M’lore: 650 Priests & Nuns gathered for Faith Convention at Rosario Cathedral

By Francis Rodrigues, Rakno
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 4 Nov 2013: Six-hundred-fifty clergies and nuns of the diocese of Mangalore gathered at Rosario Cathedral auditorium here on Monday November 4, to celebrate the faith experience of theirs during the Year of Faith, which was inaugurated in October 2012 on the occasion of golden jubilee of second Vatican Council.

 
While around 500 were the religious nuns from different Congregations who have their houses in the diocese of Mangalore, more than 150 religious and diocesan priests participated in the Faith Convention.

 
‘Faith should be our ultimate and only priority in life.  Our lives are animated, moved and illumined by the gift of faith which is living experience to every believer.  Faith is the greatest treasure that is given to us by God which makes our life simple, committed and Christ oriented.  We need to experience this faith within us before sharing it with others.  It is a relationship with God and one another.  It should be fostered in its quality which will make our life unique and special. Pope Francis is one such example before us.  As to deepen the faith of ours as well as that of the lay persons we need to promote Small Christian Communities, animate the different prayer groups which are active in the Church, promote inter- religious dialogues, meaningful celebration of the liturgy and Sacraments,’ said Bishop Dr Thomas Dabre of Pune who animated the convention of  priests and religious.

Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore said, ‘Before sharing and strengthening the faith of others we need to experience its depth in ourselves.  It is with this intention, a separate faith convention for Priests and Religious was suggested,’ said Bishop Dr Aloysius.

 

 

 
Fr Valerian Pinto, Fr Pius D’Souza OCD and Sr Shalini AC led the prayers and holy hour.

 
Rosario parish priest and Council of Priests secretary Fr J B Crasta welcomed the gathering. 

 
The city deanery vicar Fr Valerian Menezes introduced Bishop Dr Dabre.  Rosario Pre-University College vice principal Fr Rocky Fernandes compered the Faith Convention. 

 
The convener of the Faith Convention Mangalore diocesan vicar Monsignor Denis Moras Prabhu was also present. 

 
The youth rally from Milagres church to Rosario Cathedral here will be held on the occasion of youth Faith Convention on Sunday November 17. The grand finale of the Year of Faith will be held at Nehru maidan, here from Friday November 22 to Sunday November 24.