On 26th March 2026, the Diocese of Gulbarga witnessed a profound spiritual gathering at the Mother of Divine Grace Cathedral, Kalaburagi, as all the priests of the diocese came together in unity as Unum Presbyterium for the Chrism Mass and Day of Recollection.
The day began with a spiritually enriching recollection talk by Rev. Fr. Nirmal Miranda, Professor of Petrology at St. Peter’s Seminary, who served as the resource person for the occasion. His inspiring session, attended by priests and religious sisters, set a reflective and prayerful tone for the day. This was followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Confession, enabling all present to prepare themselves spiritually for the forthcoming Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. Prior to the celebration of the Chrism Mass, Most Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga, blessed the newly installed large fan at the Cathedral, symbolizing care for the comfort and well-being of the faithful.
The solemn Chrism Mass was then celebrated by the Bishop along with all the priests of the diocese. In his homily, Bishop Robert Miranda reflected deeply on the future of the Church and emphasized four key pastoral priorities:
- A Life of Prayer – Priests are called to be men of prayer and to guide the faithful entrusted to them into a deeper life of prayer.
- Interreligious Dialogue – Building meaningful relationships with people of other faiths, especially with the Lingayat community, by understanding their Vachanas, as dialogue is a powerful means of evangelization.
- Rooted in Scripture – A deep grounding in the Word of God is essential, as it forms the foundation for authentic dialogue and ministry.
- Preferential Love for the Poor – The Church must remain closely associated with the poor and the marginalized.
He further reminded the priests that Catholics are called to be leaders in fostering unity among all religions. Drawing inspiration from Jesus, who compassionately reaches out and asks, “Do you want to be healed?”, the Bishop urged the priests to become the living presence of Christ for others. During the Mass, the priests renewed their priestly promises with renewed zeal and joy. The liturgy also included the solemn procession of the oil vessels and the blessing and consecration of the Holy Oils:
- The Oil of the Sick was blessed after the homily.
- The Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism were blessed and consecrated after Communion in the presence of the entire presbyterium.
At the conclusion of the celebration, Rev. Fr. Joseph Praveen, Parish Priest of the Cathedral, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful who contributed to the meaningful and prayerful celebration.
The day concluded with a deep sense of fraternity, renewed mission, and hope, as the Diocese of Gulbarga prepares to enter into the sacred mysteries of Holy Week and the joy of Easter.
