India: Kurnool Diocese inaugurates Jubilee Year 2025 with blessing of Cross and solemn Mass
On December 29, 2024, the Diocese of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, inaugurated the Jubilee Year 2025 under the guidance of Bishop Johannes Gorantla, OCD.
The event commenced at 5:30 p.m. with the blessing of a newly crafted cross, followed by a procession from St. Joseph’s EM School to Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Raja Nagar, Kurnool.
The celebration continued with a solemn Mass at the cathedral, during which the newly blessed cross was placed in the sanctuary, where it will remain for veneration until the end of the Jubilee year.
This momentous occasion, called by Pope Francis for the Universal Church, was attended by over 1,200 laypeople, 70 diocesan clergy, and numerous religious women from the area.
The Jubilee Year, themed "Pilgrims of Hope," encourages the faithful worldwide to renew their commitment to Christ and the mission of the Church.
During his homily, Bishop Gorantla called on the faithful to embark on pilgrimages to shrines within or outside the diocese, to engage regularly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to actively embrace Francis’ teachings throughout the Jubilee.
The bishop also shared plans to introduce new diocesan laws in collaboration with deans, consultors, and preparatory committees. These efforts are aimed at deepening spiritual renewal and enhancing community engagement during the Jubilee Year.
Gorantla expressed his gratitude to the deans, the parish priests of the Cathedral and Co-Cathedral, Fr. S. Devadas and Fr. Anthony Raj, as well as Pastoral Center Director Fr. E. Balaraj for their meticulous arrangements in making the event a success.
The Jubilee Year 2025, designated as a Holy Year of grace, reconciliation, and renewal, invites the faithful of Kurnool Diocese to engage in prayer services, acts of charity, and catechesis, in alignment with Pope Francis's global vision.
This Holy Year promises to be a time of spiritual enrichment, fostering unity, and deepening the commitment to the Church's mission. - Pujitha Nagalli
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