SHEPHERD’S VOICE, JANUARY -APRIL 2025
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and my beloved People,
Thy Kingdom Come!
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
“For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields. In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property. If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other” (Lev. 25:12-14).
2025 Jubilee Year wishes to everyone. It is a time of renewal in life. The theme of the Jubilee Year - Pilgrims of Hope - invites us to a greater dedication to Christ in our mission. “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision” said Pope Francis in February 2022 letter of announcing the Jubilee 2025. In our diocese, the Jubilee Year also coincide with the Year of Sanctity of Life. The Church teaches us that all human life is sacred and that everyone has a right to life which shall be protected and valued at every stage. Every human life is unique and unrepeatable, valuable in and of itself, constitutes an inestimable worth (Cf. Ps. 139:14, Jer. 1:5, Is. 49:16). We shall inculcate this value of life in us and others by various activities in the diocese in this year. The talks on Synodality is still on move in the Church. The Synodality is a way of life that involves the participation of all members in the Church’s mission. We shall build a Synodal Church from grass-root level. The Church seeks to discern what the Holy Spirit is asking of the Church at any given time. The Church can inspire trust and allow hope to flourish. We are missionaries of that hope in the world today. So rightly Pope Francis chose the theme for the Jubilee Year – “Pilgrims of Hope.” We shall resolve to be the “Pilgrims of Hope” in this Jubilee Year, in this Year of Sanctity of Life and in this era of Synodality.
God bless everyone
Yours Shepherd in Christ
† Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and my beloved people,
Thy Kingdom Come
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Pope has declared the year 2025 as the Jubilee year. It will be inaugurated on 24 December 2024 and will be concluded on 6 January 2026. Jubilee reminds us that God expects the Church to challenge worldly imperfection through their relationship, with each other and the pursuit of justice - through social and legal provision and through personal action and interaction, including generosity and sacrifice. The gift of the Holy Spirit empowers and enables us to reset all areas of life, bring release and restoration. The 2025 jubilee will be centered on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”. Pope himself beautifully describes the theme of jubilee in the following words: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision”. Every jubilee is occasion of revision, revival and rededication of our life and commitment to Christ. In this Jubilee Year we shall pray for hope that enlightens us to go ahead to witness Christ and to confirm His reign on earth. St. Paul is pleased to wish everyone: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13). I invite everyone to avail the occasion of Jubilee 2025 to be refreshed with great hope in life, mission and ministry as missionaries consecrated in Christ and dedicated to serve the humanity to establish a world of love, truth, justice and peace. God bless everyone. With good wishes.
Yours devotedly in Christ
† Ephrem Nariculam Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Prot. No. 116/2024 01/05/2024
Shepherd’s Voice
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and My beloved People,
Thy Kingdom Come!
Greetings in the name of the Risen Christ!
Happy Easter to everyone!
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt 18:3).
“Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded” – Jess Lair.
Pope Francis announced on 8 December 2023 that the Catholic Church will celebrate its first World Day of Children on 26 May 2024. “Like Jesus, we want to put children at the centre and care for them” said the Holy Father. Children must be celebrated every day. World Day of Children is a stark reminder of the responsibility we hold towards our most vulnerable. Millions of Children globally face poverty, injustice, and unimaginable hardships. We relate with number of children on daily basis in our schools, boardings/hostels, in the streets, on our journeys etc. What kind of world do we wish to pass on to the children who are growing up? We shall avail the World Children Day to revere our children and show them a luminous future ahead.
“And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them” (Mk 10:16).
I invite everyone to celebrate the day befittingly.
With good wishes
Your Shepherd in the Lord
† Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and My beloved People,
Thy Kingdom Come!
The Christmas 2023 was celebrated with gaiety and fervour, and now that we have entered to the New year 2024 with zeal and enthusiasm. Seasonal greetings to everyone. As part of our pastoral plan 2019-2023 we have celebrated the year of sacraments in 2023 and we are in the year of the Decalogue and the Precepts of the Church (2024). We dedicate each year in such manner with the purpose of re-catechising to vitalize our faith and Christian charity. I am happy to see that we are doing great many activities to observe these years of dedication meaningfully. In this year of 'Decalogue and the Precepts of the Church' we shall study them in depth and practice them with love for ecclesiastical and civil laws so as to develop a community of love, truth, justice, harmony, respect, peace etc. The year 2024 is also a preparatory year for Jubilee year 2025. Every Jubilee year is a special time for us to come together and grow in our faith. It is a time to renew our commitment to God and to our fellow brethren. It is the time to experience the mercy of God to find hope for the future. 'Pilgrims of Hope' is the theme of the Jubilee year 2025. On earth we are pilgrims marching towards our heavenly home (Ref: 2 Cor 5:1, 1 Pet 2:11). We resolve to avail every opportunity to prepare well our sojourn on earth in our march towards the eternal city of heavenly abode. God bless everyone.
With good wishes to everyone
Your Shepherd in the Lord
† Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and My beloved People,
Thy Kingdom Come!
A caption that I happened to read through in a book quite recently was – 'Provide Help and Create Hope'. It is quite worth to reflect – a great idea and very persuasive. Indeed a sensible and reasonable persuasion for our social apostolate. 'Jesus went about doing good, curing the sick, restoring the sight to the blind, making the lame walk, raising the dead back to life, feeding the hungry, and driving away demons from the possessed people as he also preached and enacted the coming of the Kingdom of God' (Mt 9: 35-38 & Acts 10 : 38). The apostles confirmed it by the ministry of preaching, serving and healing. We, as missionaries are called to do the same. Mind you that…'We are SPIRITUAL MINISTERS involved in social apostolates and not social activists doing some spiritual ministries'.
May the Spirit of the Lord inspire us and guide us.
With good wishes to everyone
Your shepherd in the Lord
†Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and My beloved People,
Thy Kingdom Come!
I am happy to share with you the news that this year -2023- we have in total six ordinations in the diocese – five for the diocese and one for the archdiocese of Nagpur. Out of six, there are three from the diocese itself. Until now we have 23 priests and more than 108 sisters from the diocese. The invitation of our Lord is to pray for vocation. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:37-38). Hearty congratulations to all the new priests. We shall continue praying for more vocations to priesthood and religious life. For Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits (Cf. Mk 6:7, Lk 10:1).
With good wishes. With good wishes
Your Shepherd in the Lord
† Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and My beloved People,
Thy Kingdom Come!
Happy Christmas & Prosperous New Year to everyone. We shall continue thanking God for ineffable graces that we have received in the past 60 years. Once again we shall be grateful to the pioneering missionaries and all the senior ones for their efforts to build up Chanda mission. The year of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is coming to an end and we are entering into the Year of the Holy Sacraments. In the year 2023 we shall focus on study of the sacraments and make sure of their effects in our daily life by our worthy reception and graceful living. As we have intended we celebrated our Diamond Jubilee in a very simple way and continue to lay great focus on House Construction project. It is moving ahead well. Thanks to every parish and institution in the diocese, donor agencies – Save A Family Plan and Toronto Archdiocese, Canada – and the individual benefactors for their generous contribution to this cause. May I request everyone to cooperate so as to continue this social apostolate with vigor and valour. As I have already communicated, let this be a beginning of a great event – we shall not rest until everyone in the diocese have a roof over their head. May God assist us.
With good wishes. With good wishes
Your Shepherd in the Lord
† Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and My beloved People,
Thy Kingdom Come!
We are towards the end of Diamond Jubilee Year of Chanda Mission. As you know that we have decided to keep aside all extravaganzas to focus on construction of sixty houses for the poor in the diocese. I have contacted the Provincials of religious men and women serving here and institution heads in the diocese to assist the Diamond Jubilee House Construction Project. The response was very positive. We have already launched the project and it is moving ahead. Save A Family Plan and Toronto archdiocese also have come forward to co-operate with the project. I pray that let this be a beginning. Until all in our diocese have a home of their own we shall not rest! I am happy to learn that the other scheduled programs of Jubilee celebrations such as 13 hours adoration, recitation of the Chaplet of Sacred Heart of Jesus etc are progressing well. Gradually we plan to launch the Jeevotsav, a parish based retreat. The Chanda Family day scheduled as missionary gathering of old and new from Adilabad and Chanda are on the process in preparation. The scheduled retreat for the priests of erstwhile Chanda mission will be held as scheduled. We shall resolve to re-vigor our missionary enthusiasm to do our best for Chanda mission. In the spirit of Synodality we shall walk together and work together. God bless everyone.
With good wishes to everyone
Your shepherd in the Lord
†Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Shepherd’s Voice
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and My dear beloved people,
Thy Kingdom Come!
We are in the Diamond Jubilee Year (1962-2022). The Chanda Mission completes SIXTY years on 15 August 2022. Happy Jubilee Greetings to all. Once again we shall remember with gratitude all our missionaries who have tirelessly rendered their services for the mission in Chanda. We have planned different programs but all with a focus on spiritual renewal and social upliftment of the poor and needy of the diocese. Deliberately we have avoided any extra vaganza in celebrations and launched the following: Saturday Adoration in different stations for the whole year, Jeevothsav, a parish based retreat, Sixty houses for the most needy in the diocese etc. We also have planned a missionary gathering and thanksgiving Holy Qurbana on 05 October 2022 (Chanda Family Day). Eparchial Assembly also will have to be planned gradually. As the year is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus we shall celebrate the feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus (24 June or following Sunday 26 June) in parish/institution level in a most solemn way with Adoration, thanksgiving Qurbana, Eucharistic procession etc. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus bless us and guide us.
With good wishes to everyone
Your shepherd in the Lord
†Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
My Dear Fathers, Brothers, sisters and my Dear People,
Thy Kingdom Come!
Happy New Year to everyone Almost one more year of pandemic Covid 19 is passed. Hope the situation will improve gradually and be able to cope with the post Covid circumstances. The year 2022 is a great challenge for all of us. The challenge of coping with the post Covid situation, the challenge of re-vamping our mission, the challenge of meeting with people in the villages, the challenge of keeping our flock together, the challenge of re-integrating the people in faith, the challenge of social apostolate, the challenge of facing the communal distancing among people around us, the challenge of financial crunch … the list is exhaustive Let us gird ourselves and face it. “ Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness clothing you, and with your feet shod in zeal to proclaim the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold in your hand the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one And take the helmet of salvation as well as the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Be Vigilant in Prayer. In all of your prayers and entreaties, pray always in the Spirit. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints” (Eph: 6: 14-18)
With good wishes to everyone
Your shepherd in the Lord
†Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
My Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and My dear people,
Thy Kingdom Come!
The menace of the Pandemic Covid – 19 is going to complete almost two years. We have faced its severity in the past few months. The quarantine or isolation experience was not that very welcoming, yet it gave us opportunity for self–reflection, prayer and observation. We shall continue it and learn from it for better future missionary endeavors. One of the prime task ahead is to gather the scattered. For various reasons with the Pandemic gap there can develop among us and in people a lethargy to spiritual life and social apostolate. We have to overcome it. The pandemic experience is only repetition of history. As the situation improves we have to get back to the track and proceed ahead with enthusiasm. The so called quarantine experience of Jesus whether secret life during adulthood or forty days of fast (Mk. 1: 12-13, Lk. 4: 1-13, Mt. 4. 1-11) – were experience of learning, self-reflection and divine communication. It supported and strengthened Jesus’ public ministry. We shall follow the suit to foster fathers of Jesus, St. Joseph intercede for us. God bless you all.
With good wishes to everyone
Your shepherd in the Lord
†Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Shepherd's Voice
SV. 2/2021
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and dear people & the well wishers of Chanda,
Thy Kingdom Come!
We are still in the menace of Pandemic Covid-19. Regrettably there has been a huge surge in the number of cases in India and half of them are in the State of Maharashtra. We shall continue to co-operate with all guidelines of the Government so as to keep the Pandemic under control. To a great extent we have learned to live with the pandemic. However each of us must do our best to control the spread of the pandemic. This is our moral obligation to protect our people and ourselves. I urge you to please continue to follow Covid-19 appropriate protocol: wearing mask, sanitizing and social distancing. I encourage everyone of you to get vaccinated as soon as you can. Please keep following the action plans for Harith Varsh and the Year of St. Joseph.
"Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability" (Acts 2:3-4).
Wishing everyone of you the Feast of Pentecost
Your Shepherd in the Lord
† Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and my dear people,
Thy Kingdom Come!
In the first place I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021. For the past one year - 2020 - the whole world was facing the challenge of an uncertainty due to the Pandemic Covid - 19. We are slowly getting rid of it and with Job let us exclaim: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Nothing in the world happens without God’s knowledge: “Who can command and have it done, if the Lord has not ordained it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? Why should any who draw breath complain about the punishment of their sins?” (Lamentations 3: 37-39). “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). Let us pray that God’s plan be realized in our life! In the year 2021 as a community of believers following Christ in Chanda let us focus our attention on respecting and sustaining God’s creation by meaningfully observing/celebrating Harith Varsh - Go Green Diocese Campaign. God bless you all.
Yours devotedly in Christ
† Ephrem Nariculam
Bishop, Diocese of Chanda
