Bishop’s Message
Dear Rev. Fathers, Sisters and Brothers, Greetings of the Season!
As you hold this newsletter in your hands, we have already entered Holy Week, the most sacred time when we journey with our Lord Jesus Christ through His Passion, Death and Resurrection. Reflecting on the words, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem” (Mt 20:18) in his Lenten Message 2021, Pope Francis reminds us: “In our Lenten journey towards Easter, we accompany Christ who goes up to Jerusalem, where the mystery of our salvation is fulfilled. And it is a call to share in His mission, not remain spectators.” To accompany Jesus to Jerusalem means that we are no longer mere followers at a distance but true disciples who stay with the Lord, from his entry into Jerusalem to the silence of the tomb and finally to the joy of Easter. Hence, this Holy Week calls for a deep interior disposition rather than mere external observance.
We walked with Christ in the joy of his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. On Holy Thursday, the Church invites us to the intimacy of the Cenacle where Jesus bends down in humble service to wash the feet of His disciples. He offers us the gift of the Eucharist and the priesthood, revealing a love that serves to the very end (cf. Jn 13:1). After the Last Supper, we follow Him to Gethsemane where He experiences anguish and loneliness (cf. Lk 22:44). On Good Friday, we stand at the foot of the Cross and encounter the silence of God, “not the silence of absence but the silence of a God who suffers in love with His Son and with all humanity” (cf. Jürgen Moltmann, The Crucified God, Part II, ch. 4).
Holy Saturday is a quiet, still day of waiting, yet filled with hope that God is at work even in the darkness of death. Then comes “O vere beata nox” (the truly blessed night), “when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld” as proclaimed in the Exsultet, sung during the Easter Vigil, the “mother of all vigils” (Roman Missal, Easter Vigil in the Holy Night, no.1). Thus, our journey with Jesus towards Jerusalem finds its fulfilment in the Resurrection.
Let us be reminded that Holy Week is an invitation to walk closely with Jesus, not as distant spectators but as committed disciples. It is an invitation to experience Him intimately, for He calls us not servants but friends (cf. Jn 15:15). Therefore, let us enter these sacred days with open hearts, with gratitude for His love, repentance for our failures, a spirit of silence to listen to Him and a firm hope in his Resurrection.
You are well aware that the socio-economic survey of Catholics in Tamil Nadu has been carried out over the past two years with considerable effort and commitment by the TNLBC across all the dioceses in Tamil Nadu, engaging LISSTAR, the humanities and social science research unit of Loyola College, Chennai. I sincerely thank all the priests and parishioners who have generously cooperated in this important initiative. At the same time, I am really saddened to state that a couple of parishes have yet to complete the survey despite repeated reminders and my personal requests. The priests of these parishes, I believe, should realize that such delays affect the credibility and collective responsibility of our pastoral mission. I urge these priests concerned to treat this work with the seriousness and integrity it deserves.
We look forward to receiving the remaining data so that a comprehensive and consolidated report can be prepared. I firmly believe that the findings will be of immense value for the pastoral planning and growth of our individual parishes and the diocese as a whole. At this juncture, I take this opportunity, on behalf of the Diocese, to sincerely thank Fr. Glacin, Director of the Commission for BCC, for his dedicated coordination of the socio-economic survey of Catholics in our diocese. Despite numerous challenges, his commitment and perseverance have been truly commendable. We also gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Fr. Simon, Director of the Commission for Youth and his energetic team of youth whose active involvement and valuable assistance greatly facilitated the smooth conduct of the survey in several parishes.
With the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections scheduled for April 23, 2026, we find ourselves at a crucial moment in the democratic life of our State. As responsible citizens and as Christians, we are called to participate actively, responsibly and conscientiously in this important process. Our stance must be firmly rooted in the values of democracy, secularism and dignity of every human person. We are invited to exercise our right to vote with wisdom, guided by a well-formed conscience, always seeking the common good rather than narrow or divisive interests. At the same time, we must be clear and unequivocal in rejecting ideologies and political forces, including alliances, which promote religious fundamentalism, exclusion and division. We must also firmly oppose those that undermine minority rights. In the same vein, we must also call out those who lack a genuine vision for the future of the State and rely solely on superficial, celluloid appeal. Such agendas weaken the harmony of the pluralistic society and stand in contradiction to the Gospel values of love, justice, peace and fraternity.
Hence, I earnestly appeal to all our faithful to ensure maximum participation in the electoral process. Let us strive for 100 percent voting in our parishes, encouraging every eligible voter to exercise this sacred civic duty. Voting is not merely a right; it is a moral responsibility and a powerful expression of our commitment to our State and its future. Let us therefore vote responsibly, discerningly and courageously choosing leaders who are committed to justice, inclusivity, good governance and the welfare of all, especially the poor and marginalized.
May the victory of the Risen Lord inspire us to build a society rooted in justice and harmony! Wishing you a blessed and hope-filled Easter!