Christ the King Feast and Solemn Eucharistic Procession 2023.
The Inter-Diocesan Celebration of Christ the King Feast and the Eucharistic Procession was took place with great devotion and spiritual pomp along with a large number of faithful, priests and religious of the Shimoga Diocese, Syro-Malabar Diocese of Bhadravathi and the Syro-Malankara Diocese of Puttur on 26 November 2023 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shimoga. The Service commenced at 4.30 p.m. with the recitation of the Holy Rosary followed by the Holy Eucharist and the inauguration of the Jubilee Year 2025. Most Rev Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Shimoga was the main celebrant of the Holy Eucharist with Most Rev Dr Joseph Arumachadath, the Bishop of Bhadravathi and a large number of priests of all the three rites concelebrating. There were around 70 priests, several religious sisters and a large number of faithful. The concelebrated Eucharist was marked with well-prepared liturgy with excellent singing and a meaningful homily given by Fr Clarence Dias. The altar, the church and the surroundings were decorated with flowers. Faithful from Shimoga, Bhadravathi and other parishes of the diocese attended this spiritual event.
Soon after the Mass, the Eucharistic Procession began its journey from the Cathedral campus into the main streets of Shimoga City. The Monstrance was placed on a beautifully decorated pedestal mounted on the Procession Car with Most Rev Dr Joseph Arumachadath holding it very devoutly. The Procession Car was being decked with floral decoration and this attracted a large crowd of people from other religions also. It was indeed a devout, prayerful and well-disciplined procession with the faithful praying the Mercy Rosary, Rosary of our Lady and singing hymns proclaiming Christ as the King of the Universe. The Procession reached at 8.30 pm into the Cathedral and was concluded with a solemn Eucharistic Blessing over the faithful by Bishop Francis Serrao.
Earlier, a month prior to the celebration, a meeting of priests of the Carmel Deanery and Deans of four deaneries was convened by Most Rev Dr Francis Serrao SJ so as to discuss and plan for the celebration. The priests and religious heads present for the meeting willingly opted to share the responsibility and even sponsor the event.
SOLEMN INAUGURATION OF THE JUBILEE 2025 AT THE DIOCESAN LEVEL:
Heeding to the clarion call of the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, Most Rev Dr Francis Serrao SJ, the Bishop of Shimoga along with Most Rev Dr Joseph Arumachadath, the Bishop of Bhadravathi inaugurated the JUBILEE 2025 by unfurling the Logo of the JUBILEE 2025. Highlighting and quoting the focus of the jubilee stated the Pope, the Bishop said that it is an event of great spiritual, ecclesial and social importance, experienced by the faithful as a "special gift of grace, characterised by the forgiveness of sins and, in particular, by indulgence, the full expression of God's mercy".
Further the Bishop quoted the Pope saying there are two years of preparation for the jubilee year. Year 2023 is named "Year of the Council ", a year specially dedicated to revisiting the treasures of the Second Vatican Council and the Year 2024 as the Year of Prayer". He also announced that the inauguration of the JUBILEE 2025 in all the parishes and mission centres of the diocese will take place on Sunday, 3rd December 2023 during the regular Sunday Mass. The Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rev. Stany D'Souza, remembered with gratitude all the in-charge persons, sponsors and especially PPC and PFC members of the Cathedral parish for their willingness to take responsibilities and thanked them profusely. Then it was his turn to thank both the Bishops Most Rev Dr Francis Serrao SJ for his active involvement in the event from the planning stage and Most Rev. Dr Joseph Arumachadath for his presence and specially praying for the people of God. Thereafter Bishop Francis on behalf of the priests, religious and faithful thanked the Parish Priest, Rev. Stany D'Souza and the team for the wonderful organisation and meticulous execution of the event on the feast of Christ the King.
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