Bishop’s Message
Dear Fathers, Sisters and Brothers,
Greetings of a grace-filled New Year!
As we begin New Year, 2026, the Church places Mary, the Mother of God before our eyes as a gentle yet powerful figure. The solemnity of Mother Mary is not merely devotional as any other feasts. Rather, it is deeply rooted in the faith of the Church and in a decisive moment of history. It reminds us of the Council of Ephesus (AD 431) and the controversy it dealt with whether Mary to be called ‘Mother of Christ, the human’ (Christokos) or ‘Mother of God’ (Theotokos). The Council solemnity professed that Mary is truly Theotokos because the one she bore is the eternal Son of God made flesh and thus the title safeguarded the mystery of Incarnation that God truly entered human history. I am convinced that the celebration of this feast is meaningful even today. By honouring Mary, the Mother of God, the Church proclaims that God has drawn close to humanity sharing our joys, wounds, struggles and hope. As we step into this New Year, we entrust our lives, our parishes and our diocese to Mary’s Motherly protection and accompaniment, confident that she walks with us in every joy and trial.
Significantly, the Church also marks January 1 as the World Day of Peace. Our world today is wounded by wars, social polarization, economic injustice, religious intolerance and violence of indifference. The attacks on Christians by Hindu fundamentalist groups during carol celebrations and precisely on Christmas day in different parts of India are a painful expression of hatred and an alarming drift towards fascist intolerance. One should understand that peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It means dignity for every person, harmony among religions, justice for the poor, safety and equality for women, and hope for the young.
In this context, “Peace be with you all. Towards an unarmed and disarming peace” is the theme of Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the World Day of Peace 2026 to be celebrated on January 1, 2026. In his message, the Holy Father invites everyone to welcome peace and become witnesses to it because it “exists; it wants to dwell within us. It has the gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence. Peace is a breath of the eternal.” Quoting St. Augustine, the Pope invites us “to forge an unbreakable bond with peace.”
Further, we are invited to walk this path trace by the Risen One. He himself embodied unarmed peace because “his was an unarmed struggle.” The peace of the Risen Christ is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. It comes from God who loves us all unconditionally. Hence, Pope Leo reminds us that peace is possible, it is not a utopia. Ecumenical and interreligious dialogue are privileged ways to achieve it. Nor must we forget to embark on “the disarming path of diplomacy, mediation and international law.” Let us always strive to be the protagonists and promoters of peace and social harmony.
By this time you would have come to know about the decree Pope Leo XIV issued through the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on July 16, 2025 which recognized St. Devasahayam as the Patron of the Laity in India and affirmed that this patronage carries full liturgical rights and privileges. Now we have the glad news and singular occasion that St. Devasahayam, our own son of the soil and heroic martyr for Christ, will be solemnly declared the Patron Saint of Laity in India. This solemn declaration will take place within the Eucharistic Celebration on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, at 5 p.m., at the Shrine of Devasahayam Mount parish, a place sanctified by his witness of faith, suffering and supreme fidelity to Christ. We are honoured and blessed that this celebration will be presided over in the distinguished presence of His Excellency Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, along with Archbishops and Bishops, and joined by a large gathering of priests and religious.
St. Devasahayam, a layman, husband and public servant stands as a powerful model for today’s laity. He shows that holiness is lived in daily life through courageous faith, integrity and unwavering commitment to Christ even unto martyrdom. While his proclamation as Patron of the Laity in India is an honour to us, at the same time, it is also a call for the lay faithful to live their baptismal vocation courageously in family, society and public life. It is also a call to the priests to accompany and support the laity with renewed pastoral zeal.
I, hereby, cordially invite all priests, religious and lay faithful of our diocese to participate in this solemn Eucharistic Celebration without fail. Let us come together as one People of God to thank the Lord, to honour martyr St. Devasahayam and to renew our commitment to be a witnessing Church. I entrust this historic moment to the maternal intercession of Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, for whom St. Devasahayam had deep and tender devotion.