-mak-ers, with the aim of shaping a more just and inclusive economy. As theChurch’s magisterium has often repeated, political life represents an eminentform of charity (cf. Pius XI, Address to the Italian Federation of CatholicUniversity Students, 18 December 1927). The same holds true for eco-nomic life, which can be approached in the same evangelical spirit, the spiritof the Beatitudes. I ask Mary Most Holy to pray that our Lenten celebra-tion will open our hearts to hear God’s call to be reconciled to himself, to fixour gaze on the paschal mystery, and to be converted to an open and sin-cere dialogue with him. In this way, we will become what Christ asks hisdisciples to be: the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-14).

-Pope Francis

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1. Clergy Recollection at Deanery Level:The Clergy recollection for the month of February will be at Deanery level.The Deans are requested to make arrangements for the Recollection. I requestall the priests to attend the recollection without fail.2. New Appointments:Rev.Fr.Gali Arogyaraj is temporarily appointed as the Parish Priest ofAmagampalli and Rev.Fr.P.Kirity is temporarily appointed as the Parish Priestof Ponnathota. Wishing you every success and God's blessings in yourministry.3. Missionary Holy Childhood Sunday on 9th February 2020:"Children are our present rather than the future: it is in our care to make themexperience the joy, prayer and sharing even in difficulties. And with a trulyuniversal spirit: I would like to remind you that, during the earthquake incentral Italy, children in the Central African Republic, a very poor country,gave up a meal to help their peers affected": says Sister Roberta Tremarellito Agenzia Fides, Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary ChildhoodSociety - one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies - on the eve of 6January, solemnity of the Epiphany, where in many countries of the worldspecial Missionary Childhood Day or Missionary Day of Children iscelebrated.The religious explains to Fides: "Missionary Childhood Day is born with thepurpose of having a specific day during the year in which children in all thecountries of the world are involved in a special way. It is celebrated in differentperiods and forms, according to the calendar and the contexts, with the aimof educating them to the missionary spirit of attention towards other children,through prayer, offerings and sharing".3. Ash Wednesday on 26th February 2020:Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. This year beginsthe season of Grace on 26th February, 2020. It is a season of fasting, prayerand almsgiving which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection.

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Ash Wednesday marks the onset of the Lent, the 40 days period of fastingand abstinence. It is also known as the "Day of Ashes". So called becauseon that day at Church the faithful have their foreheads marked with ashes inthe shape of a cross.Putting a 'cross' mark on the forehead was in imitation of the spiritual markor seal that is put on a Christian in baptism. This is when the newly bornChristian is delivered from slavery to sin and the devil, and made a slave ofrighteousness and Christ (Rom. 6:3-18).This can also be held as an adoption of the way 'righteousness' are describedin the book of Revelation, where we come to know about the servants ofGod. The reference to the sealing of the servants of God for their protectionin Revelation is an allusion to a parallel passage in Ezekiel, where Ezekielalso sees a sealing of the servants of God for their protection.

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FEBRUARY- 20201st Saturday P.M. : Travel to Marllapalli2nd Sunday A.M. : Feast of Kanukamatha at Marllapalli3rd Monday A.M. : Blessing of New Presbytery at Mother Teresa Parish,

Badvel-II. P.M. : Blessing of Church at Pangavandlapalli, Badvel –II6th Thursday : Travel to Guntur7th Friday P.M. : Centenary of Sister Mary Glowry’s arrival (Servant

of God) in Guntur.8th Saturday A.M. : Blessing the wedding of Mr.Rajaiah’s son at

Ravipadu, Guntur.9th Sunday : Bishop’s return to Kadapa11th Tuesday A.M : Feast of Our Lady of Lourdhu’s, Patron of

Cathedral, Mariapuram P.M : Bishop’s travel to Guntur12th Wednesday A.M : Blessing of School Building at Atmakur, Guntur P.M : Bishop’s Travel to Bangalore13th to 20th : CBCI General Body Meetings in Bangalore21st Friday A.M. : Jubilee Celebration in Emani22nd Saturday : Bishop’s return to Kadapa.23rd Sunday A.M. : Holy Mass & Confirmations at Pakala. P.M. : Feast Day Mass at Tirupathi25th Tuesday A.M. : Blessing of Chapel at Gurrampadu Village, Chennur.26th Wednesday A.M : Ash Wednesday - Holy Mass at Tekurpet28th Friday : Not Available29th Saturday P.M : Bishop’s travel to Guntur

MARCH 20202nd to 7th : TCBC Meetings at Hyderabad.11th Wednesday : Bishop’s return to Kadapa.

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Dear Fathers and Sisters,Greetings from Rev.Fr.D.Susai Antony As you are aware that the financial year comes to an end by 31st March

2020 kindly submit your statement of accounts supported by bills andvouchers systematically for all the projects and other payments receivedfrom the Diocesan Finance Office by 15th March 2020.

There will be no payments in March 2020. Kindly note that the bills and vouchers dated for the financial year April

2019 to March 2020 will not be valid for the next financial year. Thepayments received during this current financial year cannot be carriedover or spent for the next financial year. The unspent amount taken forthe projects during this financial year should be handed over to theDiocesan Office by 15th March 2020.

There will be an annual auditing for all the payments taken for the projectsduring this financial year and for all the local accounts for all the parishes,institutions and English Medium Schools of the Diocese in the month ofApril 2020. Hence kindly get ready with your statements of accountssupported by bills and vouchers.

May I request all the parish priests to send the Jyothirmai SundayCollections and Holy Childhood Collections to the Diocesan Officeas early as possible

Mass intentionsAs per the canon Law a priest is entitled for only one stipend per day evenif he has celebrated more than one mass a day. Therefore all of us are remindedto submit extra masses, bination Masses even if it is in small numbers to thediocesan finance ministry. These Masses will very much useful to the increasingnumber of the priests in the diocese.Mass intentions received

Rev. Fr. Susai Antony.Financial Administrator

Thank you for your kind cooperation,

S.No Date Name of The Donor No of Masses Mass stipend1 15-01-2020 St. Anthony’s Church, 30 Rs.3,000.00

ReniguntaTotal Rs.3,000.00

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On 5th January 2020, His Lordship Most Rev. Gali Bali blessed and openedthe newly chapel at Mutharayapalli of Karunagiri Parish. His Excellencycelebrated the Holy Mass and preached about the importance of the chapelin the village. It is a great blessing for the village where God dwells amongthem to protect from all the dangers. He also appreciated the Parish PriestRev.Fr.L.Peter Prabhakar and Rev.Fr.G.Chinnappa, Our Lady of SorrowSisters and village elders and youth for their hard work and meaningfulcelebration.

On 8th January 2020, His Excellency Most Rev. Gali Bali blessed and openednewly built presbytery at Paluru Mission. His Lordship celebrated the HolyMass and in his homily, his explained that when priest is available to thefaithful the work of redemption will be more active especially visiting thesick and administering the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. He appreciatedRev.Fr.P.Mahimadas and village community for their cooperation and theiractive participation.

On 11th January 2020, His Lordship Most Rev.Gali Bali celebrated thefeast day mass of Mary the Mother of God at Sadum. He explained aboutthe Motherhood of Mary as a example to all the people to grow in theirfaith. He also appreciated Rev.Fr. Jaya Prakash, the Parish Priest and all thecommittee members for their hard work to celebrate the Feast in themeaningful manner. And in the evening His Lordship visited Ashram at Sadumand blessed the newly renovated chapel at Ashram. He appreciated Rev.Fr.M.D.Prasad Rao for his hard work and in beautifying the chapel in prayerfuland spiritual symbolic structure.

On 12th January 2020, His Excellency Most Rev. Gali Bali visited the B.Koduru Mission and administered the sacrament of confirmation. He alsovisited the other substations and blessed the chapels. He appreciated Rev.Fr.

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News Letter Cuddapah DioceseP. Devadas for his active ministry in the mission parish for the growth of thecommunity.

On 15th January 2020, His Lordship Most Rev. Gali Bali had a meetingwith deans of the five deaneries of the Diocese. He discussed with themvarious aspects of pastoral activities for the growth of the faith in the presentsituations.

On 19th January 2020, His Excellency Most Rev. Gali Bali visitedPrakashampalli mission Parish and celebrated the Holy Mass. He preachedabout the growth of the faith in the day today life. He encouraged the peopleto have a strong faith to be witnesses in this present world. He alsoappreciated Rev.Fr. T. Ravindranadh Jose and Christu Jyothi Sisters fortheir hard work and active ministry in the mission Parish.

On 30th January 2020, His Lordship Most Rev. Gali Bali celebrated feastday mass of Infant Jesus at Masapet Church. He preached about the progressof wisdom and spiritual life of the Child Jesus. We too must cultivate thesame spirit in our day today lives to grow in wisdom and spirituality. Heappreciated Rev.Fr. S. Paul Prakash the parish priest and assistant Rev.Fr.S. Jayapaul, JMJ Sisters and committee member for their hard work andactive cooperation for the success of the feast.

On 31st January 2020, His Excellency Most Rev. Gali Bali celebrated thefeast day Mass of St.Don Bosco at St. Antony's ITI, Kadapa. He explainedabout the role model of St. John Bosco for the youth. As he guided manyyoung people to Jesus, resulting in young saints such as St. Dominic Savio.In training his teachers, Don Bosco insisted on kindness and familiar presence;spiritually accompanying young people by forming their will and character.The teachers were to earn the student's trust and give a clear Christian witnessof intimacy with God in their own life. Don Bosco was ever-mindful of youngpeople's need for joy, fun and laughter. He appreciated Rev.Fr. Mariadasand community for their hard work for the meaningful celebration.

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My dear Most Revered Archbishops and Bishops of TCBC

This is to inform you that Fr. Arturo Sosa, the Superior General of the Societyof Jesus has appointed Fr.Koppala Abraham Stanislaus SJ in my place asthe Provincial of the Andhra Jesuit Province covering the two states of AndhraPradesh and Telangana. The handing over and taking over will take place inJanuary 2020 and the exact date of this event will be communicated to youas soon as it will be decided. I request you kindly to bless Fr.K.AbrahamStanislaus and give your fullest collaboration, cooperation and support tofulfill the ministry of his leadership as Provincial. I take this opportunity tothank every one of you for all the helps and guidance which I receivedcooperation, support and prayers.

Requesting your blessings and prayers for me and Andhra Jesuit Province.God Bless.

Yours Devoutly in ChristFr. P.S. Amalraj, SJ

The Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, Luis Antonio Tagle is the newPrefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Theappointment by Pope Francis was announced on Sunday 8 December. Thecurrent Prefect, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, assumes the post of Grand Masterof the Order of the Holy Sepulcher in place of Cardinal Edwin FrederickO’Brien, who resigned in April 2019 and turned 80.

Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle was born on 21 June 1957 in Manila toa Catholic family - his father of Tagalog ethnicity and his mother of Chineseorigin - and was ordained priest in 1982. He studied in the United Stateswhere he obtained his doctorate in theology with a thesis on the evolution ofthe notion of episcopal collegiality since the Second Vatican Council. He

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spent seven years in Rome to deepen his studies and in 1997 joined theInternational Theological Commission.

After serving as parish priest at the Cathedral of Imus, at the age of44 he was consecrated bishop of that diocese by Saint John Paul II in October2001. He dedicated himself in particular to youth ministry and inauguratedthe first meeting of young Asians in Imus. On 13 October 2011 Pope BenedictXVI appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila and made him acardinal thirteen months later, in November 2012. In addition to leading theManila Archdiocese, Cardinal Tagle is President of Caritas Internationalisand the Catholic Biblical Federation. With this choice, announced a fewdays after the end of his trip to Thailand and Japan, Pope Francis once againshows great attention to the Asian continent. With the designation of CardinalTagle, which follows a few weeks after that of Spanish Jesuit Juan AntonioGuerrero Alves as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, two newheads of department will be installed at the beginning of 2020 in the RomanCuria.

Greetings from Caritas India! During the last year’s Lenten Season, Caritas India had made

concerted efforts to actively promote the Lenten Campaign across thecountry. As an immediate fruit of this efforts, 69 Dioceses had the officialDiocesan launch of the Lenten Campaign by the respective Archbishopsand Bishops and 7 States had State level launch of the Lenten Campaign onone of the Sundays of Lent in the year 2019. This also helped in sensitizingthe Church community on the Campaign against ”Hunger and Disease’.

I also recall with gratitude the decision taken by CBCI’s StandingCommittee in its May 2019 Meeting that all the Catholic Dioceses of ourcountry will officially launch Caritas India’s Lenten Campaign on the1st Sunday of Lent every year. In preparation for the Lenten Campaign 2020, Caritas India has madeconcrete plans to take forward the Lenten Campaign more extensively and

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fruitfully. Hence, this year, the Management and all the Staff of Caritas Indiaand the Directors of the Regional Fora will assist the Diocesan Directors ofSocial Apostolate to plan the Lenten Campaign launch by the Archbishopsand Bishops in their respective Dioceses. In this regard, the Managementand the Staff of Caritas India and the Regional Forum Directors will personallyvisit different Dioceses to be part of the Campaign launch.

Caritas India wishes to reach out to as many parishioners as possiblewith the Message of this year’s theme for the Lenten Campaign – SustainLife: Sustainable Livelihood. Caritas India would be sending thepromotional materials of the Lenten Campaign to each Diocese/DiocesanSocial Service Society. We have also prepared the Lenten Liturgy Bookletwith Mass Introduction, Homily and Prayer of the Faithful for the five Sundaysof Lent of 2020.Hence, may I request Your Eminence/Your Grace/Your Excellency to kindlyextend your support and co-operation in promoting Caritas India’s AnnualLenten Campaign in your Archdiocese/Diocese and organize a Diocesanlevel launch of the same on one of the Sundays of Lent this year, preferablythe first Sunday, by involving the Lay Faithful of your Archdiocese/Diocese.I also request you to encourage the Priests in your Diocese to use the LiturgyBooklet compiled by Caritas India as it is based on the theme of this year.

As we commence the Holy Season of Lent, remembering the passionand death of our Lord, together with our own reparation and penance, let usalso remind ourselves and our communities of the needs of the poor and ourcall to reach out to them in Christian charity and solidarity. Yours in the Good Shepherd,

Most Rev. Lumen Monteiro, CSCChairman, Caritas India

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Prayerful greetings from the Divine Retreat Centre.I am pleased to inform you that we are conducting a special INNERHEALING RETREAT (in English) for Priests and Religious at the DivineRetreat Centre led by Rev.Fr. Jose Prakash, Rev.Fr. John PrincePuthenpurackal VC, and myself, Fr.Augustine Vallooran VC.The retreat begins at 6PM on Sunday, 19th April 2020 and ends by 2PM onFriday, 24th April 2020.May I request to announce the above said retreat in the Diocesan Bulletin.We are happy to invite the Priests and Religious of your Diocese to thisforthcoming Retreat Programme.

Yours ObedientlyFr.Augustine Vallooran VC

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DISSEMINATION STRATEGIC PLAN OF CARITAS INDIAName of the Program : One Day SeminarDate : 9th January 2020Place : Ramanthapur, HyderabadParticipants : Coordinators and DirectorOrganized by : AP/TS Forum and Caritas India

Dear Fathers, Sisters, Brothers...Prayerful Greetings to you from Fr.L.Arogyaraj, the Director ofMPSSS.

MULTIPURPOSE SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY OFCUDDAPAH DIOCESE

LEADERSHIP TRAININGName of the Program : Workshop on Leadership TrainingDate : 4st January 2020Place : ProddatureParticipants : WomenOrganized by : APSSS

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WORKSHOP FOR THE WOMENName of the Program : Training to the womenDate : 11th January 2020Place : YarraguntlaParticipants : WomenOrganized by : APSSS

GENERAL BODY MEETINGName of the Program : General Body MeetingDate : 10th January 2020Place : Ramanthapur, HyderabadParticipants : DirectorOrganized by : AP/TS Forum

SANKRANTHI CELEBRATIONS WITH CHILDRENName of the Program : Sankranthi Celebrations with ragpicking childrenDate : 14th January 2020Place : ProddatureParticipants : ChildrenOrganized by : MPSSS

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LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO THE WOMENName of the Program : Training to the womenDate : 27th January 2020Place : MydkurParticipants : WomenOrganized by : APSSS

REPUBLIC DAYName of the Program : Republic DayDate : 26th January 2020Place : ProddatureParticipants : ChildrenOrganized by : MPSSS

TEAM: TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVE MOREI together with the staff take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitudefor giving us this opportunity to implement these developmental activities indifferent parishes and also we appreciate the cooperation of the priests, thesisters, the animators and above all the people. We remain ever grateful to allthe benefactors who support our good work for the welfare of the people. Weextend an open invitation to all the priests, sisters involved in the ministry ofsocial service to come to the office with the needs of your parish and institutionsso that we could plan the activities that really benefit the poor in our care.

FR.L.AROGYARAJ, MSWEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - MPSSS

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02. Rev.Fr. Jaku Jayaraj08. Rev. Fr. Chendumalle Anthony12. Rev.Fr. Govindu Lourdu Chaitnya Roopesh24. Rev.Fr. Paul Balasamy Mathias25. Rev.Fr. Michael Susainathan27. Rev.Fr. Pothireddy Swaminadhan

18. Rev.Fr.Pasupula Suneel Kumar20. Rev.Fr. Paul Balasamy Mathias20. Rev.Fr. Maria Susai James20. Most Rev.Poola Antthony, Bishop of Kurnool20. Rev.Fr. Lingala Sarveswara22. Rev.Fr. Pendlikatla Abraham22. Rev.Fr. Guvvala Manohar Raj22. Rev.Fr. Gadikota Manohar22. Rev.Fr. Nelaturi Vara Prasad22. Rev.Fr. Sagili Ravi Chandra22. Rev.Fr. Attluri Jesu Ramesh Babu22. Rev.Fr. Yennam Anthony Reddy

12th February - Rev.Fr. C.S. Ignatius19th February - Rev. Fr. Augustine Nadayam

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02. Presentation of the Lord- Feast: Day of Consecrated Life03. St. Blaise & St.Ansgar04. St. John De Britto05. St. Agatha06. St. Paul Miki & Companions07. St. Gonsalo Garcia08. St. Jerome Emiliani & St. Josephine Bakhita09. 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Holy Childhood Sunday10. St.Scholastica11. Our Lady of Lourdes: World Day of the Sick14. St. Cyril & St.Methodius16. 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time17. The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order18. St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara21. St. Peter Damian22. The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle, Feast23. 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time26. ASH WEDNESDAY

Universal Prayer intention: Listen to theMigrants' Cries

We pray that the cries of our migrant brothersand sisters, victims of criminal trafficking, may be

heard and considered.

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