Friday 29th, March 2024
canara news

YEAR OF RECONCILIATION

Published On : 04 Mar 2014


It was decided at the College of Consultors’ Meeting held on 27th February to proclaim a Year of Reconciliation in the Archdiocese commencing from March 5...

It was decided at the College of Consultors’ Meeting held on 27th February to proclaim a Year of Reconciliation in the Archdiocese commencing from March 5, 2014 to February 13, 2015 to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee of the Diocese of Bangalore, which was erected on 13th February, 1940. The main purpose of declaring this Year of Reconciliation is to establish true Christian fellowship and to promote a true familial spirit among the various groups in the Archdiocese.

In partnership with clergy, religious, lay faithful and all people of good will, the Archdiocese of Bangalore has initiated this Year of Reconciliation by acknowledging the negative impacts and stereotypes that resulted due to various factors that are causing misunderstanding and disunity among us, and through concerted efforts to bring in true harmony, understanding and unity among us at all levels.

May I request all the parish priests, heads of the institutions and the religious communities to take initiative in organizing liturgical and para-liturgical services, and other programmes to celebrate the Year of Reconciliation meaningfully.

“Blessed are the Peacemakers” (Mt.5:9) is the main theme chosen for this Year of Reconciliation. We are called to be sons and daughters of God, and we could enjoy this privilege only when we undergo the process of personal and collective reconciliation and healing, witness and advance with a greater shared understanding of our intimate union with the Triune God and our Christian bonding with others established and strengthened by the sacramental life. All of us should take interest in promoting reconciliation through a year-long initiative as a way to mend the past, build shared understanding and create a legacy for meaningful change in the Archdiocese. During this Year of Reconciliation, we affirm the Holy Father’s invitation to organize “penitential celebrations, particularly during Lent, in which all can ask for God’s forgiveness, especially for sins against faith, Christian fellowship and witnessing.” All of us are encouraged to go to confession regularly as a significant part of our spiritual lives to experience inner healing and transformation. Since the graces of the sacrament are so similar to the purpose of the New Evangelization, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had said, “The New Evangelization ... begins in the confessional!” The present Holy Father Francis also encourages people to go to confession frequently to form one’s conscience and to experience God’s mercy and compassion, which would automatically enable us to share the same mercy and compassion with others.

The Posters and Prayer Cards will be distributed to all the parishes and institutions during this week. Kindly have the Prayer for Reconciliation recited every day in your families, communities and parishes. Please display the Banner at a prominent place for the parish/community members to see and reflect on the theme. For any assistance, please contact either Fr. Joseph Abraham- Director or Fr. Gabriel Christy- Asst. Director of Paalanaa Bhavana (Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre).

Most Rev. Bernard Moras
Archbishop of Bangalore


Comment Here

Disclaimer: Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. canaranews.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that under 66A of the IT Act, sending offensive or menacing messages through electronic communication service and sending false messages to cheat, mislead or deceive people or to cause annoyance to them is punishable. It is obligatory on CANARANEWS to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using canaranews will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will canaranews.com be held responsible.