Jubilee 2025 Celebration by Bangalore CRI Cooke Town Zone

On Sunday, 23 March 2025, the Bangalore CRI Cooke Town Zone celebrated Jubilee 2025 in a meaningful way by combining it with the season of Lent and making a special pilgrimage. This event was held at the Thejas Provincial House of the Sisters of St. Ann of Luzern, Bengaluru.

A total of 75 consecrated men and women, along with candidates in formation, came together for a Lenten conference titled "Journey with Christ to the Cross: A Pilgrimage of Faith." The session was animated by Rev. Prof. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi, the CCBI National Coordinator for Jubilee 2025.

The gathering was part of a larger spiritual journey to Nirmala Shishu Bhavan, one of the six centres announced by His Grace Most Rev. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, as places to “instil and imbibe hope” during the Jubilee Year.

In her orientation address, Dr. Sr. Roshni Karimundackal PHJC, President of the Zone, placed the event in the wider context of the Synod for a Synodal Church (2021–2024), the Jubilee Year 2025, and the Lenten season. She emphasised that the pilgrimage is not just a visit but a deep experiential and transformational journey of faith.

The event was well-coordinated by Sr. Bincy Emmanuel SAL, Secretary of the Zone.

The day marked a significant moment of reflection, renewal, and hope as the consecrated communities journey together towards the Jubilee.

Photos courtesy: BCRI Cooke Town Zone Media Team

Redemptorists of Bangalore Province for Synodal Parishes

Redemptorists of Bangalore Province Resolve to Implement Synodality in Parish Ministry

Bangalore, 3 March 2025 – In a significant move towards fostering a more synodal Church, 40 Redemptorist priests of the Bangalore Province convened for an online seminar on Implementing Synodality in Parish Ministry and Administration.The seminar, held on 3 March 2025, focused on deepening the understanding of synodality and integrating it into parish structures, especially in light of the Holy Year Jubilee 2025.

The seminar was presided over by Very Rev. Fr. Edward Joseph Raju CSsR, Provincial Superior of the Bangalore Province. In his presidential address, Fr. Edward Raj CSsR urged parish priests to embrace synodality as a way of being Church. “We must own synodality in order to implement it effectively,” he emphasized, calling for active participation, co-responsibility, and inclusion in parish life.

Rev. Prof. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi, National Coordinator for Synod and Jubilee 2025, facilitated the session with an insightful exposition on the practical steps for implementing synodality in parish governance. In the light of The Final Document, and the CCBI Pastoral Plan Mission 2033, he highlighted how a synodal approach can lead to deeper communion, participation, and mission-oriented pastoral ministry.

The event was efficiently coordinated by Fr. Sandeep Menezes CSsR and Fr. George, ensuring an interactive and engaging session for the participants.

Voices from the Participants

Fr. Christopher CSsR, a parish priest from Karnataka, shared his enthusiasm: “This seminar has been an eye-opener. Synodality is not just a concept but a call to action. I am now committed to creating more spaces for dialogue and participation in my parish. And I wish more lay people come forward to take up different roles.”

Fr. Arul Sekar CSsR, a missionary in Tamil Nadu, reflected on the session’s impact: “Understanding synodality as a shared responsibility has transformed my approach to ministry. I now see my parish community as co-pilgrims on a journey of faith, where every voice matters.”

As the Redemptorists of Bangalore Province step into the Holy Year Jubilee 2025, they reaffirm their commitment to making their parishes vibrant centers of synodal renewal. This seminar marks a decisive step in embracing a collaborative and inclusive model of Church ministry.

Tamil Nadu Lay Leaders Learn the Synod Final Document

Tamil Nadu Lay Leaders Learning the Final Document in View of Jubilee 2025. Regional Symposium on 'Challenges and Invitations of Jubilee 2025'

On 1 March 2025, the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council (TNBC) Commission for the Laity organized a Regional Symposium on Challenges and Invitations of Jubilee 2025 at the TNBC Laity Training Centre, Trichy, Tamil Nadu. The event, which brought together 312 lay faithful and priests from 18 dioceses of the Tamil Nadu Region, was a significant step in deepening the understanding of the Final Document of the Synod and preparing for the Jubilee Year.

His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Antony Pappusamy, Archbishop Emeritus of Madurai and Chairman of the TNBC Commission for the Laity, delivered the presidential address, emphasizing the necessity of overcoming division, differentiation, and indifference to foster a more synodal spirit within the local churches. “We need to overcome the challenges of division, differentiation, and indifference in order to be more synodal in our local churches,” he remarked, setting the tone for the discussions that followed.

Fr. Maria Michael, Secretary to the TNBC Commission for the Laity, provided an orientation address, framing the symposium’s objectives. “We are reflecting on the invitations of the Jubilee 2025 in the light of the synod for a synodal Church,” he said, inviting participants to actively engage with the themes of the event.

Prof. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi, CCBI National Coordinator for Jubilee 2025, delivered an insightful presentation on the role of lay faithful as articulated in the Final Document of the Synod. His exposition enabled participants to see their role in the Church’s mission with renewed clarity. The session was moderated by Mrs. Dhanaseeli Dhivyanathan.

Adding a socio-cultural and political perspective, Mr. Eronimus, an educationist, contextualized Jubilee 2025 within the contemporary realities of Tamil Nadu. This was further complemented by the contribution of Adv. Mr. Rajan, who proposed synodal actions aimed at transformative engagement in society and Church life. These sessions were moderated by Fr. Nithiya Sagayam Anthony OFM Cap, and Mr. Henry Julius respectively.

During the session, the CCBI Pastoral Plan Mission 2033 was also introduced, enriching the participants’ understanding of the Church’s long-term vision for evangelization and mission.

Voices from the Participants

Mr. Arul Bhaskar, a lay leader from the Archdiocese of Madurai, shared her reflection: “This symposium has been a profound experience of learning and dialogue. The emphasis on synodality has given me a fresh perspective on how laypeople can actively participate in shaping the Church’s future. I feel inspired to initiate small synodal communities in my parish.”

Mrs. Mary Regina, from the Diocese of Salem, echoed similar sentiments: “Hearing about the Final Document of the Synod and Mission 2033 has motivated me to be more involved in my parish. The discussions on overcoming divisions within our communities were particularly striking. We, as lay leaders, have a crucial role in fostering unity and mission.”

The event began with a procession carrying the Jubilee 2025 cross symbolically marking the journey as pilgrims. At the open hour at the end of the symposium, an action plan was devised to carry the works of the Commission forward in the Jubilee Year.

The symposium concluded with a collective commitment from the participants to embrace the Jubilee 2025 as a time of renewal and transformation. The event was a landmark in preparing the Tamil Nadu lay faithful for a more participatory and mission-oriented Church, embodying the vision of a truly synodal community.

Heralds of Hope: Embracing Vatican II in Mission and Jubilee

The priests of the Mary Queen of Apostles Province of the Heralds of Good News gathered for their annual retreat from 24 to 28 February 2025 at Sacred Heart College, Shenbaganur, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. This year’s retreat held special significance as it was placed within the context of the Ruby Jubilee of the Congregation, marking forty years of its mission in proclaiming the Good News.

Rev. Fr. A. Hermans Raj, Provincial Superior, inaugurated the retreat by situating it in the broader context of the Ruby Jubilee, emphasizing how the call of the Heralds of Good News resonates with the spirit of Vatican II. He invited the priests to see themselves as ‘pilgrims of hope’ in light of the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025, urging them to make an 'inward journey' to rekindle their commitment to evangelization through the wisdom of the Council’s teachings.

Guided by the learned and insightful reflections of Prof. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi, the CCBI National Coordinator for Jubilee 2025, the retreat centred on the Four Constitutions of the Second Vatican Council: Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), and Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World). The theological, biblical, and pastoral dimensions of these landmark documents were explored in depth, offering the 40 participating priests a renewed vision for their missionary vocation.

The retreat days were marked by profound scriptural reflections, theological expositions, and pastoral applications, leading the priests into an atmosphere of deep prayer and discernment. Each of the Four Constitutions was presented in a way that connected their doctrinal insights with contemporary pastoral challenges.

One of the participants, Rev. Fr. Gnanasekar Kulandai, shared his experience: “This retreat was an eye-opener, helping us reconnect with the vision of Vatican II in a way that makes it relevant for our missionary work today. We are called not just to preach but to live the Gospel in communion with the people we serve.”

Another priest, Rev. Fr. Selvakumar, expressed how the retreat reshaped his understanding of the liturgy: “Sacrosanctum Concilium reminded me of the transformative power of the Eucharist. It renewed my commitment to making the liturgy more participatory and meaningful in my parish.”

As the retreat concluded, the participating priests collectively pledged to be ‘pilgrims of hope’ in their pastoral endeavours, embracing the call of the Jubilee Year and beyond. The retreat served as a moment of spiritual rejuvenation, enabling them to rediscover their vocation in the light of the Church’s teachings and the urgent demands of the modern world.

With hearts renewed and minds enlightened, the priests of the Mary Queen of Apostles Province returned to their respective missions, carrying forward the spirit of Vatican II and the hope of the Gospel. Their commitment to being heralds of good news stands as a testimony to their faithfulness to Christ and the Church.

Fr. A. Britto, Fr. S. Maria Antonyiar, Fr. S. Agustin, and Fr. Maria Antony Velladurai, the members of the Provincial Administration organised the retreat.

Photos courtesy: HGN Mary Queen of Apostles Province Media Team