Administrator's Message

The Pastor Speaks …..

Beloved Clergy, Religious, and People of God,

As we step into the new year of 2025, I extend my heartfelt wishes for peace, joy, and blessings to all of you. May this year bring you closer to God and deepen your faith. The beginning of a new year is not just a change of the calendar but a call to renewal, a reminder of God’s enduring mercy and faithfulness. The words of Lamentations 3:22-23 assure us: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.”

The New Year invites us to reflect on the past with gratitude, embrace the present with purpose, and look to the future with hope. It is a time to examine our lives in the light of God’s word, seek forgiveness, and make resolutions that align with His will. St. Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13-14: “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

This year is even more special as it marks the Jubilee Year of 2025, initiated by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, on 24 December 2024, under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” We joyfully inaugurated this Jubilee in our diocese on 30 December, beginning a sacred journey of spiritual renewal, healing, and grace.

In the Bible, Jubilee is a year of liberation, restoration, and renewal. Leviticus 25:10 says: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you.” For us, this Jubilee is an invitation to experience God’s mercy, share His love, and commit ourselves to works of justice and charity.

For us priests and religious, this year is a call to deepen our vocation and serve with renewed zeal. It is a time to rekindle the fire of pastoral ministry and lead our flock closer to God. For the laity, it is an opportunity to grow in holiness, strengthen family bonds, and actively participate in the mission of the Church. Together, we are called to become witnesses of hope and bearers of joy in a world longing for light and meaning.

I am reminded of a story about a farmer who decided to improve his neglected field. Over the years, the field had become overgrown with weeds and stones. He began clearing the land, planting new seeds, and nurturing it daily. By the end of the year, the field yielded a rich harvest. When his neighbour complimented him, the farmer humbly replied, “It wasn’t me alone; it was God’s grace and my efforts worked together.” This story beautifully illustrates the spiritual sense of a new year. Like the farmer, we are called to work in partnership with God, clearing the weeds of sin, planting seeds of faith, and nurturing them with prayer and love. The Jubilee year gives us a unique chance to embrace this process with greater fervour.

The Jubilee year reminds us of Jesus’ mission, as proclaimed in Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor... to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Jesus is the fulfilment of the Jubilee, bringing us liberation from sin and inviting us to partake in His mission of love and mercy.

Let us also remember the words of Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” As pilgrims of hope, we are encouraged to trust in God’s providence and rise above life’s challenges.

Practical ways to Celebrate the Jubilee 2025:

Persona lRenewal:Committodailyprayer,confession,andscripture reading. Let this year be a time of deep personal encounter with God.

Family Renewal: Strengthen family bonds through shared prayer, acts of kindness, and forgiveness.

Community Renewal: Participate in parish activities, reach out to the poor, and engage in works of mercy.

Pilgrimage: Consider visiting a shrine or holy place as a sign of spiritual renewal and devotion. This is encouraged especially during Jubilee year.

As we embrace the new year and the Jubilee, let us carry these words of Pope Francis in our hearts: “Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! Let us be lights of hope to one another.”

As we embark on this journey of 2025, let us walk together as a community of faith. May this Jubilee Year be a time of abundant blessings for each one of you. Remember that God is always with us, guiding us and renewing us with His love. As we read in Psalm 65:11: “You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.”

Let us pray that this new year and Jubilee bring healing to the broken, hope to the weary, and joy to all hearts. Together, let us become pilgrims of hope, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.Let us place our hands in the hands of our Blessed Mother, whose divine maternity we celebrated on the first day of the year and move forward to celebrate the Jubilee.

With prayers and blessings,

† Jaya Rao Polimera
Bishop of Eluru & Apostolic Administrator, Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam