Spread hope this Christmas, says Mangalore Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha

Team Udayavani, Dec 22, 2023, 9:54 AM IST

Mangaluru: Bishop Most Rev Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha cut a cake at the Bishop’s House here on Thursday, in a symbolic gesture to mark the beginning of the Christmas celebrations of the Mangalore Diocese.

On this occasion, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha delivered a Christmas message resonating with hope amidst a world shadowed by conflict and despair. He highlighted the prevailing themes of hatred, discrimination, and violence, emphasizing the need for a transformative approach in the face of ongoing turmoil.

Drawing parallels between Christ’s birth and contemporary chaos, the Bishop highlighted a shift in focus from seeking liberation from oppression to embracing love, forgiveness, prayer, and penance as the catalysts for change.

Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, in a Christmas celebration with journalists and media reporters, emphasized the pivotal role of the media in fostering hope during these times of turmoil.

Emphasizing the timeless teachings of Jesus, the Bishop underscored the futility of violence, oppression, and discrimination in ruling the world. He advocated for a transformative approach to conquering enemies through love and forgiveness, proclaiming that this methodology holds eternal significance, transcending temporal power.

Concluding his message, Bishop Saldanha urged individuals to become agents of hope, spreading joy and optimism in a seemingly hopeless world.

The event saw the presence of Msgr Rev. Fr Maxim Noronha, (Vicar General) Rev. Fr J. B Saldanha, Mr Roy Castelino (the PRO of Mangalore Diocese), Dr John DSilva (Diocesan Pastoral Parishad Secretary), Mr Elias Fernandes (Media representative), Rev. Fr Anil Ivan Fernandes (Director, Canara Communication Centre), Fr Rupesh Madtha (editor of Raknno weekly), Rev. Fr Trishan Dsouza (Bishop’s Secretary), Rev. Fr Ronald Dsouza
(Financial Administrator), and Mr Alwyn Dsouza (President, Catholic Sabha Mangalore) among the gathering of journalists and media representatives.

Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha is set to lead the Christmas Eve mass at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Cathedral, Rosario, Mangaluru on Sunday, December 24, 2023, starting at 7:00 p.m.